"Hurication" 2016

As most of you know, Charleston was hit by Hurricane Matthew that left destruction in his path along the southeast last week. We were so very lucky and blessed. On Tuesday, Jeffrey, Roxie, two of our close friends and I frantically packed our bags and headed for Atlanta. After prayer and watching the news on the edge of our seats, we decided to make the most of our "hurication". I firmly believe Melissa and Mike were the BEST people to have a Hurication with; we had a blast.

HOW TO HAVE A "HURICATOIN" IN ATLANTA 

Go to the College Football Hall of Fame.

Ride Sky-view and admire the gorgeous city.

Go shopping at Lenox Mall and order the best ATM cupcakes from Sprinkles.

Get your nails done.

Have coffee and lunch and talk for hours.

Go to the Atlanta Beer Fest.

Visit with old friends and laugh for hours.

Overall, we had a blast minus the news updates, and 24/7 phone updates we would check on our phones. All of us made it back safely after a great Hurrication and had zero damage to our homes or cars. We are SO blessed. Since we favored so well, we decided to clean out our closets and homes and gather items to donate to those who did not favor so well from the storm.

I am excited not only to clean out my home, but to help those in need as well. If you would like to donate anything or help, contact me! Or, if you know of anyone affected by the storm who needs help, let me know I would be glad to help in anyway I can.

Prayers to all affected!!

What to get the New Mom that is also Fun!

I have been researching, registering, and reading everything you "need" for baby. While looking through the internet I found these adorable non-necessary items that are just plain FUN for new moms or moms to be!!

THIS TOTE!!!! I am not really rocking a bump yet, so why not rock a fun tote that lets everyone know how excited and proud I am to be a new mom!!!

I would love this bar necklace with our precious little girls name on it. How amazing would this look for any new mom?

I NEED this tee!!! You can find different styles here and here!

It is always nice to feel valued and special and who better to tell you then a nice cup of coffee? This mug would be perfect as a fun mom-to-be gift!

What fun mom items do you love? Post them below, I would love to see what fun gifts are out there!!!

21 Week Bump Date

Some have said baby girl looks like me in this image. <3 td="">

How far along: 21 Weeks!

Update: We had baby girls 20 week anatomy scan and we are "watching" a few things. We will know more at our next ultrasound at 28 weeks. Praying everything resolves itself and that baby Nelly is 100% healthy and happy. Prayers are VERY much appreciated for our sweet baby girl and her development.

Weight Gain: 5 pounds still. 

Name: I think we have her sweet name picked out, but we are waiting to share until she arrives! "Nelly" is not her name-- it is a sweet little nickname my coworkers and friends have given her! 

I can't wait to hold this little hand!

What are we most excited about next: We are beginning to decorate her nursery. We have decided to go with a gold and white theme with blush pink accents. I feel like an interior decorator looking on the internet for all chic and classic baby things. We have completed our registry so that has been a breath of fresh air. We are registered at Babies-R-Us and Amazon. Go check them out! AND... if you feel generous send baby girl a little something! 

Movement: I am starting to feel her little movements and kicks! I am loving every second that I feel her! I still cannot believe how amazing our bodies are! 

Belly button: normal so far ;)

Size: She is the size of a large banana!

I think she looks like her daddy in this picture. 

How I’m feeling: 

• Little nervous-- As stated above, We had baby girls 20 week anatomy scan and we are "watching" a few things. We will know more at our next ultrasound at 28 weeks. Praying everything resolves itself and that baby Nelly is 100% healthy and happy. Prayers are VERY much appreciated for our sweet baby girl and her development. 
• Lots of painful heartburn.
• Lower back nerve pain.
• I have less energy and get tired much easier.

Sickness: Not much! Occasional nausea, but so much better than it was.

Cravings: 

• I’m honestly not craving a WHOLE lot. 
• All I want is water!!!!

Aversions: 

• EVERYTHING! Eating has been a challenge for me during my pregnancy. 

21 weeks!

Physical changes: 

• My bump has grown a little. She is still very tiny. My pants are getting tighter, but I can still wear all of my normal clothes. 
• My lower abdomen is solid as a rock. Bending over is getting harder everyday because she is sitting right in the way. 
• Baby Nelly is sitting on the right side most days so I have a cute little hard bulge on my right. 

Workout: I’ve still been continuing to work out every day! I am walking 3 miles, doing Pilates, and taking barre classes. 

Nursery:  We are beginning to clear out space in our condo and move things around to prepare for her arrival! We have her bedding picked out and have registered for what she/we need. We are going for a chic gold and white theme with blush pink accents. We want a sweet, classic "girly" room for our princess.

Pregnancy Workout

I love working out. I am one of "those people" who really enjoy running and pushing myself. If I feel cranky or stressed, going for a run always makes me feel like me again!

Since I have become pregnant, workout has become more difficult. Since I crave a good workout, I have been trying to stay as active as I can. Some weeks are better than others, but that is okay.

My Pregnancy Workout Schedule:

Monday: REST! -Sometimes I get a little 1-2 mile walk to fit into my schedule.

Tuesday: Pilates for an hour

Wednesday:Pilates for an hour

Thursday: Barre class

Friday: 3 mile walk/run

Saturday: REST

Sunday: 1-2 mile walk/run -some weights for arms and legs. 

Let me also say, it is SO important to know your body while you're working out and pregnant. If it doesn't feel right, STOP!!!!! Pregnancy is not the time to set goals and push yourself to new limits. Listen to your body and do what you can personally handle. If you have never worked out before, I would suggest walking. If you're like me and have been taking pilates and running 6 miles for over a year, then it is okay to continue since our bodies are used to it. 

Calling all mom's out there!!!! Moms or soon to be moms what is your workout routine? Are there any workouts I should try? 

20 Week Bump Date

20 weeks!

How far along: 20 WEEKS... 1/2 way!!!!  We get to meet our princess in 4 and a half months!!! 

Total weight gain: 5 pounds

Clothes:  Using the bellyband. I am still in my normal shirts and dresses but my pants are a bit uncomfortable buttoned. 

Sleep: I am having a major heart burn and acid reflux right before bed so a bottle of Tums has become our new bedroom decor. 

Cravings/Aversions: Water! I am always thirsty... Always! As far as food, I want red meat- steak and bacon. This is so unlike me! This little girl is 100% Jeffrey's mini-me. 

Symptoms:  heart burn and acid reflux... yuck! 

ENERGY:  I am tired, I am not going to lie, but I keep on plugging along! Jeffrey works from home next week so I am looking forward to extra help!

Exercise: 
Monday:Rest
Tuesday: Pilates
Wednesday: Pilates
Thursday: Barre
Friday: Walk/run 3 miles
Saturday: Rest
Sunday: Walk/run 3 miles

Mood: I feel really blessed still. Is it all happy and rainbows... hahaha, NO! I would be lying if I said pregnancy was all "perfection". Am I excited and blessed? Of course, but I am tired and hormonal still and that is okay, it's normal. I am human after all. So it's all rainbows with some lightening. Welcome to pregnancy!

Movement: I have felt her off and on. It is the coolest most amazing feeling EVER! There is nothing like it in the entire world. 

Miss anything?  Not really. I miss my mom and my friends back home in Atlanta. I miss their support and love for me and baby girl! I miss Jeffrey being at home because he works in Kansas Monday-Thursday, but these are "life misses" not pregnancy misses. 

Best moment this week: Diving more in God's word and scripture. I have been having a hard time emotionally so going to the word was exactly what I needed. 

Looking forward to: Jeffrey being able to feel her kick and move. 

Weddings vs. Babies

Having a baby and planning for said baby is 100 times more work then planning a wedding. Let me tell you, I had NO idea!!!! NO IDEA!

Here are my top five reasons why planning for a baby is the most work I have ever done:

1. Baby names vs. wedding vows: y'all, picking a name for your child is SO stressful. When I wrote my wedding vows I would write, erase, edit, write, erase... you get the idea... all day long. It took me months to write my vows and they still were not perfect. Does it matter that they weren't perfect, heck no! Jeff still loves me and life moves on. I never think about those vows in my day-to-day. Now, if you mess up your child's name... well, that will haunt you every day! You have to say that name, write that name, and become that name so you better like it!

2. Thank you notes: wedding vs. baby shower: It is so much fun registering and getting gifts in the mail. It is so exciting and adds to the bliss of having a baby; however, the millions of thank you notes are not so fun.

3. Baby room vs. wedding venue: When I was planning my wedding, I would look up all sorts of venues, arrangements, and decorations. I wanted my reception to look amazing but still within our budget. Creating a babies room is 100 times more stressful. Now our budget is even tighter and we have an entire room to fill for another human!!! Talk about stressful. Not to mention you're going to spend a lot of days and nights in this baby room so you want it to be nice and comfortable.

4. Baby's Birthday vs. Wedding day: I honestly should not have to write anything here. At my wedding I drank, danced, laughed, and looked beautiful! At our daughter's birth I don't believe I will really be doing any of those.

5.  Baby shower invites vs. wedding invites: When you get married you have to make a  list of guests you want to attend. I had no idea a baby's birth was the same. I had to send my mom a list of friends I wanted invited to different showers (making sure I didn't have anyone attending two showers or miss anyone). Then, I am having to coordinate schedules of when friends and family can come stay with us in Charleston to see her! Sweet baby is due in February and she has people booked to see her through May!!! I mean we are so blessed and if you want to remain my friend you better come love on me and my baby, but man alive are we booked!

So the verdict is in, I am here to tell you- planning for a baby is SO much more stressful then planning any wedding. Throw in exhaustion, hormones, and a bump and you have one crazy woman! So be kind to me and tell me how much I am glowing and that I am not crazy at all. Please and thank you!

Toilet Training Pup?

I love my pup Roxie So much!! She is my first baby and I would do anything for her. I know you are waiting for the BUT in this here blog post and let me tell you, it's a big one (insert song "I like big butts and I cannot lie"). I love her dearly, BUT why oh why can't she just use the toilet or take herself on walks? Is that to much to ask? Come on Roxie, learn to use the toilet inside-- it would really be a game changer!

Since Jeffrey is in another time zone 4 days a week my pregnant self has to hike it down the stairs morning, evening, and night after a LONG day of first graders and an hour of pilates... this momma is T-I-R-E-D!

Roxie is truly a blessing and brings so much joy to our lives and she is just so darn cute, BUT (there it is again), if she could learn to use the toilet she would be SO much more amazing.

Anyone else struggle with taking their pup outside or is it just 20 week pregnant me?