Friday, January 27, 2012

Baby Bump Update

It's been a couple months since I announced the big news so I thought I'd give you an update. I'm 25 weeks pregnant and feeling great :) So far, I haven't had ANY nausea, there aren't any foods that turn me off (it's actually quite the opposite!), and I've managed to continue exercising, which makes me feel good. I do have my days of extreme fatigue, but other than that, I love being pregnant! The baby is doing well and everything is on track as it should be. My mom and sister have begun planning the baby shower and I chose the color scheme turquoise and orange. I haven't registered yet...I'm waiting for my sister (a mother of 4) to take me since I have NO IDEA what to get (who knew a baby came with SO much stuff - it's mind boggling). I've started thinking about how I want to decorate his little area of our bedroom (we're hoping to move into a bigger place sometime this year so he can have his own room). If any of you mommies out there have suggestions / recommendations on baby 'Must Haves" or favorite things (stroller brands, car seats, anything!), I would greatly appreciate it. *** Now I'm off to visit my girlfriend up the coast to celebrate her birthday and have some girl time. Have an amazing weekend! xoxo - Julie

Me @ 25 weeks with my kitty Oliver. I just bought the chevron pattered scarf last night at Forever 21 for $9! And for any of you mamas-to-be, I splurged on these Hudson maternity jeans, which was worth every penny! I haven't had to buy any other maternity clothes yet (it works out perfect that the style right now is loose, blousey tops), but I wear my Hudson's just about everyday, so it was well worth the investment.
Baby Thigpen at 20 weeks. I can't wait to see his little face!

40 comments:

  1. Oh sister! What a great post! I'm so excited to go shopping with you. You're one of the cutest pregnant girls I've ever seen. Have a great time with the girls this weekend.

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  2. OMG even in the sonogram he is sooooo cute!!!
    Stacy

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  3. Julie you look so "glowing" and happy! Congrats again to you and Ryan! It's about time you posted some pictures of your belly! :)

    -Liz Hall

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  4. Julie,
    You are beaming. I'm glad things are continuing to go well. Have a wonderful weekend.
    Marie

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  5. Oh my gosh you look soooo cute..and happy!!! Can't wait to hear further developments!!!! have a great weekend!! xoox

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  6. My dear Julie!

    You are looking so beautiful! Have a wonderful weekend!

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  7. You look so good! Enjoy your pregnancy time! :)

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  8. congrats! you look beautiful! x0x0

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  9. Cute, cute, cute!!!! You look amazing, Julie!!!

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  10. Ah you look great! Such an exciting time...baby will be here before you know it. Then the next thing you know he'll be one! Haha...my daughter will be one in a couple of weeks...flew by! (Except those nights at 3am...haha).

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  11. Oh you look so cute! Exciting that he is growing!
    Much love,
    B

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  12. Congrats dear! It is so good to hear about a pregnancy that hasn't made you completely nuts! I hear often of pregnancies like that and it scares me from ever being pregnant. Wishing you a healthy and safe rest of your pregnancy.

    XO,

    Sam
    www.ThePeakofTresChic.com

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  13. You look beautiful! Congrats (and the color scheme sounds prefect!)

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  14. You look great! Looks like I'm just a few weeks ahead of you (I'm almost 29 weeks this week).

    My top two recommendations for baby products to new mama's are: A Boppy Pillow (especially if you're planning on nursing). As a nursing mama, this was my most-used product. Secondly, the Miracle Blanket. Seriously. This thing will allow you so much more sleep than you'd get otherwise. Newborns can wake themselves so easily with their movements, and the Miracle Blanket keeps them all wrapped up tight and swaddled for great sleep. Good luck with your registration!

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  15. I absolutely love your name, because its also my name. My recommendations for a newborn would be a just buy 0-3 clothings, because they are only in newborn stage for a bit. A bobby pillow helps out if your nursing and if your not. My little girl loved sleeping on her pillow.

    I recommend the brand, Safety First. We have had two carseats, infant and convertible, and stroller by them. They are very nice and have excellent safety features.

    I would stay away from Graco. They have tons of recall merchandise.


    Enjoy this time being pregnant and take plenty of photos. It will be here before you know it.


    XO

    Julie

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  16. You are seriously too cute!! Congrats again on the little one and can't wait to see your shower. I'm sure it will be beautiful!

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  17. Go with a Phil and Teds stroller! It works for 1 baby and is easy to add on a "doubles" kit to make it a double stroller when you have your second. It's great! Also, the cloud b sleep sheep is great for getting a little one to sleep through the night-- we used the ocean wave setting :)

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  18. You look so beautiful!! Pregnancy looks so good on you :) I'm glad you are enjoying it so much. Have a wonderful weekend!

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  19. oh, oh, oh, oh, oh... so cute! you were beautiful before. now you're beyond that! that was my favorite stage of pregnancy. enjoy it to the fullest! you are glowing and then some!

    is it not amazing to see that face in side you? that is your child! such a miracle! and that little bundle will look so similar even out of the womb... that face won't change all that much.

    so fun to see this! thank you for sharing!

    my shower colors were orange and chocolate brown... and creams and white. and lots of vintage birds. i could go on and on about what i learned as a first-time mom this past year... about what i would do differently when it comes to what i purchased or registered for. but instead, i'll tell you this... buy the book "baby bargains" by denise and alan fields and read it cover to cover. it's an excellent resource that helps you navigate through what to register for. it's not just about bargains... it rates and compares several of the different brands of all baby products. and it tells you what you can do without {or what many moms buy, but never end up using. it helped me so much when i was registering and setting up the nursery.

    oh, two more things. when it comes time for baby to start eating solids, don't even waste your time with cloth bibs {although those are great for drool around three months}. instead, make sure to get the bjorn bib... it is so awesome, and you won't be sorry you got it. it really helps contain food messes. also, when my baby started to teeth, he wanted nothing to do with any of the teething rings or toys i got him. he only wanted things that were not meant for teething... like the remote controls. =)

    but when i finally broke down and bought the expensive "sophie the giraffe" teething giraffe, he loved it and used it! now i know why they are so expensive... they work! i just wrote about it here...
    http://itsjusthowiseethings.blogspot.com/2012/01/short-story.html

    okay, that's it... i could give you lots of other tips, but i don't want to overwhelm you! =)

    many happy blessings to you and your family! {p.s... glad you never got nauseous. i had nausea terribly in my first trimester}. all the best!

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  20. *** I ALWAYS "read" you Julie, but seldom comment. I just MUST today tho, as YOU... LOOK... ABSOLUTELY... MAHHHHVELOUS~~~ just SOOOO DARLING!!!

    Wonderful to know to know you're feeling so terrific, too!!!

    Blessings,

    Linda in AZ *
    bellesmom1234#comcast/net

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  21. You look beautiful, congratulations!!

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  22. i have always wanted to look that good in jeans and a white tee all my life.
    penny-barns.blogspot.com

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  23. you look beautiful Julie!!!pregnancy suits you:)
    enjoy your shower party dear :)

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  24. You look amazing! I hope I look as beautiful as you do when I'm pregnant!

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  25. You look gorgeous Julie! Pregnancy definitely suits you :) You're shower sounds like it will be beautiful, can't wait to see how it turns out! xx

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  26. this will be the MOST beautiful and adorable baby ever!!!!

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  27. Julie, congrats!! :) you're looking great! I wish you all the best :)

    cheers! :)

    angie (an old reader from Croatia who very often comes by ... and loves it here!) :)

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  28. Adorable!! Love the colorful scarf!

    http://dirtysexylaundry.blogspot.com/

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  29. Congrats!! I'm due in four weeks and I agree it's nice to keep up with a little bit of style, even with a growing belly!

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  30. You look absolutely adorable with your baby bump! That scarf is SO cute too. I don't have any baby related suggestions to offer, but I do love the color scheme for your shower!!!

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  31. Aww, how sweet- You and baby!

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  32. You look great and how nice for you that you haven't had any of the nausea or food turning you off! This must be so exciting for you! Congrats again!

    Barbara

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  33. Congrats!
    When they say sleep when you can, believe them .
    I have lots of items to suggest.
    ALWAYS REGISTER YOUR BABY PRODUCTS as this will allow companies to contact you should there be any kinds of recalls.
    Myself, sister and friends are all knee deep in having babies these last few years so here are items we have talked about that we would NEVER EVER have a baby without.
    -Baby video monitor and not the little hand-held. Tip - put the camera on a light switch so when not in use the camera doesn't burn out(had to learn that the hard way).
    It's so gratifying to just switch on the visual and watch the baby's tummy move up and down and not have to disturb them.

    -sound machines are great. added bonus is when you are not at home, you can bring familiar noise with you aiding in sleeping.
    -motion sensor - I believe angel care.
    -I agree totally about the cloth bibs for drooling and the waterproof bibs for eating I was a fan of the bumpkin brand.
    -Oxyclean spray for 'organic' stains. Great for drool!
    -Playtex drop-in bottles -awesome.
    -best 'activity center' or 'bouncer' was the Bright Starts Around We Go Activity Station.
    -Carters Velour Crib Sheets. These are excellent in the winter or cool months, these keep them a little warmer. As soon as I started using these the kids slept more soundly.
    -muslin blankets are worth every single penny, especially in the summer. I wouldn't use any other blanket for my infant during the warm months, they are a lot more breathable, easier to swaddle because they are a lot bigger and they are easy to use as impromptu shade.
    -min of 2 waterproof mattress covers and 2 sheets, 3 if you can swing it for nights when their are accidents and you just wanna change the bedding and get back to sleep while they wash. wouldn't hurt to have a back-up bumper too. The experts say don't get the puffy ones as those are very dangerous as it increases the chances of suffocation.
    -1 cold humidifier and 1 hot humidifier. but putting a cold water humidifier in a baby's room in the winter will only make that room feel colder and make your night longer because the baby won't sleep - because they are cold.
    -strollers - buy for what you will use it for. If you run, get one you can take the baby running with you but you most likely won't want to take that in the car with you, it will be too heavy. PegPrego and Combi (and others I'm sure)both make excellent, very lite strollers.We have a Peg Perego Venezia which I think the 'skate' replaced?
    -car seats. we use britax and love them. Don't feel you have to have them(carseat & stroller) match, they won't be in the newborn/infant car seat for very long and many times you will most likely put the infant in the shopping cart at the grocery store rather than use the stroller etc. Our infant baby seats were Safety 1st - loved them.
    -additional shade for the stroller
    Sorry it's so long but I wanted to give you the whys for my wouldn't go withouts
    Good Luck!

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    1. thank you so much for all of the helpful info and recommendations! i'm so grateful :)

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  34. Britax carseat. A little on the $$ side, but don't waste your money on anything else!

    BOB jogging stroller - even if you don't run.

    Arm's reach cosleeper - it's like a sidecar crib for the bed... Awesome so you don't have to get up in the middle of the night for night time nursing sessions.

    Ergo carrier, with the insert for newborns. This carrier will last through toodlerhood. Moby wraps are great too.

    Petunia Pickle Bottom diaper bag.

    Nose-frida (google it.)

    Charlie Banana diapers.

    Rockin Green detergent.

    Organic, virgin coconut oil for diaper cream, even as a moisturizer.

    Also, read Baby-Led Weaning. It will make mealtimes infinitely less stressful and help your little one cultivate a sophisticated palate.

    Watch The Business of Being Born, and read Jenifer Block's "Pushed," no matter what your birth preferences are.

    Congrats on your pregnancy. Your blog is beautiful... I found it on Pinterest and I can't wait to explore it further! Best of luck, I'll be following!

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    1. thank you rachel! your suggestions are awesome :)

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  35. How CUTE you look!!! Congrats!!!

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    1. thanks fifi! long time no talk - i hope you are well :)

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Thank you for your comments! I appreciate you stopping by :)