23 Weeks: October (5 Months!)

My doctor this week came into my 5-month checkup saying, "So twins, huh?"  Hilarious.....according to our doctor, Baby O can hear my voice and basically everything I'm hearing, although it's still muffled- even loud noises like Hunter barking will make him more accustom to them when he's finally here, which is good news because Hunter barks a lot.....

Month/Week: 5 Months/23 Weeks

Total Weight Gain: 15 lbs

Feeling: like I should have scheduled that massage I've been thinking about!
Missing: Ahi tuna everything, sounds pretty good right now...
Cravings: Thought about the Brown Sugar Poptarts in my work's vending machine this morning....but didn't indulge
Anything making you queasy: Chick Filet- particularly the chicken sandwiches I used to love pre-prego

I'm Loving: when I know the baby is awake when he kicks : )

Happy or Moody: Love being pregnant!
Gender: Boy
Symptoms: Rib pain, soreness in lower back
Sleep: I think it's the left side sleeping giving me the soreness above....

Wedding Ring On Still?:  Yep, no swelling (knock on wood)

Looking forward to: Halloween!  Carving a pumpkin and roasting the seeds in the oven too of course.  Oh and all the candy that comes into the office from the parents who give away half of their children's bags to coworkers....

All set for Beaver football!!  Go Beavers!!

xoxo,

Mrs.O

Best Maternity Clothes for Mom-to-Be

If you’re anything like me, the minute you discover you’ll have an excuse to buy clothes w/o your husband objecting will send you on a mass hunt for the cutest yet affordable maternity clothes you can find…….only one problem: “cute-yet-affordable” aren't two words that largely exist in the world of 

maternity clothing…

So thankfully having a career within e-Commerce, I wanted to dedicate an entire post for all the mommies-2-be (in every budget range) of all the more "contemporary sites" I've spent HOURS looking for, looking over, and ordering from, in hopes that this will save you some extra time for that sweet husband of yours ; )  (Assuming you've already hit Target, Pea in the Pod, & the other big retailers!)  If you know of a great site that I've left out, please comment below and I’d be happy to include it!!  Xoxo Mrs. O

One of my favorites, changes seasonally, free Gift w/purchase

Prices: $50+

Rosie Pope

Limited selection, but trendy basics

Prices: Under $50

Dorothy Perkins

 

I recently discovered online-only maternity boutique, great sales and very cute silhouettes

Prices: Under $50

PinkBlush Maternity

This London-based retailer recently opened two stores in the US with one expected in California in 2013; fashion-forward styles and cozy knits

Prices: $50-$100

TopShop Maternity

Arguably the biggest selection of contemporary maternity online, great sales and free shipping!

Prices: All price points

Asos.com, Maternity

Ultra-chic limited online selection, changes seasonally

Prices: $200+

Hatch Maternity 

Work & nighttime date appropriate picks, limited selection

Prices: $100+

MoreofMe Maternity

For the 1st/2nd trimesters, the One Size Sexy collection on VS.com has "2fer" deals; ultra soft tees, tanks, and shorts (I own many of these!!)  Non-basic colors/prints go on sale quarterly

Prices: Currently 2/$35 or $20 each 

One Size Sexy, Victoria Secret

22 Weeks: October

This week was all about Baby Safety class and 4D ultrasounds!  On Wed night Travis and I took a baby CPR and general safety class at Hoag where we practice on a machine baby- one that actually turned on and told you when you weren't doing the CPR correctly- these things have come a long way since I was in high school!  We also went back to the “fancy ultrasound place” which is the code word for an ultrasound given by a specialist, where we were told Baby O is at perfect weight, length, has a “textbook heart”, with no signs of concern- huge relief!  Some pics from the past two events below, and from the beach day we had in Dana Point!

Month/Week: 4 Months/22 Weeks

Total Weight Gain: Maybe 10 lbs?  I don't own a scale lol

Feeling:  like I could really use a massage...weekly!
Missing: Going back to the work coffee espresso machine for a 2nd round...
Cravings: Oatmeal???  I know, weird.

I'm Loving: that my husband is really able to feel the baby kick now!

Maternity Clothes:   I officially have my shower dresses, they are adorbs

Wedding Ring On Still?:  Yes : )

Looking forward to: boot season and cooler temperatures!

Baby Safety class

Baby O's 4D photoshoot!

21 Weeks: October!

I LOVE this time of year.....finally some cooler temperatures ahead, football games all Sunday, the smell of  all those glowing pumpkins at nighttime- something super nostalgic about Fall!  Of course the fall season we experience in California is nothing like what we grew up with in Oregon, but not having to turn on my AC is good enough for me....Baby O seems to be loving the weather, super active and kicking & punching like crazy!   Although we still haven't agreed on a name for Baby O, we have managed to finish cleaning out the future nursery and pick a theme: "Yachtical"- see some of my current fave decor pieces for this theme below! xoxo

Baby is the size of a:

Month/Week: 4 Months/21 Weeks

Total Weight Gain: At least 9 lbs!  I'm front heavy....

Feeling:  Great actually, I think I may even miss being pregnant when he's born...
Missing:  Cold beers on 100+ degree days while doing home renovations
Cravings: Popsicles!! 

I'm Loving: that I can still fit in 95% of my closet

Maternity Clothes:  Maybe one day I'll be able to get into that cute wardrobe my Mom helped me with!  For now it's maxis and dresses and leggings....

Wedding Ring On Still?:  Yes

Looking forward to:  Baby O's next ultrasound next week!

Courtesy Mrs. Lilien blog

Love the color of the wall and white paneling

Potential Colors for the nursery:
Admiral Blue & White Dove (Benjamin Moore)

Chevron Grey Crib Bedding, PBarn Kids

Anchor Throw pillow, Land of Nod

Fisherman Table Lamp, Pottery Barn Kids

DIY Nightlight Tutorial, Grey Likes Nesting blog

Rope print pillow, Etsy

Porthole Mirrors, TreasureGurus

Chevron rug, Urban Outfitters (can't decide which color??)

20 Weeks: September- Half Way!!

Halfway....officially! This is all happening SO fast, it's like I have a huge wedding to plan and I've barely started to choose colors and make a seating chart!  Of course my husband thinks it's all taking TOO long and that I've been cooking Baby O forever, but I feel like this is going to happen overnight....at least we've almost cleared out the nursery, donated clothes (and bought more at my work's sample sale oops), signed up for baby classes, figured out where to register, read a couple baby books.....and talk nightly about what the baby would be doing this very moment if he were already with us : )  We are still overjoyed and can't wait; clearly Hunter is thrilled as well....

Month/Week: 4.5 Months/20 Weeks

Total Weight Gain: 9 lbs

Feeling: A little like I'm losing my mind or experiencing "pregnancy brain" at it's best....forgetting  my purse on the way to work; getting tea with no cup; forgetting what year it is; wearing a maxi skirt sideways b/c I swore the tag must have been placed incorrectly inside the band.....
Cravings: MEXICAN FOOD....and salsa...and cheese...anything I can get...homemade tamales...

I'm Loving: the raves Baby O seems to be throwing in my stomach- makes me so happy that he's clearly an active baby!

Maternity Clothes: I keep hearing about the Gap maternity leggings...everyone swears by them....so I might have to make an investment.  For now it's still 140 degrees out so I'm all about dresses and maxi skirts!  This El Nino heat wave is killing me.....

Wedding Ring On Still?: Yes

Looking forward to: Registering with my husband this weekend for Baby O!!  

My chicken tamales from Javier's....OMG.  I could have 50.

xoxo,

Mrs.O