Week 19 Bumpdate

How far along: 19 weeks!
Baby Size: The baby is a size of a mango! (6 inches long, .5 lbs)!
Weight gain: Up .5 pounds this week to 119.5, so 12 pounds total.
Maternity clothes: Oh yes! Still squeezing into my work pants with the bella band but everything else is maternity! Even my pjs and workout clothes are getting tight!
  Stretch marks: Smearing my creams every night. My tummy definitely gets itchy when I don't.
Sleep: Like a champ and thankful for it!

Gender: A sweet baby GIRL - Caroline Grace Marcellino!
  Movement: Ughh! I wish! I only felt that one flutter and haven't felt anything since. I am so anxious for it. I guess Caroline is just a really chill babe and isn't into the whole somersault and kicking thing?
Best moment this week: Decorating for Christmas and hanging Caroline's stocking on the mantel. I love to see her name and to think she'll be with us next Christmas makes me oh-so-happy!!

Looking forward to: So much! We have our anatomy ultrasound scan today and two Christmas parties this weekend!
Food cravings: Peanut butter, egg sandwiches and queso...   Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope.   Labor Signs: Not anytime soon.   What I miss: Fitting into my pjs and sweaters.   Symptoms: Growing belly!  
Nursery: No update on the nursery but my diaper bag has arrived!!! I decided to go with the Logan Square Stevie Baby Bag and it's perfect! Plus I scored it 70% off during the last Kate Spade Secret Sale!

Belly Button in or out? In

Wedding rings on or off? On

Mood: Overjoyed!
Workouts: 1 Cardio Funk class, 1 bump walk with April and 2 elliptical workouts! I am really trying to get in more exercise to make up for the Twix ice cream bars and donuts every day.
Prayer for Caroline:    Dear Lord, I praise You for our sweet little Caroline. I pray that she will continue to grow properly and be 100% healthy. This week as she begins to gain her personality I pray that whether she is a thoughtful, quiet introvert or a rambunctious extrovert, I pray she will know your love and have a joyful spirit that draws others to her. God, You are awesome and I thank You for our baby girl. Please help the rest of this pregnancy go smoothly. This is truly a gift from You, and I praise You for it! Thank you Lord. In Jesus' name, amen.    The one who lives under the protection of the Most High dwells in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."    - Psalm 91:1-2
 

2013 Christmas Tree

The past few years Matt and I have purchased our Christmas tree from either Home Depot or the lot down the street from us. However, this year we decided to be festive and join our friends, Mel & Travis, for a trip to the mountains to cut down our own! Growing up in Florida we didn't really have this type of opportunity so I had no idea how much I've been missing out until this experience! So two Sunday's ago we picked up our friends and roadtripped 2.5 hours north to Todd, NC, stopping once in Boone for an amazing lunch at Daniel Boone Inn, the best Homestyle Southern Comfort Food {and Southern Living agrees}! Afterwards we continued on to Todd, NC to the tree farm that Travis and his family have been cutting down their tree from since he was little. Sadly, we had just missed the last tractor ride up the mountain so we hurried to Clawson's {Choose & Cut} Tree Farm down the road. Lucky for us we were their last customers of the day so we had the tractor ride and entire tree farm all to ourselves!

 {tractor ride up the mountain}

 {the 9 footer Matt and I picked out}

{time to cut her down!}

And we couldn't leave without purchasing a homemade kissing ball too!

I know technically you're supposed to let your tree "settle" for a day or two before decorating but I am always too excited to wait! This year we used 6 strands of lights and 4 rolls of gold ribbon.

I made a new extra large bow this year and added some spray.

{a few of my favorite ornaments}

There she is! I am so in love with our tree!!

Now I need to get wrapping!

Five on Friday!

Happy Friday! Can you believe how quickly we are flying through the holidays? The number of days between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year are 6 days fewer than normal so I already feel so behind!! This weekend I am planning to add the finishing touches to our Christmas tree, put our wreaths up outside, decorate the inside of our home and work on our Christmas cards! We also have a 1st birthday party to attend and will watch all of the big football games!

  - ONE - Last night April and I went for our first {of many to come} mommy walks!

- TWO - Matt and I flew through season one of Orange is the New Black in one weekend recently and I am on pins and needles for season 2. In the meantime I decided to pick up the book to see if I could get some closure. I have to say I am only half way through but I am thoroughly disappointed. This is the first time that the book is not better than the movie in my opinion.

- THREE - Since the Gators didn't show up this season I've been rooting for the hubby's favorite team - the Ohio State Buckeyes. For their biggest rivalry of the season last weekend I made a batch of Buckeyes. You can find the recipe {here}!  Something tells me I'll be making a few more batches of these in the coming weeks considering their winning streak seems to be going strong!

- FOUR - I tried on the 9 month bump during our Black Friday shopping and y'all, there is absolutely NO way I can get this big. Seriously, I am less than 5 feet tall and will most definitely fall forward on my face every time I get up. My mom died laughing every time I walked out of the dressing room with this bump. I can't even imagine. I just can't.

- FIVE - One of the amazing perks of being preggo! I felt kind of ridiculous using this space at 18 weeks pregnant, not to mention there were tons of open spots nearby - but hey, I gotta use it while I can!

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 above 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!