#richlyblesseddaily2014 {Week 1}

A couple of my favorite bloggers that I follow took one picture every day last year and shared it on Instagram. I thought it was so fun to follow along, and I decided that one of the ways I would document our life this year was to do the same thing.

What a perfect year to start! After all, this year is going to be such an exciting one full of some of the biggest {and wonderful} changes we've ever experienced. I know we'll love looking back at all the big and small moments from every day of the year when December rolls around again.

So...here's the first week of 2014 {plus a few days}. :) You can follow along every day on Instagram @richlyblessedblog.

Day 1: We made it to midnight! This may be the last time we purposely stay up until midnight!  

Day 2: Watching Alabama play in the Sugar Bowl. 

Day 3: Back at work! I started the morning right with my traditional Friday breakfast and I bought our baby book when I was running errands at lunch. 

Day 4: We finally finished our registries! 

Day 5: Cozy comfort food for one of the coldest nights of the year in Alabama. Is it possible to have too many carbs? I don't think so... 

Day 6: Pizza and the national championship game!

Day 7: I started working on the baby book and smeared the very first word I wrote {along with others}. If you know me, you know this will drive me nuts! I'll have to stop myself from buying a new baby book. 

Day 8: 30 weeks pregnant! 

Day 9: 30 week check up at the doctor, random craving for Olive Garden for dinner, shopping for maternity pictures, and of course, no trip to the mall is complete without Auntie Anne's.

Day 10: Date night at Firebird's and then shopping for the baby's going home outfit.

  

30 Weeks

Click here to see my other weekly pregnancy update posts.

Click here to see my step-by-step chalk art tutorial.

How Far Along: 30 weeks and 1 day

Size of Baby: According to BabyCenter, the baby is the size of a cabbage, is about 15.7 inches long, and weighs almost 3 pounds.

Total Weight Gain: Last time I went to the doctor, I was up about 20 pounds. I'm quite sure that it's quite a bit more than that now. I *might* sneak a peek at the scale tomorrow when I get weighed at the doctor...depending on how emotionally stable I'm feeling. ;)

Gender: It's a girl!!

Maternity Clothes: Definitely! There are just a couple pairs of pants that I can still wear with the belly band, but they're definitely not as comfy as maternity pants. I'm going to be sad to see maternity pants go...

Wedding Rings On/Off: On

Stretch Marks: I was really hoping I would never have to change this answer from "none yet", but I've found a few stretch marks. The night I spotted them, I decided my relationship with Publix cocoa butter lotion was over and I ordered an upgrade. This Palmer's Tummy Butter has great reviews on Amazon and I'll be using it until *hopefully* these stretch marks go away. It does feel a little greasy for a while which I hate, but I just tell myself that it means it's doing its job!

{via}

Sleep: Sleep has not been so great this week. :( It's taking me a long time to go to sleep even though I'm so tired. My brain just races at night with everything we still need to do to get ready for the baby along with everything I need to do to be ready for work every day. I've said it many times, but I really wish my brain had an off switch.

Cravings/Aversions: Nothing really specific, just food in general.

Symptoms: Oh my goodness, this has been *the* week where I have started having tons of symptoms. I felt fantastic during my entire Christmas break, and this week the bottom fell out. I'm talking exhaustion, back pain, headaches, Braxton Hicks, heartburn, labored breathing, you name it...

Movement: I haven't felt her move as much this week and I think it's because I'm up and around a lot more with being back at work. I hardly feel her at all during the day. Once I get home and get still for a little while, she starts to move more. The movements are changing, too. Instead of little thumps and kicks all the time, the movements are slower and more drawn out...almost like she's stretching or rolling.

Mood: I still feel happy most of the time, but I've started getting *very* emotional. I've always cried easily at touching things, but it's just gotten ridiculous lately. Daniel and I were out to dinner the other night and I just looked at him and started crying out of nowhere. He had no idea why and I couldn't keep it together enough to tell him. Finally, in the car on the way home I told him I just got "overwhelmed with love" and, of course, barely got that out because I was tearing up again. It's comical, really.

What I Miss: Christmas break and sleeping on my stomach. And Christmas break.

Looking Forward To: We have our 30 week doctor's appointment tomorrow and then we're getting our maternity pictures taken on Sunday.

Best Moment This Week: We finished our registries! What an overwhelming task! We were so glad to cross that off the list. Also, we had THREE, yes three, two-hour school delays this week for extremely cold temperatures. It was bliss. So nice to kind of ease our way in to the second semester.

  

29 Weeks

Click here to see my other weekly pregnancy update posts.

Click here to see my step-by-step chalk art tutorial.

How Far Along: 29 weeks and 1 day

Size of Baby: According to BabyCenter, the baby is the size of a butternut squash, is a little over 15 inches long, and weighs about 2.5 pounds.

Total Weight Gain: Last time I went to the doctor, I had gained about 20 pounds and I did not look when I was at the doctor last week!

Gender: It's a girl!!

Maternity Clothes: Definitely!

Wedding Rings On/Off: On

Stretch Marks: None yet. I'm still using cocoa butter lotion almost every day.

Sleep: Sleep is still good. I'm so thankful for this! I'm definitely feeling a little more tired as the weeks go on, though.

Cravings/Aversions: I have been thinking a lot about carbs again. I bought a baguette at Publix to go with potato soup one night for dinner, and I have pretty much been thinking about it ever since.

Symptoms: Nothing really...hardly any contractions, no ligament pain. I'm really hoping this continues when I go back to work on Friday!

Movement: Oh yes! She is moving so much and I love every little kick and thump. I feel like she's saying "hi" and I'm pretty sure I smile every time she moves.

Mood: Happy!!!

What I Miss: Other than a few silly things like sushi and unlimited caffeine, I'm not missing anything.

Looking Forward To: We're getting maternity pictures taken next weekend! I can't wait!

Best Moment This Week: There were so many fun moments this past week! Daniel and I registered at BuyBuy Baby. Although...that was more overwhelming than fun. I'm sure it will be much easier {and faster!} when we register at Babies-R-Us since we've done it once. My parents came over one day and helped us in the nursery. The room looks completely different and we can't help but just stand in the doorway and stare at it almost every time we walk by. Our favorite moment last week, though, had to be when we got see our little baby's face on our 4D ultrasound. It was so amazing and we've looked at the pictures and watched the videos over and over. We are overwhelmed and so grateful at this beautiful little miracle the Lord has blessed us with.

  

Merry, merry! {Christmas 2013}

Oh my goodness! Christmas just blew past me this year! The week after Christmas is always kind of a bummer. The decorations just lose their twinkle, the music isn't as magical, and all the Christmas treats just don't taste as good. Wait. No, I take that last part back. ;)

We had a great Christmas this year...

Our last one as a family of two!

We all went to the Christmas Eve service at church and then headed back to my parents' house for dinner, presents, and a visit from Santa!

He made a drive through their neighborhood on a fire truck. We knew when he was scheduled to come and we told Vanna to listen closely because she was going to like what was about to happen. Her first thought? The ice cream truck! :)

Here he comes!

 Look at that sweet, excited smile!!

After we saw Santa, it was time to open presents!

Even the baby got some presents!! These little footie sleepers just own me. I can't even stand the cuteness.

Christmas morning for Daniel and I was probably the most laid-back that it will be for many years! We slept late, had a leisurely breakfast with coffee and hot chocolate, and then opened presents.

Daniel made bows for every single one of my presents. I love that.

He was especially proud of his "tri-color" bow and will be oh so happy that I featured it on the blog. ;)

This was Daniel's big gift this year. He was very surprised to open it and find...

One boot! I wrapped them separately because I knew he would know exactly what his gift was if I wrapped the box they came in! I figured a little trickery was in order. Remember what he did to me on my birthday with the PowerAdes in my present?

Stockings have always been one of my favorite parts of Christmas presents and Daniel did a great job on mine this year. Just a few of things in it were Oreos {of course}, Fudge Rounds {my mom is shaking her head}, nail polish, and the big stocking stuffer...a gift certificate for a prenatal massage. I can't wait to use that in a few weeks!! Oh, and both of our stockings had something in common.

Reese's trees!! Why are they *so* much better than regular Reese's cups?!

I'm always sad when Christmas is over, but we're anxiously and excitedly looking ahead to 2014. We know the best is yet to come!!

  

28 Weeks

Click here to see my other weekly pregnancy update posts.

Click here to see my step-by-step chalk art tutorial.

How Far Along: 28 weeks and 2 days, I cannot even believe I'm in the third trimester!

Size of Baby: According to The Bump, the baby is the size of an eggplant, is about 14.8 inches long, and weighs about 2.25 pounds.

Total Weight Gain: Last time I went to the doctor, I had gained about 20 pounds. I'm going again today and I'm going to make sure {nicely, of course} that the nurse who weighs me knows that I *will not* be looking at the scale and there is no need for her to announce my current weight! It's the day after Christmas...nobody wants to know how much they weigh!!

Gender: It's a girl!!

Maternity Clothes: Pretty much everything!

Wedding Rings On/Off: On

Stretch Marks: None yet. I'm still using cocoa butter lotion almost every day.

Sleep: I am sleeping great!! It has been so nice to sleep in a little bit this week since I'm on Christmas break. I'm taking lots of naps, too...during which my husband gets on cleaning frenzies, so I think I'll keep it up with the naps. ;)

Cravings/Aversions: Nothing really noteworthy. Just food in general here lately.

Symptoms: Funny story. So, I'm out on Christmas break and I have literally had maybe 5 Braxton Hicks contractions in the last 5 days. Yes, days. I was having at least that many every single day last week. I think it's pretty clear what's causing them. :-/ I've really had no symptoms this week, not even much ligament pain. It's been wonderful.

Movement: Still tons of movement every day. She doesn't really move much unless I'm being still, though. Feeling her move has been one of my favorite things about being pregnant!

Mood: Happy!!!

What I Miss: I'm really not missing anything at all!

Looking Forward To: We're going to the doctor today and getting a 4D ultrasound! I can't wait to see her sweet little face!!

Best Moment This Week: Getting to spend more time with Daniel and my family for Christmas! We've also made some progress on the nursery. We have a glider and we've picked a paint color! Can't wait to see it all come together!

  

Jammy Cocoa Christmas {2013}

We went out last night for our annual Jammy Cocoa Christmas tradition. Basically, we got in our jammies, got Starbucks and a cookie, turned on some Christmas music, and drove around looking at Christmas lights.

We had to get a baby bump picture next to our Christmas tree before we headed out. I'm barely getting away with these non-maternity jammies. ;)

Gingerbread latte and oatmeal raisin cookie for him...

Peppermint mocha and chocolate chip cookie for me... Oh, and the cookies from Panera are proof that we followed the Jammy Cocoa Christmas rules and actually went inside Panera with our jammies on...slippers and all! {We did go through the Starbucks drive-through, though. It was cold!}

One of our favorite houses of the night. They had this pretty nativity scene with the word "JOY" in lights beside it. Loved it. We also loved the houses that had their roofs outlined in lights.

Merry Christmas Eve!