what I'm loving right now

Bubbly water. Seriously. Best beverage ever. 

Being brave at work and standing up for what is right. Because that always feels good. 

The free dresser sitting in my garage that will double as a changing table for the little squirmy that resides in my belly. It's going to be painted white. You know. To match the walls...

The list of meals for the week. It's so nice to feel semi-normal and have our menu back. 

The Ladydog that is extra cuddly to be home from being boarded over the weekend and her nicely clipped toenails. And the fact that I didn't have to partake in the clipping. 

The realization that I officially look pregnant and NOT like I have a beer belly anymore. 

All of the productive plans for the weekend regarding the nursery. 

Knowing that in just 3 weeks I can see the aforementioned squirmy again. 

Last weekend with Justin's family. It was wonderful. 

How hilarious is Sammy? She saw herself on the screen and took capturing this moment very seriously. 

Holy bump!

when you have a bad day.

Yesterday started out as a bad day.  I lost my work keys.  My whole water bottle poured out into my purse, making everything a big soggy mess.  Then work drove me crazy, the kids were crazy, the co-workers were crazy.  By the time I got home I was fed up.  I had been stressing all day which made me nauseous and then gave me a headache.  

Two things improved my day.  Thing number one was baked potato soup.  Nothing like baked potato soup to make your life better.  

And number two... My sisterfriend is pregnant!  She's due about 3 months after me.  Which means our babies will be the same distance apart in age as we are.  When she called to tell me I jumped around my whole house fist pumping and screaming.  

Courtnie and I do everything together.  It only makes sense that she'd be pregnant right now too.  I'm so excited I can barely stand it.

This is from freshman year in college, the same weekend we got tattoos.  Also it snowed buckets and she still drove down to see me.

My twenty-first birthday.  I'll never forget how this girl acts with a lemon drop and a glass of chianti in her system.  Hilarious.

Her wedding day.

My wedding day.

Soon to be posted: our brothers' weddings with our babies in tow.  Oh yay.

bedtime stories

Way back when I was in college.  And Justin was far away [either Montana or Wisconsin].  I stated to him one day, very matter-of-factly, "Justin, when I'm pregnant, you will read out loud to my belly.  You will read Harry Potter."  Mind you at this time we were not even engaged.  But you know what they say about love.  When you know, you know.

I said this because Justin has never read Harry Potter.  I know, shocking.  I married someone who has never ready any of the Harry Potter books.  Nor has he ever seen a whole Harry Potter movie.  Me, the girl that has read every Harry Potter book at least 10 times, and many more like 20.  Any time I'm going through a trying period, or feel lonely, or bored, or just have nothing better to read, or it's a warm summer night, or the list goes on.  Harry Potter is like going home.

Two nights ago we started reading to the baby because I read that at 16 weeks, the baby can start to hear dad's voice.  Surprisingly, after he got over how weird the character's names, I think Justin started to get interested in H.P.a.t.S.S.  I'm so proud.  He'd never admit it, but I know he's going to love it.

Another huge fan of bedtime stories you ask?  Of course it's the Ladydog.  Pit bulls love being read to, apparently.  She gets her blanket and gets all snuggled in and just sighs with happiness.

i'm having a hard time not buying this for the nursery...

found here

Because how perfect is it?!?  It's an elephant.  It's white.  There's nothing more I could ask for in the world when it comes to wall art.

oh by the way...

I've gained 13 pounds so far during this pregnancy. Let's do the math. For 2 weeks I wasn't technically pregnant so since falling pregnant, I've gained 0.93 pounds per week. At that rate, I'll gain 37 pounds during this pregnancy. But with the rate at which my hunger has increased, I'm predicting that number will be surpassed. 

But 37 pounds isn't freaking me out. My mom said my gram gained 50 when she was pregnant. And she smoked the whole time. So. Could someone bring me a snack? I'm starving. 

over the weekend

This weekend we went to Minnesota to stock up on maternity clothes and test drive strollers.  Important stuff, you know.  We also went to eat.  Pumpkin bars, rice and beans, nachos, BLTs, blueberry pancakes.  Yum.  Needless to say, baby went through a growth spurt.

Among the shopping and eating, there was also catching up with old friends and hanging out with family.  Plus a lot of relaxing.  To end the weekend, we got to have a midwife appointment today and heard the baby's heartbeat.  It was there!  Along with a few kicks and punches.  Plus I got to ask all my off the wall questions [freeze drying my placenta, deferring on the Hepatitis B vaccine, etc.]  My midwife did not look at me like I grew another head, she supported all of my decisions.  And that's why I prefer not to see medical doctors.

Pictures from the old iPhone:

Lady and Jasper trying to get along.  Not necessarily succeeding.  

Helping little brother sew a button back on his coat.

This is my beautiful friend Ashley cuddling my other beautiful friend Kelsey's beautiful daughter.  Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of Kels.  But how cute is little baby Addilae?

She fell asleep like this after being burped.  I must have the magic touch.  

In 6 months it'll be one of my own!  

16 week bump picture.  It's there.  Those are maternity pants.  Oh the relief!  I had no idea how uncomfortable regular pants were until I put on maternity pants.

on when I almost fainted in the Gap.

"I loved being pregnant" they say

"The nausea goes away at the end of the first trimester and then you forget all about it" they say

"I never felt more beautiful than when I was pregnant" they say

What they don't say? They don't say the nausea actually is still going fairly strong at 16 weeks with no end on the horizon. And there's no "boundless energy" either.  So far I don't super love being pregnant. I  cried for an hour the other day because I didn't feel well, and I was hot, and dizzy, and my belly hurt, and justin accidentally packed my lunch instead of his, and well, hormones. 

And I still have raging pregnancy acne. So, so much for the feeling beautiful part. The only glow my skin emits is from the radiating red pimples on my chin and jawline. Cute. 

Plus! I almost fainted in Gap maternity today. Seriously? I was asking them if they had any Always Skinny Jeans in stock and then I got too hot. And the walls started closing in. And then I had to leave, mid skinny jean conversation I said "I'm sorry I'm overheating bye" and started ripping of my clothes and purse and flinging them at my mom. In the middle of Gap. While the employee was still talking to me. I'm still not sure what my deal was. I had a scarf on and the mall was warm and I guess it was lunch time and I guess I was thirsty. But seriously, I'm not top notch at being pregnant. 

We did do a bang up job, however, at maternity clothes shopping. And why on earth don't they make all jeans this comfy? No buttons digging into your belly is amazing. Plus who heard of buying 4 things from h&m on a whim without trying it on and having 3 of the items fit? Luck baby. Pure luck. Plus we got a delicious lunch out of all of it. So all in all it was a good day. And we may have found our car seat and stroller? I'm exhausted now. Good news, we get BLTs for dinner. 

Jasper Lawrence Jones needing a snug. He's a needy bugger. 

fall weekend

It was one of those weekends where we did just enough to not feel like it was a complete waste, but not so much that we felt like slaves to the weekend.  We got a coat of paint in the nursery, then ran out of paint.  I love it already.  White was definitely the right choice.

Friday was pedicures and BLTs for supper.  Baby wanted a BLT, so baby had 3 over the course of the weekend.  Saturday we grocery shopped, painted, made apple crisp, J mowed [hopefully for the last time of the year], then we went to a friend's house for the Iowa vs. Iowa State game.  It was not a pretty sight.  None of us really cared, though, because the 15 month old kept us entertained by splashing in the dog water and dancing.  She also demanded that I share my apple crisp with her.  Apparently mine was better than everyone else's?

Today we went to church where we got soaked in a down pour.  So we came home and made french onion soup.  Perfect for fall.  Now there's stuffing and a chicken waiting to be put in the oven and potatoes waiting to be boiled and mashed for the epitome of a fall dinner.  Plus some apple crisp to polish off.  Let it be known that I have had more than Justin.  But I think the baby made me do it.

To cap off the wonderfulness of this weekend, I seem to be over the morning sickness hump.  I even forgot to take my Zofran this morning and haven't needed it yet.  That's not saying that I'm completely done being nauseous.  But it's definitely becoming less constant.  Thanks be to GOD!

iPhone evidence of the weekend.  Also known as, I need to charge both of my real cameras.

Lady having a lie in on Friday morning.  Waking up is hard.

One of my glorious BLTs.  Seriously delicious.

Lady wanted the BLT.  But didn't want to beg from the floor, so she tried the beg-from-the-couch method.  

The bump and I in our ISU attire.  Apparently it isn't a lucky shirt.  Also, let it be known; my pants are not buttoned in this picture.

my cluttered life [makeup edition]

So one of my favorite bloggers [Natalie Holbrook of course] is doing a lilash giveaway and OH MY GOSH!  How great would it be to not have to lie to my husband about how much I spent on my eyelashes, so I'll bite.

She posted lovely pictures of all of these classy, organized medicine cabinets.  Medicine cabinets with lotions that cost 300$ and up per bottle.  The most expensive thing in my possession I blogged about here.  $35 dollar toner to clear up this horrible hormonal acne, which, UPDATE: I think is working.  A little?

I think the way I store my makeup says something about my maturity level.  Namely that I still keep it in a bag so I can pick up and go home from college on the weekend [which hasn't happened in a while].  Old habits die hard, I guess.

So here it goes.  The bane of my husband's existence, and the shame of my organized neat-freak of a mother. 

The makeup bag that spills over onto the lovely retro 70's counter:

Burt's Bees Chapstick, Bare Minerals Primer [makes your foundation and concealers go on like buttah], Shiseido color control makeup stick [also genius], and 14 tubes of mascara ranging from bare minerals, to boots, to mabelline [great lash classic], to Mary Kay.  Plus of course, belly butter and the DERMAdoctor litmus test toner.  Some extra contacts.  Revlon Eyelash Curler [I swear the plastic ones work better than metal].  And an old cup of tea from a rushed morning of getting ready.  

Then the awkward, 70's next-to-the-mirror-cabinet-that-i-leave-open-and-husband-smacks-his-face-into-in-the-dark.  Which apparently isn't funny.  Even though I laugh every time.

Paul Mitchell Round Trip curl cream which I swear by.  Mousse [which I don't swear by, as long as it isn't Dove brand then it's fine], Cetaphil for the winter, 2 Degree 48 hour protection deodorants which are NECESSARY this summer.  And 2 because somedays I want to smell cotton fresh and others I'd rather be linen fresh.  Then Vaseline for everything from removing heavy amounts of eye make-up, to chapped lips.  That stuff is gold.  Husband has his own Vaseline for lubing up his baseball glove because no thank you I don't want baseball glove grime in my Vaseline [that happened once.]

Crossing my fingers....#heynataliejeanlilashgiveaway

things i'm loving

Today I've decided to try and be positive Positive POSITIVE
[name that movie...]
[[ha, the title totally pertains to my current situation]]

A list of the things I'm loving.

-Cake.  Right?
-I worked 7 hours today.  If I keep it up at this pace, I'll actually work ALL my hours this week.  Haven't accomplished that since June...
-If you visit the kitchen at work and chat up the lady in charge she pushes snacks upon you.  You want pears?  Here take 4 pear cups.  Pudding?  No?  An industrial size bag of black olives?  
-Pregnancy makes your nails crazy strong.  I haven't broken a nail in weeks.
-Country Fried Steak is for dinner!  Holla!
-It's supposed to be 66 degrees on Friday.  Helloooo fall!
-I think we found our church yesterday.  After almost two years of searching, I think we've done it.  We're going Lutheran people!
-I'm less nauseous than I was 3 weeks ago.  Thank you Jesus.  Let's get all the way un-naush please?
-I already mentioned the cake...

That's pretty good if you ask me.

Also, if the Texans defense could absolutely kick it in the bum tonight and score me 11 points then I would win my Fantasy Football game, and it's good luck to win your first game of the year so GO HOUSTON!

[Side note, I always want to call that team the Houstons instead of the Texans.  Ditz mode 1.0]

I swear it's bump and not bloat.

I'm off to enjoy a scoop of Cool Whip.  No judging.

sunday ramblings

I've decided to compile a list of all of the foods that Baby Gross hates:
-Hamburgers [which sucks, because I used to love them.]
-Walnuts
-Every other nut [unless it's in a protein bar]
-Vegetables [broccoli the most]
-Casseroles
-Enchiladas
-Chicken

And he/she is iffy about the following
-Raspberries
-Peanut butter
-Bacon

Foods that Baby G loves?
-CAAAKKEEE
-French Fries
-Fruity Pebbles...
-Hummus
-Black Olives
-Tomatoes
-Cake-like items

We have a questionable eater on our hands.

Burgers from our honeymoon.  They look horrible, but I'll take the fries...

Nachos for days.

Yes to fro-yo

Pumpkin Pie season is upon us people.

Sometimes I blog from my iPhone.

Because I have a migraine and I'm laying in bed. But sometimes I have very profound thoughts. I find them profound at least. 

For one, Ladydog was laying in bed with me and she was in a sound, sound sleep. Then she woke with a start, ran down stairs, and now I hear her squeaking her favorite toy [kong wubba]. Did she have a dream about it?  How specific are dog dreams? Last night she was growling in her dream. She isn't a growler. She barks at threats in her lovely pit bull rasp. But rarely growls. What was so sinister that it deserved two very throaty growls?

Secondly, I am shocked and amazed with the bipartisan agreement on the US involvement in Syria that is happening on my Facebook timeline. It's so refreshing that everyone should agree for once. The Syrian doctor I work with disagrees with my Facebook friends. Whatever happens, I pray it stops the turmoil. 

Finally, cravings. I was worried for a while that I wouldn't get those pregnancy cravings that everyone always talks about. Partially I wasn't having any due to the extreme nausea, and thankfully that is starting to wane, though it's still not gone. I can put my fears aside though because a couple weeks ago the cravings hit. Dill pickle flavored potato chips. And lemonade. Yum. I'm getting over that one, though, and starting to get an onslaught of new ones. Yesterday it was pancakes. A hundred million pancakes. Today? Today it is barbecue ribs, baked beans, and French fries from Disney's Animal Kingdom. Only there. Don't ask where that came from. But I need it! Too bad today is fajita day in the Gross household. 

If ribs could banish a migraine I'd be on my way to Orlando as we speak. 

This was the pancakes AFTER dinner. Justin asked me why I made so many. I don't know? The fetus wanted pancakes. 

Gluten free Pregnancy Craving Pancakes: 

2 cups of brown rice flour

1 cup of potato starch and tapioca flour combined [I ran out of potato starch but it was about half and half]

2 tsp baking powder

4 tsp sugar

2 eggs possibly 3 if your husband didn't buy jumbo like mine did. 

1/4 cup oil/butter

1 ripe banana [optional]

Milk of your choice to reach pancake consistency. 

This makes a huge batch. Good for company. A large family. Or a very demanding fetus. 

starburst candy corn and mascara

Now I shall document a hodge podge of things.

This post is dedicated to pregnancy hormones because they are evil.  They make me act a fool.  And they make my face resemble a pizza.

I found it necessary to partake in some retail therapy after my pregnancy hormones found it necessary to make me act like a raving lunatic.  So naturally, to the mall I went. 

I was browsing through the skincare section of Ulta, clearly on a mission and I was wearing my "excuse me, I need help as I aimlessly search the shelves face" when a lady walked up to me, touched my shoulder, and proceeded to tell me that she had the cure for me.  It helped her daughter with her acne.  Holy melt into the floor moment.  In my craziness, I did not stop to apply my normal layer of make up to hide this hideous pregnancy acne that I have developed and she zoned in on me.  My whole body blushed I was so embarrassed.  I didn't end up getting her miracle cure [a 0.25 ounce tube of acne treatment for $18.00], but I did finally find the stuff I was looking for.

I'm desperate at this point.  This is my face right now [sorry about this].

Horrible.

Aside from feeling disgusting, I'm in constant pain from the cystic acne that I've developed on my jaw line and chest.  I'm desperate for anything.  I've been using all natural products, but they aren't cutting it.  The hormones are too stubborn, especially for someone already prone to cystic acne.

So I'm trying DermaDoctor glycolic acid toner.  Which I've read about for pregnancy acne.  And it is safe for pregnancy.  Did you know salicylic acid isn't safe for pregnancy!?!

In other news, I bought starburst brand candy corn at Target.  We all know that starburst jelly beans are basically the nectar of the gods. This does not translate to candy corn.  Additional purchases include; gum [for nausea], mascara [for eyelashes], and Burts Bees Mama Bees Belly Butter [for mah belly].

Also I want popcorn.

basically I'm freaking out

I had my ideas for the nursery set in stone.  I was going to have white walls with grey polka dots, then splashes of chartreuse for an accent throughout the room.

photo originally found here.

Then ehh, maybe all grey walls with pale white polka dots.  

Then I realized my walls are far too heavily textured to ever achieve the perfect polka dot and I do not want to drive my poor pregnant self crazy.

So.  Scratch the polka dots.  We'll do grey walls with one accent wall of chartreuse.  Paint colors were picked out.  Everything was good to go.  Until Justin said "let's go get paint then."

*cue brakes coming to a screeching halt*

All of the sudden I hate grey walls.  They depress me.  The oppress me.  The just mess with me.  No grey.  No chartreuse.  I just want white.

"White?"  he says.  "You know we're only doing this once."

More panic.  Do I want white?  Do I want a color?  Will I change my mind once every 3 weeks for the next 27 weeks making 9 total nursery decoration changes?

I consulted my pinterest "For when I have a squishy babe" pin board.  I definitely want white walls.  Then I did something stupid.  I consulted the website Houzz.  Ridiculously amazing nurseries.  And I saw it.  The one. After much research, and a conversation with Justin about how he can either know the price, or just be blissfully unaware and I'll be happy.  He chose blissfully unaware.  I think?  Anyways.  White walls, with an accent of THIS:

photo originally from here.

So cute.  Gender neutralish... If I have a girl I'll add some girlish accents and presto.  Plus, I would have loved it as a little girl.  The elephants!  The birds!  The lambs!

White paint is bought.  Carpet is shampooed.

That's the plan.  This week.

Here is my inspiration picture.

Contemporary Kids by Toronto Interior Designers & Decorators Dvira - Interior Design Toronto