25 Weeks...Blessed.

**This is a pregnancy-related post, so please feel free to skip this post if you're not up for it. God bless.**

I cannot even think of anything profound to say this week that I have not already said thus far. I am pregnant. This child inside of me is growing and thriving. I am ACTUALLY having a baby. No matter how many times I say it/write it, it is STILL hard for me to comprehend. But I know that it’s true. With each twist, roll, and wiggle, I fall deeper and deeper in love, and inch slowly out of denial. My sweet little one. I am already yours. You had me at hello.

25 weeks feels just as big as every week before it, but being the OCD freak that I am, I like that it is a nice ‘clean’ number. Official, monumental! And so, I’m smiling this morning and thanking God for another terrific milestone. Then again, they’ve all been pretty terrific.

I can’t believe it’s October already. I know that’s a cliché thing to say, but seriously, can you? The summer went by so quickly, and already it’s fall…and soon it will be winter. I am NOT ready for the cold, but I’m loving this in-between-er weather we’re having currently. I am hoping and praying that the Farmer’s Almanac is wrong this year, and that we get a winter full of 50 degree days except for a few snowfalls right on/around Christmas. Hey, a girl can dream, right?

Another banner week at the Holi house, filled with plenty of things, many of which I cannot remember (#pregnancybrain). But the weekend was great! Although it was a “free weekend” (one of our last for a while), we got lots done, which definitely helped with our list! But before all of the business, we started the weekend with a special date night. We decided to try a local steakhouse that my parents love, and we have been dying to sample.

As you can see, the place is very “old school.” The restaurant actually used to be a single family home, which gives it a really cool vibe! And yes, there are TVs at the bar (which I personally don’t like, but T loves) but I still thought the low lighting and overall ambience was really nice and definitely special. I had a peppercorn-crusted filet, and T had the T-bone steak. Both meals came with a soup and salad, but we couldn’t resist trying an appetizer and the blueberry pie, too! Should I really embarrass T and mention that his drink of choice with all of this was a Disaronno and Coke? Oy, that man…but I still love him.

Saturday I was lucky enough to meet an out-of-town friend for lunch! She was rolling through for a wedding, and we were able to spend some time together and catch up which was great. After that, T made a special shopping trip for the “essentials”…including some MGD64 for my mom to partake in when she comes over (aw). Followed by much relaxing and MUCH football.

Sunday, my mom and I ‘hit the town’ for some errands. First we stopped by Target, and we scored a great/super on-sale rug for the baby’s room! Big win! (Obviously much work still needs to be done here!)

Also found this creep-tastic Halloween toy. Not a big win.

Next we went to the fabric store and picked out some great fabric to re-cover our hand-me-down glider with. I need to stop and mention here that my mom is a ROCKSTAR. Not only did she basically furnish my entire house with furniture she found on the curb and repurposed (no, I am not kidding, and NO, you cannot tell at all!), but she is my go-to person for any/all crafting. She made all of the new curtains in my home, re-covered my pillows, re-upholstered 11 (yes mom, you really did 11!) chairs, and so much more. I wish I had even an ounce of her craftiness, but sadly, I’m more of an “idea guy.” Mom (I know you’re reading!), I APPRECIATE YOU SO MUCH!

Hmmm, let’s see, what else? Oh! I got my first shipment of “Nature Box” this week, and that’s been fun. They sent me a little sampler to try out some of their goodies, and so far everything has been delicious! Not to mention super healthy. I am currently munching on the cinnamon swirl kettle kernels right now and loving them. How awesome that we have such convenient and creative services these days…it is sure helping this hungry pregnant lady eat healthier this week! I recommend giving the free sample a try, if you’re interested!

Okedoke, bump time! (For the record, I decided to look back today at my early bump shots for comparison sake…hilarious that at 10 weeks, I thought I was “poppin.’” I was still fitting in my normal clothes, so “poppin’” I was not! And I know there is much more to come…thanks for humoring me, guys!)

How far along?  25 weeks!!! My app this morning told me that the baby is 13.5 inches head to toe, and almost 2 lbs.! Insanity!

Clothing? Mostly all maternity, but squeezing a few baggy sweaters/tops in there as well. Definitely working with a limited closet these days!

Stretch marks? Nope, let’s see if I can stay lucky here.

Sleep? The frequent nighttime bathroom trips are back with a vengeance, with an added twist…it’s becoming increasingly more difficult to roll my big butt out of bed! I have also started waking up at random times throughout the night for no reason, so…that’s cool.

Best moment of this week? Spending some time with my out-of-town friend, making progress on baby’s room, spending some quality time with T (hard to believe that so soon we will be a family of 3!), and feeling some AWESOME baby kicks!

Worst moment of this week? Not feeling great, at all. But I’ll get to that.

Miss anything? Sort-of miss being able to fit into 95% of my wardrobe. But honestly, trivial at this point.

Movement? Lots of amazing baby movement! Kicks, rolls, punches, you name it. I have also begun feeling little tiny body parts from the outside, which is so surreal. Like, all of the sudden I will feel a small section of my belly get hard…so I reach down to touch it, and then it moves under my fingers! It’s the craziest thing…and I am LOVING IT.

Symptoms? So okay, like I mentioned above, not feeling good at all this week. Energy has been fine, but other than that, you name it—I got it. Super sore breasts and a very, very sore rib cage that hurts when I walk/breathe/etc., which I believe directly contributes to the near-constant costochondritis, heartburn/indigestion, dizziness, crazy RLP that is sharp and painful, a horribly sore and crampy back that honest to goodness feels like the type of back ache you get around AF (which of course has caused massive anxiety, although everyone assures me this is normal!) lack of balance/coordination (I seriously drop EVERYTHING these days, usually down the front of my shirt), Charlie horses, terrible sinuses, and my upper linea nigra is coming in! Oh, and nesting! I am going crazy with the nesting!

Food cravings? Coconut water, always. And GOLDFISH CRACKERS! Currently much farther into one of those super-large cartons than I should be after only 2 days…

Gender? I still think girl! But did have my first boy dream last week, so, ?!

Labor Signs? No siree.

Belly button in or out? I’m gonna start calling it an in-betweenie, I think. Definitely poking out a little, and definitely super gross.

Wedding rings on or off? On, but fingers are swelling occasionally.

Mood? A little overwhelmed by our schedule, and that can cause me to be a little…moody. But other than that, happy, and feeling overwhelmingly blessed (to the point of random tears, ha)!

Rituals? Nighttime lullaby, holy water on the belly in the morning, holy oil on the belly at night. Routine bedtime chats. And a few playful poke fests to watch the baby squirm around in my belly!

Milestones? My baby most likely has a HAIR COLOR by now. Brunette like mom and dad?! Or a little baby toe-head like I was when I was little?!?! I can’t wait to see!!!

Looking forward to? My 28-week appointment on Oct. 29, a mini-BABYMOON THIS WEEKEND with T, and more QT with this little wiggleworm!!!!!!!

This week's pregnancy-small-talk-gems (aka things other people say to pregnant ladies without thinking): My other brother (23) mentioned that the reason he finds some parts of pregnancy “gross” (like brother, like brother) is because he himself is claustrophobic, and can’t imagine being “crammed in someone’s stomach 24/7.” A rare glimpse inside my brother’s brain, and also hilarious.

That’s all she wrote, folks! Hope you’re having an amazing week and a lovely start to the autumn season. God bless all of you!