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Thinking back to 2013, I spent most of the year pregnant. However, that didn't keep me from having some fun!

• I attempted to run a half marathon but dropped out when things didn't feel right. On the plus side, I got to meet Tera Moody. (And Maggie made me a medal for a half half marathon)
• I got to meet Dathan Ritzenhein and be a track super nerd and huge fan about it.
• I ran/walked the Shamrock Shuffle, keeping the streak alive!
• I completed the 5k Quarryman Challenge with Pepper and had an absolute blast.
• I ran my last 5k of the year on Memorial Day Weekend, the Two Rivers Meet 5k
• I drove 9 of my best pals from Madison, WI to Chicago, IL as part of the Ragnar Relay!
• Oh and I gave birth to little Baby Wilson! 

I have previously spoken a few times about my experiences and issues with food (here and here). I talked about how I dealt with these thoughts and ideas during the beginning and end of my pregnancy. Now that our little nugget is here and I have one of those "post-baby bodies", I thought I would give an update about how I'm feeling and coping with some of these new thoughts, feelings, and body images.

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, we have the nursery pretty much finished up. Here is a video I made before the drapes were hung. We may do another tour once the drapes are done, things are hung on the wall, and the crib is assembled to make it seem a bit more complete. But, I thought I would share this with all of you regardless. Guest starring: Pepper Biscuit Wilson

I'm really excited with how the room turned out. If you have questions about any of the items that you see in the video, let me know. I did lots of research on everything I registered for, looking at online reviews as well as talking with friends and co-workers. Once our little baby arrives, I'll be sure to do a post on some of my favorite items.

I have my doctor's appointment this afternoon to determine the next steps. Look for an update on my Facebook page!

How far along? 38 weeks
Baby’s size/development this week: weighs 6.8 pounds and measures over 19 1/2 inches long; about the size of a pumpkin. I’ve decided that I need to have lots of pumpkin flavored things to celebrate.
Maternity clothes: wearing them? Yes
Miss anything? Pumpkin beer
Food cravings? None
Anything making you queasy or sick? Just the cologne thing still. Gross.
Sleep: My sleep schedule is pretty sporadic. Some nights I sleep through, other nights I wake up in a pool of sweat (despite our room being freezing), and sometimes I have to get up multiple times to use the bathroom. I can’t complain though, I know this stuff is all pretty normal.
Best moment of the week: Seeing our baby’s face on an ultrasound! (reason for the ultrasound explained below)
Nursery: Things are pretty much complete! The only thing left is to hang the drapes and to purchase the crib. We are waiting on a gift card from my dad before making the purchase. Plus, we have our Pack N Play in our bedroom that the baby will be using for the first few months anyways.
Wedding rings on or off? on
Movement? Stretches, jabs, rolls, all stuff signaling that Baby wants out! :)
Weird pregnancy thing of the week: I had a little incident take place on Saturday. I tripped and fell after going out to breakfast, as my toe got caught on a lip in the curb. I fell to my knees and then fell forward with my arms trying to break my fall. Since my belly is so big at this point, it did hit the ground. I called my doctor right away and headed to the hospital. As I’m so far along, I wasn't sure of the possible scenarios. Soon after I fell, the baby started moving a little bit so I knew that we would be okay. When we got to the hospital, they tested the heart rate and everything was great. I was told I needed to stay for 24 hours for observation.

They needed to do a full ultrasound to make sure that the placenta did not come away from the uterine wall when I fell. The placenta was still in-tact so that was good news. However, we found out that our little nugget went from being head-down to being breech. As I’m currently already effacing and dilating, my doctor doesn't want me to go into labor or have my water break with the baby in the breech position. I have an appointment scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday) to determine the next steps. If Baby is still breech and I’m dilated further than 1cm, we have a c-section scheduled for this Thursday. If I’m still only dilated to 1cm and baby is still breech, we wait a week and give Baby some time to flip. If baby has flipped, we go back to our original scenario.

Long story short, this baby may arrive in just 2 days! Thankfully with my obsessive planning, most things are already ready (especially as far as insurance, HR and all things work related). This wasn't part of our original plan, but the best way you can prepare for a baby is to be flexible. We are excited and about as ready as we can be for little nugget’s arrival, whether it is this week or next…
Daddy is feeling: the need to get lots of things done around the house
Mommy is feeling: excited and nervous
Workouts this week: Walking as usual to and from work during the week. Was pretty much on bed rest while at the hospital on Saturday/Sunday but my doc approved normal activity following my release.
Looking forward to: Finding out next steps at our doctor’s appointment tomorrow!! :)

As many of you know, Baby Wilson's due date is right around the corner! (September 21st to be exact.) I have done a little bit of nesting when I have the energy to. I thought I would go through some of the things I've done to prepare. 9 months is a really long time to be pregnant. However, there really is SO MUCH to learn about pregnancy and that new little baby so it is kind of nice we had/have some time to do as much research as we can.

In case you didn't already know, local police and fire departments have staff equipped to install infant and convertible carseats. I recently went and the very nice officer installed the seat for me. He gave a lot of safety tips about the chair itself, and even looked up proper placement of the seat in the car in the car's owners' manual. I highly recommend going to your local public service office if you want to give your husband one less task to do. :)

My hospital bag has been packed for a few weeks now. I read somewhere that you should have it packed 6 weeks before your delivery date, just in case. I looked up a couple checklists online to find what I felt would work best for me and the hubs. I was able to fit everything into a single bag. I mean, let's be honest, who wants to worry about bringing multiple bags to the hospital! The most important thing I packed was snacks. Hopefully the hubs has no plans to eat those SPKs in front of me while I'm in labor. (My doctor will allow me to have sorbet and popsicles to go along with the traditional ice chips. I think the extra sugar will only help me out.) I also packed a sparkly ActiveBand to help keep the hair out of my face, and a PickyBar or two for the morning/day after. :)


As mentioned in my update from week 35, Chris and I completed the birthing and baby basics class. He learned how to give me some good back massages to relieve the pressure during contractions. I learned some sweet breathing techniques to get through the pain. We also learned how to change diapers and hold our future little baby. We practiced on these scary looking dolls provided in the class.


I've been stock piling some new toys for Ms. Pepper so that she knows that we still love and appreciate her once this little baby arrives. She has been extra affectionate lately so I've been giving her lots of love, kisses and attention. I mean, how can you not love that face! I actually want to make an appointment for her to get a bath, a trim and her nails clipped before the baby comes. So she is sparkling and can be on her best behavior! Thankfully my friend Steph has agreed to come to our house and watch Pepper when I go into labor. We have tried to desensitize her to lots of the baby's things so she isn't so overwhelmed. Nothing seems to scare her, which is good. She doesn't understand why all these non-squeaking toys are in the house, but she can't play with any of them. Lol.


This baby will be the first grandchild on both my side of the family and my husband's. It is the first great grandchild on his side and the second great grandchild on my side. To say our families are excited about this baby would be a little bit of an understatement. It makes us feel really loved and supported for when our little baby gets here! I've gotten the chance to wash most of the clothes, sleepsacks, sheets, and blankets in anticipation. You may spy some turtle toys and already-packed diaper bags. (I plan on doing a full separate post on diaper bag essentials once I actually figure out what works for me and the baby.)


I'd like to think that we are about as prepared as we can be at this point. So much of what babies bring is the unexpected so I've been trying not to anticipate too much. I'm just going to go into this whole thing with an open mind and see where I end up. Hopefully on the other side with a happy and healthy little nugget baby! :)

How far along? 37 weeks – Full term!
Baby’s size/development this week: weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures over 19 inches long; about the size of a head of a winter melon or a bunch of swiss chard. I don’t regularly eat either of these vegetables so this isn't really a great comparison.
Maternity clothes: wearing them? Ye, although many of them are stretched to capacity….
Miss anything? Maneuvering easily
Food cravings? None
Anything making you queasy or sick? Some people really have to lay off the amount cologne to wear. Seriously.
Sleep: Meh, this has not been great. The night sweats continue and I usually get up in the middle of the night either to go to the bathroom or because I’m uncomfortable. Then, I can’t get comfortable so I’m just up. Usually pretty early no matter what day of the week it is.
Best moment of the week: My doctor’s appointment when I got to hear Baby’s heartbeat again! Also, I found out that I’m starting to dilate. My body is prepping and getting ready for Baby Wilson’s arrival!
Nursery: Items are put together, the room is painted, the furniture is now painted. It is just a matter of organizing and final prep!
Wedding rings on or off? on
Movement? Shoves, jabs, and rolls. Baby wants to get out!
Weird pregnancy thing of the week: I've been feeling some Braxton Hicks contractions which are super fun. At least that’s a sign that my body is getting ready to deliver!
Daddy is feeling: Excited and scared
Mommy is feeling: The same as Dad.
Workouts this week: Continued walking, although this morning I felt particularly sluggish. I just didn't feel like moving. I still have a few weeks left to go! Let’s hope today is just an off day. :)
Looking forward to: BABY'S ARRIVAL!!!

How far along? 36 weeks
Baby’s size/development this week: weighs almost 6 pounds and measures over 18 1/2 inches long; about the size of a head of romaine lettuce
Maternity clothes: wearing them? Yes. The summer warmth has finally returned to Chicago so I’m getting some use out of my maternity tank tops.
Miss anything? Being comfortable.
Food cravings? None
Anything making you queasy or sick? Nothing in particular. I've been able to stomach a little homemade iced coffee here and there which has been nice when I need the caffeine.
Sleep: Apparently I've started snoring. I don’t notice it at all, but apparently the hubs woke up to some powerful snores inches from his face this past week. Haha, oops! Sleeping through the night has not occurred in weeks, but I’m getting by just fine on little to no sleep.
Best moment of the week: My doctor’s appointment when I got to hear Baby’s heartbeat again! Love that sound, it seriously never gets old!
Nursery: Most of the items are put together in the room. We've finally decided on a layout and the hubs is going to finish what he needs to do this weekend. Things are almost done!
Wedding rings on or off? on
Movement? Big kicks and rolls, but the baby seems to be staying in the “head down” position which is comforting!
Weird pregnancy thing of the week: Nothing really newly strange this week. I still have the night sweats, I’m still overly emotional, and I’m excited for this baby to come out!
Daddy is feeling: He said the other day that he’s ready for me to not be pregnant. Um, I’m also ready for ME to not be pregnant. Lol.
Mommy is feeling: Excited and scared at the same time.
Workouts this week: Lots of walking—the same as pretty much any other week.
Looking forward to: My weekly doctor’s appointment! Now I get updates on effacement and dilation! How exciting!! :)

In case you haven't heard, the hubs and I are expecting a wee babe. Because of the sizes of our family, we split up the baby showers. His family threw us one and my mom threw us one. We really are so lucky to have such wonderful family and friends that helped make both days extra special. Words cannot begin to express all the love we feel! Everyone was so generous with what they gave us. I don't know what we would do without our family! I just thought I would share some of the photos from both days. :)

Me with my two Sister-in-laws

Party favors, booties and bottles full of candy

Room decorations

Diaper cake that my SILs made

The adorable clothes line set up above the appetizer table

Wonderfully delicious cake from Sharon's Custom Cakes

Me with my mom (left) and MIL (right)... the two Grandmas-to-be!

Me with my MIL, SILs, and Great-grandma-to-be

Opening up a great gift from my cousin

This baby is already so loved and it hasn't even arrived yet! I'm so excited that he/she will be arriving very soon. :) We can't wait! Next up, I hope to be posting photos of our finished nursery...

How far along? 35 weeks
Baby’s size/development this week: weighs about 5 1/4 pounds and measures over 18 inches long; about the size of a honeydew melon
Maternity clothes: wearing them? Yes. Some of the clothes are starting to get snug and are not fitting me so well anymore. Thankfully I’m getting closer to the end every day! :)
Miss anything? Yuengling Lager (was super jealous eyeing the hubs on his trip with his friends as they were having some cans)
Food cravings? None
Anything making you queasy or sick? I nearly gagged on my way to work yesterday getting a whiff of someone’s cologne/aftershave. The smell was piercing my nostrils and I had to stop walking because I thought for a minute that I might be sick. I think the nose is back into “super scent” mode as other scents have been kind of overpowering lately.
Sleep: As mentioned before, sleeping through the night is now a thing of the past. Sometimes I wake up multiple times; sometimes I only wake up once. The night sweats are still happening so that is always fun. Last night I barely slept after I woke up because I couldn't feel the baby moving. (He/she usually always moves when I lay back down after getting up in the night.) However, Baby has been moving around this morning just fine, so I know that I was just being crazy/neurotic.
Best moment of the week: Our second baby shower! We got so many generous gifts and I just feel so overwhelmed with love for this baby!
Nursery: Not much progress this week. We still have a lot to do to get the nursery ready. Hopefully this baby doesn't come early!
Wedding rings on or off? on
Movement? Lots of big kicks that physically move my stomach. It kind of creeps the hubs out. I tell him to try and imagine what it is like for me! Lol
Weird pregnancy thing of the week: I've been feeling a little overly emotional this past week. When I went to make my husband a sandwich for his lunch and realized the bread I had JUST bought the day before was expired and already moldy, I started crying. Then, last night, it was like a sudden realization that we’re having a baby. Like a real, tiny human. I got this overwhelming feeling of change and emotion and started crying again. Blame it on the hormones.
Daddy is feeling: Excited for the baby to come.
Mommy is feeling: happy and almost ready
Workouts this week: Lots of walking—the same as pretty much any other week.
Looking forward to: Birthing class is this weekend on Saturday and Sunday. Should be interesting!

The hubs is out of town this week. Don't mind the bathroom selfie.

How far along? 34 weeks
Baby’s size/development this week: weighs about 4 3/4 pounds and measures almost 18 inches long; about the size of a cantaloupe
Maternity clothes: wearing them? Yes. I probably won't buy anything else this pregnancy. I've been set for a little while now. Time to coast through to the end!
Miss anything? Sleeping through the night
Food cravings? None
Anything making you queasy or sick? Cigarettes are the worst culprit, still.
Sleep: This has been kind of random. I'm still getting the night sweats but not every night. I now wake up at random times for random reasons. Whether it is just my brain going into overdrive, worried I’ll miss my alarm, or I have to go to the bathroom. Sometimes I only wake up once in the night. Other times I wake up multiple times.
Best moment of the week: The hubs finished painting the nursery! Time to get things rolling!
Nursery: The walls are painted and so is the closet. I put together a bookshelf over the weekend. We have some furniture that is in the middle of being painted right now, so once that is done we can do more arranging. We are more than halfway there!
Wedding rings on or off? on
Movement? Lots of nice big rolls and kicks. I never used to feel the baby move when I was walking until now. Also, the rib kicks have started. Those are really fun, let me tell you!
Weird pregnancy thing of the week: The small strip between my chest and the bump is pretty much numb. There are some sharp stings that I feel at different times throughout the day. I've asked my doctor about this and it is totally normal. The baby is just on some nerves. Doesn't make it feel any less weird…
Daddy is feeling: carefree. (He’s on his dad-cation with his friends right now.)
Mommy is feeling: a little more ready each day.
Workouts this week: Lots of walking. I did go for a boat ride with my cousin and her husband last week. As water skiing while pregnant is not recommended, I was just the spotter. We swam around at the sandbar for a little while which was fun. It was a beautiful day and I enjoyed the relaxing time!
Looking forward to: Our second baby shower this weekend! I can’t believe the baby will be here so soon! It really is exciting stuff! :)

How far along? 33 weeks
Baby’s size/development this week: weighs just over 4 pounds and measures more than 17 inches long; about the size of a pineapple
Maternity clothes: wearing them? Yes. Next on my list is to buy a dress for my 2nd baby shower.
Miss anything? Walking without waddling
Food cravings? Nothing really this week other than ice cream, but it is summer and that isn’t really all that different than any other summer.
Anything making you queasy or sick? Nothing new here.
Sleep: Well, I haven’t slept through the night in over a week. I have to get up at least once to go to the bathroom or for no reason at all.
Best moment of the week: Our baby shower! We got such wonderful things! I feel so loved by everyone that has been so generous to us and our little bundle on the way. Things are starting to get a little overwhelming at this point. (Another reason why I’ve been having trouble falling asleep.)
Nursery: The hubs had to work again this weekend, so the room is not yet done. He’s working on it this week though, so hopefully it will be finished up before shower #2! Currently, we have lots and lots of things in our living room. Pepper is very confused as to what all this stuff is and where it came from. She keeps hiding her tennis ball in the different baskets, wanting a reason to find it later.
Wedding rings on or off? on
Movement? Similar to last week, Baby is moving quite often. I love feeling the movements even if they make me uncomfortable or surprised. It really is quite amazing.
Weird pregnancy thing of the week: The latest super fun pregnancy thing has been the night sweats. Sorry if this is TMI for some of you, but for the past week, every night I’ve been woken up in the middle of the night in a pool of sweat. My head and chest are fine, but from the belly down to my toes, I’m drenched. It has given me some panic attacks, worried that my water broke, but that is not the case.
Daddy is feeling: excited for his dad-cation trip with his friends
Mommy is feeling: very loved and overwhelmed
Workouts this week: Lots of walking and that is about it. This answer probably won’t change until after Baby is born!
Looking forward to: The hubs finishing up the nursery this week! The plastic is down and the window-wells are taped! Things are finally progressing.

How far along? 32 weeks
Baby’s size/development this week: weighs 3 3/4 pounds and measures 16.7 inches long; about the size of a squash or jicama
Maternity clothes: wearing them? Yes. I haven’t made any purchases in a few weeks and I think I have enough stuff to get me through the end of the pregnancy. Hard to believe that Baby will be here soon!
Miss anything? Being able to maneuver around without needing assistance.
Food cravings? I love pickles lately. I could eat them just as a snack (this is after hating them for years). We have lots of cucumbers in our garden so I’m looking into pickling our own! We’ll see if that pinterest project actually pans out.
Anything making you queasy or sick? Not really anything new here.
Sleep: So I think my time of blissful sleep through the night has ended for the next several months. This past weekend I woke up a few times during the night whether it was to go to the bathroom, feeling the baby kick, or no reason at all. Either way, I think my body is getting ready for Baby’s arrival!
Best moment of the week: I don’t know what my best moment of the week was. Nothing really all that exciting happened but nothing bad happened either. Baby is still consistently moving and I can’t wait to hear the heartbeat again on Thursday! :)
Nursery: I made a little art project for the wall with my old card making supplies and a few additional cutouts. I have some ideas of other things to make but we’ll see how creative I actually get with them. Hoping that the hubs paints the nursery this weekend so I can get things organized in there!
Wedding rings on or off? on
Movement? Lots of it! As I mentioned last week, the kicks and squirms are pretty strong. Some of them have even been mildly painful. Should be fun to see how much stronger these things get in the next few weeks!
Weird pregnancy thing of the week: The back pain is still an issue. Thankfully my BRF got me a wonderful gift of a prenatal massage! I cannot wait to use it! The other weird thing that has started is that it just harder for me to move around. When going to sleep, I have to lie down and get up slowly. If I lay in the tub, sometimes I need help getting up. If I lay on the couch, I sometimes need to work hard to get up. I can imagine things will only get harder in the weeks to come!
Daddy is feeling: a little stressed and overwhelmed. Aren’t we all?
Mommy is feeling: Ready for the nursery to be done so I can do the fun part, decorating and organizing!
Workouts this week: Lots of walking, as usual. I went with my running club for a group walk and it was a lot of fun.  We even went out for ice cream afterwards!
Looking forward to: My first baby shower this weekend! I’m so excited to celebrate with my husband’s family. Everyone has been through so much lately and this baby has already brought so much happiness to them. I’m very much looking forward to hanging out with everyone in celelbration.

Last week my husband's grandpa passed away so I didn't have much time for blogging or a 30 week update.  Thank you all for your kind words on Facebook as we are going through this difficult time. It is greatly appreciated. I did still take a 30 photo, though. I can't believe so much time has gone by! Baby Wilson's due date is less than 9 weeks away!

How far along? 31 weeks
Baby’s size/development this week: weighs 3 1/3 pounds and measures 16 inches long; about the size of a coconut
Maternity clothes: wearing them? Yes. Loving my maternity shorts in these warm temps!
Miss anything? Craft beer. This seems to be a frequent answer to this question.
Food cravings? Something fried. Probably not a good thing…
Anything making you queasy or sick? I’m still having an aversion to salad. Oops.
Sleep: I've still been able to get a good amount of sleep, but the back pain and strong kicks before bed make it a little difficult to fall asleep. Also, the mid-night bathroom trips have started. I imagine they will only get worse.
Best moment of the week: Hearing Baby’s heartbeat again! The sound NEVER gets old, seriously.
Nursery: All of my clutter is gone and a harry potter themed light switch panel has been ordered. This weekend the hubs will be painting so we can get the new-to-us dresser and bookshelf ready before our first baby shower on August 3!
Wedding rings on or off? on
Movement? Lots of squirming, moving around, and kicking. The doctor said it should start coming into a more regular pattern now. The kicks are pretty forceful now. You can really see my belly move!
Weird pregnancy thing of the week: The back pain is still by far the worst thing. I’ve been taking baths, self-massaging, and laying down when necessary. However, sometimes none of this stuff works and my back still hurts. I might have to bring a pillow to work or something. We don’t quite have the money right now for a pre-natal massage but I would really like to get one soon. Also, even though the temps in Chicago are crazy hot and humid, my hands are still somehow dry? Oh pregnancy hormones. You do weird things.
Daddy is feeling: the pressure to get things done in the nursery… We have been so busy almost every weekend, there is so much to do around the house
Mommy is feeling: Excited and getting ready!
Workouts this week: Lots of walking, as usual. A few quick jogs to cross the street (in which I have to go pee immediately afterwards) but that is about it.
Looking forward to: The nursery transformation! Hopefully we can get a lot done this upcoming weekend!

Obviously this is not a fashion blog, but I have posted a few things here and there on fashion. Before I got pregnant, I felt I was in a bit of a clothing slump. I felt my wardrobe was frumpy and tired so I had talked to Erin at Loop Looks and she came to do a closet consultation! I felt this meeting gave me the kick I needed to get out of my slump. Just in time too, for my body to start changing and for me to embrace the bump as it continued/continues to grow and grow. Here are some tips the helped me still feel good and confident.

1) Accessorize: This is something I read all over the internet. I invested in some statement necklaces (I was able to get some cheaper items from Etsy and Groopdealz), got some skinny belts to accentuate my new waistline, and I got a few bracelets too. I've never really been one for accessories before, but this tip has definitely helped me feel a bit more "snazzy" in my maternity clothes. Very much a "fake it 'til you make it" kind of a thing. Dressing up every morning for work really does make me feel better in my maternity clothes.


2) Embrace Maternity Clothes: Some of my friends and co-workers held off purchasing any maternity clothes as long as possible. I made the switch probably earlier than I needed to but the pants are just so dang comfortable! Work pants was the hardest thing as they normally sit higher on the waist which was brutal during the nauseous phase and uncomfortable once the belly expanded past the "burrito for lunch" stage. (My full thoughts on brands of maternity clothes can be found here.) I found that I felt better once I was more comfortable. I felt most comfortable in flowy non-maternity tops and maternity pants. Although, now that I'm getting larger, the need for maternity tops is becoming greater. I guess that is what happens when you're in the third trimester! :)


3) Shoes: I think this kind of goes along with #1, but if your feet feel cute in some cute shoes, you'll probably feel better too. I invested in some nice comfy shoes that should last me through the end of the pregnancy. They aren't too bulky and look nice with skinny jeans (one of the downfalls of gym shoes). I also got some comfy flats and flip flops too for when I'm in the mood for something different. I don't normally buy shoes so for me, this was something special. If you normally buy lots of shoes anyways, ignore this note because you already know what I mean! :)

Only 1 of these dresses is maternity. Can you guess which one?

4) Dresses are your best friend: This is really the best advice I received. (I think Bobbi originally posted this on my Facebook page when we first announced that we were expecting.) I feel I was able to find some cute spring and summery dresses that will last me throughout my pregnancy. Some maternity, some not. (And some borrowed from a friend.) Here are some things that helped me when scouring the racks in the non-maternity section.
What to look for in non-maternity dresses:
a) Waistline --Would it hit above or on top of the belly?
b) Straps -- Can I wear a bra with this dress?
c) Stomach region -- How forgiving is it? stretchy? not-so-stretch? Is there a knot or some rouching for extra room?
d) Length -- Is it office-appropriate? When the bump expands and the hemline increases, will it still be comfortable?
If it meets all this criteria and you can also wear it after the baby, it is a win-win and you should buy said item immediately (that is, if you have a coupon or it is on sale).

I hope those of you pregnant mamas out there find these tips helpful! For those experienced mamas out there, are there any tips that I forgot to mention that helped you out? 

1) I had a really fun time meeting Anne this past weekend. Our in-laws both have cottages in Michigan and it was (strangely enough) easier for us to meet up in Michigan than in Illinois. We had plans to meet at this cute old time soda shop that also sold ice cream but when we arrived, they were randomly closed. Not to worry, we looked up a local Dairy Queen to walk to and still got ourselves some delicious ice cream. :) I love meeting bloggers in real life after you feel like you already know them from the internet. It is kind of weird yet cool all at the same time. One of the many reasons I love having my blog is all of the wonderful people I have met as a result. :)


2) This "30 signs you're almost 30" article from BuzzFeed has been making its way around the internet this week. Being 29 myself, lots of these things really hit home. Click on the link if you haven't done so already. My favorites were #3, 8, 9, 13, 17, 18, and soon to be #30.


3) I continue to be annoyed with pregnancy healthy food and snacking advice. I'm reminded weekly (if not more often) on the various baby apps that I have about what I should be eating and how I should be fueling. The most recent one included some tips on how to avoid ordering pizza and how to make a healthy alternative at home with an english muffin. Um, sorry but if I want pizza, I'm going to be ordering pizza. I did that before I was pregnant so why would I change now? Everything in moderation, just as in life.

What are some of your random thoughts this Thursday?

Wow, how far the bump has come (literally)! Now that the second trimester has come to a close, I thought I would share my thoughts. A lot of things happened as far as baby development goes.

• Baby grew from the size of a peach, weighing less than an ounce... to the size of a head of lettuce, weighing 1 2/3 pounds (more weekly progress posts here)
• I got to feel movement for the first time, from flutters to kicks to somersaults to hiccups and everything in-between
• I no longer fit into regular pants, even when using the belly band or other "tricks" and most of my old t-shirts are too short (leaving the bottom half of the belly exposed-yikes)
• We got our 20 week ultrasound letting us know that Baby is developing just fine and dandy in the uterus!
• We celebrated both Mother's Day and Father's Day as parents-to-be
• I started the second trimester running a few days a week, but that has since stopped (and I'm okay with that!)