[twenty-two weeks!]

Well, I am officially 22 weeks along this amazing journey of pregnancy and definitely have a bump to prove it! Time sure is flying by, it's so hard to believe I'm over halfway done. I love being pregnant. The fact that I was never sick and have had very few bad symptoms I'm sure has something to do with it, but I can't help but marvel at this miracle God has blessed us with! Some observations as of late... pregnancy observations that is...

-it's been a bit of an adjustment not being able to workout the way I used to---poor Kegan, while we were briskly walking the other day I could hardly talk walking up those steep hills... needless to say I feel pretty silly getting out of breath walking... I mean come on! 

-while I may feel like a fool working out, I have never felt more beautiful in general. I wake up and my bump looks bigger and feels bigger than the night before, and I love it. It's as if God is telling me, "Daughter of mine, this is what your body was made for!" Ahh, chills. 

-doing the laundry has never been so fun, and all of a sudden I feel the need to get rid of everything we don't need and clean the house constantly. (I think they call this...nesting?) When I was tired of watching TV with Ben at my in-laws, I even started loading their dishwasher and cleaning their house. Y'all... I just don't clean in my spare time so Ben is really enjoying this nesting stuff. 

-seeing Ben's face the first time he felt our little guy kick might have been the sweetest thing I've ever seen. My heart wanted to burst. Speaking of kicks, our little man is already pretty darn active... hope we're ready for this! 

-i have never cried more or laughed more than I have in the past 4 months. It's an interesting paradox to be so moved by a facebook chain letter that tears start streaming down my cheeks, to the next minute hysterically laughing with Ben that "I actually just cried about a chain letter?!" There's no denying it, hormones are all over the place.

-i feel compelled to share some of the woooonderful things that have helped through some of the discomforts of pregnancy:

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 1. Lush Cosmetics Therapy Lotion Bar- Big shout-out to Kristen for this one. A few months ago on a trip to the mart in Atlanta, Kristen introduced me to Lush Cosmetics. Y'all... it is the coolest line you've ever seen! Everything they make is produced from fresh, organic fruits and vegetables and the finest essential oils and safe synthetics. They have makeup, lotions, facial treatments... you name it they have it. I use this lotion bar every night on my tummy and don't have any stretch marks (yet!). Not to mention I love the smell. Love it, love it.

2. The Glowing Body Yoga Studio- Confession: Prior to pregnancy I thought yoga was for hipsters and people who wanted to workout but were too lazy to. I take all of that back, and I look forward to Saturday with Anne in her prenatal yoga class. Highly recommend this studio to any Knoxville pregnant ladies!

3. Supernutrition Prenatal Vitamins- I read in a magazine about these vitamins and decided to try them. They are all organic and very strong, and I just love them! I was taking your typical Women's One-A-Day and now notice a big difference. All those wonderful pregnancy things are happening: long nails, healthy hair, etc. :-)

4. Strawberries. Yep strawberries are the best food in the world. Any kind of fruit for that matter but definitely the strawberry. Strawberries in my ice cream, on my Greek yogurt, in my oatmeal, salad, cereal... you get the picture. 

5. Arichipelago Candles-Especially the Arugula scent. My nose has been pretty sensitive as of late but I can't get enough of these candles. There is always a candle or two burning in our home and these have been sooo great as the weather gets colder.

6. Trader Joe's Lavender Salt Scrub- My sister showed me this one, and I love it! For whatever reason my feet have been sore some of this pregnancy and this scrub is affordable and so relaxing! Really do look forward to coming home everyday and soaking my feet in this yummy scent. 

OH, and...

 Tiny Toms... I mean... I melt

While it is so fun to browse a million baby stores and swoon over sweet little baby boy things, it has become very easy to get caught up in all of the "stuff" and the preparation of it all. It is our prayer that our minds are on "things above," and in turn that there would never be a day when our child does not know Christ. 

"For this child I prayed; and the Lord has given me my what I asked of him." 1 Samuel 1:27

[image via Etsy]

 

A day at the park...

 

-sarah