It’s so crazy that I’m already 28 weeks, which also means that I’m in the 3rd trimester–the final stretch! If you want to know how the pregnancy has been going, make sure you go all the way to the end of this post where I have included my first bumpdate video!
This has been one stressful week for us. This time last week, I was going back and forth, trying to decide if I needed to go to the ER. I had a pain in my jaw/tooth/whole left side of my face. It was so severe that I was curled up in a ball, hardcore crying. And though I’m a wimp with pain, I usually never cry from it. I decided to wait it out until the next day. I have had pain off and on this past week but it’s almost all the way gone at this point–so weird! I did find out that I need one, if not two, root canals on Monday (and to be honest, I’m completely dreading it!!)
These pictures were taken on Wednesday night, right after a fast, but powerful storm blew through our area–taking out our electricity for 24.5 miserable hours! It was sad to have to throw out all the food that went bad in that time but I’m thankful that we are safe and that no real damage was caused!
Those pictures with Evangeline are some of my favorites ever!! Don did a great job capturing this stage of life of me with all my little loves. It’s stressful to get everyone in the shot sometimes (especially since my boys are entering the stage where all their smiles look fake and forced haha) but I truly treasure each and every picture. And the promise of cupcakes made the kids extra well behaved and motivated to get into a few shots with me 🙂
Can we just pause and talk about this maternity dress that I’m wearing?! It’s from Mamma Belle and I am in love! I don’t own anything else in this color and I think I need to change that because it is too good! The maternity clothing industry has come a long way since my first pregnancy (and so has my style–or lack thereof!) I love the ruching on the sides and the black and white floral pattern. But I think my favorite part is that it’s lightweight and so comfortable. Comfort is pretty much my number one requirement for clothes these days–and dresses and leggings are my comfort clothes! Mamma Belle also offers other beautiful maternity and nursing friendly dresses, so be sure to pop over and check out the site!
**this dress was kindly sent to me but I was not asked to give a review. These are my real, honest opinions!!
Now, before you watch this video, a few disclaimers!!!
1) I usually end up editing myself out of every video we make! It is extremely awkward to talk to a camera–but I’ve heard it gets easier with practice? We’ll see! But editing this video was tough and I was cringing the whole time. How do my friends deal with me?
The fact that I’m posting this video is actually kind of a miracle because after I made it, I wanted to just delete the whole thing!
2) The clip that appears while I mention my exhaustion cracks us up–so I hope you get a kick out of it too 😉
3) I recorded the talking videos right as the crazy storm was blowing through. So there are some weird lighting shifts. Also, you may hear kids being loud in the background because…well, #reallife.
4) If I don’t go into hiding after posting this, I may do a couple more videos before baby girl is here. But I’m not making any promises!
5) Fun fact: Evangeline fell into the pond while we were videoing at the park. I thought for sure we would have to leave right then and there but she toughed it out. I still keep laughing about it though.
Did you hear? Last week when we went in for the anatomy ultrasound, we heard three glorious words–“It’s a girl!!” I had been hoping and dreaming of a baby sister for Evangeline. And though I absolutely love my boys and would have been happy and content with another boy, I’m so thrilled to be adding another girl to our family.
I did warn the ultrasound tech before she started that I would have a big reaction if it was a girl. However, even I did not expect the high volume of the scream that I let out when we found out. (Don told me that everyone in the room jumped and the tech almost dropped the wand–oops!) Then the happiest of happy cries just poured out of me. I feel so blessed and so undeserving.
Moving on to the gender reveal. When I was pregnant with Desmond last year, I had the idea of a cotton candy reveal–but that was in February when no carnivals are in sight, for obvious reasons. When I saw that the carnival was coming to town just 4 days after our ultrasound, I knew this was my chance! I was dying over the wait but I think it was worth it! The only thing that bummed me out was that they didn’t put the cotton candy on a stick–which would have made it look a lot better. But I still love the way the pictures turned out.
I had to get a few mother/daughter pictures while we were there to celebrate adding another member to the “girl team.” And once again, I’m in love with these pictures! (And I didn’t even add all the ones I love–just too many good ones!)
Cotton candy is the perfect bribery tool but we still managed to never smile all at the same time. Haha–so is the life with 7 people (including 5 young children) in a photo together.
My boys were all “guessing it’s a boy, but hoping it’s a sister.” So the whole family is pretty excited!
And in that picture on the right with me is my sweet, lovely friend, Rachel, who took all these pictures for me! Thanks again, Rachel!
Thank you all for your sweet words and excitement for us. We’re looking forward to meeting this baby girl in October. And in case anyone is wondering, we do have a couple names in mind that we are discussing as a family, but I won’t be saying them for now!