18 weeks

i turn a new week on sundays, but it took me a while to get these photos edited and ready. so today i’m actually 18.5 weeks.

when: monday, oct. 10, 2011

what i wore:
shirt: h&m
cardigan: american apparel
necklace: pandora (gift)
jeggings: american eagle
shoes: isaac mizrahi for target

where: work, bunco 

• we had an appointment yesterday with our midwife. my belly is measuring as it should and the baby’s heartbeat was around 140 bpm.

• the baby is now about the length of a large pickle! how convenient since i have a huge jar of them in my fridge…

• total weight gain so far: four pounds. i was really relieved to hear this since i have been eating quite a bit more than usual. i was thinking i hadn’t really grown too much, but i think these photos tell a different story!

• by a miracle, my jeans were somehow buttoned in these photos. that hasn’t happened in weeks!

• i am feeling really blessed that everything has been going smooth. i have lots of friends who are pregnant right now, and almost all of them have had scares or really sad things happen. i don’t know why this is, but we are so thankful for our little gift.

• whoa, hot flashes! i used to be cold blooded, but now there are times when i get so hot and light-headed that i feel like i might pass out. it almost always happens in the car. i’m better after a drink of water, deep breaths and some moving air, though!

• i haven’t been sleeping as well lately. i’ll wake up after crazy dreams and then i can’t fall back asleep because my mind is racing or i’m hot or uncomfortable. i’ve also had to stop sleeping on my stomach in the past week. i’m sad about it, but i don’t have much of a choice because it’s just getting too uncomfortable and i feel so much activity (gas bubbles, baby moving?) when i lay on my stomach. it kind of tickles and i just can’t sleep like that! but i’m happy i made it this long and i hope to get used to sleeping on my side so i can start sleeping a bit better.

• as a result, i have been pretty tired lately. i know this is a typical side effect of pregnancy, but it wasn’t as bad a few weeks ago. i’ve found that i must have lights out by 9 p.m. or i can totally feel it the next day.

i know there are people who have stopped reading my blog because they can’t have kids and it is too painful to read of my weekly updates. i understand. and i read stories like this and my heart breaks and my mind turns of how lucky we are, although it took us many months to conceive.

i know it may seem at times like i am complaining about what it feels like to be pregnant, but i assure you that i am not. i just want to have a journal of sorts so i can remember for next time (if we are so blessed) and also because i think it’s important for women to share the joys and unpleasant surprises along the journey. we owe it to each other to be real, dontcha think?

13 October 2 Permalink

17 weeks

when: monday, oct. 3, 2011

what i wore:
scarf: handmade, gift
sweater: h&m
jeggings: american eagle
boots: thrifted unisa, gift

• this week i got asked are you sure you’re not having twins? really? i feel like i am on track with my growth and, based on my parents’ scale, i’ve only gained two pounds.

• my appetite has picked up quite a bit…i’m never afraid to jump first in line when grabbing dinner or for going back for seconds…both of which i never used to do!

• last weekend i saw my nana for the first time since we announced our pregnancy. it was so fun to see her rub my belly with a huge smile on her face! this will be their fifth great-grandchild and i love the fact that her and my grandpa are able to experience the next generation of the wonderful family they created.

• i’m constantly torn between thinking i can’t wait till our baby is here! and the baby will be here soon enough…live in the NOW and enjoy these last months as a family of two…

• but it’s hard because i’ve got high baby fever. seeing my cousin’s 3-week-old son last weekend at his shower and playing with my 7-month-old niece made me want one of my own so bad. and there were so many cute little kids at church that i leaned over to eric and said, “i want one of those little people!” he assured me that it won’t be long till our babe is here.

***photos by the very sweet and talented heidi of {captured by} heidi. she has a baby bump of her own and her little boy will be arriving next month!

6 October 1 Permalink

16 weeks

what i wore:
hat: forever 21
shirt: anthropologie
sweater: anthropologie
leggings: target
leg warmers: target
shoes: simply vera vera wang via kohl’s 

• doesn’t 16 weeks sound like a lot more than 15? and a lot closer to 20 weeks? eek. that seems crazy!

• i’ve read that the baby will go through a growth spurt in the next few weeks. you know what that means for me, right?! stretch, belly, stretch!

• two people touched my belly this week, and i actually didn’t mind at all. it’s fun to see other people get excited.

• thanks for all the compliments on my long, thick hair. it has been growing so fast lately!

• i’m fairly happy-go-lucky about this whole pregnancy thing. in general i am not a worrier so i always assume that my feelings / cramps are normal and don’t google my symptoms. i know this is good for me and my baby, but maybe i’m naive about all the things that can go wrong. i’m just trusting that it all will work out just fine — whatever is God’s plan for us.

p.s. i intentionally don’t talk about my pregnancy on this blog very much. typically just once a week with the bump photo/update. this is meant to be a style blog, and our family/lifestyle topics are discussed on words of williams. if you’re curious in reading more about our pregnancy, we wrote letters to the baby this week and are currently wondering how our priorities will align after baby is born and also if it’s a boy or a girl!

29 September 1 Permalink

15 weeks

what i wore:
hat: husband’s from american apparel
shirt: h&m mama
jeggings: american eagle (now on sale!)
boots: simply vera vera wang via kohl’s

• the bigger my belly gets, the more excited i get. …except that it gets in the way now when eric and i hug.

• i’ve been feeling good, and have even had some bursts of energy and desire to get our house in order. it’s on the market and we are hoping to sell (downsize) very soon!

• i’ve noticed my ab muscles are stretching…it isn’t as easy to stand up from a sitting or laying position.

• at my appointment last week, i had gained three pounds since my first appointment, bringing me back to my pre-pregnancy weight.

• sometimes i think my brain has left my body…how can i be so forgetful?!

23 September Permalink

week 14 of 40

when: sunday, sept. 11, 2011

what i wore:
dress: h&m
necklace: gap
leggings: be maternity via target
shoes: isaac mizrahi for target
purse: le mode accessories 

where: work at bridal forum, dinner, grocery store

• non-pregnancy update first: someone recognized me today! (hey, melanie!) i was actually checking out her boots, and then she came over and told me that she follows me on twitter. she knew it was me because of the top knot bun. woo! being recognized in public was a goal of mine so i was thrilled. please, if you ever see me around — say hi! :)

• babe is the size of a lemon this week. we have a check-up today and have been praying that everything is and looks good!

• my belly kind of exploded this past week. sometimes eric and i just stare at it in disbelief. i’m carrying so low that he says i look like a dr. seuss character, and i totally agree.

• i feel like this is a special time in our marriage that we’ll never get back: a time when we’re expecting a child — and the excitement and planning that comes with it — but it’s still just us two. {hence why we have date night every single week.}

• i ate four pieces of pizza for supper one night last week — double what i’d usually eat. and then we had popcorn and ice cream sundaes. the hunger strikes come on randomly.

• is there a baby boom where you are? i know five people due within 10 days of me!

• cravings = chocolate milk, pickles, cheese! i can’t get enough macaroni and cheese!

15 September Permalink