My pregnancy must-haves

So, I know you see these lists all over Pinterest, 

but low and behold I am a little different and these are the items that worked for me.
(this can be too much detail for some people, so just stop reading now if that's you) 

As I approach the end of the this AMAZING journey, I have compiled a list of things I could not live without during my pregnancy.. they are pretty basic but life savers

1. Well one of the first signs I knew I was pregnant was that my boobs hurt for months. At the beginning of my pregnancy my boobs grew and I was no longer fitting into my regular bras. So, I had a bra fitting at Soma and they measured me a little big and these bras have gotten me through my whole pregnancy. These are the Soma Embraceable bras and I just loved the fit. It's amazing how you feel when your boobs are supported.

2. It took me over half of my pregnancy to find underwear to fit and be comfortable. These are the ones I settled on, they are the low rise cheekini's at Victoria's secret. Problems I had with other underwear is that it would not fit my butt, the leg wholes were too tight or the waist didn't fit under my belly. These just seem to be the best of all those things.

3. MY BODY PILLOW.. I bought a $10 one from target and it became my boy friend. It is the best thing since sliced bread. It supports you without kicking your husband out of the bed.

4. OK so my thighs touch and it sucks especially in shorts and dresses and than add the sun, yeah no thanks. This stuff I use while running for the same purpose and it is a life saver.

5. I lived in maternity yoga pants, they are so comfortable and you can wear them out of the house with out looking like a bum. It's part of uniform these days.

So, there you have it.. my pregnancy must haves to make you feel a little more comfortable.

What are your must haves?

Stay tuned for my work must haves (I work 12 hours on my feet)

~ Steph ~

A different perspective

As I sit in my wonderful little sanctuary of a backyard on this perfect summer evening,

One can't help but wonder what life will be like in the next few days to weeks  with a newborn.

I sit back here with my feet proped up, listening to the cars go by and the neighbor dogs bark sporadically and it all seems so peaceful. 

I know my life will never be the same and

I am just trying to take it all in while I can.

~ Steph~

Bump update: week# 39

  So, this week I got that burst of energy everyone talks about. Holy cow nesting has been in full effect around these parts, look for updates soon.
 This week was much better than last few weeks and the weather has been so nice, which helps everything.
I am still working for anyone that wants to know, my Dr would like me to work as long as possible but this is my last week.

How Far Along: 39 weeks.. wait, what? no way. Yeah that's crazy.

Total Weight Gain/Loss: +24.5lbs (I lost 1/2 lb from Drs apt last week)

Maternity Clothes: Yes, but they are getting tight

Stretch Marks: Yes.

Best Moment this week: Going on some date nights with the hubby and picking up our cloth diapers. Watching P learn how to use cloth diapers was priceless. 

Miss Anything: having my body back

Movement: I feel like it's non-stop, especially at night (when I am usually working)

Sleep: is all I want to do, it's getting more comfortable or maybe I have become a pro at adjusting all my pillows

Food: Loving fruit and anything cold

Anything Making you Queasy or Sick: No my appetite picked up again

Have you started to show:  I FEEL HUGE

Gender predictions: still think it's a boy

Labor Signs: Nope no where near, I got check no dilation or effacement.. lucky me. The bean is still in there cooking 

Belly Button In or Out: Innie

Wedding ring on or off: On

Happy or Moody: Happy, having more energy

Looking forward: To meeting my little bean. I can't believe I am going to have my own human soon.

~ Steph ~



Team Green

This article has been floating around the internet and I found it so true

As you guys know by now, I do not know the sex of our child.

 I really can't wait to meet our little bean, I guess it doesn't really matter as long as it's healthy.

According to these wives tales I was split right down the middle.

I LOVE hearing peoples predictions and why they think that way.

I also feel like I am not inindated with gender specific things, which I really like because who says that girls have to like girly things and boys have to be into sports.

At 38 weeks, I keep going back and forth but right now I think it's going to be a boy.
What do you think?

I am super excited that its almost time.  

~ Steph ~

Bump Update: Week #38

How Far Along: 38 weeks
Total Weight Gain/Loss: +25lbs (I lost 1 lb from Drs apt last week)

Maternity Clothes: Yes, my uniform has been a black tank with black leggings and a see through colorful pancho thing ( I forgot the name of it)

Stretch Marks: Yes.
Best Moment this week: Getting in some much needed cuddle time with the hubby and him reading to us

Miss Anything: having my body back

Movement: Oh yeah it feels like the baby is (flutter) kicking down stream

Sleep: is all I want to do, it's getting more comfortable or maybe I have become a pro at adjusting all my pillows

Food: Loving fruit and anything cold

Anything Making you Queasy or Sick: No my appetite picked up again

Have you started to show: yup and I am even dropping htis week so I don't look as pregnant

Gender predictions: I have no idea, for some reason this week I think it's a boy

Labor Signs: not sure, but the bean is still in there and kicking

Belly Button In or Out: Innie

Wedding ring on or off: On

Happy or Moody: Very emotional and feeling fat

Looking forward: To meetign my little bean. I can't believe I am going to have my own human soon

~Steph~

The apartment: Outdoor space

Our one bedroom apartment has a little outdoor space right off the dinning room.
I knew I wanted a space that I could go to and relax and hopefully enjoy with the baby.

When we moved in it was literally a pile of the hardest dirt I had ever seen and an overgrown magnolia tree

After weeding and planting and mulching.. What a difference



The in progress before I knew I wanted a deck made



Enjoying the progress.. and the great outdoors
I called my dad one day in the morning by the evening this is what I got :)

We had to move some plants and mulch and work on the other side to make it a suitable bbq space

We spent a day nesting on this space hanging twinkle lights and staining the deck

I love this space and spend a lot of time just reading here.

What do you think?

~ Steph ~

Bump update: week #37

This week was really hard and being at work uncomfortable and tired made it worse. I was admitted for triage due to my blood pressure but everything was normal. I had some sporadic contractions and baby was doing great with them. 

This weeks post sounds like a Debbie downer, sorry. Just not feeling it anymore.

How Far Along: 37 weeks

Total Weight Gain/Loss: +26lbs (from Drs apt last week)

Maternity Clothes: All of my clothes and there starting to not fit

Stretch Marks: Yes, let's not talk about it.

Best Moment this week: I got a full 8 hours of sleep uninterrupted by pee breaks, mainly because I was exhausted  and up for over 24 hours

Miss Anything: fitting into real clothes and feeling human

Movement: Oh yeah! I feel like my whole belly is moving when it does happen. The baby is head down, so he movements are different now but there still there

Sleep: is all I want to do, all the time which is very unusual for me

Food: Loving fruit, but not very hungry at all 

Anything Making you Queasy or Sick: I just feel blah and not very hungry 

Have you started to show: yup.

Gender predictions: I am still saying girl at this time. 

I still like hearing people predictions but at this time its still about 50/50

Labor Signs: not sure 

Belly Button In or Out: Innie, just barely 

Wedding ring on or off: On

Happy or Moody: Very moody

Looking forward: To it being over, I am over it and I feel like the main character from what to expect when expecting 

Bump Update: 36 weeks

Sorry, no pictures this week.. You take a look at these maternity pictures for a reference

How Far Along: 36 weeks

Total Weight Gain/Loss: +23lbs (from Drs apt last week)

Maternity Clothes: All of my clothes. We have been having a humid heat wave and I have been living in tank tops and shorts

Stretch Marks: Yes, let's not talk about it.

Best Moment this week: Getting on my skates again for this photo shoot

Miss Anything: not really

Movement: Oh yeah! I feel like my whole belly is moving when it does happen. The baby is head down, so he movements are different now but there still there

Sleep: nothing is comfortable. 

Food: Loving fruit and anything cold

Anything Making you Queasy or Sick: I have been feeling nauseous/bleh if I don't eat

Have you started to show: yup.

Gender predictions: I am still saying girl at this time. 

I still like hearing people predictions but at this time its still about 50/50

Labor Signs: I don't know 

Belly Button In or Out: Innie, just barely 

Wedding ring on or off: On

Happy or Moody: Mostly happy

Looking forward: Just holding the little bean and being a mama :) 

Maternity photos: part I

Oh, where to begin..

We never got engagement photos.. no regrets,

 but I see all the cool unique styles on pinterest and am curious what we could have done. 

For our wedding gift, Peter bought me roller skates (that was almost 3 years) and I joined roller derby the following February. 

I have been off skates since January and I am MISSING IT!

I want to skate and hit someone and I miss the girls.

So, I had the idea to do some maternity pictures messing around on my skates.

I had a fellow derby girl/friend take some pictures and I love the way they turned out.

Disclaimer: no mamas or babies were harmed during this photo shoot and pads were worn when in motion

Also,  this is a bit of photo overload.. oh well!

I love them, what do you think?

~ Steph ~