Nora Kay Love ~ 23 Weeks

So my resident bump photographer, aka Hubby, had to leave early this morning and I didn't want to wait to put up this post...so I'm indulging you with some horrible office selfies.  Yes, they are terrible, but at least the post is up!

 

 

How far along: 23 weeks

How big is baby: Large Mango, 1.1 lb 

Gender: My sweet baby girl, Nora Kay!

Weight gain/loss: Let's not even talk about it.  However, I'm trying to find the balance in knowing that it came off fairly easily with Elyse and also starting to watch my calorie intake a little bit. Of course calorie watching will only last through the start of the holidays.  I made it to Zumba 3x last week and I should be able to do that again this week...and it feels oh so good!!!

 

Sleep: I'm sleeping really well since starting back to Zumba and walking the neighborhood more frequently...it's amazing what a little bit of exercise can do for your sleep! 

Diet/Cravings/Aversions: I'm still not craving much of anything in particular.  Those ridiculous starving feelings are pretty much gone, so I'm able to actually enjoy meals more.  I still feel like I could always eat more, but it's not quite so frustrating.  I'm still loving all the fresh fruit, guacamole...and of course the fresh baked chocolate chip cookies that are waiting for me at home!

Movement: All the time!  And I love it!  She's still in the cute movement phase...not in the annoying, painful, kick you in the bladder movement phase!

What I'm loving:  These last few weeks of official summertime.  While Elyse isn't going to school and Hubby &I don't work in education, the middle of August feels like the end of summer for us too.  I'm loving all the family time and just spending some quality time together at home.  We're also planning some big things for our house this fall which makes me super excited! 

Symptoms: Growing belly...growing belly...growing belly. Yup, that's pretty much the extent of it!   I finally broke out my maternity jeans instead of continuing to try and make my Bella Bands be sufficient.  I have mixed feelings with wearing maternity jeans....but I certainly can't deny how comfy they are! 

What I'm looking forward to: I'm still loving all this energy.  Zumba has been added back into our weekly routine, and I've been bitten by a little bit of the nesting bug.  We picked out a new rocker-recliner for the nursery which has basically turned into us ordering TWO new chairs...so we'll have a rocker-recliner in the living room as well!  Woop woop! 

Best moment of the week: Getting a box of new bras in the mail, and being shocked to have a few that actually fit.  I swear that 75% of my weight gain is above my belly button...;o), and let' just be honest, my pre-pregnancy bras just weren't cutting it.  And after 12+ months of use from my old nursing bras, they weren't cutting it either.  Having a few new, semi-cute bras definitely lifted my spirits!