40 Weeks Pregnant with Baby Girl R

How far along? 40 weeks pregnant, I cant believe only a few more days until we meet our little girl.

How big is baby? Size of a watermelon.  I'm thinking she will be an 8lb baby.

Sleep? Not great but I'm sure better than after the baby comes.

Best moment this week?  We will be meeting our little munchkin.  If I don't go into labor on my own I will be induced on Friday.

Movement?  This is something I know I will miss.

The Girl's Nursery

We went with light grey walls and white, ivory and pink accents.  I just love how it turned out.

39 Weeks Pregnant with Baby Girl R

How far along? 39 Weeks- OMG only one more week!!!

How big is baby? The size of a Watermelon.  Sure looks that way!

Sleep? Same old, same old.

Best moment this week?  We finished the nursery, it is perfect!  At my weekly doctor's appointment I was 2 cm dilated and 70% effaced.  I also lost my mucus plug (TMI?).  I am thinking this little lady is going to show her face some time this weekend.  If not, I have a doctor appointment on Monday and he will send me in for an ultrasound to make sure the fluid levels are good and then we will go from there.  He said he would induce me on Tuesday if I wanted but I would prefer (if everything is ok with the girl) to wait until it happens on it's own.  If (and that is a big "if" because I think it will happen this weekend) it doesn't happen by next Thursday or Friday I will get induced.

Worst Moment this week?  I woke up with a horrible sore throat on Thursday morning, I am really hoping this little girl stays put until Momma feels better.  I can imagine how awful going through labor will be when it feels like I swallowed glass.  Luckily I don't have a fever and woke up this morning feeling better than yesterday so hopefully tomorrow will be even better.

Movement? I think she is ready to come out and stretch her little arms and legs because poor girl is running out of room.

Food cravings? Ice cubes and Mexican food...and vanilla/vanilla cupcakes.

Gender? Sweet Baby Girl...we are probably (90% sure?) going to name this little lady Hazel Riley Robinson.

What I miss?  Nothing really, just excited to meet her.

What I am looking forward to?  Cuddling with my sweet girl and nursing her.

Weekly wisdom?  Rest, because you won't have very much time for rest soon!

Milestones?  Baby girl can flex her limbs now.

38 Weeks Pregnant with Baby Girl R

How far along? 38 Weeks

How big is baby? The size of a Pumpkin, sure feels that way!

Sleep? Still not great but I think the nights of 8-9 hours of uninterrupted sleep is long gone, especially with a new baby on the way.

Best moment this week?  We had our couples shower and it was so amazing.  Our friends Drew, Eric, Alana, and Scott hosted for us.  They had the best caterer.  Let me just tell you they had a passed appetizer called candy bacon, o-m-g, it was like crack!  (not that I know what crack is like but I hear it is incredibly addicting lol)   Oh and they made Barrett open the presents, which was SO funny, especially when he thought a silver baby rattle was a little tiny baby dumbbell, so she can work out lol!!  My sis Kate came to visit and so did my best friend EJ, it was so great having them stay with us.

Movement? My tiny dancer does not like to sit still, she is always rolling and kicking.  I am really going to miss feeling her in there.

Food cravings? Ice cubes, so odd I know but I can't get enough

Gender? Sweet Baby Girl...we are probably (90% sure?) going to name this little lady Hazel Riley Robinson.

What I miss? Sleeping comfortably.

What I am looking forward to?  Meeting this sweet girl and putting the finishing touches on her nursery (pics to come, it is SO cute!)

Weekly wisdom?  Realize pregnancy is such a miracle and such a gift and appreciate everything your body does to grow this little one.

Milestones?  Baby might have an inch of hair already, although my hubby and I were both pretty bald at birth so I am guessing this little one will be no different.  I better get some Velcro for all the bows she has! (jk I will not Velcro my child's head...or will I? :-)

Food table at our Couples Shower



Food Table

37 Weeks Pregnant with Baby Girl R (FULL TERM WOOHOO!)

How far along? 37 Weeks - FULL TERM

How big is baby? The size of a Winter Melon (no idea)  18.9-20.9 inches and 6-9lbs.   The doctor thinks she will be high 7lbs if she goes to my due date and I'm ok with that.

Sleep? Ugh it's bad.  I get up to use the restroom so many times and it's hard for me to flip back and forth.

Best moment this week?  My BFF EJ and her husband Webster are coming to visit this weekend.  Some of our good friends are throwing us a couples shower which should be a lot of fun.  My sis Kaitlin is also coming and since she is one of my favorite people I am really looking forward to seeing her.

Movement? Lots of rolling around in there.  My Doctor said the baby has dropped and my cervix is thinning but not dilated yet.  I've been experiencing lightning crotch, it is the craziest thing, but I think it's just the baby has dropped and is putting pressure on my nerves.  My sweet little bean is running out of room and it's so funny when she moves to one side of my belly and it gets so lopsided.  I'm just soaking it all up while she's still in there.  Feeling your baby move inside your belly is one of the best moments in life, such a miracle.

Food cravings? Fruit and ice cubes.

Gender? Sweet Baby Girl...with no name :-)

What I miss?  Sleeping comfortably.

What I am looking forward to?  Our baby shower this weekend and getting to meet this little lady.

Weekly wisdom?  None really, just enjoy the last moments of being pregnant and the last moments of calm before our lives change forever.

Milestones?  Sweet baby girl is FULL TERM and could come at any time.

36 Weeks Pregnant with Baby Girl R- 9 MONTHS PREGNANT OMG!

How far along? 36 Weeks

How big is baby? The size of a Honeydew.

Sleep? I started sleeping with this new extra long pillow between my legs, it's basically as long as my whole leg and it helps SO much with the hip pain.  We also bought a new king size mattress and it just got delivered today.  I always have major anxiety about spending so much money on soemthing but I think it's well worth it.

Best moment this week?  Barrett and I got to spend a ton of one-on-one time together and it was so awesome.  I know this sounds crazy but I would spend every second of every day with him if I could, I know he does not feel the same lol.  Don't get me wrong, he loves me and loves spending time together but he is less co-dependant than I am (which is probably much healthier!)  I went to the doctor today and baby girl is doing great.  I passed my Strep B test which is an added bonus!  Holy hell do internal exams hurt, ouch!  I'm not dialated but my cervix is about half way thinned out.

Funniest Moment this week?  Oh this is hilarious, maybe only to me.  One of my mother-in-laws well meaning/sweet/foot in mouth friends asked if I had flown recently and told me this long story about how this 300+lb man sat next to her on a flight recently and how uncomfortable it was etc.  I responded "Oh I hear you, I hate it when you have a seat next to you and see someone coming that you don't want to sit next to, whether it is someone that has a baby (yes I know I will have a baby and I feel AWFUL for the parents of screaming babies on flights but I would prefer not to sit next to them, shoot me!), someone that 4c-" will clearly not be able to fit in just one seat etc"  Well then I understood why she asked if I'd flown when she said "Oh I wonder if that's what someone would think about you walking down the aisle." LOL- for the record, I do have a large belly BUT I fit in seats perfectly normal.  I couldn't stop laughing!!

Movement? Same as last week- Oh yes, but different than before, more rolling rather than punches or kicks. Lots of hiccups, poor thing!

Food cravings? Juice and seafood.

Gender? Sweet Baby Girl...with no name :-)

What I miss?  Staying up late.  We went to an awesome NYE dinner party and all the gals were drinking wine and dancing in the new year but this Momma couldn't wait to get her big booty home to bed.  We ended up leaving about a half hour before the ball drop and watched at home cuddled up in bed with our two furry boys, it was heaven.

What I am looking forward to?  Getting everything organized in the nursery and wrapping things up at work.  This little lady will be here before we know it and her Daddy and I cannot wait to meet her.

Weekly wisdom? Take all the advice with a grain of salt, everyone's experience is different, so don't put pressure on yourself.

Milestones?  Baby girl is getting closer and closer to being able to breathe on her own and only a couple more days til she is FULL TERM!

35 Weeks Pregnant with Baby Girl R

How far along? 35 Weeks

How big is baby? The size of a Coconut.

Sleep? My hips hurt horribly so sleep isn't great.  I like to go to bed early but then end up wide awake at around 1 or 2am.

Best moment this week?  We had a lovely baby shower in Cleveland, my mother-in-law outdid herself.  We got tons of great things for the baby.  We spent the week in Cleveland for Christmas and had a great time with family.  It was exhausting though!  We also received such wonderful Christmas gifts, we are so blessed.  Barrett got me the new Samsung tablet and I LOVE IT!

Movement? Oh yes, but different than before, more rolling rather than punches or kicks.  Lots of hiccups, poor thing!

Food cravings? Apple juice

Gender? Girl...with no name :-)

What I miss? Sleeping comfortably and having ab muscles.  You don't realize how much you use your core muscles until they are gone.

What I am looking forward to?  Getting the nursery done, we are on our way but once it's completed I will feel much better AND getting to full term.  As much as I want to meet this precious baby girl, I want her to continue to grow and fatten up.

Weekly wisdom? Bring Tums with you everywhere, do not leave home without them.

Milestones?  Baby girl's hearing is fully developed.  I've been talking to her all the time and singing (sorry girl, your Momma is tone deaf).  I went to the Dr. (I'm now going weekly) and the baby is head down and in position, not dialated yet.

Shopping at Bloomingdales with the hubby- waiting for him to come out of the dressing room.

Holy Cow!

Snow on the golf course- backyard of our new home.

My new favorite Christmas ornament

34 Weeks Pregnant with Baby Girl R

How far along? 34 Weeks

How big is baby? The size of a Butternut Squash. 

Sleep? I think it is safe to say, getting a good nights sleep is O-V-E-R!  I roll over from side to side all night long and wake up each time.  I kind of feel like a beached whale flopping back and forth, it ain't pretty!

Best moment this week?  I got ALL my chores/errands done this weekend and am looking forward to leaving for Cleveland on Wed night.  We are spending the week with my in-laws and I am so excited for the Christmas festivities to begin.

Worst moment this week?  Kind of a crazy story but I had to call the police on some crazy guy in the parking lot at the mall this weekend.  I had just returned something from Michael's and was pulling out of my parking spot.  A guy in an enormous pick up truck was in my way so I was patiently waiting until he pulled into the spot he was waiting for.   (I was having the best day and in a great mood because I was getting all my errands done and finding some amazing deals along the way so honestly nothing was going to put a damper on my day...until this.) He kept motioning for me to go around him but I couldn't because A.) that would put me in the wrong lane for oncoming traffic because this jackas* was in my lane. and B.) The parking lot was crowded with cars and families and kids so I really couldn't get around his obscenely huge truck.  Well this obviously ticked him off so he started to flip me off and aggressively pull into the parking spot, and almost hit my car.  He couldn't fit and kept pulling in and out violently.  So I get out of my car and ask him to calm down because he is freaking the f out.  He starts yelling at me and I tell him "look you jerk, I am 8 months pregnant and you almost hit me with your car!"  He then tells me that he hopes (and I quote) that I lose my baby.  Well I have met enough jerks in my life to just shrug off this a-holes comments and drive away, well he then runs up after my car and takes a picture of my license plate and tells me he is going to find me and harass me.  That is it, you do NOT threaten this Momma bear, especially after the awful, horrible shootings that happened in CT, you can never be too careful!  So I called 911, the cops showed up and were extremely kind.  I told them I felt embarrassed because I am sure he couldn't really find me but they assured me I did the right thing by calling them because he should not be threatening me and they would take it from there.  I think I was more shaken up by his threat because Barrett is out of town (I told him to go on a boys ski trip out west for his Birthday) and because of the CT shootings, he made me feel afraid and vulnerable. What a coward!  I honestly could not have made this up if I tried.

Movement? Tons and I love it!  But poor girl gets the hiccups a couple times a day, I feel so bad for her.

Food cravings? Nothing really.

Gender? Girl...with no name :-)

What I miss?  Sleeping comfortably.

What I am looking forward to?  CHRISTMAS!  Such a magical time of year.  This will be our last Christmas just the two of us.  Oh and how could I forget- my mother-in-law is throwing me a big baby shower on Saturday, I am SO excited!!

Weekly wisdom? Avoid mall parking lots the week before Christmas.

Milestones?  Baby is urinating about a pint a day, kinda gross huh?

33 Weeks Pregnant with Baby Girl R

How far along? 33 Weeks 

How big is baby? The size of a Durian (what the shiz is that???).

Sleep? A little better this week but still pretty bad.  I have a lot of hip pain and I wake up every time I need to roll over.

Best moment this week?  I had a doctor appointment today and baby girl is head down (oops I thought that little round bump on the top of my belly was her little head, turns out it was her tush I was talking to and patting lol!).  She is growing right on track.  We also took a newborn childcare class, it was great.  I mean some of the things I already knew but it was all in all very helpful.

Worst moment this week?  I've had a ton of anxiety, like overwhelming knock you off your feet anxiety.  It's awful!  

Movement? Tons of movement.  My belly looks so funny when she is rolling around in there.  Barrett got to see it and couldn't believe how much she was moving and shaking.

Food cravings? Nothing really.

Gender? Girl

What I miss?  Nothing to do with pregnancy but I miss my big fat NYC end of the year bonus.  It's hard to see the savings account so far down after buying and fixing up our house!

What I am looking forward to?  Getting the nursery done, which will happen after Christmas.

Weekly wisdom? I've got nothing for you this week :-). 

Milestones? Baby is keeping her eyes open when she is awake.

32 Weeks Pregnant with Baby Girl R (8 months, holy cow!)

How far along? 32 Weeks, 8 Months

How big is baby? The size of a Squash.

Sleep? Pretty bad, so bad in fact that I have decided to relocate to the guest bedroom.  I hate sleeping apart from my hubby but I have been keeping him up at nights with all my tossing and turning and I figure he might as well get a good nights sleep.

Best moment this week?  We had our maternity photos taken, hopefully I don't look like too much of a fatty fatty fatpants in them.  We also got our Christmas Tree decorated and went to a neighborhood Christmas Party.  I made homemade pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, they were delicious!

Worst moment this week?  I guess just the sleep deprivation, I am a person who loves my sleep. Oh and the fact that I woke up with a shooting pain behind my knee and a pulse thinking I had a blood clot and then couldn't stop thinking about it and how I was probably going to die, obviously I'm a crazy person.   

Movement? Baby girl is moving all around, I think she is running out of room in there, sorry girlfriend 8 more weeks to go!

Food cravings? Nothing really.

Gender? Girl

What I miss?  A full nights sleep, but I wonder when the next time that will happen, 18 years?

What I am looking forward to?  We have a breastfeeding class this week and a Childbirth class this weekend.  I'm hoping it makes me feel more prepared.

Weekly wisdom? Don't eat too much, it will feel like your stomach is literally going to explode and will cause you pain the rest of the day.

Milestones?  Baby is getting ready for her Birthday and is likely in the head down position. (hopefully!)

Our first Christmas Tree in our new home.

31 Weeks Pregnant with Baby Girl R

How far along? 31 weeks, this freaks me out, down to single digits in weeks.

How big is baby? The size of a Pineapple.

Sleep? Not good but still get about 6 hours so I shouldn't complain.

Best moment this week?  Well it hasn't happened yet but we are getting our Christmas tree so that will be my favorite thing this week.  I love decorating the tree.

Worst moment this week?  I had to take my car in to the shop to get fixed from where someone rear-ended me a few weeks ago.  Not horrible but annoying.

Movement? She is flipping all around as I type this :-)

Food cravings? Nothing really.

Gender? Girl

What I miss?  I'm feeling extremely pregnant this week.  I miss a flat tummy and wonder what the f my stomach is going to look like after I give birth...very scary!

What I am looking forward to?  My dr appointment on Wed and maternity photos this weekend.

Weekly wisdom? Don't eat too much, it will feel like your stomach is literally going to explode and will cause you pain the rest of the day. 

Milestones?  All five of her senses are in working order and her eyes now react to light.  Am I mean if I shine a flashlight on my belly?  (seems like fun, kind of like using the laser pointer for the cats)

30 Weeks Pregnant with Baby Girl R

How far along? 30 weeks, holy crap!  Only 10 more to go...

How big is baby? The size of a Cucumber.

Sleep? Well ladies and gentleman, I think the good nights sleep is over, I am so uncomfortable.  If I sleep on my right side, my shoulder has so much pain and if I sleep on my left my hips hurt so bad and get numb.

Best moment this week?  I had my VA baby shower, it was awesome.  My mom and sisters did a great job.  Thanksgiving was also amazing, I love to eat!

Worst moment this week?  Driving to VA with two cats.  One is an angel one turns into a crazy cat and screams the whole way.

Movement? I can see my belly move when she flips, it's the craziest thing.  She kicks me when I slouch too much, gotta have good posture.

Food cravings? Nothing other than Thanksgiving type food.

Gender? Girl

What I miss?  Balance.  I feel like whenever I try to put on my socks and balance on one foot, I almost fall.  Very comical.

What I am looking forward to?  Putting away and setting up all the wonderful baby gifts this little girl was gifted.

Weekly wisdom? Stop yelling at your husband, he loves you and doesn't mean to annoy the preggo beast.

Milestones? Baby girl is strong enough to grasp a finger.  (I can't wait to meet this little girl!)

29 Weeks Pregnant with Baby Girl R

How far along? 29 Weeks

How big is baby? The size of an Acorn Squash.

Sleep? Getting more and more uncomfortable.  Lots of aches and pains. 

Best moment this week?  Going to my doctor and hearing sweet baby girl's heartbeat (never gets old).  I also go to see one of the other doctors in the practice and he was awesome.  (I am meeting all the doctors in case one of them delivers this little girl instead of my doctor).

Worst moment this week?  None really, just stressing about all the money we are spending on the new house, but it's to be expected.

Movement? Mommy's little wiggle worm

Food cravings? Soft Pretzels with mustard.

Gender? Sweet baby girl, who will probably never have a name!

What I miss?  Rolling over in bed without waking up.  It's such a production!

What I am looking forward to?  Getting the nursery set up and my baby shower this weekend.  I can't wait to see my family.  Oh and also getting my hair highlighted and cut and a mani/pedi and wax, Momma needed it!

Weekly wisdom? Pamper yourself now because free time is coming to an end.

Milestones? Baby girl is getting chubbier by the day.

I look gross in this picture but had to document!

28 Weeks Pregnant with Baby Girl R (Hello 3rd Trimester)

How far along? 28 weeks

How big is baby? The size of an Eggplant.

Sleep? Not good but not horrible either. 

Best moment this week?  Settling into our new home and voting.

Movement? Girlfriend loves moving and shaking.

Food cravings? Apples and Grapefruit.

Gender? Girl

What I miss?  Staying up late and not feeling SO full every time I eat something.

What I am looking forward to?  My Virginia Baby shower that my mom and sisters are throwing me in two weeks and Thanksgiving with my family.

Weekly wisdom? Stop Stressing about every thing, you have a great life and everything will work out. 

Milestones? Baby girl's lungs are mature enough that she would probably survive if she was born now.  (YAY!)

27 Weeks Pregnant with Baby Girl R

How far along? 27 weeks

How big is baby? The size of a Rutabaga.

Sleep? It was just ok this week.  We moved into our new home and immediately had a hurricane so sleep has been a little off. 

Best moment this week?  We are officially in our new home.  It feels fabulous, except all the boxes glaring at me, giving me anxiety.  I had a Dr appointment this week and little lady is measuring right on track and her heartbeat was perfect.  I on the other hand have gained 25lbs this pregnancy...that is more than I wanted at this point.  I really need to watch what I am eating and lay off the carbs.  I also went to the dentist and had my teeth cleaned which I always love.

Worst moment this week?  Hurricane Sandy came through and caused a ton of damage to the surrounding areas, luckily our home was not damaged at all.  I am so thankful we moved out of NYC before this storm because we lived downtown in Battery Park, it would have been a mess.

Movement? Oh yes, she loves to move, wiggle and kick.

Food cravings? Halloween Candy...bad for the weight gain.

Gender? Girl

What I miss?  I'm feeling really pregnant this week.  Like it's hard to bend down to zip up my boots or put on my socks, so I guess I miss not feeling SO pregnant.

What I am looking forward to?  I can't wait to have everything unpacked and put away and start working on the nursery.  We painted it a light gray with white trim, the furniture is white and we will have light pink accents. 

Weekly wisdom? Don't lift too much weight, and don't stand on your feet too long or your little toes will turn into sausages and your ankles will disappear.

Milestones? Baby girl is showing brain activity this week.

26 Weeks Pregnant with Baby Girl R

How far along? 26 weeks

How big is baby? The size of a Head of Lettuce.

Sleep? We are moving this weekend so I am not getting much sleep.  I'm stressed with all the packing and everything we need to do to get into the new home. 

Best moment this week?  We got the floors done on the new house and they look fabulous! 

Worst moment this week?  Someone rear ended my car while I was driving to work on the PA Turnpike.  I was fine but really shaken up, like balling big crocodile tears on the phone with the hubby when I called to tell him what happened, thank goodness I had sunglasses on. 

Movement? She is momma's little wiggle worm.  Barrett can now feel her really well from the outside which is amazing and makes him feel more involved with the pregnancy.

Food cravings? None really.  Liquids.

Gender? Girl- we can't seem to pick a name!  It is between Hazel and Charlotte and we keep going back and forth.

What I miss?  Being able to shave my legs in the shower without getting so tired, I give up and end up with one shaven leg and one hairy leg, if I'm being honest! 

What I am looking forward to?  We move into our house this weekend.  I can't wait but am also dreading the unpacking plus there is still a lot to do to the house. 

Weekly wisdom? Go to the bathroom even when you don't think you need to, you never know when a sneeze will sneak up on you and it's pretty much a guarantee that I will pee my pants.

Milestones? Baby girl has eyelashes and will soon start practicing opening her eyes.  Wonder what color they will be, I have brown and her daddy has blue.

 

25 Weeks Pregnant with Baby Girl R

How far along? 25 weeks

How big is baby? The size of a Cauliflower Head. 

Sleep? It's getting harder to sleep as my belly restricts movement quite a bit.  Barrett calls me his little turtle because sometimes I need help getting up, kind of like a turtle stuck on his back lol.

Best moment this week?  My parents were in town.  My dad helped Barrett with the house while my mom and I hung out and did some packing.  It was really great to see them and have the help.

Movement? Tons, she is my tiny dancer.

Food cravings? None really.  Water.

Gender? Girl

What I miss?  Fitting into normal clothes, a flat tummy, wine, staying up later than 8pm, and being able to lift more (especially with packing). 

What I am looking forward to?  I'm looking forward to moving into our new home, the home that baby girl will come home to.  I can't wait to get the nursery set up.

Weekly wisdom? Relax and rest when I need to.  I tend to wear myself out and then end up in an awful mood because I did too much.

Milestones?  Baby is growing more fat, gotta love the baby chub!

NYC Flashback- Oktoberfest

Fall and Spring are my two favorite seasons, probably because they are mild buffers between Summer and Winter.  When I start to get sick of the harsh cold of winter, after the holiday season has come and gone, I daydream about warm Spring days and when I can't take another humid summer day I start fantasizing about pumpkin coffee, falling leaves and Oktoberfest.  There are a bunch of really fun German bars in NYC but my favorite is Zum Schneider.  You always have to get there early to get a spot to sit at one of the long communal tables, and when I say early I mean like 11am.  Once they open the doors you pick your seat amongst friends and strangers, order a ridiculously large beer, sausage and potatoes, and get ready for the band to start playing traditional German songs.  It's such a great time.  This bar is great around Christmas too because it's kind of the same thing but with traditional German Christmas songs.

Barrett and I, the first time I brought him to Zum Schneider.

Ryan and Barrett

Lauren, Christiane (our German friend who helped us translate the songs, she is also a great actress and has been appearing on Boardwalk Empire, very excited for her!), Ryan, Barrett and me

One of my bff's Britt and me

24 Weeks Pregnant with Baby Girl R

How far along? 24 weeks

How big is baby? The size of a Cantaloupe. 

Sleep? Sleeping pretty good, it's getting harder to move from side to side with the ever growing belly.

Best moment this week?  I feel really good and I'm  getting excited about meeting our little lady.  I went to meet my husband last night at the new house after work, I picked up our favorite Italian and when I got there he had a fire going in the fireplace.  Since we don't have any furniture there yet we put a blanket on the floor in front of the fireplace and had dinner, it was sweet, romantic and a wonderful memory.

Movement? Yes and I love it.

Food cravings? Pasta and bagels with cream cheese.

Gender? Girl

What I miss?  Not sure if this is normal at all or if I am just going through something but I've started getting really freaked out about thinking of life with another person in it...not just me and Barrett.  Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled with having this baby but am nervous about how life will change.  I know we have such wonderful things to look forward to but it is hard letting go of the previous life we had if that makes sense.  So much has changed and it's tough, we aren't two single mid twenty somethings in NYC living the good life, we got married, we moved to Philly, bought a house and are expecting our first baby.  These are all wonderful changes but changes nonetheless and in a relatively short period of time. 

What I am looking forward to?  Figuring out what we are going to name this little girl.  We have some contenders but aren't sure.  The names on my list are Charlotte, Caroline, Adelaide, and Hazel.  (the middle name is Riley- my mom's maiden name)

Weekly wisdom? Realize there is only so much I can do, I feel guilty all the time that I'm not doing enough.  My dear, sweet, wonderful, hardworking, caring husband has an amazing/stressful/demanding job and then he spends his weekends and evenings getting the new house ready for our family, he doesn't complain but I know he is exhausted and all I want to do is to help but there isn't a ton I can do being pregnant.  Don't get me wrong, I work full time too but I can't do much on the new house.  I try to take care of all or most of the household chores, errands, meal preparation etc but I still feel like I want to do more for him.  I am a very empathetic person, to a fault, where I internalize others feelings and thoughts and take them on as my own, so if he is feeling tired/stressed/overworked I feel it too and all I want is for him to be happy and relaxed all the time.

Milestones?  Baby girl's skin is becoming more opaque, thank goodness because see-through skin would freak me out!  I'm into my sixth month, time is flying by.



I don't know what is growing faster- the belly, boobies or butt!



23 Weeks Pregnant with Baby Girl R

How far along? 23 weeks

How big is baby? The size of a Grapefruit. 

Sleep? Woke up a lot this week in the middle of the night.  I don't think it's pregnancy related, I think it's thinking about ideas for the new house

Best moment this week?  I felt baby girl from the outside a ton- hard, strong kicks, it was awesome.

Movement? Yes, see above.

Food cravings? Bagels and cream cheese.

Gender? A beautiful baby GIRL!

What I miss? Energy and moving easily.  We were doing a lot of work on the new house this past weekend and I just don't move as easy as I used to, especially getting on and off the floor.  It was pretty comical if I do say so myself.

What I am looking forward to?  Moving into our first home and I know it's super early but I'm looking forward to the holidays.  I love spending time with family and fall/winter are so fun with all the great holidays (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas)...oh and let's not forget my fav "holiday" the end of daylight savings time, hello extra hour of sleep.

Weekly wisdom? Stop buying this baby so many clothes!  I know she will get a ton at my showers and I can fill in the gaps after I see what this little one is gifted.  Speaking of clothes, we have already been gifted the cutest little dress and tights from Auntie Maddie (Barrett's sister) and the preppiest/cutest outfits from Uncle Randy & Aunt Ciara.  I can't wait to dress up my real life baby doll!

Milestones? Baby girl is forming little nipples this week, who knew?  Guess I better stock up on itty bitty bikini tops :-)  Here is an odd milestone on my end and oddly enough it is also about nipples, my nipples started to leak a little bit, guess they are getting ready to feed this little lady.  I was a little shocked to say the least, but after my bff Google helped me research, it's totally normal.

22 Weeks Pregnant with Baby Girl R

How far along? 22 weeks

How big is baby? The size of a Papaya. 

Sleep? I've been sleeping pretty well lately. 

Best moment this week?  We closed on our new home!!!!   This weekend Barrett's brother Randy and his wife Ciara are coming for a visit and to help with the new house.  I can't wait to see them. 

Movement? Yes and I finally felt her from the outside, it really is amazing. 

Food cravings? Bagels with cream cheese.

Gender? A beautiful baby GIRL!

What I miss? Wine, having the first pumpkin beer of the season, and my back not hurting.

What I am looking forward to?  Getting our new home move in ready.  We have a lot of work to do but hope to be in by Halloween.

Weekly wisdom? I don't have much this week on the wisdom front.

Milestones? I went back for another ultrasound because baby girl wasn't cooperating last time and they couldn't get a clear picture of her 4th ventricle in her heart, they were able to get it and everything looks great.  I also got a hilarious picture of our little ninja girl, she was sleeping with her legs flat across her forehead...how in the world is that comfortable??

21 Weeks Pregnant with Baby Girl R

How far along? 21 weeks

How big is baby? The size of a Pomegranate.  (odd because I thought a banana was longer, oh well!)

Sleep? Still sleeping ok...still waking up for a couple hours each night. 

Best moment this week?  My sister-in-law Maddie is coming to visit this weekend and I can't wait to see her.

Movement? Yes and I can't wait for Barrett to get to feel it too.  That's pretty much one of the best things about being pregnant, feeling this lady move all around.

Food cravings? Oh just carbs...which means bad things for my thighs and butt!

Gender? A beautiful baby GIRL!

What I miss? Honestly, just my back not hurting, it is awful!!!

What I am looking forward to? I have a doctor appointment tomorrow and have a bunch of questions.  To bank the cord blood or not?  What can I do about my back?  When should I get my flu shot?  etc etc...  We are also joining a country club tomorrow, our new backyard is right on the golf course so it is super convenient.  I think it will be great for meeting new friends, plus Barrett can golf and I can relax by the pool with the girl (next summer of course).

Weekly wisdom? Well I learned a lot about what registry items to get and where to get them from my Aunt and cousin last night.  Also my Aunt researched the heck out of the safest crib mattresses (she's a doctor so I REALLY trust her opinion), bedding, etc.  What great info!  I decided to register at Amazon because they seemed to have the lowest prices on things.

Milestones? Baby girl already has about 6 million eggs in her womb, that's a lot of grand babies!   

20 Weeks Pregnant with Baby GIRL R

How far along? 20 weeks

How big is baby? The size of a Banana.

Sleep? I'm sleeping ok, I wake up every night between midnight and 2am and stay awake for a couple hours, it stinks!

Best moment this week?  Finding out we are going to have a new little lady in our lives and getting to see baby girl on the ultrasound.

Movement? Yes and I can't wait for Barrett to get to feel it too.

Food cravings? Chocolate Milk.

Gender? A beautiful baby GIRL!

What I miss? My back not hurting and not getting winded.

What I am looking forward to? Closing on the house and getting started on baby girl's nursery.  We have yet to agree on a name and I guess I am looking forward to naming her too.

Weekly wisdom? Don't tell anyone what names you are thinking of until you have picked one.  Gotta love all the opinions....

Milestones? Baby has working tastebuds.   



I don't know which is growing faster- my stomach or my backside lol!