it's okay...

My second installment of this new "series" I'll be doing here every now and then. Like I mentioned in my first post, this used to be a blog hop run by Amber, but she discontinued it. Sad face. I thought it'd be fun to pick up where she left off since it was one of my favorites.

It's okay...to despise the thought of cooking dinner.

It's okay...to wish I was one of those women who show their pregnancy only in their belly. You see them from behind, from the boobs up, or from the butt down...and they look like they just ran a 5K. Okay, maybe the boobs would give it away. Unfortunately not on me.

It's okay...to laugh it off, but secretly want to give the evil eye to those well-meaning souls who ask me if I'm due next month. Or if I'm sure I don't "have twins in there". Really? 

{Thank you all who've left comments on my bumpdate posts telling me that I look great. Most of the time you're all I have for positive reinforcement!}

It's okay...that I also feel like I don't give my dog enough attention. I know I do, but when he looks at me with those big brown eyes...he looks so sad! I hope he knows that we love him.

It's okay...that I'm kinda jealous of people who are losing weight right now. I know I'm growing a baby and all...but you all look so darn good!

here

It's okay...that I'm already starting to plan out the Nugget's 2nd birthday party. I can count September out {hello baby!}, and October will be here before you know it.

It's okay...to take my iPhone to bed with me. What would I do without it when I wake up at midnight? 2 AM? 4 AM?

It's okay...to dislike giving the Nug a bath. Mommy guilt, because she LOVES bath time...but she never wants to get out!

It's okay...that I wish I got contacted for more baby/kid product reviews. Umm...this is a mommy/baby/family blog people! I don't need new glasses.

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two amazing men.

There's just two in my life. Two men who have changed my entire world for the better. Two men who will continue to impact my life in some of the greatest ways possible. Two amazingly successful, smart, funny men.

My dad. And my husband.

My dad, because he was the first man in my life. Because he raised me and taught me right from wrong and instilled in me a wealth of knowledge, both academically and personally. He worked two jobs while my sister and I were growing up so my mom could stay home with us. So that he could save more for our futures. But I don't ever remember missing him in my life. I remember him playing with us. Going on bike rides. Taking me to {and then attending} endless soccer practices, games, and tournaments for a good 10 years of my life. 

Being a protective father. Making me stay home from parties that I shouldn't have gone to anyway. Staying in my room for hours on end to study for midterms and finals. Things that I hated but eventually have realized were for my best interest. I'll do the same things for my daughters.

Pushing me to play soccer in college. To study accounting. To find a "nice guy" in one of my business classes...i.e. the best advice he's given me so far. It's how I found that second man in my life. Supporting me in my move to Washington DC and four years later to New York. Even though they were both three hours away. Telling me that he's proud of me.

Being an amazing "paw-paw" to my daughter. Playing with her, spoiling her, teaching her. She's so loves him.

Thank you dad, for doing everything right. For all that you continue to do. I love you.

My husband, because he's my perfect match, petty fights and all. Because he's a constant in my life and in our daughter's life. She's never going to miss him during her growing up years, either. Because he's so much like my dad, yet different.

He works hard at his job to provide for us. But he knows that there's a line between work and family. I'm so proud of the name he is making for himself in our community. Yes, we may keep a tight budget, but we have a house. And other than a mortgage, no debt. Because of him, I'm also able to stay home and raise our daughter...a job that has it's moments but that I wouldn't trade for a crazy salary.

He's serious but more importantly he's my comedic relief! He keeps our lives entertaining and has introduced me to new things that I otherwise wouldn't have done. My true love, brought into my life by God. A God, who has given us so many blessings together. I'm excited to see where life takes us. 

Thank you for being you. For working hard. For loving me and adoring our daughter. I love you, RJ.

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super sunday sync blog hop #40.

Happy Father's Day! Go out and celebrate those wonderful men in your lives!

Welcome to Super Sunday Sync #40! Thank you to all who continue to link up with us each week--you are what makes this hop grow! And if you are new to the hop, welcome!

Our lovely Guest Hosts for this week:

Terri ~ Rambling Mama
Christa ~ The Me and Mine Book

Rules for the "Super-est" hop ever:

1)  Link up a family-friendly post {or your homepage if it will always be decent} that you think is SUPER! Please do not link up another hop or giveaway.

2)  Follow your hosts AND guest hosts {the first four links}, via RSS and/or Bloglovin'. We also appreciate {and return} any Facebook Likes and Twitter Follows. Be sure to leave a comment telling us how you follow, we'll follow you back!

3)  Visit the blog before you, and a few others {the more, the merrier} and follow them. We're all looking to have more followers, that's why we're hopping, right?

4)  Grab a button and put it somewhere people will see. We'd love for this hop to continue to be a big success!

<div align="center"> <a href="http://dawnsdisaster.blogspot.com" title="Super Sunday Sync" target="_blank"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-XF-xK9VRXUk/UQBOJgMRybI/AAAAAAAAA6I/NDpd9KKUDag/s200/SSS+Button_NEW2.jpg" alt="Super Sunday Sync" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

If you're interested being a Guest Host, please 

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We still have openings coming up for the end of July and August {and beyond}, so if you would like to Guest Host with us, please use the button ABOVE and email us :)

Join the mailing list here and receive notifications about the #SSSHOP!

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Don't forget to enter these two FABULOUS giveaways going on right now!


Fabulous Giveaway #1 ~ Dawn's huge AD SPACE giveaway! Among over a dozen ad spaces up for grabs, you could win NOAB's in-post sponsor of the month ad for July!

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Fabulous Giveaway #2 ~ Raising Reagan's one year blogiversary giveaway!

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hey. SAHMs can have a hard time of it, too!

It's FTSF time again! Really...HOW is it Friday already? And how is it still rainy and dreary outside? I'm over this weather. Not that I'm complaining or anything.

This week's prompt is "The hardest part of my day is..."

First, I need to post a disclaimer. Yes, I am a stay at home mom. But that does not mean that all of my days are simple, easy, and fun. I don't sit around leisurely on the computer, reading, going on lunch dates, and playing with my daughter all day. While I do sometimes have the rare privilege of doing those things, mostly my days are as busy as any other person who works a full-time job. Laundry, cleaning {even though the hubs might say otherwise}, running endless errands, teaching the Nug, walking the dog, making sure bills are paid. Just putting that out there.

So really, the hardest part of my day is getting ready and getting out the door! 

Contrary to what the statement above perceives, I AM a morning person. I love waking up early and getting a few things out of the way, drinking a cup of coffee, enjoying the solitude. And I did get to do that...before I had the Nuggie. Now, when I wake up, she inevitably wakes up. She must have toddler ESP or something.

So nevertheless, I don't get my mornings, so I tend to stay in bed a little longer and therefore our day doesn't get started as early as I would like.

After the wake up call, we have breakfast, and the Nug wants to play for a while, so I let her while I attempt to get in some blogging time. This doesn't always happen as I have a 20-month-old climbing on the table, wanting my undivided attention, and opening up the snack drawer every 5 minutes. What IS it with kids and snacks?!

So I eventually give in around 10 o'clock and we get dressed. I figure out what needs to get done that day. Once those two things happen, our schedule is set and the hard part is over {well, most of the time!}.

And in about 2 1/2 months, adding a new baby into the toddler mix is going to throw a whole new meaning into getting up and getting out the door. But I'm okay with that.

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28 weeks.

Okay...confession time. I hear that second babies tend to be larger. This baby is going to be bigger than her older sister. I just know it. The Nug weighed in at 7.5 lbs and was 20 inches long when she was born...and the Muffin is going to beat her by a pound. And maybe an inch. 

With all that crazy movement in there? Nugget better watch her back and be nice to baby sister from the start. My prediction.

How far along?
28 weeks and 1 day. Officially into the third trimester...time is starting to fly by now.

How big is baby?
She's a "large eggplant" this week, according to BabyCenter. Weighing in at almost 2 1/2 lbs and almost 15 inches long. That's a big baby in there for still having 12 weeks to go {give or take}!

Weight gain?
Let's not talk about this. 25 lbs I've gained. 25. 

Gender? 
My second little girly girl.

What's up with my body?

While I'm feeling a ton better these days {i.e. not feeling like a whale}, it's only a matter of time before the summer heat ramps up and I balloon once again. I'm not a fan of my bigger thighs, arms, or face, but those are all trademarks of being preggo, and I know they'll go away after baby arrives.

I'm also not thrilled about peeing in my pants whenever I sneeze. TMI, sorry!

Emotions?
Pretty decent. I don't feel like I have any of those crazy pregnant lady mood swings. 

Maternity clothes?
Yep, been in those cool maternity pants for a while now. And I actually found a few maternity swim suits that aren't hideous. I'm excited though to have found more flattering non-maternity tops that fit nicely even with my growing bump. Just buying a bigger size, that's all!

Stretch marks?
Only the ones on my hips that came along with my first pregnancy!

Sleep?
Horrible. I'm waking up seriously every two hours or so to either go to the bathroom or change positions in bed because my hips hurt like a mother. It's really bad. Luckily I'm used to waking up throughout the night!

Movement?
Oh yes...and it totally makes up for the uncomfortableness and weight gain. She's kicking, swimming, hiccuping, on the move in there for the better part of the day. I can feel now where she's hanging out in my belly.

Food cravings?
These have somewhat subsided and I'm eating fairly normally again. I want more fruit and smoothies, which is good. And of course I want a big ole Italian sub...that's the first thing I'm ordering after I give birth...lol.

Labor signs?
Nope...just my main man BH.

Belly button in or out?
Still neutral. Definitely not in, but not out either. Flat. And looks weird because I used to have a belly ring.

What I miss.
Feeling like I look good in what I wear. Being able to ride a bike and go in the ocean at the beach. Sleeping comfortably. But other than that, not too much. 

What I'm looking forward to.
This summer. Fun day trips and activities with the Nug, and vacations with the family. Getting all of the newborn clothes washed up and in the nursery.

Best moment of the week?

Spending a long weekend at the beach with my family. 

Next baby checkup?

I just had one today, so in two weeks. Yep, down to the every-other-week appointments now :)

In case you missed them:
Week 26
Week 24

Week 22

Week 20

Gender Reveal

Week 18

Announcement

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