Mom Jeans?

I'm baaaaaack!

It's been two weeks and three days since my little Bean was born and it's been busy to say the least! Sorry I've been MIA, but juggling the visitors, nursing, sleepless nights, two sweet little girls, and reminding myself to eat somewhere in between has proven too much for blogging! But... I'm here and I plan to keep going forward! Hopefully I can keep up, but I probably won't be updating at my normal rate for a while. Expect to see 2-3 posts a week until I get my bearings on this new life!

 on S- dress: Cracker Barrel, shoes: Kohl's, bow: Local Artist
on Bean- jumper: Baby Gap (consigned)
me- top: Oh Baby, jeans: Charlotte Russe, flip flops (GAH, these are NOT shoes): Old Navy, shades: NY&Co.


I got out of the house yesterday. FINALLY. I feel like I'm on lock-down and it's horrible. I like to go out and be moving and sitting around the house, waiting to heal up from my c-section and being on the baby's schedule has been challenging for me. Now, I realize I'm going to be on the baby's schedule for a long time. Hopefully I can figure out how to nurse outside of the house better! I've tried a few times and neither Bean or I can get comfortable. It's just a mess! I have to have my boppy with me and I forgot to take it around when I got to doctor's appointments or Babies R Us. Man, my life sounds like a ton of fun, doesn't it? IT IS. I swear. I'm so happy with these little girls. Bean has been such a total blessing and S is a wonderful, loving big sister. She hasn't shown any jealousy at all and I'm pretty shocked, to be honest. I'm sure once all the hype dies down and we don't have family coming and going, she'll realize she's not the center of the universe and it'll hit home. I pray for strength on that day.
In more exciting news... I'm wearing my pre-pregnancy jeans already! It took 6 months after I had S and 2 weeks and 2 days after I had Bean! I guess that's the difference between gaining 27 pounds and 50 pounds during a pregnancy. Granted, the jeans weren't comfortable, per se, they were on. Jeans are no bueno for post-cesarean incision pains. Just a tidbit of helpful information if you're ever in my shoes.

 Someday, I'll wear real shoes and dresses again, but for right now, all I can manage is to get dressed in something that's not a nursing tank and yoga pants. Everything has to be nursing friendly, even when I leave the house. I like the little list Kimmie put together about mom attire, here. Check it out!
Glad to be back! I've missed you guys!

Baby Bean Update: 28 Weeks

I thought last week was my warm welcome to the third trimester, but apparently there are some discrepancies as far as when the third trimester starts (27 or 28 weeks). So, I'll officially announce that it's finally the third trimester, starting today! I'm really not sure why 40 weeks are split into three trimesters... 12, 13, 14? 14, 12, 13? Does anyone know the real breakdown?

shirt: LOFT, tank: Old Navy, skirt: Oh Baby, sandals: Fergie

I did the pregnancy questionnaire for two weeks in a row and I kind of hate it. It's a bunch of repeat information each week that really won't change. I guess I'll just go back to my normal quick updates with what's been going on with Bean and me. Let's start with my white legs. Newsflash: They're really white. And after some skin cancer scares, I think I prefer to keep them that way. However, if anyone knows of a great self-tanning product that isn't stinky, doesn't stain sheets, and doesn't streak (magical?), please suggest it in a comment! 

I'm still at my parents' house and S and I will make the drive back to North Carolina tomorrow. I think I'm missing home a little bit, but I feel so at home here that it's hard to say. I definitely miss my husband and my bed. Mostly, I miss routine. S and I have been having late bedtimes and early wake times, which make for crummy afternoon times for all. Bean has been moving a lot, but where she was jabbing me before, now, it seems like she's more into rolling around and making long, slow movements. I think she might be working her way out of the breach position, but what do I know? Coffee isn't on my usual schedule, but since I've been on "vacation," I've indulged every other day or so. Bean really likes coffee. Her dance parties definitely prove that caffeine affects a growing baby! One thing that's new this week is that my belly is breaking. Yes, at only 28 weeks, my stretch marks are becoming battle wounds. I've been putting Palmer's Tummy Butter on three times a day and it's barely touching how torn up I'm becoming. Either I have less of a capacity to grow than I did with S or this baby is going to be huge. Or... I'm not 24 anymore.  She's actually growing at the exact rate of her fetal age and is right on target with the measurements. I'm afraid I have to take this moment to come to grips with the fact that I don't have a 24-year-old body this time around. Dang. 

My brother, S, and I drove up to meet two of my best friends and their respective significant others today. It was so awesome to see Jen and Whitney (and Jim and Tommy!), but I was really sad to only be able to spend a little bit of time with them. Thankfully, I'll see Whitney in a few weeks so we can catch up more. But it'll probably be Christmas time before I see Jen, again. I've been so blessed to be able to see all four of my best girlfriends in the past two months. I'm lucky to see them once or twice a year and I got to see them all in a short period this time! I'm still hoping Jackie and Christina will be able to come stay with me after the baby is born, and that Jen and Whitney won't have to wait too long to visit her! All four of them met S before she was six weeks old! 

The above photo is for your viewing pleasure. It's a prime example of what happens when: My brother is taking iPhone pictures and I don't know he's snapping, bugs are flying around my dome, and my back hurts from standing up/sitting down too long (really a win/win there, huh?). So pretty. I just wanted to share a little slice of ultra-reality with you.

Baby Bean Update: 25 Weeks

Well, Bean and I had a very eventful end of our week, to say the least. We (and Little S) were in our first car accident yesterday. It was all my fault, as I was turned around at a red light, trying to calm S down, reassuring her that she was, indeed, not going to starve to death. And while I was facing backward, my foot slipped off the break and onto the gas, when I rear-ended the woman in front of us. Thankfully, she was the first person in line at the light and I didn't create a domino collision. And more thankfully, everyone is okay. My car is scratched and has some cracked chrome as well as some minor damage to the metal work under the hood. But my Nissan Murano did some hefty work to her little Toyota Camry and she can no longer close her trunk. We filed with insurance, called the police, I got cited... It was a sha-bang. It wasn't until about halfway through the police report that I realized my belly was feeling very bruised on the left side. I touched it and it was very tender where I hit the steering wheel. You might think my seat belt should have stopped me from hitting the steering wheel, but my belly is already right on top of the wheel because of my height. Not thinking much of it, I went on with my day until I remembered, "Oh! I'm six months pregnant... I should probably get the baby checked out." I was really emotional the whole afternoon, feeling very guilty for causing the accident and thankful that S was perfectly unharmed. But I had been focusing so much on the visible that I sort of forgot the little body that's growing inside of me.

Needless to say, a trip to Urgent Care ended up as a trip to the ER, which ended up as a trip to Labor and Delivery. Scary? Mega. And I was by myself because I didn't want Husband to bring S to the hospital until I knew everything was okay. They hooked me up to the fetal monitor right away and Bean sounded awesome. She was moving and her heart rate was perfect in the 150s. Soon after, I was sent for an ultrasound to make sure all the fluids were okay and the placenta was still attached. Luckily, the ONLY injury sustained was the bruise across my belly. Just to err on the side of safety, my OB called in orders for me to stay overnight and be monitored. I was bummed because I was alone and freezing cold, knowing I wouldn't sleep a wink because of people coming in to adjust monitors and take my vitals. But it was nice to be released early this morning with no more than directions to take it easy.

top: Oh Baby, cardigan: Eddie Bauer, jeans: Old Navy Maternity, shoes: c/o Maurices

In other ultrasound news, Bean is 110% a girl, just in case anyone (or I) was having second guesses from finding out so early. She is measuring right on track for my due date and is moving like a little fish. She was sucking her thumb, kicking all around, and she's breech. It doesn't really matter because I'm having a c-section. Hopefully she'll take her next few imperative weeks to move, though, because the low kicks are sort of painful. Her thighs already look a little chunky. So cute. She was measuring about 1 lb. 11 oz. and I'm so in love with her, it's not even funny!

Here's a photo of me at 25 weeks with Little S. My, my, how things have changed!

To everyone who wished Bean and I the best while we were at the hospital, thank you so much. It's wonderful to know we have such an amazing support system! 

Don't forget to enter for your chance to win these gorgeous pearl earrings from Scarlet Samples! 

Giveaway ends Monday at 11:59 ET!

Baby Bean Update: 23 Weeks

Bean got moving and shaking this week like she never has before. I can finally feel AND see her jabs from the outside. It's pretty magical and I feel like I'm really starting to form a strong bond with her. Also, I completely blame her for my desire to eat. And eat, and eat, and eat. 

So much for that slooooow and steady weight gain.

shirt: Oh Baby

cardigan: Eddie Bauer

jeans: Old Navy

heels: Ross (gifted from Rochelle)

scarf: c/o Happy Scarf

I've been wanting to try this light/dark purple combination for a while, but to be honest, I couldn't find my sweater. Yesterday, I realized that my husband hung it over the rocker in the baby's room to dry. Poor thing- he's so scared to shrink anything else! I really like the outcome, but more than anything, the scarf added the desperately needed something to the outfit. And had I not had the scarf, I probably wouldn't have been able to justify heels... which would have been a problem, considering I hemmed these pants too long and am too lazy to fix them.

This week, I've still experienced the crucial low back/lumbar pain. It was so acute on Monday evening (after scrubbing the kitchen and dining room floors on my hands and knees - no, I don't own a mop or a working swiffer wet) that I literally fell to my knees on the way to the bathroom and crawled. It was awesome. And I'm having sciatica attacks in the middle of the night where I'm forced to switch sides at least every hour to relieve the numbness and tingling down which ever leg I'm lying on. All of these things happened to me during my pregnancy with S, but not until about 30 weeks. The only other "negative" symptom I've had is recurring migraines. But I blame the weather because the dang barometric pressure can't stay put for two weeks in a row. Yes, I'm one of those.

Otherwise, I'm healthy, feeling well, and as tight and stretched as my tummy skin feels, I'm so happy to see that baby is growing and to feel her constantly moving and shaking in there. I told Husband, though... I hope when she has less space, she calms down quite a bit. If not, I'll have two dislocated lower ribs just like I had with S. Oh, being short and pregnant...

Baby Bean Update: 21 Weeks

I'm convinced that after 20 weeks, I will grow 5 inches per week. Luckily, I'm probably overreacting. I've still only gained a total of four pounds and my clothes are fitting the same (mostly maternity, barring two pairs of Charlotte Russe jeans that are low enough to handle the growing belly) and I don't feel much different as far as size goes. Nights are getting MUCH more difficult. Finding a comfortable way to sleep and falling back to sleep after the hourly potty breaks are posing exhaustion problems come morning. From what I remember, I was thinking the second trimester would be a breeze. More energy, less moodiness, infrequent aches and pains. Hah. Silly me! I did enjoy a prenatal massage yesterday evening and it was amaaaaaaazing. I only wish that I still felt the benefits after sleeping. I think I slept all the knots right back into my shoulders!

top: Oh Baby Maternity

cardigan: New York & Company

jeans: Motherhood

flats: Target

necklace: Charlotte Russe

shades: New York & Company

I'm really not digging outfit photos today, friends. I feel so... mediocre. We just went to breakfast and ran some quick errands around town, so it wasn't cause for anything fancy. I just miss dressing in the clothes that I love and am not looking forward to having to "make do" for the next handful of months. But I will, and everything's going to be just fine. In the meantime, I'll focus on any photos of myself to be Bean updates and scrapbook-necessary. And we'll have fun starting to decorate her room in the coming weeks!

Side note?

My daughter just brought me tons of change and said she found "her" money for her piggy bank. I said, "Oh, really? Where did you find all of that money?" She said, "In your drawer." 

Hmm...

Do I have a bandit on my hands?

Bible Study Girl

If I haven't reveled enough in my excitement, yet, let me do it again. I'm done with my job on March 2! I'm terrified and happy at the same time, but right now, I'm kind of basking in the glory of wearing something other than yoga/sweatpants and oversized t-shirts. Bible study and church are two times a week I get to dress myself in something other than the daily uniform. Even if I don't go over the top (which you know me... I usually don't unless there are neon tights involved), I feel like a woman every once in a while and that's a nice feeling.

top: Oh Baby Maternity

cami: WalMart

cardi: New York & Company

pants: Motherhood

flats: Target

belt: New York & Company

necklace: The Word Jewelry

I tweeted the other day and if you don't follow me on twitter, you should! I think the next few weeks while I'm wrapping up things at work and budgeting, learning to coupon, etc, I'm going to be very sporadic on the blog. I'm not going anywhere and I absolutely will be posting at least a few times a week, but I just wanted to give you all a heads up. The next few weeks are PREPARATION for the life I've been waiting for (stay at home mom-dom!). I'm also doing some work for my uncle's company involving social media, so I've been putting some time into that that's taken me away from blogging. I hope you all understand! I'll definitely see you tomorrow for Bean's 20 week update!