24 weeks 5 days

All week I was a day off and when it came time to do this post, I realized it was actually Thursday instead of my normal Wednesday. No matter, belly still the same size.



Dear Bump,

I must admit, it's time to stop calling you bump because as you can see, you are far from what anyone would consider a bump. You are quite out there and you don't let me forget it.

Just this week I complained about how much you move...it feels like it's all day long. Except when Daddy wants to feel and then suddenly you are still. But if you here Spencer or feel him near, you go into overdrive. Have you felt him pushing against you in glee? He does you know...we are trying to get him to understand that he needs to be easy. That's going to be a work in progress...

Daddy has decided that we will give you your own room and possibly a new crib. I was all set on just having Spencer's crib in our room and calling it a day. You already have Daddy wrapped around your finger and he hasn't even seen you yet. Lucky girl!

Found a great crib set at Pottery Barn.
Maybe someone will see it and get it for you!

Love,
Mommy

My Monday Musings

When you're pregnant, it's apparently okay for people to ask the obvious when they really mean something else. Example? Someone asking my sister if I was pregnant. To me it's obvious that 1. I am and 2. It's not fat.

I let my eyebrows go and having my makeup done reminded me that I have to do a bit more than dress to look put together. Oops...

Getting my makeup done also made me realize that I am no longer a spring chicken. While the makeup looked great...getting it all off was not fun. It was like removing glue from paper.

Went to a new place to eat while I was in Florida and received the slowest service ever. And then got overcharged. The waiter wasn't even apologetic. If I hadn't asked about our food, it would have came out even later than it did. Companies, treat your customers kindly and be conscience of their time. They will tell their friends.

When did Christmas shopping get so hard? The only person it's easy to shop for? Spencer! Everyone else? So not fun...

That's all I got this week. See ya next Monday.

23 weeks 4 days

Dear Bump,

Here we are almost at the 6 month mark! I can't believe the time has flown by and in just a few months I will be holding you in my arms.

You have been quite the mover and shaker and your kicks are steadily becoming stronger and more pronounced. Are you thinking of taking up martial arts? Or maybe you are practicing your jete's and will be the ballerina I always wanted to be?

I have been shopping a bit more for you and must admit, it is quite fun. But I think the real fun will be when you are here and I can see your personality and buy accordingly. Maybe you will be a tomboy and run and play in the yard with your brother? Or maybe you will be all girly girl and love all things pink and sparkly?

Love,
Mommy

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

That's right with Halloween just a faded memory, the weather getting colder and the days shorter...it's holiday time.

For years I would buy my Christmas cards on sale after the previous Christmas in order to be one leg up in November. I am the friend that has my cards ready for the mail the day after Thanksgiving. Yep, I was mighty proud of that fact. But then I became a mom and doing anything in advance...well, that's actually pretty funny.

Last year I was on the ball and that's probably because after getting so many cool photo holiday cards, I decided to do one for our family as well. I wish I had a copy of it to show, just know it was awesome. So awesome that I had friends tell me they couldn't wait to see what I come up with this year. Yes, I've been thinking about our Christmas card ALL YEAR.

Thankfully this year I have some awesome help for our cards...Shutterfly! They have so many gorgeous designs and options that I am having a hard time deciding on just one.

Do I go with more traditional Christmas cards? Or maybe another photo card? Can you see why I am having such a hard time deciding?

Right now I have three favorites...but being preggo those are always subject to change! These are my current faves, aren't they beautiful?

 

As part of Shutterfly’s 2010 Holiday Card collection promotion, I volunteered to write a post about Shutterfly’s holiday cards in exchange for 50 free holiday cards. If you would like to receive 50 free holiday cards, please visit their blogger promotion.

My Monday Musings

Just a few random things that have been on my mind the last week or so...some may sound like complaints and that's okay to, cause if I can't complain here, where can I do it?


People that won't make a big deal about special things/events/happenings in your life but expect you to jump over the moon for them. This really annoys me, it's like when something great happens to you they are ho-hum but if the same thing were to happen to them they act like it is the first time and everyone should recognize. It seems petty and I can be the bigger person...but honestly? Most of the time I don't want to be the bigger person. It's a role I've had to play my whole life.

Toddlerhood...I thought it was suppose to be sweet. And many days it is but there are some days that tear me down in ways I didn't know possible. I had no qualms about motherhood being hard. I wasn't someone that needed a child to complete me, and I wasn't fooled into thinking it would be easy. It is easily the hardest job I have ever had and I don't get a break from it. But on bad tantrum days? I feel like I've fallen down a hole chasing a white rabbit...

When I tell people we are expecting a little girl, the response is totally different than when we told people we were expecting a boy. Each and every time. It's like they are more giddy. Why aren't boys something to be giddy over? I was ecstatic when I found out Spencer was a boy!

Well that's all I got for today. Stay tuned, I hope to continue this Monday Musings bit every week.

Fashionable Friday: Other Mothers

I know, you're thinking "other mothers?" What the heck is she going to talk about today? And what do other mothers have to do with fashion. Keep reading and you will see.

Immediately after becoming a mother and taking the baby out to the store to run an errand or pick up groceries I noticed them. The other mothers. You know the ones I am talking about...they are pushing a stroller and maybe have a toddler and look calm, cool and put together. I wanted to be one of these other mothers and yet, 21 months later (and pregnant with #2 to boot) I am not.

Yes, there are days I hve my hair done and put on a cute outfit and do my makeup and feel good, and then I see one of those moms and I begin to doubt myself. It happens to all of us, at one time or another. We find ourselves thinking the other mom has it so much better, when in reality? We really don't know.

This doesn't stop us from looking and comparing, which leads me to what I did just the other day. And how I realized need to spend more time focusing on me each week. We were at the mall and before I was a mom, I would not have noticed any of the other mothers and their strollers, baby bags and children. But I did this time.

I was dressed in maternity jeans, soft turtleneck and my Old Navy sweater. I paired it with some leopard print flats and was good to go.

Now to give you some background, the nearest mall to us is pretty ghetto. They don't even have a Gap, which is where I needed to go so we went into the city of Atlanta in order to hit the closest Gap with maternity wear. The mall is close to the "snobby" part of town. It has it's share of Buckhead Betty's along with your typical mall folk.

When you work in corporate America, you tend to forget that malls are open during the week and there are actually parking spaces near the entrances. You forget that you don't have to fight crowds to browse and get customer service. What the mall is full of? Moms and their babies, baby bags, strollers and mom friends. And I noticed.

I noticed the mom with a newborn and looking like she'd never had a baby. I noticed the mom with the Hunter Jimmy Choo boots and Tory Burch pink trench. I noticed the mom with the designer stroller and baby bag. If you ask my husband? He will not have noticed these women. But I did and I compared.

And while I noticed clothing and bags and strollers, there was one mom in particular that I noticed. Maybe it was because we happen to sit across from her at lunch. Or maybe it was the way she looked so pulled together but not like she had tried.

This was when I realized that I could be the same. I had dressed and liked the way I looked but I could do more. This mom, she had her simple jewelry on, a beautiful designer bracelet and watch. Simple. She ha her hair in place but nothing fancy, no highlights, no blonde. Just brown and long. Her clothes were nothing fancy, sweater, jeans, flats. But what struck me? Was the fact that she had her nails painted. Not with a french manicure, just a simple dark color on short nails.

As I sat there and watched her interact with her baby and her husband, I knew I should be doing more. What keeps me from giving myself a manicure and painting my nails? While I don't have tons of time, I have a few hours before bed where I can do it. What keeps me from wearing more than earrings when I go out? I have a draw full of bracelets and necklaces and yet I only wear them when I travel. Or get super dolled up.

But why do I only do it then? I keep stressing how the little things can help us go from frump to fab and yet I still have a hard time implementing these small things. I deserve to look good and feel good. If it means slapping some paint on my nails, why don't I do it?

Most of the time when we compare ourselves to the other moms, it's turns into how inadequate we feel. How they look better, are better moms and we see ourselves struggling. But in this case? I'm glad I took a look around because it made me really open my eyes. Open my eyes to the fact that I CAN and SHOULD do more. I can't be a good mom and wife if I don't feel my best.

How about you? Ever see another mom and actually have an aha moment?

22 weeks 4 days

Dear Bump,

Whoa, where did that belly come from? What are you eating in there?? I don't remember really thinking I was big until we got to the last two months. But now? Yep, anytime I see you in the mirror I am shocked. I especially love the way you hang over the lip of my leggings. Guess it's too late to tone. Oh well!

This week you introduced me to braxton hicks. I can safely say I was okay not meeting him. I didn't get/feel them with your brother but then again I was able to take it easy. Now your brother keeps me on my toys and I don't have much downtime. Hope this won't effect you too much.

I found the cutest little slippers for you at the Gap. They are silver with star on them and while I am not fond of the whole newborns in shoes, I could not resist. Shopping for you is so easy, where it was harder for your brother. The clothes for girls are just saw adorable. I look forward to dressing you and your brother in similar colors for pictures.

Love,
Mommy