22 Weeks & Memorial Day Weekend

Happy Memorial Day, friends! We spent the day hanging out and eating BBQ sauce smothered food with my family. We are so appreciative of our friends and family members who serve our country and all of those who have lost their lives protecting us. As I drove home today, passing flag after flag and car lined streets all happily celebrating, it was humbling to stop and remember those loved ones grieving their soldiers. Our thoughts and prayers go out to you!

A little bit of how our holiday weekend went. 

This photo was pre-sunburn. A little too much sun....and icing.

While it was nice to finally relax, Justin and I have been pulling our hair out trying to get everything done with the wedding countdown just under 2 weeks. Last weekend we were officially allowed to start moving things into the apartment. Justin was stuck on a lovely 9 hour Saturday shift so my parents and soon to be in laws helped move everything in. We were so fortunate to get an early wedding gift with about 1/3 the items on our registry from our family so we were able to set up our home even more :) Sunday night we took a break from the madness and headed to a live action sports show, Nitro Circus. In short, it's a bunch of grown men and women plummeting their bodies down ramps and over jumps on everything from motocross bikes to recliners on wheels. Justin was just a little bit excited as the show was starting, obviously.  

A few days after the show we received yet another extremely generous wedding gift from family members which turned out to be our living room furniture and almost all of our new "home" decor. We absolutely do not feel worthy of all of the love and help we've received as we move into the next phase of life but we are so blessed by it! We need a few more days to get the apartment together but mark my words, there will be house tour. Although it may be a few days late (like the weekly update) and it may skip a week entirely (like we skipped week 21).....oops.

Here's to yet another fat girl picture. Soak it up, twigs ladies.

Dress is last season from Nordstrom. Similar found Here and Here

How far along? 22 weeks. Finally wearing something other than Nike Pros and a tshirt.

Total weight gain/loss? 16 pounds!

Maternity clothes? Yep

Stretch marks? No

Sleep? Still good but I need at least 10 hours after a long day. Say what.

Best moment this week? Finally getting to set up our place where baby girl will spend her first years and watching her do the wave in my belly every time I lay down.

Miss Anything? Mountain biking with my man. Cold beer on a Friday night (& the radio up).

Movement? Yep

Food cravings? Anything spicy or carb loaded, pickles, and chinese takeout. Additionally, the egg bacon bagel obsession has returned.

Have you started to show yet? See photo above

Gender prediction? It's a girl.

Labor Signs? No

Belly Button in or out? I have become more obsessed with my belly button than the children I watch are obsessed with The Belly Button Book. My poor button is stuck in the strange flat stage where it can't decide if it's an innie or outie. Sigh, only time will tell.

Engagement ring on or off? On

Happy or Moody most of the time? Happy! 

Looking forward to? Letting the bump get some more sun this week as the weather calls for 80's and sunny!

I hope you all had a fun, safe weekend. Cheers!

Ringing in 20 weeks with a scare

We've made it! This week marks the halfway point on our journey to meet little baby Culotta. As sick as I was the first part of my pregnancy, the time thus far has flown. Every time I feel her kick or flip around, I know I'd gladly spend those months with my head in the toilet all over again. Even though I'm only halfway with this one, it's a whole new look into just how much our moms do\did for us as we approach Mother's Day. Sadly, we completely missed the 19 week picture and update due to nailing down last minute wedding details and crazy work schedules.....We also got everything together to move into our NEW PLACE next Saturday! We found the perfect apartment close to everything we do with bike trails running through our back yard. As of 6 days from now, it's ours :)  

After we missed we 19 we finally thought we'd get back on schedule with posting on the days the weeks switch, but little lady had other plans. The beginning of last week I started cramping which slowly turned into bad cramping and lower back aches. By Thursday afternoon after I'd called the OB to report, I'd missed 3 calls from 2 of their offices all saying to get to labor and delivery at the hospital and get there now. Justin agreed we needed to go so we sat in rush hour traffic through the burbs all the way into the city. I don't know if it was the anxiety alone or the fact that there was a baby pushing on my bladder but the trip to the hospital felt like an eternity. Once we arrived they wasted no time doing exams and running tests. I should add that peeing in a cup not once but twice when you can no longer see your feet turned out to be just the bit of humor we needed. Despite the nerves in the room there was a happy moment, Justin finally got to feel her kick! We learned this week that she gets super irritated by anything resting on my belly, including maternity pants, and begins kicking whatever is in her way. Naturally, she was upset by the fetal and contraction monitors on my belly which finally lead to her high-fiving her daddy.

After about 2 hours we got the final report that the cramping was from dehydration due to the recent temps in the 80's and 90's. The lack of fluids caused my muscles to cramp up in waves mimicking light contractions. Whew. No doubt this child is dramatic like her momma because there's nothing like an early labor scare to ring in 20 weeks. Ever since then she has been incredibly active, reassuring us all the more that she's healthy, but we'll be damned if we think she's going to let her birth go the way we want. In other news....

Last week my family and I headed east to Philadelphia for one of my best friend's baby shower.

Belly party! Baby Matthew and baby Culotta finally got to meet.

As you can tell by the pictures above, shortly after arriving home I came face to face with the realization that I have to lean forward to see my feet when I stand. 

And finally, the 20 week panic celebration picture.

How far along? 20 weeks & lacking energy to wear anything but spandex and a tee.

Total weight gain/loss? 13 pounds!

Maternity clothes? Yep

Stretch marks? No

Sleep? Great!

Best moment this week? Getting to watch Justin's face when he finally felt baby girl.

Miss Anything? I turned into the Mexican grinch when I couldn't crack a beer or sip a margarita on Cinco De Mayo.

Movement? YES!

Food cravings? Salads, chinese lettuce wraps, sweet tea, and fruity pebbles (which J will shameless go out of the way to buy extra boxes of. Um, keeper).

Have you started to show yet? Yes

Gender prediction? Girl.

Labor Signs? No, but apparently dehydration is no joke. ha.

Belly Button in or out? Halfway in, halfway out. 

Engagement ring on or off? On

Happy or Moody most of the time? Happy! 

Looking forward to? Our OB appointment on Wednesday & finally moving our stuff into the apartment!