19 weeks.

How far along: 19 weeks, 5 days

Maternity clothes: I bought a few new things last week because I was excited...  Side note: maternity jeans are soo comfortable! Why don't people wear them everyday??

Stretch marks: No

Sleep: Still sleeping great

Best moment this week: Buying little girl clothes! They are soo fun!

Miss anything: Still miss running... it's been perrrrfect weather in Vegas for running! Totally teasing me...

Morning sickness:  None.

Movement: Yes! Still feeling little butterfly flutters but I thought I felt a little kick a few times... not sure exactly though

Food cravings: Definitely love doughnuts... my husband and I make a weekly trip to get them. Mmmmm! Favorite kind ever: French Cruller

Anything making you queasy or sick: Frozen dinners... and lately I can't handle grilled chicken and brown rice. My sweet hubby made me dinner the other night and whipped up some brown rice trying to be healthy and I had to throw it out- couldn't handle the smell! So weird because I used to eat that alllll the time before I got pregnant

Have you started to show yet: Yep!

Gender prediction: GIRL!! We were both shocked but so excited

Labor signs: No

Belly button in or out: In

Wedding rings on or off: On

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy

Looking forward to: Going shopping and starting to decorate a nursery!

Baby Cropper Gender Reveal Party!

Last week we were scheduled to have an ultrasound to find out the gender of our little bun in the oven... I've always loved the idea of having a gender reveal party and couldn't wait to be able to share the exciting news with our family and friends! 

I made this quick evite letting everyone know about the BIG reveal coming up!

I've seen a few really cute ideas for ways to reveal the gender and thankfully good'ol Pinterest came through (again) to help me out! 

The plan for the reveal:

I decided I wanted to get a large box along with blue and pink balloons,

have the "gender color" filled with helium, and then open the box at the party

to reveal little baby Cropper's gender.

I went to a U-Haul store to buy a huge wardrobe box.

Then I covered and decorated it for the party:

We had our ultrasound that same day & had the technician write the gender down

and seal it up in an envelope. Then I designated my best friend Jessica

with the secret job of filling the box before the party.

She came a little early and I handed her the box, the blue and pink balloons,

a mini helium tank, and the "secret" gender sealed envelope.... and she went to work!

She threw the extra balloons in the box then sealed it up nice & tight so there wasn't any peaking...

Then it was time for the party!

The FINAL Tally's! 

My friend Candice helped me make these mustaches & lips for the party.

Everyone divided into 2 teams by what they thought it was going to be!

Team BOY

Team GIRL

Then it was time to open the box!

{the anticipation was intense}

 {...holding our breath}

Then we saw the PINK balloons come out... 

Little Baby Cropper is a GIRL!!

{We were shocked... and then I cried}

{Grant checking to see if there were any hidden BLUE balloons}

We couldn't be more excited about our little addition on the way!

Thank you SO MUCH to all of our friends & family for the support!

We love you!!

pregnancy weirds me out.

This week I was reading on baby center about my pregnancy.

It said something about how I should aim to gain {roughly} 12-14 pounds this trimester.

The key word in that sentence is "THIS" - which means within the next few months

I'll be packing on some L-B-S... and that TOTALLY freaks me out!

#1- Freaks me out because that's more than I've ever weighed

AND

#2- That's A LOT for such a short amount of time
(which totally gives me anxiety about stretch marks)

I know, I know! I'm soo weird! I'm pregnant...its OK to gain weight,
but I've always been such a control freak about working out and being fit... If my jeans felt snug,  I'd hit the gym a little harder and eat healthier... and because of that I've pretty much been at the same weight for about 7 years now. A weight I was comfortable with.

Now that's changing and for a health control freak- that's something that just 

weirds.me.out.

For the past month each week I've gotten on the scale and seen my weight increase

by 1 pound or so a week- which you're probably thinking "So? Good for you"

But whats really happening are my eyes POPPING out of my head
when I step on that dreaded ego killer.

This is a picture of me at 5 weeks. 

{Don't mind the half nakedness... I wanted a belly picture before it really started growing}

Here is me now at 4 1/2 months.

{picture taken this a.m. when I got off work}

(the bump is always bigger in the mornings now since I'm up all night)

Soo yeah, totally had a meltdown last week because of it all.
Go ahead, call me crazy pregnant...

My husband looked at my tummy and said "OH MY GOSH!"
 He pretty much couldn't get another word in when I immediately shot back with "I KNOW!!!"
...and then for some amazing prego hormone reason burst into tears.
Then he just sat there and hugged me while I literally bawled my eyes out
and said the only thing that could have probably put a smile on my face right then,
 "Babe, how about we go get you a donut?"


So thankful he's not completely deemed me as the crazy person that I am.
That he's so supportive and patient with me.
That he will buy me sympathy donuts when I'm having an emotional prego meltdown.
Literally makes me melt when he wraps his arms around me and whispers
"I'm holding my whole little family right here in my arms"

Here's to another 5 1/2 + months of an emotional roller-coaster ride!
In the months to come I'm going to try to enjoy this pregnancy for the beauty that it is...
Because it truly is a miracle and a blessing.
Because I have a feeling that I'll probably miss it a little once it's over
and I don't want to add this to the list of
"things I should have enjoyed more"

That list is already too long... and honestly this is life right here.
And what's life if you don't live it?

17 Weeks.

How far along: 17 weeks, 6 days

Maternity clothes: A few things but not wearing any yet... I'm thinking I might need to go get one of those bellabands though.

Stretch marks: No

Sleep: I'm definitely on the most random sleep schedule  working graveyard & getting off at 6am. It's pretty much turned me nocturnal but when I do catch my Zzzz's its great- sleeping on my side and stomach. When I'm on my stomach I have my knee popped up like a passed out Captain Morgan man- for some reason that's my "go-to" sleep position and its oddly comfortable.

Best moment this week: Feeling the baby move (!!!) and going to the chiropractor (a.k.a. lifesaver). Little baby has been doing some serious {not-so-awesome} things for my lower back lately.

Miss anything: Running! My back has been killlllling me lately. Sometimes it just hurts to walk. Bummer.

Morning sickness:  Yep got a little sick this week when I didn't eat first thing in the morning... no bueno.

Movement: Yes!! It was weird and soo cool at the same time. I was trying to describe it for my hubby- it felt like when someone gives you butterfly kisses on your face... but imagine that coming from inside your tummy. It really was a sweet feeling!

Food cravings: I can tell that my appetite increased this week a lot. I'm still loving Lemon-lime Gatorade and Pickles... but lately I've been craving doughnuts! We went to this cute local doughnut shop the other day and I pretty much had an orgasm IN MY MOUTH. 

Anything making you queasy or sick: Frozen dinners.

Have you started to show yet: Yes... the bump is definitely growing.

Gender prediction: This whole time I've been thinking its a boy without a doubt... But then in the middle of the night this week my husband Grant sat straight up (still in a dead sleep) and said "I know what we're having! It's a GIRL!" ... Hmmm? Just makes me more anxious to find out!

Labor signs: No

Belly button in or out: In

Wedding rings on or off: On

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy

Looking forward to: Finding out the gender next week!

San Diego Escape.

So I turned 26 this past week.

I really can't believe I'm already in my "late 20's"...

And then to think I've been graduated from high school

for about 8 years now reallllllly makes me feel old!

My hubby took me out to dinner that night at one of my

favorite restaurants: Sammy's Wood-fired Pizza

Since I had to work that night we waited until the following day 

to really get the birthday celebrations started!

The next day my hubby whisked me off to one of

our very favorite vacation spots:

SAN DIEGO

He surprised me with a Whale Watching Tour...

We got to see seals, dolphins and a grey whale!

It was awesome!

Saturday we got to hang out with my sister and her boyfriend...

We had brunch and then walked along the pier.

My favorite part were the Pelicans!

Maybe I'm just easily amused but they ACTUALLY 

dive head first into the water!

Here's a video:

That night we walked through Downtown Little Italy

and treated ourselves to some Yogurtland...

Then on Sunday we met up with some friends to watch

them race in the San Diego Half Marathon.

It totally made me wish I was running...

Can't wait til next year!

15 Weeks.

How far along: 15 weeks, 5 days

Maternity clothes: I bought a few shirts the other day from good 'ol Target just because I was excited. I haven't worn them yet though.

Stretch marks: No

Sleep: Love my sleep and still sleeping great.

Best moment this week: Having a date night with my hubby. I know it's not always going to be so easy to go out whenever we want, so I'm really trying to enjoy more "us" time right now. It's my favorite part of the week.

Have you told family & friends: Yes!

Miss anything: I miss getting a realllly good workout in. I was totally addicted to working out and getting my butt kicked... now that's changed. Working out went from trying to get faster & stronger to just trying to maintain and feel good. So I've been looking into some prenatal yoga or pilates classes.

Morning sickness:  None

Movement: Not yet... can't wait til I do!

Food cravings: Still loving lemon-lime Gatorade, cucumbers, and pickles<3 

Anything making you queasy or sick: Frozen dinners in the microwave... I saw a commercial for them the other day and started gagging- seriously loathe!

Have you started to show yet: Yes! It seems to show more in the evening than in the morning.

Gender prediction: Boy

Labor signs: No

Belly button in or out: In

Wedding rings on or off: On

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy...  I had another random meltdown this week- it was so weird! I was laughing SO hard the other morning with my hubby and then all the sudden it turned into me  totally having  a complete meltdown. I don't think he knew what to do with me- but he was a good sport for not making me feel like a crazy person (which I totally am!)

Looking forward to: Finding out the gender! 3 weeks and counting...