It's Always Winter but Never Christmas | The Third Trimester

A few days ago I hit the 28 week mark and officially entered the last leg of my pregnancy. I feel simultaneously relieved and terrified. I mean, let's face it. If you haven't gathered it from my posts by now, I'll let you in on a little secret--I don't do pregnancy well. I mean, I'm healthy, and baby boy is healthy (something I am unbelievably grateful for)... but I'm kind of a miserable wreck throughout this whole gestational ordeal. Particularly so with this second experience. When women tell me they love pregnancy, that it was just so wonderful and they never experienced nausea, heart burn, indigestion (I sound like a Pepto Bismal commercial) or any of the other things that plague me like locusts, I kind of want to punch them. Blame it on the spike in testosterone. And, now that I'm nearing the end of my pregnancy, I get to deal with the ever permeating sense of claustrophobia brought on by compressed lungs and (literally) squished organs--the plight of a short girl with a short torso. Don't get me wrong, I'm more than thrilled by the prospect of a new baby. But, if I could fast forward through all of this pregnancy mayhem, I would. Oh, I would. Just give me the baby already and I would be one happy mama!

Thus, the fact that the end is nearing excites me, obviously. But I still have three months to go... and that means three more months of growth! Big time growth. How will that even be possible? I already feel stretched to the max! I'll be like the giant blueberry Veruca from Willy Wonka... at this rate they're going to have to roll me into the hospital to give birth.

Okay, deeeep breaths... I should probably focus on the positive. At least by the time I'm nearing 40 weeks all the typical fears associated with giving birth will have given way to the overwhelming desire to simply get this thing over with. I won't have the energy to be afraid. ...a blessing in disguise perhaps?

The other night I was letting myself get caught up in negativity and my thoughts were spiraling out of control, so I decided I needed a Pinterest intervention as a last ditch effort to prevent the very real possibility of hyperventilating. I flipped open my laptop and started looking at pictures of newborn baby boys. It was surprisingly calming. I love imagining what he will be like, and perhaps it attests to the fact that I am a highly visual person but looking at actual babies... knowing that I will have one of those actual babies soon... it helped. My Pinterest board has been flooded with pictures of newborns lately. It might become a nightly ritual before long.

On another note, Klair is doing better. If you follow me on Instagram you may have gathered that she had croup last week. A week ago Sunday she was completely fine. No signs of sickness whatsoever. She even went to sleep without a fuss. Then, around midnight, we heard her viciously coughing and rushed into her room half expecting her to be choking by the sound of it. The cough was very hoarse and barky, and her breathing was so labored it sounded like Darth Vader. We called the on-call doctor at the clinic we take her to, and we were informed that croup can come on suddenly without warning in the middle of the night like that. Who knew? I feel like this is information they should give new parents. A heads up would have been nice. We were also told that if she continued to struggle breathing that we should definitely take her into the ER. Luckily, once we were able to calm her down her breathing steadied and she was able to sleep again. Paranoid as can be we kept her in our room with us all night to monitor her breathing. I don't think I slept a wink.

Then, the next morning, she seemed pretty good again. She now had the symptoms of a little cold, but no sign of the terrifying struggle from the night before. I took her into the doctor and he informed me that the second night of croup is often the worst, and gave me a steroid to help open up her lungs. Without this we would have ended up in the ER because come midnight she displayed the same heightened symptoms, but this time it was manageable thanks to the meds. I am so grateful I took her in that day!

Afterwards for a few nights we kept her nearby just to be safe, but her symptoms quickly declined to something  resembling a normal cold. Over a week later she's still sick, but she's doing so much better and I'm hoping she'll be able to kick it completely in the next few days.

Has anyone else experienced a chid with croup? I'm kind of embarrassed to say that I didn't know what it was until we got a crash course in the middle of the night that almost resulted in an ER visit. When I heard of kids getting it before, I imagined it was just a type of cough and didn't think much on the subject. Now, if I hear of a kid coming down with it, I will make that poor mom a meal and offer a lot more emotional support. It. was. a. nightmare!

All in all, I am really ready for this winter to be over. I'm done with the seemingly endless sickness it has come to represent in this household. I'm more than ready for flowers, warm weather, and a new baby to cradle in my arms.

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Also, this post wouldn't be complete without mentioning that my red beanie, which I love, came from Sage by Olivia Wares. If you missed my last post, I'm currently hosting a giveaway on Instagram for a pair of their super soft, amazing leggings. Click on over to easily enter this contest!

Red Beanie : Olivia Wares | Tan Leather Watch : Skagen | Gray Maternity Tee : Target | Black Maternity Leggings : Ross (similar) | Necklace : H&M (similar) | Black Booties : Thrifted (similar

27 Weeks | Diana Putnam Photography

I recently met up with Diana of Diana Putnam Photography for a photo shoot in downtown Salt Lake City. The morning had not gone my way. I was running late, I had a hard time finding parking for our meet up, and to top it off it was absolutely frigid and I mean freezing that day... so much so that I think the cold was messing with my head. I felt disoriented and less than capable of standing, let alone trying to pose for pictures. It was difficult to say the least. I was a slightly worried that the photos wouldn't turn out. And, with most photographers... they probably wouldn't have. Yet with Diana, it was easy. She is such a warm and kind person. She's the type that you don't feel embarrassed posing in front of. Instead, it's easy and comfortable. She offers plenty of feedback and positive reinforcement to make you feel comfortable, even when you're frazzled like I was. 

Diana Putnam Photography

Website | Facebook | Instagram

Diana is a professional in every sense of the word, and I think the quality of her photography speaks for itself. If you're looking to have any kind of photos done--family portraits, wedding, newborns, maternity--whatever type of photography, she has plenty of experience and an impressive portfolio! 

And speaking of wedding photography, she is giving away free wedding photography package to one lucky bride and groom! 

How incredible would this be for a couple of lovebirds who are about to tie the knot? If you are getting married soon or know of someone who is, make sure to check out this amazing opportunity!

Also, on a completely different note, I am now 27 weeks pregnant! This is the last week of my second trimester. I'm hardly every nauseous anymore, but definitely starting to feel huge and uncomfortable. I don't remember feeling this awkward until I was at least 32 weeks or so last time... a fact that terrifies me a little. I mean, I still have 13 weeks to go... and I don't feel like my stomach can take much more stretching. If my belly continues growing at this rate even walking might be hard to do by the time I'm full term. 

I was actually talking with my friend the other day who is just a couple of weeks behind me in pregnancy (she has a blog called Les Dedrickson which you should definitely check out). She texted me to tell me how uncomfortable she feels already. We're both on our second pregnancy and I have to admit that it was such a relief to hear that she's feeling the same as me. It wasn't so much that "misery loves company" as it was the fact that I was worried it was abnormal for me to feel so awkward. It was good to know I'm not the only one... so, I guess "misery loves company" after all haha. I have a sneaking suspicion that this boy of mine is going to follow in his older sister's footsteps and be a big newborn... and, if the size of my bump is any indicator, likely an even bigger newborn than she was. Heaven help me... I'm going to need it. 

Thank goodness I'm so excited to meet him! Whenever I get nervous or anxious about pregnancy and everything to come, I try to focus on the idea of holding him for the first time. It was such a beautiful and surreal experience with Klair, and I am completely ecstatic to do it again. I love going in his nursery, sitting in his chair, and simply imagining what he'll feel like in my arms. This will all be worth it.

Gold Diaper Bag | Floral Dress | Leather Jacket | Scarf | Brown Booties | Black Skinny Yoga Pants 

Sage Boutique by Olivia Wares

A few months back I was invited to an event at Sage Boutique by Olivia Wares. I went with some fellow blogger friends, and I instantly fell in love with the chic little store in Sugarhouse, Utah. I loved everything in the place! They had plenty of merchandise to keep me busy, while still maintaining that quaint, local charm that makes a boutique so lovable. The owner was extremely kind, and after talking I discovered we had a lot in common--enough that I now consider her a good friend. 

At the event that night I snagged this fun little dress and crystal necklace. Although it is not a maternity dress, I was elated to discover that it would work with a growing belly. I waited awhile to style it because I knew it would look cuter with a fuller bump--something I most certainly have now. Ha! :) I will be doing some future collaborations with this amazing boutique, including an awesome giveaway in the next few days--so stay tuned for that! 

If you live in Utah be sure to stop in and strike up a friendship with the owner, and a love affair with her collection of apparel. And no worries if you don't live in the area--they have a website! 

Olivia Wares Boutique 

1950 S 1100 E Salt Lake City, UT 

Website | Instagram | Facebook 

Also, this post wouldn't be complete without mentioning the lovely watch my husband gave me for Christmas. When he asked me what I wanted this year I really didn't know to tell him, so I gave him some vague answer about wanting a tan leather watch with a big face. I expected some cute but generic one from Target, but he went above and beyond and bought me this beautiful little piece by Skagen. I absolutely adore it, and I'm extremely impressed with him. He really does know me so well... I'm the luckiest :)

Lily Jade

I'm nearing the end of my second trimester. And, while I still have 14 weeks to go until his due date, the reality of what will take place in a couple of months is starting to set in. Now is my time to prepare, to address all of those nesting urges, and to make sure I have all my ducks in a row before I'm too big and too tired to want to do much of anything.

One thing I needed was a new diaper bag. My old one is literally falling apart at the seams. Last time I settled for a bag that was practical. This time around I wanted something that was both functional and stylish. That's were Lily Jade came in. I've loved their bags for awhile now, so I was pretty over the moon with excitement to have this opportunity to collaborate with them. They sent me this gorgeous Sarah Grace bag in Gold, and I couldn't be happier. First of all, it doesn't even look like a diaper bag. It simply looks like a pretty little gold tote with blue detail--and a high quality one at that. But, fortunately for us mamas, the style doesn't sacrifice convenience. Inside the bag is lined with wipeable fabric, it has a detachable cross body strap, and it even comes with removable inserts that have all of the compartments, pockets, and organizers a mom-on-the-go could possibly need (complete with a changing pad). I love that these are removable, because I can use the bag as a simple purse once we get through these baby years.

If you are looking for a beautiful and practical diaper bag, be sure to check out Lily Jade. With tons of styles and colors, you're bound to find something to fall in love with.

Lily Jade 

Website | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook | Twitter

Cowl Neck Poncho | Michael Kors Watch | Leggings | Gray Booties | Gold Necklace 

24 Weeks & Some Creative Bump Styling

Well I made it to a fairly important milestone. I'm 24 weeks along which means that it is possible for my baby to survive outside of the womb... not that I want him to come any time soon, but it is nice knowing that I've at least made it this far. I'm finally feeling better from the nauseousness that has plagued me, and I have a few weeks left before I enter the huge and uncomfortable third trimester. Oh! And the longest cold of my life is finally gone. Life is looking up, just in time for the new year. Hopefully this is a good omen for 2015? I'm going with yes, yes it is.

I've been getting more experimental with my wardrobe lately. As my belly grows I have to increase my creative efforts to make my normal, non-maternity clothes work. In this case I paired a striped shirt with a black maxi skirt and a skinny belt.  This combination of separate pieces creates the illusion of a flattering maternity dress. I'm all about comfort these days so the fact that this outfit is nice and stretchy is only icing on the cake. Also, am I the only one who thinks that a floppy hat makes everything better? I'm really loving this style, and I feel like it adds a lot to any ensemble.

What are some ways you have made non-maternity clothes work for pregnancy (whether now or in the past)? I'm definitely open to new ideas.

Michael Kors Watch | Black Maxi Skirt | Black and White Striped Tunic | Black Floppy Hat | Black Skinny Belt | Black Clutch 

Firmoo Glasses & 22 Weeks Pregnant

I have bad eyes. Like, really, ridiculously poor eyesight... and they get worse every time I go into the eye doctor. I was trying to explain to my daughter the other day why she can't play with my glasses the way she does all of my cheap sunglasses, and all I could come up with that wouldn't get lost in translation to a toddler was "Mama's eyes are broken. They don't work. Glasses fix them, so you can't play with them." Broken. Ha! It sounds so dramatic, yet it's actually pretty true.

Fortunately for me, I love the look of glasses. I think they are such a fun way to accessorize. I usually wear contacts because I enjoy having peripheral vision, but there are certain outfits that simply beg for a nice pair of specs to complete the look. Unfortunately prescription glasses are expensive, especially with lenses strong enough for my eyes... or so I thought. Recently Firmoo.com reached out to me about doing a review for them. I thought for sure they would offer me a pair of non-prescription glasses--essentially frames with clear glass lenses. To my surprise I was told I could choose any pair of glasses AND order my prescription for them! I of course obliged, and that brings us to this post. I'm absolutely in love with these glasses I chose, and they're by far my new favorite pair. I wear them constantly.

Would you like to know the best part for those of you reading this? You can get the same deal that I did, but you don't even have to write a blog post in return (although you might want to anyway by
the end of it all). Right now Firmoo is offering your first pair of glasses for FREE! They have so many great frames to choose from, and they even have photos of various face shapes so you can compare to your own and get a sense for how it might look on yours. You should definitely check them out!

Also, on a completely unrelated but very important note, I'm 22 weeks! I can feel baby boy kick so well now, but Sam has yet to feel it too. He's convinced that the baby is messing with him, and that it's a sign of how their relationship is going to be :) We have his nursery almost completed (blog post to come soon) and we have a name picked out (another blog post to come soon). Furthermore, I've been feeling a lot better lately... well, with the morning sickness stuff at least. As soon as the nauseousness started to subside I got sick with a nasty cold which has been plaguing me for over a week--even on my birthday. How unfair is that? My birthday was still pretty great though, I scored this amazing Michael Kors Watch and Sam managed to spoil me despite my pitiful condition (another blog post to come soon).

I think I'm finally over the worst of it now, and I'm really looking forward to feeling better and having a little energy back! Poor Klair came down with it today though so... it's likely going to be a rather long week for all of us. I wish I could just take it from her. Poor baby. Here's to hoping she gets better by Christmas! We have over a week... I'm feeling pretty optimistic. We've been sick too much this winter already though... am I the only one who is tempted to lock my family in and hold out for the long winter?

 

Green Baby Doll Dress | Cable Knit Scarf | Gray Booties | Michael Kors Watch | Black Skinny Belt

So Many Reasons to be Thankful | 20 Weeks!

Yesterday I hit the halfway point in my pregnancy. I am officially 20 weeks pregnant! I figure this is the perfect opportunity to utilize the "glass half full" motto in my life. I could allow myself to be depressed by the idea that I'm only halfway through (and the thought has crossed my mind), On the other hand, I can choose to be elated that I have made it this far-- I choose the latter. After all, it is Thanksgiving. I should probably try to  express gratitude... especially on a day dedicated to the virtue.

And I am grateful! Yesterday was a profoundly beautiful reminder of what is important in life, and of how blessed I truly am. I was able to watch my baby boy move around on the ultrasound screen. I saw his tiny feet that appeared to be dancing, his perfect little hands moving as if they were waving to us. If the sight of him wasn't wonderful enough, the findings from the ultrasound were all very favorable. As far as they can tell, he is perfectly healthy--fears eased, tension dissipated. Medical technology truly is a modern marvel. And the life inside me, my son (still trying to wrap my head around that one) is a perfect little person. I love him so much already!

I'm also grateful for the increased time with my little family. Sam finished up at his (now) former job on Monday, and he is taking the week off before starting on his next grand adventure at a new company. After all the travel lately, this break from work has been a very welcome reprieve for all of us. Sam doesn't really know what to do without a phone that's constantly buzzing and ringing, but he's grateful for the change of pace. It has been soooo nice to spend so much unstructured time with my husband and our baby girl.

Today we woke up and I made chocolate chip pancakes with strawberries (whole grain with hidden chia and flax seeds for added goodness). Baby girl was particularly pleased, as you can see in the photo of her. I asked her to smile and this is what I got. Cute little cheese ball! We then took the photos in this post, lounged around, and now we're off to celebrate the holiday with my husband's side of the family--we take turns and alternate between Thanksgiving and Christmas with our families every year. Earlier this week we invited my side over for a pre-Thanksgiving feast, and we thoroughly enjoyed the company.Tomorrow I have less responsibility--all I'm contributing is some homemade rolls and a dessert, and I'm really looking forward to spending some quality time with my in-laws as well.

I'm also (obviously) grateful for my beautiful baby girl. Klair absolutely adores all of our family and has loved seeing so much of them lately. She constantly goes through the list of people who love "you" (she calls herself "you") telling me that "grandma loves you, papa loves you, aunt so and so loves you, etc etc." She also randomly prays for our extended family members, taking over family prayers and loudly requesting "Heavenly Father please bless..." it's adorable, and I'm so proud. I am grateful to live close to all of our immediate family, and to have so many loved ones to share our lives with.

Did I mention the food? I'm really grateful for the impending feast. I decided on comfortable/flowy/stretchy attire for the occasion, because let's face it--I'll likely eat my weight in mashed potatoes and pie. Hey, I'm "eating for two" right? (Nevermind the 2nd person is only the size of a banana...we won't worry about such things on a day like today...)

Oh life. You are beautiful. And, when I stop to consider my blessings and the things for which I am grateful, you never cease to amaze. Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I sincerely hope everyone is able to enjoy the holiday to the fullest.

Pink Blush Floral Maternity Dress | Pink Blush Plaid Scarf | Target Mustard Cardigan | Polka Dot Tights (similar)