6 Month Bumpdate {Thomas Dean}

I can't even begin to describe the many ways this second pregnancy has been different from my first. It literally feels like I peed on a stick yesterday and woke up this morning buried in my Bump Nest pillow to little arms and legs jabbing out of the sides of my belly. Matt helps me roll out of bed and I grunt as my feet hit the floor. When did this belly get so enormous? I walk past the mirror on the way to pee and barely recognize myself. I pretend my thighs aren't rubbing together.

Caroline begins calling for da-da. She's up and the reminder that I'm carrying our second child quickly fades away as we begin our busy routine for the day. Seconds before Matt and Caroline head out the door I throw bottles in Caroline's bag, a peanut butter sandwich in Matt's briefcase and Tupperware containers and fruit snacks in my bag. As I load my brand new purse I frown at the amount of crushed puffs that are scattered about and gag a little bit when I discover a half eaten cheese stick. Under a sea of toys, pacifiers and crumbs I find our 12 week ultrasound photos of Thomas and I get a pang of mommy guilt thinking about how none of the 48 ultrasound photos of Caroline ever came close to the opportunity for wrinkles. They are safely tucked behind a protective sheet in a monthly scrapbook, complete with feelings, stories and updates. I tell Thomas I love him and promise myself not to ever let him feel like the "second child" and scurry out the door with a tumbler of half-caf coffee. 

As the elevator climbs to the 24th floor of my building I notice an older woman smiling at me. I say good morning and she responds with "how far along?" I panic and without Matt there to save me per usual I reply "More than half way! It's a boy. We're naming him Thomas. He's our second. Our first is a little girl and they'll be 14 months apart. I know, we're crazy, but we're excited!" and hope I've answered all of her questions in the last 8 seconds of the ride. More mom guilt. How the hell do I not remember how far along I am? With Caroline I could tell you how many hours pregnant I was and also how many days I had left to go. The second I get to my desk I decide to check my bump apps. Passwords expired, I make all new accounts and am excited to learn a few minutes later that Thomas is now the size of an eggplant which explains the dance parties in my belly at 3 am. I reminisce how much I looked forward to the day of the week that my vegetable would change during my last pregnancy...

While I may not have elaborate nursery plans, a going home outfit purchased, washed and packed for the hospital or a journal filled with letters to our baby, our love for this little man is just as strong as our love for his sister. We are beyond grateful for this miracle and have been tremendously blessed with another easy and healthy pregnancy. And although we still have worries about being good parents, sharing our attention between two, paying for daycare, and managing a healthy work/life balance (all while trying to keep some focus on our marriage too), we are taking this journey one step at a time together.

Pregnancy updates:

• Sleep: Good, but only if I'm in my own bed with my Bump Nest pillow.
• Movement: So much more this time around than with Caroline. She always made me worried that something was wrong. However, Thomas likes to compete for the limelight every second he gets.
• Nursery: We ordered a second crib for the nursery! Since the minis will be sharing a room we decided to get a matching crib. Thankfully PBK was offering a huge discount on cribs last weekend and I had a stack of coupons and enough gift cards left over from my last baby shower to cover the entire purchase!
• Cravings: carbs (bagels, french fries, etc.), orange juice, breakfast items, Shirley Temples and any kind of dessert (ice cream, cookies, candy, etc.) these days. 
• Symptoms: I'm saving up all my complaints for the last 4 weeks of my pregnancy, but the heartburn and itchy belly is no joke this time around. 
• Missing: Purchasing/wearing clothes in my pre-pregnancy size. I got the cutest Lilly dress in my Easter basket from my MIL that pains me to see hanging in my closet.
• Best Moments: Sharing pregnancy with my sister, Easter and looking forward to getting home this weekend to see my family!
• Weight: Up 13 pounds and feeling every bit of it.

6 Months Pregnant with Caroline: 22 weeks // 23 weeks // 24 weeks // 25 weeks // 26 weeks

2015 Easter

Our Easter this year was definitely our favorite yet. I never knew how much joy holidays would bring with a mini. And to think that this time next year we'll have two minis running around hunting eggs blows my mind!   Friday afternoon we packed our bags and headed to Matt's parents house in Winston Salem. But before we departed we let Caroline open her first Easter basket early. We just couldn't wait. I didn't think she'd really be that in to it but she surprised us with how excited she got over all of her little presents. She pulled each item out one at a time and admired it...then had a blast with the Easter grass.

Saturday morning we got up early and headed to the neighborhood country club with Matt's parents and Grandmom. The club put on such a great Easter party complete with a delicious brunch, an Easter bunny, petting zoo, bounce houses, egg hunts, balloon animals and lots of other activities. 

The club set up two buffet lines -- one for adults and a mini one for the kiddies. It was adorable and Caroline was so excited to help us fix her plate(s) of food.

Caroline ate, and ate, and ate plates full of strawberries, french toast, eggs, yogurt and more. This girl loves breakfast like her mama.

Once our bellies were full we set off to find the bunny. Below is a series of photos which accurately depict Caroline's dramatic first encounter with the Easter bunny. In her defense, he was a bit creepy...

She seemed apathetic so we sprung for a solo picture...

And then we continued the torture with more family photos...

Next up, the petting zoo, which was only a slightly less terrifying experience than the bunny. I promise Caroline had some fun though. There were goats, sheep, baby ducks, bunnies and even a llama!

Later, Caroline dominated the Easter egg hunt held on the putting green. She loved this part of the morning, maybe even more than she loved eating 9 plates of eggs. Her eyes lit up and she was so excited to crawl around, pick up eggs and shake them.

She was so proud of hunting down those eggs that they proceeded to spend the rest of the photos with us.

Afterwards we headed back to the house where the Easter bunny had visited and left a few baskets filled with goodies.

Time to pull out all of the Easter grass piece by piece.

After a good long nap we departed for Charlotte. The next morning we attended church, ate lunch at Leroy Fox and sat around the fire pit later that evening with big juicy steaks. It was the very best Easter ever.

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter!
And for fun...our 2013 Easter Weekend. 

Five on Friday {Easter Edition}!

Happy Good Friday to you! What a wonderful week filled with GOOD NEWS and Easter preparations. I love Easter so I've been looking forward to this weekend for awhile now. We are leaving this afternoon to head to Matt's parents house in Winston. Tomorrow we have big plans for an Easter egg hunt, a huge Easter brunch and a visit with the Easter bunny! Afterwards we'll head back to Charlotte so we can attend our church on Easter Sunday.

- ONE - I threw together a few little Easter baskets for Caroline's teachers. After Matt dropped Caroline and the goodies off yesterday I realized that we're probably getting kicked out of the daycare for bringing peanut butter on site. Mom fail.

- TWO - Caroline's Easter basket is ready and I am so proud of myself for not going overboard. I am pretty confident that the pink grass is going to be Caroline's favorite part so I decided it would be dumb to overspend on the rest of the stuff. I received the Easter basket as a gift from my baby shower last year but picked everything else up from the dollar aisle at Target for a grand finale of maybe $15? Contents include a bunny sippy cup, sunglasses, bubbles x2, headband x2, a Spring plate and a set of rubber duckies for bath time. She'll love it. And if not, well, she's getting two more Easter baskets from the Grandparents.

- THREE - As I rush around the house today folding laundry, chasing Caroline, packing our bags, picking up toys and loading the car, I can't help but stop just for a moment and reflect on the cross. Jesus, our holy and righteous and blameless God, went to the cross and conquered the grave...for me...and for you! To me it is overwhelmingly humbling and deeply encouraging to know that we are worth that! Jesus desires a relationship with us, one that is personal and life giving! His resurrection gives us eternal hope.

- FOUR - I am so excited about incorporating more and more traditions each year into our Easter holiday as Caroline and Thomas get older. Dying eggs, leaving chalk prints on the driveway from the "bunny", competitive egg hunts, Sunday church in our Easter best, a big tasty meal and more, it is going to be so much fun. Here is one Christ centered Easter activity that I am especially excited about - the 12 eggs of Easter. Find more details (here). Would love to know what your family Easter traditions are too!

- FIVE - And speaking of GOOD NEWS...earlier this week my sister and Ryan announced their PREGNANCY! My family is so, so, so excited for another babe! Thomas and Baby S will be 3 months apart and the very best friends. We are headed home to Florida next weekend and my sister and her hubby are going to do a little gender reveal party while we're there! Cannot wait!!!

Wanna join Darci, April, Natasha and I on the Friday fun? You can link-up on any of our four blogs every Friday! All you have to do is...

1.) Write your post about five things you're lovin' this week (or any five things you want to share!).

2.) Share the logo on your blog and link back. 

3.) Link-up at the bottom of the post so some new readers can check out your five things and say hello!