Disclosure: All reviews are my true and honest opinions. Posts may contain affiliate links where I earn a small commission from your purchase, but I will always let you know which links those are. :)

Sunday, January 31, 2016

Week 20 - 2nd Trimester Pregnancy Symptoms, Overview, Updates, etc.

Week 20 - Jan. 22-28 

Our baby boy Calvin Lee is due June 17, 2016!


Doctor Appointment and the Big Ultrasound!:
This week was our anatomy scan. They didn't get to see everything they wanted to so we're getting another at 28 weeks! Yay! Also, the 28 weeks appointment will be my gestational diabetes test so at least Justin will be there to entertain me for the hour long wait. :)
Anyway, we got to see a lot of him. The spine was amazing! And his little heartbeat! His little feet and crossed legs! That was a lot of fun. From what they say everything was looking good, I just wish we got a good picture of his little face.




Bump: 
I actually noticed last week that the bump was looking ever so slightly uneven. It was slightly bigger on the right side. Went to the chiropractor and she was massaging around my round ligaments and she said baby was chilling on the right side. So now I know why I thought my belly looked crooked. Haha. It's really so slight and Justin said he couldn't see it but I can tell. But in other news, the bump is growing so fast! Lol.
So they say at the 20 week mark is when your uterus finally reaches your belly button. I'm pretty sure mine is already way past there. At the ultrasound she was using the device way above my bell button. And way more apparent than that is that I can totally feel our little boy kicking about an inch or two above my belly button. My theory is because I'm short perhaps my torso is just tiny compared to the growing uterus. I don't know how accurate that really is, but I know my uterus must be higher than they say. They haven't measured my uterus at the doctor's office yet, so I'm not sure if it's bigger than normal or what anyway, I'm just making stuff up at this point.

Maternity Clothes:
No new purchases this week, and I'm starting to think I need to settle down on the maternity clothes shopping. It's getting a little excessive. And for now I really only wear cute stuff on the weekends, I just wear jeans and work provided shirts for work during the week. Now when the belly gets too big for work shirts, we might have a different situation, but we'll just wait and see. At the rate this belly is growing I bet we're going to grow out of the stuff I already have before it's all over with.
Ordered a maxi dress and maxi skirt from Target last week and finally got them in the mail. I just can't help but check the clearance maternity section every once in awhile. Lol.

Emotions:
I had a bad day on Saturday, but I kept it to myself and didn't drag Justin into it. My shoulder has been bugging me and we were cleaning for a little get together we were having that day. My shoulder was hurting and I couldn't properly clean the bathtub because it hurt so bad. So I kinda had a break down. But don't worry, I made an appointment with the doctor on Monday to see what's wrong with my shoulder.

Food:
I have been using the S Health app in hopes to keep the calorie count at a normal level since I've obviously been gaining a ton of weight already. I think it's working out okay, so long as I can remember to input what food I'm eating every day. One thing is, it's great for name brand foods that you buy because their database seems to be pretty big, but homemade stuff is a little more difficult to accurately track. 

Sleep & Dreams:
I've been having dreams that I can feel Calvin moving from the outside. I'll wake up in the morning unsure if it was a dream or real because the dreams always tend to be of me laying in bed or on the couch and feeling him, so they feel like real life to me. Haha.
I had two really weird dreams in one night but can't remember them! They were strange. I want to say one of them had to do with running away from something stupid like bouncy balls or something. Haha.
But in the sleep department, it has been hard to fall asleep this week. I just can't seem to get comfortable. At the end of the week I tried sleeping with my Snoogle around my back and a body pillow at my front, that was nice, so hopefully that method continues to work. I was up tossing and turning Wednesday night for about an hour just trying to find a good way to lay and I noticed that every time I rolled over, Calvin would roll around too like he was re-positioning himself along with me. That was entertaining seeing as I couldn't fall asleep for an hour at like 2 in the morning anyway. At least Calvin was up with me. Haha.

Energy:
I have gone to bed early many nights this week. I just can't keep my eyes open when Justin and I lay on the couch after dinner.

Exercise:
Walked at the gym one day I got off early. It was nice because this time of year the place is packed, but going before 4 pm makes it a little better. I like going to the gym and walking but I also think about all the stuff I could be doing at home like making dinner, etc.
Ordered a yoga ball off eBay, and that's fun to use. Hopefully it will keep me motivated because I really enjoyed working out with it this week.
I only had those two workouts this week though. I had doctors appointments three nights this week so that kind of interfered with things.

Physical Symptoms:
Breathlessness has been back in full force for a couple weeks now. Just trying to talk and walk at the same time, I sound like I just ran a mile.
Also I have an increase in those pesky little right under the skin pimples. They seem to be concentrated around the mouth/chin area.

Movement:
So they say baby's hearing has really developed well by this time,or something along those lines. Anyway, I think that's totally true! I think Calvin can hear the outside world right now because over the weekend we had a lot of Justin's family over, including a bunch of kids, and Calvin was moving around like crazy while they were all there! I mean just crazy! Haha.
I also think I felt him move from the outside again, the night we were tossing and turning in bed. Still no luck for Justin though.
Also by the end of this week I am definitely referring to his movements as kicks because they feel much stronger than those weird little butterfly feelings we were having for awhile there. :) So that's exciting. 

Favorite Moments of the Week:
Being up in the middle of the night feeling Calvin toss and turn with me was pretty entertaining. Then of course seeing him on the ultrasound! We couldn't get a good shot of his face or profile, but seeing his little hands move and his heart beating was just awesome.

Baby Purchases:
I don't know if I mentioned it last week but I ordered a dresser for Calvin's room last week. It's supposed to show up this week. It's super cute! Justin also got a rocking chair on Craigslist and he's going to paint it. With those two items, the nursery is pretty much finished. I can't wait to show you pictures! :)

What I Miss:
Sleeping on my belly, once again. The belly is just growing so fast!

Thanks so much for reading!
Love,
Alaina and Little Calvin

Saturday, January 23, 2016

Week 19 - 2nd Trimester Pregnancy Symptoms, Overview, Updates, etc.

Week 19 - Jan. 15-21

Our baby boy Calvin Lee is due June 17, 2016!

I don't know why I look so confused... lol
Bump:
It's so funny looking back even just a few weeks and seeing my bump pics. I thought it was so big then, but look at it now! I can't imagine what it's going to look like in a month or by June for that matter! Haha. It really does grow so fast. Everything just happens so fast! Every time I have Justin take the weekly pic, I look at it and say, "holy cow it's so big!" I'm so happy we're documenting the bump growth on this journey. I can't wait to look back at all these posts in the future. :)
Got another comment on the bump, kind of. I work at the same place as my dad and somebody asked him if I was pregnant. Lol. He said they were very hesitant whether or not to ask.

Stretchmarks:
Stretchmarks have arrived. :( I think it's a little early for this stuff! Haha. They're faint and small, but I'm pretty sure that's what they are. They're on my upper thighs. I know I've been gaining weight there so it really shouldn't be a surprise that they've appeared this week. It just feels too early for this man! I was actually quite upset about this, more than I thought I would be. I knew it was inevitable. I really think it's the fact that I'm not even halfway there yet and who knows how many more could show up by the time Calvin comes! I think it might also be that I feel like the thighs are worse than the belly. You can see my thighs in shorts, but nobody needs to see my belly! It's easy to hide belly stretchmarks. And I don't want to wear long mom shorts for the rest of my life! O man, let's stop stressing about this. Perhaps this should go under the "emotions" heading, I'm taking this a little too seriously.

Maternity Clothes:
Went to Target with my sister Ry and found some maternity stuff on clearance. I found my favorite sweater in another color and had to get it! Also got a $4 dress that will be cute with or without the belly, and two pairs of pants that I can wear to the gym or for pajamas. My regular pajama bottoms with elastic bands are getting too tight and just plain annoying, so I'm happy to have a couple more options.
Also, I think my hips have grown wider this week. It seems that my pants are getting a little tighter there. And not just my usual getting fatter tighter.

Emotions:
Once again, I think I'm pretty good. Like Justin said early on in my pregnancy, I'm more pleasant now than I was before I got pregnant and I agree. I can realize (after the fact) when I'm being a psycho, and I really don't think it's been bad. I always tell you guys when I have a breakdown or freak out on here anyway, so you'll know if I start being crazy again. :)
But let's be honest and I'll just tell you guys a little bit of my thought process lately though. Sometimes I do get upset and feel that Justin isn't quite as into the whole pregnancy thing as I am, but I always have to remind myself that he's a guy and dudes sometimes just take it differently, ya know? He even made this statement the other day. I asked him if he constantly thinks about Calvin or if he sometimes forgets about him and he said he actually doesn't know if it's truly hit him yet and he referenced how I can feel Calvin and he can't. So I understand it might just take awhile for reality to hit him and I try not to get offended by it. This is a big, scary and new time in our lives and I know we both have adjusting to do.
But, I do notice he will just look at me and smile randomly more often. Usually it's when I'm standing and to me it always looks like he's checking out the bump. Lol. So that makes me happy.

Food:
I really don't think I have any more cravings than I normally would. I wanted a DQ MooLatte Friday, but I like those on a regular basis. I think the difference is these days when I have a craving for something I like really really need it, whereas before I got pregnant I could deal with not getting it. Not pregnant Alaina would say "mmm, that sounds good, maybe I'll get it tomorrow." But pregnant Alaina says "omg, I'm gonna die if I don't get that now!" I also have noticed throughout my pregnancy that I want to drink flavored drinks a lot more. I used to be totally content with just plain ole water. And I do still love water. But I never used to crave soda or anything like that. These days, I just want something a little more exciting than plain ole water. It's not a crazy craving where I'll kill someone if I don't get it, but it's definitely a different craving that I've never had to face before. I just want to mix things up and have a flavored drink every now and again. 

Sleep:
Finding a comfy position and avoiding my back has been difficult these days. I just really want to sleep on my back. Haha.

Dreams:
I dreamt that I could see Calvin moving from outside my stomach. But it was weird because I had my normal tummy back, it wasn't big.

Exercise:
Well, I was being pretty crappy at the start of the week. Then I got out of the shower Tuesday and saw the stretchmarks on my poor thighs, so now I'm back on track. Perhaps just some good blood flow to my legs will help. I know I need to take better care of them! My legs were looking pretty sexy at this time last year when I was running regularly. I miss those legs. :(

Physical Symptoms:
Light-headedness is back, which hasn't occurred since the very very early days of the pregnancy.
The boobies had another growth spurt. I know I mentioned it a couple weeks ago that they were feeling tingly sometimes, so I guess that was my warning. Might have to invest in another bra soon. It's just so hard for me to spend the money not knowing how long it's going to last! Yes, I know I should get another nursing bra because it's practical. But they're all either cute and expensive or ugly and cheap. Haha. And by expensive I mean over $20. I just can't justify it for a bra that may or may not still work for me and my boobies by the time Calvin comes, you know? There has to be somebody else out there who gets what I'm saying!

Favorite Moments of the Week:
Justin and I were laying in bed Sunday morning and Calvin was moving around like crazy. Justin was still asleep and I didn't want to wake him because you still can't really feel Calvin from the outside and I didn't want to wake him for nothing. As soon as Justin woke up I put his hand on my belly and Calvin just stopped moving about. Lol. Justin even tried talking to him and he wouldn't budge.

Movement:
So while I was laying in bed with Justin, I thought I felt him move from the outside. But I needed Justin's opinion to prove it wasn't all in my head! Lol. I could feel him from the inside and just couldn't determine if I really felt him outside too or if I was just imaging it because I felt it, does this make sense? It felt like a wave under my skin from one side to the other. That was Sunday, and I again felt it once on Monday too. 

Baby Purchases:
I ordered a crib mobile from Target this week. (it probably won't arrive til next week so I'll show you a pic in next week's post) I was beginning to compile a list for our registry and saw that we didn't have a mobile, so I figured we'd just buy a cute one and get it out of the way.

Wedding Ring:
I didn't think I'd have to start this section so soon, haha, but the rings are definitely getting tighter. My engagement ring is still doing good, but my wedding ring (which is like ever so slightly smaller) sometimes doesn't want to come off very easily. So I ordered myself a little sterling ring on eBay for the time being to replace my regular band. Let's just hope the engagement ring fits for the remainder. In other ring news, I have a really awesome white howlite ring my mom made me that is usually somewhat loose, but it fits perfectly these days, so that's a bonus. Ha.

What I Miss:
Sleeping on my back or my tummy, anywhere but on my side! I also miss not getting offended by all the dumb things people say. O! I also miss not having to give a second thought to having many glasses of tea at dinner. Caffeine intake still somewhat freaks me out. I try not to drink it very often, but lately I've been craving iced coffees and teas.

Random Thoughts:
This week Justin and I have been discussing work after Calvin arrives. We are thinking perhaps I'll be able to stay home one day a week with Calvin and only work four days. It seems like it might be feasible, but like Justin said, we'll just have to see how it goes. I know he's not looking forward to my maternity leave, my job doesn't pay anything (that's American for ya), but I know we'll be fine. Might have to cut back on the makeup spending, haha, not that I'll have time for all that fancy stuff with a newborn anyway!

Trying to get Yuna to take a pic with me. 

Thanks so much for reading!
Love,
Alaina and Little Calvin

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

NEW Maybelline Master Fix by Face Studio Setting + Perfecting Loose Powder


$9.99 at Ulta for 6 grams or .21 ounces (less than most of my pressed powders at around 9 grams).


It is a super finely milled powder and it totally disappears after simply rubbing it in your fingers for a second.

The packaging description says this powder "sets, mattifies, blurs, and smooths," so let's see how I think it lives up to those claims.

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It sets makeup even with the slightest dusting of powder with a large fluffy brush.
It mattifies.
It does blur and smooths things out. I definitely noticed a difference in my usually-on-the-larger-size pores around my nose. I find that the smoothing and blurring properties are similar though. It seriously does make a big difference in my pores though. This powder paired with the New Maybelline Dream Velvet foundation that I just reviewed make my pores disappear.


I like how the powder can only come out of the little holes on one side of the packaging, instead of all over. This packaging allows a great amount of product to come through, not too much, not too little. 

Overall, it does what it needs to do, with the bonus of real pore perfecting action, and I would recommend it.

Thanks so much for reading!
Love,
Alaina


Tuesday, January 19, 2016

NEW Maybelline Master Contour Palette Light/Medium Review & Swatches


$10-$13 depending on where you pick it up.


I really enjoy this palette and think it's a great deal. It would be perfect for travel. It's basic enough to work for a lot of people but it has some unique qualities too that make it stand out.

If I have one gripe about the palette, it's that the powders can kick up a little bit of product because they are so soft. I find this to be especially true of the contour and blush, not so much the highlight shade though.

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Contour - This is a very unique shade if you ask me. I really don't think I have anything else in my collection like it. It has both warm and cool undertones. It comes off on my face as a cool/neutral tone, but when you look at it in the pan, it seems to be a tad warmer. It definitely has a rosiness to it that I personally find flattering. I can even see it being used as a blush really well. It can be a tad patchy, but it's nothing I can't work with.

Blush - This is a neutral pink shade. It doesn't pull too cool on me. I prefer warmer, more peachy toned blushes typically. With that being said, I still like this blush. It is quite pigmented so you have to be careful if you have fair skin like me. Just a little dab will do. It looks like it has a little sheen to it in the pan, but on the skin I don't think it's bad.

Highlight - A shimmery champagne, this little guy is beautiful! I think it's perfect for light skin. Not too intense, but definitely gives some life to the cheeks. Even out in direct sunlight, it's not too much. I think it's just a great amount of highlight. 


Thanks so much for reading!
Love,
Alaina


Saturday, January 16, 2016

Week 18 - 2nd Trimester Pregnancy Symptoms, Overview, Updates, etc.

Week 18 - Jan. 8-14

Our baby boy Calvin Lee is due June 17, 2016!


Watch the vlog update here.

Bump:
I can definitely tell a difference in how itchy my bump is when I forget to apply lotion or body butter in the morning! I actually filmed a DIY homemade body butter video over the weekend, but it might not be up by the time I post this.

Maternity Clothes:
I have been getting some things in the mail that I ordered last week. I picked up a pair of maternity leggings that are fleece lined and have a cute winter snowflake design on them. I love my snowflakes! And I know they'll be cute to wear next winter when I'm not pregnant too. I filmed my PinkBlushMaternity lookbook and I think it turned out awesome and I am loving the bump! 

Emotions:
I think I've been good. I'll ask Justin. Justin says I've been good. :)

Food:
I don't want to jinx myself but I think the whole "OMG I'm starving all the time!" thing was just a phase. This week wasn't bad. I have been working on my snacking, but not just that, I just didn't feel that unbelievable hunger this week and I don't remember any occasions where I left the dining table saying, "holy crap, you just ate enough for three people!"
And I've been incorporating more fiber into my diet and let's just say I should have been doing this forever because it makes a big difference! 

Sleep & Dreams:
Dreamt I lost my wedding ring! Not my engagement ring, but the wedding ring specifically.
Also dreamt that I was henna-ing my hair but nothing was going smoothly. I just made a big ole mess, it wouldn't stick to my hair, I didn't get it even, etc.

Energy:
Still great. I feel just like normal, except my belly is growing! Not gonna lie, for most of the first trimester I like never did any dishes or laundry haha. But I've been much better the last couple weeks (I guess since around week 16 when my energy returned). :)

Exercise:
There was snow/ice on the ground all week so I didn't go out to run for fear of slipping and falling. I'd go for a walk but my snow boots are still at my parents' house and I keep forgetting to ask my dad to bring them. Haha.
Monday and Tuesday I did a couple workout videos and Thursday the snow melted and we went for a 30 minute walk. Doing something 3x per week seems to be a reasonable goal for now.

Physical Symptoms:
I'm sure it's more the prenatal vitamins vs. just being pregnant, but my hair is growing super fast. I'm at that point when I usually would have henna/indigo-ed my hair already by now and the roots are about twice as big as they normally would be by this point. Good thing I switched to the black/dark brown instead of the red henna (my roots show way less now).
One time I got up from my desk and I felt like my ligaments were in this seated position too long so when I stood up, it's like they stretched the most they've ever stretched. I had to lean forward for a minute to let them loosen up a bit before I could walk somewhere. Holy cow. I hope that doesn't happen again. So many new weird strange feelings in pregnancy! Haha.

Movement:
This baby boy must have had a big ole growth spurt in the past week and a half because I have been feeling him like crazy (every day I'm pretty sure) since Thursday 1/7. It's such an awesome and truly amazing little feeling. It makes me so happy! I just wonder what he's doing in there. Does he only move when he's awake or does he shift around when he's sleeping too?

Favorite Moments of the Week:
Justin and I went shopping and got to go to the mall. It's been awhile since we've done that. It's so weird how the littlest things can really make the day. I remember when we first got together and we would go to the mall pretty regularly just for something to do. This time around we looked at baby stuff. Haha. It's crazy to think about how much our lives have changed since we got together 6 1/2 years ago.  

Baby Purchases:
Justin bought some batman binkies at Spencers over the weekend. Lol. We looked at some furniture stores but didn't find something we liked that was also in our budget, so the search for a dresser is still on.
I went to Ross and just had to pick up a couple things. The woodland animals just kill me! I can't pass them up. Haha.



What I Miss:
Being able to workout without feeling like a complete loser. Haha. I'm sure it's the combination of not really having worked out consistently since last Spring, as well as the extra weight (not just from pregnancy) and my new awkward belly. Lol.

Random Thoughts:
I was reading a few little posts on different boards about ladies not finding out about their twins until the anatomy scan! That has me worried. Haha. Just thinking of the possibility that it's more than just Calvin in there is scary. Scary to take care of two babies right off the bat, scary because my belly is gonna be gigantic! Scary because it's gonna cost twice as much as we thought. So many scary things. Haha. But exciting too for reasons I'm sure I can figure out later on if we happen to be in that situation.
Also, I love winter, I love snow, it's pretty much the best thing ever. I crave winter all year long just to have a chance to see the snow. But, for the first time pretty much ever, I am looking forward to warmer weather. Trudging around in my big winter coat and my growing belly makes me feel like a giant blob. I thought it sounded like fun to have a winter baby next time, but I'm not so sure I want to be extra pregnant in this weather. Lol.

Thanks so much for reading!
Love,
Alaina and Little Calvin

18 Weeks Maternity OOTD : Pink Lace Dress from Pink Blush Maternity


Click here to see my latest maternity lookbook featuring this dress, along with other Pink Blush Maternity items!


Outfit Details:
Dress - Pink Blush Maternity (size small)
Belt - eBay
Tights - Target
Cardigan - Target
Shoes - eBay
Pearl Necklace - Shane Co. (Christmas gift from Justin)

Lipstick - Maybelline Creamy Matte - All Fired Up

Still have to embrace the winter with my decorative snowflakes. :)


 Thanks for reading!
Love,
Alaina



Friday, January 15, 2016

NEW Maybelline Color Tattoo Concentrated Crayon Review & Swatches


Now, I love Maybelline Color Tattoos. They are the best thing to happen to drugstore makeup pretty much ever, if you ask me. Ha. I just adore them. These little pencils are giving the originals a run for their money though.

These crayons contain 2.2 grams of product (regular Color Tattoos are 4 grams). They are the same price at Ulta at $6.99 each. 

This difference in amount of product for the same price doesn't bother me because you're getting it in more convenient packaging. Less product for better packaging is okay in my book. Not like you're ever going to use up an entire pot of the original Color Tattoos anyway (At least I know I'm not going to).


Okay, so let me tell you the best thing about them...

They won't crease even when you don't blend them in! 
You can just scribble it all over your eyelid and go. No blending required. You don't have to get your fingers all messy getting ready in the morning. And better yet, if you have long nails, you don't have to worry about that fiasco dipping into a pot of color with your finger, like you do with the original Color Tattoos. 

Of course, if you don't like a stark line of eyeshadow on your lid, you'll need to at least blend out the edges. But if you're putting other shadows on top, it's not even necessary to blend out the edges. I don't know how it works but the look just comes together perfectly without that extra step. You don't get any weird transitional space between the lid with a base and the upper eye area without a base.


Now here are the shades that I personally picked up. My only gripe is that there aren't any mattes in this color selection! Why?!

Gold Rush is just your typical golden color. It builds up nicely to get the color you see swatched. If you sheer it out with your finger or try to blend it in any way, it loses too much color, so I wouldn't recommend blending too much. It's an awesome base for anything from light champagnes to intense golden browns.
Charcoal Chrome has a really cool depth to it. You can see almost a deep brown-ish undertone to it that gives it a little something special and I am a big fan. It's not too metallic but gives matte powder shadows a little bit of something special when you use it as a base.

Overall, go find these! They are awesome.
And thanks for reading!
Love,
Alaina


Thursday, January 14, 2016

NEW Maybelline Dream Velvet Soft Matte Hydrating Foundation Review


I ordered online and picked up shade 05 Warm Porcelain. It was the second lightest (I'm usually shade 2-3 in most lines anyway) plus it had the title "warm" in it. I have warm toned skin, but I always have an issue finding a good shade that's light and warm from the drugstore. I always find the lightest shades have too much pink in them for my skin.

I honestly find this foundation to be more on the neutral side, not warm. However, it does oxidize after just a couple of hours to have an orange-ish tint and it looks a tad darker than before. For me, that's great because it gives it a warmer undertone that's slightly darker which suits my skin better in the long run. I know that won't be the case for everyone, but for me, the oxidization actually helps.

I have super oily skin, a pimple every now and then, some redness, just to give you an idea of what skin situation I'm viewing this foundation from.

Consistency
When they say "our first gel-whipped foundation," they mean it. That's a great way to describe the consistency.

Coverage
I would call this medium coverage. You can still see some imperfections through it, but it covers my redness. It still gives a great base for the rest of your makeup, in my opinion. It also has a very even coverage and lays well on the skin. It is buildable to an extent, but be careful because it is possible to go overboard and cake it up.
It doesn't settle into my fine lines or smile lines much at all. You really have to be examining it to notice that and it takes 7+ hours for it to happen anyway. Even my favorite Revlon ColorStay can settle into my lines after just a couple hours!



Wear 
This foundation is not transfer proof. I just want to get that out there right off the bat. 
After 7 hours, you can see slight break down around the nose. Oil is still under control. 
This foundation feels light on the skin. Usually, when wearing a foundation all day, at some point I start to feel and look oily and it feels like my skin weighs a ton! This foundation doesn't feel that way. Some days I totally forget I'm wearing it because you really just don't feel it on the skin. 
Even when setting it with a very light dusting of powder, the shine was minimal. When I set it with my typical heavier application of powder, it look so gorgeous all day! 

I think those with normal or dry skin can totally get away without using any powder to set it. I just don't feel comfortable pulling that off with my oily skin. 

This is a long-wearing foundation, but it's not a 12 hours+ foundation like Revlon ColorStay is for me. It will last all day for most people (8 hours), but it's just not the longest wearing foundation I've come across. It does start to break down around the nose after 3-4 hours. You can easily pat the foundation back in, but it never goes back to being as great of a finish like in the beginning. Also at around the 7-8 hour mark, you can start to see that it's just wearing off in places where you may have touched your face (for me, it's my chin).


Overall, this is an awesome everyday foundation for me. It's great for days I don't want or need super heavy cakey makeup. It looks just beautiful on the skin and holds up for a normal day of wear. It's not something I would choose for special occasions or super long days, but for everyday wear, it's perfect.

Thank you so much for reading!
Love,
Alaina


Tuesday, January 12, 2016

NEW Covergirl TruNaked Roses Eyeshadow Palette Review & Swatches


$11.99 at Ulta, $9.98 at Walmart



These are very soft eyeshadows with a lot of pigment! Even the lightest ones pack a punch of color.

The only downside is that there is some fallout with the more shimmery shades in this palette. That's not a big deal and definitely not a make or break situation for me personally, I just thought I'd mention it.

Because of these characteristics listed above, these shadows remind me of the Wet n Wild formula from the 8 pan palettes we all know and love! They are super pigmented, but can be a little soft and have fallout.

The packaging is super simple and sleek without looking overly cheap. It's not bulky and won't take up unnecessary space. You can see all the shades easily because of the clear lid.

There are only three mattes (and I'm not so sure on the first, lightest one), but those shades are excellent transition shades for the crease. If they were going to make any of the shades mattes, those two transition shades would be the perfect two to do it. Perhaps it could benefit from one more dark shade to be matte, but I'm not complaining over here, this is a great palette. The layout is great, there's a good amount of light, medium, and dark shades.

I don't own the Naked 3, otherwise I'd show you guys some comparisons. Sorry!

One swipe up, one swipe down, and then swatched on dry skin, no primer, etc. 

Overall, This is a great bargain drugstore eyeshadow palette! (I might even say the shadows are better quality overall compared to the Loreal La Palette Nudes *gasp* or at least the two are tied)

There are two other palettes in the line (Goldens & Nudes). If they had a palette with a little pop of color, I would totally pick it up. But for now, I really think I've got enough neutral shades in my collection. Haha. That's not to say these aren't awesome palettes! 

Thanks so much for reading!
Love,
Alaina

Sunday, January 10, 2016

NEW Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid Lipstick Review & Swatches


Okay guys, enough of the baby talk. Even though you're still going to see plenty of it on here, let's spice things up and head back into the good ole makeup and beauty world! I know I haven't put up a lot of makeup stuff lately and I am soooo sorry, I just wasn't feeling it for some reason. But with all this new stuff coming out lately, I finally got a little bit of inspiration to hop back in.

Today let's talk about the NEW Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid Lipsticks...

I picked these up in a little Ulta haul of several new drugstore products. So look forward to seeing a handful of other reviews coming soon. I love matte lips (and pretty much all matte makeup in general), so I was very excited to try these out and give you guys my thoughts!


Shades
Application after 30-45 minutes (satin-matte finish)

Nude Thrill - This is an excellent medium nude for my pale skin. It has both brown and orange undertones, but it's really the perfect balance of both. It's similar to my natural lip color but a bit darker.

Fresh application (glossy)
Pink Charge - A light/medium pink that is actually a really flattering shade. It's not quite as intense on the lips as you might thinking looking at it in the tube. Personally, I see more coral-pink in the tube and just regular pink in swatches or on the lips.




Formula

These feel great on the lips and really don't transfer as bad as you would think. Let me explain... They feel so liquid on the lips that you would think simply drinking from a water bottle all day would remove them. But they don't transfer too bad and the color sticks around on the lips pretty well. They feel super comfy and moisturized without feeling heavy! And it's a genuine moisturized feeling, not just a feeling of wetness on the lips. However, with all that being said, it takes them quite awhile to dry down to this "matte" finish, probably about 30 minutes. But once they get there, it is a beautiful soft matte finish. It's not this super duper bone-dry finish that so many matte liquid lipsticks have these days. It's definitely not glossy, but it's just a beautiful finish, truly.

The formula feels and looks like a whipped gel-like consistency. It applies evenly and builds on itself well. It doesn't do anything weird when you apply a second layer, even if it's a couple hours down the road and you're just touching up the color.

Since they are not drying and actually moisturizing, I almost think these have a plumping effect. Not an artificial, make your lips tingle kind of plump, but just a nice moisturized and healthy looking plump-ness. I think they are super flattering on the lips and don't accentuate any kind of lines on your lips. They even out the surface and your lips just look great!

I find that the moisture is gone after about three hours of wear time (and I am constantly drinking from a water bottle FYI), but the color is still looking pretty good with Nude Thrill and okay with Pink Charge. The color isn't perfect at three hours, but I reapply for the moisture.

Application

I didn't notice any difficulty in application due to the applicator. I usually don't like this kind of flat tipped applicator, but this one actually wasn't bad and I didn't have any issues with it.

Fragrance/Taste

It has a fragrance that I'd call something like fruity paint? It's hard to put my finger on it but I honestly just thought it smelled fruity as I was initially applying it. But once I intentionally stuck my nose up to it and sniffed it, I could definitely smell something chemically too. I usually don't pay much attention to scent in makeup, but after seeing TotalMakeupJunkie101's review video, I had to check it out intentionally. She also mentioned a terrible perfume-like taste to the lipstick in her video, but honestly I think it's sooo sooo very light and I only get that taste when I intentionally licked my lips to inspect this aspect. I never notice any weird taste in normal wear.
__________________________________________

So overall, I really like these, but I honestly wish they had chosen another name for them. Having "matte" in the title of this lip product is very misleading, if you ask me. They take a long time to settle into their soft matte finish, therefore I think they're more similar to any regular lipstick that loses its sheen after a couple hours, not a matte liquid lipstick like we all have seen all over the market lately. That's really my only gripe. I think they are not marketed or named properly, but they are really great lip products otherwise. I just feel like Maybelline put the "matte liquid" name on it to make people attracted to it and want to buy it because it might be a dupe for another true matte liquid lipstick on the market. That's my opinion anyway.

Thanks so much for reading!
Let me know what you think! It seems these little guys are bringing in a wide variety of reviews.
Love,
Alaina

Saturday, January 9, 2016

Week 17 - 2nd Trimester Pregnancy Symptoms, Overview, Updates, etc.

Week 17 - Jan. 1-7

Our baby boy Calvin Lee is due June 17, 2016!


Here's my vlog video if you'd rather hear than read what's going on this week!

Bump:
I don't get why everyone thinks my bump is so big for how far along I am. And, on second thought, I don't know why I let their comments about it bother me... I could post another rant, but I think last week was enough cursing for now... We'll save all that good stuff for the third trimester when I'm sure I'll be extra tired of everybody's comments... :)

Maternity Clothes:
Update on the PinkBlushMaternity clothes... I got two pairs of shorts and they were too tight so I had to send them back but they were out of stock in the size I needed. Therefore, I did not get any shorts, but just one pair of capris. I'll be doing the lookbook this weekend so keep a look out next week sometime on my LainasLife channel. Altogether, I have a dress, a pair of colored jeans, and a long sleeve shirt sent from them for free, then I picked up a cardigan, shirt, and pair of capris with my own money.
Ordered a dress from Target. I like to check there periodically to see what's on clearance. With my red card I get free shipping on whatever, so I don't have to get a ton of things to make it worth it.
I also ordered some maternity workout clothes from Walmart that were super duper cheap. Why do you have to pay shipping at Walmart.com? Stupid. I wore my regular workout pants for a jog the other day and said, yep, time for new workout stuff. Haha. 

Emotions:
I like to think I've been pretty good with my emotions so far. I've had a few days when I act crazy, but really, overall, I think I've been pretty normal throughout this pregnancy. BUT it's still early, right? Ha. I guess the one thing, as was demonstrated in last week's post, is that I am more likely to get angry over people who don't have a filter when they speak. Just like I read all over the internet leading up to this point in my pregnancy, people think they can just say whatever they want, just as I'm sure in the future, they will see my bump as public property and think they can touch whatever they want. Yay, can't wait for that. Or perhaps it's just that I actually get to write up these diary-style posts for you guys, whereas before I just whined to my lovely Justin. Not like I go off on anyone to their faces though... I wish I had the guts to do that, and pregnancy would be the perfect excuse to do so... I just can't. I'll just whine here to you guys instead. Sorry. If I ever do get the guts to freak out on someone, don't worry, I'll tell you all about it.

Food:
Not gonna lie, I always feel hungry. And I am eating a lot lately. Last week I ate probably 75% of a frozen pizza. Justin had two pieces. It's like we switched places for a night. Lol. That was bad. I felt bad about it.
I promise I eat better at work! I told you about my snacks last week, so I won't bore you again, but snacking is my enemy! It was before I got pregnant too though. 

Sleep & Dreams:
Sleep has been pretty good. I love my Snoogle, but I am ever having to resist the urge to sleep on my back. It's a lot harder than I thought it would be. I am making myself sleep on my left side mostly, but I usually have to turn to the right for a period of time most nights. Sometimes it can be hard to find a good position to sleep in. The belly is finally big enough that if I lay on my side at certain angles, the pressure on the side of my belly is annoying. I prefer to almost lean up against the Snoogle so my belly isn't laying right on the mattress, but angled upward.
Had a weird dream where I was standing in this room and kept walking past this one particular spot that was very cold and every time I passed it, it was cold and I mentioned it to the person who was with me (I don't know who it was) and they said, it's a ghost, you can't see it but you can feel it. Weird. Haha.
I know I dreamt about makeup. There was this amazing all matte eyeshadow palette. I don't remember anything else about it. Haha. I woke up thinking I had a new palette to play with but it was just a dream. Haha.
Then Justin told me he had a dream he could feel Calvin. Which was cute and made me smile. :) That was the night that I felt him for real the first time, which I will go into detail about in the "movement" section below.

Energy:
Still good to go, thank goodness! I seriously am feeling great. Starting in week 16, I finally think I've entered that wonderful second trimester bliss everyone talks about.

Exercise:
Justin and I went for a 50 minute walk over the weekend, which made me super happy. It was kinda chilly out, but at least it was sunny and not windy. I really enjoy going for walks with him because it gives us a great opportunity to talk, while also doing something good for our bodies. We talked about when we want to plan for our next babies. I told Justin I'd like to experience a winter pregnancy and I told him maybe we could start trying right before or around Calvin's first birthday. I have always wanted my kids to be about two years apart, that's how my sister and I are and I think it's just the perfect gap. But obviously whatever happens happens.
I discovered that the only way for me to get the recommended 10,000 steps in a day is to take a walk like that. Apparently I don't really move much otherwise.
I really want to keep up on working out. This week I jogged/walked a mile in our neighborhood, that was fun. The idea of walking in the neighborhood alone without Justin sounds boring and cold. Jogging, on the other hand, will make me warm and it will go by quicker, hence not being boring. Haha. That's the logic anyway. I like that I've found a handful of videos I like so I can switch things up a little. From really relaxing stuff to more intense stuff that I totally cannot do without resting haha.
So I have definitely noticed some weight gain in my thighs and legs since last winter, so we're gonna do some leg and butt focusing for awhile. Haha. And if you want to know how I've realized this, it's because I put on my favorite pair of high winter boots over the weekend and whoa, they zip a little too tight around my calves with just leggings on! And I used to have room for jeans and leg warmers... together. So that was a little bit of a wake up call!

Physical Symptoms:
I think my knees are hurting me more. I never really had aches and pains, but lately this just kind of occurred to me. Great. I still have five months to go.
Holy moly, I don't know if it's the extra pounds I'm carrying or if I've turned into a weakling but I feel like I lose my breath sooo quickly and working out at any level over easy sucks. Haha.
I don't want to go on about this every week, but round ligament pain!, especially when I have been sitting awhile and stand up quickly, or rolling over in bed. I think I found a little trick that helps when I sneeze/cough/blow my nose though. I hardly get any pain when sitting, but standing up, it usually hurts. Maybe a coincidence? We'll have to see how it goes for the long run.
Had a little bit of cramping last week and the week before, maybe a couple days per week. Talked to my doctor about it and she just said it was because my uterus is finally really starting to grow a lot all of a sudden now and not to worry as long as it isn't intense and there's no spotting. The cramping has continued into this week too, just a really light abdominal ache type feeling, and no spotting. I haven't had any spotting at all throughout this pregnancy.
Maybe this is gross and TMI, but I've read nose bleeds might start occurring around this time period and although I haven't had a real nose bleed, when I blow my nose, there's definitely blood many times a week. Just thought I'd mention it. It's also finally starting to feel like winter and the air is dry and it's cold out, so I'm sure that doesn't help any.
And everyone keeps asking if the morning sickness has started yet? What's that about?

Movement!:
OMG! I definitely felt him Monday night 1/4 (16 weeks, 3 days pregnant). I went for a jog/walk around my neighborhood, just one mile, finished at 5 pm. When Justin got home just a few minutes later he started making dinner and I was sitting at the kitchen island and all of a sudden out of nowhere I felt a definite movement. It felt like the popcorn a lot of ladies talk about. But it also felt like a roll, like he just tapped against my uterine wall and rolled away from it. It was only a split second, but I gasped and looked right at Justin and put my hands on my tummy. That was definitely him, I know it! That's the first time I really felt something and knew for sure that was it! I was so happy. And even the look on Justin's face when he saw me was priceless. Like the look at our first ultrasound, he just looked glowing in happiness. It was very cool :) I wonder if it's related to the fact that I had just finished a little run around the neighborhood. If that's the reward for running, I'm totally sticking with it. :)
Then on Thursday around 10:20 am I felt him again twice a couple minutes apart. And this time I would best describe it as a sinking feeling. I heard Leesha from xSparkage describe it as that feeling where you're driving on a hilly road and the point when your stomach sinks when you're going down the hill. Honestly when I first heard her mention that I didn't think that's what it felt like at all (at least not those very first movements I thought I was feeling), but now, after that experience I think that's an accurate way to describe it. Then on Thursday night Justin and I were laying on the couch watching a show and I felt him many times! It was like four times in a row, but it was back to that popcorn-like feeling. I told Justin and he came to my belly and laid his hand and his head on it but I told him it was just really quick, not that we'd be able to feel him from the outside yet anyway. But that was exciting. :) It just goes to show how it feels different for everybody because I never heard the sinking comparison until Leesha said it. And I think different movements can feel different too. It's pretty cool if you ask me. :)
Other than those magical moments, I have been feeling more of what feels like the light grumblings I talked about last week. That's really the best I can describe it. It feels like a rolling feeling similar to how my stomach growls when hungry, but so much lighter and really low in my abdomin. Perhaps that's not really Calvin, but I know those other two feelings definitely were him!
I think another cute thing about it is that the first time I was with Justin while he was making dinner, and the second time I was with my dad helping him with some electrical stuff at work. Those are the two most important and awesome dudes in my life. And Calvin is going to be the next important little dude. Haha. I can't wait for him to meet his daddy and grandpa! Oh, so exciting. Haha.
And let me just say how happy it makes me to finally feel him! Like seriously. I'm sure there will be a day when he is jabbing my rib cage and his movements make me mad, but for now it's the most incredible thing ever. I just love him so so much! It makes me so excited to meet him and hold him, even thought I know that's still so many months away! I can't explain the happiness is these first little movements and I wish my sweet Justin could feel him too! :)

Favorite Moments of the Week:
That walk with Justin was very enjoyable. Our New Years Eve party (which was technically still week 16) was a lot more fun than I thought it would be being the only sober one around haha, and I even stayed up until like 1:30 am, OMG. Justin and I went to see the new Star Wars film Saturday night at a 7:40 pm show. I don't even know the last time we went to a nighttime show. Haha. That made me feel young and not pregnant. Even though I was so uncomfortable in the theater, it was like a million degrees, my legs were just uncomfortable no matter what position I put them in, and I needed to pee so bad but it was almost the end and I didn't want to go to the bathroom. Haha. #pregnancyproblems But overall, the two occasions when I felt him move have to be the highlights of the whole pregnancy at this point!

Nursery:
My sister and I did some painting last weekend. She made three beautiful canvases to put in Calvin's room! We just can't decide where to put them. We're kind of waiting to find a dresser and rocking chair too, so we can better decide how to lay out the entire room.


What I Miss & Random Thoughts:
I know that some say it's still okay to have a glass of wine every once in awhile, but I just can't seem to justify it right now at least. My parents and their neighbors made some homemade wine in the fall and Justin got a bottle of it. We're letting it age until June when I can finally drink it and I'm actually kind of excited. I hope it's yummy. Lol. It will be like a really awesome treat to have for our anniversary (6-26) perhaps (as long as Calvin arrives before then).
Sometimes I think about what this summer will be like. My grandpa lives in a cabin in the country by two creeks. We usually go down for the weekend at least a couple times every summer and swim, ride four-wheelers, forget about the daily struggles of regular life. And I wonder, will we even go next year with Calvin being so little? We usually go for Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, or at least a couple of those weekends and sometimes in August around my birthday. I can't see us going for Memorial Day because I'll be super pregnant, July 4th and he'll be super teeny tiny. Perhaps Labor Day? There just seems to be so much about the stresses of being new parents while away from home for a few days; keeping him safe in a different environment, at the creek, in the dirtiness of the woods, staying away from the bonfire, the fact that it will be summertime and probably hot out, that we all share rooms and I don't want to disturb our family members having to get up and feed him every few hours. All of those things just seem too stressful to think about right now! But I sure hope we can go down there at least once this summer. Going to grandpa's is going to be a totally different experience with our baby boy. You may think I say that in a sad way, but it really will just be different and it will be good too! There are so many other family member kiddos who go down there also. We went when we were tiny. He'll have his cousins. And I hope he loves the creeks, playing in the dirt, and playing and riding around. That place wears out the little ones. I can't wait for him to experience it all (just maybe next summer, not this one).

Thanks so much for reading!
Love,
Alaina and Little Calvin

Saturday, January 2, 2016

Week 16 - 2nd Trimester Pregnancy Symptoms, Overview, Updates, etc.

Week 16 - Dec. 25-31
OMG look at that bump!

Baby boy Calvin Lee is due June 17, 2016.

Watch my 16 weeks pregnancy update video here!

Bump:
Let's just say my last remaining pairs of non-maternity pants are having to go un-properly-buttoned these days, especially in the afternoons.
OMG! Got my first comment on the bump from a random stranger! He asked if we knew what we were having yet. I think it's because I whispered to Justin that my belly had been super itchy that day and he must have overheard me. I was super surprised, I didn't think I was showing that much for random others to notice, but it made me happy! Yay! I don't just look fat!

Maternity Clothes:
I received my orders from PinkBlushMaternity.com (one order of three that they sent me and one order of five that I purchased myself). I measured myself according to their instructions because their pants sizes are weird numbers that I'm not used to. The tops I ordered in smalls and they fit perfectly, but all the bottoms I got were awfully tight and I even got those in mediums. So I'm waiting on exchanging those now.
I also purchased a couple more bras. I got two regular ones just a couple weeks after I found out I was pregnant. Then a couple weeks after that I got two sleep bras which I wear around the house. These newest two are similar to sports bras, but I'll wear them on a regular basis most likely. It's still so strange to me... I've worn the same bra size pretty much since I first got boobies, now both my cup size and band size is bigger and it's like what do I do with these things?
I think I underestimated the amount of new clothing I'd need (especially this early on!). I know I don't "need" any new tops yet, but bottoms are definitely a must, and the same goes for bras, I can't even look at my old bras. I didn't realize how stressful it is to put on a pair of pants and not be able to fit and I seriously have an all knew respect for those who deal with weight fluctuation. It's disheartening to me, and I'm pregnant and I know that this is all a natural process that's taking place right now inside my body, yet at times it stresses me out. In the past, clothes shopping was fun, a way to get new cute stuff. I never really thought of clothes shopping as "buying the necessities," but that's what it's become (with a few cute pieces in there too lol). Wow, this whole paragraph just screams materialism and #firstworldproblems, doesn't it?

Emotions:
Saturday night I don't even remember what happened, but it was hilarious to me and I could not control my laughter and I started crying in happiness. This has happened before over a super adorable baby in a bear outfit a few weeks back. Then Sunday morning I was having an unhappy day and I cried for stupid reasons that were really nothing.

Food:
I've been really working on eating better, especially in the snacking department. Work snacks include: sweet pickles, Yoplait cotton candy flavored yogurt (I know it's for little kids but it's just delicious), and clementines, grapes, apples, bananas. I snack much better at work than I do at home because I only bring "better" stuff to work. As opposed to being at home where a variety of good stuff and junk food is available (sometimes it's just hard to resist the junk food).

Sleep:
As you may have heard, I got my Leachco Snoogle pillow for Christmas and it's wonderful. I must say it sucks to get out of when it's time to get up and pee in the middle of the night, but otherwise, it really is nice. It makes the bed look stupid because I just cover it under the blanket, but it's all good, nobody comes in our room anyway. My cats both really like to sleep on or against it during the day. However, I think it makes our oldest cat upset at bedtime because I used to keep a big body pillow next to me and she would lay on that by me. This pillow is less wide than the body pillow so there isn't enough room for me and her to both use the pillow. 

Dreams:
Had a dream that I went to the gym, saw some chick I went to high school with, and somehow we got into a fight and I said something along the lines of "I might be pregnancy but I can still kick your ass!" Haha. Wtf?!

Energy:
Guys, I think it's finally returned! Yay! I stayed up till almost 11 on both nights over the weekend! Just in time for New Years Eve!

Exercise:
My sister got us all (Me, Justin, and our sister Lindsay) Jawbone Up Move fitness trackers for Christmas. And I really do feel the motivation to workout and walk more since getting this little guy! We all became teammates, so we can see who is doing the most walking, and just checking out and comparing myself to the others really does prove for some great motivation.
So, with that said, I made a little prenatal workouts video YouTube playlist in case you guys are interested. I did one or two of these videos 3 or 4 days this past week. Woo hoo!

Physical Symptoms:
My nose has turned from stuffy/runny to super dry. I don't know if that has anything to do with the pregnancy, but I just thought I'd mention it.
Round ligament pain is still a thing. It seems to be happening more often in everyday activity, like when I get up off the couch or roll over in bed.
I had one day of cramping last week and this week I had another. Last week it was a little intense but this week it was much less. And neither really felt like menstrual cramps, I wonder if it's just because the sensation is over a more wide-spread area since my uterus is now much bigger than before. I know that everything says not to worry, cramping is normal, but it still worries me every time.
Also, I don't know if I'm mentioned this before but holy f sometimes my sneezes are so stinkin' intense and sudden that I think my whole body is just gonna explode. And I get way more of those fake out sneezes than I ever have before.
Had a couple little headaches this week, but as we know, I get those regularly anyway, it just sucks because in the beginning of my pregnancy I was hardly ever having them and I thought, "wow, being pregnant is awesome, no more headaches." But that was just a lie...
Also on two occasions this week, I totally felt like I had morning sickness, but I said, "no way man, you've been done with that since like week 10." But that's exactly what I felt like, like I felt so bad because I needed to eat but didn't want to eat because that idea made me feel even yuckier. Maybe it's still the hormones being weird, or perhaps it's a continuation of the stomach bug I had last week?
Here's a funny one with a little TMI. Justin began a conversation with me by saying, "can I ask you something and you promise not to get offended?" I said yes because I really wanted to hear what he had to say. Haha. Then he asked if my nipples were darker than before. I told him yes and if he had been reading the pregnancy book I got him he would know this. Haha.
In the last week or two I've definitely noticed increased itchiness on my belly. I would get itchy every once in awhile before, but it's definitely much more noticeable and frequent these days.
I also feel like my boobies might be on the verge of another growth spurt (of course, literally the day after I bought the new bras). They've been somewhat tingly feeling at times and just a little bit more sore than usual. They have so far only had that one initial growth spurt right in the beginning, but I hear they can have random ones throughout the pregnancy, so we'll just have to see. Good thing the two bras I just bought are pretty stretchy and not really restricted to a certain cup size.

Movement?:
I kinda thought I felt something Sunday night when I was just laying there trying to feel anything. I wasn't sure though and it only repeated a couple times. It felt like a finger tap from within, that's the best way I can describe it. Once again, unsure if that was really Calvin moving about. I didn't gasp or freak out or anything, but ever since then there are times when my tummy just feels different. It really is hard to tell if it's just my hunger (because I'm f'n hungry all the time) or if there really is something going on in there. It definitely feels different though. It's like a very very light rumbling or almost tumbling feeling, like he's rolling around in there or something.
It may be a little late, but I finally have been able to feel my uterus this week! I know this might sound weird to some but I was really happy about it, I kept thinking, "is this it?" but this week I am sure of it. It's already a couple inches above my pubic bone, so I should have been able to feel it for awhile now, I guess I just wasn't checking as often as I could have been. 

Favorite Moments of the Week:
Justin curled up next to me on the couch and napped Sunday. It was actually very nice and relaxing and reminded me of the days earlier in our relationship when he worked really weird hours and would pass out at my parents house all the time. Lol.

Baby Purchases & the Nursery:
Calvin got a lot of stuff for Christmas! My mom made him some super cute clothes, my sister made a blanket, my other sister got him a teeny tiny newborn outfit, Justin's mom got some baby bath products, socks, and two little frames with ink pads to stamp his hand and foot on. Everything was just so cute! So, do you remember that time I started crying because of the baby in the bear outfit and how cute he was, well, my mother made him one, plus a little hoodie with bear ears on top! OMG. So many cutes.
Justin hung up a little decorative shelf in Calvin's room and he finally put up some shelving in his closet too (the closets didn't have shelving when we moved in, so they've all been a gradual process). We also kind of rearranged things but I think we really won't know what to do without having a dresser in there. We're still on the search for that piece of furniture.





What I Miss:
I actually started to miss partying this week because we're planning a New Years Eve party at our place. I really don't like drunk people when I'm sober, so this should be fun. Haha. I kinda wish I could join them in the drinking and partying and whatnot.
And, if we're being honest here, I miss cleaning the litter box. I'd clean it everyday, let's just say my husband doesn't. :) My sister Ryann came over the other day and I got her to empty it! Yay! Thank goodness for Ry! Justin throws a fit and says it doesn't need to be cleaned more than a couple times a week, so I just stopped asking him to.

Doctor Appointment:
This was a super quick appointment this week. We really just got to hear Calvin's heartbeat (which was at 160-something) and then we were told the next appointment would be our anatomy scan! I'm super excited for that visit because we'll get to see our baby boy when he is actually looking like a baby, unlike at our super early ultrasound when he was just a tiny little blob. Lol. It's so crazy though to think how much he's grown already!

Random Thoughts:
I try not to curse on this blog or on YouTube, but I have a rant for you today. If you don't like to hear cuss words, I suggest you just exit now and pretend that I'm still this super delightful internet lady that you read and see on YouTube. Ha. But I absolutely MUST get this off my chest.
I am sooo fucking tired of everyone saying dumbass remarks along the lines of not being able to sleep once baby is born, along with whatever else that pops into their heads. Holy shit. I'm only 15 weeks and I want to punch every single person who says that in the fucking face. Especially the dudes... and it seems like the dudes say it twice as much as chicks... OMG. Hate it. I should just start saying whatever dumbass words pop into my head, except I have this really cool thing called a fucking filter and a brain that controls it. Holy shit. Can't wait for the other great comments to come. (If you haven't read this article on wonderful pregnancy comebacks from Pregnant Chicken, go now, read!) I just seriously don't get it. Why is it that everyone only talks about the most negative and terrible things about having children, why the fuck did you have kids then? if you view it all as this terrible burdensome misery that we all have to share in?

In other news, when we first found out about our baby, I felt like the first couple weeks took forever to pass! Then weeks 6/7-11/12 just absolutely flew by! I still feel like it's going by quickly, but perhaps ever so slightly slower than those weeks in between. It's just so weird. I already worry about Calvin growing up. I worry about how fast everything is going to go by! Honestly, it blows my mind already.
Before I got pregnant, I always thought I'd have so much anxiety and worry over the actual process of giving birth while I was pregnant, but up until now I never gave it a second thought. I know I shouldn't worry about it this early on and I shouldn't be worrying in the first place! But the past couple weeks I've thought more and more about the actual process of giving birth and it's starting to freak me out. I just have to tell myself, ladies have been doing this forever, I can handle this, plus all of our medical advances these days are on my side too. I need to stop worrying. That's one thing I've realized this week, I don't want to be anxious and afraid. It's not good for me, Calvin, or Justin either. And that's why I let it all out here for you guys! You get to hear all of my worries, whinings, etc. Thanks guys for listening to me! Feel free to complain in the comments below. I think ranting is helpful. :)


Thanks so much for reading!
Love,
Alaina and Little Calvin