Expectant Elizabeth: Week 24

Gender?  Baby Boy!!

Size? About 12 inches, and a pound and a half!

Stretch marks?  None yet. But I've gotten that damn linea nigra! I was reading up on it and apparently it's caused by a melanocyte-stimulating hormone that's made by the placenta. They say that the more fair you are, the more likely you are to get it. Oh well, at least it's temporary! Guess it's a one-piece bathing suit for me!

Maternity clothes? Still making use of both maternity and not, thank goodness.

Sleep?  Just last week I was saying "I never have to wake up at night to use the restroom". Well I spoke to soon. Every night this week! Plus my back has been killing me. So my dear husband stopped by Babies R Us on the way home and bought me a wedge pillow for the belly. Woo-Hoo! Thank goodness. That has helped with back pain so much.

Miss Anything? Still alcohol - geez, it sounds like I'm an alcoholic! But I'm not, I swear. I just miss being able to sit out on the deck with a nice refreshing beer. Non-alcoholic beer doesn't cut it. And have you tried the "non-alcoholic wine"? Disgusting.

Cravings? Still with the fruit and pickles. And ice cream. But not together, no worries - not that crazy!

Symptoms? Again with that damn linea nigra.

Belly button? Still in much to Sean's dismay.

Best Moment this week? Starting to look at registry stuff. Not in the stores but just online. I know we need to register soon but we have no place to put anything so I'm hesitant.

Looking forward to?  Getting this damn move over with!! Too stressful for me and the baby.

Exercise? Workout DVDs. And seeing as how it's in the 90s but feels like 120938103 degrees out to this pregnant lady, walking outdoors has been minimal.

Attempting to keep it together 24/7,

Elizabeth

Thankful Thursdays

So the main reason I've been MIA so much is because we've been working on SELLING OUR HOUSE!! We originally planned to stay in our current home for 5 to 7 years and were fine with having one or two kids here (I was raised in a townhouse after all!) and moving to a larger home before our first child went to kindergarten. However, when the DC metro system decided to build a stop in the area we've always wanted to live in, we decided to go for it - after all, home prices were sure to rise when the stop opens next year, right? So, we took the plunge after owning our home for only 4 years.

 After MONTHS of preparation, blood, sweat and tears from my husband and his father, and me having several breakdowns, we put our home on the market on May 9th - and we had multiple offers and a contract by May 16th!! We are very fortunate to be in such a stellar real estate market - plus we had an amazing agent.

Actually, let me re-phrase that  - a stellar "Sellers" market. Because we have yet to find a new house! There's just nothing on the market in the areas we want at the moment. Alas, when we close on the 16th of next month we will be homeless. 

Well, technically not homeless because we are blessed to have some kick-ass friends that offered their home up to us even before ours was on the market! So we will be staying with them and hopefully not wearing out our welcome for more than a month - keep your fingers crossed!

I definitely have had my moments of panic and stress at not having a home, especially with the baby's arrival at four months away. However, as my oh-so-positive husband reminds me, at least we are fortunate enough to have had a home to sell, have sweet friends who will keep us, and enough money to buy a bigger single family home. So today, I'm thankful for our home; for our income that provides us this home; for jobs that fuel this income. I am thankful to have had this experience at such a young age - I was 24 when we bought this house! It has brought Sean, myself, and our families closer together; provided us a space to entertain and host; and it has been a space to test and develop our decorating, repairing, planning, negotiating, and compromising skills. I should always be thankful for a roof over our head, whether it's ours or a friend's, during heat, rain, and cold - that which a majority of this world lacks. May I always remember and keep this in mind when I'm stressed.

Attempting to keep it together 24/7,

Elizabeth

Expectant Elizabeth: 23 Weeks!

Gender?  Baby Boy!!

Size?  Large Mango - yummy! Haha. Just over a pound and over 11 inches long! 

Weight Gain? 20 lbs! That was as of week 20 and my doctor scolded me for gaining too much weight too quickly so I haven’t gained a pound since.

Stretch marks?  None yet, still have to keep up with the lotion – found the best one from one of Sean's patients who's a nurse - Bio Oil - highly recommend it! I can't stand the smell of a lot of the other lotions out there and this one is perfect.

Maternity clothes? I finally broke down and bought some maternity pants! My MIL gave me a gift card for my birthday to Destination Maternity (thanks Jessica!) so I bought some work pants and tops. I’m using the rest to buy a bathing suit for our upcoming Charleston trip. And my sister was very nice in giving me bags of her old maternity clothes! And a best friend gave me her maternity jeans which are SO comfy. Way better than using the belly band.

Sleep?  Meh, with all that’s going on it takes me a while to get to sleep at night. But then when I do I’m out like a light!

Miss Anything? Alcohol!! My small waist. And running. It’s just too uncomfortable now.  

Cravings? Nothing crazy but still loving fruit. And pickles – although I’ve always liked pickles! And hot dogs with dill relish (nitrate-free and heat to steaming, of course).

 

Symptoms? Does weight gain count? Lol. Nothing terrible as of yet aside from the skin problems!

Belly button? Still in, but I’m sure it will pop at some point because it’s more shallow every day! Sean can’t wait as he knows my belly button phobia. Jerk!

Best Moment this week? All of the baby movement! This little boy is a kicker (or puncher!).

Looking forward to?  Finding a new house so I can NEST. We sold ours so quickly but have yet to find one so we will most likely have to put our things in storage and stay with friends as we close at the end of July. Keep your fingers crossed for us!

Exercise? As mentioned above, running is kind of uncomfortable due to the size of my belly so I’ve switched to walking. I also found some good pregnancy workout DVDs. 

Attempting to keep it together 24/7,

Elizabeth