Maternity Photos + 34 Week BumpDate

Angela Young was sweet enough to take some maternity photos for me before it got too snowy up in the mountains.  We froze our butts off but it was definitely worth it!  Below are some of my favorites...

^^ Braedon's personal favorite ^^ 

^^ I like to cuddle rocks ^^

Angela was a doll the whole time and her prices are so reasonable!! She was so good at posing me and telling me what to do so it looked good.  I may "model" but it's seriously so helpful when the photographer can just direct you!  Makes me feel way more comfortable.  I can't wait to use Angela for newborn photos and family pictures this year.  Go check her out!

angelayoungphotography.com

How Far Along: 34 weeks

Weight Gain: I'm at about 23 lbs so far (yikes)

Maternity Clothes:  Yes and no.  I've tried to be practical and wear stuff that will work post pregnancy as well because buying maternity clothes is sort of annoying.  I want to think that what I buy will be in style during my second or third pregnancies but who knows right??  Pretty much I'm just excited when I try something on in my closet and it fits/ covers my belly.  Fashion has gone out the window!  

Sleep: I have nights that I sleep like a rock, and nights that the pregnancy insomnia really hits me hard.  I've entered into full blown nester mode and lay awake at night making to-do lists in my head.   

Best moment this week: Waking up this morning and watching my belly roll and roll.  He was a wild wiggle worm!  Glad he still has some room to move- I'm not excited for the final stage when he's all cramped in there.    

Weird pregnancy moment: I forgot my wallet grocery shopping again.  Did I mention that this has happened to me three times now?  Each time I don't realize it until AFTER I've checked out.  So embarrassing.  

Movement: All the time!  I'm trying to be better about counting.  I've gotten a little paranoid as we get closer.  My job is a blessing and a curse- I see all the women that come in far along in their pregnancies with fetal demises, or decreased fetal movement and I start to panic.        

 Food Cravings: I LOVE to chew ice.  Especially the pebble ice.  We have the good kind at the hospital and its my go to when I get the munchies!  

Anything making you queasy: Nope! 

Gender: BOY

What I'm looking forward to: MEETING THIS BABY.  (too soon for that? yes)

Bump Date // 32 weeks

How Far Along: 32 weeks

Weight Gain: Yes.  Everywhere.  It's super hot.  

Maternity Clothes:  Are so smart.  Whoever thought of them is awesome.  

Sleep: I'm back to sleeping great!  I don't if it was just playing so hard in Hawaii that helped but I'm happy to be back to my "sleep like a rock" self.  I'm sure Braedon is happier too as I'm much more pleasant to be around.  

Best moment this week: Feeling baby getting stronger and stronger.  We were spoiled and got to go to Hawaii for my sister in law Whitney's wedding.  While sitting on the beach baby was going crazy!  My whole belly was wiggling.  I kept wanting to tell everyone but a part of me loved having the moment all to myself.  I told Braedon that baby loves the beach.  He says baby was probably just happy cause mommy was relaxed and "in her element".  He might be right but I still think it's a good excuse to introduce him to the beach early on!    

Weird pregnancy moment: I'm still getting charlie horses at night if I try to stretch out my legs too hard. Baby is now big and strong enough that I can feel him up under my ribs and in my diaphragm.  It literally takes my breath away and sometimes not in a good way haha.  

Movement: See above.      

 Food Cravings: Honestly nothing really stands out to me as a "craving".  I think I just like my usuals which includes cereal and Chobani coconut yogurt. However right before we left for hawaii I had an intense craving for pancakes.  I made german pancakes for dinner that night and the craving was satisfied!    

Anything making you queasy: Only sometimes when baby is curled up strange in my belly.  He must be crushing some sort of important organ that's making me nauseous haha.   

Gender: BOY

What I'm looking forward to: Finishing the nursery!  It's getting there.  Also, my cute girlfriends are throwing me a shower this week and my friend Whitney is even flying in from Arizona to be there.  I have the best friends and I can't wait for some girl time!   

Probably an accurate depiction of what baby will look like...

BUMPDATE // 28 weeks

Sorry for the ghetto bathroom selfie.  I promised myself I would never do one of these.  And here I am.  Yikes.  

How Far Along: 28 weeks

Weight Gain: about 15 lbs.  I wasn't exactly at my "skinniest" when I got pregnant so it feels like 30 lbs but think of all the muscle I'm building by carrying around that extra weight right?? ;) (hope you know I'm actually joking)

Maternity Clothes:  Definitely pants, unless I'm wearing leggings or using my belly band.  It's hilarious but it holds my pants up so I won't complain!  

Sleep: they say third trimester your fatigue can come back with a vengeance.  Unfortunately, I'm afraid I've been cursed w/ a case of the tired's again.  I thought it was over after the first trimester!  AT first I thought maybe I was just anemic because I've been craving ice, super pale, and always tired. However, I've been trying to get more iron in my diet and still no big changes have been noted :(

Best moment this week: Friday night Braedon and I had a date night at home because he was finishing a paper for school (life of a pre-med wife I tell ya).   Once he finished he was playing the ukelele and we were just laying on the couch.  I lifted up my shirt so we could see my belly and boy was he wiggling in there!!  He reached all the way up to my ribs and it literally took my breath away.  

Weird pregnancy moment: Charlie horses- every night.  If I stretch out and flex my calf too hard while I'm sleeping I can feel one coming on.  However, after a night shift I almost ALWAYS get one the next day while I'm sleeping.  So bad that I wake up yelling.  It's embarrassing.  I didn't know Braedon was home one of these days (I am THAT dead to the world after a night shift), and woke up screaming with a charlie horse.  He came running in the room in a panic because he thought I had gone into labor!!  Sort of hilarious.  Once he realized it was just a charlie horse he was quite relieved!  I have a good husband guys.  He sat and massaged my legs after that for a solid half hour.   

Movement: This baby loves to shift around and curl up into my right side- it's actually made my belly button off center haha.  I can feel him ALL over my belly so it's hard to tell what's a hand or a foot.      

 Food Cravings: Honestly nothing really stands out to me as a "craving".  I think I just like my usuals which includes cereal and Chobani coconut yogurt.    

Anything making you queasy: No!  Thank goodness.  

Gender: BOY

What I'm looking forward to: Finishing a quilt I started on a whim- what was I thinking?? I can't sew a straight line to save my life and a big part of me is kind of dreading working on it again.  Small sewing projects are much more my style.  

BumpDate// 20 Weeks

How far along: 20 weeks

Total weight gain: honestly haven't weighed myself recently, but we'll find out at our OB appointment this week! 

Maternity clothes: not yet, however the rubber band trick is getting really old with the amount of times I have to use the restroom. (TMI??) 

Stretch marks: Nope, not yet anyway.  

Sleep: sleeping great!  I'm not a "back-sleeper" but occasionally I"ll wake up that way and I find it's kind of painful on my belly!  

Best moment of this week: Braedon and I just got home from New York and had the funnest time.  More about our trip later!  

Miss anything: is it vain of me to say feeling skinny??  Like I said, we just took a trip to New York and shopping is just not the same when your pregnant!   

Movement: I think??  I'll get an occasional bubble, or almost like popcorn popping sensations haha.   

Food cravings: Coconut Chobani greek yogurt.  Eat it every day.  

Anything making you queasy or sick: nothing unusual, smells have just amplified all around.    

Have you started to show yet: Yes!  Some days I wake up and think "woah, where did that come from?"  Other days I still look like I ate 2 or 7 donuts.     

Gender: still a BOY

Belly button in or out: In

Wedding rings on or off: On

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy!  I honestly feel like myself most days, other than the added "puff" 

Looking forward to:  Ultrasounds this week! We have our big ultrasound that will be pretty extensive and I'm excited/nervous + we have an appointment with our OB a little later in the week.   I'm excited to see the little guy, it feels like it's been too long! 

Conference Weekend/ 18 Week Bumpdate

Time feels like it's FLYING BY!  I love this time of year.  It didn't take much convincing for Braedon to drive up the canyon with me over the weekend.  Nobody can deny the beauty of the Utah mountains right now!  I find myself grinning ear to ear each fall and this year is no different.  

Over the weekend Braedon and I watched conference and during the break we escaped up Big Cottonwood canyon.  We pulled over on one of my favorite walks and took a stroll around silver lake.  It smelled AMAZING and the pictures just don't do the fall colors the justice they deserve!  

My top 3 favorite conference talks were

Elder Perry: Finding Lasting Peace and Building Eternal Families

Elder Scott: Make the Exercise of Faith Your First Priority

and

Elder Bednar: Come and See

Elder Bednar's talk was addressed specifically to non-members and I especially loved this quote...

"Some of you may respond, “But I already believe in Jesus and follow His teachings,” or “I am not sure if God really exists.” Our invitations to you are not an attempt to diminish your religious tradition or life experience. Bring all that you know is true, good, and praiseworthy—and test our message. Just as Jesus beckoned two of His disciples to “come and see” (John 1:39), so we urge you to come and see if the restored gospel of Jesus Christ enlarges and enriches that which you already believe to be true."

^^ Priesthood session means a trip to Hobby Lobby and I got started on a nursery craft ^^

Last but not least, I'm 18 weeks!!  We are almost halfway people! 

Bumpdate below..

How far along: 18 weeks

Total weight gain: 3 lbs.  This question is annoying.  

Maternity clothes: Nope... however that has not stopped me from purchasing them.  I'm still fitting into my regular jeans using the infamous rubber band trick but I got my first pair of maternity jeans and can I just say AMAZING.  Also really hilarious.  

Stretch marks: Nope, not yet anyway.  

Sleep: I slept in till 10 today and didn't even stir. It was amazing.  However I'm finally starting to get a bump and can't sleep on my stomach anymore.   

Best moment of this week: Ok call me crazy, and maybe it was some "gastric movement" but I SWEAR I felt my baby move today!  It was like a little "pop-pop!".  I called Braedon right away and he couldn't answer because he was volunteering at the hospital but he texted back, "Aw the good ol 1-2 step!  That's my boy!"  It made me smile real big.  

Miss anything: Nope.  

Movement: See above haha  

Food cravings: Coconut Chobani greek yogurt.  Eat it every day.  

Anything making you queasy or sick: Only if I go too long without snacking/eating a meal! Also, I can walk by a garbage can at work and know what's in it.  It's terrifying.  And I can also tell which babies are on antibiotics because they radiate this awful antibiotic smell.... pregnancy gives you super powers.   

Have you started to show yet: Yes!  Some days more than others.    

Gender: BOY!!!! 

Belly button in or out: In

Wedding rings on or off: On

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy!  It's true what they say- the second trimester is the "honeymoon phase".  At least for me!  

Looking forward to:  Going on a baby moon!  Even though we're pretty overwhelmed with all the financing that goes into having a baby, we're excited to splurge and take one last trip as just Braedon and Stef.  I'm pretty dang spoiled!!