Half Way There!

I can't believe I am saying this, but . . .

 . . . WE'RE HALF WAY THERE!!

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In fact, we're more than half way there.
I'm 21 weeks...19 more to go! 

To say I'm amazed at how fast it's
flying by is an understatement.
It seems like just yesterday I found out I was pregnant
and I took my first prego pic in my bathroom mirror.

5 weeks.

Every day since, I've been waiting.

Waiting for some trace of looking pregnant.

I kept thinking,
NEXT week I'm going to be huge!

13 weeks. 14 weeks. 15 weeks. 16. 17.
Each went by without a trace of me looking pregnant.
Like I ate one to many cookies? Yes.
Pregnant? No.
[Note: I may or may not have eaten too many cookies.]

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I mean, believe me,
when I was in my skivvies I looked pregnant.
But to the outside world,
no one knew unless I told them.

So I have been really eager to start "looking pregnant."

To feel comfortable rubbing my pregnant belly

and not look like I'm just rubbing out a big lunch.

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Ha! Food baby!

So finally, at a happy 19 weeks,
I started to show a bump.

19 weeks.

Yay!
Who knew having a round belly was such a coveted prize?!

I even started to wear a few of my maternity clothes!

Although I am still able to fit into most of my regular clothes 

(minus my high waisted skinny jeans),
it's been kinda fun to find new ways to dress 'the bump.'

For work:

18 weeks.                               19 weeks.
Please excuse my crappy photography.

For special occassions:

Here's me being all pregnant-like for Thanksgiving. 

Travis cut off my cute shoes in this pic. :(

See cute shoes below:

Right?

For cas:

21 weeks.

I love me some stripes.

Don't believe me?
See exhibit A:

Post-maternity shopping spree stripe addiction realization.

So far I've gained 5 lbs., and baby is now 13 oz.

 And per the baby books, our lil' guy is the size of a carrot.
Aww, hi lil' carrot baby!
[Note: I think it is hilarious that the baby's size is always referred to
 as some type of vegetable or fruit. Last week he was a banana. Ha!]

And the most exciting recent development?

I can feel baby boy moving!

(In fact, he is kicking my insides right now!)

I started feeling "flutters" at 18 weeks.

Specifically, election day.

Maybe he's politically inclined?

It was so subtle, but I knew it was him.
And I was sooo excited.

As the days passed, his movements became
stronger and more consistent. 

And exactly one week later, 

at 19 weeks,
Travis got to feel him kick for the first time!

It was such a fun moment.

Now, three weeks into feeling our lil' guy moving around,
I'm starting to notice a pattern.

He wakes up when I wake up, likes to move around after I eat,

and also really likes it when Travis and I talk to each other.
Awww cute!

Now I find myself with my hand on my belly throughout the day,

just waiting for our lil' guy to say hello.

It makes me extremely happy and a smile always ensues.
And I love love LOVE when Travis puts his hands 
on my belly looking for his lil' guy.

Seriously, my heart could burst. 

Baby bump and baby kicks,
it just makes it all the more real. 
This baby is coming!

And with the holiday season upon us. . .

. . . we find ourselves in the midst of baby room prep,
registries, birthing classes, hospital tours,
doula interviews, baby names and, and, and...

Well, you get the idea.
There is lots to do! 
And I keep telling myself not to freak out over all of it.
It'll all work out.
We have a good 19 weeks left,
and we're so thankful that so far,
baby boy has been so good to his Mama.
I'll be sure to thank him with lots of kisses come April!
I can't wait!!!

Happy Hump Day friends! 

XOXO
Aimee

a home office

Besides planning a nursery for our lil' one,

I'm also in the midst of planning a design for my home office/studio,

and I'm looking to pinterest and tumblr for inspiration.

I am beyond thankful that my boss is allowing me to

 work from home a couple days a week post-maternity leave,

and I am looking forward to creating a space 

that will be functional, comfortable and inspiring.

Here are just some of my favorite home office examples. 

I hope to meld together some of these elements 
using my existing furniture, while adding
a few fun accents here and there.

I admit,

looking at spaces like these make me a bit dreamy,

and I find myself writing stuff like this:

i crave a home office

with bright light shining

through white framed windows.

wooden floors,

planks side by side.

soft paint on walls,

& clever wall art in cute, caring arrangements.

i crave a desk with things

both minimal

and maximal

all in one.

neat, yet full.

i want books (in stacks)

and flowers (in vases)

and paper and pens (sprawled about).

i want things

old and new.

antique and freshly made.

i want it all.

ideas abound.

life inspiring.

color enveloping.

heart throbbing.

now, if i can only just get it.

create it.

make it.

have it.

i'll be content.

I think rainy days also make me dreamy.
There is something to be said for getting cozy in
 boots and scarves to welcome the change of pace.

Happy rainy Thursday friends!

XOXO

Aimee

See above pic sources and my home office inspirations on pinterest.

It's a Boy!

Soooo... we found out!

And we are so excited!
A BOY! 

We would've been happy either way, boy or girl.

But it is soooo amazing to be able
to picture ourselves having a little man! 

If he is anything as cute as Travis was as a kid,
ohhhhh we are in for it.

Travis, 1984ish.

Look at that smile! 

I can't help but love the idea 

of trains and airplanes and fire trucks 

and all the fun things lil' boys like to play with.
 

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And I can't wait to dress my lil' guy.

People often say that girls have cuter clothes options, 
but I have to disagree.

You may have to search a bit harder,

but I'm really diggin' these styles. . .

For the baby boy:

ITCH Moustache Gracious Onesie, baby boy mustache onesie and burp cloth set,

Sourpuss Anchor Tee, Walrus Captain Onesie

What a hip baby! 
What? Too mustache heavy?
I can't help it!
Here's another one for good measure.

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Hehe.

And for the lil' man:

#fashionkids on instagram, and upper right Source

Ummm, the cute factor is high.
I'm obsessed with lil' boys in newsboy caps. 
And sweaters and stripes and plaids and bow ties, 
OH MY!

Our first purchase for our baby boy 
were these adorable Chuck Taylor high tops.

AWWWW!

OK, OK.
Besides dressing our lil' man in stylish duds. . .


. . . I'm also really excited for an active lil' one
that is sure to wear me out.
One who will love to roll around in dirt. . . 

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(I'm going to have to brush up on my stain getter-outter skills.)

One who will love to watch
Monday night football with his Daddy. . .

. . . but still love to make chocolate chip
cookies from scratch with his Mommy.



Because he will find out later in life,
that a boy who bakes will forever impress the ladies.

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I can't wait to see him playing with our eager pups.
OHHH!

And for Summer's filled with sand castles and digging for sand crabs.

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Or seeing him run around in an oversized
soccer uniform and lil' soccer cleats in the Fall. 

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And of course,
seeing him play Little League in the Spring,
just like his Daddy did.

Travis, c. 1989.

I'm excited for all of it.

My brother, Brian, and his lady, Trisha are
expecting a baby girl just a few weeks ahead of us.

Awww! Aren't they super cute?
 

I couldn't be more thrilled to be sharing this experience with them.

They are going to be amazing parents.

It's so perfect that the first grandchildren
in this family are both a boy and a girl.

Cousins close in age, & a boy and girl to be the best of friends!
How fun!

And you guessed it,
pink Chuck Taylors were our first gift to their baby girl! :)
We can't wait to meet her!

Aww, cousin cuteness!

Many blessings all around.

Cheers friends!

XOXO
Aimee