Yikes, you guys, I have gotten so behind on these — as I sit here, I’m actually 21 weeks and just getting around to posting my 19 week photos!  Things have just been nuts here — in a really good way, of course, but there is SO much to do before the baby comes!  I’ve had a crazy few weeks with lots of work (which is great) and with the holidays coming up, I’ve definitely fallen a little behind with everything non-law-related!  So this update will be pretty quick, but here’s where I am:

How far along? 19 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: About 12 pounds.  I’ve gained almost exactly a pound per week since the end of the first trimester, which I think is right on track. 

Maternity clothes? Maternity pants and regular tops or dresses.

Stretch marks? Nope.

Symptoms: Oh my gosh, this was a scary one.  I’d been eating bananas and coconut water to avoid cramps for a while, and then I stopped for a little bit (just out of business/laziness) and suddenly got a terrible abdominal cramp that woke me up in the middle of the night.  It was awful, but it went away quickly and I didn’t have any other symptoms, so when I asked my doctor about it, she said it probably isn’t anything to worry about.  So scary though!

Sleep: Eh.  Not so great. 

Best moment this week: Being a bridesmaid in my cousin’s wedding!  It was so great to see our extended family and celebrate!  (Also: I passed the gestational diabetes test!  So that was a big relief!)

Worst moment of the week: Being stuck on the tarmac for hours as the snow/ice in DC delayed our return to Texas.  Boo!

Have you told family and friends: Yes!

Miss Anything? My clothes!  Sometimes I see a dress that would have looked super cute pre-pregnancy and it bums me out that I can’t wear them anymore.  Hopefully I’ll be back to them soon though!

Movement: Tons!  Every few hours usually — when I don’t feel anything for more than a few hours, I start to get nervous!

Food cravings: None this week!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope!

Have you started to show yet: People tell me I’m hardly showing, but it really depends on what I’m wearing.  When I’m in something tight, it’s really obvious!

Labor Signs: Nope

Belly Button in or out? In

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!

Looking forward to: Christmas!  Also, having the baby’s room finished — we are starting to get close as the pieces I ordered come in! 

Let’s face it: this month is a stressful time.  As much as we all love the holidays, there’s a lot of pressure involved in the five weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s.  Traveling, entertaining houseguests, attending and throwing parties, finding the perfect gifts, making plans for New Year’s Eve and so many more things that we all love doing, but that create hectic, crazy weeks and packed weekends!

But at the same time, it’s so important to take a few peaceful moments over the holiday season and take stock of the year.  So I thought I’d share a picture from a place that I (surprisingly) find very comforting: my home office.  This was one of the last rooms to come together in our house, and I knew I’d be spending a lot of time in here, so I wanted to make it as cozy and comforting as I could.  And for me, that meant lots of bright bold colors, a cozy place to curl up with coffee or tea, and, of course, a comfy place for the dogs to hang out when I’m working from home. 

And in case you’re feeling a little frazzled lately, I thought I’d share a few of my favorite ways to de-stress, especially during the craziest month of the year!

Relax

My favorite, by far, is to take a warm bubble bath!  In law school, I used to buy vanilla-scented bubble bath foam from CVS by the GALLON — between the freezing cold New York winters and the stress of cramming for exams, bubble baths were a nightly ritual at this time of the year.  I’d put on some music, get the bath all ready, and just zone out for fifteen or twenty minutes — and wind up feeling so incredibly relaxed and recharged.  (And an amazing tip I wish I’d known then?  Right after a warm bath, your pores are wide open and it’s the perfect time to moisturize!  Now I keep my Simple Skincare Replenishing Rich Moisturizer right next to the tub!)

Recharge

My second favorite de-stressing technique is easy and free — going for a walk!  In New York, whenever I needed to gather my thoughts and reflect, I’d grab a pair of flats and do my two-mile commute on foot.  Again, I’d just kind of zone out and watch the passing buildings and people, or else I’d think hard about whatever was bothering me at the time.  Inevitably, forty minutes later, I’d feel a hundred times better and ready to tackle the problem head on!  In Texas, I’m lucky that my real office (not the home one) is within walking distance of our house, and I almost always walk back and forth.  It takes a little more time, but adds huge benefits for my mind and body!  (Of course, be sure to use SPF before long walks outside — I use Simple Skincare Protecting Light Moisturizer with SPF 15!)

Replenish

And my third (you guys knew this was coming): Cooking!  There’s nothing I love more than taking a Saturday or Sunday afternoon and spending it in the kitchen — whipping up a favorite recipe or trying a technique I haven’t quite mastered!  I love the ritual of cooking — the excitement of creating something delicious and beautiful, and all the chopping and measuring and stirring that goes into it.  It’s hard to be stressed about anything when I’m in the kitchen, making something wonderful. 

What are your favorite ways to de-stress — at this time of the year or anytime?

I was hoping to get my 19-Week update posted yesterday, but on the way home from Washington DC this weekend, and our flight back got delayed because of snow and ice, and by the time we got home from the airport, all I could do was eat pizza and fall asleep.  SO I’ll try to get it up tomorrow instead!

We had a blast, but I am thrilled to be back in Texas for the rest of the holiday season!  Depending on whether I go to NYFW in February (which will mainly be up to my doctor), this could be our last real pre-baby trip!  We’re sticking close to home for the holidays, and I’m excited to show my parents the joys of a seventy-two degree Christmas.

And speaking of the holidays, this was my Thanksgiving outfit!  We kept it pretty casual this year, so I went with this faux fur vest from Juicy Couture from two holiday seasons ago (seen on Sugarlaws here — an oldie!), and this amazing striped-and-sequin LOFT top from this summer (last seen here)!  About 10% of the items in my closet currently fit me, so I’m always excited to find some cute options!

And a word on this necklace — it was sent to me by the lovely girls at Dogeared Jewelry, who suggested that I pick out a letter in honor of our future son’s name!  I’m not telling yet what the “B” stands for, so for now, just pretend it’s Baby Boy!

Juicy Couture vest (similar), LOFT top (now on major sale!), Splendid leggings, Dogeared initial necklace, By Boe necklace.