16 Weeks! Bump Day!

Me by the water at 15 weeks pregnant. 

How far along: 16 weeks

Gender: It's a GIRL!!!!

Total weight gain: 1-2 pounds.

Clothes:  Still fit but my jeans are starting to get uncomfortable.

Sleep: I am so blessed, I am sleeping wonderfully.

Cravings/Aversions: Craving water. I cannot get enough water and/or ice! I want big cups of cold ice water. I have many aversions. One day I can't stand the smell of meat, the next day I want a giant burger. Makes zero sense. 

Symptoms:  Pregnancy brain (or lack there of...) is no joke. I feel insane half the time trying to figure out what I am doing. Also going #2... hahaha! Well, I'll just leave that right there. Lets just say I believe more then 1/2 my weight gain isn't actually baby. Also, I thought you were supposed to have gorgeous thick hair... where is my luscious pregnancy hair?

ENERGY:  I had zero energy at the beginning of my pregnancy. I was so sick. I lost a lot of weight, didn't want to eat, and was pretty nauseous 24/7. Walking down the stairs was hard work. Once I went on prescription medication, I became a different person!! Hallelujah, I am me again. I still have shortness of breath and I tire easier, but I am back to running and normal life. If I don't think about it, I can fight through it. Overall, I am so blessed and doing great!

Exercise: I totally went for a 3 mile run, did pilates twice, and went to a barre class all in one week! HIGH FIVE ME! I plan on working out as much as I can as long as I can. I am not myself without working out. 

Mood: I am so thrilled, excited, and blessed. I am a little nervous, but if I wasn't, I would be worried. 

Miss anything?  Although there is a lot I cannot do or cannot have, I know there are so many that cannot have or do what I am doing right now. I choose to focus on the positive fact that I am growing a human inside my body!!! HOW COOL! I am going to enjoy and cherish every blessing this pregnancy brings! God is so good and faithful always! 

Best moment this week: I love telling people and sharing our special miracle with others. 

Looking forward to: Our trip to IRELAND!!!!!

Back to School

School started back in Charleston this week. I must admit, I was ready to get back into my classroom and into a routine. I love my job so much and I am very blessed to work at such an amazing school. First grade is SO much fun; it has to be the best grade to teach. They are so sweet, funny, and crave learning. We as adults could learn a lot from six and seven year olds!

It was so refreshing to see students I have taught in the past and new smiling faces. I cannot wait to see what this seventh year of teaching has in store for me. I can guarantee it will be FULL of hugs, laughs, and lots and lots of sweet prayers. 

Jam-Packed Weekend

Last week Jeffrey and I went to the Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally's comedy show. It was so funny! They are hands down, the cutest couple ever! #marriagegoals #lifegoals.

Friday night we met up with friends to see my very first soccer game. We had a blast cheering for the Charleston Battery! 

We finished our weekend with a bridge run after church! One of my favorite runs is the Ravenel Bridge. It is so peaceful. 

So... is anyone else CRAZY excited for cooler weather, booties, Fall, and EVERYTHING PUMPKIN?!?!? I love pumpkin and I am not afraid to admit it.  I have already made pumpkin bread and pumpkin smoothies and it is amazing!

When your Husband Travels

As many of you might know, Jeffrey travels for his job. He leaves for Kansas Monday at 5:00 am and doesn't come home until Thursday around 7:30-- that is if Delta is on time-- hahaha! PS, Delta is rarely on time! I would be lying if I said the travel was easy, but it really isn't hard either. It is just our "normal". Us Nelsons have never been normal so it works for us. Just like anything there are good days and bad days. I choose to focus on the good. I am a glass half-full kinda gal. So, how does one survive when your husband is gone?

1. Put on Netflix, sit on the couch and surf the internet completely ignoring said Netflix show running in the background.

2. Go on long walks with your puppy. If you want to walk the afternoon away, you can!

3. Eat popcorn for dinner! Cause, why not.

4. Watch every girly movie, tv show ever and enjoy every cheesy/ridiculous line.

5. Pray! Pray a lot because it is hard and it's okay to admit that. No one will fully understand what it is like until their husband travels 4 days a week. Trust me, weekly is SO different then the, "oh I am only gone a few days a month".... hahahaa, I wish!

So for those of you who roll your eyes at me and say it isn't that bad, you're right! It really isn't that bad most days; however, give me some credit where credit is due (you roll your eyes because you have NO idea what it's like)! Having your spouse travel makes you a total badass! High-five wives with traveling husbands, we are fierce! Army wives, you get a total "eye of the tiger" award. I have no idea what that means, but it sounds so cool! Go you, you're amazing. You make me and my traveling husband look silly!

Murder Mystery Theater

We solved the crime... or were we the crime? dum, dum, dummmmm!!!! Indeed, Jeffrey was the dead body, but was he really dead or the murderer???

For our anniversary Jeffrey surprised me with a Murder Mystery Theater date night to the Black Fedora in Charleston. We saw "Inspector No Clue's Murder Mystery". As any good husband would, murder was the theme of the night! We had mystery chicken followed by cheese cake to die for, for dinner and dessert. It was delicious.

We then headed to the theater where a murder would soon take place! Jeffrey was chosen as a member of the audience to be the dead body! He did a great job if you ask me. Best "dead body" I have ever seen! BUT... was he the killer?

No, he wasn't, it turns out the killer was... Wait, I can't tell you who the killer was, you're going to have to go and find out for yourself! Go visit the Black Fedora and see if you can solve the crime!

You're a Wizard Harry!

Since Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was released in 1999, I have been a bit of a Potter fan. I remember dressing up for midnight book reveals and even dressing up with friends for movie premieres. Basically, my friends and I are totally awesome and know how to have a great time. 

Order your copy here

Harry, Ron, and Hermione were a part of my childhood, books and movies alike. I grew up with them in novels and on screen. It is nostalgic for me. When I found our J.K. Rowling was writing another book titled, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child I was a kid again. This is a script and is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series and the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage. My inner theater nerd is geeking out! No, I didn't go to any mid-night parties, but I did preorder my script and a pair of these amazing socks!

You too can be cool like me! Order your own socks here!!

If you will excuse me, I will be reading away in my awesome socks reliving my childhood! 

PS. I took the "Pottermore" sorting hat quiz again and it appears that in my adulthood, I am a Slytherin. At fist I was upset because I was a Gryffindor (as a child) and I didn't want to be in the "bad house". Then I read the character traits of a Slytherin. They are, cunning, ambitious, resourceful, shrewd, and determined. If you know me at all, those words pretty much sum me up and I am proud that they do! Slytherins unite!!!! 

Are you in love with Harry Potter like myself? Which house are you in?

TAX FREE WEEKEND!

It is tax free weekend here in Charleston... AKA, my favorite day of the year (minus Black Friday of course). Here are my top five tax free must haves!

1. 

I mean, these are PERFECT!

2.  

I have $20.00 in "Nordy" points so I want to use them on this contour kit. I may or may not have been on Pinterest looking at "how to contour" ideas for two, plus hours! 

3.  

I just ordered the iPhone 6S Plus so this new case was a MUST! I love the travel theme!

4. 

This North Face coat looks so warm and is perfect for our trip to Ireland in the Fall!

5.  

This is currently on hold for me at J.Crew!

What are you tax free or Fall must haves? Happy shopping!

       

PLAID FAD

Lets talk about plaid for a minute. Last year I developed a HUGE love for plaid. This year, my love has only gotten stronger. Plaid is so fun and versatile. While dreaming of Fall, I was scouring the internet looking at Fall fashion and I ran across this beauty!

How fun is this top? You can wear it with jeans, a skirt, fur vest... the options are unlimited. 

I am also in love with these options for Fall plaid:

I love how feminine this top looks. You can find this here.

I love plaid dresses! Shop this look.

Who doesn't love a good blanket scarf? You can find this beauty from ASOS!

And... if you can't get enough plaid (like me) bring it into your home. I mean, why not? You can find this gorgeous bedding set at Pottery Barn. 

What Fall styles are you loving this year?

Booties, Booties, Booties Rockin' Everywhere

Even though it is 100 degrees here in Charleston, I cannot help but swoon over Fall booties. I think I am so delusional from the heat I am craving brisk Fall nights. I cannot wait for Fall styles, hot coffee, and everything pumpkin. Fall is my FAVORITE time of year. Here are some booties I have my eye on! 

I just purchased these for Fall and I cannot wait to get them in the mail! You can find them here. 

I mean, these are to DIE for!!!! They come in a TON of different colors too! These are coming home with me soon. You can find them here.

These are SO FUN!!!! You can wear them with ripped jeans and a white tee and rock the streets! I am obsessed with the gold details. Jeffrey Campbell is now one of my favorite designers! 

Donald J. Pliner is a designer I have just discovered and I love the quality of his shoes. These are also on my Fall wish list! 

These are so classic and I love it! They are part of the Nordstrom Rack sale, so hurry up and snag them before they become full price again!

Now that I have visions of Fall leaves, pumpkins, booties, and plaid running through my head... I must snap back to reality. This girl is off to grab an ice coffee in her shorts and tank because it is WAY to hot for anything else. Fall, can you hear me? Hurry up and get to Charleston... I need you!!!!