~Brace yourself~

So this wrist pain I've been having...?  It's pregnancy induced carpal tunnel, and I guess it's pretty common.  My left wrist flared up and in just a week's time my pain is at an annoying 6 out of 10; just enough to make a person super crabby.  What a weird thing but hey-- there are much worse things I could be dealing with.  One trip to Wal-mart (yes, it was the only place I could think of that was open after the Hunger Games movie Friday night) and I had myself two extremely dorky looking braces to wear at night.  It's a sexy look let me tell you.


Now, two nights later I can say I experienced ZERO waking up with numb hands every 2 hours, and my wrist pain is super minimal right away in the morning.  Who would've thunk.  I'm so happy to have a little relief!


Another reason to celebrate... we're officially 3rd trimester!!!  It seems like time has really flown and then again it seems like F-O-R-E-V-E-R until I get to meet my little booty shaking munchkin.  The house has been under major re-organization (how the heck did we get so much junk?!) and my personal favorite: cleaning.  This morning the carpet cleaners came to do both upstairs bedrooms and next weekend we bring the crib home~!!!! AHHHHHH so excited.  April is a super busy month, so it will be great to get that all set up.  I'm also looking forward to rocking in the rocking chair and dreaming of baby G :~)

my only complaint

I've had such an easy pregnancy... I really can't complain at all.  No morning sickness.  I had some headaches early on but attribute that to my neck being out of whack more than my hormones.  I haven't had skin/acne issues or any unusual hair growth... BUT I sure will be glad when the numbness and tingling goes away in my right hand~!!  It's driving me bonkers.


Today starts the last day of my second trimester already; can you believe that?!?  I feel like pregnancy relates somewhat to planning a wedding: there's a lot to do right in the beginning, then a period of time where you're kind of sitting and waiting with a feeling like you should be doing something, and then a complete sh*t storm of activity in the end. I feel a storm brewing ;)

the crib set up is complete!

This weekend we're moving the bed out of the guest room to prepare for the carpet cleaners, and we'll have the crib all set up before we go to Iowa for our very first BABY SHOWER on Good Friday :D  We received our first shower gift in the mail on Friday... a high chair compliments of Jim, Becky and Josh.  That thing was a part of our decor within 15 minutes of arriving at our doorstep, and makes me smile every time I walk into the dining room and see it.  It's times like these that I am so overwhelmed with all the blessings we have in life.  I'm so thankful for all of the gifts we've received... the biggest of which is doing back flips in my belly as we speak <3  Life is good; God is great, and who doesn't like a little numbness and tingling anyway ;)

Pop goes the Grabe~!

I believe I have officially "popped", at 25 weeks and 4 days.  Suddenly I can't get enough of my form fitting tops :)  I'm so enamored with my belly I don't even notice my big 'ol badonkadonk anymore! Even better news was our ultrasound report from last week.  Baby is up to 1 lb 11 oz which is right where s/he should be.  Additionally the fetal echocardiogram looked great so we've been discharged from the Perinatologist and follow up growth scans will be done with my OB visits...!!!  YAY BABY :)  Here's an amazing 3D picture of our little munchkin but don't go being a poop and think you know the sex just by looking at it. 

I'm excited to share my #1 favorite purchase of all time from Bellies to Babies.  I had never been at this particular consignment store and must say it was slim pickings compared to Nine.  One upside is B2B does buy your gently used maternity and baby clothing on the spot rather than on consignment, so I'm thinking that may come in handy in the future.


SO in my ongoing hunt to find cute maternity clothing (that may just be an oxymoron) for Florida I tried on the few summer items in the store.  I have this obsession with white pants and love the look of linen, so when I found these smock waist white linen pants I was super stoked.  When I tried them on my excitement continued to build--they were a perfect fit.  The ultimate climax came when I checked out and paid a whopping $6 for my gorgeous new white pants that retail at $85. THANK YOU whoever got rid of these~!! Little Miss Frugal (moi) walked out of that store proud as punch.


Now for the dirty confession.  Back in November, when I was so excited to be pregnant and scared to buy anything for baby just yet I purchased a maternity robe.  Insert buyers remorse here. It's not completely awful, but it's just plain 'ol black knit... and the only thing maternity about it is the tie is a bit longer than normal. I should've returned it, but I didn't.  Even though it works just fine and I'll be able to use it all the time as it's not *really* maternity I would've felt much better had I either A. purchased something similar for half the price at somewhere like Target or B. spent the $45 stinking dollars on something truly adorable from Victoria's Secret.  Live and learn I guess.  On the bright side it's black, so it will be nice to throw over my hospital gown hiding any "spills", and I'll be able to wear it forever.


So there's a peak and a pit of my maternity clothes shopping experiences to date. Happy shopping~!

Old Navy is the place for me...!

Getting a great deal on the necessities so I can blow my cash on more exciting things is my MO.  This has become extremely apparent while shopping for maternity clothes.  I'm pretty fortunate that I can get away with wearing scrubs to work *most* days, so I've purchased very few dress clothes necessary for meetings.  Thankfully these meetings are typically with different customers, so no one knows I'm wearing the same outfit over and over (except maybe my boss... but I'm not overly concerned with his opinion at the moment).


I have two upcoming functions that have had me scouring the internet for deals.  Our national training meeting (can you say corporate fashion show...?) followed by a long weekend with my hubby... our babymoon in Boca :)  I also have a few showers on the books AND dressing for yoga is getting more difficult by the week.  In summary I need 4 solid work outfits, some fun outfits, and some gym outfits to get me through the next 3 months.  First things first: Yoga me baby.


This brought me to my first shopping spree at oldnavy.com.  It was one of those fill-up-your-bag-until-you-get-free-shipping, so when my items arrived and every clothing item I purchased worked I was overjoyed.  My #1 best deal and favorite purchase was the scoop neck rib tank.  I'm proud to say at 24 weeks my belly is just about a perfect round little ball, and I finally enjoy wearing form fitting shirts. These tanks have just a touch of rayon, keeping them from looking like a stretched out nasty wife-beater. The colors are very vivid, not "jewel tones" that I'm so over already or pastel-ly so you feel like an easter egg.  When I pair these with the roll panel yoga pants I purchased in the excitement of my first trimester and some cute Nikes I totally got my workout mojo back.  I even threw on a cardigan I've had for a while from Express and turned it into a laid-back-Sporty-Spice travel outfit.  A President's Day sale brought the purchase price for these little pieces of fabulosity to $8.50/each, with no tax (God bless Minnesota) and free shipping.  Come to mama!  With the purchase of an additional pair of yoga capris ($13 thank you Mr. President) and my old pair from express many moons ago this made for 3 solid work out outfits that will last me through delivery, not to mention they double as cute tops to pair with capris or maxi skirts for fun in the sun.   


Next up: dressing up.  I have a little finagling and some homework to do on this one, so give me a bit and I promise to deliver and not disappoint :)  OH and remember those Citizens of Humanity jeans I got off of craigslist a few posts back?  I just sold them on ebay for $75.  Hot damn~! 

I did it.

I paid full price for a maternity item... I broke my one and only declared "rule" in this expansion process AND actually feel pretty good about it!

For some reason the button hole trick doesn't work so well with black dress pants.  Partly because of the way they're designed (some just have those little clip things) and mostly due to the way they fit.  For whatever reason they were the first items I grew out of in my closet with all the bloating my first trimester brought. 

I had purchased a pair of Old Navy trouser pants on the Thanksgiving shopping spree with my mom-- on sale for $20 I believe.  They fit great, but the fabric is so crappy it picks up any white fuzz within a 20 foot radius.  Nothing like looking like a slob.  Rather than obsessively lint rolling myself I opted to invest into my work attire.  You're only as successful as you feel, right?

This leads us to my important work meeting... where a sweater dress and boots didn't quite cut it for the level of formality needed. GAP Maternity is lacking in so many ways (alas, I'm not much of a GAP girl anyway) but they make a great dress pant. Yes I paid the entire $60 for the stupid things, but the confidence boost they continue to provide was worth every. single. penny.

--on a side note they are a "demi-panel", which I previously bashed in my maternity jeans posting. However, since the black pants are lighter weight they don't seem to slide south as easily, and with paired with one of the can't-live-without camisoles you can find almost anywhere they are more than comfortable.

SO another "do as I say not as I do" moment... save yourself the hassle and cash and go for the gold if your career requires it.  :)

like a lollipop ;-/

That's just how i told my yoga teacher I was feeling when attempting to do a specific pose on Thursday.  I've really been avoiding yoga these past few months mainly because of nasty tension headaches.  Okay that's not the whole truth... I really had a hard time seeing my figure in the mirror; and it's difficult --and slightly uncomfortable-- to practice in a baggy shirt.  Although I want(ed) this baby more than anything else I've ever wanted my whole life, it's still hard to watch my body morph into something so... round~!!


Thursday night was my first day of practice in a few weeks, and since I'm up a whopping 15 lbs already the moves I once found great pleasure doing were SO HARD!  So that's why yogi's always stay thin... gaining weight is hard work!  I went back again this morning-- procrastinating so much I walked into class about 10 minutes late.  With the crowds of "New Year's" members, the only spot to fit my mat was right up front.  Right in front of the stinking mirror.


Throughout that hour I had plenty of time to critique my figure (there must be something I'm doing wrong since I've gained SO much already...??!!)  but slowly that critiquing turned into an admiration.  My practice came much easier than it did just two days ago, and I began to focus on the strength my body was gaining with the added challenge. 

please note: this is not me.  This is a beautiful pregnant girl compliments of google images :)

I have a great sense of accomplishment after this practice, even though I had to do some cobras in place of my usual upward facing dog, and even skipped a vinyasa or two.  I made a commitment to myself to continue my yoga practice-- twice a week if at all possible-- right up until delivery.  My teacher reminded me I need to be sending lots of love to my little one while s/he is growing and developing.  I guess being hard on myself and avoiding activities that are SO healthy for both of us isn't very loving behavior.  I promise to love you to the very best of my ability... my little lollipop : )

what i learned this weekend...

In my very limited experience... maternity jeans suck.  Let me explain why. You do have several options to chose from.  Here's a photo with a great explanation of the different styles available from Old Navy Maternity's website.  

I purchased the pair on the far left with my mom over Thanksgiving; my first maternity shopping experience.  I was only about 11 weeks at the time, and thrilled that these jeans fit SO well and only set me back $20. That was before the expansion began.  

Since I've always had such a little booty I honestly didn't think anything would change in that department (This is when women who have had children before laugh at my ignorance).  So now at 16 weeks and 3 days I've rounded out quite nicely-- and evenly. At least I won't tip over ;) These jeans still fit now... but they slide right off my rounded out figure!   SO uncomfortable.

Next stop: Craigslist, for some secret fit belly designer jeans originally purchased from A Pea In the Pod.  I'm pretty proud of this purchase.  I love me some designer jeans, but at $190 a pop for a pair of jeans I'll wear for a year out of my life... no thank you. The large panel looks gross I know, but actually that part of it is really comfortable.  It feels like you're wearing one of the camisoles that hold everything together, and you don't have to worry about the pants sliding down your rounded body. The part that doesn't feel good is where the jeans ended and the stretchy panel began.  It hit me right above my butt crack, and right on my hip bones so it felt like I was rolling gangster style, even though it didn't look that way.  Bummer!

So the verdict?  I'm sticking to my Old Navy leggings (I found them on sale for $10) with tunic tops or sweater dresses and boots whenever possible. At this point my maternity jeans are LESS comfortable than my pre-pregnancy jeans with the hair-tie-through-the-button-hole trick. My advice to you would be to save your cash for other maternity items you can't live without. Thankfully I'm out just $60, which I plan to get back via craigslist after I've gotten good use of everything :)