Week 22 and 23

I can understand why everyone says the second trimester is the easiest.

Other than hip pain and almost-nightly leg cramps, I feel great. Food is no longer an enemy (quite the opposite actually), I am finally getting used to sleeping on my side, and have enough energy to work out at our work gym (granted my work outs aren't exactly strenuous).

My favorite part of the past few weeks have definitely been the baby kicks. Best feeling ever.

nursery ideas

I have been thinking about our baby's nursery for a long time. As in, long before this baby even existed. The room is now our guest bedroom, but is mainly used to store stuff that doesnt belong anywhere else and house piles of clean laundry. It has become my laundry folding room and I would often get side tracked, day dreaming of the little baby that would one day fill the space. As that day gets closer and closer, the reality is starting to set in. A baby will soon be here. And I have lots of work to do!

And right now, this is the current state of that room (keeping it real here)

But I have plans! I always knew I would want a more gender neutral, colorful nursery, which is perfect since Baby Frantz will be a surprise. I am sure I will add in more boy or girl items/colors after the baby is born. But for now, I am excited about creating a cute, colorful space for our baby.

Here are some inspiration fabrics to get me going.

Disclaimer...I have actually not purchased any fabric yet, but I will. Soon! I would like to use the fabric for a tiered crib skirt, curtains (probably the yellow chevron), and fabric accents for the room. A white crib has already been picked out, the white dresser will stay as a changing table and I am on the lookout for a cute bookshelf and chair.

Before all of this can happen, I need to clean out the closet. And that in itself will be an adventure. Anyone know where, in my little house, I can store bulky snowboarding clothes, stuff leftover from our childhood bedrooms, and boxes of high school yearbooks??

To cheer me up from this daunting task, I purchased a couple cute things for the room.

An old globe in all the right colors (and, duh, to obviously quiz my kid on geography) and vintage-inspired alphabet fabric (to either use as a wall hanging, soft book, or another crafty idea I have never attempted)

I have about four months to go and am really excited to get started!

letters

Dear Multigrain Cheerios,

Thank you for existing. You have been my cereal of choice for the past year. The longest any cereal has held that title. You have helped me through some rough months, when all I wanted was to eat you for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You better not ever be discontinued. EVER.


Dear Fall,

Um. Where the heck are you? Its the middle of October, in case you have not heard.
I dont really appreciate the 90 degree weather. You can show up at any time. Thankyouverymuch.


My dearest Autumn Wreath candle,
You are my scent of the month. And even though its 89 degrees outside, I will still burn you and drink apple cider every night.

Dear clean laundry pile,

I loathe you. Why cant you just fold yourself? The end.

21 weeks

Baby Frantz is the length of a carrot!

Very thankful that my Dr appt went well last week. Strong heartbeat and zero complications.

19 more weeks to go!

ps...my chalkboard got a facelift. So much better!

20 weeks

Judging from my last two recent ultrasounds and the feelings in my belly, we have a pretty active baby on our hands. I started feeling flutters a bit late (in comparison to other moms) but the flutters progressed to little kicks fairly quickly. Baby Frantz is especially active in the morning at work when I am sitting at my desk and at night after dinner. Peter can feel the kicks too, which makes it even more fun.

The feeling of my baby kicking me is truly indescribable. So amazing.

Doctor checkup this week. We are praying everything looks good (especially the heartbeat) and baby is growing strong. I also hope my Dr. has nothing but nice things to say about my *ahem* weight gain. She has pretty strict opinions on this topic and is not afraid to tell me to lay off the cookies.
(I swear...I have been trying....Sorta....Sometimes)

sunday mornings...

...mean pancakes in our house.

The first Sunday morning in October meant
pumpkin pancakes

Based on this recipe. I added a bit more spice.

A great way to use leftover pumpkin you may have from muffins or bread!

week 18 and 19

I honestly cannot believe I am almost 20 weeks. Halfway done. Everyone says the second half does not go by quite as fast as the first. Could it be due to the ever expanding tummy, leg cramps, sleepless nights, and general uncomfortableness? Maybe.

I have been very blessed this pregnancy so far. Sure, I had my share of nausea, exhaustion, food aversions, mood swings (ok. some of those I still have) but I know it could have been much worse. And I although I know the real adventure is ahead, I am a little sad to already be halfway done. So many firsts. First positive test, first time hearing the heartbeat, first ultrasound, first little flutter, first time seeing THAT number on the scale....Ha!

And I know it is cliche, but more than anything I am thankful for a healthy baby. After a little scare at my ultrasound last week, lots of tears, and and a trip to a specialist (all to confirm that everything is fine, baby just had a momentary irregular heartbeat that corrected itself) I am more thankful than ever. This baby is such a gift to us.