I got three inches cut off my hair and while that may not seem like a big deal...I can tell I am already putting my babies first before myself and they aren't even here yet.

 Let me backtrack...

For years I have gone to Salon Visage here in Knoxville and got my hair cut and highlighted and paid a pretty penny doing it. I love it there and the staff and me time but it is expensive. I have not gotten my hair cut or highlighted since March when I found out I was pregnant and my hair was the longest it's ever been thanks to the prenatal vitamins and healthier lifestyle. I walked into Ulta the other day and for a $10 donation they were cutting hair for Breast Cancer Research Foundation.  I realized I could buy diapers or baby clothes or something special for my babies with the $100 plus dollars that I give Salon Visage normally every couple of months and I sat down and got the cheapest haircut I have ever had in my life. 

It may not be that important to most people but I can tell I am changing and putting my twins first before myself and I pray that is a step in the right direction that will make me a good mother. 

 

Forever 21 cardigan sweater (click here to purchase), Motherhood Maternity dress (click here to purchase), Walmart flats (click here to purchase), BP brand Nordstrom bag, Charlotte Russe earrings

Black And White Pictures Of You

I have never tried a long kimono before but like the long and lean silhouette it creates and the open front to make way for my growing (on the daily) bump. Kimonos are such great accent pieces to throw on over every day basics like my black, skinny jeans and white tee.

 

Walmart flats (click here to purchase), Old Navy jeans (click here to purchase), Target t-shirt (click here to purchase), Kendra Scott earrings (click here to purchase), City Chic kimono via Gwynnie Bee (click here for a FREE month)

Bathed In Grey

 

I have had the most productive weekend in ages which is a miracle in itself considering I am now 30 weeks pregnant (holy....what). My mom was in town for my local baby shower and she lit a fire under me to get things done and pretty much complete the twins nursery. I cannot wait to show off the finished product- we are just looking for a couple more things to complete it and then I am posting pictures.

 

Also I feel the need to talk about this Nobella Grace high low cut dress.  First off, it's not maternity and I linked to the regular and curvy size below.  Second, it is literally a perfect transition piece for the weather the majority of people are having right now.  I am planning on wearing it with tights and boots when the temps get a little cooler. 

 

Nobella Grace dress (click here or here to purchase), Walmart flats (click here to purchase), World Market necklace, Loft earrings

Striped and Swinging

Old Navy can literally do no wrong during my pregnancy. I am in love with all the swing dresses they have had both maternity and non-maternity. This one is sadly gone but I linked up to some similar options below.

 

Old Navy dress (click here or here for similar), Walmart flats (click here to purchase), Forever 21 necklace

Pregnancy Isn't All Fun And Games

So far throughout this pregnancy I have talked about the things I learned in my first trimester and also about the sweet things like baby movement and the love I already have for my twins.

My pregnancy has been far from a walk in the park and here are all the reason why.

1. Two words- DAILY INJECTIONS!  I have a 4G/4G blood clotting genetic genotype which is associated with the highest levels of circulating PAI in plasma (thanks to my dad's side of the family) that makes me very susceptible to blood clots and thankfully I knew this going into my pregnancy and notified my doctor just in case.  Well...just in case haha on me they decided at my twelve week ultrasound I needed to be on Lovenox shots as a preventative measure so blood clots don't form in my placenta.  To say I freaked the fuck out would be an understatement.  I hate shots with a passion like-start-shaking-and-getting-all-hot-and-sweaty-and-worked-up and I was informed I had to do daily injections (in my stomach) for the remainder of this pregnancy.  They called in my prescription that day and my husband and I went and picked up the monthly supply (it costs $150 dollars a month and that is WITH insurance) and I couldn't do it...I still can't give myself the injection.  It took my husband 45 minutes that first time because I was crying and moving around aka running away and literally making myself sick getting worked up thinking about it.  I have gotten much better than that first experience 15 weeks ago but I dread it every.single.day.

2. The constant peeing is another annoying pregnancy symptom.  The first trimester I was waking up 2-3 times a night and basically sleep walking to the bathroom and then it magically went away at the start of the second trimester.  As I am entering my third trimester the peeing is back and again it's 2-3 times a night depending on what time I go to bed.  I also toss and turn and wake myself up a lot now that I am a lot bigger and my hips are starting to hurt in the wee hours of the morning.  So all in all I wake up about 6-8 times nightly.

3. Swelling is another joyful part of making a baby or babies in my case.  I have not been able to wear my wedding band and engagement ring for almost two months now and I miss them so bad.  I had a fake diamond that I wore on my honeymoon so I didn't lose my rings in the ocean, pool, etc. in St. Lucia and thankfully still have it and have been wearing it so I didn't feel so naked and without a baby daddy.  My feet and ankles just started swelling a month ago and at first it was just long car rides and but now it's a daily occurrence.  Standing for long periods of time makes me look like I have cankles and I cannot wear heels for more than an hour. My feet don't hurt at all but they look crazy and I am really starting to worry if any of my fall shoes, boots, wedges will fit me when colder weather strikes. 

4.  Chloasma/Mask of Pregnancy...even the name sounds horrible.  As soon as I go out into the sunshine I get sun spots so it was no surprise that I would get this skin discoloration on the face during the summer months of pregnancy.  Women with darker skin are more prone to it and I keep nice color year round, my whole family does.  I have been wearing SPF 50 on my face every day this summer and I'm never seen without a hat at the pool when I go.  This symptom is more annoying than anything because I truly look like a weirdo without makeup and it really does make me self conscious so I have invested in some really good, expensive concealer.  Thank goodness this goes away after having these baby boys or I would really be in trouble. 

 

5. Did anyone else know that nosebleeds were a pregnancy symptom?? Anyone?  I have never had a nosebleed in my entire life and then I get pregnant and have had like 10 of them.  Apparently as progesterone and estrogen course through your body, they increase the blood flow which makes your tissues soften.  This can cause your blood vessels to constrict, which result in congestion and bloody noses.  I had two of them the weekend of my baby shower and even passed a blood clot -so gross and it scared me half to death.

 

 

(This is not everything weird that has happened to me cause that list would be a mile long but it is stuff that has been pretty continuous my entire pregnancy so far.  Even though all these things are super annoying I would do it all again in a heartbeat!) 

Little Black (Maternity) Dress

Y'all my mom bought me this adorable peplum dress for $8 bucks from a second hand children's and maternity store. I am in love with it! It's the perfect little black maternity dress for church, special occasions, work, etc. Of course it would look even cuter with heels but my poor feet cannot handle all this extra weight I am hauling around anymore. They start off (semi) normal looking every morning but by the time I get off work, my feet and ankles are HUGE...it's so depressing.

 

Tory Burch flip flops (click here to purchase), Vintage pearls purchased off of Etsy, Three Seasons Maternity brand via a consignment store

Fall Favorites

It was only 81 degrees yesterday and that was enough for me to add some fall accessories to my outfit. I have not worn this Old Navy vest from last year nearly enough but have a feeling it will be a staple this year over my growing bump. Of course my floppy hat had to make an appearance as soon as the temperature's dipped because I love this thing.

 

Old Navy maternity dress (click here to purchase), Tory Burch flip flops (click here to purchase), Aeropostale hat, Old Navy vest (old), Style Lately tassel necklace

Fancy Floral Print

 

The more I am talking to people about this gestational diabetes screening that I failed, the more other people are telling me that they failed and it is making me feel better.  I moved my new appointment up to next Tuesday instead of Friday just to get it over with.  It's really more of a nuisance right now more than anything because I have about a million things I could be doing rather than sitting in a doctor's office for 2-3 hours straight.

So funny story about this Spruce and Sage dress.  I have been hoarding it for about three weeks now thinking I may wear it to my baby shower this Saturday.  I thought it was so cute and the material showed off my new curves nicely and I love the way the belt accentuated my bump.  So I try it on last night and the material is starting to stretch thin across my boobs and baby bump...man, these boys are growing fast!  I ended up wearing it to work with a cardigan thrown over it since the fabric is thin in all the wrong places and it is officially out of the running for my shower.  I may need to go up a size in dresses soon...yikes.

 

Spruce and Sage dress via Gwynnie Bee (click here for a free month), Tory Burch sandals (click here to purchase), Target belt, Sassy Steals necklace

Gestational Diabetes FAIL

I received the call from my doctor's office late yesterday afternoon that I failed my gestational diabetes screening test.

  Um, WHAT? Excuse me?! Come again???

I thought it might happen because I have a family history of diabetes but I have been working out and eating semi healthy throughout this entire thing. Apparently none of that matters...skinny and fat woman both get gestational diabetes, it doesn't discriminate. So my next test-a two hour test- is now scheduled for next Friday at 9am (sigh). This test requires fasting, no food after midnight and only water in the morning, and then I drink a even bigger, sugary drink and have my blood tested every hour for two hours.

This is just a bump in the road and I'll do anything for these babies. 

 

Old Navy midi skirt (click here for similar ONLY $10), Target t-shirt (click here to purchase), Old Navy vest (click here to purchase), Tory Burch flip flops (click here to purchase), Swell Caroline monogram necklace (click here to purchase), Flower Lip Suede Velvet Lip Chubby Floral Coral lipstick (click here to purchase)

Twenty-Five Weeks

I was 25 weeks pregnant as of this past Saturday. I literally could only have 10-13 weeks left until my babies arrive because my doctor already said there was no way I will make it to 40 weeks with the twins. I am hoping (fingers crossed) that I will make it 37-38 weeks, the longer they have to cook in my belly, the better!

I had my glucose screening test to check for gestational diabetes on Friday morning and ended up being at my appointment for three hours (I was beyond annoyed). I got to see my babies in an ultrasound but the tech wasn't my normal lady and didn't do a good job, I was in a different ultrasound room where the picture was very grainy and Baby A was not cooperating and we still did not get some of the anatomy pictures that were supposed to be checked off the last time. The glucose drink itself was not bad at all...kind of like a flat Sunkist drink but then waiting an hour until they could draw blood (and the television not working that day in the doctor's office) was mind numbingly boring. They took two vials of blood and told me I would get the results this week. On a positive note the babies weigh 1.8 and 1.9 pounds each, had great heart rates, and I had perfect blood pressure and my weight gain was right where it needs to be. 

 

Old Navy maternity boyfriend jeans (click here to purchase), Poshmark top (click here to purchase), Jonathan Cate sunglasses, Forever 21 necklace, Etsy clutch (click here for similar), Sam Edelman wedges (click here for similar)

Large And In Charge

We didn't see patients yesterday at the office so it was an oversized tee and boyfriend jeans kind of day.

  Happy Hump Day!

 

Old Navy maternity boyfriend jeans (click here to purchase), Tory Burch flip flops (click here to purchase), Firmoo glasses (click here to purchase), Old Navy maternity tank top (click here to purchase),