27 Weeks

How far along?  27 weeks.  I'm definitely in my 3rd trimester now (I think!)
Maternity clothes?  Who needs maternity clothes when you can just wear yoga pants all the time?
Sleep:  Pretty solid.  I've been going to bed early and (mostly) sleeping through the night.  You can't ask for more than that!
Best moment this week:  Going to our first baby class.  Surprisingly, I enjoyed the car seat safety one a lot more than the hospital tour.  Granted, my eyes were probably the size of dinner plates for the first hour...Jacob leaned over at one point and was like, "I can't tell if you're paying attention right now..." I guess my 'freak-out' face is really similar to my 'I'm-so-over-this' face...both consist of big, glassy eyes and staring blankly.  It was so much information and there are so many things that can go wrong!  In the end though, it was really helpful and we got to practice buckling in little baby dolls...it sounds stupid but it actually made me really excited to start buckling in our own baby!
Miss Anything?  Well, this has nothing to do with pregnancy, but outdoor fall activities! To all of you Illinoisans on Facebook who are posting pictures of apple picking...you are single-handedly breaking me.  In the meantime, I guess I'll just have to content myself with watching this video over and over to make myself feel better.
Movement:  Constant. Putting my hand on my stomach is awesome because I can feel her shifting around ALL. THE. TIME.  I love it when I can feel a leg or an elbow or toes through there...not that I can always tell exactly what it is, but I can tell that it's something!
Food cravings:  At this moment?  Everything.  As I type this, I'm waiting to go take my glucose test and you have to fast beforehand...unfortunately they couldn't get me in until 11 a.m.  Boooooo!  So hungry!!!  Also, if you follow me on Pinterest then you will see that I'm obviously wanting pumpkin and apple EVERYTHING...sorry for blowing up your feed with fall recipes, I might have a self-control problem.  But hey, better a thousand different versions of apple pies than a thousand different pictures of girls skinner and more fit than you or I could ever pray to be, am I right?
Anything making you queasy or sick:  Nada
Have you started to show yet:  Yep!  Although, every time I sub in a new classroom, I'm guaranteed to have kids whispering back and forth, "you ask her!" "No, YOU ask her!"  I used to just let them duke it out because I didn't want to ASSUME they were talking about me, but now I just turn around and say, "Yes, I am pregnant."  They're relieved, I can move on, it saves everyone some time, and I am all about efficiency so this works for me.
Gender:  Girl
Labor Signs:  Maybe?  I might've had a Braxton Hicks contraction on Sunday.  If that's what it was, then whoever said they aren't painful are dirty liars!  They hurt like a MOTHER.  If not, then it was probably just because I really needed to go to the bathroom.  Or because I tried to wear regular jeans with the rubber band trick and they were just a liiiiiittle too tight.  Still hurt like a mother, though.
Belly Button in or out?  I would say 3/4 out, 1/4 barely hanging in there.  Jacob HATES it and I think it's hilarious
Wedding rings on or off? Definitely still off.  Will I ever be normal again??
Happy or Moody most of the time:  Happy, although I do cry more easily over things.
Looking forward to:  Going to the zoo with Christina and the boys!!!!    I love the zoo.  I love those kids (and I haven't seen Bennett since he was in the hospital...he has SIGNIFICANTLY grown since then!) and I love BFF time!!!  Win-win-win situation!

26 Weeks

How far along?  26 weeks.  According to some, I've reached my third trimester!
Maternity clothes?  Oh, the usual.  Although it's getting harder and harder to find shirts that can fully cover my tummy these days.  I feel like Winnie the Pooh
Sleep:  Sooooo much...it's terrible & it's awesome.  Awesomely terrible.  Terribly Awesome.
Best moment this week:  The whole weekend.  Saturday morning at the dog park with the Yorks, a TFA Alumni gathering Saturday afternoon (and hanging out for hours after it ended with Jake & Jake), football all day Sunday with the Romero's...all in all, great people, great conversation, great food, and great fun!  Ooh, also DECORATING FOR FALL!!!  I bought some apple cider, cranked the AC, and pretended like the word "autumn" actually means something here in Texas.  It was fabulous.
Miss Anything?  I like sleeping a lot, but not NEEDING to sleep a lot, and especially not needing to sleep a lot while I'm working!  So...I don't know if I miss not needing to sleep or if I miss not working, but definitely something along those lines
Movement:  All. The. Time.  It's so great!  It really feels like a baby in there now, more than just muscle twitches.  I can feel arms/legs moving underneath when I have my hand on my stomach.  It's crazy and it makes this all so much more real!  I mean...there's actually a BABY in there! With arms and legs and stuff!
Food cravings:  I don't know about me, but Baby J is LOVING peanut butter these days!!  Every time I eat some, she starts kicking like CRAZY!  It's like a little happy dance in my belly.  If it's possible to have a favorite food in utero, this is definitely hers!
Anything making you queasy or sick:  Nope!  And no Uncle Jack moments either!!  Shake me!  (seriously, you can. It's safe now!)
Have you started to show yet:  Yeah, I think it's pretty obvious that I'm pregnant these days.  In fact, I was walking across the parking lot the other day and one of the teachers said "Aw, seeing you waddling over reminds me of when I was pregnant!"  So...apparently these days I waddle...
Gender:  Girl
Labor Signs:  No...I've heard that I could start having Braxton Hicks contractions now, but I don't really understand what these are.  All I've read is that they don't really hurt and they just make your stomach really hard.  What?? My stomach is hard all the time!  How are these a thing?  How are people even aware that these exist??   
Belly Button in or out?  Still half in/half out.  But now it's so far [half] out that you can start to see it through my shirts.  I think we can add this to the list of not cute things about pregnancy
Wedding rings on or off? Uh...for the answer to that question, please refer to the sausage fingers pictured above. 
Happy or Moody most of the time:  Happy!!
Looking forward to:  Our first baby classes this weekend!!  In particular, our peek-a-boo tour of the hospital is this Sunday!!!  I'm so excited!!

25 Weeks

Can you even see the belly?? Note to self: white doesn't really work for these pictures.

How far along?  25 weeks
Total weight gain: You know what?  They forgot to tell me at my last appointment and I "forgot" to ask.  It's probably for the best that I don't know this month... (Update: they gave me my weight update at my 28 week appointment...I had only gained 17 pounds at 25 weeks.  Not too shabby!)
Maternity clothes?  I keep saying that I'm wearing lots of maternity clothes, but in reality it's just a couple pants and tank tops.  I'm able to wear pretty much all of my shirts still, which is nice.  
Sleep:  I have been going to bed SO early this week.  It's awesome, even though it means I'm officially old haha
Best moment this week: My new little nephew being born!!  Welcome to the world, Christian David!!
Miss Anything?  Not so much.  I eat a LOT so I really have no legitimate reason to miss anything.  I would really like some Chick-Fil-A right about now, but nothing is stopping me except my wallet haha
Movement:  Yes!  Today I had my hand on my stomach while she was kicking...not even just kicking, she was pushing her foot up against my stomach...and I could've SWORN that I could feel her toes from the outside!!!  That was crazy.  If I wasn't at work, I would've lifted my shirt to try and see her foot but...it was probably a wise decision that I didn't.  I'm not sure how your average middle schooler would've reacted to unannounced teacher midriff
Food cravings:  Chocolate.  This week's heroes: milkshakes, chocolate chip cookies, mint chocolate chip ice cream, and pumpkin M&Ms.  I guess this is my life now....
Anything making you queasy or sick:  Nope...although I have had a few more Uncle Jack moments.  So that's sexy.
Have you started to show yet:  Yep!
Gender:  Girl
Labor Signs:  No
Belly Button in or out?  The top half is out and the bottom half is in.  I've gotta be honest, I did not really imagine it progressing this way haha
Wedding rings on or off? Off.  I've been wearing my old purity ring around like a BOSS 
Happy or Moody most of the time:  Pretty happy!! Although I feel like I vaguely remember a couple of tearful outbursts this week...obviously baby brain is a current issue with me
Looking forward to:  BSF starting tonight!!!  I'm just really excited to meet my new group and to study Matthew this year!  Plus, when my long-term subbing job ends, I think I'll actually be able to do it daily, like it's meant to be done!  I know I know...I should be able to do that while I'm subbing because I have no take home work, etc.  But honestly, I've been SO TIRED coming home!!  I basically get in the door, eat dinner, and crawl into bed.  I don't know how people teach full time while they're pregnant.  Superheroes.

24 Weeks

Warning!  Warning!  Warning!  This post is NOT cute.  You have been warned.

Just in time for the NFL Season to kick off this week!!  Yeah buddy!!

How far along?  24 weeks
Maternity clothes?  Oh yes.  Constantly.  I probably need to get some new ones at this point...not cute.
Sleep:  Meh...on and off.  I'm always really tired but it's tough falling asleep and staying asleep.  I constantly feel like I have to pee, which doesn't help with the "staying asleep" part.  Not cute.
Best moment this week:  Getting my first PSL of the season!  Although the first one I got was not filled all the way and was lukewarm...like someone else was drinking it first.  So gross.  I try not to think about it.

Not cute.  Don't worry, I exchanged it for a better one!

Miss Anything?  Nah.  Although I have looked a little wistfully at some of the fall beers that have started to appear on the shelves...
Movement:  Dude.  Yes.  And it's VISIBLE!  I just happened to be looking down at my stomach at work and I saw it MOVE!  It like...jumped (pulsed it too gross a word, albeit more accurate) when the baby kicked and I could see the baby moving around underneath.  It was SO WEIRD!  There have been a few times before where I thought I could see something move out of the corner of my eye, but I convinced myself I was wrong.  This I could not explain away as a trick of the light.  I mean, it was SIGNIFICANT.  I feel like people are going to start to notice it when we're just standing around and talking.  Super weird.  Not cute.
Food cravings:  Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate.  I can't stop myself.  I'm having dreams about M&M's, I'm stopping to buy shakes after work even though I'm not really hungry, I'm finding reasons ("Oh, I had a hard day..." NOT!) to make cupcakes and mug brownies and whatever else.  Someone give me an intervention, PLEASE! Not cute.
Anything making you queasy or sick:  Uh...not exactly.  We were having dinner with some friends (not at a restaurant or anything, thank God) and I ate a lot because, you know...that's how I roll.  So anyway, one thing that I've been noticing in the past few months is that food comes back up a lot easier.  It's because of #1 the relaxin (a hormone released during pregnancy) that causes all of your muscles (including the esophagus) to...you guessed it...relax and #2 there's just a lot more stuff inside of me these days and it pushes on my stomach.  Anyway, I inhaled a little ice cube, started coughing, and ended up having a little bit of dinner...come back up.  Not like projectile vomit or anything, I was able to spit it in the trash, but still.  I totally felt like Uncle Jack from Arrested Development when he's like "shake me!"  If you don't know what I'm talking about, it's probably for the best.  Not cute. 
Have you started to show yet:  Yep, feelin' pretty huge! Not cute.
Gender:  Girl...ok, that's pretty cute.
Labor Signs:  No, but they will not be cute.
Belly Button in or out?  Starting to pop out. Not cute.
Wedding rings on or off?  Off.  Swollen fingers = not cute
Happy or Moody most of the time:  Happy...even though I'm not cute
Looking forward to:  Feeling cuter.  Maybe next week?

23 Weeks

Lordy...every so often over the summer I've looked at myself and been like...

...and then somehow magically a month later, I am.  Like way more pregnant.  For example, I remember looking at this and being like, "Whoa. Super preggo!"  And now I just look back at that and laugh...I know I'll probably feel the same way about this picture in a month or so.

Reppin' my Illini!  If anyone wants to buy me these shoes to go with the tank top, feel free :)

How far along?  23 weeks
Maternity clothes? Yes but I'm starting to not love it so much...I'm constantly having to pull my pants up!  Still, they're WAY more comfortable than regular pants
Sleep:  Epic proportions now that I'm working again.  Waking up is so hard!
Best moment this week: Reading all the celeb tweets reacting to Miley's VMA performance.  How badly do I wish this snapshot was legit?!! So badly.  Still...I guess I should mention that my ACTUAL favorite part of the week was that Jacob felt Baby J kicking from the outside for the first time!!!! I've been trying to get him to catch it for weeks, and he finally did!  The trick was to get him to come over when I was watching something on my laptop.  She always starts moving around when I have something on...this time it was Friends but it was actually kind of an inappropriate scene so...that got weird real quick.
Miss Anything? Nah, I'm pretty content.  Maybe not being so hungry all the time...haha
Movement:  Oh yes!
Food cravings:  Um...CHOCOLATE.  Oh my gosh, today I literally thought I would die I wanted chocolate so badly.  There was someone in my vicinity eating chocolate today and didn't offer to share.  It was so rude.  They didn't exactly know me, but still.  You don't just eat chocolate in front of a pregnant lady and not offer to share. It all turned out ok though because Jacob bought some ice cream and Reese's and we made shakes after dinner. #heavenly #cravingquenched #fornow...
Anything making you queasy or sick:  No
Have you started to show yet:  Whoa baby, yes.  I actually started bumping into things with my stomach while walking around the classroom I'm subbing in.  Want to know how to make an 8th grader any normal human feel awkward?  Knock into them with your huge protruding belly.  Go ahead, give it a try. It's hilarious.  
Gender:  Girl
Labor Signs:  No
Belly Button in or out?  In...but not for long.  Little known fact, folks: my belly button used to be an outie.  True story. I was about 6 years old, just hanging out   doin' like I do   chilling  playing with my belly button and I just all of a sudden...pushed it in.  Just like that.  And then I had an innie.  For like...ever.  Anyway, this past week I was just hanging out   doin' like I do   chilling  playing with my belly button and almost popped it back to an outie.  Seriously guys, should I be concerned about this?  More importantly, what am I doing with my life that I have so much time to be playing with my belly button?  
Wedding rings on or off?  Yeah, off again.  Forget that noise.
Happy or Moody most of the time:  Happy!  No more tears this week!
Looking forward to:  Cooler weather!!  Not even coat weather, just jeans or something.  Weather where I can drink apple cider and hot cocoa and not feel too weird about it