This week went by in a complete haze/whirlwind… but isn’t that how it always is coming back from vacation?

While we were traveling around Europe, my best friend got engaged and another pair of good friends had their first baby and there are just so many happy events going on that we get to celebrate now that we’re home! Plus this week we had a date night and church group and tried to go to bed early but also catch up on work and working out (barre class!) and all of that pesky ‘life’ stuff that seems to get in the way of true rest.

It was a great week, though. 

_{Despite a busy week, I had time to do the important things, like make chocolate chip cookies. Is there anything better than raw cookie dough?!}

It’s that time again… Friday Fours!

Four thoughts from this week 

• The contract for my job was just extended until my due date – yay! I’m a contractor so this is especially nice because it means consistent money for a few extra weeks and also that I won’t just be sitting around waiting for this baby to fall out of my vagina for the last two months.

• We met Bumpy’s future bff, Logan, this week! He was born 11 days late at a healthy 8 lbs and is the most beautiful baby boy ever. It was so great to be able to see our good friends as new parents. 

• We went on a Thursday night date to see Motown The Musical and it was fantastic! If you’re in Chicago or if it’s at a city near you, go see it!

• The biggest news of this week (I’m doing a blog post on this early next week) is that the Husband and I both changed our last names to our new/combined name, so now we all (the Husband, Bumpy, and I) have the same last name! Yay!

 _{Meet Logan, baby Bumpy’s future buddy!}

Four pregnancy notes 

• It’s official – we have our top two names (one for each gender) for Bumpy! (And no, we obviously aren’t telling anyone – no opinions wanted from our family ahead of time!)

• My abs are splitting down the middle. The medical term for this is diastasis recti and it’s not that fun. I mean, it doesn’t hurt, but basically it means that I’m going to have to do a lot of work post-baby to get my stomach to be flat again. CHALLENGE ACCEPTED, body.

• I’m overwhelmed at the amount of stuff we have to do during this pregnancy still – like accumulate all things baby and decorate and buy furniture for the nursery and go to classes and just a mountain of things I want to get done.

• We’re officially 30 weeks along now! We’re in the home stretch and speaking of stretching, I’m really not sure how this baby is going to continue growing for 10 more weeks! I feel like (s)he’s already out of space in there (which (s)he reminds me by constantly trying to invade my rib cage) by brute force.

Four links (that are too good not to share)

• On the ‘right’ moment. (via Seth Godin’s blog)

• On eating alone. (via Businessweek)

• On corporate buzzwords. (via The Atlantic)

• On loneliness and social media. (via Relevant Magazine)

Four posts (of mine) you may have missed

• Babymoon: Vienna Highlights (Mon)

• Coming back to reality and other things I don’t necessarily love. (Tues)

• Babymoon: Prague Highlights (Wed)

• Hunger is a glorious feeling and other things I learned in the second trimester of pregnancy. (Thurs)

Featured blog(ger)

I’m so excited to have the opportunity to introduce you to a truly special blogger, Charlene, who writes on her blog ‘From Bisons to Buckeyes‘!

Charlene and I have a lot in common.

– We’re both Christians.

– We both adopted beagle mixes (who would be best friends if they were to ever meet).

– We both spent some time living in Ohio. I was born in Cincinnati and Charlene’s husband is currently an Ohio State Buckeye (hence the blog title!)

– Our dislikes both (evidently) include opening presents and spending money. (Yes, yes, yes!) After reading Charlene’s list of loves and hates, I felt instantly connected.

– We both married our high school sweethearts. Nevermind, that would have been a disaster for me. I met the Husband online way after college graduation. But Charlene married her high school sweetheart and I think that’s freakin’ adorable.

I just know you (like me) will be able to relate to what Charlene writes about. I mean, some days she writes practical advice posts, including advice to not trust ginger twins (from this post on what Harry Potter taught her) and if that’s not great life advice, I’m not sure what is. Another great advice post includes spring date ideas, which includes eating at food trucks and going to farmers markets, so you know I’m a fan.

Other days she writes DIY posts and makes me want to create the cutest things like, right this very second. I can’t get enough of how cute and thoughtful these mugs are. Seriously, best Pinterest-inspired idea ever! 

And finally, Charlene writes some great, honest, and reflective posts that really allow the readers (us!) to see who she is as a person and as a writer, and I love that about her and blogging in general! Authentic posts are always my favorite and Charlene does them well.

You should probably join me in following along with Charlene’s life & adventures!

And of course, feel free to stalk follow her (and her blog!) on Bloglovin’, Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Google+.

** Do you want to be a featured blogger/shop owner? I have some spots (starting at $2!) available immediately.

I hope you had a wonderful week and are ready for an amazing weekend!

Tell me, what was the highlight of your week?!

Cheers!

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