17-Weeks Update

We are at 17-weeks now!

I'm actually starting to look pregnant and not just fat anymore.

Kind of nice!

I think from here on out things will really start picking up pace and December will be here before we know it!

 We will be finding out the gender of the baby on July 4th.

We're SUPER excited!

As for me, I'm feeling pretty good and I've gained 10-pounds so far.

I've somehow managed to keep up my power walking.

5x's a week 2-miles each time.

I find that it makes me feel better all around.

I just wonder if I'll be able to keep it up the whole time?

Maybe not 5x's a week but at least 3?

Clothes are getting tough.

I'm still not in maternity wear but instead making my regular clothes work by wearing a belly band.

Shirts are tough though.

My ta-ta's have gotten huge and along with the bigger belly ~ shirts just aren't working.

The good news is ~ my cousin gave me an entire box of her maternity clothes and we are the same size.

WooHoo!

We're heading up to the Blue Ridge Parkway this weekend to camp with friends.

I'm SUPER excited!

I can't wait to get out of the heat, hike and just hang out!

I'm sure it will be packed giving it's the weekend before the 4th.

What are you all up to this weekend?

Bridesmaid Dress Shopping While Pregnant

I'm 17-weeks today and I'll do a post updating you all on that tomorrow but for now I'm going to dig back into my 'private blog journal' for a post I wrote at 11 and 1/2 weeks.

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I'm the Matron of Honor in my cousin Alayna's wedding in October and by then I'll be large and in charge with only 8-weeks until D-Date.

BUT.. the bridesmaid dress has to be ordered now because it takes 3-months to get in due to the rare color choice of the bride.

So, I went shopping and let the sales lady know that I'm 11 1/2 weeks along but at that point I'll be 8-months along.

She did what any sales woman would do.

Give me a strap on pillow to try dresses on with!

 A sight of what's to come?

I think so.

I'm already starting to show and tomorrow is 12-weeks.

I'm already wondering if it's a boy because of getting so big so quick?

 As much as I liked that purple dress above it's not available in the bride's color choice.

So instead I'll be going with the style below.

12-weeks tomorrow and I'm starting to feel a little better already.

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My dress has come in, I just need to pick it up.

I'm thinking I'll wait until September to alter it.

Stop by tomorrow for updates!

Random Post

I haven't done one of these random updates in a while so I thought it was time.

*We haven't done too much since our cruise. We really have been trying to get back into our routine for the most part.

*I went to dinner and a movie with some girlfriends Friday night. 

We saw Rock of Ages and I hate to say it but I didn't love it.

Am I the only one?

I thought it was hokey, even though I know that was the point.

Maybe seeing it a 2nd time would change my mind.

I felt the same way the first time I saw Anchorman and now I love that movie.

*Summer fruit and veggie season is my favorite! I'm always so excited to see the fresh cherries make their debut at the Farmer's Markets and grocery stores.

I could literally sit and eat this entire bowl in one setting.

I just wish they were cheaper.

Nearly $7 for bowl.

 *Buddy has a chair in our house.

This wing back was one of the first things I bought right out of college.

It's in our basement and I'm not sure what the pooch would do if we got rid of it.

As you can see it's covered in fur and we have to vacuum it on a regular basis.

What makes me laugh it that even when we're home he goes down to the basement to sleep on his chair.

 *I've been in a cooking 'lull' in the last few months.

I think a lot of it has to do with being tired and just not into it.

Look at this creativity?

LOL!

Boring, bland meal! 

 *Because of this I decided to take some initiative to 'snap' out of it after seeing A Liz's post last week about her grilled avocado.

We tried it and it was good, but very rich.

Brad isn't putting it on our list to cook again.

You should totally try it and see for yourself though!

 * I got a new pair of Bonanno's for our cruise.

So versatile and comfy.

 * This is a couple of weeks old but here's a belly photo.

I've been taking pictures each week in my workout clothes with no shirt and just my sports bra on.

You could REALLY tell a difference this week! 

I've popped out!

But, I'm not willing to post those photos on the blog.

Maybe I'll try and post a different type of picture later this week.

 *One of my best friends, Jodee, sent us this little guardian angel for Baby Stephens on Friday.

Love it and it means so much.

 *My new 'mocktail' is Perrier with a splash or two of orange juice.

Almost like a mimosa!

Bubbles and juice, just no buzz!

HA!

 *Sorry, for the sideways picture but I wanted to share that I was featured in the Junior League of Charlotte magazine this month.

The article and even cover focuses on my decade board project that I posted about here last month.

I am honored, to say the least!!

*Last but not least.

We are going on our annual camping trip this weekend.

Today Brad and I went to a sporting goods store to buy a lantern when I noticed these little tents.

I immediately, said.. 

'OMG! Look at the little tents they have for the dogs!'

Brad about died!!

These are just the 'models' that they have on display so you can see what the tent looks like set up.

What's even worse??

HA!

He said I did the same thing last year when we were in there shopping for camping gear!

DUH!!

I actually am still laughing at myself over that one.

So, that's all I have for today.

How are all of you?

BabyMoon Part 4: Cayman Cont. and Jamaica

The last and final BabyMoon post takes us back to Grand Cayman and to Ochos Rios, Jamaica.

I picked up our prints from the disposable/waterproof camera today.

Ugh.

We're totally buying a digital camera that is waterproof, because these photos look like they're from 1980.

Even so, I wanted to share.

This is from our stingray encounter in Grand Cayman.

Brad is getting a 'massage' from the stingray.

 As I mentioned yesterday, the whole experience is very cool.

If you ever get a chance to go to Stingray Island be sure to do it.

 It was better than being in a swimming pool.

 As I mentioned, the snorkeling was even cooler than the stingrays.

 We are so ready to go back!

 It was like being in a fish tank! 

The fish were beautiful!

 We had back to back port days.

Meaning, the day after Grand Cayman we woke up in Ochos Rios, Jamaica.

We know a lot of people who have honeymooned in this area so were excited to explore.

When looking out the window that morning I was surprised to see that it was more mountainous than Grand Cayman!

 Very pretty!!

 When looking for excursions in Ochos Rios we really would have preferred to do a zip line.

BUT..

Not really something for pregnant women.

So, we signed up for the Dunn's River Falls.

 It was only a 5-minute drive from port and when arriving at the park it was clear that the area was full of 'retailers' trying to make money off tourists.

We were asked to buy every piece of junk you can imagine.

Very annoying.

As for the falls?

They were amazing!

I wasn't sure at first if I should do the hike being pregnant but decided to go for it.

As many of you know, I hike quite a bit so was confident that I could do it, my only worry was how slick some areas would be.

 Well, I'm here to tell you that it wasn't that bad.

Apparently, they scrub the rocks each morning to ensure there is no algae on them.

No kidding.

 We had a blast!!!

 We both agreed that we wouldn't go back to Jamaica though.

A little too impoverished for us.

After the hike, we skipped the town and headed back to the boat.

The town was nothing but people begging you to buy junk and it's not something we were interested in.

That night we got dressed up for our 2nd formal dinner night.

I didn't bring another cocktail type dress because honestly, my ta-ta's have gotten a little too big to look decent in any of them.

 Every night we tried to get sunset pictures.

Some nights were better than others.

 Our last day was a day at sea.

We relaxed and ate.

Dinner started with a crab cake.

 And, grilled portabella mushroom.

I didn't take pictures of our main entrees.

A great meal to end the vacation!

 And, a great sunset!

Can you believe this?

Gorgeous!!

 Hope you've enjoyed my 4-part BabyMoon recap!!

Now, onto new topics!!

BabyMoon Part 3: Grand Cayman

We arrived in Grand Cayman early in the morning.

When we woke up and looked out the window this is what we saw.

Not really what I had expected.

The cruise ships aren't able to dock at port because it's too shallow so we had to 'tender' in (take another boat to shore).

 The port area is a tourist trap as to be expected.

 But, we were tourists and took pictures.

 I did refrain from buying any of the 'junk' they were trying to sell.

 Brad booked us on a stingray island and snorkeling excursion.

We didn't book any of our shore trips through Carnival because they are double the price.

Instead, Brad found local companies.

We were pleased that our tour was a smaller group as it had been marketed, only 15 of us.

In fact, we boarded the boat at the owner's home.

 Just one of the homes in the neighborhood.

 It was a 25-minute boat ride out to stingray island and there were a lot of other tour companies.

We were amazed at how clear the water was!!

 Just like a swimming pool!

 The sandbar area was full of stingrays and our tour guides worked with us so we could hold them, kiss them, and of course..take pictures of all of it.

This is one picture we purchased from them.

 The rest are on our waterproof, disposable camera and we still don't have it back yet.

Overall..

We LOVED Grand Cayman!

By far - the highlight of our trip.

After our stingray encounter we went to a reef area and snorkeled and it was all we had dreamed of!

Of course, the pictures of that are on that same camera.

As for the city of Grand Cayman?

We didn't explore because we weren't interested in shopping and after being in the heat and gone most of the day we were tired.

So, we got back on the boat and enjoyed a low-key night.

We didn't even eat dinner in the dining room, instead just enjoyed the alternatives that were offered.

For me that was pizza and sushi for Brad.

 It was a great day!!

Next and last stop on this BabyMoon recap is Ochos Rios, Jamaica!