26 Weeks

How far along: 26 weeks. How is the second trimester almost over?! Depending on the website, the third trimester starts at either 27 or 28 weeks.
Gender: Boy!
Baby size: He's as big as a head of lettuce according to The Bump app LOL
Total weight gain/loss: Surprisingly, I maintained a 14 lb gain from last week to this week. I'm not sure how because I was totally hitting up seconds at the buffet at Bri's company Christmas party last weekend!
Maternity clothes: Now that I think about it, I'm basically in all maternity clothes. The only things I wear from pre-pregnancy are my Gap Body shirts which are amazingly stretchy and wonderful as well as my yoga pants and 1 loose long cardi. I got some good laughs the other night going through my "winter" gear to bring to Oregon. I say "winter" because Floridians don't actually have winter gear ;) I even tried on my bathing suit until I remembered I can't go in the hot tub anyway! Bri suggested I drink hot chocolate while everybody else goes in the hot tub. I'm pretty satisfied with the compromise. I think my bikini top is pretty happy as well. It got a little dicey about whether or not the clasp was going to spring off and take an eye out!

{I shared this picture on my Instagram. You have to sing "pregnant lady in a little sweater" to the tune of the movie, Tommy Boy's "fat guy in a little coat" I clearly amuse myself.}

Stretch marks: None on my belly but I have a questionable spot on either side of my chest. It kinda looks like dry skin which I've had there awhile but I'm not sure what is going on. It would makes sense though because trying to put the girls in that bikini top was a HUGE eye opener to how much they've grown. Ha!
Sleep: It's okay. I must be getting used to the new normal. I still have to flip from my left side to my right and back because my hips get sore even with a pillow between my knees. I pretty much sleep through the night even with the tossing and turning unless I get woken up in which case I then realize I have to pee. Sometimes the dogs wake me up but most of the time now Bri's alarm which starts at 5:50am {yuck!} gets me when I don't have to be up till 7:30-8am.
Best moment this week: Feeling him move every day is the best. I love when Bri gets to experience the movement with me. It melts me heart every time Bri bends down and kissing my belly {getting emotional over here!} Over the weekend, Bri's dad got to feel him move for the first time which was really special. And my brother-in-law, Bobby as well as my father-in-law's girlfriend, MJ got to feel some body part {LOL} as I can sometimes feel where he is at in my belly when I rub my stomach. And off topic to baby, finally decorating for Christmas. I almost didn't think it was going to happen! Our ornaments are really special to me as they are either from my childhood, a few given to us by our family, a few ornaments for the fur babies or ones Bri and I collected in our travels. We started a tradition where we buy an ornament on every vacation we take. I wish we had started this from the very beginning of our relationship but we picked it up 4 or 5 years ago. Bri's currently cringing as I have about 4,379 traditions. Just wait until the baby comes! ;) Oh, and I have a thing for our initials. There are A's, B's and K's floating around the tree. I can't wait for a new initial to be added next year!

Miss anything: For the most part, I don't feel like I am really missing anything. Every once in a while I wish I could have sushi or a glass of wine but for the most part I don't think about what I can't have. I will say, it would be nice if I could move things in the house without having to first think about whether it is too heavy. I've been wanting to move our desk into another room for the past two weeks but I can't and Bri hurt his back so the desk stays put for now.
Movement: More and more movement which I love. I really didn't know what I would think about feeling something moving inside of me but it brings a smile to my face every time I feel him. Which means I am walking around with a dumb grin on my face several times a day. Ha! Our little man also has a sense of humor already because this mama tells daddy when he's moving but as soon as Bri gets up to feel him, he stops. He's already playing tricks on us. 
Food cravings: Can the answer just be food?! If it's edible, I'm coming for it!
Labor signs: No, I don't even want to think about those yet!
Belly button in or out: It's still in and I am still asking Brian to feel how shallow it is ;)
Wedding rings on or off: They are still on. I think the cooler weather has been helping.
Mood: If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands! {Gotta brush up on my kids songs!} Overall, I feel happy and excited and in awe of everything that is happening with my body, my relationship with my hubby as we begin to evolve into parents and watching our family and friends get excited with us. I feel really good most of the time and I swear, my heart is smiling. It must be visible because I've had several strangers make comments that I look happy and glowing {cliche or truth?}, that I must be feeling good and that I look good. People are super nice to pregnant ladies. I'm storing these compliments away for when I 1) Feel like a whale and 2) A zombie from sleep deprivation. The only thing really killing my mood these days is work. It can be stressful and hard at times but I think I am handling that stress well for the most part.
Looking forward to: Leeeeeaving on a jet plane....to Oregon. Tomorrow! Also, in no particular order. My baby shower that officially has a date of January 31st planned by my best ladies! {Happy squeal!} I would certainly love to have a name for our baby boy so I can register for some personalized items although I am not sure if we will share the name until he is born so that provides some logistical issues. Hmmm? I'm really glad I can have conversations with myself in these updates ;) As of now, he is still Baby IDK Kozell! {IDK = I don't know not his initials} Although I will say this, I have had 1 front runner name...full name...okay, the last is a given but still first and middle that I love together so that's what I call him. I am going to wear Bri down, I can feel it. And then we'll have a beautiful, storybook tale to tell our son one day when he asks how he was named and Bri replies sarcastically as this is the only way he knows how to talk {HA!} "You're mom wore me down. She's really good at that. Just wait and see." HAHAHAHAHAHA! or is it MUAHAHAHAHA?! {Love you baby daddy!!!! xoxo} Last, I cannot wait to get moving on his nursery. I have a vision and I have officially made 2 purchases for the room! I plan on making an inspiration board to share here but until then...my lips are sealed! Secret Pinterest boards are the best ;)
Random: I think there was enough randomness right above!

6 days until Christmas!! Merry, Merry!

An extra picture of the bump without the scarf as it was hiding the bump and we can't have that!

PS My chalkboard phrase was totally inspired by a card I saw on Minted.com that said "The More the Merrier" and I just though it was cute and so appropriate as our family has grown so much with our niece in October and baby boy on the way!