Memorial Day Weekend Recap & 20 Week Bumpdate

What a wonderful Memorial Day weekend we had!  We had OUTSTANDING weather and literally spent as much time outdoors as we could!  Unfortunately we didn't make it to the zoo like we were hoping, but we definitely indulged in several BBQs, spent time playing and running around outside, went to a carnival, and even snuck in some baby pool time! :)  It was a wonderful weekend.  Here are some picture highlights!    

Evie running around with kiddos at our local Horse racetrack!

Evie loving the carousel at the Memorial Day weekend carnival!

Playing with her new Sand & Water table!  It was a hit!

Meeting her boyfriend (Baby AJ) over brunch on Memorial Day

Pool fun!!

 

And also, here's my 20 week bumpdate (I'll try to start posting pics next week!):  
 

How Far Along: 20 weeks

Size of Baby:  Baby is around 10 1/2 ounces and measures around 6.5 inches from head to bottom - about the size of a banana!

Gender: I have my 20 week ultrasound today...in just a few hours!  So my next post will most likely be a gender announcement!  Stay tuned! :)

Weight Gain: I actually have been avoiding the scale like the plague.  I'll find out today though at the doctor office!

Symptoms:  Feeling good!  Second trimester is my friend!

Food Cravings/Aversions: I've been craving ice cream like crazy.  Rainbow Sherbert especially.  MmmmmMMmmm.

Movement:  Definitely alot more movement, especially after I indulge in some sugary goodness. ha.

Sleep:  I've been raving about how great sleep has been, so, of course, the last couple nights I've been tossing and turning.  My belly has definitely popped out and it's making sleep a little less comfortable these days.

Maternity Clothes: Definitely made the switch to maternity wear and elastic waistbands. 

What I Miss:  Lately, caffeine.  I went to Dunkin Donuts a few times in the last week and really wanted an Extra Large super-caffeinated iced coffee.  

Best Moment this week:  Spending time with my family and knowing that next Memorial Day, we will have a 7 month old!  Crazy to think! :)

Looking Forward To:  Finding out the gender!  I've been counting down to this day since I first learned I was pregnant!  I really can't wait to find out so that I can start planning the nursery and shopping! :)

 

Five on Friday

It's Friday!!!  I hope everyone has wonderful Memorial Day weekend plans.  I certainly am looking forward to the extra time off to spend with family...and it doesn't hurt to have a lovely weather forecast to look forward to!  Today the company I work for is hosting a Memorial Day weekend kick-off summer picnic at our local race track!  I'm looking forward to taking Evie and showing her the horsies! ;)  In a fun Friday spirit, I thought I'd link up with the "Five on Friday" crowd.

ONE

We are SUPER excited  to be going to see Disney on Ice: Frozen!  The show is not until January here in Chicago, but we have bought are tickets and will be sitting on pins and needles waiting for the date to arrive! 

TWO

With warmer weather, I've been looking for some fun new toys to add to Evie's collection and this sand and water table seems to fit the bill!   It just arrived in the mail yesterday and I can't wait to set it up and see Evie's face light up in joy!

THREE

A trip to the zoo!  We are hoping to get in a trip to the zoo this weekend.  It's been about a year since we've taken Evie and it should be a lot more fun to take her this time, when she'll actually be able to name some of the animals!

FOUR

I'm extremely excited for my Peonies to be growing in my garden!  May/June are peak Peony season...my FAVORITE flower!  I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a beautiful bloom of peonies in my garden soon!

FIVE

Looking forward to my doctor appointment next week, where we will find out the gender of baby #2!!  I CAN'T WAIT to find out! :)

 

Family celebrations and 19 week bumpdate!

Happy Tuesday everyone!  Who, like me, is already counting down to the long weekend?!  I am super excited about the extra family time a long weekend brings, and of course the BBQs, ice cold drinks, and outdoor time!  We have been super busy lately with family events.  We had a wedding 2 weeks ago and a first communion celebration this past weekend.  Here are some pictures from the celebration.  Evie had an absolute BLAST running around and dancing to the music the DJ was playing.  There were a ton of kids and the DJs really catered to them.  All the kids got glow necklaces and bracelets, which just added to the fun nature of the event.  It was really great seeing her have so much fun.  It makes me a little less nervous about signing her up for daycare later this summer.  Since we have baby #2 on the way, we decided to take some of the burden off the grandparents (who will hopefully help look after the baby once I return to work after maternity leave), and put Evie in a daycare 3 days a week to start.  We did some visits to different places and found one place that we really love and think she will thrive in!  Hopefully it will be great for her to interact more with other kids too!     

 

We've had some up and down weather forecasts in the Midwest recently, so this past weekend was a bit chilly.  Regardless, we decided to take our usual Saturday trip to the park down the street.  How cute are Evie and daddy holding hands crossing the street?!  I couldn't resist snapping this shot. :)     

  I've also been slacking off on posting bumpdates!  Here's my 19 week bumpdate:  
 

How Far Along: 19 weeks

Size of Baby:  Baby is the size of an heirloom tomato!

Gender: We find out next week!!!  I can't wait to share with you all :)

Weight Gain: Still hovering around 5 lbs.  I think I've actually lost some weight!  I'm sure I'll start gaining like crazy soon enough.

Symptoms:  Nothing major to report - feeling pretty good! 

Food Cravings/Aversions: Chocolate cravings are in full swing.  Chocolate milk, chocolate candy, chocolate anything for me really! ha.

Movement:  I've felt some definite flips and turns lately!  Baby seems to be quite the acrobat!

Sleep:  Sleeping really well lately and also going to bed around 9pm every night.  Old lady much??! ;)

Maternity Clothes:  I can still fit in to most of my jeans but they are getting uncomfortable so I have definitely pulled out the maternity stuff.  I can't wait to live in elastic waistbands. ha.

What I Miss:  Definitely indulging in a glass of wine.  With the recent wedding and communion we were at, I was so wanting to drink a bottle glass of wine. 

Best Moment this week:  Feeling a very prominent flip by the baby during a stressful day at work.  It immediately put a smile on my face. :)

Looking Forward To:  Finding out the gender next week!  Boy or girl, I can't wait to finally know.  I'm sure it will help strengthen the bond with this little baby and make me even more excited for October to get here!

 

Mother's Day Weekend

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day weekend!  Us moms truly have one of the toughest jobs on the planet.  We literally put our blood, sweat, and tears into raising our little ones!  Although we definitely deserve more than just one day of praise, I'm glad to know that Mother's Day exists as a day when the ones we love most can set aside some time to appreciate everything a mother does!

I think many of us have dreamed of being a mom and having a family since we were little girls.  I remember skipping around the house as a little girl with my dolls, playing pretend that they were my daughters.  

It's really amazing to think back at how life has changed since becoming a mom.  I read a great article today about how sometimes it even leads to your friends thinking you're an asshole!  See article here.  It makes me sad, because really you're just trying to balance it all!  It definitely isn't easy and doesn't come with a manual!  Hopefully I'm doing an ok job. :)  

My husband and daughter made sure I had a great Mother's Day.  We started our weekend with a wedding celebration!  My good friends Robert and Agnieszka finally tied the knot and we enjoyed their beautiful wedding on Saturday.  We took Evie along and she had a blast running around the dance floor, chasing the other kids, and even busting a few moves when the band started playing!  It was a fun night for sure!

On Sunday morning my husband and Evie surprised me with some super adorable freshly-picked tulips from our garden.  I loved the fact that my husband took her outside and they picked the tulips together.  I also received the absolute sweetest little kiss from Evie.  Honestly, that's all any momma needs on Mother's Day. :)

To top it all off, we had some beautiful weather on Mother's Day weekend, which meant lots of fun outdoor time with the family!  I do love Chicago, but am ready for some consistent temps so that we can plan even more outdoor activities in coming weeks. 

Traveling with a Toddler - Our Family Vacation to Florida

Traveling with a toddler can be a scary thought for most parents, especially first-time parents.  Thus was the case with us.  We have been wanting to take a family vacation for quite a while, but were nervous about taking Evie on an airplane.  I did not want to be "those parents" on the plane with a screaming child.  Nontheless, when we learned baby #2 was on its way we decided that we would bite the bullet and try to squeeze in a family trip before I get too pregnant to travel and while we could take advantage of the "free to fly under 2" deal.  Speaking of which, I know that lap infants on airplanes can be a controversial subject, so I won't go there.  Ultimately we decided we were comfortable with having Evie be on our laps vs. getting her her own seat.  Mainly because we know she is just way to fidgety to stay in a seat for 2 1/2 hours.  

Long story short, our airplane experience was great!  Evie slept for half of our flight and we kept her entertained with books, snacks, and toys the remaining time.  She was a trooper and made it on the way there and back with no tears!  If I had to share some tips with parents looking to travel with a toddler it would be these:

• Pack plenty of snacks and drinks for the plane - lollipops are also magical! :)
• Bring some small toys, but not ones that could get lost easily.  Evie liked a small etch-a-sketch that we brought
• Fill your iPad or phone with some movies that your toddler will like
• If you're bringing a stroller and/or carseat, check these at the gate, not through regular baggage check
• Bring an extra pair of clothes in your carry-on in case of major spills
• If you can, book your seats in your own row  so that you don't have anyone else sitting with you.  We booked a 3-seat row so that me, my husband, and mom could all take care of Evie if she needed to move around
• Try to book your flight around a time when your little one might nap
• Most airlines will let people with children board first - this is good if the flight is full and you want to secure a good overhead compartment for your carry-on, but you might also want to board last to avoid being on the plane too long
• Be patient and don't stress - your little one will pick up on it!  

And there you have it.  My tips for airplane travel with a toddler.  I'm sure there are many things I have forgotten, but hopefully my experience makes you feel more comfortable about traveling with your toddler!  

Overall, we had an amazing time during our trip to Florida.  We visited the St. Pete Beach/Clearwater area and loved every minute.  We clocked in lots of beach time, a day at a water park in Orlando, several waterfront restaurants, a boat ride with dolphin sightings, and many beautiful sunsets.  I couldn't have hoped for a better trip!

I'll end this post with a few pictures from our glorious time in the sun...

Airplane family selfie ;)

It's the Little Things - Like a Tight Embrace

We're back from Florida and what a great trip it was!  I'll recap it all in the next post, but for now, I wanted to get in my Wednesday "Little Things" post.  There are so many little things I could post about but one thing stood out this week... 

I'm sure that by now most of you have heard about little Ryan's tragic story and have seen the #redballoonsforryan tags all over Instagram.  When I heard about this the other day, my heart just sank.  If you haven't heard, read the story here, but have some tissues handy.  No mother should ever have to lose a child and it broke my heart to read about what happened to Ryan.  With that said, I definitely held Evie a little tighter the last few days and promised myself to treasure ALL the little things and special moments we share together.  Life is short and you never know what God's plan is.   

Enjoying every little moment with Evie in Florida :)

  I wanted to dedicate this post and send all my love to the Saldana family.  Although I do not know them personally, I can't even begin to imagine the pain they are going through and am sending lots of love and prayers their way.  They lost a son, but Heaven definitely gained a beautiful little angel.