Bumpdate || Week 20

20w0d

How far along: 20 weeks - halfway there!! 

Due Date: November 7, 2015

Baby is the size of: A banana! About 6.5 inches long from crown to rump and weighing around 10.2 ounces. She has working taste buds and is gulping down several ounces of amniotic fluid each day. 

Symptoms: There was one day last week were I wasn't feeling great. I think it was a mixture of not eating breakfast early enough and the extreme heat we are experiencing right now. I left work early to go home and rest and thankfully felt much better the next day. 

Gender: Our sweet baby GIRL! 

Name: Charlie Elizabeth

Movement: She's becoming more active during the day, and I absolutely love it! I managed to capture a really faint kick on camera last week, but most of her kicks are still too soft to feel from the outside. I was really hoping she would give Steven a strong kick on Father's Day, but we had no such luck. I'm certain he will be able to feel her any day now.

Nursery: Nothing new to add this week. Hopefully Steven will get the crib put together this week, and we will start filling up the room with furniture after that. I found curtains and a light fixture from Pottery Barn Kids that I really want to purchase. I can't wait to see it all come together! You can see her nursery inspiration here. 

Maternity Clothes: I went shopping Friday evening and bought another pair of maternity shorts and a few more tops. I'm still on the hunt for a few lightweight maternity dresses to get me through the summer. This Alabama heat is brutal! 

Sleep: I've started waking up in the middle of the night to aching legs, so I'm doing a lot of turning from my left side to my right side. Other than that, I'm still sleeping pretty soundly. 

Best moment this week: Celebrating Father's day with my in-laws over the weekend and then with my parents last night. 

Missing anything: Nothing that I can think of. A glass of wine sounds good, but it's nothing I can't do without for 20(ish) more weeks.

Cravings/Aversions: Fruit is a craving I've been experiencing the past couple of weeks. Baby girl loves watermelon! As far as aversions, I still can't do chicken or hot vegetables.

Mood: Happy with a side of emotional. The crying for no reason is crazy to me. I feel like I have no control over the tears these days! 

Looking forward to: Our next Ultrasound tomorrow morning! I can't wait to see our sweet girl again!

Husband is: ready to feel his baby girl kick! Every time he puts his hand on my stomach she stops moving. Such a stubborn little lady already!

New mommy question: Nothing new this week. 

The Secret To Perfecting Flawless Beach Waves

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BeBeachBlonde #CollectiveBias

Summers in Alabama can be described using one word: hot! The heat index has already topped 100 degrees this year and it isn't even July yet. Worse, the humidity during the summer is so extreme that it's hard to breathe, much less spend time in the mornings on my hair and makeup. The easier the better is my motto during the summer months. That's why one of my favorite hairstyles during these brutal months is a carefree windblown waves look. I spend more than 5 minutes on my haircare in the mornings and I'm ready to tackle the day! If your looking to mix up your look and spend next to no time on your hair this summer, this look is definitely for you!

The secret To Perfecting Flawless Beach Waves:

1. Wash and condition your hair at night with the new John Frieda Beach Blonde™ Cool Dip™ Shampoo and John Frieda Beach Blonde™ Smooth Seas™ Conditioner. Both products can be found at Target. These products smell delicious and will leave your hair in perfect texture to master those flawless beach waves. Better yet, even if you aren't a blonde these products still work for your hair. 

2. Towel dry your hair by scrunching your hair into the towel to remove any excess water. You can also leave that hairbrush sitting right there on the counter. There is no need to brush your hair our after towel drying.

3. Spray new John Frieda Beach Blonde™ Sea Waves™ Sea Salt Spray throughout your hair while using your other hand to scrunch up hair and even out the product. I like to spray the sides and back of my hair and then flip my hair over my head to spray the underneath. I love the sea salt spray! It is infused with natural seas salt and a captivating coconut scent. 

4. I usually scrunch up my hair one last time using a towel before heading off to bed and letting hair air dry overnight. No need to use a hair dryer! After all, who wants to use any type of heat product when it's so brutally hot outside?! 

5. The next morning wake up and respray your hair with John Frieda Beach Blonde™ Sea Waves™ while scrunching it up with your other hand. Finish getting dressed while the spray dries and leaves your hair looking effortlessly beachy. 

6. You are ready to walk out the door and tackle your day! Sometimes I will pin the sides of my hair or my bangs back with a bobby pin, but other times I will spray and go. I love how put together my hair looks while I spent next to no time fixing it up in the mornings. Better yet, thanks to John Frieda my beach waves stay put all day long! 

How do you perfect your carefree summer hairstyle? Have you tried the John Frieda Beach Blonde collection? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Bumpdate || Week 19

19w0d

How far along: 19 weeks

Due Date: November 7, 2015

Baby is the size of: A mango! About 6 inches long from crown to rump and weighing around 8.5 ounces. This week nerve cells for her sense of taste, hearing, sight, and smell are developing in her brain.

Symptoms: Heartburn is the only thing that comes to mind.

Gender: Our sweet baby GIRL! 

Name: Charlie Elizabeth

Movement: I just love feeling her move inside my belly. I am still feeling quick kicks here and there, but nothing consistent. Steven wants to feel her move so badly. I can't wait for her kicks to get a little stronger so he can feel her! 

Nursery: The room has been cleared of all furniture, it has been painted, and Steven is planning to put together the crib this week. Once the crib is up I will be able to get a better idea of what size changing table to get and that sort of thing. You can see her nursery inspiration here. 

Maternity Clothes: Pretty much all I'm wearing now. I can still fit into some of my pre-pregnancy summer dresses, but not many of them. I found this shirt at Target the other day and just had to have it! 

Sleep: I'm sleeping pretty good this week. We went to see Garth Brooks in concert on Friday night and didn't get home until 3:00 in the morning. This preggo was exhausted!! I think I'm still trying to catch up on my sleep. 

Best moment this week: The Garth Brooks concert Saturday night and cooking out with friends for Sunday Funday! 

Missing anything: Nothing that I can thing of!

Cravings/Aversions: Nothing to note. The idea of chicken finally sounded good again this past weekend, but the idea of warm green vegetables still makes me want to gag. 

Mood: My emotions have been all over the place this week. The tears have been coming a lot lately and when I least expect them (crazy hormones!). I was stressing myself out last week over a few things, so maybe now that we have everything figured out the tears will start to dry up. Otherwise, I'm still as happy as ever and loving pregnancy! 

Looking forward to: Our ultrasound next week! I'm excited to see how much our sweet girl has grown since our last ultrasound at 16 weeks.

Husband is: So in love with his sweet Charlie Beth. She is going to be such a daddy's girl!

New mommy question: What are some of your favorite baby books? I've heard great things about The Happiest Baby On The Block. Are there any others you would recommend reading before baby girl gets here in November?

Five Summer "Mocktails"

Let me start off by stating how much I love being pregnant. This is something I've wanted for as long as I can remember, so I'm beyond grateful to be carrying this sweet girl in my belly. That being said, there are a few things I miss now that I'm with child. Summer has officially arrived in the south, and with that comes weekends on the lakes, outdoor cookouts, and beach vacations. Another thing that comes with summer is a cool and refreshing cocktail to sip on while enjoying all the aforementioned summer activities above. Because those cocktails are off limits for me this summer, I've been searching through Pinterest searching for a suitable "mocktail" to enjoy while soaking up rays on the boat. Needless to say, Pinterest came through for me once again. I found an endless supply of delicious mocktail recipes that I can't wait to try out! I've also determined that there must be something in the water because it seems like every time I turn around someone else is announcing a pregnancy. So I thought I would share my findings so all you preggers could also enjoy a delicious mocktail or two this summer. 

|| ONE || TWO || THREE || FOUR || FIVE ||

I haven't yet tried these drinks, but I'm certain they are fabulous. I can't wait to mix up one or two this weekend. The one I'm looking forward to trying to most has to be the "Safe sex on the beach," just for the name alone! Of course, if you aren't carrying a baby in your belly this summer, I can almost guarantee these would be a just as delicious (probably even better if we're being honest here) with a bit of vodka in them. Cheers!

linking up for five on friday

Bumpdate || Week 18

18w1d

How far along: 18 weeks

Due Date: November 7, 2015

Baby is the size of: A sweet potato! About 5.5 inches long from crown to rump and weighing between 5.5 and 6.5 ounces. 

Symptoms: Round ligament pain and heartburn mixed in with an aching lower back from working on the nursery over the weekend

Gender: Our sweet baby GIRL! 

Name: Charlie Elizabeth

Movement: I feel her mostly in the mornings after I eat breakfast. Movements are still pretty quick and inconsistent, but last night I did feel a pretty strong kick. I lifted up my shirt so I could stare at my belly when she did it, and I actually saw movement from the outside! It happened so fast, but I know it was her kicking. 

Nursery: Is in progress!! Steven cleared out the room over the weekend and we got a fresh coat of paint on the walls. The walls in the nursery are paneling, and man is that stuff difficult to paint! It took us foreverrrrrr to get it painted, but I am so happy with the way it turned out! Next step is getting the crib put together. I'm so excited to see this room transform! You can see my inspiration for her room here. 

Maternity Clothes: I'm wearing mostly maternity clothes these days mixed in with a few of my pre-pregnancy summer dresses. 

Sleep: I'm sleeping better this week that I was last week, thankfully. 

Best moment this week: Working on the nursery this weekend with my sweet husband! 

Missing anything: Nothing really. A glass of Chardonnay still sound delicious, but it's nothing I can't live without for 149(ish) more days!

Cravings/Aversions: Nothing really stands out. I'm still not crazy about the idea of chicken (unless it's from Chick-Fil-A.. weird), and I still can't do warm green veggies. 

Mood: I know I say this every week, but I'm incredibly happy and blessed. I absolutely love being pregnant!

Looking forward to: Making progress on baby girl's nursery this weekend, the Garth Brooks concert on Saturday night, our next ultrasound in a couple of weeks, and spending the Fourth of July holiday weekend at the lake with family - so many exciting things coming up!

Husband is: Working hard to get his baby girl's nursery put together! We had so much fun painting her room together over the weekend. 

New mommy question: Nothing new this week. Steven and I are planning to register soon, so I'm sure I'll have several questions when we start that process!

Charlie Beth's Nursery Inspiration

This past Saturday Steven and I went to work and got started on Charlie Beth's nursery. We (and by we, I mean my husband) cleared out everything from the former "man cave," and I then I gave the room a quick dusting before we started on the paint. The room is fairly small, so we figured we would be able to knock the paint job out in a couple of hours max. We were wrong. You see, the room has paneled walls. Not just any paneling either. No, these walls have some pretty unique detailing and many, many grooves. Have you ever painted paneling? It's a huge pain! Five or so hours of painting later, we were fresh out of paint and still had half a wall and major touch ups to complete. Finally by Sunday afternoon, however, Charlie's Beth's nursery had a fresh coat of paint on the walls and I couldn't be happier about the color! Next up we (and by we, I once again mean my husband) will put her crib together. I can't wait to watch this room transform into our daughter's special nursery. 

Speaking of, since finding out we were expecting a baby girl I've been working up nursery ideas in my head. I knew that I wanted pink and I wanted girly. Above are some of the pictures I've been pinning to my baby board on Pinterest to use for inspiration. I just love the soft hues of the pinks and greys. I already have her bedding and curtains picked out and waiting to be ordered. I'm still on the hunt for a good rug, so if you have any ideas where I can find an affordable rug to go with the nursery theme, please send them my way! Her room is still pretty bare right now, but I can already tell that it is going to be my favorite room in the house. 

The Importance Of UV Safety

Do you have an obsession with sunglasses like I do? I could easily dig down in my purse and find at least three pair and I would probably find another two or three pair in my car. I can't help it. I love them. Normally when I find a good pair of sunglasses the only thing I consider is how they look on my face. Are they too big? Too round? If they pass the "cute" test I will probably purchase them without another thought entering my mind. 

Unfortunately, however, just because I've made the first step and purchased a pair of sunglasses doesn't necessarily mean that I'm protecting my eyes from harmful UV rays. First, in order to ensure that my eyes are fully protected, I need to make sure my sunglasses meet all the criteria. Are they anti-reflective? Are they polarized? These are just a few questions that you should ask yourself before purchasing those new shades. 

Next, just because I've made the first step and purchased a new pair of sunglasses doesn't always mean that I'm taking the necessary precautions and actually wearing those sunglasses when I should be. Sunglasses shouldn't just be worn during the summer when the sun is beaming down from above. No, in order to receive the proper UV protection, you should wear your polarized sunglasses anytime you are outdoors. This includes when you are outside working in the yard, sitting on the bleachers watching or favorite team play, or even when your getting in your morning run. 

So what's the big deal? Well, not properly protecting your eyes can set you up for major problems down the road. Unprotected UV exposure can not only cause sunburned eyes, but it can also cause cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. Do yourself a huge favor and protect your eyes with properly polarized sunglasses anytime you are outdoors. 

You can find more information by checking out The Vision Council's 2015 UV Protection Report. 

Thank you to The Vision Council for sponsoring this post. I received a free pair of polarized sunglasses for me and Charlie Beth in exchange for this post. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

Welcoming New Neighbors With A DIY Gift Basket

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ShareFunshine #CollectiveBias

Click below and enter daily for a chance to WIN a $100 Walmart e-gift card!

Share a Little Funshine Sweepstakes

The other day Steven and I were sitting outside in our backyard when we noticed an unfamiliar barking coming from the house behind ours. The dogs went charging for the fence to inspect the newcomer, and Steven and I quickly realized that we had new neighbors who had just moved in. Our neighbors happened to be out back as well, so just as our dogs had introduced themselves, Steven and I went over to the fence to introduce ourselves. It turns out our new neighbors had just moved from out of state for a job transfer, and they new no one in our area. Steven and I were quick to point them towards a few attractions as we exchanged a few minutes of friendly conversation, and then we all said our goodbyes and retreated back towards our houses. All of us except our dog, however. In the five minutes that they had spent sniffing each other by the fence, it was clear that they had suddenly become best friends. I made a mental note to schedule a puppy play date next time I saw our neighbors in their yard.

Later that night I got to thinking about how hard it must be to move to a new area where you know no one. I can imagine how isolated that sweet couple must have felt when they first landed in Alabama. I decided then and there that I wanted to reach out to them and let them know that they weren't alone and that they had a neighbor that they could count on. I began brainstorming ideas. It was clear that my dogs felt the same way about their new puppy friend, so I decided to make them a gift basket filled with fun treats for the couple as well as a couple of surprises for their dog. After all, their dog is certainly part of the family! We wouldn't want her feeling left out of the fun. 

The next morning as I was standing in my kitchen looking out the window into our backyard, I noticed our neighbors once again working hard in their own backyard. They have a wonderful set up back there, and it was obvious that they were trying to tidy the yard up so they would have a retreat to relax in all summer long. I began jotting down a list of goodies to include in my DIY gift basket. I wanted the basket to center around a certain theme, so I landed upon a summer fun gift basket for both, the couple and their sweet dog. 

I headed straight to Walmart after work that day to get all the supplies I needed to make my gift basket. I knew I wanted a gift for the dog first and foremost, so I walked straight over to the pet supplies and picked up Pedigree Dentastix®. These are my dogs' favorite treats, so I knew the neighbors dog would probably enjoy them just as much. Plus, you can't beat a treat that your dog not only loves, but it also reduces tartar buildup! I also picked up a small toy for the dog to enjoy after she indulged in her yummy Pedigree Dentastix®.

After leaving the pet aisle I decided my next stop would be the candy aisle. After all, who doesn't love candy (especially after a long and tiring move across country)?! I picked up a large bag of Peanut M&M's®, a bag of Skittles®, and a bag of Lifesavers® hard candy variety. Yum! Next stop was to pick up my new favorite indulgence, Snickers® Ice Cream Bars. Believe me when I say, these are delicious!

Next up it was to the home goods to finish out the gift basket. I picked up a few magazines to help inspire the new homeowners, a candle that reminds me of summertime, and a pretty cup for sipping on delicious drinks while sitting out on the back patio. All in all, I knew our new neighbors, and their sweet dog, would enjoy the southern hospitality.

I made it home in time to finish the gift basket before starting on dinner, so I thought there would be no better time than to walk over to our neighbor's house and present them with their welcome to the neighborhood summertime fun gift basket. I am happy to report that they loved it, but I think the biggest fan of all was their sweet dog! Her Pedigree Dentastix® were a huge hit! She dove right into them. Our neighbors kindly thanked us for their gifts, and we even scheduled a cookout for next weekend! How fun will that be?! I can't wait to celebrate summer all summer long with our new friends!

Make sure you download the Blippar app from your Apple or Android store to scan your package and receive exclusive content. Want even more savings? Click here to receive instant savings on M&M's®, SNICKERS® Ice Cream Bars, Dr Pepper® Cherry, Skittles®, and Pedigree Dentastix®! What is your favorite idea for welcoming a new neighbor into town? Share in the comments below.

Her Name

I'm so excited to finally share with you the name we have chosen for our daughter, our sweet Charlie Beth! Charlie was my Granddaddy's name. We were incredibly close when I was growing up, and I have so many special memories of him. Some of my favorite moments with my Granddaddy were moments that he spent reading books upon books to me. It didn't matter how many books I would crawl up in his lap with, he was happy to sit there and read them all to me. Unfortunately, he passed away suddenly when I was a senior in high school, but I know that my Granddaddy already has a special place in Charlie Beth's heart. 

When I was about 12 weeks pregnant my first pregnancy craving hit me like a ton of bricks, I had to have a big glass of strawberry milk. I haven't thought about strawberry milk since I was a child (did they even make that stuff anymore?!), but I desperately wanted some. Nothing reminds me of my Granddaddy more than strawberry milk. Anytime I went to visit my grandparents, they were guaranteed to have a full gallon of milk and a brand new package of strawberry milk mix, and every night before bed I would ask my Granddaddy to make me some strawberry milk. He happy obliged, of course, and sang to me as he made it - strawberry milk for a strawberry blonde... - to this day I can still hear him singing it. I think that craving that hit me was his way of letting me know that he was watching over and protecting me and our baby girl. I am honored to pass his name down to my daughter. 

Elizabeth is also a family name on my side as well as Steven's side of the family. My maternal great-grandmother was named Elizabeth, and my husband's maternal grandmother was named Elizabeth. She, however, went by the name of Beth all of her life. I am a big fan of family names, so I adore the fact that my baby girl's name has such a strong family history. Our baby girl will go by the double name, Charlie Beth. I just love the southern charm that a double name carries, don't you?! Thinking about her name puts such a smile on my face, and I light up when anyone refers to her by name. This little girl is already so loved. I can't wait to wrap her in my arms and shower her with kisses! Mommy and Daddy are so excited to meet you, Charlie Beth! 

Our First Born (Fur)Children

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and it's advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #1ShopPetStop #CollectiveBias

"What are you going to do about those dogs when this baby comes along?" Those are true words that were said to my husband and I after we announced our baby news. The first time I heard someone say this, I truly didn't know how to react. I think I just sat there in silence. Now when I hear someone ask me this I just get angry. We consider our dogs to be our first born children. Would you get rid of your children just because you were expecting another baby? I didn't think so. So why would I get rid of my dogs? I couldn't even fathom doing such a thing. 

Don't get me wrong. I am fully aware that when the baby comes it will be an adjustment for all of us, including the dogs. Cooper and Kane are used to being the center of our universe, and now they are going to have to share that spotlight with someone else. It will be hard, but it will be completely worth it. I picture Cooper being a protective older brother who will look out for his baby sister at all times. Kane on the other hand, not so much. Kane will probably sniff around at the baby from time to time, but I don't see him being too interested in her. 

I'm almost 18 weeks pregnant, and I've already done my fair amount of research on introducing pets to the new baby. I don't want my dogs to feel neglected when she is born, so it's important for Steven and I to learn ways to help the dogs adjust to their new baby sister before she even arrives. Part of that is keeping their routine as normal as possible once baby girl gets here. We will continue to snuggle the pups as much as ever, take them outside to play throughout the day, shower them with treats and belly rubs, and make sure they are getting the proper nutrition for evey life stage. That's where IAMS and Target come into play for our family.

It is important to us that our dogs get the proper nutrition to fuel their growing bodies. My dogs have always been a big fan of IAMS dry dog food because of the quality of ingredients and the benefit of healthy teeth and gums due to the abrasive chewing action, and I am a big fan of Target for supplying their food. I am at Target at least twice a week (if not more) purchasing groceries and other necessities for our home, so I love that I can push my cart right over to the pet aisle and purchase anything and everything that I need for our fur-children. IAMS dry dog food isn't the only thing I purchase for Cooper and Kane at Target. I also pick up their favorite treats and endless amount of toys. Target is my one stop pet shop for all our dog's favorite items, and this will be an even greater benefit once the baby arrives. I love that I will be able to head to Target for everything I need in our home, for our baby girl, and for the dogs. It will certainly make things easier for this new mama! 

Are you looking to purchase a quality food for your dog or cat? The Target Cartwheel app is currently running 5 IAMS deals. Those deals include wet and dry dog food and expires on July 25th, and wet and dry cat food that expires on July 11th. Hurry because you don't want to miss those great offers! The IAMS brand believes that the right diet can do amazing things for pets, including boot immunity, help burn fat, help maintain muscle, help promote healthy digestion, aid in weight loss, reduce tartar buildup, and in some instances even nutritionally manage the progression of disease. 

Do you use IAMS dog or cat food in your household? Do your pets love it as much as mine do? Please share in the comments below.