Weeks 17 & 18

Last week I hit 18 weeks, and it's hard to believe in two weeks we'll be half way there!  I'm feeling much better these days in terms of nauseousness, which is so nice.  I'm still taking medicine and am pretty sure I still need it.  Walgreens had some computer issues the other week and I didn't get my refill in time and felt pretty awful just about the entire day.  Not sure when I'll be brave enough to try again to not take it!  Most foods sound good to me, so I feel like I'm eating a little more normally.  I could eat candy corn and cheese all day long, but I could do that before being pregnant so not sure that counts as cravings.  I am still really tired! Some mornings I feel great and all pumped to have energy all day but come 12:30 I feel ready for a nap.  I'm having a hard time getting comfortable at night and am up often to pee, so I'm sure that doesn't help!  
I am so so excited for our 20 week appointment and can't wait to find out what we're having.  We haven't talked about how we'll tell everyone, and Chris goes out of town right after our appointment, so I'm not sure how long I can keep a secret!  I really don't have a hutch either way.  I think I say he more than she, but really don't have any idea.  We've talked about names for both, but definitely will have to talk more once we know.  I'm a little anxious for the appointment, as I just want everything to look healthy.  I'm sure I won't sleep much the night before!
I've felt a few little movements, but it's so hard to tell.  I'm guessing more rolling around that I'm feeling than kicks.  I can't wait to feel kicks and movement that I'm positive are the baby.  We have lots of work to do to organize the baby room.  It's currently a guest room and craft room, which means I have a lot of organizing and purging to do to consolidate all of it to fit in our basement. Hopefully soon, because I am anxious to get to the fun stuff of decorating the room! I think finding out the gender will give me some more motivation.  I hope at least!!
Addi is so sweet when she talks about the baby (most of the time).  She acts so proud and excited to tell people that "mama has a baby in her belly!"  She hugs and kisses my belly every day and loves to rest her hand on my stomach when we're snuggling on the couch.  I certainly have my anxieties about adding a baby to our family, and know it will be a big adjustment for Addilyn.  But I am so excited for her to love on this baby and become a big sister.  
God is so so good and we are so thankful for this miracle and can't wait to meet him or her in March!

Pink Blush

top: c/o pink blush  leggings: gap maternity  scarf: world market  boots: ?

I'm excited for this post because this store has become one of my favorite stores.  It's funny because when I was pregnant with Addilyn I bought a lot of maternity clothes and at the end of my pregnancy I said if I got pregnant again I wouldn't buy any more maternity clothes.  Yea, so I was very wrong about that.  With Addilyn I was teaching and wore dressier clothes most of the time, and the season I was pregnant was different, as well as my style has changed this time around too.  But when buying new clothes I wanted them to be first of all comfortable, good quality and clothes that I could even wear for awhile (or forever) after I was pregnant.  Especially dresses and tops.  I mean, baggy and comfy are my two main requirements pregnant or not! 

Before I worked with Pink Blush for this post, I had ordered from them two times the month before. They always have amazing sales, free shipping and free shipping for exchanges, which I ended up doing.  They were great to work with for that order, as well as when I worked with them for this post. I bought these items and each one was under $15, with free shipping.  

I love them all and I'm pretty sure I'll wear all of them after this pregnancy.  That's acceptable if they are really cute right?

 sweater: c/o pink blush 

I picked out this sweater and I love it.  It is so comfortable and I love the zippers at the bottom.  It is perfect with leggings, but as my belly grows and it gets shorter I think it will look great with jeans. 

 baseball tee: c/o pink blush 

Notice the Little Mermaid? Addilyn had to make sure she got in the picture.  A maternity baseball tee has been on my pregnant wish list since I was pregnant with Addilyn, so I was excited when I got to pick this one!  I'm pretty sure it's supposed to be more of a shirt, but is long enough to be a dress on me.  Which makes it perfect for leggings, boots and a scarf this Fall and Winter.  

jeans: c/o  pink blush   sweater & boots: target
I was a little nervous to order jeans, as I never do online since sizes are always so different. But I knew their return policy was really easy so I figured if I had to exchange them it wouldn't be a big deal.  Thankfully they fit great, minus being a little long, which is always my problem.  I think I may cut the ends off and hem them so I don't have to roll them so many times!  They are full panel, which is my favorite as this belly grows.  
Pink Blush also has a non-maternity shop with pieces just as cute.  Both sites always have flash sales and deals of the day, with free shipping always.  I may check their sites many times a week and have had to restrain myself from ordering more.  I'm pretty sure I'll be buying a dress or two for our maternity pictures when that time comes!  Thank you so much Pink Blush!  I love my new clothes and may already have some more sitting in my cart waiting for me to buy them!
(Make sure to follow them on instagram to keep up with their sales and specials!)

pregnancy self esteem

Want to know how to make your pregnancy self esteem go completely downhill?  

Start looking up and comparing your 17 week baby bump or any week bump to someone else's.  Or read about how much weight others have or really haven't gained by this point.  Because somehow I thought it would be a good idea or help me feel better about this awkward pregnancy stage.  
Well big lesson learned. 
And I feel a little embarrassed to admit this but here is the ugly truth.  I felt jealous and starting wishing that I had this cute, hard little bump rather than feeling like I just look like I gained ten pounds of awkwardness.    I read this pregnant person's blog, who was about as far along as I was, and she was excited and celebrating each pound gained.  In all honesty I wanted to ask her really? Maybe that's because you're a size zero and every pound is placed into a cute little bump on your belly.    And then it was like this slap in the face.  When I realized that I was wishing for something completely superficial, when I have a healthy baby growing inside of me.  A baby that I would do anything for, carry any weight or look however I needed to if it meant he or she would be mine.
So here's to not letting comparisons get in the way of the happiness and joy I have for this baby.  And to knowing that every mama, belly, baby is different.  Probably a good lesson to learn now and try to hold on to throughout this pregnancy and then even after too, as I'm pretty sure that is something all moms and moms-to-be deal with.