Fashion Saavy

This is definitely not me. But a couple of questions for those of you out there that are.

1. Can one wear socks with mary jane type shoes? If so, do they have to be the same color as the shoe?

2. I have a pair of black leggings. Can I wear black ankle boots with them?

Thanks for the fashion tips.

A few side notes. When shopping I am drawn to the same color of clothing. Are you? I usually have to consciously pick a different color in something and ask myself, "Will I really like and wear this color? Do I have things to go with it?"

Also, I've become a Project Runway fan. The drama can be a bit annoying sometimes, but sometimes it makes me laugh. Also, I never agree with the judges. Obviously they are in the fashion industry and I tend to like the things I think the average American in my neighborhood would wear.

Week 18: The Bell Pepper

Well, the baby is now around 5.5 inches (the length of a bell pepper) and 7 ounces. Baby Martel is busy flexing arms and legs. I'll tell you I can feel it. I am just amazed at how much I can feel this baby moving already. If you remember me mentioning earlier I didn't even feel Nicholas moving at this stage and I've been feeling this one for over 2 weeks.

Not much to report this week so I won't do questions. I have been feeling pretty good. Over the cold I came down with last week, thank goodness. Feeling bigger and rounder and enjoying the new maternity clothes. Still eating like a mad woman but don't seem to be gaining much weight so far. We have a doctor's appointment tomorrow so we'll see what that scale reads.

That's all for now. Hopefully I'll have more next week and I'll try to get a picture too.

Must Love Dogs

I have been researching Germany due to our impending trip. I came across a zoo. So I googled it to check out times and prices and other such things. And upon review of the entrance fees noticed they charge 50 euro cents for dog entry. Cracks me up. Germans take their dogs Everywhere! Even to the zoo.

17 Weeks: The Turnip

So it appears that after only 2 weeks, I have become a bogging slacker...again. Sorry this is late. So let's begin.
Baby Facts: The baby is now around 5 inches long and 5 ounces, the weight of a turnip.
How are you feeling?
Pretty good this week. My hormones decided to take another roller coaster ride this week. And it's hard because I end up taking it out on the Little Man. He takes a lot of patience at times...and I don't always have it.
I haven't felt real positive about this pregnancy. I think that mostly has to do with the fact that I didn't physically feel well for many many many weeks. Well a pregnant friend of mine said this week that this may be her last pregnancy and she is enjoying all things "pregnant." That really struck me because this could possibly be my last pregnancy also. So I am trying to enjoy more. It's easier to do now that I am feeling well and nice to feel the baby move too.
Anything new?
Well, in fact, I can feel the baby move now. It started last Saturday. I lie down in bed for the night and start feeling the thump...thump...thump...I put my hand there and can even feel it through the skin. So I run downstairs to share the moment with Joe. He felt the baby "kick" twice. It was pretty awesome. I've felt the baby move since and sometimes it's just a pressure but sometimes it's little bumps. This is a whole 3 weeks earlier than I felt Nicholas move. Pretty cool!!
Are you feeling/looking bigger?
Well I don't have a picture for you this week but you can check out my fashion show done earlier in the week below. I am much smaller in the morning and getting dressed can be frustrating. Some clothes just make me look like I have a fat roll. By the end of the day I am looking (and feeling) quite round. So I did a little experiment one day. I measured and weighed myself in the morning and then again in the evening. I "grew" throughout the day a half inch and gained 2.5 lbs.
Any other pregnancy "symptoms"?
I am feeling quite nesty. I want this house organized. So I've been pulling things out of closets, purging like crazy and trying to organize. Part of this is that we need to make space in the spare room for another child and I am just tired of having stuff EVERYWHERE. This is a slow process because I just don't have the time or energy to do a lot. And I tend to start something then not get it finished, then it sits for a while. But I'm working on it....slowly.

Well I think that is all for this week. Ciao.

New Clothes

I feel a little foolish posting this but I was so excited today to get the box of clothes I ordered in the mail. And it was too much fun trying everything on. I am happy to report only 1 out of 15 items doesn't' work. I think that's a pretty good score. So here's the fashion show.

Black leggings with a purple shirt (not maternity shirt). I am holding my leg weird to try to show that there is a little metal eyelet detail at the bottom. But you can't see it.

LOVE LOVE LOVE these maternity gaucho pants in brown. I will live in these for the next 6 months (as long as I don't freeze). And a non-maternity hoodie shirt with a front pocket. I won't wear this very long for now.


Maternity khaki capris, very nice and non-maternity sweater, it's cut so long.

A maternity purple striped hoodie shirt with the khakis.

A green maternity shirt with the khakis.

Oh and one of my favorites. Gray leggings with a non-maternity knit dress with a cowl neck (which you can't see). Super fun. I never wear dresses b/c I never have reason to, but so fun.

I also bought some cardigan sweaters that are not pictured but should be versatile.

My next mission: shoes and boots! Wahoo!! Which I predict will be harder than the clothes. I can never find ones that fit and are comfortable. And I am all about comfort.

E.T.

I think he's cuter than that Extra Terrestrial.

Cakes

I haven't sent any cake pictures in a while and I don't think the flikr stream is working right. So here's some I've done lately.

This is the Marine Corp emblem. I did it all free hand. I think it came out pretty darn good.
Graduation Cake: I got a little wonky on my lettering. Oops!

Nicholas' 2nd Birthday Cake

Baby Stuff

I feel the need to buy things for this baby. Things that we will just need another of such as a monitor. And things I didn't have for Little Man that I think might make life a little easier when juggling two.
So one of the things I want is a bassinet. We started Nicholas out in his crib from day 1 (well when he wasn't sleeping on us which was the case for about the first 2 weeks).
So today, I am at this kids tag sale and I find a bassinet. I am so excited about this. It's nothing special and it is used but I really don't care.
So I am just hoping this baby likes it and we will like it too. I'll try to get a picture up sometime.
Some of my other finds: a baby food mill, a front carrier, a toddler harness, rain boots for N. and "mud shoes" for N. (these are shoes he can totally trash b/c they are used and I won't care so much) and 2 Melissa & Doug sound puzzles in trucks and construction.
Pretty good haul I think.

Little Man Update

I haven't posted any pictures of our Little Man in a while. But he is actually our Big Guy now. At least that's what I've started calling him. So here's a few of our recent adventures and some happenings around home.

We went to the Roger Williams Zoo in Providence, RI. Grandma and Grandpa M. met us there.

This is waiting for G & G walking from the parking lot. Can you see that smile? He's also learned to wave hello.

We went to the Chester Fair. Nicholas rode his first pony. He fed baby goats. He loved walking/running through the animal barns. He played two games and rode a ride.

He loves to hula hoop. And hit a ball from a tee. I was trying to upload video but it's just not working. Sorry.

16 Weeks

Baby Facts: The baby is measuring about the size of an avocado this week and weighing in around 3 1/2 ounces. Wahoo!!

How are you feeling?

Physically? Medium energy, occasional nausea - mostly when I haven't eaten enough and I eat ALL.THE.TIME. Emotionally? Roller Coaster. Which quite frankly scares me. I was very hormonal after Nicholas was born and up until I stopped breast feeding at 6 mos. You could say I had post-partum depression. So I've been feeling hormonal lately. The other night I had a mini-breakdown which happened after I had another not so nice moment with the Porcelain King. Thoughts of: "I am tired of...: not having energy, feeling like yuck all the time, not being able to be everything I can for my son, for my husband, not having a clean house(or even some semblance of an orderly house), not connecting with my husband most of the time"...and the list went on and the tears flowed. Then I decided to make my mind go blank and fall asleep. I didn't wake up in the greatest of moods but the day started anyway. (Update: I wrote this several days ago and I am happy to report that my hormones have settled down....for now at least.)

Have you felt the baby move yet?

It's so hard to tell. The other day I thought I felt a bunch of flutters and another day I felt some little "punches." I definitely felt Nicholas at 19 weeks and it was a noticeable kick. So I am kind of waiting for that to say for sure.

Any other pregnancy symptons/signs?

Why, yes! First the good one, I have the baby bump. As you could probably tell from last week's photo I am getting a little "pouch" (as my mother put it). I didn't show with Nicholas until after 20 weeks for sure. And I was a little bummed about that. I wanted people to know I was pregnant. But now, oh, I don't know. I feel like I am getting big, fast and at this rate I will be HUGE come February. (Update: As I wrote the before stuff earlier in the week. Now, I feel like I can own this belly. Bring it on.)

Another not so fun sympton: heartburn. Why yes, I already have heartburn. I have identified at least one of the culprits: Tomatoes/tomato sauce. That's truly a bummer. Not that I love tomatoes themselves but I do love spaghetti and pizza. So for now, I am avoiding any tomato related foods and feeling heartburn free.

Any inkling to whether it's a boy or girl?

No! But I won't lie, we want a girl. So sometimes I think I am carrying a bit higher this time or think b/c of all the extra sickness (due to hormones) that it could be a girl. But in reality, there's no sure way to tell. So we'll just wait and see.

How are the clothes fitting?

Not so well since my bump arrived. I can still get into a few of my pre-pregnancy pants (ones that were big on me before). I look through my wardrobe for the longest tops I have. But I am feeling the itch for some new maternity clothes. I pulled my stash from last time and things just seem a little too big yet, especially the pants. So what did I do? I went online shopping. I am so excited b/c I ordered a TON of clothes, some sweaters for this winter and some leggings. I am going to try them. I even ordered a dress, not maternity, so I am hoping it will work. I'll keep you posted when the order comes in and maybe even do a photo fashion show, we'll see. For now, here's a belly picture.

I'm lovin' it

So there is a McDonald's right down from the doctor's office. I am not a huge Mickey D's fan but lately...

The strawberry banana smoothies!

And I'm diggin' the grilled chicken snack wraps and the grilled chicken sandwich.

It just hits the spot.

The New Arrival in 2011

Well as many of you probably already know, we are expecting Baby #2 in 2011. Yay! I have been really bad about keeping track of this pregnancy. So in an attempt to document more, I am following my good friend, Two Pretzel's, example and blogging about it. I'll try to update every week and keep it varied. But I'm not making any promises. I'll also try to add a question link so you can ask me questions. But I am a blogger novice so bear with me please. Okay let's first get down the basics.

When is the baby due? And how far along are you?

The baby is due February 24, 2011. That makes me 15 weeks along, only 25 more to go. I've hopped into my 2nd trimester. My weeks start on a Thursday so I'll try to post around that day.

This 15th week the baby is measuring 4 inches long and is about the size of an apple.

How have you been feeling?

I have to tell you, the first trimester was really really rough. I have never been so sick for so long in my entire life. I am so glad I am out of that phase. The 2nd trimester has been better. I still feel exhausted a lot of the time though...I doubt that will get any better. The vomiting has pretty much subsided. And as long as I eat, ALL THE TIME, I don't get too nauseous anymore. And seriously, I have to eat every 1-2 hours. I do best if I am just constantly snacking on something but that's not really a reality when chasing a 2 year old around.

How do you feel about the pregnancy?

Honestly, mixed. We planned this and we want another child. Nicholas is way too spoiled to not have a sibling. But this pregnancy has just been really rough. I LOVED being pregnant with Nicholas and thought it would be the same this time. But it's totally different. I do love knowing there is a human being growing inside of me and I am responsible for it. The miracle of growing life is amazing. For example, this little one is about the size of an apple but it has eyelashes, fingernails, and is "breathing". It's just amazing to think of this tiny little person, so miniscule and still developing.

Are you going to find out the gender of the baby?

We don't think so. I wanted to and hubby doesn't. He wants to leave something to a surprise. And I've come around to the idea. The planner in me wants to know. What if it's a girl? I'll need a ton of clothes and it would be lots of fun to start shopping (as would Grandma G.). We would redo the nursery (we want to move Little Man to the other room.) If it's a boy we wouldn't need to do as much. So we'll wait and be surprised. Grandma G. will just have to shop later.

Have you any cravings or aversions?

I crave different things at different times but I have been lovin' me some fruit and eggs. Also I really don't want much to do with vegetables. Which is a bad thing because they would be good for me. Oh and I am not doing spicy.

Okay here's a picture at 15 weeks.