Baby C's Nursey

So I finally have the room mostly done so I wanted to share a few pictures! This used to be Morgan's study/our storage room and there was a lot of work that we put into getting it baby ready! It is technically a 'den' so there isn't much space. We have the bassinet in our room, and won't be getting a crib until we know if we will be renewing our lease (it comes up in September!) so thankfully it's not too crowded.

view from door

the giraffes on the right are actually from a gift bag from one of my baby showers :)

yes, i know... PINK! the glider is a find from Craigslist and we haven't recovered the cushions yet....

the Batman print still needs a frame... and Morgan's power lifting trophys are on proud display! Like I said... mostly done! :)

the quilt made by Baby C's Grandma Bennett - and no, we won't be broadcasting his name yet... you will just have to wait until he is here :)

This is Bear's new favorite room, of course.

This print (albiedesigns on etsy) is the first thing I got for Baby C's room... I don't know how long we will be living here in the DC area, but I wanted a little keepsake from where Baby C was born :)

Bear keeps trying to 'play' with the giraffe. It has been good practice for 'leave it'!

35 weeks

Size of baby: 5 1/3 lbs, over18 inches long, about the size of a honey dew melon
Total weight gain: around 39 lbs.
Name: We have a name, but aren't really broadcasting it. It is a family name that is really special to us!
Stretch marks: please see 29 weeks - and still no stretch marks on my belly - woo hoo!
Sleep: Same as 34 weeks - good nights are more than 5 hrs of sleep and lots of hip pain/dead legs. bad nights are less than 4 hrs of sleep, where I just can't turn my head off and the next day  is the worst day of my life (or that is the way it feels...)
Best moment of the week: My work baby shower and hearing baby's heartbeat!!
Miss anything?: have I mentioned that I miss my normal feet? Because I do - I miss them. I miss being able to normal (read: not waddle) I miss my feet not tingling whenever I stand for more than a few minutes. I miss knowing if my feel have any bones in them. etc. etc. etc.
Movement: Still our crazy wiggler. He likes to push his butt up and then stretch out his arms and karate chop my left side. I have a feeling he is going to be stuck in there sideways (but lets hope not, no breech baby, please!)
 Belly button in or out?: Flat!
Food cravings: butterfingers, strawberries,
Queasy/sick?: Mostly just on the metro.
Symptoms: Swollen everything, braxton hicks contractions at night, headaches every day or so, insomnia, and just general exhaustion.
Wedding ring on or off?: off, off, off. My monster feet and ankles now have monster fingers to match.
General mood: Tired, but getting excited to be able to nest a little more!
Looking forward to: my last day of work (in the office) is a week from today!! yay!

at my work baby shower - with the beautiful sash we had to wear

another prego lady in my department - she is due 3 weeks after me so we got to have a combined shower :)

and yes - they even made us cut the cake. cheesy peasy.

34 weeks



Cate at 38 weeks and me at 34 weeks. :-O!

 Size of baby: almost 5 lbs, almost 18 inches long, about the size of a canteloupe
Total weight gain: around 38 lbs.
Name: We have a name, but aren't really broadcasting it. It is a family name that is really special to us!
Stretch marks: please see 29 weeks - and still no stretch marks on my belly - woo hoo!
Sleep: I have my good nights and my bad nights - good nights are more than 5 hrs of sleep, up at least twice, and lots of hip pain/dead legs. bad nights are less than 4 hrs of sleep, where I just stay awake thinking and watching TV, going through baby stuff, browsing Etsy and Pinterest, unable to switch my brain off.
Best moment of the week: I had my second baby shower this week thrown by my best friend, Ashley. My mom came in town, and so did some friends from Memphis - and they brought their 13 month old little boy! Alex loved rubbing my belly, it was adorable.
Miss anything?: My normal brain. Pregnancy brain has officially taken over and I don't feel like myself a lot of the time.
Movement: Still our crazy wiggler. goes crazy in water, when I eat butterfingers, and when I drink lemonade! Still getting hiccups every night!
Belly button in or out?: Flat!
Food cravings: cinnamon anything, strawberries and butterfingers.
Queasy/sick?: Mostly just on the metro
Symptoms: Swollen everything, braxton hicks contractions at night, headaches every day or so, insomnia, and just general exhaustion. On the bright side I haven't had problems with  my lower back! I think he moved up a bit this week.
Wedding ring on or off?: off, off, off. My monster feet and ankles now have monster fingers to match.
General mood: Exhausted.
Looking forward to: my third, and final, baby shower at work! :)


Heidi and her 2.5 month old Grace, and the hostess/BFF, Ashley (not shown, her 13 month old Lilly) I have the best old roommates/life long friends!



Maternity Pictures

So I won't lie - I was very much kicking myself for scheduling maternity/family pictures when I was 32 weeks pregnant. But either way, I think they turned out great and I'm very happy with them - our photography, Liz Maryann Photography, was amazing to work with and I think she captured us perfectly. Enjoy a few of my favorites! I'll be posting more on Facebook in the coming weeks...

33 weeks

I didn't do a bump picture this week because this is WAY better!

 Size of baby: a little over 4 lbs, over 17 inches, about the size of a pineapple
Total weight gain: around 37 lbs.
Name: We have a name, but aren't really broadcasting it. It is a family name that is really special to us!
Stretch marks: I was told by my sweet sister this is a little TMI. so for all future posts, just go back to 29 weeks and read it there - it hasn't changed ;)
Sleep: I started propping up my feet at night again to help with the swelling. Bear does not like this because that is where he usually starts out sleeping, and now he has no room!
Best moment of the week: We did an ultrasound when we were down in NC for our first baby shower - it was so wonderful to see him again! He is so squishy and we love it!
Miss anything?: MY FEET AND ANKLES. THEY ARE GONE!!!!!
Movement: Still our crazy wiggler. goes crazy in water, when I eat butterfingers, and when I drink lemonade! Still getting hiccups every night!
Belly button in or out?: Flat!
Food cravings: pasta!
Queasy/sick?: Mostly just on the metro
Symptoms: Monster feet, and heartburn a lot more often
Wedding ring on or off?: wedding band on, engagement ring off
General mood: This week was great, with the exception of the drive to/from NC. Lets ust say an 8 month pregnant lady should not be sitting in a car that long - even with breaks every hour!
Looking forward to: My next baby shower! We are so spoiled!

and one with my sweet husband.

32 weeks

Size of baby: 3 3/4 lbs, 16.7 inches long, about the size of a jicama


For those who don't know what that is.... and Baby C is probably like the big one....

 Total weight gain: around 35 lbs.
Name: We have a name, but aren't really broadcasting it. It is a family name that is really special to us!
Stretch marks: I was told by my sweet sister this is a little TMI. so for all future posts, just go back to 29 weeks and read it there - it hasn't changed ;)
Sleep: It was better than when we were on our babymoon - being in our own bed helped - and of course the prego pillow is a lifesaver. The heartburn continues to be a problem at night and I've also begun to notice that when I switch from side to side not only is it getting harder to move myself, but my hips are so achy when I do it!
Best moment of the week: Our OB appointments are always the best moments because we get to hear his strong heart beat! This week she put the sensor on my belly and he immediately swung over to the opposite side, so my belly was all lopsided. So she placed it there and he immediately moved back to the other side. He was not a fan of that thing for some reason! He finally calmed down and got to hear it though :)
Miss anything?: Diet Coke at any time and place I wanted it. Going back to work after a week and a half off was not easy, and my energy was pretty low - all I wanted was caffiene. but water was good too. ;)
Movement: Still our crazy wiggler. He flips and turns and head butts the front of my belly. He started getting hiccups when I laid down to sleep everynight.
Belly button in or out?: Flat!
Food cravings: strawberries
Queasy/sick?: Mostly just on the metro
Symptoms: Swelling feet, ankles, falling arches, lower back pain, swelling fingers!, and its pretty hard to breathe sometimes!
Wedding ring on or off?: wedding band on, engagement ring off
General mood: This week I had more crying, hard to control emotions, days than normal. So probably not the best moods.
Looking forward to: I was looking forward to my baby shower in NC and seeing a bunch of family!

i'm still trying to get used to the fact my belly attracts all spills, crumbs and stains!

31 weeks

Size of baby: 3 1/2 lbs, 16 inches long, about the size of a coconut
Total weight gain: around 35 lbs.
Name: We have a name, but aren't really broadcasting it. It is a family name that is really special to us!
Stretch marks: I was told by my sweet sister this is a little TMI. so for all future posts, just go back to 29 weeks and read it there - it hasn't changed ;)
Sleep: This week we were on our baby moon and in an unfamiliar bed with no prego pillow - so sleep alluded me most of the week. I also had really bad heartburn most nights, and my feet were so swollen and uncomfortable they kept throbbing and waking me up (weird!)
Best moment of the week: Probably when Morgan and I went to Wilmington our full first day on vacation. We walked along the beach where we had our ring ceremony, it was right at sunset and baby C was going crazy because we were walking in the water.
Miss anything?: This week I missed the second trimester very much. I had pretty bad morning sickness, exhaustion, everything.
Movement: Still our crazy wiggler. He flips and turns and head butts the front of my belly. He also likes to kick my bladder when I've drank too much and my stomach when it's too full.
Belly button in or out?: In....and still getting flatter..
Food cravings: pizza!
Queasy/sick?: Yes - third trimester morning sickness! blech.
Symptoms: So this week was the week of monster feet and cankles. With the traveling and the hotter weather, the swelling came on - Morgan had to rub them everyday to try and push out some of the fluid and so they wouldn't throb so much. Very uncomfortable! My arches also have been falling since probably week 28, so my arches were sore and my feet were huge.
Wedding ring on or off?: I wore my wedding band the first day of vacation and then it was off until we got back to DC
General mood: I actually was in a really good most of the week. I was so happy to be on vacation just with Morgan and he had just graduated so it was like this huge relief had come over the both of us. We were both exhausted but happy to be together, just relaxing and reading and sleeping and eating.
Looking forward to: This week I was trying to look forward to our maternity pictures - but I was gaining so much weight and was so swollen, I was just trying to be happy in the moment :)

30 weeks

So this past month has been crazy busy - all in a good way. Morgan graduated, we went on our babymoon and then I had my first baby shower! In the midst of this I fell behind on updating, so these will be a little more difficult because my prego brain has officially taken over my normal brain and remembering things is not one of prego brain's strengths. So here we go...

Size of baby: almost 3 lbs, 15.7 inches long, about the size of a large cabbage
Total weight gain: over 30 lbs. lets just leave it at that.
Name: We have a name, but aren't really broadcasting it. It is a family name that is really special to us!
Stretch marks: I was told by my sweet sister this is a little TMI. so for all future posts, just go back to 29 weeks and read it there - it hasn't changed ;)
Sleep: I started experiencing heart burn at night, especially when I sleep on my right side so I started sleeping with another pillow under my head, on top of my prego pillow - so I'm starting to get more upright. I only get up about twice a night to go to the bathroom, so that is good. And I stopped HAVING to eat in the middle of the night, so that is good too :)
Best moment of the week: Morgan's graduation. I can't express how proud I was (and still am) of him.
Miss anything?: my feet. This is the week that my feet started swelling something terrible. They would start out OK in the morning, and then by the end of the day they were, what I call, monster feet. Also, I started officially walking like a prego lady - waddling with my hand on my lower back applying pressure as I walk. Very attractive.
Movement: Still super active, which I love most of the time. He moved up into my ribs a few times, and that was weird feeling.
Belly button in or out?: In....and still getting flatter..
Food cravings: DQ hot fudge sundaes.
Queasy/sick?: On the metro in the evenings when I'm on my way home from work.
Symptoms: Along with the feet swelling my lower back continues to get more sore and achy everyday. Also, emotions are off the chain (and not in the good way)
Wedding ring on or off?: Wedding band is on, engagement ring is off
General mood: I have my good moments and bad moments each day.
Looking forward to: This week I was looking forward to going on the babymoon. We left 2 days after Morgan graduated.

29 weeks

Size of baby: almost 2 1/2 lbs, 15 inches long, about the size of a butternut squash
Total weight gain: over 30 lbs. lets just leave it at that.
Name: We have a name, but aren't really broadcasting it. It is a family name that is really special to us!
Stretch marks: on my bum... atleast they are fading a little bit now...
Sleep: Still experiencing prego insomnia something fierce. Getting used to less sleep!
Best moment of the week: my first Mother's Day! Even though Baby C isn't here yet, I have felt the changes in my perspective and life beginning to change since we found out we were pregnant! Morgan made the day very special.
Miss anything?: I miss the "control" over my emotions/reactions. For the majority of my pregnancy I've felt pretty even keeled until 2 weeks ago and apparently with the onset of the third trimester that has all changed! I'm beginning to recognize when those feelings come on more quickly now so I can recognize that they aren't "real" and not feel so crazy... but it has a been a learning experience.
Movement: Continues to be very active! My mom was able to see him "do the wave" as I call it when we FaceTimed on Mother's Day and that was fun.
Belly button in or out?: In....and still getting flatter..
Food cravings: strawberries, raspberries, icecream.
Queasy/sick?: usually only on the metro. But if I'm really full and baby boy starts going crazy, it brings on some waves of nausea
Symptoms: Lots of achiness! By the end of the day my feet ache, my back aches, and especially the space right above my belly. I can feel Baby C (and I) going through a growth spurt!
Wedding ring on or off?: Wedding band is on, engagement ring is off
General mood: I'm still very happy most of the time. but those "crazy" moments I wrote about earlier came a little more often than I would have liked.
Looking forward to: Morgan graduates with his masters on Friday! We leave for our babymoon on Sunday!

Mother's Day

Date Night!

and a post cannot go by without a picture of Bear

28 weeks

Size of baby: almost 2 1/4 lbs, 14.8 inches long, about the size of a head of chinese cabbage (say what??)
Total weight gain: 30 lbs
Name: We have a name, but aren't really broadcasting it. It is a family name that is really special to us!
Stretch marks: on my bum... atleast they are fading a little bit now...
Sleep: Well, when I actually GO to sleep its been fine - wake up to change sides, go to the bathroom, or eat - but I've been having a bit of pregnancy insomnia lately and not going to bed until midnight or after. I can't seem to turn my mind off and baby boy can't seem to stop wiggling :)
Best moment of the week: Last night Morgan was saying goodnight to baby boy and he always feels for his kicks and wiggles. Well last night he was laying completely horizontally, so Morgan had his left hand on one side of my belly and his right hand on the other side, and baby boy kept stretching out and bumping both sides. It was so fun to watch Morgan feel that!
Miss anything?: My energy! Now that the third trimester has started, I've noticed a big difference in my energy levels already. It reminds me a lot of the first trimester, actually! I have to sit down and rest every hour, and normal activities, such as walking from the car to the church, is a chore sometimes!
Movement: Continues to be very active! He was pretty quiet for a few days this week, but hes been making it up every other day. I'm used to the movements when I lay or sit down, but it continues to amaze me when hes bouncin around when I'm standing or walking around... and especially in the shower or the pool.
Belly button in or out?: In....and still getting flatter..
Food cravings: strawberries, strawberries, strawberries.
Queasy/sick?: yes... unfortunately I've experienced some of that third trimester morning sickness. and the metro still plagues me.
Symptoms: This week I've felt more braxton hicks contractions, and my feet hurt a lot more! I can't really be barefoot anymore without my feet starting to ache after about 30 minutes. I've started wearing my flips flops when I'm home, and heels are getting harder to wear at work.
Wedding ring on or off?: Wedding band is on, engagement ring is off - probably until after baby boy gets here!
General mood: This week has been fine - the nausea and insomnia haven't been fun - but baby boy is moving more and more - we heard his heartbeat again on Thursday at our OB appointment, and I continue to get bigger and bigger which means he's growing healthy and strong! 
Looking forward to: Morgan's last paper and one of his finals is tonight, so I'm excited for that to be over! Other than that, I'm still looking forward to graduation - and our babymoon right after! :)

my first baby boy being a baby

he likes to nest just as much as i do

27 weeks

Size of baby: almost 2 lbs!, 14 1/2 inches long, about the size of a head of cauliflower
Total weight gain: 27 lbs
Name: We have a name, but aren't really broadcasting it. It is a family name that is really special to us!
Stretch marks: on my bum... atleast they are fading a little bit now...
Sleep: It has been about the same. I was down in Ft. Lauderdale with my mom for half of my 27th week and she got to experience my weird have-to-get-up-in-the-middle-of-the-night-to-eat-rituals. Also, lets just say I missed my body pillow!! However, I've still been sleeping better since I started taking a ZMA supplement. Its getting harder and harder to switch sides (which I have to do every hour or so), but I'm learning!
Best moment of the week: Probably when my mom was saying goodbye to Baby C he gave a big kick! Also, when I got to the airport my husband had a bouquet of beautiful hot pink roses :)
Miss anything?: This week I miss being able to sit for longer than 30 minutes at a time without getting numb in some area of my body or not being able to breathe deeply. And the usual stuff like laying on my back and drinking Diet Coke whenever I want.
Movement: He has been as active as ever this week (I feel like I'm going to keep saying that every week until he gets here!) - He still sticks to my lower belly on the left - but in the last few days he has been moving up farther into my ribs which I have never felt before, its awesome to have less pressure on my bladder/organs.
Belly button in or out?: In....and still getting flatter..
Food cravings: strawberries and chocolate cake.
Queasy/sick?: On my metro ride home from work almost every evening. I've been very thankful for the kind people who have given up their seat for me.
Symptoms: Still normal pregnancy stuff - round ligament pain, itchy tummy and lower back aches. Lots of soreness on my lower belly, I can feel a growth spurt coming. I've been having braxton hicks contractions in every other evening or so, which makes the nausea especially not fun.
Wedding ring on or off?: Wedding band is on, engagement ring is off - probably until after baby boy gets here!
General mood: This week I've been particularly emotional - random crying and moodiness. I've been in kind of a funk coming back to work after vacation and also with Morgan being buried in school, work and job hunting (which at least that part is over, yay!)... I've been trying to get outside walking more, which always helps my mood :)
Looking forward to: This is a few weeks off - but I can't stop thinking about it! Morgan is graduating on May 17th with his masters, and I CAN'T WAIT!

and of course, some pictures from vacation...

my nice swollen feet on the sand.





at our fave breakfast spot - Ocean View Delight :)

blurry pic from the delicious homemade icecream shop around the corner from our hotel

I still dream about this lemonade. seriously baby boy jumps and kicks for joy everytime i drink lemonade!

introducing baby boy to the Atlantic ocean!

had to visit a local DDD place - buttermilk panckaes were delish!

bump and the beach!





strawberry lemonade. very addicting.

pregnancy craving to the max!

please ignore my face/double chin - baby boy was soaking in some vitamin D... for about 5 minutes!