Baby Update: 13 Weeks

How far along?  13 week...just about to the second trimester!

Baby Size: A Peach
Total weight gain/loss: It's hard to say...I think I've lost 2-3 pounds due to morning sickness and food aversions.  I am sure this will quickly change!

Maternity clothes?  Still fitting in all my normal clothes, though I did buy a pair of maternity leggings!  I figure leggings will be my best friend the next 6 months!
Stretch marks?  No...wearing all the creams and oils that I can!  But I do think they're inevitable...my skin is prone to these little buggers.
Sleep:  Sleeping well!  Except for the occasional call of nature...
Best moment this week:  The fact that I'm feeling better!  I have more energy and foods are starting to sound better.  And no more nausea...yay!

Have you told family and friends:  YES!  And so happy everyone knows now!  :)
Miss Anything?  I don't miss wine nearly as much as I thought I would.  I do miss sushi though...
Movement:  No, but I hope soon!!
Food cravings:  Carbs carbs and carbs!  Mostly bagels and cream cheese.  I also am liking fruits and sweets. 
Anything making you queasy or sick:  It's getting better...still not super hot on veggies but I had a veggie sandwich the other day and it was good!  Raw onions still sound gross and so does meat for the most part.
Have you started to show yet:  I think there's a little something coming in...I'm excited for this part!
Gender prediction:  I honestly have NO idea!  Ryan really wants a boy, but I am fine either way.  But can't wait to find out!  Maybe I need to start a poll??
Labor Signs: No
Belly Button in or out? In

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or Moody most of the time:  Happier now that I feel better!
Looking forward to: Really looking forward to going home for Christmas to see my family and friends for the first time since we announced we're pregnant!!  Can't wait!!  Oh and my birthday is a week from today...yay!

  

xo natasha

Friday Fancies::Sparkle + Gold

Dress / Necklace / Stole / Clutch / Ring / Heels

I don't think there is anything more festive for the holidays than sparkles and lots of gold!  I firmly believe this when it comes to decor...so why not incorporate this into my wardrobe?

This dress is such a stunner...and on sale too!  I love the asymmetrical neckline...kind of reminds me of Black Swan...don't you think?

I love the stole as an alternative to a heavy coat or scarf...and again, you can't beat the price!  

The accessories are all about SPARKLE!  The necklace is definitely a statement piece...which I normally wouldn't pair with a dramatic neckline, but hey, it's the holidays!  The gold clutch is a staple for any night out and you know how much I love bows right now...this ring has the perfect amount of bling!

Last, I am totally into these ankle booties...I know...I know...I've been pairing a lot of dress and skirts with booties, but I can't hep it!  I just love how edgy it makes a dress...it keeps it youthful without being over-the-top! 

We have a fun filled weekend ahead!  Daniel Tosh tonight...Holiday Party tomorrow night and a Schue Family Christmas on Sunday!!  Can't wait to be engulfed by all the festivities!

What are you doing this weekend?

xo natasha

Deck the Halls::Our Christmas Decor!

We're wrapping up our Christmas Cheery Link Party today!  I can't believe all the fun we've had along the way...can you?  We've crafted, arranged vignettes, hung the stockings, dressed the tree, and baked to our hearts content!  Today, the party is all about Holiday Decor!

I had fun decorating our living & dining room for Christmas.  I incorporated some natural elements along with some sparkle...perfect for the season!

The garland was pre-made from Rite Aid.  I spray painted some pinecones {plucked from our front yard!} silver, which adds a great metallic detail.  I also had a couple ornaments left over from my DIY craft, so I nestled them here.

Every year, I get a crystal snowflake from my dad and stepmom...I've collected about 6 so far and love hanging them from our chandelier.

 I moved the sticks from our mantel...it definitely works with the natural decor.

 Our new bar cart got in the spirit with some gold ornaments and some fresh greenery!

 The side table usually sits where the Christmas Tree is...so I created a holiday vignette with some decor we already had.

Our sidetable got a red runner and some silver ornaments.

 Here's a view of our dining room from the family room!

Little "Golden" Christmas pillow!

 And of course the mantel + Christmas Tree!  Notice I added a couple silver ornaments to my bowl of pears & apples.

I think the house is officially ready for Christmas!

And best part is...it's all kitty approved!  :)

Now it's your turn!  Link up your holiday decor over at Michaela's blog!

As usual...I can't wait to see what you've all come up with!

And if you haven't linked up yet, there's still time for all of the parties:

Christmas crafts at Hi Sugarplum

Holiday vignettes at A Thoughtful Place

Christmas mantels at Ten June

Christmas trees at Honey We're Home

Christmas recipes here at Schue Love
 

Speaking of...I was BLOWN away by all your awesome Christmas Recipes!  I will definitely be checking in next week with some of my favorite!  :)  And don't worry if you haven't had a chance to link up yet...all of our linky parties are open through Christmas!!

xo natasha

The Baby Story...so far!

Hi Friends!

Happy Bump Hump Day!

First, I have to say that I am SO overwhelmed with love and joy from all your sweet comments this past Monday.  Just when I think the blogging community can't get any more supportive, you all just blow me away.  Thank you so much for all the kind words, advice, encouragement, and excitement!  I just can't help but blush and get excited all over again!  :)

I wanted to share a couple more details of our journey so far...it's been 13 weeks today actually and I've had to keep a lot in, so here it goes!

I actually met with our doctor in early summer to chat about our wanting to get pregnant.  I really had no idea where to start and thought he would give us some good advice...which he did!  I highly recommend sitting down with your doc ahead of time {if you're planning} and get the low down on all the details.  One thing that surprised me was his advice about "trying".  I always thought that I should get off the pill for at least a couple months in order to cleanse and regulate my body...but he said after my first "real" visit from Aunt Flow, we should go for it!  Apparently our bodies are most regulated and hormonally balanced soon after, so that's the ideal time.  Well that's what we did and sure enough...

It worked!  I actually took a non-digital test first and, let me tell you, those things are confusing!  I wasn't sure...was I?  Or wasn't I?  So two days later, we took the digital test {worth the extra couple dollars!} and there it was...as clear as day!  Ryan and I actually watched the stick together {romantic, I know} and when it dinged "Pregnant" we were both SO exited.  We really did it!  Wow!

We told our parents right away but swore them to secrecy!  We wanted to wait until our first ultrasound, which was at 9 and a half weeks...the Monday before Thanksgiving to be exact!

 There's our little bean!  I completely cried when I saw Baby Schue for the first time...and we got to hear the heartbeat too!  It was just so surreal.  I still can't believe that little life is growing inside me!

And what a difference two and a half weeks make!  The next ultra sound, at 11 and a half weeks showed a much bigger and more active baby!  Baby Schue was bouncing off the walls {literally!}.  I couldn't believe it!

We got to tell the rest of our family and friends around Thanksgiving, which truly gave us an extra something special to be thankful for this year. 

So how have I been feeling?  I wish I could say it's been all butterflies and rainbows, but in all honesty...the first trimester wasn't quite a walk in the park!  I had lots of nausea, exhaustion, morning sickness, food aversions {really...all the fun stuff!}...and more.  But I feel like most of those symptoms are starting to subside...I'm looking forward to when I can really enjoy food again {veggies have been especially hard to even think about...oh and raw onions...my mouth is literally salivating in disgust!}.  Something else, they don't tell you...you break out like a teenager!  My face has been spared, but my shoulders...oy!  It's not pretty.  One of the perks?  Well, it's literally a "perk"!  My girls are perkin up a bit and that's been a welcome side effect of the pregnancy so far!  :)

Yes...there were good weeks and bad weeks!  Now that this is all public, I'll be working on my glow!  :)

Last, we definitely plan on finding out the sex!  I would love to have a gender revealing party as part of that step...and how can you not with all the awesome ideas on Pinterest?!!  I still have a couple weeks to go though!

So I think I've covered it all...for now!  Sorry for all the baby talk...I just can't help it!  I'll check back in for 13 weeks on Monday.

Until then...I hope you're having a great week so far!

xo natasha

P.S. Don't forget that tomorrow Michaela is hosting our final party!  Link up your Christmas decor there!

And for those of you looking for non-baby related posts today...check out my guest posts at:

I am super honored to be featured in Victoria's "Behind the Scenes" series!

I am also featuring my favorite fashion trend on Mae's sweet blog today!