23 week chalkboard

Hi sweet little one,
I know Christmas is still about a month away, but I just couldn't help it...I'm so excited!

How far along: 23 weeks
Gender: Little baby girl <3
Maternity clothes: Yes. Remember last week how I wrote that I was buying a ton of clothes online at random hours of the night because I can't sleep? This red shirt is one of the things I bought. And I now want it in gray, purple, and blue. Hmmm...
Best moment this week: Two-way tie between leaving work on Tuesday and not having to come back until Monday (helloooo Fall break!), and starting to paint baby sister's nursery. It's going to be just g.o.r.g.e.o.u.s!
Worst moment this week: Another two-way tie between watching Pemberley battle yet another cold and realizing on Sunday that I did, in fact, have to go back to work on Monday. Is it Christmas yet? :(
Miss anything: Oh Lordy how I miss a good night's sleep. And a good beer. And rum in my egg nog. And being able to walk around without accidentally bumping into things because I haven't quite realized how big my belly is getting lately.
Movements: Yes! 100% in love with them.
Cravings: Crushed ice. I could literally eat it for every meal. I walk around with a spoon in my water cup all day long, crunching away. ((Just ask my students who constantly ask me to repeat myself because I try to give directions with a mouthful of ice - haha!))
Queasy or sick: Kind of have a sore throat, but probably got that from Pemberley's last cold so...not pregnancy related, but it still sucks.
Looking forward to: Announcing baby sister's name very soon!

That's all for this week, little girl. I am going to curl up in bed with some ice and watch reruns of Gossip Girl because that's how we roll lately. I love you so much!

22 week chalkboard

Hi sweet little baby,
Another week, another chalkboard! But this one means that we get to celebrate Thanksgiving in a few days, and this mama couldn't be more excited :)

How far along: 22 weeks + 1 day
Gender: Little baby girl <3
Maternity clothes: Well yes, and with more on the way thanks to it's-midnight-and-I can't-sleep-so-why-not-shop-online impulses
Sleep: Running on about three hours' worth as I type...
Best moment this week: Watching Pemberley walk all around the house! She's doing so great!!!
Worst moment this week: When I crawled into bed and realized that Pemberley peed in it. I swear, she was only in between nakey bath time and diaper for like, 2.5 seconds. Apparently that's all it takes, though. Pemberley - 1, Mommy - 0
Miss anything: COFFEE
Movements: I'm so in love with them! She's still sitting really low, so I can't wait to feel her kicking around in there even more very soon :)
Cravings: Strawberry fruit snacks. If anyone wanted to fill my stocking with them this Christmas, I *really wouldn't mind, Raleigh*
Queasy or sick: Twice this week I felt queasy from the smell of meat cooking. I've never had a food aversion while pregnant (quite the opposite, in fact!), so it kind of threw me both times! I hope it doesn't keep happening, given that we're going to have a delicious turkey in a few days!
Looking forward to: Our next appointment, and getting started on baby girl's nursery. Paint colors are picked out for 3 out of 4 walls, and it's going to be just perfect! I'll be writing up a nursery inspiration post in the next week or so :)

I love you SO much, little baby girl! March can't come soon enough!

21 week chalkboard

Hi sweet little baby,
Twenty one weeks. We're well into our second trimester and it just keeps getting better! We got to see you on our anatomy sonogram on Tuesday, and it literally couldn't have been any sweeter.

How far along: 21 weeks + 1 day
Gender: Little baby girl <3
Maternity clothes: Oh yes.
Sleep: I have officially decided that sleep is for the weak.
Best moment this week: Seeing baby girl #2 and hearing that she is perfect and healthy! I loved watching her wiggle around. We even got some good shots of her hands and feet! Soooo precious!
Worst moment this week: Reading about Sally's dad passing. I remember Poppie passing about a year ago, and the memories hit me pretty hard.
Miss anything: Raleigh has been indulging in Fruit Loops-flavored vodka & horchata milk before dinner a few nights this past week. I'm only 1000% jealous every time he rubs it in my face.
Movements: Yes! So much more frequently now! I love the little reassurances that baby girl is wiggling around in there :)
Cravings: I pretty much wake up thinking about half iced tea/ half water & crushed ice from QuikTrip. I may have also stopped for a few hot chocolates on my way to work this week (with whipped cream, but honestly, is it hot chocolate without it??).
Queasy or sick: Feel awesome!
Looking forward to: Picking paint colors for baby girl's nursery. I have BIG PLANS for it, and I can't wait to see it all done!!!

Here are some pictures of you...you're almost a whole pound already (which is hard to believe, since I've only gained 7 pounds so far, thanks mostly to chasing your big sister around the house 24/7)! I also put your 20 week scan profile next to Pemberley's, and I now have my fingers crossed that I'll have little twin baby girls in a few months!!!

I love you so much, sweet baby girl! Only 19 weeks to go!

20 week chalkboard - halfway there!

Hi sweet little baby,
It's here. The halfway point. It honestly feels like we just found out that I was pregnant again, and now we're 20 weeks in and halfway there. I know people say that kids grow up really fast and you'll miss it if you blink, but I rarely hear that about a pregnancy. Except this one. This one has gone by so incredibly fast and has been so easy! I know the hard part is coming up in a few months, but I hope you know how much I've enjoyed this so far.

How far along: 20 weeks
Gender: Little baby girl <3
Maternity clothes: I rocked maternity leggings, yoga pants, and maxi skirts all week. No shame.
Sleep: Nope. In fact, I started drafting this at 3:30am, if that tells you anything.
Best moment this week: Pemberley took her first steps on her own! Also, the Royals won their first World Series in over 30 years, and school was cancelled for the celebration parade on Tuesday. It was a good week.
Worst moment this week: The mood swings I came home from work with on Friday. Holy shit, these hormones are no joke. I legitimately almost ugly cried at the dinner table because Raleigh didn't put enough vegetables on Pemberley's pizza. Ridiculous.
Miss anything: Being able to sit in the car for longer than 15 minutes and not have to move to get comfortable. And the couch is an impossible space to navigate around, which means I pretty much end up in bed by 7pm.
Movements: They're getting more frequent and stronger every day <3
Cravings: Cold strawberries, and iced tea with crushed ice from QuikTrip.
Queasy or sick: Just moody as hell that one day; otherwise feeling fantastic.
Looking forward to: Our anatomy scan on Tuesday!!! Grannie gets to come with me, and I'm really excited to share that with her :)

I'm sure next week will be huge for us, baby girl! I can't wait to keep you updated!
So much love,

19 week chalkboard

Hi sweet little baby,
I've been dreading 19 weeks..it's the last one before we're halfway through. I know most mommies would be excited, but it makes me sad!!!! I don't want this pregnancy to end!

How far along: 19 weeks

Gender: Little baby girl <3
Maternity clothes: Yes. Obviously. BUT! I did manage to use the hairband trick to wear a pair of jeans to work today. I'd forgotten all about it! Best. Trick. Ever.
Sleep: Between the extra innings Royals games and the inability to get comfortable in bed, sleep has not been kind to me. But let me just say how much I adore daylight savings time this year. An hour may not seem like much, but it's pure bliss to this mama.
Best moment this week: The Royals are going to clinch the World Series tonight, I can just FEEL IT!!!!! Also, Halloween was a blast with Pemberley this year :) 
Worst moment this week: Crying on my way to work listening to the Royals highlights because I'm so proud of those boys! I'm such a hormonal baby.
Miss anything: Only every Oktoberfest from last month. Remind me why they can't just push back Oktoberfest to April next year?
Movements: Yes! Way more little wiggles this week. Nothing Raleigh can feel yet, but I'm cherishing them when they happen.
Cravings: Chipotle. Unsweetened iced tea. Crushed ice. Halloween candy (it's a good thing I don't know my weight...I'm pretty sure I'd cry seeing as I devoured about a million snacks at my students' party).
Queasy or sick: Nada
Looking forward to: Our sonogram on November 10! Can't wait to see how much baby girl has grown!

That's all for this week! I love you so much, baby girl (who now has a full name that we can't wait to announce!).