19 Week Preggie Update

So, here we are...a week from being halfway done baking this little nugget! I can't believe it.  Everything is going by so fast, but slow at the same time.  This week has been a little hectic since it was mine and my husband's last week of work (remember, we work at the same place). I have been looking forward to Thursday for a while now.  Anywho, I've been packing and supervising field day in the hot sun and everything else under the sun to close out the year and to prepare for the new school year.  
Some changes that I'm feeling are my hardened uterus area and a little more rounding of my stomach.  I also have some pains that are getting a little more apparent this week.  AJ has been really supportive and helping with massaging my pains.  I told the doctor about this and she said that there is a possibility of sciatica with my uterus getting bigger.  We also heard the baby's heartbeat and it was in the 150s. 

One thing that I have noticed is that I feel like I'm losing hair...especially in my eyebrows.  I don't know what's going on but I have like a bald spot in my left one.  Looking into getting some castor oil to help that out!

On a high note, I went to the Beyonce concert on Saturday.  I'm not a fan, but I do listen to her music. She did a wonderful job and I enjoyed it.  What I didn't enjoy though is the amount of people going to the train and the amount of pushing that was going on....but that's for a different time, different day!  I think Baby B enjoyed the music too because I could feel a little movement going on in there :)

             



Here is my survey for the week:

What Fruit/Veggie are you?   Tomato or Mango

Due date:  October 18, 2016

How far along:  19 weeks (or 19 weeks, 5 days if you want to be precise)

Next appointment:  May 27 with my OB, June 1 for 20 week anatomy scan

Gender:  Still #teamgreen

Total weight gain/loss:  Went to the doc and I'm 117

Exercise: Walking the dog

Stretch marks:  Nope

Swelling: Nope

Maternity clothes:   I bought some low belly maternity pants from OldNavy.com. I have only tried them on and they already feel amazing

Belly button:   Innie but it's slowly making it's way to flat

Sleep: I've pretty much been sleeping though the night with the exception of waking up around 2AM to let the dog out.  That was pre-pregnancy routine anyway!

Food cravings:  Cucumbers and banana peppers (together) with spicy ranch dressing, cherries, kiwi

Symptoms:  My boobs are still sore.  I still have the stretching pains below my abdomen.  I also have been having some pain in my pelvic area (lower back, upper butt) that has been excruciating at times.  I am developing more back pain.

Movement:  I think I actually felt the baby move!!!

Labor signs:  None

What I miss:  I don't really miss anything at the moment.  Not really feeling caffeine this week.

Food/Smell Aversions: I found that balsamic vinegar makes my stomach churn.  Also the smell of fish (which I used love)

What I'm loving:   Still loving my bump

What I'm looking forward to:  Our 20 week anatomy scan to see my little nugget

Best moment this week: Beyonce Formation Tour

     
News: Milestones: The baby moved!!

Words of wisdom:  

18 Week Preggie Update

Hello Loves!  I hope everyone has had a great week!  Nothing has really changed on this end.    I'm starting to get really anxious about my upcoming appointments.  I really want to see our little nugget.  My husband used the doppler to check the baby's heart rate and it's still pumping at 147, which is awesome! I've been having some hip and pain this week so that's my down for Week 18. 

People have been asking about baby names recently and that is just something that we have decided to keep secret until the birth of our child.  Our names are really special to us so...no hard feelings, ok?  I'm always like "no, we haven't really been thinking of names yet, since it's so early" when in the back of my mind, I'm like "hell yea, we know what we're naming our baby", haha! 

Random: I've finally decided on a tank top that I will use for updates! This nice purple number below :)

Question:  What's the best product for lubricating the belly??  I've heard raw shea butter is awesome.  Anyone tried the Burt's Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter?  I've been using coconut oil and it seems to do the trick!

      

Here is my survey for the week:

What Fruit/Veggie are you?   Sweet Potato or Bell Pepper (depending on app)

Due date:  October 18, 2016

How far along:  18 weeks (4 months down, yay!)

Next appointment:  May 27 with my OB, June 1 for 20 week anatomy scan

Gender:  Still #teamgreen

Total weight gain/loss:  I don't have an accurate scale so but I'm 115.4 pounds

Exercise: Walking the dog

Stretch marks:  Nope

Swelling: Nope

Maternity clothes:   Just my belly band, but I'm thinking of biting the bullet and getting a couple pairs of pants.  I wear mostly flowy shirts so those still fit well

Belly button:   Innie

Sleep: I've pretty much been sleeping though the night with the exception of waking up around 2AM to let the dog out.  That was pre-pregnancy routine anyway!

Food cravings:  Cucumbers and banana peppers (together) with spicy ranch dressing, cherries, kiwi

Symptoms:  My boobs are sore.  I still have the stretching pains below my abdomen.  I also have been having some pain in my pelvic area (lower back, upper butt) that has been excruciating at times.

Movement:  None yet :(  Still having a hard time determining if it's gas or movement...gaahhhh

Labor signs:  None

What I miss:  I don't really miss anything at the moment.  Not really feeling caffeine this week.

Food/Smell Aversions: Still not missing any meals!!

What I'm loving:   My little bump :)

What I'm looking forward to:  Becoming a mom...it's becoming really real

Best moment this week: Having people actually notice that I'm pregnant

     
News: Milestones:  None

Words of wisdom:  Try not to rush things!

LeTote Box #2

So, as you know from my last post, I tried Le Tote for the first time and I was a happy camper.  The clothes were of great quality and they fit my growing belly perfectly.  This made me want to continue with my subscription. Just to reiterate, Le Tote is a month-to-month clothing rental subscription box. When you sign up, you browse their catalog of clothing and accessories and create your “closet,” from which they select items to send to you. You keep the clothing to wear as long as you like, and you can also send back your box for a new selection of items as frequently as you like, for the $59 monthly price. If you love something enough to want to purchase it, you can simply keep it when you send the rest of that box back. Also, if you purchase your whole tote, you get one month free!

I personalized my box this month and this is what I chose: 

Loved this top but it was a little snug in the shoulders.  Should have went up a size!  Also, hubby snapped a pic of me dancing with the bump....
    


I liked this top as well.  Loved the exposed zipper.  It had a good fit and was a nice pink for my skin tone.  I just wore it with deep denim jeggings and blush colored ballet flats.    


This was a feather like necklace that I enjoyed esthetically, but I didn't have so much fun wearing.  It would get caught in my hair because the necklace would separate and catch hair in between.  I can't say that this will be a piece that I would want to rent again.  It is very nice looking though!
  

I did wear the other two pieces as well, but I didn't get to take a picture with them.  

Overall, I was happy with this tote as well!  I am ready to send back my tote so that another one can be on its way!!

If you want to try out Le Tote, here is a referral link and it can save you $25 off of your first box!  Let me know what you think :) 

Preggy Faves

Hey loves!  So as you know, when you become pregnant, some of your favorite holy grail products become obsolete.  So that made me go on the hunt for new products to use that were baby safe.  I decided to post some of my favorite products that I've been using for a while or have newly acquired.  

 

At first I was taking a regular CVS vitamin that was just one pill and was all that I needed.  I decided to venture out and found these Health Mama vitamins at Target.  They were kind of expensive for a 30 pack, but I said, what the heck.  These don't make me sick at all but the taste is more noticeable than the previous vitamin that I was taking.  It is doable though!  It kind of sucks taking 2 pills, but again, anything for my baby.  I was searching on Amazon when I was low on vitamins and found that they have a 60 pack available for the same price that I paid for the 30 pack at Target.  

I've actually just started reading this book and my husband will be reading it as well. This book gives good tips on prepping your dog for the new baby acclimating your dog to the baby once it arrives.  I'm not done yet so I can write a review when complete! :)

  

I got this pack of oil blends from Amazon from Healing Solutions and one of them that was included was the Good Night Blend.  I diffuse it right before I go to bed and I swear it puts me right to sleep.  I've been doing it every night and I feel like on the days that I forget, I don't sleep as well.  It has Chamomile, Clary Sage, Copaiba, Lavender, Peru Balsam, Sandlewood, Sweet Marjoram and Ylang Ylang oils blended together.

Another essential oil: Good ol' Tea Tree Oil...this has been a medicine cabinet fave.  I use tea tree oil for rashes and  in my cleaning products that I create myself.  I had read online that tea tree oil is good for blemishes, especially while pregnant.  Of course, the hormones have started to run rampant and create pimples on my face.  It may take a little longer to clear up, but my blemishes start to heal quickly without a scar.  My husband even uses it now! :)

This was a fave of mine right when I got pregnant.  Previous to this, I was using a product with salicylic acid, which isn't the best for pregnant ladies.  So I did a little bit of research and found this Boots Botanics. I first loved it because it was 81% organic.  Secondly, it's very hydrating.  I have very dry skin in the winter and combination to dry in the summer and it works well for both extremes.  I don't have to switch my moisturizer based on the seasons.  I just apply more or apply less.  It feels great on the skin and doesn't have an overbearing smell.  My husband started using this as well on his sensitive skin.

Last but not least, the coconut oil.  I had this jar anyway to make products for my husband for his sensitive skin.  I then later found out that it was a great lubricant for stretch mark prevention.  I have only been rubbing this on my belly for about a week now.  I currently don't have any stretch marks so I can't tell you if it helps to diminish them.  What I can tell you is that this keeps your skin soft and supple all day.  It's not too oily and very absorbent so it won't stain your clothes.  I rub this on my belly and boobs daily!  I have also heard that closer to birth (like 6 weeks), a good tip is to start putting coconut oil on your lady parts to diminish tearing from child birth!

Hope you enjoyed the favorites.  Let me know if you like it and want me to continue posting them!!

17 Week Preggie Update

Nothing really new this week.  I didn't think I looked too much different until I compared my bump update for this week to last week's.  I'm still bloated (I think), but I'm noticing that my belly is starting to round out more and I'm starting to look more pregnant, than just looking like a have a pudge!  Yippee!!  I'm so excited that I'm actually starting to show...and not just from the side as you can see.  But I also have in the back of my mind "Am I supposed to look this big?"  
According to "What to Expect", the baby is about the size of the palm of my hand, so about 5 inches long and about 5 ounces.  Baby B's heart is now being regulated by it's brain so it's more regular, beating about 140-150 beats per minute (Baby B's is like 148).  His/Her skeleton is also forming into bone.  
I know to everyone else, I'm still very small. Looking at myself grow everyday is very eye opening as I'm so petite, so my bump feels huge...but I'm embracing it!   Next week, I may change to a more fitted tank so that you can see more detail.

Here is my survey for the week:

What Fruit are you?   Turnip

Due date:  October 18, 2016

How far along:  17 weeks 

Next appointment:  May 27 with my OB

Gender:  Still #teamgreen

Total weight gain/loss:  I'm holding steady at 6 pounds, still 115 pounds. 

Exercise: Continuing with walking the dog

Stretch marks:  Nope

Swelling: Nope

Maternity clothes:   Just my belly band

Belly button:   Innie

Sleep: I've pretty much been sleeping though the night with the exception of waking up around 2AM to let the dog out.  That was pre-pregnancy routine anyway!

Food cravings:  caffeine!!!!!!

Symptoms:  Still tired...when does that burst of energy come??  I'm also starting to feel some stretching pains (round ligament paint) in my groin and uterus...ugh

Movement:  None yet :(

Labor signs:  None

What I miss:  Morning caffeine, however, I've put a little more in my diet the past 2 weeks....don't judge me. Still waaaaay under 200mg and not daily...about twice a week

Food/Smell Aversions: Still not missing any meals!!

What I'm loving:   My little bump :)

What I'm looking forward to:  Designing the nursery

Best moment this week: I actually made my first baby purchase!  I was on Zulily and saw these Halo swaddle sleep sacks.  I jumped on those.  

     
News: Milestones:  None

Words of wisdom:  Just let nature take its course...