23 week baby bump

Soooo I missed weeks 21 and 22. OOPS! Time is flying and I've been busy with some projects I've been working on the side.  Since I've been MIA here are my past two weeks in pictures: 

 

{attended a baby shower, birthday celebrations, new items for our home, date night with the hubs, I put together some fresh florals for my Valentine's, and some shopping trips to Home Goods, Babies R Us and Target]

As of today I am 24 weeks + 2 days.  Here I am last week with a 23 week photo: 

                      {I really need to stop taking these photos at the end of the day - tired.eyes.}


How far along? 23 weeks  

Gender? Definitely a GIRL! My sweet baby Carter Jane 

Nicknames? CJ, baby Jane. Is it weird I already have nicknames for her and she's not even here yet?! 

Total weight gain/loss? 11 pounds since my last doctors appointment 4 weeks ago.  I have another today.  I think today will be a game changer in the weight department.  I feel huge!

Maternity clothes?  Yesterday I purchased two tops from Target while I was looking for a new lamp for our house.  I definitely like the more body conscious tops/ tanks with ruching at the sides.  I picked the two tops up without trying them on - 1 ruched and 1 baby doll style. Woah, the baby doll style does not work for me, makes me feel bigger than I am.  They have some super cute knit dresses out too, I wish it wasn't 1 degree outside so I could start wearing them with slip on sneaks or dare I say it, sandals!

Sleep? I haven't been waking up AS early as I was sharing with you all during my last blog post around 20 weeks.  So that's good.  Since I'm up multiple times a night having to go to the restroom, sometimes it's pretty difficult for me to fall back asleep.  I think they call this "training for when baby comes".  

Best moment this week? She's kicking! Well, not enough that I can share with my husband yet... Her kicks are VERY sporadic and sometimes I find myself staring at my stomach wanting her to kick again.  I hear from non-first time moms that will change soon.  

Symptoms? Emotional - I cried hysterically to the trailer of "The Theory of Everything".  Just to the trailer.  Take a look: ahhh. 

other symptoms: Mood swing-ish {sorry to my husband}, tired in the afternoons around 3-4pm it usually hits me.  

Food cravings? 

• Starbucks black tea/ lemonade unsweetened.  Very specific and very good! It's the most refreshing drink ever.  I wake up some mornings daydreaming about getting one.  
• Seafood.  I know I can't have a lot of it, but I've been indulging now and again.  My husband made one of our favorite guilty - pleasure meals on Valentine's Day... Peppered Shrimp Alfredo.  Delish! {Find the recipe HERE}
• Salads.  I guess that's not a bad thing! 

Food aversions? I've been getting better with eating chicken.  Nothing else in particular the past week or so, but sometimes that can change daily.  

Labor signs? x

Belly button in or out?In.

What I miss? Drinking multiple cups of coffee a day.  Decaf just isn't the same.  

What I'm looking forward to? Seeing CJ in an ultrasound on Thursday! Also my Mom and husband will be going with me so it will be fun to watch their reactions.  

Nursery? Well, we have the crib - yay! My husband, Darren put it together the day after it came as per my request nagging.  The nursery collection is growing.  I purchased a few things from Home Goods to pair up with some things I already own {two cute new mercury lamps with grey drum shades, three grey stitched baskets for storage}. They were typical Home Goods steals! I could literally spend an entire week's pay in that store.  I have to practice self control.  

Mood? Antsy! A friend of mine asked me yesterday if I was nervous / excited for Carter to come. Although we are no where near ready as far as having everything we need for her yet, I'm want her to get here already! I can't imagine how I'll be feeling at 30 some weeks.  Ha! 

I'll leave you with the CUTEST photo of my niece Brooke "organizing" her cousin Carter's clothing in the nursery.  break.my.heart.