21 Weeks

How far along:  21 weeks.

Gender: Girl!
Belly button in or out:  Barely hanging onto any innie that is left.

Maternity clothes:  Definitely going to have to break out the maternity shirts soon.  Some of my regular ones are starting to get too short and it looks a little bit ridiculous.

Stretch marks:  Nothing yet.
Sleep:  Sleep wasn't great this week, although I think it was more so because we were all sick.  Plus the added excitement of settling into our house!
Best moment of the week:  We were able to make some good progress in the living room and playroom this weekend, which feels so good.  There's still lots left to do, but just the fact that our living room doesn't have a single toy in it to step on is like a dream come true! ;)

Miss anything:  A good night's sleep.  I'm really hoping these were our last colds of the season.
Movement:  Baby girl's been really great at keeping me company in the middle of the night when I can't sleep.  I'm hoping that's not any indication of her sleep schedule when she's born. :)

Cravings:  Ice cold water, fruit and any kind of sweets!
Queasy or sick:  Feeling good.

Looking forward to:  Going through all of Ellie's teeny tiny baby clothes to put away in Willow's room!  I really don't need much (or anything) but grabbed a couple new things on super sale this weekend and can't wait to add them to the collection!  I'm sure 90% of Ellie's baby clothes have spit-up stains on them, so I figured a couple new things wouldn't hurt. ;)

Home Sweet Home

We have finally actually moved into our new house this week and of course are all kinds of excited about it!  We still have tons of boxes to unpack (remembering what and where we packed things over a month ago isn't the easiest) and lots of settling in to do, but it just feels good to be at this point.

All three of us are feeling a little under the weather, which isn't exactly making the unpacking process any easier.   Ellie seems to only want to sleep if she's being held, which of course means she has parked herself in our bed for the time being.  But, I never say "no" to cuddling a sick baby... plus, we still haven't located our baby monitor and her room is still very much a work in process.

Speaking of her room, the trim is kind of close to being done, hopefully within the next week we will have it painted too.  There's just so much to get done around here, it's a little overwhelming!  We decided on pink walls (Light Quartz by Benjamin Moore) and I think it's going to look really cute.  The trim is also BM, and after staring at all very similar but completely different at the same time white paints, Tyler threw in the towel and let me choose. ;)  I went with Chantilly Lace, and now that he sees it in person, he loves it just as much as I do!  Here's a peek (before and in process) at what we've done so far with Ellie's new room - these aren't the greatest pictures but it really helps brighten up the space!

We're really happy with how it's coming out so far and would love to do all the trim in the house eventually.  It looks like we'll have plenty of paint left over to do Willow's room too, so that would be next on our list! :)

While it looks a little bit like a bomb went off in our house right now, I'm trying to enjoy the process of getting settled in, reorganizing, finding new places for all of our things and hopefully de-cluttering a bit.  It's still a little surreal to me that we are here, that our girls will get to grow up in the house that I did, and that the house that we have loved forever is ours.  We're finally home sweet home and couldn't be happier.

20 Weeks

How far along:  20 weeks.

Gender: GIRL!
Belly button in or out:  Still half and half.

Maternity clothes:  Same as before, although I think I only wore actual pants (not leggings) once this past week, oops.

Stretch marks:  Nothing yet.
Sleep:  Still pretty sore some mornings, but others I am fine.  Knocking on all the wood, I haven't really had any trouble sleeping just yet.
Best moment of the week:  Finding out we have another healthy baby girl on the way!!! The ultrasound was definitely the best one I've had to date.  The woman who did it was super thorough, explained exactly what she was looking at (using lots of medical terminology I will probably never remember), why she was looking at it, and confirmed that each and every bone and organ is growing exactly as they should be along the way! :) She also went for the most exciting part first, which was a total surprise to me since I had to wait until the very end to find out with Ellie.

Miss anything:  Not really this week, too much excitement I think! :)
Movement:  Yes!  Apparently the current positioning of baby and placenta means I will likely be feeling a lot more movement on the sides rather than in the middle, which has definitely been the case.  Side note: I think just hearing the word "placenta" makes Tyler cringe after seeing that bad boy first hand after Ellie was born - it's not so pretty from what I hear. ;)

Cravings:  Really not too picky, but fruit, sweets, cereal & Italian food all sound especially good to me.
Queasy or sick:  Feeling good.

Looking forward to:  It's finally move-IN week for us this week!!! Being able to get settled into our new house with all our own stuff is going to be quite the process, but we are obviously very excited at this point.  Also looking forward to getting this chalkboard hung on the wall so I can hopefully get some better pictures!  Big sister's doodling is getting a little out of control.

Last Wednesday was the official halfway mark of this pregnancy, but my gut tells me we had already passed that milestone by that point (based on past experience, of course).  I kind of can't believe we're already halfway to meeting our little girl!  This time around, I am definitely feeling less rushed to get to the finish line.  I'm sure I'll be singing a different tune come May, but for now I'm just enjoying this experience and look forward to "baking" our little baby for the next few months! :)

It's a GIRL!!!

I am SO excited to share that baby number two is a GIRL!!!!!!

I was a little surprised when we heard the news, but it was very clear to see up on the screen and we found out almost immediately during my ultrasound this morning.  I totally teared up a bit when the tech told Ellie that she was in fact getting a baby sister!  So much excitement!!

Having a sister of my own, I was definitely hoping that Ellie would have a sister too one day.  Ellie and baby sis will be almost exactly the same age difference apart that my sister and I are.  I know they will be the best of friends and cannot wait to watch them grow up together! :)  I'm also looking forward to getting to reuse Ellie's wardrobe - even the sizes and seasons will match up almost exactly!  Of course I'm excited to pick up a few fun, new things for baby girl, but it's nice to have a ton of clothes (and headbands!) ready to go already.  I already told Tyler that this means I have an excuse to continue buying all the cute things for Ellie since we know for sure they will all get handed down now - I'm really buying them for TWO little girls. ;)  Also, bring on ALL the coordinating sister outfits!!

I feel like knowing the gender makes the pregnancy feel so much more real, if that makes sense.  It's nice to know a little bit more about the baby growing in my belly and hearing that she is growing just as she should be feels like the biggest blessing.  We're so happy and cannot wait to meet our newest baby girl in the spring!

I know some people choose not to name their children until they're born or maybe choose to keep their names a secret until then, but this mama cannot handle that kind of secret (surprises aren't exactly my thing)!  Baby girl number two is Willow Grey Noel, a name that Tyler and I both absolutely love and agreed on almost immediately.  We've already been busy trying to get Ellie to call her baby sis "Lo" - she seems to be on board with it too! ;)

"He stood back and told the boys I'm 'bout to rock your world, and God made girls."

We love you so much already, baby girl!!

19 Weeks

How far along:  19 weeks.

Gender: Can't believe we are finally finding out this week!!  We're still guessing boy.  Why?  Because we can't picture us winding up with all girls (although I totally wouldn't mind that), and since Ellie was obviously not the boy we thought we were having, this one has to be a boy... right? ;)  The old wives tales are all over the place, heart rate has varied significantly, etc., so I'm not placing any bets on those.  I know a lot of ladies feel differently when they're pregnant with a girl vs a boy, I've felt almost identical to when I was pregnant with Ellie, so who knows!  Tyler and I agree that we will feel surprised no matter what the tech tells us, if that makes sense. :)

Belly button in or out:  Still half and half.

Maternity clothes:  Same as before. I ordered a couple new things, including a non-maternity open cardigan (can definitely be worn throughout the entire pregnancy!) that I'm super excited to get in the mail this week.

Stretch marks:  Nothing yet.
Sleep:  Sore hips/legs/butt leave me feeling like an old lady some mornings.  Looking forward to breaking out my body pillow... as soon as we unpack it.
Best moment of the week:  Closing on our new house!!!

Miss anything:  Waking up without feeling like an old lady?
Movement:  Yes.  Some days are definitely quieter than others, although I usually only notice it when I'm sitting quietly (so, not a whole lot during the day with Ellie) - I'm sure there's a whole lot of movement that I'm not even noticing.

Cravings:  Hmm everything?!  I've definitely been eating more cereal lately than I usually do.
Queasy or sick:  Feeling good.

Looking forward to:  Finding out the gender of course!! :)  I'll be back later this week to share our news!

Ellia's Toddler Room Plans + Inspiration

It seems like it's been just about the longest time coming ever, but we are finally getting ready to get started on Ellie's toddler room and I can't wait!  I want to create a space that she will enjoy playing in (and sleeping in), and something that she can grow with over the next few years... or whenever she starts to tell me what she really wants her own room to look like. ;)  I am thinking lots of pink with some floral accents, plenty of space for her favorite books + babies (including her beloved piggy rocker, Penelope), and a mix of old + new things.  Here are some specifics, including that light that's currently on the wish list end of things, but I know Ellie (and I) would go bananas over!

flower pillow // book shelf // E print // bed frame // crystal light // tuffet // paint color // piggy rocker // basket (old from Target)

We'll be starting Ellie off in her crib for now, but plan to try moving her to a twin bed in a couple months.  I suppose we're going to be "evicting" her a little bit because we don't want to get another crib for baby number two only to have Ellie decide after one week she's all set with hers.  We'd probably be moving her around the time she turns two anyway, so it just kind of makes sense and we want to give her a little time to adjust before baby comes.  I honestly have no idea how the move will go over.  I mean, she's slept in our bed enough to know what sleeping in a bed is all about, but I guess we really won't know until we give it a try!  We're bypassing the "toddler beds" and moving her straight to a twin bed, which she will likely stay in until she moves out like I did.  I mentioned this back in the fall, but we found her a vintage twin bed frame on Craiglist that I'm really excited about.  I love the Jenny Lind beds but they're a little bit more money than we were looking to spend.  Ellie's has a similar look and we plan on giving it a little makeover before she's ready to use it! :)

I'm not positive on the paint color for the room, we'll be getting some samples this week to try out our favorites but are definitely thinking a super light pink.  The carpeting in Ellie's room is a purple-y color, so we need to pick something that doesn't clash.  We will likely replace the carpeting down the road, but 1.) it's not in the budget right now, 2.) I don't think it's the smartest thing to put brand new carpeting in the snack (and spill) queen's room, and 3.) it's actually still in pretty good shape.  I'm hoping the color combo doesn't make it look too much like a Barbie Dream Home, but had my heart set on pink for awhile now!  I'll be grabbing a super light grey sample as well just in case. :)

Ellie's new room will be quite a bit bigger than her room in our old house, which makes me so happy.  She'll have tons more closet space, a window bench reading nook (my favorite part of her room!) and plenty of room to potentially share with a baby sister down the road. ;)  I know it will be a work in progress for a little while, but I can't wait to see how it all comes together!!  Follow along on Pinterest for tons more ideas + inspiration!

18 Weeks

How far along:  18 weeks.

Gender: The suspense is pretty much killing me at this point.

Belly button in or out:  Still half and half.

Maternity clothes:  Sweatpants + leggings have definitely been my friends! ;)

Stretch marks:  Nothing yet.
Sleep:  Not bad, just the usual Ellie early morning wake-up calls.
Best moment of the week:  It was a pretty quiet week, so just enjoying this time with my big girl who seems to be growing by the second!  I can't even imagine how big she will seem once the baby is here.

Worst moment of the week:  Realizing how horrible this sweater looks and how it should probably end up in the trash?  Kidding, kind of.  Really there's not much I can complain about right now - we're living a pretty good life over here. :)
Miss anything:  I've already found myself getting short of breath from doing pretty much nothing.  Seems way too early for all that.
Movement:  Slowly feeling more and more.  Felt some more defined movements (knees or elbows possibly?), not just quick kicks!

Cravings:  Adding ice water + coffee this week.  Coffee not because of the taste but because the one cup a day allowance disappears out of my cup way too quickly.
Queasy or sick:  Had the tiniest hint of heartburn this week, something I haven't experienced since I was pregnant with Ellie.  Just a preview of what's to come in the upcoming months I'm sure!

Looking forward to:  Still have to say finding out the gender.  We're picking out paint for Ellie's room and I almost forgot we'll have two rooms to decorate so soon!! :)

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday!! It seems like these days home with Ellie totally make the week fly by, but I'm obviously not complaining one bit! :)

With the new year comes all new things on the shelves and everything is just. so. pretty.  I've been busy searching for some good deals for our new house and really love everything at Target right now.  Our budget is definitely tight, but there are a few things we would like to get to refresh things a bit.  We grabbed this lamp last weekend for our living room (I am usually not a fan of brass, but this was an exception!) and I love these lamps as well.  Also loving the new faux fur pillows, but it seems as though Tyler might actually hate them a little bit so we will see who wins that battle. :)

I spotted some new Cat & Jack items on the Target shelves too last week and this tutu is adorable!  Ellie seems to love it just as much as I do, but fair warning, the gold glitter does seem to leave a trail wherever she goes.  Turns out Cat & Jack boy stuff might be equally as cute as the girls.  You know we are already pretty convinced baby number two is a boy so I spent a solid hour looking at baby boy clothes the other night - no, I didn't actually buy anything, just in case! ;)  These little newborn hats will definitely be on my list though!

Not sure why I even bother looking at anything non-maternity right now, but this off the shoulder top is really cute and perfect for the spring weather that's practically right around the corner... right?  Most wishful thinking ever as the thermometer says it's a whopping 26 degrees out right now.

If you're in the market for some new bows, Dear Grace and Parker is having a dollar bow sale through Sunday (or while they last!).  Adorable bows in pretty much every solid color under the sun for just $1 each!

A new recipe to try, these chili pot pies seem like they'd be especially yummy on a cold winter night.  Plus, they're just really cute.

Lastly, this face that I cannot get enough of.  I can hardly believe that she will be TWO in less than four months.  Soaking up these sweet, silly moments as best I can!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

New Year Thoughts

The few months after the holidays have never been my favorite, but I'm actually looking forward to them this year - starting off with January, which will be exciting for us in more ways than one!

Next week, we will not be "homeless" anymore when we sign the paperwork and make our new home officially ours!  My parents have been so good to us and made it more than easy to adjust living with them for this in-between period, but of course we are all looking forward to having our own space back.  While we technically moved a couple weeks ago, we have unpacked maybe half a dozen boxes since living with my parents means we haven't needed much other than our clothes and some of Ellie's favorite toys.  That being said, we will probably be spending the rest of the month slowly unpacking and getting settled into our new place.  I really want to focus on getting Ellie's room set up and complete, so I think that's first on our list!  I've been collecting inspiration for quite some time now, so I'm excited to see how it all comes together and will definitely share more soon. :)

The following week, we will be finding out if baby number two is a boy or a girl!!  Aside from the actual birth day and finding out that I'm pregnant in the first place, I'd say finding out the gender is probably the most exciting day of the entire pregnancy. Tyler took the day off from work so he can be there again as he was when we found out with Ellie and we have both really been looking forward to it for awhile now.  It's likely the only doctor's appointment Tyler will come to during this pregnancy (which I'm more than okay with), but that means it's extra special for him to be there and be a part of the whole experience - finding out the gender and seeing our baby wiggle around on the screen! :)  I'm also looking forward to doing a little new wardrobe shopping, assuming baby is actually a boy like we are predicting! ;)

I don't really have any earth-shattering resolutions to share, but there are some things I'd like to focus on more and accomplish.  I'd really like to be better at meal planning and mixing in some new recipes.  I am totally the person who thinks of something to make for dinner only to realize that I'm missing half of the ingredients, so the whole meal planning part is definitely going to be key for me.  Theoretically, I think it will be a little bit easier not working and having the extra time at home to do this... right?? :)  I'd also like to focus on being more present, really enjoy the last few months as a family of three and take better care of myself and all of us - you know, all the cliché kinds of things. ;) 

2017 is going to be an exciting year for us and I hope you enjoy following along!  Happy New Year!!

17 Weeks

Chalkboard done with assistance from big sis, can you tell? :)

How far along:  17 weeks. Technically 17 weeks 5 days at this point, but who's counting? ;)

Gender:  Still thinking boy.  Almost everyone was guessing girl at first, but it seems like we are getting more boy guesses lately!  We will find out soon and cannot wait.

Belly button in or out:  Playing halfsies most of the time - top out, bottom in.

Maternity clothes:  Been on the hunt for a good pair of maternity jeans that won't break the bank.  My go-to is Old Navy but there is absolutely nothing in my size and there hasn't been for the past couple months - recommendations are welcome!!

Stretch marks:  Nothing yet.
Sleep:  Sleeping with a stuffy nose this week was tough, but I'm finally feeling better.
Best moment of the week:  Another doctor's appointment confirming all looks good with baby (and me)!  Heartbeat was at 136 this time and hearing it again was so nice.

Worst moment of the week:  Definitely just being sick.  Trying to keep up with Ellie is so much harder, but having a few extra sets of helping hands in the house was much appreciated!
Miss anything:  Any extra energy I might have had before I got pregnant.
Movement:  Yes!! Some stronger kicks that even Tyler could feel.  I looked back to when I was pregnant with Ells and that happened around 19 weeks last time, so definitely a little earlier and I'm not complaining! The best. :)  

Cravings:  Pizza, ice cream, candy, yogurt, fruit, peanut butter.
Queasy or sick:  Feeling good.

Looking forward to:  Finding out if baby is a boy or a girl.  My next appointment cannot come soon enough!!

I do realize these pictures aren't the greatest lately.  We have no idea where the hardware to hang the chalkboard is, no idea where I want to hang it yet and currently no room to hang it. I'm just happy to get the pictures taken at all at this point, but soon enough we'll be back in business around here! :)