Another favorite

 top: c/o shein  sweater: c/o shein   leggings: gap   boots: zulily 

I wore this outfit on Thanksgiving and it's one of my favorite maternity outfits.  I wore this top a handful of times this last spring and summer, and love that I can wear it in the fall and winter, and pregnant.  Loose, flowy and comfortable.  My favorite things.  

Hope you all have a great weekend! Happy almost Friday! 

25 and 26 weeks

I feel like time is going very fast these days!  As much as I'm looking forward to not being pregnant, I am getting a little more nervous as time gets closer to our baby boy being here.  I feel anxious about what our days will look like, how Addilyn will do with a new baby and how I'll survive with no sleep for a long time!  I cannot wait to meet our sweet boy and am so so grateful he is on his way, but I am definitely feeling more nerves these days about how our transition will go.  I've been enjoying Addilyn a ton lately and her personality is just becoming so funny and enjoyable.  I get nervous thinking about not being able to give her as much attention and how I'm sure she'll struggle with the transition.  
I'm feeling big!  I am starting to have a hard time bending over or sitting with Addi and playing.  The other afternoon we were playing for about an hour and half of chase, dancing and playing around on the floor and I was so tired after.  It makes me wonder how the next 14 weeks will go!  Chris was out of town last weekend and like normally when he's gone, I slept quite poorly.  Thankfully this last week has been a little better with sleep.  It is hard for me to get comfortable and sleep more than two hours straight without waking up, most nights.  
I've been doing a really good job working out the last few weeks.  About four or five times a week I've done a workout video.  Either a modified Fitness Blender video, ones I've found on You Tube, or a maternity one on Beach Body on demand.  I feel good when I do them, and hope that it helps my recovery and ability to get back in shape after the baby is here.  (Not making a difference in weight gain - that just keeps on coming!) On Thanksgiving I did a 5K Turkey Trot with my sister and mom.  We did it last year, but walked this year! I've always thought it'd be fun to do a race when you're pregnant and someday tell our baby that he did a 5K. :)

I feel baby boy move all the time.  A few times I can see my belly shake from the outside and it still surprises me.  I remember near the end when it gets so clear that there's a hand or foot moving across your belly and I'm sure we'll get there soon!  It amazes me that he's really in there growing and moving all around.  
While I may be feeling lots of nerves these last two weeks, I am beyond excited to hold our sweet baby and have him join our family.  14 more weeks baby boy! 
More about this cozy cardigan:

cardigan: c/o shein   top: old navy 

How to make your belly look smaller

dress: c/o shein   scarf: ebay  boots: dsw  

Want to know how to make your big belly look smaller?  Wear a scarf that looks like it's about to take over your body.  This will help your self esteem, especially after last night.  I decided to take a bath because my body was not feeling great and sadly my belly (or my boobs) didn't even come close to being under water, to which Addilyn thought was hysterical.  She kept running back in the bathroom, standing next to the tub and cracking up.  Glad you think my body is so funny.  Thank you for helping me make my bath so relaxing.

In other news, this sweater is wonderful.  It's non maternity, but super stretchy.  Also love that it's holey, because my overheated pregnant gets hot way too fast!

Real Community

dress: target   necklace: groopdealz   boots: dsw  

I read a lot about the blogging community and have loved others I've met and do feel like it has been and will continue to be a blessing.  BUT it cannot compare to real life community. 
I've been thinking a lot about the blessings that come from being in a community with others, as I have been feeling very blessed and encouraged lately by those who have prayed for us the last two years and are already in love with our daughter. It made me so grateful that I was in a relationship with so many others, whether my small group, my girls' night group or friends at school, throughout our whole struggle. 
There were a lot of times during those two years that I had a hard time being around others.  Each of my different social groups (church, school, friends) were all in the young kids, pregnant, baby phase and there were many times when it was a struggle to be around them, as it was a constant reminder of what I didn't have but so badly wanted.  
I remember a few times telling Chris I just wanted to move away and it just be the two of us, as that seemed easier.  For you it may not be a baby, but maybe others around you have a house you want, a job you're wishing for or a season free of life's trials.  Whatever it is, I think it's easy to want to be by yourself and distance yourself from others, as you feel like they have no idea what you are going through. Which is probably true.  But there is no way others can pray for you, encourage you and help if you don't let them in to what you are going through.  

This is not to say that I don't think it is wise and necessary to say no to things and take some breaks from things sometimes, as I did.  But I'm thankful that I had friends and family that were invested in praying for me and encouraging me, as I can't imagine going through life's struggles without real community.  And it makes going through life's joys even better!
I'm so thankful to be surrounded by real community during our struggles and to be continued to be surrounded by community during our celebrations.  

Never Have I Ever

blazer: c/o sammy dress     bag:  c/o sammydress    pants:  H&M maternity   wedges: target

owned a chiffon blazer until now.  I am in love with this one and you can own it for only $7.00. 

bought Chris clothes online, but I recently came across these men's jeans that I wouldn't mind him owning. 
had an easy time passing up a dessert, like this peanut butter cup banana bread I made this week for small group.  Chocolate, peanut butter and bananas are always a win for me.
expected to find this on our amazon wish list: cross bow and arrows.  They fit nicely next to our baby dressers.   Are you really wanting to buy these Chris? 

   loved a sewing project as much I love the blanket I made this week for our baby girl.  

Thank you Whitney for this post idea!  Hope you're having a good week!

I May Be Crazy

dress: old navy   necklace: groopdealz   leggings: jcpenney   wedges: target
I can't help but feel that pregnancy hormones have made me a little crazy.   For example last night I had a minor freak out over ridiculous things.  
I sat outside for about an hour yesterday and when I walked into the bathroom to get ready for bed, noticed an awkward square of sun burn on my chest.  Follow that by being convinced I found a gigantic stretch mark on my side.  Followed by seeing every blue vein on my stomach and chest shinning 100 times brighter than normal, making me convinced something was not okay. 
Thanks to my bright red square on my chest, possible early stretch marks and alien like veins I tried very hard not to cry.  
If I was southerner I'd use that over used phrase "bless his heart" in reference to Chris dealing me and my irrational emotions.  He quickly convinced me my stretch mark was a scratch (which I think it was), and read online that the bright veins are because my heart is working harder.  
All things that a night of sleep and a new day couldn't fix.    
Speaking of irrational things . . . Last week I spent many hours working on a pink bumper for the crib and when I was done, couldn't get over a fear that our baby was really a boy.  I blame part of it on a blog I read that morning where the girl was told she was having a girl at her 20 week appointment, then found at at her 26 week appointment it was a boy.  

Not that having a boy would be bad at all, but a boy coming home to a pink crib, summer dresses and a girl name is not quite what I want.  
Thankfully this silly fear was easily resolved as we went to one of those ultrasound places to get another look at our baby and she is still a she.  They gave us a glimpse in 3D and she was covering her sweet face most of the time.  

And even though I am fully aware I am pregnant, seeing my baby makes it so much more real and reminds me how all these hormones, changes and overwhelming feelings are SO worth it!