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!).

18 week chalkboard

Hi sweet little baby,
There's no way we're 18 weeks already! I mean, it feels like we JUST found out that you're on your way...make time stop, please! In two short weeks we'll be halfway to meeting you and I don't want to meet you because I want to keep you safe in my tummy forever and ever!!!!

((No raging pregnancy hormones over here lol!))

How far along: 18 weeks + 1 day

Gender: GIRL (with a first name officially picked out, and a strong push by me for an adorbs middle name, too!)
Maternity clothes: It's safe to say my maternity wardrobe almost doubled in size this week. Hello full panel jeans and long sleeved tops!
Sleep: Pffft. What's that? 
Best moment this week: The ROYALS are going to the WORLD SERIES! Raleigh and I stayed up way too late through Friday night's rain delay, and even though I was just about too tired to function the next day, it was so. totally. worth. it.
Worst moment this week: Pemberley picked up another cold somewhere. They're getting old. I hate seeing her sick. Also the 13 hour day I spent at work & parent/teacher conferences last Thursday. Awesome students and parents, but that's just too much time to be at work.
Miss anything: Getting a good night's sleep, still. Cold brew coffee. 
Movements: Mostly at night when I'm winding down before bed. I'm in love with the little wiggles!
Cravings: Raw pancake batter. Pemberley might have caught me eating it this weekend straight out of the mixing bowl. #noshame #itwasdelicious
Queasy or sick: Felt fantastic this week!
Looking forward to: World Series Game 1 tomorrow night, and our upcoming extended sonogram on November 10th.t

As a last note, I posted this picture in the Official Facebook Kansas City Royals Fan Club page before they clenched the ALDS. I thought it was a sign that the only baseball chalkboards I've done so far are your 17 weeks and Pemberley's 38 weeks. (1738 is a major thing with the Royals. It's the beginning lyrics to their favorite team song, Trap Queen by Fetty Wap). I posted the side-by-sides and was blown away by all of our city's support! Almost 750 likes!!! And I took screenshots of the comments too, to show you someday. Needless to say, your Daddy and I aren't the only ones excited for your arrival! 

(Also, holy STOMACH! Was I seriously that big a year ago??!)
That's all for tonight, baby girl. I love you!!

17 week chalkboard

Hi sweet little baby,
S.e.v.e.n.t.e.e.n weeks. It's so crazy! I remember being 17 weeks with your big sister, and I must admit, this is the BEST time. You're finally starting to wiggle around in there, my energy levels are mostly back to normal, and I'm not as big as a beached whale (yet)! I'm so happy we've had such an easy go so far :)

How far along: 17 weeks + 1 day

Gender: GIRL (with a first name officially picked out!)
Maternity clothes: Oh yes, and I'm going to buy more this week...I was barely pregnant with Pemberley when it was cold outside, so I have almost nothing to wear.
Sleep: I hate bedtime. Hate, hate it. Not only can I not fall asleep, I can't sleep on my tummy either! I wake up so irritable and so damn tired every day...and we still have 23 weeks to go.
Best moment this week: So many to choose from this week...the Royals kicked some major Houston Astros ass, and we got to hear your sweet little heartbeat! Pemberley is getting so close to walking, and I won my school's annual chili cook-off!!! It was an awesome week.
Worst moment this week: Raleigh rubbing it in my face that he can enjoy spiked egg nog and I can't :(
Miss anything: Getting a good night's sleep. Oh, how I miss it so...also spiked egg nog.
Movements: Definitely more flutters and giggles! They're the BEST!
Cravings: Chalk. It took all of the self-restraint I had not to eat the chill while working on the chalkboard this week. (Yes, I'll get my iron checked!)
Queasy or sick: Sick and tired of not sleeping! (Haha, see what I did there!)
Looking forward to: Watching the Royals clench the ALDS!!

Before I sign off, here's your mommy kicking some major chili cook-off competition ass at OGMS. I've never gotten a chili trophy before!!!

With so much love,

16 week chalkboard

Hi sweet little baby,
Four months down, five to go! It's so unreal...

How far along: 16 weeks

Gender: GIRL 
Maternity clothes: Yes! Grannie and Mom bought me some super cute maternity clothes that actually fit. I'm in love with dressing my growing baby bump!
Sleep: I wish. The vivid dreams are already back and are just as crazy as my pregnancy with Pemberley! We also have a few big things going on here at home that are causing some restless nights, but more on that later. Maybe.
Best moment this week: Pemberley's first birthday party! A HUGE thank you to everyone who came to celebrate with us. It was a labor of love to put together that party (and to try to find maternity pajamas!), and we were so grateful that we could spend it with our families.
Worst moment this week: Realizing that I am a month away from 20 weeks, which means I'll be halfway done with this pregnancy :( I totes get why some women have 10 kids now.
Miss anything: Sleeping on my tummy, 'fo sho. I miss it sooooo much!
Movement:  Random movements still, but I'm hoping to feel her regularly in the next few weeks!
Cravings: Jelly beans, apples, and pumpkin ice cream. I could honestly eat pumpkin ice cream/custard every. single. meal.
Queasy or sick: Nope!
Looking forward to: Feeling regular baby kicks, and my monthly appointment on Thursday with Dr. Shipman :)

That's all for now! I can't wait to hear your sweet little thumpthumpthump on Thursday! 
With so much love,

15 week chalkboard

Hi sweet little baby,
Fifteen weeks already!!! And what a big week it'll be for our family. Your big sister turns ONE on October 9. Happy birthday, big sister!!

How far along: 15 weeks

Gender: GIRL 
Maternity clothes: Yes. Yes, yes, yes. 
Sleep: No. No, no, no. I can't get comfortable no matter how hard I try. I could have 12 pillows tucked around my legs, tummy, neck, and between my legs, and I still can't sleep. 
Best moment this week: Watching Pemberley walk around holding Raleigh's hands. She's getting too big!
Worst moment this week: Realizing that we're going to have 25 people in our house in less than a week for Pemberley's birthday party, and there's still SO much work to do!
Miss anything: After seeing my favorite blogger declare her undying love for sushi, I'm back to missing it on a daily basis.  Also, sleeping for eight hour stretches without getting up to pee. The struggle is real.
Movement: A few more flutters, but I can't wait for the day when I can feel her all the time!
Cravings: Well, sushi, obviously. And chocolate peanut butter straight out of the jar. And anything pumpkin.
Queasy or sick: Nope!
Looking forward to: Waking up to cuddle with a TODDLER a week from today!

Love you so much,