Things I've Learned Because I'm Pregnant

So here is a "fun" list of some of the things I've learn so far while being pregnant:

1. I'm allergic to coco butter! This was a fun one to learn- let me tell you. I figure I would get a jump start on trying to fight off unwanted stretch marks, but instead I got a belly full of itchy reds bumps.

If anyone has a good suggestion on something else I should try- let me know!

2. I feel like a bad pregnant lady when people comment on how "skinny" I look. I understand I've lost over 30 pounds in the last year, so I do get those comments every so often.  However, over the last few months I've still gotten a few of these comments and I can't help feel guilty about it.

(Taken on Easter & almost 10 weeks pregnant)

Additionally, sometimes those comments have been followed up by a "How did you do it?".  I always tell them I used the "My Fitness Pal App" and was working out- because that's the truth. However, while I'm making those comments, I'm really thinking "Well considering most food doesn't even sound good right now...".

Currently, I find myself wanting and eating a lot of carbs. Currently, mac & cheese has been the food I find on my plates more often over the last few weeks. I'm hoping that I'll be back to my more normal healthier eating soon; but I will give myself a small pat on the back because Sam and I still are averaging at least 3 days a week at the gym since I found I was pregnant- so that has to count for something!

4. I can't stand the thought, smell, feel, texture... well pretty much everything that has to do with raw meat! It's goes back to eating a lot of carbs because meat is just one of the foods currently I really don't mind taking a pass on. However, I do my best to make sure I do eat some type of protein during the day (even if I don't want to).

3. I miss drinking more than I expected. I'm a social drinker- so I really only drink when I'm hanging out with my friends. So I figure that once I become pregnant, it should be pretty easy thing to cut out. Well up to this point it pretty much has been, being I only hung out with friends a few times at this point. However, with summer almost here, I know that will be a lot more parties and gatherings with our friends- so we'll see how it goes.

4. You will have to pee multiple times a night- even very early in pregnancy. I LOVE my sleep. And I'm not loving having to wake up all time to either pee or roll over because I'm not comfortable anymore. If I sleep for more than 3 hour straight- I'm doing good.

5. My cat all of a sudden loves me a lot more than he used to. Shamrock is a lover cat, but Sam is normally he go to cuddle person....

 

However, that has totally changed in the last month or so. This cat has to be around me or laying on me at all times. I've heard pets can sense the hormone changes in pregnant women, but I really didn't think to much about it until I gained a four legged furry shadow.

 He's lucky he's cute and that I love him, or we would have a real problem.

Furry Friend Friday!

Because I'm a bit of a "cat lady" and being that I pregnant- I couldn't help but think this video was funny.

The cat looks my Shamrock, and by the end of this year I'll know what his reactions is going to look like. However, if I had to take a guess, it going to be more like this...

Happy Friday Everyone!

Mother's Day Recap

I want to start by saying "Thank You!!!" The amounts of "likes" and comments left on my post from yesterdays blog (on my Facebook page) was truly amazing. Sam and I feel truly blessed by the amount of people who love and support us as we grow your family. I really can't express how much all those comments and "likes" meant to me! Between the love I felt online and in real life- I'm very blessed.

I started off my Mother's Day at church with my mom. I don't attend church with her very often but, I knew she would love to have me join her- plus she got to tell some of her church friends the news that she's going to be a grandma.

I thought a good gift for the both soon-to-be grandmas would be some chocolates and a picture frame of my newest ultrasound. The gifts were hits with both of the moms.

 

After church, I went home before Sam and I headed to his parents for a "Mother's Day Brunch". They had a great spread of food including bagels, fruit, eggs, pancakes, cookies, and cake. We got to spend time with his mom, grandma, aunt, cousins, and brothers.

 

 

Once we got home, I got my "mother's day" request- and I took a nice long nap! Let me tell you, I'm lucky because I haven't been very sick, but I'm always tried. I'm guessing it's something I better get use to.

While I was napping Sam ran a few errands and he came home with a very funny but sweet card and a gift card for a massage. I would say that is probably one of the best gifts you can give your pregnant wife!

 

And to ended my night, I just hanging out on my couch with my boys (furry baby and hubby) watching the Hawks game. Got to love when they win! All and all- it was a great end to awesome weekend!

Happy Mother's Day to Me?!?

I know there has been a very long blog silence, but it was for a good reason.



I'm here to officially announce that this time next year- I'll be a mom! (Weird- right?!)

(8 weeks)

We have been telling friends and family over the past month or so, but we told them to keep it on the "DL" because it was still early. Well now that I'm almost 13 weeks and being that it's Mother's Day- I couldn't think of a better day to announce it to the world!

 (12 weeks)

I understand it's still kind of early but I have known this information for over 2 months now, so it's been very hard not to post something about what has been going on in my life. I've actually still been blogging, but just not posting- so there are going to be posts coming up filling you in on all the events leading up to now!

However, being that it's Mother's Day, I can't forget about the moms in my life!

To my mom- who has always worked very hard to provide for her family, but still manages to be there for all the important events in our lives.

To my grandma- who has become one of my best friends over the years, and the first person in my family I had to tell my baby news to. She loves so much and cares so much, I just hope that some day I can be as awesome of a grandma as she has been to me!

To my mother-in-law- who has been a part of my life for almost half my life (go on 13 years now). She has welcomed me as part the family and has treated me like the daughter she's never had. Now with this baby, our families will be officially connected for the rest of our lives and I wouldn't want it any other way!

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms, mother-in-laws, grandmas, great grandmas, and moms-to-be! May your day be full of love and joy!

Trying to Eat Right

Happy Hump Day Everyone! My sister posted this a few weeks ago, and I figure it would be fun to share.



(My "Fro" was a little out of control)

So far April has been a good month. Yesterday my mom came to my school (she has never been before) and then we went out to lunch. I told her it was my treat because she just dropped some money on my original fur baby that morning.



Side note- In his old age, my Sammy cat keep getting tumors. This one was on the side of his paw and it was time for it to go. For a 16 year old cat, he's hanging in there. However, I'm not sure how much he really likes his pink cast.





Considering yesterday I took my mom out to a pizza buffet for lunch, I knew it was time to try to get back to my healthy eating. Salads currently aren't very appealing but as long as I have enough toppings (today- carrots, croutons, cucumber, and bacon bits) it's a lot easier to want to eat.

Additionally, on top of my better lunch choices, I hope to make it to the gym 4 times this week. Since coming back from vacation, we been average 3 days which isn't bad, but we can do a little better- wish me luck!

Well, back to work for me! I hope you all have a great day!

Good Bye March - Hello April

I'm not sure if I feel like March went by quickly or if it went by slowly, but either way it's another month that is gone from 2014 (or will be in a few hours). I also feel like there hasn't been much going on since our trip; however, that is also not true- I've just been bad about documenting anything.

Since coming back from our trip- we have spent time with our family.

We went over to Mom and Dad's for Joe's birthday.

We also celebrated with Mom and Dad for their 30th wedding anniversary!

And this past Saturday we got to see a lot of the extended family for Grandma's 79th birthday! She requested "Strawberry Cake" - white cake with fresh strawberries in the middle. It was so tasty- I may have had two pieces!

Also, we have spent sometime hanging with friends.

It was the weekend before last, I went out with the girls to check out the bar scene in downtown Naperville because that is where we are planning on have Anna's bachelorette party. Even though we didn't stay out too late (and I was very tried- I hate working on Saturdays), it was a good time!

Additionally, Sam and I caught a mid-week dinner with Katie! I realize now that I very few pictures with my college roomie... this one is almost 8 years old!

And this weekend we got to spent sometime visiting with our buddy Chris! He is always a good time to hang out with and we love having him as a house guest.

However, I'm excited for what April will bring because the plans that are already in place. These include more visiting with family...

We have a trip to Michigan planned so I can see my family. Our visit includes see Baby Sherman, all my grandparents, and much of my extended family!

(Isn't her St. Pat's Day outfit just too adorable!)

And toward the end of the month Sam will become the "Godfather" of this cutie! So at my husband will be "The Godfather of Brooklyn". If that isn't true Italian mafioso sounding, I'm not sure what is.  

Finally, hopefully April will see a lot more blog action! I miss writing, sharing, and saving my memories of this adventure called "life". Even when life doesn't seem very exciting, it's these smaller moments that really makes your life worth living!

Oh Mexico! Part 3

So we have come to the final chapter of our Mexican adventure. Just in case you missed out on anything, you can check out Part 1 here and Part 2 here.

As the week was starting to come to a close, I was finally getting into the vacation routine. Wednesday (day 5) started with a lazy morning by the pool trying to stay out of the sun being that I got fried on the catamaran trip.

 

Later that evening, we took in another one of the hotel shows. 

 

 

 After the show, we went back to our "meat buffet" one more time before then enjoying many rounds of "Cards Against Humanity".  Being that this was going to be the last night that all 11 of us, we wanted some time to just hang out as a group and have a laid back night.

 

Thursday marked the final full day in Cancun, so I wanted to make sure I got in my last bit of sun before heading back home to the cold and ice. 

However, mother nature said "No!" and the rain just came down in buckets. What to do on a rainy day while on vacation? Answer- Nap. I love me a vacation nap because there is no real reason to not to. 

I'm glad I did get that nap because with this group of friends, we were going to be ending this vacation on a high note.

At dinner, long islands were ordered and consumed which is a dangerous way to start off a night. If I was going to add a caption to the picture below- it would be over Sam's head in a thought bubble that would read: "F*** y** Joel! Shh...this is going to get interesting."

 

This was just the start off many more drinks to come throughout the night. After dinner we made a short pit stop for a drink and some salsa dancing, before we headed to our final location- "Kinky Night Club".

At this bar, Joel made friends with the bartender (like he does everywhere he goes) so there were three set of shots done within the first 15 minutes of us being at the bar.

Thanks Joel! Once we were all feeling good, it was time to get our dance on! 

That dancing may have included me... a on stage... by myself... practicing my burlesque moves- I mean we were at a bar called Kinky- so why not. Oh the things you do with some liquid courage. However, I'm a white girl who just thinks she has some dance skills... I'm just glad the video that was taken is not being shared publicly because I would be rudely mistaken on my level of "skills" that I don't really have. 

It wouldn't be a vacation without a picture like this! You know it's been a good night when someone decides that laying on the ground is a better idea than walking across the resort to their bed.

Getting up the next morning wasn't very fun, but it was nice to get to spend a little more time with our friends before parting our own ways. All and all, it was another great trip with some awesome friends and many new memories that will last a life time!