kickoff.

The main reason we headed to Auburn/Opelika for the weekend was to celebrate the engagement of Sarah and Selby (YAY!). It was a win-win-win kind of weekend--being able to find out what we were having in the presence of our friends and family, much needed quality time with my best girlfriends, and, of course, the kickoff to Sarah and Selby's wedding festivities!

On Saturday evening we went to the Farrior's farm, Snag Lake, in Shorter. Their property is very rustic and very perfect for get-togethers. It went right along with Sarah and Selby's wedding theme. We mingled, dined on Fat Daddy's Barbeque, and savored the out-pour of love for Sarah and Selby. I could not be more excited to be a part of their special day and cannot wait until they are united in the sight of God!

The majority of Sarah's bridesmaids. Missing Jena and Lacey. 

the big reveal.

It was a great weekend. Okay, maybe great is an understatement. For me, it was one of the best weekends to date. Let's start with Friday...

John and I were counting down the days and minutes until July 27 at 9:15 a.m. We waited 14 long weeks to see our wee one again. Do you remember the first time that you took a trip to Disney World? How you couldn't sleep because you were that excited about meeting Mickey Mouse and Cinderella in the days to come? Well, that "night before" giddiness is exactly what overcame me Thursday night. I could hardly contain myself. So, of course, I woke up early Friday morning. No alarm clock needed.

When we got to the hospital we headed straight to ultrasound. I chugged a little bit of Coke Zero (not a grand idea) to be sure the little one cooperated. Not necessary. Baby Bryant did not want to sit still--arms flying, legs spread...yeahhhh. And then I started feeling a little funny and before you knew it, I wasn't wanting to sit still either. That is EXACTLY why I don't do caffeine.

I wish that I could describe the feeling of looking at our precious baby on the screen, but it is close to impossible. SO many emotions. I felt like my entire insides were smiling. Is that really my baby?! To see ten fingers and ten toes was/is such a blessing. We are so thankful for this child, a healthy child at that. The joy in my heart while staring at our baby on screen, however, did not compare to the joy that I felt while watching John do the same. He looked happy. Very happy. He is going to be such a great daddy. He already is.

After our ultrasound we walked over to see my doctor. After a quick conversation, a few questions and two thumbs up, we were good to go! Next appointment: August 27 at 8:45 a.m.

So, are you ready for the big reveal?


We're having a...


Sorry, not yet.

Our original plan was to find out the sex of Baby Bryant at the ultrasound, have a cake made with blue or pink filling and then have a fun "reveal party" for our friends in Opelika that evening. Plans changed a bit when the idea of waiting and being surprised with everyone else really appealed to John. That's more fun, right? So we decided to get the ultrasound technician to turn off the screen when she got down to the nether-regions and write down the gender in an envelope. With mighty self-control I then took the sealed envelope to Edgar's Bakery and handed it off to the head cake designer. Done deal.

We picked up the cake at 4:00 and were Opelika bound. I could not wait to be reunited with my besties and spend good, quality time with them ALL weekend. To top it off, Lea and Bradley decided to make the trek from Columbus to Opelika for dinner and the reveal. It meant so much to us to have them there. Once we all arrived into town we went to the quaint little Ma Fia's Ristorante & Pizzeria for dinner.

One word: YUM. For dessert we headed back to the Branches for the BIG REVEAL!

Gearing up for this gender reveal party was super easy. Thanks to the ever-fascinating Pinterest, I found this super cute reveal as inspiration and it came with free, yes, free, printouts. Paired with some borrowed mason jars from my mom-in-law, some stripey straws, leftover wedding burlap, a handful of flowers, and our delicious cake, we had ourselves a party!

And now, the moment you all have been waiting for...

Is Baby Bryant a BOY or a GIRL? I'll let the cake do the talking:

BOY!!!

As you can see from John's reaction, he is beyond thrilled to be having a son. I am so excited too seeing that it is a known fact that boys loooove their mommas. Bring on the blue!

today.

Today's rise time: 7:23 a.m.

Today's breakfast: oatmeal

Today's song: "Overwhelmed", Tim McMorris

Today's to-do: haircut

Today's fragrance: Ralph Lauren Blue

Today's verse: Matthew 6:1

Today's heel height: 4 1/2 inches

Today's craving: french bread pizza

Today's chore: wash sheets

Today's nail color: Thanks a Windmillion, OPI

Today's surprise: a smoothie

Today's mood: anxious

Today's heart: happy

I love today, but I can't wait until tomorrow...

lake life.

We spent our weekend here...

Ahhhh. Perfection.

xx or xy?

John and I are only 9 DAYS away from finding out whether our sweet baby is a boy or a girl! I had my 18 week appointment on Monday and it went very well. While I have gained a good bit of extra poundage (12 pounds total to be exact), Doc says that I am right on track and that the weight gain should slow down in these next few weeks. Let's just say, it better. I asked her if my belly size was "normal" because my little inny is slowly starting to turn into an outy and I'm feeling quite large. Fortunately, my belly is measuring at 18 weeks so that made me feel better. I am officially showing and you know what? It's a good feeling. No--it's a great feeling.

I also got to hear Baby Bryant's heartbeat on the Fetal Doppler. It was music to my ears. While it is so amazing listening to that strong heartbeat, I really cannot wait to actually see our baby. It has been 12 weeks since we last saw the little nugget. And at that time, that is exactly what it looked like...a chicken nugget. I scheduled our 20 week ultrasound for Friday, July 27 at 9:15 a.m. My heart is dancing in anticipation.

Is our baby a boy or a girl? I honestly do NOT know! At this point I am completely torn. I have days where I have that "gut instinct" that Baby Bryant is a boy, but then I have days that I am convinced that there is a little petunia dancing around in there. Either way, our hearts will be so full.

The countdown begins...

for the preggers.

Hello. I hope that every one is having a great Monday. Last week was an incredibly busy week for the Bryants, but a really good busy. WE ARE BLESSED. More on the out-pour of blessings later. For now, I wanted to share a handful of my favorite pregnancy products that I believe are musts for the preggers. Seeing that I am only 18 1/2 weeks pregnant, this little list is more for soon-to-be mothers in their first and second trimesters. I have yet to experience my third trimester and I can only imagine that there will be more items that I will want to add. Maybe something along the lines of a harpoon?! Any recommendations? 

1.

 Klean Kanteen Classic 40 oz - I LOVE this water bottle. It is an eco-friendly, BPA free, stainless steel kanteen. It never leaves my side and has significantly helped increase my daily water intake. I also love that it is better for me and baby. 

2. 

Be Maternity BeBand - I owe a big thanks to my sister-in-law, Lea, for lending me her BeBand. It is similar to the Bella Band--a solid band of spandex that pulls up around your waste to hold up your pants when you have reached the point where you cannot button or zip up your jeans anymore, but aren't quite big enough for maternity wear. I first used the tried and true rubber band trick, but it was such a pain. The BeBand is so much more comfortable and feels very secure. Your britches aren't going anywhere, so no need to worry! 

3. 

Belli Acne Cleansing Facial Wash - Let's just say that I am not one of the lucky ladies who has that perfect complexion and glow during her pregnancy. There are days that I curse my hormones and dread stepping out into the world in fear that people will cringe at the look of my face. Of course, I wanted to find a product free of salicyclic acid, glycolic acid, and benzoyl peroxide since each of these should be avoided during pregnancy. After some research and reading many reviews, I decided on the Belli products. The facial wash features pregnancy-friendly lactic acid, which aids to cleanse and exfoliate acne prone skin. Jackpot! It also contains lemon peel oil, which is a natural anti-bacterial and skin brightener and green tea extract and cucumber, both rich in antioxidants. Just a short week after using this face wash, my skin began to clear up! While it is not perfect (I still have my fair share of blemishes), it has definitely improved and has made my skin feel fantastic. 

4. 

Belli Acne Control Spot Treatment - Like the cleansing facial wash, the spot treatment is free of salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and benzoyl peroxide. Instead, it uses sulfur to clear blemishes and help prevent new breakouts. It absorbs quickly and is non-greasy so I apply it each morning before I put on my makeup and then again in the p.m. before I hit the sack. I also recommend the Burt's Bees Blemish Stick for double duty action. This is good stuff, too.

5. 

New Chapter Wholemega Prenatal Vitamins - (See #9) I pair these bad boys with the Perfect Prenatals. They are an omega-rich fish oil supplement beneficial for both mom and bambino. They have been shown to benefit cardiovascular, immune, and digestive health in addition to supporting a healthy metabolism and inflammation response. Bonus? They don't smell and are easy to swallow. 

6. 

What to Expect When You're Expecting - Great book. Definitely a complete pregnancy guide and must read. If you don't own this book, borrow it. I'm sure every mother you know owns it. This is yet another hand-me-down from sister Lea. I also downloaded the "What to Expect" app on my iPhone and it has been very helpful. It gives daily advice and helps me keep track of how far along I am (as if I needed help). Check out BabyCenter's pregnancy app too. It's a good 'in.  

7. 

Sea-Band Wristbands - While I am not lucky when it comes to my skin, I was lucky with my morning sickness...or lack thereof. I only experienced about 2 weeks of debilitating nausea and loss of appetite during weeks 6 to 8. No vomiting. Hallelujah! I'm not quite sure I can owe all of that to Sea-Band, but I do think that these wristbands helped a lot. They are not very expensive so I definitely think that they are at least worth a try...even though they are a fashion faux pas. But, I guess when you are that desperate you are open to anything!

8. 

Mustela Stretch Marks Double Action Cream - Do you want stretch marks? I sure don't want stretch marks. So, I invested in a stretch mark cream very early on and have been lubing up twice a day, every day. Even though they say that stretch marks are typically hereditary, I'm not taking my chances. I LOVE Mustela's stretch mark cream. Not only does it smell absolutely divine, it is also hypoallergenic and moisturizes and nourishes my skin like no other. I developed a rash at 5 weeks (who knew pregnancy could make your skin do some crazy things) so I wanted to be sure I wasn't putting anything on my skin that was brash or harmful. So far, so good! 

9. 

New Chapter Perfect Prenatal Trimester Vitamins - I started out taking the Rainbow Light Prenatal One vitamins (pre-pregnancy and first trimester), but have since switched to these prenatals thanks to the recommendation from my sister-in-law. Let's just say she and her friends do their research, so I was very trusting. She told me to pair these with the New Chapter Wholemega prenatals (#5) so that I did. To read more about the benefits of this multi-vitamin go here.

10. 

The Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy - Need a good laugh? Read this book. Vicki Iovine is a delight and not afraid to tell it how it is, which is what all of us pregnant women really need. No sugar-coating for this gal. I want to be as prepared as possible for this journey...especially for labor and delivery so bring it on, Vicki!

11. 

Snoogle Total Body Pillow - This pillow is a DREAM. I was a bit hesitant to dish out the moola for it because it is pretty pricey for a pillow that I will only use during pregnancy, but it has proven to be well worth it. Can I just say that the first night that I used the Snoogle I slept through the entire night? I was in such a sound sleep that I didn't even wake up to use the restroom! It's a pregnancy miracle! I originally wanted to purchase it because I was having an incredibly hard time sleeping on my sides--the left side to be exact. I would wake up to find myself on my back...a soon-to-be pregnancy no-no. I thought that this would help me maintain proper position and wouldn't you like to know that it does? It really does! WIN! This pillow claims to do the duties of five pillows and I can attest. I highly recommend you becoming friends with the Snoogle. P.S. I love my Snoogle so much I wanted to name it, but the hubs shot that down faster than lightening. Oh well. Snoogle will do. 

Alrighty mamas and preggers. Anything that needs to be added to the list? 

the basics.

I haven't done any bump updates recently and I'm feeling like quite the slacker. I'm pretty sure the only person who even cares about reading about our growing bambino and my growing tummy is my sweet mother (Hi, Mom), but I would like to start keeping tabs on this pregnancy for my sake and Baby Bryant's.

With that being said, my belly is growing. Rapidly. For the most part, I think that a lot of it is bloat. Well, bloat and fat. It's too hard to pass up dessert--especially when sweets are my #1 craving. I'm climbing the scale at Olympic speed. SEVEN pounds gained, to be exact. To combat the extra jiggle I have started a minor workout regimen. I am trying to get an hour walk in daily followed by a few exercises with weights that baby daddy showed me in the gym. If I have no control over my expanding waist, I may as well keep the other body parts in check! So far, so good and loving the sore muscles. Really.

While we are on the subject of my growing belly, I would like to add that I am officially wetting my feet in the maternity wear world. I have been keeping tabs on my weekly stats: size of baby, what baby is up to, weight, sleep, movement, symptoms, mood, cravings and aversions...you get the drift. Well, one of the bullets is "maternity clothes?" and at 16 weeks I finally got to fill in the blank with a big YEP. Several weeks ago I caved in and made my first maternity purchase at Target. Check out these stunners:

OWW OWW! Ok, I promise--they are a lot cuter on and OH SO comfortable. The dark wash and material dress them up a bit too so I can go either way when wearing them. I think that a good pair of shorts is a summer necessity and now I have that checked off my list. Score.

At 17 weeks I made a few more essential purchases--this time thinking long term (I'm going to look like a whale come fall/winter, so I wanted to be prepared and make some good investments). First, you can't go wrong with a few basic tees and tanks. Welcome to my closet:

Boring colors, I know. But, you've got to start somewhere so why not with neutrals? My next purchases were a couple of pairs of leggings, a pair of jeans, and some corduroys. The BeBand (lent to me by my sister-in-law, Lea) works great and has prevented me from buying maternity pants sooner. But, I am reaching the point where a few pairs of my favorite jeans won't even zip anymore and are becoming quite uncomfortable. I'm not retiring the BeBand quite yet, but I'm going to give it somewhat of a much needed break.  Anyway, these items arrived in the mail yesterday and I will say that I was pleasantly surprised:

Not bad, right? I'm actually wearing the skinny jeans today and they are amazing! When I tried them on last night I told John that I could totally rock them sans baby bump. He just stared blankly at me. I am still able to wear the majority of my tops and dresses so for now, I think that I'm good to go until I really start bulging. 

And lastly, I will leave you with a pic of my 17 week belly. Only 2 more days until we reach 18 weeks! I have an appointment on Monday and will be scheduling our 20 week ultrasound! I'm pushing for Friday, the 27th, but we will see. We cannot wait to know whether Baby Bryant is a boy or a girl. YAY!

sixty strong.

Nana and Papa are going sixty years strong! Sunday afternoon we celebrated John's grandparent's anniversary at the Bryants. We ate the most delicious lunch thanks to Shug and Aunt Patty and topped it off with a to-die-for cake. It was so nice spending the afternoon with family honoring Nana and Papa. I know they appreciated the get-together and we sure do appreciate them!

Nothing quite like a family game of bocce ball...

The entire crew.

Children.

Grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Sunday evening Lea, Bradley, John and I went to Avondale Park to watch John's cousins (Roman Street) play at the Jazz in the Park festival. It was a surprisingly cooler evening--perfect weather for a concert. We had a great time. Roman Street's song, Caravan, has reached the Top 10 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart. We could not be more proud! They will be playing tonight at the Master's House Ministries, on Thursday night at Rucker Place, and on Friday at the Moonlight Music Cafe in Birmingham, so if you are interested go check them out!