Lilac Saloon

Baby: Week 26

 

Things are feeling more real every day. Our house is slowly accumulating baby paraphernalia. Only a few things so far but they're the bigger things so they're very visible. I'm glad we have them now so we can live with them for a while and kinda get used to it. I physically feel more pregnant now. Sleeping is uncomfortable a few nights out of the week when I wake up with bad heartburn and have to transfer to the couch for more of a "sitting up" type of sleeping situation. I definitely look pregnant to strangers at this point. Bring on the belly touchers! Also, baby Luna is doing violent gymnastics in there and always reminds me that she's there. There is nothing subtle about her movements anymore. I can SEE them, like, from the outside. Girlfriend thinks I'm a trampoline! Nothing hurts, it's just startling sometimes. How can someone so small be so forceful!? It's impressive. She must be absorbing my vitamins!

 

I realize I've been sort of a one note on the blog and have neglected all other areas of life in order to focus on pregnancy. I truly haven't been totally one track minded though. I've just been unmotivated to blog and share and I really don't know why that is! I've been cranking out the custom orders lately. More than ever. It's kind of crazy that they're all pouring in at the point where I'm getting ready to slow down and eventually take a break. I've made about 4 sets of custom Wallflowers that I haven't blogged about, and have 2-3 more on the cutting table. I also have two sets of wedding vow embroideries in the works. I just finished up a BIGGGG project that I had mentioned before but can't share yet. I've been working on it since the summer and it's finally done but I still have to wait longer to tell you about it. Dang!

I've also been absorbing a lot of information lately, for fun and for self improvement. I've been learning more about nutrition, going "green" in the way of using more natural products, and learning about ways to adopt a more minimalist attitude and lifestyle. These things are all parts of the person who I've always pictured myself becoming but had yet taken steps to get there. There's no better time than the present!

Baby: Week 24

We're starting to get more prepared materially now for the baby. I've been working hard to clean out her room. It was basically our "supplies" room up until now. I had all my stockpiles of fabric, embroidery hoops, shipping boxes, you name it, in there. Just everything. I'd walk in there with the intention to clean it out - stand in the middle of the room and stare at the things - and then walk out and close the door. Too intimidating! Where to put all the stuff?!

I decided I needed a real "fire under my ass" to clean it out. So I ordered the crib. It only took two days to arrive (and only cost $10 for shipping!) so that gave me the motivation. If I didn't clean out the room, there was nowhere to put the crib box except to leave it in the living room. I didn't want to do that so I got to work. I filled a box of things to send to my little sister. She's super creative and I knew she'd appreciate some new raw materials to dig into. I also made a big pile of things that were just useless and needed to be thrown out. I basically put myself into an anti-hoarding mentality and went through every bin and drawer and box. I got rid of 2/3 of the stuff - NOT KIDDING. I am pretty darn proud! Having this baby has been great forced therapy for my tendency to be a "pack rat" - as my Mom has always so lovingly called me since childhood.

I've got a lot of energy lately so I've been accepting a few big custom orders and am going to try to crank them out before I get super tired toward the end. I'll be working on two custom orders for embroidered wedding vows in Feb/March! Intense! I will definitely be taking a break right before and after the baby comes. I know it will take some adjusting to taking care of this new little person and I am not going to kid myself into thinking I can run my business at the same time! That's okay. Life before business, always. 

Baby: Week 22

Now that I'm over the halfway point of pregnancy, I'm starting to feel like getting into preparation mode. It's time to get serious! We finished our registry, I've started a class to prepare me for labor and we've even named the baby. Are you ready to know her name?!!!

Our sweet little Luna Brynn is our new favorite person. Mostly because she kicks me so hard that Evan can easily feel it already. It's kind of fun when she kicks because it reminds me that she's in there. It's like "oh, heyyy!" coming from her and I like it. I have had a fantastic pregnancy so far and have felt so darn good. I've discovered that I actually love and appreciate my body more now that I ever have before. I don't look for flaws or criticize or complain about my appearance. I love myself more now. That's pretty amazing and a side effect I didn't expect.

 

Baby: Week 20

What??? Halfway there? I always felt like time flew when observing others go through pregnancy and I figured it was just because I wasn't focusing on them all day every day, and suddenly they'd be more pregnant. Now it's me and time is still flying and suddenly I'm more pregnant! Ha! Just life, I guess!

We had a SUPER exciting day yesterday. We had the 20 Week ultrasound where they do really detailed measurements of all the different body parts and some of the organs too. Also, the most exciting part of course is that you can find out the gender at this time! YES, we definitely wanted to know.

I had been convincing myself that the baby was a boy. I pictured a mini version of my husband running around my house and it made me laugh. I have three younger brothers and am really used to baby boys and was pretty comfortable with the idea of having a boy. But "gut instincts" are not always the most accurate prediction of gender.

IT'S A GIRL!!!

I was so surprised - and to be honest - SO excited! I mean come on. Who can deny that a baby girl is going to be pretty darn fun to create adorable photo shoots for? Yep. I'm kinda excitedddddd.

We have already named her, too!!
I'll share soon. 

Baby: Week 18

I'm getting closer to the halfway point and that seems crazy! It's weird to think how much is happening in my body - and how little I have to do to keep it going. I basically just need to do things I already know how to do. Sleep lots, eat healthy foods, drink water, take vitamins. Extra bonus points for exercising or yoga and maintaining low stress. 

I have been feeling tiny little kicks lately! It sort of feels like little muscle twitches. It's pretty cool, actually. It has kinda become my new hobby to just sit still and wait for them. In two weeks I have my 20 week ultrasound and hopefully they can tell us the gender! I think things get more exciting at that point! I can't wait to give this little person a name. It's a really big responsibility to give someone a name that they will have for life, but the creative part of my brain completely loves the challenge.

Baby: Week 16

Guess what? I have got my energy back! I thought I had it back before, but I really didn't. I have gotten so much accomplished in the past week. I am not in the crazy cleaning and cooking mode that I've heard some get into. Maybe later. Right now I'm finally caught up on orders and have even had the energy/motivation to do some experimental stitching for the shop. It has been forever since I've done that! My experiment kind of failed (whoops) but I didn't really care because I was just happy to finally be making things again. Get this - we even finished all of our Christmas shopping already AND shipped everything out to the recipients. Oh yeah. 

Multiple times a day, I forget that I'm pregnant. I don't feel that different now that I'm not so tired. It's pretty cool. Then, when I remember that I do in fact have a tiny person with me all the time - I get really happy. Because that is kind of totally awesome. 

Also, at this point I've started to get pretty uncomfortable in all of my size 2 skinny jeans. BUH-BYE. I don't know what I'm going to do about pants because I haven't been able to find any yet - unless they're leggings. So leggings it is. Every day I'm leggings-in'. I broke down and bought a couple maternity pieces for my wardrobe. My Mom and I went to a consignment shop and I got three shirts. Then I got a couple things from ASOS which was the first real new-clothes shopping I've done in 2 years! Here's what I got:

 

1. Maternity Skinny Jeans in Teal - These were the main reason I wanted to order from ASOS. I loved that these looked relatively normal except for the pocket area which has a double rib knit for lots of stretch. I am going to be returning them because they just don't stretch enough. They fit fine right now but I'd like them to fit me all winter and there's no way they will. They've only got about an inch of give. Sadface.

2. Maternity Soft Touch Leggings - I'm wearing these in the photo above. They're amazing! They're not very thick so they won't be warm enough for wearing outside mid-winter, but they're perfect for days when I'm inside all day. The waistband goes wayyy up to go over the belly instead of under, and the elastic isn't too strong so it doesn't hurt like my other leggings do. These are a keeper.

3. Maternity Roll Neck Tunic - This is really cute and it does not look "maternity". I'd wear it even if I wasn't pregnant. I'll probably dress it up with a pretty necklace and wear it on Christmas, but it is still a nice everyday sweater as well. There's lots of room to grow which is perfect.

4. Blanket Wrap Cardigan - I am in love with this cardigan (pictured in my belly photo above!). It's not in their maternity section but it definitely has everything I need in a cozy cardigan. I love all of the extra fabric to wrap up in - but it's not too bulky or blankety like some are. It's fantastic. I'll prolly wear it every day, or at least until Evan starts to give me looks of disappointment.

Baby: Week 14

So I'm now officially into the 2nd Trimester...which I've heard is "the best one". I can already tell I'm getting my energy back and am pretty happy about that. In a little over a month we'll be able to find out the gender! I can't wait! It will feel even more real then. I've been listing to lots of pregnancy podcasts while I work and am absorbing all sorts of information. I have figured out that I am basically treating pregnancy like I treated big exams for school. Except I have nine months to prepare, and for once I am not procrastinating. I'm slowly gathering information and thinking about the choices that we will be making, and deciding what is best for us. It's actually fun and I'm enjoying it way more than I ever thought I would! 

Baby: Bump Update!

I'm 12 weeks along in my pregnancy this week and I think I'm starting to really see it. Before, my tummy was sticking out just enough that it still felt normal, like on Thanksgiving when you are really full and have to let your belly just stick out proudly. Ha. Today, though, it has gone beyond Thanksgiving belly. I don't think I "look pregnant" to other people yet, but to me I do!

I'm feeling good, hungry and maybe a bit more sensitive than my normal self. I don't think I'm the overly hormonal crying pregnant woman though. So, that's good! It has just been A LOT harder to focus on things that need to get done, especially for my business. That has been the hardest part for me. There is a lot of guilt there. I have been struggling to force myself to do things that I can barely wrap my head around. I don't know if this is a normal "side effect" of pregnancy or not but it's definitey my least fave so far. Hopefully it fades off soon and I get my spunk back - I need it back!

It's A...Baby!

I've been silent here on the blog for the past couple of weeks but I think you will forgive me. I have been working on something that has taken up ALL of my energy!

That right there is a cute little baby at my 9 week ultrasound this week! I've been feeling great (yay, right?) but have just been super tired and along with that have lost all motivation to do anything! That has been the weirdest part for me so far. I am always doing things, making things, taking pictures. The past few weeks though, I've literally felt like doing nothing. I just can't get myself going! I know it's temporary so I'm allowing myself to just do what I need to do to keep myself healthy (hello, naps! and snacks!) and let the rest slide until I'm ready to get back into it. Which is why I let myself take a blogging break!

I recently read a great blog post "Taking It Slow" by Stephanie of The Quiet Life of Violet which talks about her thoughts and feelings of stepping away from the online world a little bit and focusing more on what is right in front of her. Allowing herself to really think about her priorities and admit that writing a blog post can seriously wait because it doesn't matter at all in the big picture. Reading what she said, right in the moments where I was feeling pretty bad for not making anything new for the shop or writing on the blog in a week (by that point) made me feel better. It reminded me that the most important thing I can do right now is take care of my needs - which is really - my baby's needs. Everything else can come later.

I'm so excited for this new chapter in our lives! This won't turn into a "mommy blog" but it has always been a lifestyle blog, so I'll share bits of this new part of my life just as I have with other parts of my life in the past! I hope you'll stay along for the ride! :)

p.s. Don't you just love that little "bum"? Ha! It's so much cuter with that label on it! I love that she did that.