21 week check-in

How far along? 21 Weeks
Total weight gain: 12 lbs.
Maternity clothes? Pants: 100%   Tops: Some, but some of my regular tops are still fitting
Stretch marks? No, thank god
Best moment this week: Feeling regular, daily kicks
Sleep: Has been ok. I have been having some crazy dreams!
Missing Anything? Margaritas. Especially when we go out for Mexican.
Movement: Yes. It's the best feeling ever!
Food cravings: Drumstick ice cream cones
Anything making you queasy or sick: Only when I ate too many jelly beans at once
Gender: It's a boy!
Labor Signs: Just a few Braxton Hicks here and there
Symptoms: Fatigue, soar back, heartburn
Belly Button in or out? In, but very shallow
Wedding rings on or off? Still on
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy
Looking forward to: My appointment next week!

Ready For The Beach

         At least one of will be ready for the beach this summer. Since Quinten is due in early July I knew I needed to get him a bathing suit in at least a 0-3 month size. The problem? They seem to start most suits in 6 months size in all the kids stores I know of. I looked high and low for a swim suit for little man. Baby Gap, Carters, Gymboree, and Children's Place all had nothing. I wanted trunks and a shirt, so that my sweet babies skin is well protected. I searched online and in stores to no avail, and what do you know...? As soon as I stopped looking I stopped in a Crazy 8 store on a whim and found the cutest 0-3 month size swim suit ever! It is 2 pieces, trunks and a SPF 50 shirt. And to make it even cuter, the shirt has a hood with eyes. I could go on and on about this, but I will just show you instead!

Isn't it cute? I just love the frogs! Now if only mommy will be ready to brave putting on a swim suit any time this summer. I think shorts and a tank top may be my beach wear of choice. It is one downfall to having your little one smack dab in the middle of swim suit season. Mental note... only fall or winter babies from now on!

Labor Playlist

   I know it is really early, but I have started compositing a playlist on my Iphone for while I am in labor. With Madison I didn't have any music, and I remember wishing I had something to listen to, so time would pass faster. I have enlisted the help of my hubby, and the list we have so far is pretty humorous. Songs tend to take on whole new meanings when you are going through something like giving birth. We like a wide variety of music so the list includes everything from rock to country to rap. Here is a small taste of what we have. Maybe as my due date gets closer I will post the whole list.

1. Let's Get It Started- Black Eyed Peas
2. If You're Going Through Hell- Rodney Atkins
3. Push It- Salt N Peppa
4. You Shook Me All Night Long- AC/DC
5. Halo- Beyonce
6. Your Song- Elton John
7. Don't Stop Believing- Glee Cast

Weekly Checkin

       This has been a tough week end for our little family! Daddy has bronchitis, mommy has the flu, and sissy dislocated her arm. After two days in the ER though, we are all home and on the mend. Thank god for good doctors. Has anyone else ever realized that people only seem to get sick on the weekends when doctor's offices are closed? This seems to always be the case for our family.
      Anyways, I can't believe that as of this Tuesday little guy will be "half-baked". I don't know where the past 20 weeks of my pregnancy have gone. I really hope that the next 20 weeks fly by just as fast. Here is a check-in on mama and little man for the past week.

How far along? 19 weeks 5 days
Total weight gain: 11 lbs.
Maternity clothes? Pants: 100%   Tops: Some, but some of my regular tops are still fitting
Stretch marks? No new ones after my pregnancy with sissy
Best moment this week: Daddy feeling little man kick
Sleep: Hasn't been great. Mostly due to being sick
Missing Anything? Margaritas
Movement: Some, until yesterday, when little guy started moving around like crazy.
Food cravings: Fresh fruit
Anything making you queasy or sick: I have the flu, so almost everything.
Gender: Male!
Labor Signs: None
Symptoms: Fatigue, soar back, heartburn
Belly Button in or out? In, but very shallow
Wedding rings on or off? Still on
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy
Looking forward to: Our birthing classes and hospital tour

Pregnancy Must Haves

    We are almost to the half way mark! It is hard to believe that we will be meeting our little guy in 20 weeks or so. I decided that I would share some of the things that have helped me through this pregnancy so far!

Dunkin' Donuts Iced Coffee: It is even better if it is vanilla! This is my go to drink in the mornings. Going to school while pregnant is very stressful at times and picking up coffee on my way there is the only thing that motivates me to go some mornings.

Island Margarita Candle: This candle from Bath and Body Works is my all time favorite! It smells amazing, and reminds me of summer during these cold, dull, winter months. Both mommy and Quinten love taking warm baths with candles after a long day. He is always active when I am relaxed in the tub.

OPI Nail Polish: Especially in bright colors! Once again, this is something that lifts my moods in these winter months. Some of my favorite colors right now are Need Sunglasses, No Room For The Blues, Strawberry Margarita, Excuse Moi, and Gargantuan Green Grape.

Vasaline Cocoa Butter: This is what I am using to prevent my skin from drying out, especially on my belly. I love the smell of it, and it leaves me soft, but not greasy.

I am also in love with my body pillow, Smart Water, and Qdoba's burritos. I think that finding things that make your pregnancy fun is really important! All of these things are small but they make me happy, and being happy makes the pregnancy go faster.

Be My Valentine

       Tom and I decided to celebrate V-day a day early since I was supposed to work last night, and he doesn't like crowds anyways. We went to my OB appointment, which was just a super quick in and out, then took Maddie to McDonalds for breakfast. Next we went to Babies R Us and added a few things to our registry. One being the bedding I finally decided could work for the theme I want in the nursery.

        Next we went to the mall where my hubby kept asking me what I wanted for Valentines Day. I told him all the things I didn't want instead. No flowers because they die, no candy because I'm not a big sweets person, no clothes because I don't like maternity stuff for the most part, and no shoes (my obsession) because I can't even think about wearing heels right now. He decided to go with a Vera Bradley wallet, which matches the diaper bag he has put away for my b-day. 

       At this point Maddie was ready to go, so we dropped her off at Grandma's and went to my favorite place for dinner. Joe's Crab Shack! Not very romantic, but they just opened one close to us about a month ago, and I have been dying to go there. It is the one place I always insist on going on our Myrtle Beach vacations.

     Yesterday I wound up in the ER again. I passed out at work, and my co-workers forced me to go. My blood pressure was low, and they are sending me to a Cardiologist to make sure it isn't a more serious heart problem. Quinten is fine though, and had a strong heart beat of 150. I am so happy we got to have a nice V-day, and our night in the ER didn't throw off any plans. Today I plan on taking it easy, and trying to clean the house a bit. The Dr. told me not to over do it, but my house could really use some cleaning. If only my hubby and daughter knew how to pick up after themselves. LOL. I love my family but they make the biggest messes of anyone I have ever known.  

Fun Pregnancy Buys

      Today I got super motivated and cleaned out the closet in Madison's room to make room for some of brother's things. I got super emotional as I put aside her 24 month sized clothes to donate. They are so big! Where did my tiny baby girl go? *Sniff, sniff* After this I looked at her old infant car seat and low and behold, it expires in March. Boo! This lead me to start researching infant car seats with the hubby. After a lot of reading, we decided on the Graco Snugride 30. Thankfully Babies R Us is having their trade in event, so we can take the old car seat in and get 25% off of our new one. (See car seat below)

     After we get our tax money back Tom has promised to get me a present from him to me (not baby). He told me I can get whatever diaper bag I want! Woo hoo! I was going between a Vera Bradley and a Petunia Pickle Bottom bag. I finally chose the Vera Bradley since the outside of it is more neutral. Isn't it pretty? I thought it was sweet of him to want me to have something really nice that is baby related, but still just for me. Much more appreciated then the breast pump he was going to try to pass off as a gift.

      Not baby related at all, but don't you just love tax time? I know I do! It gives us a chance to pay off any debts we may have (this year is our wedding bands and my engagement rings), fix anything we need to on Tom's car (mine is a 2012 so it doesn't need any work), pay all our regular bills, and get to go on a "grown up" date. You know, where you leave the kids with grandma, go out to eat at a nice restaurant where you get to dress up, and don't have to worry about ordering a meal you know won't get eaten off the kids menu. Yea for tax time!