My Pregnancy Essentials

It's already Wednesday?! 

I had my husband home with me from Friday evening until just a few moments ago...

It was AWESOME!!
He finished painting the nursery, we spent some QT with my fam,

and he has logged many hours into his Madden '13 game.

Baby & I are doing well, still needing to watch what I eat...

heartburn is a biotch that sneaks right up on me!!
As I near the 23 week mark, 

I really wanted to share what has been so helpful to me.

I saw a few of these early on in my pregnancy, 

and it's always helpful to see what tools other pregos use to keep themselves

as comfy as possible during these beautiful, yet uncomfortable months.
I know there are many awesome products out there,
I simply narrowed it down to what I deem most important during these months.
{I also tried to include a link at description if you're interested in seeing more about the product}

My top ten faves include:

1.  Pre-Natal Yoga.
 I prefer to go to a weekly class, but even the DVD is great.  

The class surrounds you with other positive pregnant women, a helpful instructor, and a wonderful

environment for you and your growing baby. 

Learning the proper yoga moves help with funny aches/pains that come with the growing belly.
I got the above DVD at Target.

2. Maternity Tanks-
  Liz Lange maternity tops from Target are heavenly.
They've helped me stay cool in this unbearable summer heat,

 and I look forward to layering them come fall/winter.
I will be investing in a few t-shirts soon as well.

3. Strappy Sports Bras-
 I gave up on pretty/regular/underwire bras. 
They hurt and I only last in them a few hours.
I live for any tank top/sports bras. It doubles as a cami (or appears as one) under some of my dresses or tanks that I am falling out of, since the girls just won't, stop, growing.
I found cheap, cute, & comfy ones at Wal-Mart. 

4.  Water.Water.Water- 
I seem to drink more when I have the cute tumbler/straw handy.

Some days I am just so parched!!

If I don't drink enough H20, it's easy to get backed up...no bueno.
I would love a super cute monogrammed one.

5.  The Snoogle-
 I personally see a difference in my sleep. 

I tried shoving pillows all around, but this thing just curls up in all the right places.

I highly suggest it!

6.  TUMS (or whatever knock-off brand).
 I have been getting pretty bad heartburn,

especially at night when I lay down...the burning creeps up on me!
I just take one {or two} and it seems to do the trick long enough so I can fall asleep.
7.  Old Fashioned Glazed Donuts. 
 Good luck finding them around here!
I seriously went to two different Timmy Ho's last week and they were out.
That's like KFC being out of fried chicken.
I settled on a sour cream glazed, but I digress...
8.  Maternity Leggings from Gap- 
I am putting tremendous faith in these suckers,
as I ordered 3 pairs and I am anxiously awaiting their arrival.
I love leggings and I have heard wonderful magical things about these.
9.  Burt Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter-
I have tried a few different lotions, but this so far is my absolute favorite.
It contains no parabens!!
I love that it doesn't have a smell (particularly no funny smell!)
It lathers right on and soaks in my big ol' belly so nice.
I love that I can scrape every last morsel out of the tub and not feel like I wasted any.
10. A pregnancy journal-
I just picked mine up at Buy Buy Baby last week when I registered.
I love being able to write down all the different emotions, feelings, thoughts that have gone through
our minds as we enter our journey into parenthood.
It also helps keep a pregnant gal busy, as she anxiously counts down the days
until her little bean is finally here.
***
Of course I highly suggest a support group of a caring partner, family, & friends.
More than any gadget, it's times when I feel like I'm falling apart,
my sweet husband kindly reminds me, I'm not falling apart, I'm simply pregnant.
On that note, I must get cleaning since we basically lounged aruond
all weekend and I barely touched any sort of cleaning.

Gender Reveal

Thanks for all of the love ladies!!

We had one of the best days of our lives yesterday.

I woke up teasing my husband with 'It's a girl' texts

and playing daughter-like songs on the iphone.

He loves Jay-Z and so I was playing Glory {about his baby girl}

I got ready as if we were going on a date.
Curled my hair.
Did my makeup.

I felt so pretty!

 Hubs came home from work,

and off we went to see our baby boy or baby girl.

We always take pictures at the Dr's office...

 The ultrasound went well and all looked good,

from what the tech could see.
**A Jay-Z song played while in the office,
we both looked at each other as if it were a sign**

She said she knew the sex of our baby for about 10 minutes before she told us.

She kept asking, do you know what it is?

I'm like, no lady I have no idea what part of baby I'm even looking at!!

Finally she pointed the baby's bum,

and lo and behold, 

baby is a girl.

Unfortunately the little diva would not cooperate for her profile shots,

so we only walked away with this photo!

She is looking down and the tech didn't get all that she needed to.

So, we have to go back in two more weeks.

We get another ultrasound and then we'll get better pictures & a DVD!

Baby girl yawned during it, as if we were boring her.
It was so cute.

She also kept turning away every time the tech tried to get a good angle of her.

She's already a little handful!

We were both a little shocked, since my husband always seems

to manifest what he wants, I thought for sure this baby would be a boy.

However, I guess my dreams {and wives tales} were right on!

As were most of you my lovely readers!
So while it seems to be the season of boys,

Our little girl will be making her debut January 2013.

I came home and finished my cake-pops/cake balls.

I didn't change the recipe, and the sticks did not stick,

so I'll have to try those again.

 Luckily I had pink candy wrappers in the cupboard haha.

I finished working on my Gender Reveal Activity:

The poem says:

Boy or Girl  

What will baby be?
You have one guess,

Then we’ll count to three.

Whether Mohawks or pigtails,

Football or ballet,

This baby is lucky

To be loved,

In so many ways.

Write your guess here:

                                                

They each wrote their guess.

 I think I'll always be a little teacher at heart.

Then I tallied up the responses...

My brother-in-law & our waitress guessed girl.

Everyone else said boy.

 Each pink cake ball was wrapped up in yellow tissue.

We passed one out to everyone at the table.

Counted to three and they opened them up at the same time...

 Proud parents-to-be!!

It was so fun and everyone was so happy.

Before dinner hubs and I made our first baby girl purchase...

Pottery Barn Kids

 It's a super soft changing pad cover...

And a growing family shot outside of PF Changs

And another cute girlie song, when I told my bloggy bestie Amber

I was pregnant, she said this song was playing...

 So here we go...

We are having a beautiful baby girl!!!
Let the fun truly begin.

I love her more than words can say, 

and I cannot stop tearing up at how amazing this all is.

A Big Day

Today is a BIG day!
I'd say the big day, but that is not until January.

We have our 20 week ultrasound appointment 

and get to find out the gender of our sweet, growing baby.

{as long as he or she cooperates!}

Here's a shot of the last 4 weeks of le belly:

Don't you love how Holly photobombs me at the mirror?

We decided to have an impromtu reveal party-like gathering tonight.

{So yes, that means we won't be telling people until after dinner!}

We're meeting our families at PF Changs.

It's kind of a meaningful place, in that back in 2008,

on a cold winter night, 

I brought Joe there to meet my dad, step-mom, & step-brother.

At that time, I would have never thought just a few years later,

we'd be telling them their grandson or daughter was on the way!!

I have such a cute little idea on how we'll share our news!
I'm only hoping my husband can keep his mouth closed as he goes back to work.

I know he's super excited, but I want to tell our parents first!
I didn't get to really make a big deal about us being pregnant,

since it was my sister's wedding and all, I didn't want to take away from her festivities/excitement.

So, now it's time to gear up and let the fun begin!!
I will say that I have had two dreams early on in first trimester.

Both involved girls.

One actually had twin girls.
Clearly we know there's only one bean in there,
but I must say I have always thought there's a baby boy in my belly.

Even though most 'wives tale signs' point to girl.

What I've been told:

Girl:

heart rate high: baby's is in 160's

craving sweets

face is getting fuller

carrying high

blowing up all over, not just my belly

more watermelon than basketball 

less than perfect skin--is she stealing my beauty??

Boy:
Cousin Mary did necklace over belly & it came out boy

hair is shiny and full, not dull and limp

 craving sour candies

hair on legs grows faster than normal

 These are all in fun, but we finally find out today!!

Cast your final votes!!

google images

Check back tomorrow for our big reveal.

Happy Tuesday!!