28 & 29

Hello, third trimester! Sometimes, it's easy to forget that you get an actual human baby at the end of this deal. And with the more frequent aches, discomforts, and late-night bathroom visits, I am reminded how near this event is actually taking place.

TIP: If you want to speed up a pregnancy, put off the really big stuff like assembling the baby's room or picking out a name (both of which we have yet to accomplish). But I'm not stressing...yet.

Can I just say how super voluptuous my hair looks in that 29 week photo? It's certainly not due to the prenatal vitamins because I have been doing a horrible job staying on top of those.

Also, have you seen Call the Midwife? I blazed through Season 1 on Netflix this week. Such an endearing show. And such a different viewing experience to watch late into one's pregnancy.

Stay tuned to see how much I balloon in the next 10 (or more likely 11) weeks of this pregnancy. That is if I don't give up on my whole maternity series in general. So...humbling. xx

A Peek Inside...My Wardrobe!

Welcome to my wardrobe! I haven't been able to bridge the time/space gap to Narnia (yet), but for the first time in my married life, I have my own clothing quarters. 

And since this is the only pocket of our home that I can claim entirely as my own, I decided to make it as girly and boutique-y as possible:)

It would seem to be practical to use the top shelf for more productive storage purposes, but creating the feel of a shop that you would want to shop at makes the whole daily clothing selection time just that much more enjoyable & inspiring. Try it and see if it doesn't enhance your experience!



I love having the Instax-Mini camera, but all my snapshots have been living in a box since they were taken. So, I stuck them up with some washi tape ($2.99 at Hobby Lobby) which has made the inside of my closet door anything but drab. Plus, I'm looking forward to adding more pics to this installation! 

Another quick & useful way to fill up a wall space is to create a necklace display using 3M adhesive hooks. They're noncommittal and take hardly any time to put up.

And that's my wardrobe! Not the most enlightening post I've ever published to this blog, but it was a fun little project and one that I get to enjoy every day. xx

Are there any fun or unique ways you utilize storage spaces by putting your personal touch on them?

KC Anniversary Weekend!

Last weekend marked Wayde & my 5th wedding anniversay, which is just totally surreal to say the least. We wanted to go somewhere we didn't feel obligated to meet up with friends or family and since we've never been to Kansas City together, Kansas City became the destination.

We got some solid recommendations from friends ahead of time and found ourselves on W 39th Street, a hip little area full of kitschy shops & restaurants. Late lunch at d'Bronx followed by coffee and dessert at Rm. 39.

Rock Candy was a vintage boutique we popped into. Though I'm not in the market to buy a lot of clothes right now (28 weeks pregnant, hello!), Wayde had a few sweet finds by the end of the day.

I'm super thankful that my guy enjoys and could kill more time in a secondhand store than I even could.

We also checked out Donna's Dress Shop, which is pretty much the ultimate new & vintage ladies clothing boutique. Like, if I ever aspired to be a boutique owner, Donna's would be the living example of what I would like to open. Even the shop girls were dressed to the nines with their retro hair & ensembles.

Boomerang was another shop we hit, which reminded me of a Buffalo Exchange/ Ragstock type place. Wayde walked out with a pair of Allen Edmunds shoes, so he was a pretty happy camper.

After checking into our hotel, we walked towards the Power & Light district for dinner. There are few restaurants worthy of a 45 minute wait, but the Drunken Fish is one of them. I had Asian lettuce wraps, BLT sushi (yes, you read that correctly), and green tea fried ice green. Bloody fantastic.  

We stopped in a fancy grocery store for some snacks where I stumbled upon this selection of local, flavored milks from the Shatto Milk Company. I got a pint of the cotton candy. Seriously, cotton candy flavored milk!!

It was kind of a bummer for this pregnant lady to fall in love with so many food & drink items this trip and not have ready access to them back home:(

Since we didn't do any major traveling for this trip, we splurged on our accomodations by staying at the beautiful Hotel Phillips in downtown KC. And I am so glad we did.

It was actually more cost effective to do the in-room breakfast package which included valet and a $35 food & beverage voucher. Room service just might be one of my favorite things in the world.

Nothing like a lazy Sunday morning eating potato pancakes while watching HGTV...

Later that day we hit The Plaza, bought stuff at H&M, and grabbed some more food at Westport Coffeehouse before hitting the road home. We did NOT visit the art gallery which apparently is the thing to do while in Kansas City. Maybe next time...xx

27 Weeks

So, I finally got around to scheduling a chiropractic appointment. And magically, my back began hurting less. I'm still looking forward to going though. The discomfort comes and goes, but I'm hoping it will better prepare my body for the labor/ delivery portion of this experience.

I feel like I should be doing more to train for this, but I mainly just sleep whenever I can. Since I actually know what I'm getting into this time...

The whole body-being-ravaged by pregnancy can naturally bring a girl down, so it helps to put a little more effort into my appearance. I don't paint my nails often, but this hot coral color is rocking my world. It's the little things...

I hit a mini-milestone this week too by completing the whole first page of my Discipleship Journal Bible Reading Plan. Have I ever followed through with a New Year's resolution this far into the year? My mind is blanking. I've attempted this feat in the past with poor results, but this plan is actually the most practical I've ever come across.

For example, there are only 25 days to each month so if you miss one or two, you don't get crazy behind. It's all about grace, people. Thanks to my homegirl (in my mind), Jami Nato, for referring this plan.



In other news, this weekend marks Wayde & my 5 year wedding anniversary! Unreal. So looking forward to getting out of town, staying at a swanky hotel, and indulging in lots good food for a couple days. To be continued...xx

Weekend Sweetness

This past weekend had its share of particularly sweet moments, which included:

Ice cream. We may or may not have gone to Snookie's in Beaverdale more than once for chocolate-dipped twist cones.

Giggles. If you are familiar with Snookie's, then you are aware of it's eclectic collection of books throughout the dining area. Ruby's selection had us cracking up...I Am Becoming the Woman I've Wanted. No light reading for this little lady.

Snuggles. There's a 50/50 chance that Ruby will end up in our bed before the end of the night on most nights. The nice thing about it is that she's super cuddly when she does. I awoke Sunday morning to her little arm up around my face. These are the moments that make being a parent so totally worth it.

Adorableness. I think Ruby has inherited her parents' love of picture taking.

Cuteness overload. Enough said. Hope your weekend was equally sweet...xx

25 & 26

Falling a bit behind on the maternity posts...and on most things, in general. Being pregnant with a 1.5 year old while working full-time can sure suck the energy out of a person...

The nights of somewhat restful sleep are slowly dwindling. I go to bed as early as I can not knowing how many hours of uninterrupted Z's I'm gonna get. If it's not this little one kicking around inside of me, it's Ruby having trouble sleeping. And the back pain...oh, the back pain. Heating pad, you are my new BFF.

At least we have baby's room painted..? And that's about it. No other furniture yet besides this sweet rocker and a shelf. Ruby is still occupying the crib (most nights) and we'd like to keep it in her room so she can get a real sense of ownership (?) in there.

The way I see it, Baby #2 will probably be in our room for the first few months anyway. Still, I am SO ready to finish decorating this room.

Stay tuned...more to come on that project...xx

Happenings.

With the arrival of Spring, slowly but surely, we are seeing for the first time what our backyard actually looks like. And it's not pretty. It used to be. What was once a heavily landscaped area (we have the maps to prove it) is nothing but dead leaves & dirty ground in it's current state.

Though we probably won't be able to plant anything new this year, as there are several perrenials popping their way through the soil, we're looking forward to the prospect of backyard picnics & blowing bubbles & sidewalk chalk-a-thons in our own backyard.  



In other sprouting news, Ruby's hair is just long enough now to wrangle into pigtails. She sits super still while Mama tugs on her tresses & is always so pleased with the finished product. Little girls are such a joy!

After seeing this place on a recent episode of Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern, we decided to check out the infamous B&B Grocery and Deli on Des Moines' southeast side.

It was gritty, unexpected, and oh so tasty - we love places like this. The sandwiches are pretty killer, indeed.



Mama's wardrobe is fastly becoming one of Ruby's favorite hangout spots. I think every little girl's mama ought to have one;)

Wayde things it's weird that I have styled the top shelf to feel less like a storage space and more like a boutique. It's still a work in progress. What are your thoughts??

And lastly, the closest thing this prego mama is going to get to a cocktail for a very long time. But a worthy substitute, I might add.

 

Lemonade + chopped strawberries + rosemary. You NEED to try this. Just looking at this photo has me thirsting for another one. Right. Now.

 

Be back soon...xx

24 Weeks

I wish I was doing something cooler than taking bathroom photos to document my "maternity series", but whatever.

I have more energy now than I did in my first trimester, but the little things are starting to feel harder to do. Like putting on socks. Maybe if Spring actually started to act like it was supposed to, I wouldn't have to worry about that. It's been a long winter in Iowa, my friends. Makes me feel like the end of Summer is very far away, when it really isn't.

Also, I got my first mid-night Charley Horse this week. The kind that jar you awake and you have to stamp them out on the floor to make them go away. At least we don't have a neighbor below us this time to be alerted of my discomfort. SO. NOT. FUN.

I'm trying to embrace as much sleep as possible, being all too familiar with those days & nights where I was tired beyond all reason with a newborn. Yep, still fresh in my mind...yet SO totally worth it, if you asked me:) xx

Easter 2013

What a wonderful Easter weekend it was! Ruby was able to participate in her first big Easter egg hunt that was organized by our incredible church.

There were candy-filled eggs (naturally), face-painting, cotton candy, and inflatables to name a few things. All of which Ruby indulged in (& LOVED) even more than we expected.

On your mark..get set...go!! Ruby paused to dance until I "explained" to her what was going on;)

 Little lady would've been happy if we had left her in here all day.

I thought we'd give the face-painting a chance and warned the artist that she might not be able to finish the job...

Surprisingly, Ruby held still long enough to be transformed into a pretty little kitty. Maybe I shouldn't have been surprised...after all, she likes for me to pretend to put make-up on her!

 Turns out that pretty little kitties aren't big fans of kisses:/

Ruby in her "princess" dress.

Easter Sunday morning was spent at church celebrating the resurrection of our risen Savior. The later part of the day was spent in the company of family (both sides), sharing meals & taking much needed naps. A good day, indeed:)

Kind of crazy to think that there will be another face in our family photo next Easter! Hope everyone else had a beautiful Easter weekend too xx

23 Weeks

Turns out I wore this same turtleneck for my 23 week photo with Ruby in tow. What?? I SO did not plan that. I don't know what that says about me...probably that I'm cheap/ thrifty/ resourceful/ etc. Regardless, I think I'm bigger this time around.

Circa 2011.

For all of you bumpwatchers, let us analyze these two photos. It appears I'm about as high & pointy as I was when I was carrying my daughter...PERHAPS, IT IS ANOTHER GIRL?? Oh, the drama.

In other examples of how I am subconsciously carrying on traditions through my pregnancies, I am currently reading a classic—Pride & Prejudice. I read another classic, Jane Eyre, with Ruby—both period novels somewhat far from my usual tastes, but I have enjoyed/ am enjoying quite immensely. Just trying to fill the "Downton Abbey" void, y'all. P&P is turning out to be quite the worthy sub.

I've also been reading the She Reads Truth Holy Week Plan, which is so SO good. I didn't even get as far as devising a Lent strategy for me to fail this year, but have wanted to be intentional & reflective in the days leading up to Easter and what that means for my life/ faith/ etc. I was also touched by this perspective.

Peace to you...xx