Friday 5

Friday again yall and Christmas shopping round 3 for me this weekend! (round 1 I personal shopped for my parents, round 2 for my husband and now my turn...whew- lesson learned? I could totally be employed as a personal shopper) I also need to get my house cleaned (only a few spiders living in the corners haha) and fridge cleaned out (maybe stocked too) you know...all of the things I haven't really touched with the hubs being away since one week from today he will finally be home! I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend ahead! Linking up today with the usual: Christina, April, Darci, Natasha , Amanda over at Meet @ the Barre and Karli with September Farm

 

I want to thank the fabulous Katie and Mia for nominating me for this and I will definitely do this fun post next week! I've been dragging lately!

This- all of this. From letting her natural color come out to looking fabulous pregnant. Cheers to Blake! My fav look of the week:

Speaking of Blake, I was bored and needed a new show to binge watch (since I'm completely caught up now on Nashville and have to wait a week between episodes!) Ok so don't laugh but do give me your opinions: I just started season one of Gossip Girl yesterday

Love how cozy the view is this year from sofa and can't wait for Seth to see all of the decor! This weekend? Second floor tree needs to go up!

How about my favorite recent purchase of our new stockings? I adore these babies and they were SUCH a steal from 123 Creations. Having four hanging is really starting to get me emotional too! (hubs, myself, Emma & Baby O)

18 Week Bumpdate

"Mama is finally feeling some kicks & movement in there!"

How far along? 18 weeks & 5 days

Size of Baby: Sweet potato! 5.6 inches and 6.7 oz

Total weight gain/loss: I'm anxious to see- my scales at home say only up 4 from very first appointment but I find that weird. We'll find out at December 15th appointment (I hate the doctor's scales though! Boo!)

Symptoms: Dry and tired eyes- this is a new one. Still loving everything about this journey though. I was talking to Julie from Just the Joys saying that with this easy ride pregnancy I'm hoping delivery/labor isn't going to be horrendous! (haha)

Maternity clothes? I've been finding such great deals via Ebay, etc. on cute wintery tops that tie and sweaters. I'm a turtleneck gal too in the winter!

Stretch marks? Nope thank goodness... still using the Q10 stretch mark cream from Palmers and every lotion imaginable. Not too itchy yet either! Massaging that cream on the tatas though like nobody's business still!

Sleep: Ordering the snoogle on Friday to see if it helps curb my back sleeping. Sleeping on my side only is so annoying ...

Best moment this week: Ready for this???!! FEELING MY SUPER ACTIVE CHILD ROCKIN' OUT each night! Last night he or she did something almost 6 times in a row. I literally tear up and laugh out loud every time in pure amazement! Happened 4 nights in a row now.

Miss Anything? CAFFEINE still and holiday cocktails

Movement: Well we covered this in best moment! :)

Food cravings: Fage greek yogurt for the win in cheery/pomegranate

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope

Have you started to show yet: Heck yea

Gender prediction: I still feel like its a baby boy for some reason - 12 days until we know for sure!!!!!!

Nursery: You can see it here (of course paint still needs to be determined, etc. but the blank canvas is ready for us!)

Workouts: Lots of squat routines with hand weights and stretching to help with leg cramps - the random nicer weather has helped too with getting outside

Labor Signs: I'll get back to ya on that one...

Belly Button in or out? In

Wedding rings on or off? On but feel bigger- I think that happens in winter though

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy but getting frustrated easily and exhausted... I'm entitled to some mood swings right!

Looking forward to: Hubby back in 9 days! Our gender appointment!

                week 12                            week 13                           week 14                     week 15
                           

                           Week 16                                   Week 17                                        Week 18

Favorite Things: Gifts under $100

Time for the third and final installment of this series and today we are focusing on gifts for anyone under $100. Budget-friendly is my favorite word combo so this one was fun for me. Also, be sure to check out as many other posts as possible because this is the time to knock off your entire Christmas buying list people! Have fun with it- and can you believe it is December and OFFICIALLY the most wonderful time of the year?! Whew!

Linking up with the lovely Elise, Katie, Zelle & April

 

Weekending

What a fabulous 5 day weekend! Today will be a struggle for real! I ate so much, spent some much needed time with family and got to catch up and also spend time with my girlfriends. In my opinion, it really doesn't get much better than that, am I right? Friday I participated in some black Friday shopping (just a tad) and then Saturday I headed to Norfolk to Hillary & Ryan's engagement party. Picture this: outdoor oyster roast with the best cider and hot chocolate bar, BBQ and also the most decadent sweets bar ever! Fire pits and string lights for days and everything situated by the pool- so beautiful! Their wedding is February 28th and I am so excited for winter nuptials this year!

Since Heather is still at the hospital in Norfolk with the babies, she was my date and I had a sleepover with her that night. Seeing my girlfriends, catching up, greek dinner date with Heather afterwards and then cuddling those sweet babes was just what I needed! Those sweet babes by the way are doing SO well! Both over 6 pounds now and 19.5 inches long! Still shooting to be home before Christmas so keep sending those prayers!

I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend and let me know what cyber Monday deal is catching your eye! Linking up today with the lovely Biana from B Loved Boston for Weekending

The happy couple!! Countdown to February 28th is on!

Hot chocolate bar!

Holding Miss Madelyn for the first time!

Friday 5 (well 4)

This has been an amazing week with friends and family and double thanksgiving dinners! (I have also doubled in weight I'm sure of it!) I hope everyone had a fabulous holiday and hopefully ya'll are still enjoying some time off and of course some leftovers. Can you believe it is on to December now? Wow! Linking up today with the usual gang: Christina, April, Darci, Natasha , Amanda over at Meet @ the Barre and Karli with September Farm - join in and enjoy your weekend!

Hubs and I were chosen by Black & Decker to have our picture and home featured on a billboard in Times Square NYC until December 24th- so..all of my lovely blogging friends in NYC keep an eye out since I won't be able to see it! Now we are entered to win their sweepstakes of 10,000 towards your reno and new tools! So exciting!

Sending out Christmas cards soon? Someone posted this article on 'How to Make Your Last Name Plural This Christmas Season' and I thought it was an interesting read!

The Definitive Guide to Pluralizing Your Last Name

Last letter(s) of last name	What should you add to make it plural?	Does it need an apostrophe?
a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h (see exceptions below), i, j, k, l, m, n, o, p, q, r, t, u, v, w, y	-s	NO
s, x, z, ch, sh	-es	NO

Since we're on the subject of Christmas- this video made my week! I just adore all the commercials these two do together! (I want to hang with them in real life! haha)

Just to show off a little... Thanksgiving looked like this for Baby O and myself! Sooo good! I really wish the hubs was here to enjoy it with us! Not too much longer babe!

17 Week Bumpdate

How far along? 17 Weeks & 5 days

Size of Baby: Onion! 5.1 inches and 5.9 oz

Total weight gain/loss: up 2 pounds from last month's appointment (weight taken at Monday's checkup) We'll know on the 15th of Dec. how much total because ummm after Thanksgiving I'll be shocked I'm sure...

Symptoms: Pretty awesome so far! No aversions, sickness or anything. I did have a little trouble falling asleep last night- lots of tossing and turning because this whole sleep on your side thing is for the birds (I'm such a back sleeper ya'll)

Maternity clothes? Looking for cute (longer) maternity tops- mine are just too short! Browsed Ebay for some cute sweaters, etc.

Stretch marks? Nope thank goodness... still using the Q10 stretch mark cream from Palmers and every lotion imaginable. Not too itchy yet either! Massaging that cream on the tatas though like nobody's business!

Sleep: Just trying to get a feel for mostly side positions. I REALLY need to invest in one of the pregnancy sleep pillows like ASAP

Best moment this week: Trying to decide if I'm actually feeling baby O or not! Ah I'm not sure! Also, so happy that I'm off until Monday- cheers to a short fun and food filled week!

Miss Anything? umm... CAFFEINE this time

Movement: Really excited for this - countdown is on!

Food cravings: All my usuals like fruit, jello etc. and also rice crispy treats all of sudden! Mom and I made some randomly this week and both of us couldn't stop eating the entire batch!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope and that's what I'm thankful for this week for sure! 

Have you started to show yet: ummm yes- like whoa 

Gender prediction: Looks like girl is in the lead on the blog poll still- Seems like EVERYONE around me if having all PINK! Cannot wait to find out and let the shopping begin right in time for Christmas (Dec. 15th at 1"30pm people!)

Nursery: You can see it here (of course paint still needs to be determined, etc. but the blank canvas is ready for us!)

Workouts: This week I blew it- like nothing workout wise was accomplished. However, I did overly exert myself with decorating, running up and down steps, hanging garland, cleaning and climbing up and down the 9 foot tree as well as hauling bins from the shed to the house etc. I got a little crampy and scared and had some mega back pain afterwards so I decided no more of that....

Labor Signs: As if.  :)

Belly Button in or out? In and so flat....weird haha

Wedding rings on or off? On but feel bigger- I think that happens in winter though

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy but getting frustrated easily and exhausted... I'm entitled to some mood swings right!

Looking forward to: Thanksgiving of course! Doing 2 this year (one at noon and one at 5) WOW I will be enormous! Also, 16 days until the hubby is back home!

                week 12                            week 13                           week 14                     week 15
       

                                                                           week 16