for the love of july : February 2016

Friday, February 26, 2016

20 weeks

How far along? 20 weeks! half way there! (give or take a couple weeks/days)

Total weight gain: 13 pounds

Maternity clothes? no.. but I have got to get myself into some maternity jeans. and soon! the hair elastic trick is beginning to be less comfortable

Stretch marks? same as weeks prior and still using Palmer's Cocoa Butter and this essential oil prenatal balm after showers.

Sleep: so good! for me that is :) with Harper being sick this last week, we've had nights with her up.. but the last two nights she has been back to sleeping through the night and this mama is loving her rest!

Best moment this week: Brandon and I were out doing some errands and just chatting about new baby to come, and he said, "ya know, I'm actually looking forward to having a newborn again." talk about making my heart so happy! I just looove having a newborn. it's one of the things I am most looking forward to. to know he is looking forward to it too makes me love this man (who is an awesome daddy!) just that much more :)

Worst moment this week: Harper being sick :( breaks my heart seeing her that way. BUT so thankful she is being herself more and more now.
Current symptoms: I've been e x t r a thirsty lately! which of course then means more trips to the potty :) congestion is ongoing (and has been), so I keep the humidifier by my bedside and run it every night. I had the same thing with congestion all throughout my pregnancy with Harper too. other than that, symptoms are very limited! there are times I don't even feel pregnant. I'm going to hold on it while it lasts, because it won't be this way for too much longer I'm sure of that!
Miss anything? hard pear/apple cider on these sunny days we've been having and a cold turkey sandwich!

Movement: sure thing! I feel more movement with him than I did with Harper (however, she wasn't a huge mover). not sure yet if that's due to second pregnancy or if he is just more active. we will see in the weeks to come!

Food cravings: really, nothing lately! I was just telling Brandon how different this is with this pregnancy. with Harper I was all for the sweets. ice cream. brownies. fruit. lately I've had the same preferences as I normally do when not pregnant. if anything, I have less interest in foods. unless of course we're talking potato chips + sour cream ranch dip :)

Looking forward to: going to Sip and Savor on Sunday evening! it is so refreshing and uplifting to my soul!

Xoxo

-Brittney

follow along on instagram @brittneyhjelseth

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

all aboard... the crazy train!

where oh where has life taken me lately.

since the day we got back from vacation - a week ago already! (a belated post to come on our trip) it's like I've been on the crazy train and can't decide if time has drug on or flown by. You know that feeling?!

and for everything that has been packed into it, it has felt like such a blur.

somewhere in this last week I've traveled back home from the vacay, unpacked and gotten the house back in (some) order, had a sick/teething toddler (which is still ongoing - and quite honestly the most exhausting part), a midwife check up, an ultrasound on baby boy, a celebratory birthday brunch, and hosting supper club. just crazy! (so clearly no 19 week bump update!) and saying it all, makes me feel like the last week has been more like a month long.

so back to that sick/teething toddler...
during the last couple days of our sunny getaway to Palm Desert, CA, Harper was going through some teething discomfort.
drooling + fingers in her mouth.
her back mollars have been slowly working their way on and off over the past month.
well... things started seeming just 'different' with her a few days ago and we decided to take her in to the pediatrician. and well and behold, she has a throat infection. explains why my big eater suddenly hasn't wanted to eat anything!
so we're still on the mend from that and it has been so hard for me to be couped up in the house with this gorgeous sunny weather we've been having this week! but mama duties call first :) and there's no other place I would be than with her.

well, we're midweek now and here's to hoping by the weekend/before this nice weather ends (!) we are back to normal around here!
but hey- on the positive note- with a new baby on the way, this only preps us for a life that is going to continue to get crazier and crazier.

Happy hump day!!

Xoxo

-Brittney

Saturday, February 13, 2016

18 weeks

How far along? 18 weeks + 1 day

Total weight gain: 10 pounds

Maternity clothes? not yet - but my options are getting smaller and smaller on which clothes from my closet that fit well.

Stretch marks? none from this pregnancy yet

Sleep: I sleep good and hard at night. Out like a light!

Best moment this week: easy. starting Palm Desert vacation!

Worst moment this week: Harper throwing up all over me, herself, and the entire IN-N-OUT restaurant! More on that to come... stay tuned! ;)
Current symptoms: this past week I've really been feeling my sciatic wanting to flare up. I had the absolute worst pain from it when I was pregnant with Harper - to the point where I couldn't walk. Trying to stay on top of it this time and getting into the chiropractor regularly.
Miss anything? a hard cider while down here in the hot sun sounds delightful. until next time though!

Movement: yep. he doesn't seem to be a crazy, big, active mover (yet!). but he seems to be nice and comfy in there :)

Food cravings: nothing particular as of late.

Looking forward to: the rest of the days of our vacation. how great it is to get away and refresh ourselves!

Xoxo

-Brittney

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Life as of Late

Life as of late has been good. actually, really good.

We have ourselves a toddler who is so kind and sweet (don't get me wrong, we have hard moments), but she really is such a joy. on top of her, we now have a baby boy who will be entering our lives this summer. and I am oh so thankful for a pregnancy that has been a majority of the time, enjoyable thus far. and honestly how I love the pregnancy months and carrying my babies! these precious gifts from God are so sweet and fulfill us in a way we didn't even know was needed. until Harper joined our family of course :)

I have been working on gathering ideas for what we want baby boy's nursery to be. we are also working to find the perfect name for him. Brandon and I have found that during pregnancies we don't put a single thought into what the baby's name will be until we know the gender. now that we've known he is a he for a few weeks, it really is time we get thinking so that we are confident in the perfect name for our sweet boy.

It really seems like there has been so.much.rain as of late. until the last couple of days! and we have been taking advantage of this sunshine that's for sure! walks around the neighborhood, playing at our street's playground, getting the car washed, donuts, a trip to the big play ground not far from our house, and overall feeling the energy from the sun :) but I hear the rain making its way again. tomorrow they say.

BUT Brandon, Harper, and I really can't complain because we are getting away to some California sunshine this weekend! it is much needed that's for sure. I'm looking forward to not having house chores, swimming at the pool, working on my tan (desperately needed!), going to coffee in the mornings while sitting outside soaking up the sun, eating at some favorite restaurants, and everything else that a sunny vacation brings.

The countdown is on and we are officially less than two days away from vacation time!!

and I can't think of a better way to celebrate my birthday than being on vacay :) only a few more days of 26!

P H O T O D U M P!

Xoxo

-Brittney

Friday, February 5, 2016

17 weeks

banner / hooray everyday

How far along? 17 weeks

Total weight gain: 9 pounds

Maternity clothes? still haven't had to yet, but some pairs of jeans are beginning to feel a bit snug - to the point where when I am sitting down it is a heck of a lot more comfortable to let that button pop open. So with that, I'm thinking some maternity jeans are in my near future!

Stretch marks? they are certainly here on my hips from my pregnancy with Harper, but no new ones yet. I use Palmer's Cocoa Butter and this essential oil prenatal balm after showers.

Sleep: going well! I am out cold from the moment I fall asleep until morning. I now use my snoogle body pillow every night. Since I'm normally a belly sleeper, it helps me get comfortable on my side. I bought it when I was over halfway though my pregnancy with Harper and wished I had gotten it sooner. So this time around it is already getting used :)

Best moment this week: same as last week - feeling this little peanut moving!

Worst moment this week: one afternoon I was feeling stressed because I wasn't feeling baby move... it was making me feel very unsettled, but later that evening I felt him more and have since then. I also had to remind myself that not all movements are as obvious at this stage. and when the days are busy I'm not paying as much attention to feel for his movement.
Symptoms: getting tired in the afternoons. Brandon is so great about letting me nap when I can and helping me to not feel guilty about it :) and my hair! because of hardly losing any these days it is becoming so, so thick!
Miss anything? not at the moment

Movement: yep. started feeling him at 14 weeks and each week seems to get a little bit stronger, but still no huge movements yet.

Cravings: my appetite is feeling a bit back to normal and more foods sound appealing again. however, there have been times where I cook something for dinner that sounds good, but when it comes time to eat, it just does not taste good. so some nights have resulted in no dinner for me and some snacking instead. the last few days I have really been loving Tillamook old-fashioned vanilla greek yogurt with strawberries and granola.