This Life, Redefined...: September 2012

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Exponential Growth

Do you see that belly, right there? That is a 34 week pregnant belly in size, at only 30 weeks of pregnancy. I weigh less than I weighed with Brigid, and yet...34 week belly. This is impressive, no?

And did I mention the part where I am going to be a bridesmaid in the wedding of one of my lovely former roommates from college on November 3rd? I'm going to see her this weekend for her bridal shower, and I am FULLY expecting her to take one look at me and say, 'Nope. I take it back. You're out.' Not that she would, or anything, but...holy aesthetic destroyer, batman. I am going to request that I stand behind EVERYONE during that photo session...

T-Shirt: Target

Cardigan: Banana Republic (outlet)

Skirt: Motherhood Maternity

Belt: Land's End Canvas

Bracelet: the beach

Shoes: Nine West

Monday, September 24, 2012

Another Week

Last week was a week, and I didn't get around to posting anything at all because I was too busy dealing with doctors and croup and 'roid rage in a two-year old, but I'm determined to make up for it this week.

THIS WILL BE A GOOD WEEK!!!!

And just to start things off right today, I went into Hobby Lobby with a list of two things that I needed, and left $70 lighter. Today? I'm counting that as a win.

Happy Monday!

Dress: Motherhood Maternity

Cardigan: Banana Republic (outlet)

Boots: DSW

Friday, September 14, 2012

That's better...

Today, my friendly 'your hips are getting bigger' co-worker told me she liked my style.

She also told me she doesn't remember me getting this big, this fast with Brigid, but I'll take what I can get.

(And honestly, in her defense? I DON'T REMEMBER GETTING THIS BIG THIS FAST WITH BRIGID, EITHER!!! I DEMAND A RECOUNT.)

Sweater: Motherhood Maternity Jeans: Motherhood Maternity Shoes: Kenneth Cole (outlet) Necklace: ebay

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Still Trying

It is so very much easier to dress a pregnancy in the early stages than it is once you start measuring four weeks ahead of schedule, but unfortunately, sweatpants are STILL not considered office appropriate attire, despite my best lobbying attempts. So, dress I do. I usually try to add a scarf or a belt to liven things up a bit, but after being up all night with indigestion last night, I just didn't have it in me.

I just hope the bright colors distract people from the size of what's under those colors...

(Side note: Those of you willing to come help me out if I paid in tacos and taffy? You are sooooooo my kind of people!)

Skirt: Motherhood Maternity

T-Shirt: Motherhood Maternity

Cardigan: Target

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Eat ALL the Things

I am hereby placing a personal ad for someone to come, stand over my shoulder, and smack me in the back of the head every time I go to take a bite of something. Because the over-eating on my end is getting kind of ridiculous. I am not even really hungry, and yet, if there is food in front of me, I will eat it. What is that about?

I mean, yes. I am more hungry than normal. That is to be expected at 6+ months of pregnancy, and honestly, eating more because I am more hungry doesn't bother me in the least. What does bother me is that I can't stop, even when I've eaten to the point of being uncomfortably full. Because I know I should have stopped, and I want to have stopped, and still...I haven't actually stopped. I DO NOT LIKE THIS, AT ALL.

So. I'm hiring an assistant. Who wants in on this for the next three months or so? Atlanta is beautiful in the fall, I promise. Plus, I myself am funny, and a good driver, and my office has comfortable chairs, and I will pay you in uneaten Air Heads or Laffy Taffy or cookies or tacos or Chex Mix or whatever else you can stop me from eating.

And who could refuse an offer like that?

Monday, September 10, 2012

Vacation Shopping

Well, it was a lighter than normal haul for me this year, seeing as how NOTHING IN THE WORLD WILL EVER FIT ME AGAIN (sorry...pregnancy dramatics tend to be my new normal these days), but I still managed to snag a few things for myself while we were on vacation last week. The best part about our end-of-summer vacation is that all of the little shops around town are having their end-of-summer sales, so I was able to add to my already-too-large flip-flop and bracelet collections at 50% off.

(Notice that I focused on the two things...shoes and jewelry...that fit no matter how much weight you gain? Well, shoes, jewelry, and household knick-knacks, I guess. But you don't really want to see pictures of the new lantern or creepy ceramic skull I bought for the house, do you?)

(Well, even if you do, it's too bad, because I didn't take pictures of those. Maybe tomorrow...)

2014 List

1) Send more mail...thank you notes, birthday cards, and 'just because' messages.

2) Be nicer, in general, to my husband and family. They deserve a much less crabby me than the one they were stuck with for most of 2013.

3) Make more of an effort to communicate with the long-distance people in my life. I got away from facetiming with my sister on a regular basis, and I miss it. Plus, now that she's making me an aunt, I think it's even more important that we get back into the habit of seeing each other every week. I do not need her new baby asking 'are you SURE you have more than one sister?', just because Aunt Mary lives in Indiana and Aunt Tara lives all of the way in Georgia.

4) Call or email or even text my friends from college more than I do now, which is hardly at all. Just because we can pick up after not talking to each other for months like no time has passed at all does not mean I should keep letting all of those months pass without the talking. I'm afraid the picking back up can't keep happening in a friendship like that.

5) Do one fitness/health related challenge each month. - You know all of those '0 to 1,000 sit-ups in just 30 days!!' kind of schedules that pop up on Pinterest all of the time? I'm going to start doing those. One each month. Fifteen minute plank? I'M COMING FOR YOU. I'm also throwing my meat-free/sugar-free/alcohol-free months in this category, as well.

6) Run another organized 5K. - It was so much more fun than I expected. Minus the running up a hill part, anyway.

7) Renew my vows with Steve, in Vegas, by Elvis, for our 10th anniversary in October.

8) Create an art wall somewhere in my house.

9) Organize a workspace for me

10) Attend The Blathering in Seattle. - Charleston was such a great time, I'd love to make it back for the Seattle trip.

11) Read at least two books a month.

12) Take Brigid camping.

13) Find a yoga studio and start taking classes regularly.

14) Write something, anything, not blog related.

15) No spending money on new clothes this year. Using gift cards and rewards points are fine, but I need to get out of the habit of spending money on new stuff, just to make myself feel better. I swear, shopping is my addiction, but the high I get from buying a new sweater probably isn't enough to justify the amount of money I spend on clothes I don't need.

16) No buying anything at all unless I absolutely need it. I have a bad habit of stocking up on things at sales (candles, lotions, make-up, beauty products), even if I have a cabinet full of the same stuff already at home. I will use the cabinet full of crap before I add more crap.

17) Be more consistent in updating my family blog, because my parents give me a hard time when I let it lag, and my personal blog, because I'm not as happy with myself when I let it lag.

18) Find a general practitioner and get a physical.

19) Post at least one picture a day on Instagram, to get myself into the habit of taking more pictures of my sweet girls, since I find entire events have passed where I've forgotten to photograph said events. Like Christmas. Sadly.

20) Get a haircut. - You can laugh at this one, if you must, but I did not get one single haircut in 2013. In fact, I haven't had a haircut since before Caitlin was born in November of 2012. I do not even know how this happens, but I know it must end. Soon. I think a Locks of Love kind of donation might be in order. My hair, it is long.

21) Make an effort to get to know the neighbors. - I tend to not get dressed/leave the house on the weekends, and this extends to not fraternizing with anyone who lives near me, because I'm afraid people will judge me for my make-up free, sweatpants clad weekend laze. I should probably get over that.

22) Write more thank you notes. - I am terrible at writing thank you notes. I should not be so terrible.

23) Buy new rugs for my new house. - The sunroom and foyer, in particular, need something fun.

24) Be more fearless in forming and maintaining relationships. - There are many times where I think of something I want to send to someone, whether it's an email, text, card, or what have you, and I don't, because I'm afraid I've maybe overestimated whether we have the type of friendship where I can do something like that. I don't want to worry about stuff like that anymore.

25) Put together an Advent/Christmas activity calendar for Brigid and Caitlin. - I did that for Brigid when I was home on maternity leave after Caitlin's birth, and it was so much fun. I didn't get the chance to do it this year, and I feel like I missed out on some part of the excitement of the season. I'm bringing it back.

26) Institute a once-a-month date night with Steve. Or date lunch, I guess, if necessary.

27) Institute a once-a-month girls' night, whether it be with my old college roommate, my SiLs, or the neighbors. I should get out of the house at least once a month with people who do not live in my house.