Bumpdate: 24 Weeks

I swore I wouldn't go this long without an update when I posted halfway through this pregnancy, yet here we are 4.5 weeks later. My first trimester seemed to drag on forever but every time I blink another chunk of the second trimester is gone. Today at my OB appointment I was sent home with the lovely drink and instructions for the oh so fun glucose test. I cannot believe we've already reached this point. The last leg of this pregnancy is almost staring me in the face and it's surreal. 

So much has been happening around here preparing for and enjoying the holiday season. I've certainly been aware I'm carrying another precious baby when I'm suddenly breathing fire from a bowl of cereal or winded from thinking about walking upstairs. But I spend so much time chasing after and caring for my toddler everything seems like it's moving so much faster in round 2. Overall, this pregnancy has been much harder on me physically. I alternate from feeling lots of pressure down low to feeling like my lungs are being squished to the point that I'm short of breath even while laying down. I get fleeting waves of nausea here and there, mainly in response to certain smells, and intense lower back pain I do not remember from being pregnant with Fallon. Generally I feel low on energy, run down and often hung over when I wake up. BUT, when I finally rest my head to go to sleep at night and have a moment to think, I am just so HAPPY. I appreciate how lucky I am to have such an amazing little girl, feel those baby wiggles and kicks and know I picked the right guy to raise them both with. 

My belly is measuring a little behind but not so much that it's of concern. Weight gain is so far the same as with Fallon. I didn't gain a single pound with either babe in the first trimester then BAM started gaining steadily each week of the second trimester. I'm currently up 12lbs from pre-pregnancy weight. I'm sure it's all baby related, nothing to do with all the Christmas cookies I've been sneaking. We got to see baby #2 at the anatomy scan a couple weeks ago and everything was perfect. He or she is measuring right on track with all the parts in the all the right places. The tech told us to look away for a split second so she could verify the sex but said it wouldn't be noted in the chart anywhere so no one has the opportunity to slip up! Once again we are dealing with a long legged child who likes to be head down but curled on my left side. This kiddo was much more cooperative than Fallon so maybe that means he or she will have more of a mellow personality. It's all so exciting to think about! I'm going to try really hard to be better with these updates in the new year and final trimester but someone remind me if I fall behind! Pregnancy brain is no joke people. 

Favorite Finds: Cozy Things

I feel like Friday somehow took forever to arrive but showed up before I could blink all at the same time. Somewhere in the midst of the holiday weekend, chasing online deals and pumping out gift guides, schedules out the window and allll the Christmas decor I lost track of my days. Don't get me wrong, I love this time of year, chaos and all. But oh man can it be butt kicking. I know I've share a whole bunch of links here lately but today I'm linking up with some of my fave mama bloggers to share our most recent favorites. I'm all about being comfy as the temperature drops and my belly grows so I've rounded up all the cozy things. I mean I could not pass on a super soft black + white tree blanket, buffalo plaid jogger pjs or plaid fuzzy slippers for Fallon. 

You can find Chelsee's here and Arin's here. 

Gift Guide: Toddlers

If I had to walk the aisles in stores looking for gifts for Fallon I would either come out with everything or nothing. I've always loved shopping for Christmas gifts, finding that perfect thing for each person on my list. Having a child to shop for has just upped the ante and now that she's old enough to get excited, I was a little overwhelmed with all the gift options. So I asked my toddler mama friends to shoot me straight on the best toddler presents and this is what we came up with. 

Boots / Blocks / Doll Bed / Wooden Popsicles / Teepee / Table + Chairs / Hooded Towel / Play Kitchen / Coffee Maker / Shopping Cart / Tea Set

Gift Guide: Stocking Stuffers

It's easy to get carried away with buying a bunch of little things for kids. Or maybe that's just me! The last holiday before Christmas has now passed and the Christmas season is officially underway. All the stores are offering discounts and it's hard to stay focused. So in an effort to keep from going accidentally overboard picking up all the fun little things, I picked only the cutest and well priced stocking sized items. Now get stuffing.

Gift Guide: For Toddlers, Small Shops

I'm a big fan of shopping small but I know handmade items come at a higher price. So Small Shop Saturday is the perfect time to finally snag something you've been wanting to get your little one at a discount. It's easy to be overwhelmed by all of the makers out there so I'm sharing a few of our very favorites. These are all Fallon approved so we hope your babes love them too!

Rain Boots / Quilt / Doll / Book / PJs / Bow / Baby Wrap / Play Mat / Slumberkin

Gift Guide: For Men

Is it just me or are the men the hardest to buy for? Chris and I don't exchange gifts  anymore #becausekids and instead put money toward something mutually beneficial, like new floors. But I did sit him down and get him to spill a few reasonably priced items for this gift guide. I mean if you're really generous he is sure your husband or brother would love a new 60 inch flat screen, a years' supply of beer or tickets to the super bowl. But if you're on a slightly smaller budget, maybe these are some better options. 

Gift Guide: For Women

Woman in general tend to be the easiest group when it comes to gift giving. So it can quickly become overwhelming to walk into a store or click on a website when presented with so many options. Enter gift guides. The holidays can be stressful enough so let's keep picking out the gifts for the women in your life simple and fun, as it should be. And if I don't have you covered, hop over to see what my friend Chelsee picked for more easy shopping.

Turkey Day Tummy Pleasers

It's Thanksgiving week and we all have food on the brain. I'm certainly looking forward to using the eating for two excuse and I'm sure Fallon will actually eat for two. My mom hosts the big day for our family so I just bring a dish. I hope to do the whole shebang at my own house one day but currently the thought of making an entire meal overwhelms me. So until the whole menu is my call, I'll stick with picking one fun side to make. Whether you're running the show or just showing up with your lone creation here are some recipes for inspiration that have my mouth watering. 

Cranberry Orange Bread

Garlic Parmesan Roasted Butternut Squash

Cranberry Brie Bites

Slow Cooker Apple Butter

Sweet Potato Casserole with Crunchy Nut Crumble

THANKSGIVING MINI STYLE

We are just one week away from Thanksgiving and I'm just wondering where this year has gone?! Fallon was barely eating solids this time last year so I am so excited to see her take part in the meal this time. My little turkey loves her food so it will be a sight to watch her dig in, I have no doubt. Of course in true girl mom fashion I am also looking forward to dressing her up all cute for the holiday and taking pictures she will cringe over in 10 years. The jury is still out for her outfit but I'm sharing some of my top picks for the occasion. 

Pom Sweatshirt / Bootie / Tights / Navy Dress / Tulle Skirt / Berry Dress / Yellow Cardigan 

Grey Vest / Mary Jane / Grey Swing Top / Sweater Leggings / Chambray Dress

20 Weeks

Well all of a sudden I am halfway through this pregnancy with a handful of bump photos and no updates in weeks. Sorry second kid! Life has been so busy with a toddler, all the holiday fun and projects out of the wazoo around our house. But now that I have somewhat of a baby bump to show, here's how we've been doing on the pregnancy front. 

Beanie / Boots / Cardigan / Socks

This beginning of this pregnancy was much harder than my first. Of course keeping up a toddler tornado all day is exhausting in and of itself but generally I just was more tired and definitely more nauseous this go round. It's still difficult to find something to eat that isn't a 0 on the nutrition scale but sounds good, although so far no outright aversions this time. I craved all things blueberry with Fallon and this time it's Cinnamon! I've been making a strong effort to go for healthy options that thankfully this spice lends itself too....but Cinnamon Toast Crunch still gets me more often than I'd care to admit. And those dang Peppermint Mochas are probably making up the majority of my bump. I do go for the skinny version with almond milk so I justify them several times a week. Right?!

I felt Baby #2 about the same time I had felt Fallon but I was sure of it this time. Once you know what those little movements are you immediately recognize them again. We can fell baby #2 from the outside now and he/she wiggles and kicks so much when big sissy is up against my belly. Fallon has started to understand, in her 16 month old way, that there is a baby in mama's belly. If you ask her and she's of a mind to comply, she will lift my shirt and point and give it a little kiss. I mean c'mon, you're dead inside if you don't find that heart melting. Fallon had an anterior placenta (toward the front instead of the more common position of in the back) but she was so emphatic with her movements I felt all the same. I have a feeling this baby's is in back, which we will get to see in about a week and a half, because although his/her movements are much more gentle than big sis's I feel them prominently. Baby #2 is most active in the evening hours, when mama is trying to fall asleep! But over the last couple weeks he/she has definitely started wiggling more throughout the day. 

We are still solid in our decision to leave the sex a surprise until birth so don't expect a gender reveal after the anatomy scan. I was so unsure of which way to go this time but when my doctor asked at my first OB appointment I answered no we would't find out without hesitation and surprised myself. So I knew that was the right choice and Chris was sold on keeping it old school all along. Bring on all the grey + white again! And speaking of grey + white, we are excited to get started on the new nursery after the holidays. I have some ideas and inspiration I will be sharing here, it seems so much less stressful this time around for some reason. I guess maybe because I know a little bit more about what to expect with a newborn. 

Other than those pesky pregnancy aches and pains, little annoyances like heartburn and food losing it's appeal, I am feeling pretty dang good. I'm in that second trimester honeymoon phase with a little bump that all baby (okay and maybe some peppermint mochas) instead of bloat and isn't in the way yet, have some energy back and no longer wake up feeling hung over without the fun night before. I'm not really nervous about having another baby yet or stressed about navigating life as a mom of 2 under 2 (for a little while) and just really feeling excited and grateful to be carrying another child. 

I promise not to wait so long for the next update! Love you baby 2, even if I sometimes forget you're in there until you say hi with your feet. 

True Life: Tales From Toddler Town

I had all these ideas and big plans for blog posts this season. And as you can see, I haven't quite delivered. So while my baby and my husband sleep, I'm taking this time to talk about why.

Motherhood, as all mothers know, is not for the faint of heart. It can be all consuming sometimes and I've been working to keep the part of me that's just me and not mama, still afloat. Incorporating more topics into my social media world like fashion, food and home decor has definitely helped me remember that I am in fact, still me. But today it's all about motherhood. No links, no ads, no fun things to share. Just me talking about being mom from my current stage of life.

Writing has always been therapeutic for me, so while this is for me, it's also for you. Any of you who feel like you're the only one in this position. Any of you who need a moment to think well at least my kid doesn't do THAT. Any of you who just need to read a little motherhood in the raw and know that it's okay to feel however you feel about right in this moment. As mamas our kids are our hearts, living and breathing right outside of our bodies. A mother's love cannot be defined and oh how we love our babies. But I'm telling you, and myself, it's okay to have moments, days, whole weeks, when you wonder who the hell thought having kids was such a good idea. 

Fallon is a bright kid. I'm not bragging, although every mama should. She's been paid extra close attention to in the developmental sense due to the nature of her birth. But 16 months in and she's not only hitting milestones appropriately, she's leapfrogging many of them like it's her job. Her personality is one of extremes. There was never a happier kid in all the world than my kid when she's happy. And there was never a more pissed off kid in all the world than my kid when she's mad. Or so it seems. I'm a stay at home mom with a husband who works extra hours. And I have to say, toddler town has been one wild and crazy place these days. 

Frustration. That's kind of the word of the moment. Fallon has so much frustration in that little body of hers from knowing things in her mind but not being physically capable of them yet. The result: behavioral manifestation aka tantrums. Massive, constant, can I take her back tantrums. I have frustration from desperately trying to understand her, to teach her, to deal with her when all my best efforts are failing. The result: mom guilt. Massive, constant, who let me be a mother guilt. And it's quite the vicious cycle isn't it? 

We try so hard to be super moms, setting these lofty goals for the day, planning fun things and making ourselves believe this level of functioning is not only attainable but the standard. Come back down to reality with me for a moment. WHAT PLANET ARE WE LIVING ON?! We aren't just moms. We are daughters, wives, sisters, friends oh and ya know our own people as well. And let's not forget we're that lame thing society refers to as adults, which comes with it's own lovely set of responsibilities. Life is a juggling act across the board. I'm certainly not saying ditch the to-do list all together or stop making fun plans, setting expectations or dreaming big. Just give yourself a break. Remember, you're only human. Cry when your kid throws that breakfast you woke up early to make and were so excited to show them right in your face. Drown your guilt for shoving your kid at your husband the second he walks in the door saying GET HER AWAY FROM ME in a venti overpriced coffee at (insert favorite place to escape to). Blow up your friends about how stressed + overwhelmed you are when it's Thursday night and the entire week's to-do list is still somehow staring back at you. We've all been there, are there, will be there again. 

I spend most of my days losing track of the amount of kicking, screaming, launching things across the room tantrums, cleaning up new messes literally left behind me as I clean up old ones and doing everything either in high speed motion while my child is momentarily entertained, with her crying and trying to climb my legs or actually in my arms. I rarely cook dinner, bribe my kid with snacks and countdown that last half hour till bedtime almost every night. I am 100% sure that a man invented daily savings time, I have no idea of the last time my linen closet didn't resemble a frat house but I am sure that teething is the bane of my existence. I can't believe it's already been a week since I did a big grocery trip, that it's time to clean the bathrooms AGAIN or how quickly a new basket of laundry to wash has appeared. Oh yea and afternoon naps are so not overrrated. At least I don't think. But I don't have a lot of experience with that. Eyeroll. #fallyfallynonaps

But you know what else? I am completely, utterly, some other words that don't even exist in love with being my kid's mom. Motherhood may not define me but it does fulfill me. Fallon was meant to be my baby. I was meant to be her mama. And even when I feel like I'm totally failing. I am actually damn good at my job. 

And so are you mama, so are you.

Halloween 2017

Kitty Ears / Bodysuit / Skirt / Tights

As I sat down to write this post it occurred to me that I never did a Halloween post last year. WHAT?! It's not a secret that Halloween is my favorite holiday. I mean I love any cause for celebration. Birthdays, anniversaries, allllll the holidays. And Christmas is an extremely close second, but Halloween just has my heart. So how I forgot to post my first baby's first Halloween is sort of mind boggling. But I'll just chalk it up to the whole new mama thing, toss some throw back photos in here and move on. 

I made a list of all the things I wanted to do with Fallon before the big day this year. So thank goodness Halloween is literally the last day of the month. We shopped for all the pumpkins and all the mums and all the decorations. Hit two different pumpkin patches, baked pumpkin things, read spooky stories and watched Hocus Pocus on repeat. We wore Halloween jams + socks, all the festive clothes, kitty ears and witch hats. And then the morning of the 31st my sweet little girl tossed her Halloween breakfast right at me and all over the kitchen. She threw tantrums all day long, fought naps and made messes like only a little monster disguised as a toddler could. I text Chris and told him he was coming home to Nightmare on Our Street. 

But we managed to squeeze in one kitty costume photo complete with face paint, get the candy ready and head out to trick-or-treat. And guess what? That Halloween magic finally happened. We watched our cute little kitty walk from house to house with her bucket charming all the neighbors with her little wave and "hi" and picking out pieces of candy (for mommy and daddy). She even helped pass out treats at our house. The night ended watching Hocus Pocus one more time in Halloween jams and snuggling in the way only sweet little kitties do and she went right to sleep, all traces of that little monster vanished. 

Living Room Inspo

The living space in the front of our house is supposed to be a dining room. Since we moved in 2 years ago it's yet to resemble anything close to a dining room, or really any other standard living space. It's just been our whatever room. Our giant turtle tank landed there and stayed and over time Fallon's toys were moved there as to not clutter the family room. Finally enough was enough. The turtles have been relocated to our basement and seem to be actually much happier there. And suddenly it was all very clear what exactly I wanted to do with that room. 

Our family has no current need or desire really for a formal dining room. In a three bedroom house there has to be somewhere on the main floor for the kids to play and that is the perfect space. And it just so happens there's room for a cozy nook with a coffee bar for mama. Who needs a dining room when a playroom with coffee is exactly the kind of space for our family? It's all coming together and I can't wait to show off the final design but in the meantime, here's a little sneak peak. 

Galvanized Organizer / Light Fixture / Wire Shelving Unit / Area Rug / Throw Pillow / Chair / Cube Organizer / Buffet Table / Children's Table Set

Layered Looks

I like classic neutrals. And jewel tones. I like stripes. And plaid. I like camo, chenille and flannel. And the best part about a layered look is that I get wear several of them at the same time. Okay so there's also a practical point to be made for layering clothes. When it's still warm in the afternoon but chilly in the morning it's easy to take off the top layers without changing clothes. Even if it's the dead of winter wearing multiple layers keeps me warm but makes it easy to take off a jacket or vest before I start to break a sweat while running around with my kid. And then there's the whole pregnancy thing. Layering a scarf or vest over a t-shirt or sweater is weather appropriate and stylish but also bump friendly. Open front shirts, jackets and vest are also great for layering over nursing tanks for new mamas. I mean is there a downside? 

Favorite Finds: Small Shop Edition

Now that our fall weather has, probably only briefly, returned from its several week long hiatus I thought it would be a good time to share some recent seasonally inspired finds. These posts are so fun for me to do and I hope you enjoy reading them too. I love to see what other people are loving for their wardrobes, homes and kiddos and it is really nice to have a direct link to the things others are raving about, because if they are that good, I want them too!

When I received an email about working together with ReplayRecycled I was SO excited. Fallon was eating straight off her high chair with her fingers still and I was washing the same few snack bowls and cups every day. Not only do they have an adorably cute selection of tableware for kids, the company behind the products is pretty amazing. It was founded by a husband and wife team and produces recycled, FDA approved, food safe plastic products for moms and kids alike to love. And the company is all run right here in the USA. We have been loving the divided plates for meals, bowls for all the snacks, flat plates for donuts dates and sippy cups to coordinate with every outfit. 

One day Fallon will have enough hair for ponytails and braids but in the meantime, there is always something denoting her as a girl on her head. It drives me nuts when people assume she's a boy! WesternWanderers has the cutest textures and prints for fall and how could I not snag this striped head wrap for my girl?! And can we talk about baby turbans, or topknots as they are so sweetly called over at Olive & Mama Co.? I about died from the cuteness of Fallon wearing this gorgeous neutral print. 

At this point it will come as no surprise to you all who have been following along that my daughter has a thing for blankets and all the soft things in general. She may even become a bigger blanket hoarder than mama! We received the most beautiful black and white quilt from Clemetine Kids and Fallon has been dragging it around with her EVERYWHERE. Of course I'm tickled that it's so Halloween photo appropriate and it washes like brand new every time. I am certain we will end up collecting all of this amazing brand's prints because they are just so good!

And speaking of snuggly soft things, Fallon has slept with the Slumberkin we got her when she first slept through the night in her crib nearly every single night. And while Sugar Plum (yes, we name everything) isn't going anywhere she's a little worse for wear from all the love. So the chilly air, perfect for cuddling has me thinking she should have a new one. Y'all, these little guys are just right for little hands to hold and feel comforted by. New babe will definitely be getting one when he or she arrives! 

Of course Fallon is growing like a weed and was in need of fall clothes, so I had to sneak in some items into her wardrobe from my favorite small shops. The crewneck sweatshirts from Childhoods Clothing are my favorite! She looks so cute in them and they are perfect for exploring outside in the chilly air. The faded red is such a fun color and worked in well with Fallon's capsule wardrobe. 

Happy Friday!

Fall Diffuser Blends

It's probably no surprise to you by now that fall scents are my absolute favorite. All of the crisp air, falling leaves, baking spices and cozy home smells just put me in a good mood. I used to buy candles by the dozen and burn them like they were going out of style. But since I've been using oils I've been slowly burning down my old soy candles and experimenting with diffuser combos instead. I ordered every fall scent I could think of last month and it has been so much fun to discover all the new ways to make my home smell like the season. I love learning which scents other people are diffusing and am always looking for more ideas. So I thought I would share the ones we have been loving lately. Maybe they are already your favorite combos too or maybe you'll get some new inspiration!

Northern Light Black Spruce + Tangerine + Cinnamon Bark

Bergamot + Lemon + Cardamon

Cedarwood + Orange + Cinnamon Bark

Patchouli + Thieves + Nutmeg + Ginger

Stress Away + Bergamot + Cinnamon Bark

Thieves + Cinnamon Bark + Orange

Orange + Bergamot + Ginger

Clove + Nutmeg + Cinnamon Bark

Purification + Thieves + Orange 

Patchouli + Stress Away + Ginger

Easy Toddler Meals

I don't know about dinner time at your house but over here it used to go a little something like this: me scrambling to prep, cook and keep all my fingers in the process while a tiny human clung to my legs screaming. Chris works nights so he is asleep when the last meal time of the day rolls around, and that also conveniently happens to be witching hour. Don't get me wrong, Fallon pulls this at every meal but it's 10 times more intense at dinner time. And I was losing my mind every single evening trying to run the show solo something had to give. I boarded the easy meal train and never looked back. 

We're moms, we work our butts off all day long, by 5:30PM we are tired. So tired. And we deserve a little slack. I had to stop thinking like an adult in terms of meals and start thinking like a kid. I now cook less, clean up less and stress over dinnertime less by ditching the Pinterest menus and fancy meals. Now if cooking is your thing and chaos does not ensue every time you attempt it, I am certainly not knocking your style. But if you're over chopping, sautéing with a 20lb hungry gremlin wrapped around your ankles, welcome to my world. You don't have to make gourmet fajitas to be a good mom.

The first thing I had to get over was feeding Fallon traditional meals. She doesn't know the difference nor does she care if she's eating lasagna and garlic bread or a plate filled with random foods. Secondly, kids like what they like. They are happy to eat the same thing twice in one day or 3 times in the same week. And finally, I keep in mind that the post dinner clean up on aisle EVERYWHERE responsibility will always fall to me. Spaghetti anyone? So a little meal prep when she's napping or otherwise occupied because her belly is full and a whatever works attitude have been the winning combination for a total game changer in our house. I no longer desperately try to cook over a hot stove or chop veggies under the pressure of a raging toddler underneath me. I just mostly shovel a few food groups onto pretty plates, drop it on the high chair and let her go to town while I enjoy the peace. There is something about a colorful meal on a colorful plate that just seems toddler tailored. We have been using plates, cups and utensils from Replay Recycled and they are so durable (they've been launched across the room), easy to clean and just fun for Fallon to use for meal time. When I put together a meal I choose foods from each food group and serve. Quick, easy and Fallon approved.

Protein: Chicken in the crockpot is one of the greatest ideas ever. Put it in, turn it on, let it cook. Done. Beans are so easy to rinse and serve, lunch meat can be rolled up or quickly torn into strips and sausage can be cooked ahead of time then cut up to serve. Scrambling a batch of eggs to eat throughout the week is so easy too. And I am NEVER above a good old peanut butter sandwich. 

Fruits/Veggies: I am a fan of ready to serve fruits like blueberries and raspberries but grapes, bananas or avocado can be so quickly sliced a monkey could make it happen in seconds and Fallon can peel a little mandarin orange herself. Steam in a bag veggies are always on hand but I also don't mind doing a little prep by chopping and sautéing or roasting them to store in the fridge when there's not a hungry gremlin hanging around. 

Sides: Cheese sticks or shredded cheese are often in our line up for lunch and/or dinner as well pretzel thins, pita bread or sliced almonds. Fallon also really likes cheese tortellini or mac n cheese so those can easily be made during nap time or while Chris is home midday to wrangle her. 

On Chris's off nights we sometimes will have family style meals like homemade pizza, french toast or spaghetti squash. But my oven is rarely on during witching hour these days and that's the way I like it. I'm running on E by the that point and barely having to think to get Fallon's dinner on the table is necessary for my sanity. Fallon goes to be early so I eat later and if I want to cook something for myself and leave Chris the leftovers I can do it stress free while she sleeps. It's not a new concept. Keeping things colorful usually equals nutritional and my kid is healthy and happy. But I definitely did the whole hand to the face thing when this idea of meals a la cart occurred to me. So if you're sitting there thinking DUH, you're not alone and I'm not a genius. It's kind of like when you see someone wearing a really cute outfit and you have the same pants, top and jacket at home but never thought to put them all together. You had this thought somewhere in the dark recesses of your mind, you just needed someone to turn the light on. 

Baby #2 First Trimester Bumpdate

First I would like to thank you all so, so much for your kindness on our big announcement last week. It really does mean a lot to have people feeling so excited for us and this next chapter.  I read each and every comment and although I am unable to respond personally, THANK YOU. 

In all honesty this pregnancy was unexpected. I know, I know. How does that happen? Well, it does. It just does. But it's funny how things work out. While we might not have planned it this way, right now it seems like perfect timing. And I have to say I'm thrilled that the remainder of this pregnancy will happen through the cooler months. 9 months pregnant in Northern Kentucky July heat was not my favorite thing about the first time around. And speaking of the first time around, my pregnancy with Fallon was SO easy. This time, not so much. 

I cannot complain too much though because I haven't actually been getting sick, just feeling like I might at any moment, for most of the day. Heartburn kicked in almost immediately, the keep me up at night, tums work minimally if at all kind of heartburn. And oh my goodness the exhaustion. First trimester with Fallon I didn't realize I was any more tired than normal until I hit second trimester for comparison. But chasing a toddler while feeling like crap were new factors this go round and I was dead on my feet every night. I am officially out of the first trimester, sitting pretty at 14 weeks. The nausea has all but left the building and I feel like my energy is slowly starting to pick back up. I need every ounce I can get to keep up with my little wild thing. 

My due date is 4/04/18, but it changed 4 times before becoming final in the chart! I found out I was pregnant pretty early on, in an odd twist of fate. I've been taking pre-natal vitamins for the past 2 years as it is recommended to continue while breastfeeding. Fallon self weened just last month so I was on a Target run to get what I assumed would be one last bottle for awhile. Joke's on me. While in that aisle my sweet little toddler knocked some pregnancy tests off the shelf. As I was picking them up I had a moment. Maybe you know what I'm talking about when I say it was one of those prickling feelings down my spine like something was about to go down. It occurred to me that, according to previously known information about myself, something should have happened that day that as far as I knew at that moment, had not. I checked my calendar and then brushed it off because, well, these things are not always precise, especially after having a baby. But that prickly feeling caused me to leave the store with a test in my cart. And it was negative, or so I thought. 

Y'all these home tests are so good that the faintest of lines can show up, so faint you might not notice if you aren't sticking the test in front of your eyeball and squinting. I only ended up doing so because I later swore I saw a line and thought I was going nuts. The second test confirmed I was not crazy, at least in that respect, and the digital that said PREGNANT was kind of inarguable. So my first ultrasound was scheduled for what we assumed was 6 weeks. But the tech put me at just 5 and asked that we come back a week later to get a better picture. 2 scans later my due date had already changed 3 times, with every visit. When I finally saw my doctor for the first visit last week, I expressed my thoughts on the due date and she agreed it should be moved up 4 days based on the original scan. 4 days is 4 days people. Now watch me go overdue to the 4/08 date the tech last dated me with. 

So to recap, I am already 14 weeks pregnanct and have yet to take a weekly bump shot. Sorry second kid. We are thrilled to add another baby to the family but still shaking off the shock that it will be happening so soon. While I'd love to be able to do weekly bumpdates like I did with Fallon, this is a new season of life and that just won't be possible. But I do plan to do them whenever I can so you can all follow along with this pregnancy and I can document as much of it as I can. 

Happy Bump, I mean Hump Day!