Baby Bean Update: 31 Weeks

Ohhh, 31 weeks. We have seven weeks and 4 days until Bean comes. As soon as that sounds when I type it or say it out loud, it really feels like ages and eons away. I am so ridiculously uncomfortable and there just isn't enough room for a whole lot more stretching. I'm praying and praying that my previous c-section scar stays in tact with how low the baby is and how much pressure I feel. Quote of the week from innocent bystander: "Hold onto Jesus, girl." That was in reference to how big I am and how much longer I have left.

 dress: Old Navy Maternity (gift from Whitney), shoes: Sbicca from Ross

I sang the National Anthem at the Down East Walk to Defeat ALS on Saturday morning and it wasn't horrible, but it didn't go as well as I'd hoped. As much as I'd practiced, I really thought I would nail it, but I was so nervous and shaky that I felt like I had no control over what was coming out of my mouth. Fortunately, I stayed on pitch and hit the high notes just fine. It just sounded like I had an outrageous vibrato since I was shaking so badly. And I was EXTRA uncomfortable because the MC was quite literally 6 inches away from me. I wanted to move, but couldn't make sense of sashaying 4 feet to the right in the middle of the song. Anyway, I wore this and it was light, breezy, comfortable, and almost patriotic. Thanks, Whitney, for buying it for me!

Symptoms include, but are not limited to: Lots of baby rolling around movements and not so much jabbing, long spurts of baby not moving at all and giving me serious anxiety, Braxton Hicks contractions that are getting stronger and a bit painful, growing bigger every day (so much so that maternity clothes that fit me two weeks ago are too tight, now), cravings for watermelon and strawberries (strawberries replaced pineapple due to the pineapple contractions), swelling in my hands, ankles, and feet, low and mid-back pain... I guess it's all normal. I'm thankful that I'm not nauseated, but still can't believe that my symptoms are so strong and I'm so uncomfortable and I still have almost 2 months to go!

 My husband thinks it's hilarious to start walking around me like what he thinks a fashion photographer would do, point the camera in my face and moving all fast at different angles, saying stuff like, "Oh yeah, that's good. Yep, like that! Keep posing. Smile, pretty lady." Sometimes I laugh. And sometimes I'm really pregnant, hot, uncomfortable, and hungry... so I look like this.

Two of my best girlfriends, Whitney and Jen, sent lots of awesome stuff for Bean and S this weekend. Well, Whitney visited (ie: no blog post over the weekend) and brought the stuff from Jen (and Jim!). Bean has enough clothes to probably wear 3 outfits a day for her first 3 months. And she has a sporadic sprinkling of jammies, onesies, and t-shirts for 6, 9, and 12 months. I hope that eventually, she'll fit into S' stuff, but they're so far off season that I'm not sure how it'll all work out. I guess spring and fall are pretty interchangeable as far as weather goes. I'll have to investigate the attic. S got some princess makeup (don't worry- it's for liiitttle girls), shoes, and a big sister/little sister doll set. SO CUTE! My little girls are so blessed to be so loved and I'm blessed to be loved and taken care of. 

Best Friends and Fountains

I met with two of my best girlfriends last Saturday and there was a huge (12,000 pound!) marble on water that Little S loved to play with! I was terrified that the water was going to turn off and the marble was going to fall on her fingers. Perhaps I'm neurotic... perhaps that's a semi-normal fear? That wasn't really a question. Don't answer that. Anyway, here are a few photos from our day!

dress: Old Navy, headband: Dollar General, sandals: Kohl's

outfit details here

I had a great time with Jen and Whitney and I think S was really, really sad to leave the marble fountain. You can see that she's totally not focusing on getting her picture taken here... and it's because she's staring at the fountain!

My Best Friend, the Mrs.

Today's the day! My best friend, Jen (you've met her on the blog before) is marrying the man of her dreams (Jim- you've met him, too!). So instead of a regular post, I'm sharing a few little hints about what's to come. None of these dresses are hers or ours, but you'll definitely see some similar hues popping up when I share Jen and Jim's big day with you!

Happy wedding day, best friend! Can't wait to welcome you to the old married lady club!

Bridal Shower Flowers

Just in case you didn't know, I'm kind of a master bridesmaid. Let's see... I've been a bridesmaid 6 or 7 times and a maid of honor (okay, matron...) one of those times. I think I've mastered some of the skills you need to become a master bridesmaid and one of them is creating a tail kicking bow bouquet. At the bridal shower, one of the bridesmaids uses a paper plate and all of the gift bows to create a bouquet that the bride will use as her stand-in on the night of the wedding rehearsal. Have you seen a better one?

Hey, Jen, please don't kill me for putting you on the blog. I love you! You're the most beautiful bride and I'm sooooo excited to watch you become a Mrs. in less than 2 months!

Jen has been one of my best friends since we were 13! Or maybe it was 14, but I'm pretty sure it was 13. Okay, 8th grade. That makes it a hell of a lot easier. She was a bridesmaid in my wedding (almost five years ago!) and I'm so happy she asked me to stand beside her while she marries the man of her dreams in September! Most of you know that I traveled up to Virginia to visit my parents last week. The main reason of the trip was to get to Jen's shower! I elongated the vacay, of course, to spend time with family! Bridal showers are tricky business when you don't know the crowd, so I had to choose pretty safe attire. I kept it classic and comfortable, but tossed in some color so I could express myself a bit!

dress: Simply Vera*Vera Wang via Kohl's

belt: New York & Company

shoes: Bandolino via Ross, gifted by Rochelle

This little photo shoot was courtesy of my little brother and took place on my parents' deck. I asked him to take interesting pictures and look around for good background opportunities. His idea? Blow Little S' bubbles. Done.

To keep everyone safe and private, I won't name names! But here's Jen (oops, hey name dropper) and some of her bridesmaids (and that amazing bow bouquet).

What are some wedding traditions you love?

I Haven't Been Fair

What day is it?

Thursday?

I think so...

That's pretty much how I've felt over the past few weeks. Although my job is probably no longer considered "new," I feel like I'm still transitioning. It's been almost a month. Little S. just started joining me a week and a half ago, so it's like I'm completely relearning it all. She's out of her regular routine, hates napping on command (that's normal), and is finally getting over her jealousy. Phew.

Now, here's the thing. 

I was dressing all cute and being "Fashion Nanny," mostly for the blog. I didn't want to stop writing and I didn't want to leave all of my amazing blog friends behind. And I STILL don't. But the cold hard truth of the matter is that I no longer wear dresses and skirts to work. I've fallen victim to the yoga pants, tank tops, and sports bras. BUT... rest assured that it's not me being lazy. It's quite the alternative, actually. I usually only have the two girls each morning and I've been taking them on a nice, long double stroller walk. Baby S. usually takes her nap during that 45 minute jaunt. Little S. naps or not... but she enjoys the ride. And me? I sweat my ass off, get my clothes soaked, and get back to the house looking like a beet. I fit my sweat sesh right into my regular day's work and I have to be comfortable. Such a schedule has allowed me to get a really nice, fast-paced walk done early in my day so I'm not stressing out about exercising when I get home. That's family time and time to go to the pool and cook (a healthy and delicious) dinner. 

I AM, however, getting a treadmill this month. I'm SO EXCITED.

So, basically... what I'm saying is that my blog is going to be getting a bit of an overhaul as far as what posts look and feel like. I'll still do outfit posts from my weekend attire, because I definitely use that time to wear my pretty dresses and fun shoes and let my hair down. I'll use week days to share weekends with you, because I don't blog on weekends (except the usually regular Intense Adoration posts that I try to pre-write). Other than outfits, I plan to share bits of my family and being a mom. And of course, I will continue with my biggest concentration: Project Self. That's really what all of these changes are revolving around, anyway, right?

Today, I'm going to share a bit of the previous weekend. I joined my best friend, Jen, for the NKOTBSB (New Kids on the Block/Backstreet Boys) concert. Holy AHHHHH.

All I have to say is, "DONNIE WAHLBERG."

I die. I JUST die.

We stayed with Jen and her fiance, Jim, for the weekend (respectively Aunt Jenny and Uncle Jim) and had such a wonderful time. These photos will take you through a bit of our adventure.

Me and Jen... about to die of excitement at NKOTBSB.

Saturday, we visited Jen's parents. They LOVE Little S. and they've been a second family to me for almost 14 years, now. Good times in this house- and the fun didn't end with us! Little S. had a wonderful time practicing summersaults that Aunt Jenny taught her that morning, looking at all of the flowers and bird feeders outside.

 Aunt Jenny helping Little S. prep for a summersault.

Little S. and Aunt Jenny look at a bird house. 

And against my better judgement, I joined them in the bug infested trees.

Gnats are not my friend.

Little S. makes climbing the hill from the side yard to the driveway easy.

It was not.

Saturday night, we went to Herndon Festival. It's the first weekend in June every year, and this was the 31st year! I think I've only missed the few that I've been in NC for. I'm so glad we could go. It was insanely packed, though. So the main goal for the girls was to get Little S. on the ferris wheel, eat, and watch fireworks. For the boys, the goal was to drink beer, eat, and watch fireworks.

All missions accomplished.

After a 45 minute wait, the ride was worth it!

Little S. was in no way interested to eat the chicken I got for her. 

Aunt Jenny's corn dog, though?

Demolition.

 I'm telling you, that thing didn't stand a chance!

Little S. on Daddy's shoulders, watching the fireworks!

Walking back to our car from the shuttle, snuggling Uncle Jim!

Me, Little S., Hubs.

Aren't we such a cute little family?

So... thanks for reading! Thanks for being patient with me through these changes.

I hope you stick around to see what the outcome will be!

Be sure to stop by for tomorrow's Project Self post. I'm nervous!