This past Saturday we had our annual Turducken Day and although I was resistant to hosting at first, I'm glad we decided to do it for at least one more year. It felt really special having everyone over since we're all going through so many monumental life changes. It really forces us all to slow down, catch up on life and just enjoy a delicious dinner together before the craziness of the holidays sets in.

This was definitely the year of the baby with so many expectant bellies and little ones being passed around and tottling around. All of this to say, I got one whole picture out of the day but it's such a sweet picture for me - my sister and I, her nearing the end of her pregnancy and me just reaching the halfway point in mine. It's been such a blessing sharing pregnancies with friends and she in particular has been my rock throughout it all. We can't wait to meet our nephew! Having cousins so close in age is going to be wonderful and not to mention - having another mom at home to hang out with :)

And speaking of pregnancy, I'm in my 19th week! The main changes I've had the last two weeks are that I've been feeling lots of movement and I've also been getting more emotional thinking about the baby and the amazing impact he/she will have on our life together. Embarrassing story time: On Sunday I was happily working on the changing table and listening to Christmas music when Mariah Carey's "All I want for Christmas (is you baby)" came on. What started as me dancing around and being silly resulted in me crying thinking about how all I really DID want this year was a baby and how lucky we are to have been given that gift. I think I thoroughly confused Ben with my whiplash of emotions haha I am turning into such a sap!

I can't believe we're already halfway through November but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited for Thanksgiving to get here already. I'm in full blown Christmas elf mode this year, but I promised Ben I wouldn't start decorating until T-day is over but that might mean black Friday since we both have off ;) Happy holidays!

Just a quick update to say this morning's belly check went great! I saw a new-to-me doctor who is actually the president of medical staff at the hospital I'm delivering at and although he was definitely more brisk than what I had gotten used to, I appreciated his no nonsense approach. I also think I'll appreciate that sort of attitude when it comes time to PUSH ;)

Baby's tests for DS and Trisomy18 came back in the normal range and the next appointment we have is our 20 week scan! That's not for another month so I plan to just sit back and enjoy the honeymoon stage. I actually ordered a pregnancy devotional today which will hopefully act as a pregnancy journal as well as a way for me to absorb and cherish each day moving forward. Pregnancy definitely feels like one big waiting game but I'm told by everyone to just enjoy where I'm at because baby will be here before we know it.

Some other updates:

• I've started feeling what I think are little movements which has been amazing. I can't wait for them to get more consistent and then for Ben to feel them too! 

• We got lighting installed in the nursery and are looking at paint colors over the next couple weeks which I can't wait to cross off my list. I know we have "so much time" but a lot of that is going to be eaten up by the holidays so I'd love to get everything in order as soon as possible so we can just sit back and relax. I had initially wanted to go with a cream or beige paint color for in there but now I'm leaning towards a lighter, cool tone color like this now:

As for the lights, the A/C vent is smack dab in the middle of the ceiling so a pendant definitely wouldn't have worked. 

We went with four small, recessed lights in a perfect square around the room and the best part is they dim down super low and create a warm glow late at night.

Other than that we wrapped up the bulk of our registries last weekend and are in full-blown Turducken Day mode. I'm so happy we're hosting again this year and it will be wonderful to have all of our friends under one roof, especially with so many of us expanding our families at the same time. Happy November!