23-24 Weeks

This past week I turned 28 years old! Wow! Can't believe I am only 2 years from the big 3-0! For my birthday, my mother in law surprised me and my sister in law, whose birthday is a week after mine (and who recently announced that she was pregnant too!), with a beach trip with our moms to Gulf Shores! This could have possibly been one of the best birthday presents I have ever received! We did lots of relaxing...and shopping :) Connor is already getting spoiled by both of his grandmothers (aka Diva Nana and GiGi) We got into Gulf Shores on Friday after work so we ate at the condo and talked all night. Saturday, Mom and I and Whitney and Mrs Wanda woke up and walked for about an hour on the beach. It was so nice and peaceful and full of baby talk! Then we all laid out on the beach all day. It was perfect weather! Saturday night we went to eat at The Hangout..food was okay, but atmosphere was great! We got to listen to live music while we ate which is always fun. Sunday we woke up and it was overcast so we decided to go to Foley and shop and eat at Lambert's! We literally shopped all day..from 11 am to 6 pm. Needless to say, we were all exhausted! Monday, we had to check out by 11 so we decided to pack up and head back since the weather was overcast again and ended up storming. Thank you so much Mrs Daphne and mom for a wonderful birthday present!! At least we had 1 pretty day to lay out on the beach!

Brad and I are very excited about Michael and Whitney being pregnant. They are about 3 months behind us which means the babies will grow up being close! I can only imagine how much fun we are going to have with them! :) 

The only swim suit pic I took all weekend...I call
 this one the "beach whale" pic! :)

Pregnancy Highlights: 

How Far Along: 24 weeks

Size of Baby: The size of a eggplant about 9 inches and 1.7 pounds

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gained 14 pounds

Maternity Clothes: While at the beach, Mrs. Daphne and mom bought me a few maternity pieces. As bad as I did't want to try maternity clothes on, I was actually surprised at how comfy and cute they were. 

Gender: It's a BOY!

Movement: Beginning to feel Connor a lot more now and catch myself always rubbing my belly :) 

Sleep: I'm starting to have more difficulty finding comfortable positions. My mid back is starting to hurt again so I feel like I am constantly changing positions all night long. It's also hard for me to sleep in on the weekends! My eyes seem to open at exactly 7 am on Saturday mornings which I am not liking at all! 

Cravings/Aversions: As bad as I want a burger from 2 Brothers Grill, I am staying away from burgers and steak for now since they have both made me sick. Still haven't had many cravings... trying to eat as healthy as possible, although when it comes to sweets, I'm allowing myself to cheat! :) 

Emotions: After watching "What To Expect When You're Expecting" over the weekend and Kim Kardashian giving birth on TV, I am getting more nervous about my delivery! Can't believe its only 3 1/2  months away!!

What I Miss: Margaritas :) 

Symptoms: Mid back pain and indigestion

What I'm Looking Forward To: Brad put Connor's crib together over the weekend and the baby furniture is being made and should be ready by November so I'm getting excited about putting the nursery together! Still haven't found bedding though...well I kind of have at Nursery Rhymes in Jackson but trying to decide whether to spend the money or not!! Planning to go to Brookhaven soon to a discount fabric store called Cotton Patch to see what other options are out there. 

22 Weeks

Time seems to be flying by so quick! I am still feeling great and trying to stay as active as I can. I got my crib this weekend! Yay! One of our friends is so graciously letting us borrow her daughters off-white iron crib. It is beautiful!!! We haven't put it together yet, but as soon as we do pics will be posted. Also, this weekend Mrs. Daphne and I went to Purvis to meet The Real McCoy (Ken McCoy who makes custom furniture). I have picked out a book shelf and changing table dresser for Connor in a Restoration Hardware catalog and have heard great things about The Real McCoy so we met with him about the two pieces to make. He gave me great prices on both! He said they would be ready mid November which will give me plenty time to paint it since I want to distress it with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. So the nursery is beginning to come together finally. I'm going to Jackson in a few weeks and Jennifer and I plan to look for bedding for the crib. I'm excited!

Also this week....2 Brothers Grill Hattiesburg opened!! Brad been working so hard this week with all of the last minute decor, setting up kitchen equipment, and ordering food as well as training and managing of new employees. Needless to say, he is exhausted! Brad also asked me to opening day (which was a Thursday) through the weekend bartending...yes bartending! Although they only have beer at this time, I still felt crazy bartending at 5 months pregnant! It ended up being fun though. We had a great opening weekend with 2 Brothers Grill and everyone seems to really love the food! We are keeping our fingers crossed for continued success :)

Sunday was my 28th birthday! We didn't do a lot to celebrate this year because of the restaurant opening the same weekend, however, Brad did surprise me with pink roses on the bar at the restaurant and mom and Tommy drove down to eat and brought me a cake! It was a great day :) We are really celebrating my birthday next weekend with my mother, mother in law, Daphne, and sister in law, Whitney and her mother. Mrs. Daphne surprised Whitney and I with a beach trip for both of our birthdays since hers in next week too! We are very excited about this girls trip and can't wait to lay on the beach!

Pregnancy Highlights: 

How Far Along: 22 weeks

Size of Baby: The size of a papaya about  8 inches and 1.2 pounds

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I have actually lost a pound so total is now 11 pounds. 

Maternity Clothes: Scrubs and maxi dresses are my attire these days :) I dress for comfort!

Gender: It's a BOY!

Movement: Connor is very active at night when I am laying down

Sleep: Sleeping good at night! Definitely not as tired as I was. 

Cravings/Aversions: Aversions - red meat! Staying away from burgers and steak which have both made me sick!

Emotions: Feeling really good

What I Miss: Well, I put on my swim suit tonight trying it on for the beach....I am definitely missing my flat stomach! But I am so excited about the arrival of Connor that I am trying to embrace my new baby bump :)

Symptoms: Mid back pain, primarily left side ever since it started in the first trimester. Indigestion is beginning to kick in too. 

What I'm Looking Forward To: Putting Connor's crib together and getting his furniture for the nursery!

21 Weeks

I finally felt Connor move and kick this week! And Brad got to fell him kick, too! I was laying in bed on my back and all of a sudden I just felt a very faint flutter. I didn't say anything to Brad because I wasn't sure what I felt, but then he did it again..and again..and again! Brad put his hand on my stomach and felt him kick after about the 4th time I felt the kick and he got to feel him too. We just giggled at each other. It was such an amazing feeling. Since then, I have felt him just about every day, although it is usually at night when I am laying on my back. :)

For Brad, this week has been crunch time to get 2 Brothers Grill, Hattiesburg open. We planned on opening September 4 (the day after Labor Day), however, since last weeks hurricane brought so much bad weather we have had to move the opening date to September 6 so we can get all the employees trained. He is very anxious and stressed this week trying to get everything done so I haven't seen him much, except for when I go up there to see him and help. We are really excited about bringing 2 Brothers Grill to Hattiesburg and can't wait for opening day! I plan on helping out as much as I can after work but definitely not going to over do it and wear myself out.

We had a our family reunion this weekend in Meridian as well. It was good to see all of my aunts, uncles, and cousins that I rarely get to see throughout the year. Jennifer surprised me with an early birthday present of clothes and a really awesome high chair for Connor plus props for his newborn photo shoot! They are all so cute!

Pregnancy Highlights: 

How Far Along: 21 weeks

Size of Baby: The size of a spaghetti squash about  8 inches and 1 pound  (WOW!!)  

Total Weight Gain/Loss: My 20 week ultrasound reported I have gained 12 pounds.

Maternity Clothes: I haven't necessarily bought "maternity clothes" but I have bought a new pair of stretchy jeans since none of my pants fit as well as a few more maxi dresses. I am loving maxi dresses!

Gender: It's a BOY! (I had a feeling it was going to be a boy the whole time! Yay!)

Movement: Connor is very active at night when I am laying down

Sleep: I can't seem to sleep in anymore on the weekends! I go to bed around 9 still but am not really sleeping as well as I was. I think part of it is because we have so much going on right now with the restaurant and baby. 

Cravings/Aversions: Still trying to eat as healthy as I can but really haven't had any cravings. 

Emotions: Feeling a little stressed about getting nursery done. It's a little overwhelming picking out bedding!

What I Miss: Being able to do anything I want to do. It seems every time I try to lift a box or do anything like that someone is yelling at me not to lift because I'm pregnant. I get that I am pregnant, but I have to live, too! I work out, lift weights, and transfer patients all day long at work. I can lift a little bit of weight if I have to :)

Symptoms: Mid back pain, primarily left side ever since it started in the first trimester. 

What I'm Looking Forward To: Finishing the nursery.