Playing Catch Up - Tulips

I'm not sure if the average reader would like me to smash all of my photos from last week into one post or spread them out across a few posts, so I'm spreading them out. It'll be kind of a wordless(ish) week while I play catch up, since I didn't have my camera cord while I was away. Two Fridays ago (the 6th), my best friend, Christina, and her boyfriend came to visit at my parents' house. Among other things, we found an eco-tulip farm and spent about an hour taking pictures and trying not to trample the beautiful things!

 

It was a beautiful day... and yes, there were goats. I can't discount the goats.

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.

The Shoes We Wear

Do you think your shoes say a lot about you? During this pregnancy, I've been wondering if my shoes speak as many words as I think they might. On the days I'm brave enough to wear heels, I wonder if people think that I'm going to be a chic mom who doesn't care how much I've got going on- I'm going to look good. If I slip on some flats or flip-flops, do people think I'm lazy? Or they might say, "Poor girl. She must be so uncomfortable." 

During one of my daily battles with what shoes to wear and what they say about me as a woman, a mother, and someone who's expecting a second child, I was introduced to Littlewoods. When I was contacted, I thought the company mainly focused on shoes, so I was really excited! Fortunately for me (and everyone else shopping online), they are a one-stop-shop for women's, men's, and children's clothing plus a little bit of everything else. My favorite kind of place! But I'm here about shoes, right?

Here are some that I have on my wishlist for this summer and after I have little Miss Bean. Obviously, think comfort (AND chic) for the still-pregnant months and then think Megan for after the baby is born!

Coleen Phuket Embellished Toe Post Sandals

Chinese Laundry Fiction Platforms

Dune Fancy Corsage Sandals

South Cosette High Leg Wedge Boots

South Oilbird Monoraffia Wedge Sandals

Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars

 If you're like me and are constantly wondering what your shoe choices say about you, try a pair of kickers from Littlewoods! I'd definitely encourage you to at least check the site out if you're looking for tons of options in one place!

*Disclaimer: After more research from a loyal reader, Littlewoods does not ship to the United States. Feel free to look at their pretty things if you're a U.S. resident, but don't get too attached! So sorry about the inconvenience. I was so excited!

Baby Bean Update: 27 Weeks! (and BLONDER)

jeans, sweatshirt, tanktop: Old Navy, sunglasses: New York & Company

When is your due date?

For all intensive purposes, June 29.

What week are you in?

27! But by measurements of when I'm having the baby, I only have 11 weeks and 5 days to go!

How many pounds have you gained so far?

9.2 (I was wrong last week)

Have you had an ultrasound?

Yes! Three!

Do you know the gender of your baby?

Girly, girly girl!

Do you have a name picked out?

Yes. :)

Is the child being named after someone?

The middle name is after my maternal grandmother and the first name is something we picked out before knowing that it's my husband's great-grandmother's name!

Who is going to be with you during delivery?

Husband

Natural or medicated childbirth?

Scheduled c-section after complications with my last labor, which ended up in a c-section.

How are you feeling right about now? 

High-spirited, but in disbelief that my belly can stretch any bigger. I'm a bit concerned that we haven't done anything to the nursery except move the furniture in there. We have to paint and get bedding! 

What was the first thing you bought for baby?

We let our daughter pick out the homecoming outfit after we found out the gender.

Do you feel you are ready to have a baby?

For the most part, yes. I'm nervous about being a mother of two and we don't have the nursery done, so that's nerve wracking. But other than that, yes.

Are you excited or scared about delivery?

I'm excited for baby to get here, but scared about surgery. I hate surgery and post-surgery.

Any food cravings?

My mom made strawberry pretzel dessert yesterday and I've been wanting to eat it by the gallon ever since. Have you ever had it? It's a bed of crushed pretzels, topped with cream cheese and whipped cream, topped with frozen strawberries and strawberry jello. Oh my goodness... 

Anything you loved before that you absolutely cannot eat anymore?

Eggs are really bothering me, lately. I don't know what it is about them! I can't eat boiled eggs, scrambled eggs.. YUCK.

Anything else you'd like to share or vent about?

I love how much this baby moves! It makes me feel such a strong bond with her and like I know her so well. She does have crazy dance parties around 11:30 every night, which makes me a bit nervous. It's so cool how she reacts to my eating food within 15-20 minutes after I eat and how she's moving so strongly, now, that my clothes move! It's so hard to believe she still has a lot of growing to do!

In other news, Christina and her boyfriend came to visit at my parents' house on Friday and she fixed my horrendously orangey-yellow hair by toning and highlighting. Phew! Yes, I'm very, very blonde, now. I even kind of match Little S (yes!). I'm so, so, so excited and even more happy that I know how to do it on my own without using boxed dye. 

Oh, by the way, that's what's up. I'm visiting my parents for the week with Little S. Husband came down with us on Thursday (in a separate car) and left after Easter lunch, yesterday. S and I are staying until Sunday, April 15. I don't have a camera cable with me, so unfortunately I can't share the awesome tulip field pictures we took until I get back. But I'll be doing my best to keep up with photos on my iPhone. I'm casually dressed for a day of laundry, hanging out, playing outside with S, and running up to my mom's work to eat lunch with her!

Targeting the Neons and Brights

I went to Target for a quick errand this week and gasped in glory when I walked in and the front display was neon! I know, I know. I'm behind on the times. Neon's been "in" for months and was a huge fashion projection for the spring and summer. It's also been a while since I've stepped into Target... I've had to build up my strength so I only come out with the item(s) for which I went in. If you're a Target fiend like me, you know how hard it is to go in thinking you'll spend $9 and come out after spending $70. Not hard to do. Either way, I didn't buy one of these items, but I loved them all. I NEED a neon yellow purse and I'm loving the little fedora! So great for shading my face from the sun AND having a cute accessory for all of my maxi dresses this summer. I think I might have to go back and get it... eventually.

How do you feel about the neon trend this season? And what are you loving from Target?

Dots on Copy

Well, I couldn't find my camera yesterday, but I read Tara's blog post early in the morning and she'd already decided my outfit for the day! I couldn't go without giving her credit for dressing me with hardly a thought of my own! So, thanks, Tara. And sorry my tribute is via crappy iPhone pictures!

blouse, sweater, jeans: Old Navy, shoes: gift from Whitney

Since you can SORT OF see my hair here and because I never shared the story I promised, here goes (short version): Basically, I hated the color it was when I box dyed it before. So, I decided to go get the same brand dye in a lighter, ashier color and tried to neutralize the red/orange/yellow tones. Hah. I turned out looking MORE like a highlighter. This is my street hooker hair, as I've been calling it. My OB complimented me yesterday and I could barely hold in my life. Barely smirking, I thanked her. Thank goodness, my best good friend is taking some time out of her busy law school life to visit me on Friday and she's going to fix it. The right way. I'm so over boxes.

Lucky Little Green One

If green is the color of lucky, how lucky am I?

top, cardigan, jeans: Old Navy, shoes: Consignment (Faded Glory), bow: Local Artist

S and I shopped the big Easter sale at Old Navy yesterday and got a handful of things for warmer weather. Here's a list, if you're interested!

Smocked-Linen Skirts (Chambray)

Ruffle Flutter Sleeve Dress (Yellow)

+ 1 Rainbow Print Chevron Dress (can't find online)

Ruffled Chiffon Maxi Dress

I also got two pairs of cropped linen pants a lot like these, but the ones I have aren't online. And mine are teal and berry! YAY! And... they fit me like full-length pants! WOO!

Sunny Days

With the warm weather creeping in and comfort being one of my top priorities, I can only imagine a wardrobe of sundresses, flats, and bright colors from now through September. I've discovered that Converse Shoes has hundreds of different colors to get me through the season and keep me on trend with the whimsical colors that are in right now and projected to stay stylish through the summer and fall months. Here's a perfect combination that I can imagine wearing on the boardwalk, or for those not so lucky to live at the beach or go on vacation (ahem, me), to the grocery store or to take little ones to the pool!

set via polyvore

I don't know about you, but I'm so ready to be in comfortable cotton, bright colors, and adorably unexpected shoe choices for several months! If you had a pair of fun Converse All-Stars, what would you wear them with this spring and summer?