Baby #3 | 20 Weeks

20 Weeks!

 

 

I can't believe we're halfway already! It feels like we just made our announcement, but it's been about 5 weeks since then.  Between to toddler boys and summer activities, we've been so busy that we quickly lose track of time.  Take the month of June for example, I literally feel like we just started this month, but we're days away from welcoming July!

 

Everything's been going smoothly with pregnancy and now that morning sickness is a fading memory, there are days where I don't even feel pregnant.  I'll take that though!  I'm still in that pregnancy stage where most people would just think that I'm little thicker around my midsection and may not realized that I'm packing a kid in there.  Clothing-wise, I still hate maternity pants of any kind, so instead I decided to jump up one size in my jeans and stick to using the hair tie trick if need be.  As far as shirts go, if my normal shirts are long enough, I'll stick to wearing them, but I've definitely been sporting some maternity shirts for that extra comfort.

 

Over the past 4 weeks I've noticed more and more movement from this little squish.  With the boys, I felt movement around 16 weeks, but with this one, it's been more like 18 weeks before I started noticing anything.

 

 

And speaking of baby movement, we just had our halfway ultrasound last week, and we got to watch our sweet little babe squirming around in there!  It was so sweet, when the ultrasound tech was getting a face shot, this kid shot his/her little arm up and started waving their hand around.  I swear it looked as if we were being waved too, and I immediately felt my heart just melt into a puddle.  I'm hooked.

 

We also got to see just how flexible this little baby is already.  See exhibit A below for a picture of a leg stretched straight out while bent completely at the waist. :)

 

 

We actually don't know yet if we're having another boy or switching it up with a girl.  I requested our tech just write it down and seal it up in an envelope with an ultrasound picture.  Joe and I are planning to have some close friends over next month for a gender reveal party, so we will be finding out then along with everyone else!

 

Stay tuned! I'll be sure to share what we're having with everyone after we find out! 

baby #3 | 16 weeks

I know a good amount of friends and family know this now, but Joe and I were holding in the biggest secret!  We are adding another sweet baby to our family!

 

 

If you remember a few posts back (here) I mentioned there was another reason for my absence here on the blog.  Shortly after getting everything squared away with starting up my little side business, we found out that we were expecting yet again! And the morning sickness took over my life.

 

Totally unexpected.  Totally exciting!

 

We had planned on having another baby, but we really didn't have plans to start thinking about until later this summer.  Funny how things don't always work the way you think they should, but that adds to the excitement of life!

 

I haven't decided if I'm doing weekly bump updates like I did with Linden, but I do plan at a minimum to do a handful of them for this pregnancy.

 

So here we are! A baby announcement and a 16 week update!

 

16 WEEKS

 

 

This baby takes the cake for having the worst morning sickness! Unfortunately, each pregnancy seems to be stronger and longer than the one before.  Conner was easy.  Baby #2 I did start feeling nauseous a bit for a couple of weeks prior to losing him/her.  Linden gave me a solid 7 weeks of sickness but it only lasted for the first half of the day and as long as I took Unisom and B6 the night before, I could get through the day just fine.  This child, however, has been relentless! The morning ALL DAY sickness started right at 4 1/2 weeks and did not let up a bit until 14 weeks.  There was no relief either and no breaks from it.  I was sick all day, all evening, all through the night.  And unlike the others, I threw up more times than I could count with this one. I tried everything I could along with my trusty Unisom/B6 combo, but I could barely handle taking even half of a prenatal a day.

 

And just when I was wondering if I would ever be able to step foot in a grocery store surrounded by food, open the fridge or drink water again, I finally (and slowly) started getting a few hours of relief each day.  For the most part now I can eat normal meals and I can enjoy vegetables and fruit and even touch raw meat again without throwing up.  There are certain foods that still make me feel uneasy like milk and tortilla chips. I even catch myself thinking about how much I eat throughout the day now, and I'm amazed and slightly terrified at how much I consume now that I can eat again. 

 

We do plan on announcing what we're having.  We kept Linden's gender a secret until he was born but I like to do each pregnancy different to make it fun and unique.  So we will be sharing whether this baby will be another boy if it will break the boy streak and be a girl! And be sure to keep checking back here because we will be sharing the baby's name when we finalize it!

 

And forget about sleep! I haven't had a solid night of sleep yet.  There's always a trip to the bathroom or simply waking up from these pregnancy dreams and never going back to sleep. It goes without saying, I'm tired.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



40 WEEKS

40 weeks.  We made it to our due date!

 

At this point, I am beyond exhausted with the events of this weekend.  We've seen progress on the labor front which really got my adrenaline going to do laundry and finish packing a hospital bag.  The excitement really caught up to me this morning.

 

And then there was yesterday evening.  Like clockwork, our dog Mia ran away for the third week in a row at 9:30am Sunday morning.  We thought with all the fresh snow it would be easier to track her down, but that proved us wrong.  It was over an hour before a neighbor called us to let us know she found her at her house.  It was my fault.  I have leashed her up for months every time I took her out, but with the baby preparation going on, I simply let her out the front door and stood there watching her do her business ten feet away, and then... she took off.

 

The rest of the day she remained calm and slept.  That evening she threw up and Joe called for her to go down in the basement until we knew she was feeling better.  But, as she was walking toward Joe and the basement door, I noticed she was walking with her hind legs tucked under her like she was in trouble.  I thought nothing more than believing she was still scared of Joe from running off on us that morning.

 

Later as Joe went to go feed her, he came back up and told me she peed in her dog bed in the basement.  Red flag! I went downstairs and noticed she was still standing with her hind legs tucked under and uncoordinated while just standing and eating. Oh, my heart sank.  The only thing I could think was that she got into someone's barn, ate rat poisoning or antifreeze and is now going into acute kidney failure.

 

She continued to pee uncontrollably last evening and barely had the energy to lift her head from her bed.  All three of us spent the evening in the basement to keep her company wondering what to do since we are expecting to start labor any time now.  I cried for hours wishing I had just leashed her up and dreading to see her like this.  Toward the end of the night she drank 2 bowls of water as we moved her bed into our kitchen to keep her closer to us.

 

This morning showed some major improvement with her energy level and coordination.  She didn't pee inside the house throughout the night, and I try to keep pushing water and potty time outside with her to hopefully flush out whatever is wrong with her.  I'm not sure what's going on with her, and it makes me nervous and sad.  If it's the beginning stages of kidney failure, I know at her age, she will not have a strong chance of reversing it so I just keep an exhausting eye on her while I hope and pray it's not that at all and she will recover from whatever happened to her.

 

As a result of yesterday's excitement and yesterday's worrying and crying, I am emotionally drained and physically tired.  But regardless, there is a very healthy baby that has reached its due date and is just about ready to make an entrance into our family!! And that requires some celebration!

 

 

How far along?  40 Weeks!!
Total weight gain:  30 pounds. 
Maternity clothes?  Yes, but not for much longer! 
Sleep:  This week - horrible. There have been way too many mornings of waking up at 2:30 or 3:30am with no chance of falling back asleep.  Top that off with life with a toddler and that has been making for one exhausting week.
Best moment this week:  You guys, this is it. The best moment has simply been hitting this due date with a baby that has spent the past nine months healthy.  Our (hopefully last) prenatal appointment was this morning, and everything went better than anticipated.  There have been significant changes since last week's appointment which leads me to believe this baby will be here this week. Now, if only I can convince this little one to hang tight until this weekend.
Cravings:  No cravings this week.  I don't even have much of an appetite these days nor a desire to cook dinner for everyone.  A bowl of cereal is about as ambitious as I get these days.
Symptoms:  Swelling, swelling, swelling.  I forgot how much water retention you end up with at the end! And then there are lots of Braxton Hicks that make me wonder if they are slowly going to transition into early labor very soon.  The baby is sitting low now which brings on a whole new set of painful symptoms.  It must be toughening me up for labor!
Looking forward to:  It this baby's due date, so I think it safe for everyone just to assume that we are most looking forward to finally meeting this sweet little thing.  It's also my first week off work and I'm looking forward to just spending as much one on one time with Conner as possible.



39 WEEKS | FULL TERM

I can't believe it! We are 1 week away from our due date, but I'm still hoping this baby comes between the 28th and 30th.  We'll see what happens!

 

As far as growth goes, this baby is a little over 7 lbs now and around 20" long (Babycenter.com).  That is approximately the size of a small watermelon, and believe me I feel like I'm carrying around a watermelon all day.

 

How far along?  39 Weeks.  7 days left! Any day now, little baby!
Total weight gain:  31 pounds. 
Maternity clothes?  Yes, but I still hate maternity pants so I opt to wear normal jeans still.  I wore maternity jeans one day this week and couldn't stand it.  I feel like I only have two maternity shirts that fit over this belly at this point.  How did they all fit me the last time around?? 
Sleep:  I've just accepted that sleep is not going to be great or even good for the next 2+ months.  Naps are pretty much essential these days.
Best moment this week:  Today was the 39 week prenatal appointment so of course I have to say that was one my favorite moments for the week.  Everything is still normal which in my mind is perfect.  The best part of the appointment was when the doctor put the Doppler up to my belly and the look and huge smile that Conner got on his face when he heard the heartbeat was hands down priceless.  He loved hearing that heartbeat as much I did.

This past weekend was incredible for weather in November.  It meant so much for me to be able to get outside with Joe and Conner and spend some time downtown leaving jackets and coats at home.  Everyday is a new realization that it might be our last as a family of three so I want to soak it in as best as I can.
Cravings:  The cravings have gotten so real these past couple of weeks.  I haven't really had any cravings this whole pregnancy that were strong enough to act on, but not these days.  Hand me the mint choco chip ice cream!
Symptoms:  Mild swelling still, Braxton Hicks, nesting, and some serious nerve pain from this baby bearing down hard. Ease up, baby.
Looking forward to:  This is hopefully my last week of work for the year.  I'll be taking vacation and Thanksgiving holidays next week which means there will be lots of freedom for Conner and I to really spend time together without any juggling of work if this baby gives us one more week. 



Since this little baby is officially full term, I cannot wait to find out what color the eyes will be, what color the hair will be, will it even have hair, how big will it be, and will this baby be another posterior baby. (I seriously hope and pray not - that back labor pain is for real and unbearable.) Joe and I had no doubt in our mind that Conner would have dark hair and dark eyes - we were caught so off guard when they told us that he was bald, blonde, and blue eyed.  We can't wait to see if the recessive genes play out strong with this little baby.

I'm really looking forward to announcing the name more so the gender to family and friends.  The poll is about 95% voting girl and 5% voting boy give or take.  Not many people are trying to guess the name though.  Papa thinks it will be either "Jo Anna" or "Josie".  We'll see!

38 WEEKS + 2 DAY

Happy Veteran's Day to all and a huge thank you to all who have served and are serving still! This family appreciates all of you and all you have done for us directly and indirectly.

 

How far along?  38 Weeks + 2 Day.  12 days left! Almost down to the single digits!
Total weight gain:  29 pounds. 
Maternity clothes?  Well apparently my maternity shirts don't want to fit over my belly anymore, but my non-maternity jeans are still fitting.  My outfits end up looking like very unattractive belly shirts.    
Sleep:  Bleh. I'm lucky if I can sleep until 3 am before my brain turns on for the day and I start going through the list of all the things I need to get done. 
Best moment this week:  We had the 38 week dr. appointment and as usual, hearing that little heart beating away is the best moment.  I've had some unsure feelings about how my doctor would respond and work with our doula, so we were lucky enough to have our doula take time out of her morning to come to the appointment with me.  And after the introductions and talks, I feel way better that we're all playing on the same team.  That just ups my excitement for the labor and delivery and make for a great week.  Do you know how awesome it is to be going into labor and delivery for a second time after a horrendous experience the first time and being flat out excited for it?  I don't have any nervous feelings about this.
Cravings:  Cold frosting all the way.  Any other time, I hate frosting, but tell me there's a tub in the fridge and I will eat that entire tub before you can finish asking me "What about your blood sugar?"
Symptoms:  The new one at this point in this pregnancy is mild swelling.  I've been lucky to avoid any swelling up until now, but I hit that point where it just happens despite my every effort to counteract it.  I entirely admit, the sugary snacks that I cave into every once in a while doesn't help with the water retention.  Other than that - still feeling those Braxton Hicks and nesting.  Oh nesting, I want to clean all.the.things. Just too bad I don't get enough sleep at night to give me the energy to follow through on it all.
Looking forward to:  Really, I'm just looking forward to meeting this baby, stop having to check my blood sugar and going on maternity leave.  I've got Conner home with me these next couple weeks while I'm still pulling off a full time job.  It's tough and exhausting.  I just want to get on maternity leave so I only have one full time job to focus on.  After all, it's not easy quieting a screaming two year old while you're on a conference call meeting.

 Big brother wanted to get in the pics but didn't want to look for the camera. Of course.

37 WEEKS + 1 DAY

 

20 days left! I admit the pictures are from yesterday, but close enough.  I had just enough time to snap a few pics last night, and that's about it.

 

Yesterday we had our 37 week check up and our pre-registration with the hospital.  This is getting real!

 

The prenatal appointment went good as usual.  Blood pressure, heartbeat (my favorite part), and everything else was normal.  Normal is so perfect.  The hospital registration went really well too.  We decided to skip the tour since we just went through this a little over two years ago and went straight for the paperwork.  It seemed like there was a lot less paperwork/questions this time around, and trust me, it was appreciated.

 

Joe and I got out earlier than we expected and we couldn't pass up the rare opportunity of a 70 degree day in November in downtown TC without a kid.  We did a 3:30pm dinner date at the Grand Traverse Pie Company. yummm.  Joe snuck in about 3 bites of apple pie before I had that entire slice devoured.  He's a good husband.  He will let me have the majority of any dessert.

 

 

How far along?  37 Weeks + 1 Day.  20 days left!
Total weight gain:  28 pounds. (Halloween candy. So guilty.)
Maternity clothes?  Yep.   
Sleep:  Broken up.  At this point I'm getting used to it, but time change hasn't helped.
Best moment this week:  Conner's 2 year check up was less than fun, but I was pretty excited to see his weight finally go from the 9-12% range up to 32nd percentile! Getting to hear baby #2's little heartbeat going strong. Unexpected dinner date with my favorite man in the world. Oh! I can't forget... my new camera lens was a major highlight.
Cravings:  Flavored sparkling water and apples with peanut butter.  Conner and I have been eating peanut butter straight out of the jar.
Symptoms:  Hello nesting! With the realization that this baby could be here any day, I've been going crazy finishing projects and cleaning the house.  Braxton Hicks contractions have been making themselves known a ton these days.  Wow, they are a lot stronger and more frequent this time around!
Looking forward to:  At this point, I'm looking forward to crossing items off the "get-done" list.  I'm pretty committed to finishing the nursery this week and then I need to pack a hospital bag. Let that last sentence sink in... yes, it's finally time to pack a hospital bag!

Solo shot of the baby.





36 WEEKS

28 days.  That is all that's left in this baby countdown. Well, plus or minus depending on what this little baby decides for an official birth date.  Only one month that we will be a family of three.  One month to get meals prepped and frozen for the weeks following delivery.  One month to finish everything on my baby to-do list.  One month to clean every crack and crevice of this house (thanks to nesting).  One month to get out with family and friends before I hibernate for the winter with a baby.  One month of sleep left.  At this point, every day counts.

 

We had the 36 week dr appointment this morning.  Everything is still looking great from blood pressure to heartbeat to belly growth.  According to my doctor, this baby and belly are growing spot on.  At this point the baby is almost 6 pounds and over 18 1/2" long (babycenter.com). In other words, this baby would fit into newborn size clothes now!

 

 

How far along?  36 Weeks.  28 days and counting!
Total weight gain:  25 pounds. 
Maternity clothes?  Yes.  Same old story here.   
Sleep:  So-so.  At this point, it's usually the joint pain from sleeping on my side that wakes me up.
Best moment this week:  I was telling my friend this week that my belly button won't make up its mind on whether it wants to be an innie or an outie.  Her daughter took care of that for me when she walked up after I made that statement and pointed to my belly button saying, "Hey, I can see the baby's hand." Yep. So in conclusion - 1) That gives me a good laugh every time I think about what she said.  You gotta love kids' viewpoint on things. 2) I think I have to consider it officially an outie after that comment no matter how much I'm in denial about it.

Other great moments from the week include carving a pumpkin with Conner for the first time and having a date with Karra and Amy (always a great time with those two). We talked, lunched and laughed.  Karra even started pinpointing little body parts of the baby which gave me a good description of how the baby is sitting.  The second she found a foot I started crying.  It literally hit me at that moment that this little baby is more than an idea.  It's a real little being waiting to join our family.
Cravings:  I'm lucky if I have an appetite at this point.  Every once in a while I'll be in the mood for something specific.  This week it's been Snickers or Twix.  Must be getting close to Halloween to get that candy craving. Other than that.. cold apples with peanut butter.
Symptoms:  Some days I feel dead to the world with zero energy and other days I have some serious nesting going on.  Saturday was a zero energy day and Sunday was a nesting day.  I'm in the mindset that everything has to be clean and ready since this baby could make an appearance sooner than we anticipate.  My fingers are crossed that this baby actually comes about 5-7 days late though which makes me feel like the only 8 month pregnant lady to say that.
Looking forward to:  Finishing the nursery over the next couple of weeks.  I've got a handful of projects that I still need to start!  I've made so many trips to Joann Fabrics that I'm thinking I should just pick up a job application there.  Conner has his 24 month doctor check up this week, and I'm really looking forward to seeing how that goes.  And, some girl time with Karra and Amy is on the calendar.

35 WEEKS + 1 DAY

 

How far along?  35 Weeks + 1 Day.  Countdown is on at 34 days.
Total weight gain:  23+ pounds. This growth spurt just keeps going for this baby and me.  The baby is approximately 5 1/4 lbs and about 18" long now (according to Babycenter.com).
Maternity clothes?  yaaas. I love jeans, but everyday I have a less and less desire to wear them. 
Sleep:  Still a losing battle.  But, maybe the constant waking up is a good thing to start prepping my body for that hard first month+ where sleep becomes elusive.  I never had the luxury of resting or sleeping when Conner slept  because I had to use that time to pump or else the kid had no food, and Conner was a habitual 30 minute napper which made things even harder. Why does everyone tell you to sleep when the baby sleeps?  You're not fooling anyone that's been through this before.  I'm going into this with no expectation of rest since I have a 2 year old that insists he has my attention. So, there's that.
Best moment this week:  Sometimes friends with unexpected plans are the best.  Amy suggested a pedicure this past week since she had some time freed up, so I snuck out over my lunch break to enjoy that with her.  Talk about a mood lifter, and now I don't have to look at my toes anymore thinking if I should even attempt painting them myself. 

Oh, and I should mention that Joe got a nice buck with a great looking 8 point rack.  I'll spare the pictures in case anyone has a sensitive stomach.  You should have seen how happy that man looked (and how happy I looked because he was able to get us venison for the year before the baby comes. Now he can be around more at night come Nov/Dec).  But since it's a really beautiful buck for this area, we're planning to get it mounted.  
Cravings:  Caffeine.  I drink a 6oz coffee everyday, but I want that fake burst of energy that I get from caffeine all.day.long.
Symptoms:  Exhaustion and fatigue.  I mean, there's exhaustion and fatigue, and then there's exhaustion and fatigue. But I'm beyond both of those.  I feel like death warmed up.  It's not that I'm tired, I just feel like my body is so weak that I have to go sit down at least 3 times while I'm trying to prep/cook any meal or snack.  Honestly, I'll grab food out of the fridge and then have to go sit down right away.  Maybe it's time to get my iron levels checked.
Looking forward to:  I'm really getting anxious to be finished with this pregnancy and hold this baby.  But more immediately, I'm still looking forward to finishing the nursery.  I got all the baby clothes washed and started grabbing some baby gear out of the basement.  There's now a swing sitting in our living room waiting to be filled with a squishy little baby. 



34 WEEKS + 3 DAYS

Little behind this week.

How far along?  34 Weeks + 3 Days. 
Total weight gain:  22 pounds. We definitely hit the third trimester growth spurt.
Maternity clothes?  Yeah... nothing's changed here except even maternity shirts are feeling shorter now.
Sleep:  It's becoming a downhill battle.  I have really broken up sleep now, but I guess it's going to be nothing like the broken sleep that's coming over the next couple of months, am I right? 
Best moment this week:  I don't know how to pick the best moment this week, so I'll just name them all - Conner's birthday party with family and friends, family visiting for the weekend, anniversary, pumpkin patch, taking Conner out for his birthday. 
Cravings:  Nope.
Symptoms:  The usual at this point - exhaustion, feeling huge, tons of Braxton Hicks, feeling incredibly slow these days, oh and heart burn's been back for an unwelcome visit.
Looking forward to:  Now that we don't anticipate having family visiting or any trips, I'm looking forward to setting up the nursery.  Washing and folding all those baby clothes I bought, putting the crib sheets back on, and make the decorations for the room.  Well, I doubt I'll accomplish all of that this week, but we'll get a good start on it.

We had yet another check up with the doctor last Friday.  Everything is still going great for this little peapod.  Fundal height was 33.5cm. Heartbeat was wonderful.  Blood pressure still low.  And of course, tons of movement.

33 WEEKS + 2 DAY

How far along?  33 Weeks + 2 Days.  YES! Less than 7 weeks to go!
Total weight gain:  20+ pounds. This little baby is doing some serious growing now!
Maternity clothes?  yep.  Shirts are a must now.  Even t-shirts don't fit over this belly anymore.  I haven't liked pants in general this week so it's been comfy pants and loose fitting jeans.
Sleep:  Slowly losing my great sleep.  I thought I was clear of any hip pain like I had with the first pregnancy, but it's creeping back into existence which is a real bummer.  I wake up multiple times now just from the hip pain of only sleeping on my side.
Best moment this week:  I was finishing up the baby blanket this past weekend when Conner came up and pointed to blanket, looked at me with a smile and a head tilt, and said, "Baby?" I have no idea how he makes the connection between a blanket and baby, but this kid knows.  Then later he came up to me and looked at my belly before standing on his tippy toes to kiss the baby.  That little boy knows how to make me start crying. 
Cravings:  No serious cravings this week, but thin mint cookies just popped into my mind as I sit here.  Wait! Thin mint cookie cheesecake. Yes! I need thin mint cookie cheesecake.
Symptoms:  My symptoms include feeling huge! And exhausted. And feeling like I'm ready for this pregnancy to be over with so I can start cuddling on the couch with this sweet little thing.
Looking forward to:  Conner's birthday party is this weekend! We've got an overwhelming feeling of love as people rsvp that they are coming and are excited to celebrate another year with Conner.  And even though I promised Joe I wouldn't go all out like I did last year, well, let's just say I have a problem with toning it down when it comes to birthdays.  Birthdays are the best! Another year of precious life gets celebrated, and that to me is a big deal. And I love to entertain. Win, Win!

32 WEEKS

 

How far along?  32 Weeks. That means there are only 8 weekends left before our little family of three gains one more smile. (:
Total weight gain:  19 pounds. 
Maternity clothes?  Oh, the usual.  Mainly pre-preggo jeans with some maternity jeans every once in a while.  I'm not a huge fan of maternity jean panel against my belly so I tend to avoid them.  They're itchy.  When it comes to shirts, I think there's only 2 pre-pregnancy shirts that are long enough to cover this baby up.  Otherwise, maternity shirts it is!
Best moment this week:  We had a really fun Saturday morning driving around the Leelanau peninsula and spending time in Leland for lunch.  I feel like the rest of the weekends from here on out are going to be focused on getting things prepped for this baby. 
Miss anything?  Nada.  Not this week at least. 
Cravings:  I had a serious craving for some Havarti cheese last week and we were able to pick up a nice little chunk of it in Leland.  A cold gala apple and cheese have become the new bedtime snack the past few days.  Mmmmm...
Symptoms:  I'm tired.  All the time.  Maybe it's the shorter amount of daylight everyday that makes me want to just hibernate longer, but let's be real.  Third trimester exhaustion is in full swing now.
Looking forward to:  I'm looking forward to getting some things ready for the nursery this weekend.  I think a trip to Joann Fabrics is in order to make some custom items for this little baby's room.  Joe on the other hand is looking forward to October 1st - Opening day for deer season.  I really hope Joe gets a nice big one this year. 

The little babe had a scheduled prenatal appointment last Friday.  All is good!  Heartbeat was good and strong and fundal height is still spot on.  According to my Babycenter app, this little peapod is now about 3-3/4 lbs and 16-3/4" long and gaining almost a 1/2 pound a week from here on out.  I try to remember how Conner was as far as movements go - I remember thinking that he moved a lot, but this baby seems to move non-stop throughout the day.  And I love every single kick.  Even the ones directly to my bladder.



31 WEEKS + 2 DAYS

We are seven months pregnant now and down to the single digits in the weekly countdown. Single digits!! This makes me giddy and excited one second, and then in the next second I get overwhelmed with the amount of work I still need to do before this sweet little bundle arrives.  And I have Conner's birthday party to prep for over the next two weeks.  Time is flying by! 

I am feeling huge these days.  This belly just took off in growth, and just when I thought it was hard enough to bend over or get up from the floor... whoa, did it get harder.  Last night we went to watch cousin Alex (or 'Doh' as Conner calls him) play soccer.  After sitting on the grass for that long, I wasn't sure if I was going to make it to a standing position again. No worries, I made it up without help, but I just felt like I looked awkward trying.

 

How far along?  31 weeks + 2 days! Down to the single digits with remaining weeks.
Total weight gain:  18+ pounds. I have the Pumpkin Fest to thank for a healthy weight gain this week. Those pumpkin flavored goodies are way too good to pass and sometimes you just need to sneak a few... or ten.
Maternity clothes?  Yep, and same as last week.  I still favor my non-maternity jeans and unless they are t-shirts, I definitely need maternity tops to cover this growing belly.  Can I just mention how wonderful maxi skirts are when you're pregnant?  So comfy!
Sleep:  Still amazing.  This is one huge difference from Conner's pregnancy that I am so grateful for.  I have noticed that I wake up frequently throughout the night, but I fall back asleep quickly.  I won't complain over that.
Best moment this week:  Pumpkin Festival! We had a chance to make one last, long car ride to visit my family, friends and catch some pumpkin magic. 
Miss anything?  I really just want to lay on my back and put my feet up on the couch.
Cravings:  Cold, fresh fruit.  This week I have wanted cold red grapes, cold watermelon, cold gala apples, cold bananas. Basically, any COLD fruit (but not frozen). And Havarti cheese.  That too!
Symptoms:  Exhaustion and heart burn still take the lead for symptoms.  The heart burn is getting pretty old these days so I am thankful that this is not something that I deal with outside of pregnancy. Based on my pregnancy related discomforts, I have to admire the people that deal with things like heart burn and diabetes everyday as part of their normal life.  I can't imagine dealing and managing with these types of things everyday without an end.
Looking forward to:  We have another appointment with the doctor this week to check on this babe and I always look forward to those.  And as long as the weather cooperates this weekend, we are hoping to make a little day trip out to everyone's favorite fishtown, Leland, and pick up some smoked whitefish and Havarti cheese.  Mmmm... Havarti.



30 WEEKS

We've hit the big 3-0 today! This little baby is only 10 weeks away from being welcomed into the world and into our family.  And that, my friends, is awesome.

 

We just had our latest visit to the doctor last Friday and the baby is doing great.  Fundal height is measuring spot on at 30cm.  Heartbeat is good and strong and there is no shortage of movements for this little babe.

 

How far along?  30 weeks!!! 75% to the finish line.
Total weight gain:  17 pounds. 
Maternity clothes?  Of course. I still haven't given up my normal jeans though.  I do that little hair tie trick just so I can keep wearing them longer.
Sleep:  Good as last week.  I just want more hours in the morning to sleep in.  
Best moment this week:  Hearing that little babe's heartbeat.  And baby kicks.  Lots of baby kicks. 
Miss anything?  Energy. My energy has been sucked dry and by the time evening rolls around, I'm ready for a nap and then bed.  Joe has a habit of napping when he gets home from work which makes it hard for me to take a nap since, well, someone's gotta keep an eye on that little boy and keep him from getting into too much chaos.
Cravings:  Pizza Hut buffet.  It's probably been over a decade since I've had the PH lunch buffet, and I don't even know if they do that anymore, but I just want to go and eat all the pizza and breadsticks.  ALL the pizza.
Symptoms:  Exhaustion!  I've given up my aerobics and other cardio workouts for slower walks, but even that leaves me with zero energy.  And with that, my motivation to get stuff done around the house at night keeps diminishing.  At this point I could curl up with a blanket and sleep all day and night.
Looking forward to:  Pumpkin Festival!!! We have missed it the past two years so this year will be Conner's very first Pumpkin Festival.  Pumpkin flavored everything and pumpkins everywhere.  My kind of festival.

Conner is picking up on this baby things more and more every week.  He can point to diapers, other pictures of babies, teething rings and other baby items and call them out as "baby".  I don't know how he picks up on things like that, but it gets me so excited for him to finally meet his future sidekick and best friend.  The belly kisses from this little boy are less frequent, but when he does run up to me patting my belly and asking to kiss baby, it just makes my heart happy.  Already loving on his little sibling.

29 WEEKS

How far along?  29 weeks
Total weight gain:  17.5 pounds. 
Maternity clothes?  Oh yeah.  Still probably about 50% of the time, but with this bulging belly, my pre-pregnancy shirts are becoming more like belly shirts.
Sleep:  Amazing and I hope it stays this way until the baby comes.  
Best moment this week:  Watching Conner play with his cousins and spending time with family.  That little bird always has a blast with those boys.
Miss anything?  I miss being able to get off the couch without giving myself a mental pep talk or getting up a flight of stairs without getting winded.
Cravings:  Honey mustard pretzels. I caved. I planned them into my nighttime snack last night just so I could have some.  I wanted to shove them all in my mouth at once because they tasted so dang delicious but I paced myself - one piece at a time. I still want to reach for that bag and start popping them handful by handful.
Symptoms:  Surprisingly, it's been a quiet week as far as symptoms go.  I've started to notice some Braxton Hicks coming and going more frequently especially if I go for a longer period without water.
Looking forward to:  Hearing this little baby's heartbeat at the doctor's office this week.  After this appointment, I'll start going every two weeks which will make the next couple of months fly by even faster.

I'm also looking forward to getting the nursery finished.  It really gets me excited now that I know what colors we'll be using and to top that off - I finished up the fitted crib sheet today! I'm so stoked to share pictures of the nursery with everyone after the baby comes.

28 WEEKS | THIRD TRIMESTER

I can't believe it! It's officially the start of the third trimester already and honestly, how did the second trimester go so fast?  I thought my baby fever was bad before, but it's getting worse every week.  I'm ready to hold this little babe. I'm still trying to figure out what I want to do for decorating the nursery.  Unfortunately, since we've decided not to tell anyone what we're having, we can't put any finishing touches on the nursery until after Conner's birthday in October when my family will be visiting.  I think after that point, I won't have any energy to do a whole lot with the nursery.

In the meantime, Joe and I have just been trying to soak up every last ounce of summer that we have left and time with Conner before his life gets turned upside down.  Last night we headed out for swimming and ice cream after supper.  I love getting random text in the late afternoon from Joe just to see if I'm game for swimming at the lake.  When it's near 90 degrees, the dishes and chores can wait.  Playing at the beach becomes top priority.

 

How far along?  28 weeks + 2 days
Total weight gain:  17 pounds. 
Maternity clothes?  Yes.  Maternity clothes are starting to feel more and more comfortable everyday.  Since most of my days are around the house, I still rock the pre-pregnancy workout shorts and t-shirts on most days.
Sleep:  Seeing how the majority of my sleep this past week was in hotel rooms or camping, it wasn't the greatest.  The nights we were at home have been amazing and I am trying to take full advantage of that before this little baby comes.  
Best moment this week:  Family vacation to Marquette, MI and celebrating Joe's 34th birthday.
Miss anything?  I really miss laying on my back and just stretching out.  I see Joe come home and do this and I stand there glaring watching in jealousy.
Cravings:  So far this week, I don't have any cravings.  If I do get a craving, it's not strong enough to act on it like a lot of other pregnant mamas need to.
Symptoms:  I know these painful veins are here to stay for the next three months, but thanks to my friend Amy, I now have some TED hose. (Thank you, Amy!) It's amazing how great they do at taking away the pain.  As far as how these compression hose look... well let's just say that I'm glad Fall is right around the corner and I'll be back to wearing jeans soon!  Honestly, though, if you have pain with these during pregnancy, don't waste any time getting yourself a pair! And helllooo heartburn!!! I didn't have any heartburn until my last month of pregnancy with Conner, so it surprised me a little to get it this early this time around.  It is brutal.  I now carry my water bottle around in one hand and a bottle of Tums in the other.
Looking forward to:  Labor Day weekend is coming up, so we are looking forward to hopefully spending it on the river.  If we're lucky, we'll be able to take Conner on a canoe trip and do a shrimp boil with the fam.

27 WEEKS

 

How far along?  27 weeks (last week of the 2nd trimester!)
Total weight gain:  16.5 pounds. I think with the weather cooling off I got rid of all that water weight from last week.  16.5 lbs still keeps me right in range though!
Maternity clothes?  Yes.  I'd say I wear maternity shirts about 50-60% of the time and maternity bottoms about 10-20% of the time.
Sleep:  I slept like a baby this week.  (Minus the night we went camping - I spent that night lying there waiting for morning to come.)  
Best moment this week:  Meeting with our doula, Karra.  I could spend hours just chatting over coffee with that girl. 
Miss anything?  This week I am missing running.  With the weather cooling off, it's perfect running weather, and I have the itch to go.  I haven't kept up with it so even going for a 1 mile run just kills the lower back at this point.  Instead, I get excited watching my friend Nicole keep up with her running and biking even at 20+ weeks.  She was smart to stick with it!
Cravings:  No strong cravings this week.  Although carrot cake with cream cheese frosting has passed my mind a couple of times.
Symptoms:  These nasty, painful varicose veins are still cramping my style to the point where I can't stand still for longer than 5 minutes without having an internal panic attack over them hurting me.  I even caved in and went to Walgreens to find compression tights and was surprised and disappointed that they only carry socks.  
Looking forward to:  Where to start... This is an exciting week for me.  I'm going for a facial with my sis-in-law, Joe's 34th birthday is coming up, and we are heading up to Upper Peninsula for a family vacation.

I am getting some major baby fever and we still have 3 more months to go!  I spend a lot of time thinking about this little baby, and I can't help but get excited to someday see that little squishy body, slowly blinking and absorbing the outside world. I glanced through our calendar and realized that these next few months will be busy which means that these final weeks are going to fly by.  I hope that I can be reminded to enjoy special one-on-one time with Conner and that goes toward Joe too.   I admit, by the end of the night, we usually spend that time getting our own stuff done, and I need to get better at just dropping whatever I think is important at that time and really spend it with him.

 

Last night I ordered some new baby products which I am really looking forward to coming in.  A new carseat was a must since ours had expired, but I did order a couple of items that I think will be especially nice for this little babe.  Another thing I can't wait to post and share with everyone!



26 WEEKS + 2 DAYS

Yesterday was my 26 week ob appointment and with that came the glucose test.  I don't remember that glucose drink being so disgusting, but it did not sit well this time around.  It's about a 40 minute drive to my doctor's office, and the whole time driving was spent convincing myself not to throw up.  I've heard of people doing that, and then having to go back and redo the drink.  No way was I going to redo this, so I held it down!

 

My normal ob was on vacation which gave me a chance to meet with another one of the doctors there.  They're all great there, and I love that office.  Everything went really well.  Blood pressure was still low and my belly is still tracking right where it needs to be.  And my favorite part of these appointments - listening to the heartbeat!  As the doctor was holding the Doppler to my stomach, you could see this little baby just moving and pushing my stomach around. 

 

I love getting to the point where it's not only little kicks and flutters, but you can actually see and feel limbs and their body gliding across your belly.  And baby hiccups... don't get me started on how much I love those baby hiccups.

How far along?  26 weeks + 2 days
Total weight gain:  18 pounds.  I've noticed that I will gain 2-3 pounds in one week, and then my weight will plateau for the next few weeks.  But on average, that puts me at a 1 pound gain per week since I started the second trimester.  Can't complain with being right on track.
Maternity clothes?  Yep. I still only wear maternity clothes about 30% of the time.  If my normal shirts are long enough, there way more comfortable to wear.
Sleep:  I have a really hard time sleeping on my left side.  I can always fall asleep on my right, but for whatever reason, it's impossible on my left.   
Best moment this week:  Hearing that little heart beating away at the doctor appointment. 
Miss anything?  alfalfa sprouts.  I had this same issue when I was pregnant with Conner.  I miss alfalfa sprouts now as much as I did the last time.
Cravings:  Well, beside the alfalfa sprouts I'm missing, I've actually had a strange craving for a margarita.  I don't drink alcohol very often, but a margarita may need to be in order after this baby comes. 
Symptoms:  I've had a couple of very unpleasant symptoms that have crept up this past week and a half.  1) Varicose Veins - these suckers are ugly and more importantly, they are soooo painful. If they don't go away after pregnancy, I'm saving up money and getting them removed!  2)  Swelling - I haven't had any problems with swelling until this week and I attribute that to large consumption of water on a daily basis.  My body can't compete with the heat and humidity this week though and it's caused so much swelling. Bleh.
Looking forward to:  We are looking forward to camping this weekend.  We haven't camped at all this year, so we are meeting up with Aunt Shannon and Uncle Ken and the boys at the river property and planning to have a good time together.

Two big decisions were made this week.  I had originally planned on going for a VBAC up until a week past my planned due date.  If I go past a week overdue, I was just going to schedule a C-section.  That has now changed to just waiting it out and trying for a VBAC even if it's a week past my due date.  My doctor will let me go up to 2 weeks past as long as the baby is still healthy and growing.  If things don't happen within those 2 weeks or if this baby is showing signs of needing to come out, then C-section it is!

 

The second big decision this week (and the one I'm really excited about) is hiring a doula.  I've never put any thought into using one or having a desire for one.  After hearing about my friend's experience with one and how much support they mentally and physically give the mother, I am sold.  Especially since we're going for the VBAC, I feel like this is the smartest way to go to help our chances of success.  Not to mention that the doula that we are using is probably the easiest person to talk to and will be so supportive of us at any point of the labor and delivery process whatever happens.

25 Weeks

How far along?  25 weeks
Total weight gain:  15 pounds.  It fluctuates a little but typically stays around 15 pounds
Maternity clothes?  Yes. I probably wear maternity clothes about 25-30% of the time now. I bought some new outfits that I am starting to finally fit into.
Sleep:  Great! Sleeping at night has been so much easier than with Conner's pregnancy.  So far my hips have not been hurting which plagued me in my first pregnancy.  I try not to go to bed until 11pm so I can get one last use of the bathroom giving me a better chance of sleeping through the night without having to go pee. 
Best moment this week:  The best moment this week was the only family dinner we got to have to together and spending it in downtown Traverse with perfect weather for eating outside. 
Miss anything?  Laying on my tummy and back whenever I want.
Cravings:  I only had one craving this week and that was for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  You better believe I caved into that craving.
Symptoms:  Exhaustion has gotten the better of me this week.  It's a rare occasion for me to take a nap, but I did on Sunday.  Lack of energy has also made it hard to workout this week.  For the plus side, this little babe has been getting plenty of exercise with lots of kicks and somersaults.  Every once in a while I'll feel a good ole Braxton Hicks come on but those are still few and far between.
Looking forward to:  Sweet little Alivia's first birthday is this weekend.  We are so excited to be celebrating this big milestone with their family!  We are also looking forward to Joe's work picnic on Sunday.  We have heard they have some pretty great prizes this year and we are really hoping that our friends Phil and Lori win that paddleboard! 

I figured it was time to switch up my menu for this week so here's the new line up:
7am - Breakfast:  Pumpkin protein pancakes
7:20-8am - Gym Workout (I've been switching it up between step aerobics and other workout videos)
9:30am - 1/2 c. cottage cheese, mandarin orange and 8oz coffee with 2 tbs. creamer
9:40-10am - 1 mile dog walk
12pm - Lunch:  Sesame Ginger Chicken Wrap
2:30pm - Snack #2: 1 c. Beef Cabbage Soup
5pm - Dinner:  Chicken Cobb Salad (romaine, hard boiled egg, avocado, chicken breast, bacon bits, shredded cheddar cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers, balsamic vinaigrette)
8pm - Snack #3:  Still keep this simple with either greek yogurt, string cheese, cheerios and skim milk, or when I absolutely want it - a little bit of ice cream. 

23 Weeks Pregnant | Then and Now

Today marks 23 weeks and 2 days for this pregnancy, and for most of us pregnant mamas we try our best to watch what we eat and make sure we get moving enough to exercise for the two of us.  I include myself in this camp especially with this pregnancy. 

 

When I was pregnant with Conner, I followed the recommendation of getting my calorie intake around 2,200 for the day and did a pretty good job at avoiding processed food.  I would go on multiple walks throughout the day with my dog to top it off.  Sounds pretty good, right?  Well, let's just say that after gaining a whopping 84 pounds in that pregnancy, I learned that my body packs on pounds with that many calories even with the 2-3 walks per day.  Let me tell you, 84 pounds is intimidating when you've always made sure to eat well balanced meals with a calorie intake that coincides with your daily calorie burn.  Before pregnancy, I usually ate around 1,900 calories so I thought that increasing my intake to 2,200 during pregnancy was reasonable. 

 

You would think that with a weight gain like that there would have been complications along the way.  Well, that's where I was graciously spared.  I did not develop any gestational diabetes.  My belly measurements were always right where they needed to be.  I did not develop stretch marks which I surely thought I would have since my mom and sister fell victim to them.  And I gave birth to a very healthy 7lb 11oz baby.  Or as the nurse called him, "slurpee size" in reference to the 7/11 stores.  I did not find this funny after giving birth to him.  I really don't find it funny still.

 

So, I learned my lesson with Conner's pregnancy.  I was able to lose the weight before his first birthday.  I followed the general rule of 80/20.  80% of the weight loss came through diet.  20% came from exercise consisting of step aerobics and long distance runs at the start of my weightloss and then sprint intervals and weight lifting during the last portion of weightloss.  To touch on the diet portion, I followed an 80/20 rule there too.  80% of my diet was healthy and mostly non-processed foods while the other 20% was more relaxed because, after all, I am human, and I do have an obsessive love for pizza.  And ice cream.  And any bakery or dessert item with pumpkin in it.

 

Now to transition into this pregnancy and what I've been doing differently.  First, here is a comparison for you all.  At 23 weeks with Conner I had already gained 37 pounds! That's more than they recommend for the entire pregnancy! Now at 23 weeks with this little bebe, I have gained a healthy 14 pounds.  Right where I need to be and I don't think I even need to say how much healthier I feel.

 

I've had a lot of people ask me about my diet and what I do to stay fit (besides the obvious of chasing around the world's busiest toddler!).  So, I thought I would share my food and exercise diary.  Now, everyone is different so this is what has been working for me.  We should all know by now that what works for one person does not mean it will work for others.  Just had to state the obvious here before you begin the eye rolling and think to yourself, "I know..".

Breakfast (7am) - 5 scrambled egg whites on 1 slice toasted 12 grain wheat bread and 1 slice Ultra Thin Sargento Cheddar Cheese.
Step Aerobics (7:10-8am) - I try to use a 4" step but there are some mornings now that I have to take it down to a 2" height. 
Snack #1 (9:30am) - 1/2 c. fat free cottage cheese, 1 mandarin orange, 8 oz coffee with 2 tbs creamer
Dog Walk (9:40-10am) - 1 mile walk with my dog
Lunch (12pm) - 1/2 Panini (1 slice sourdough, 5 slices of deli meat, pepperoncinis, 1 slice of Ultra Thin Cheddar Cheese, drizzle of Italian dressing for flavor. I cook the Panini without butter or oil, just plain) and small side salad (3 oz salad mix, 2 tbs fat free ranch, 2 oz grilled chicken, tomatoes, cucumbers)
Walk (12:15-12:30) - 1 mile walk on the treadmill (4.0 mph, #5 or #6 incline)
Snack #2 (2:30pm) - 5.5 oz of homemade greek yogurt (This is extremely easy to make and I will be sure to post the recipe soon!) and 1 c. Multi Grain Cheerios
Walk (2:45-3pm) - 1 mile walk on the treadmill (4.0 mph, #5 or #6 incline)
Dinner (5:30pm) - Dinner is whatever we have planned for that night.  For the most part it is healthy.  This is the one meal that I do tend to consume more carbs, but I try very hard to watch the portions of the carbs that I put on my plate.
After dinner Joe and I play with Conner and clean up/get ready for the next day so no planned exercises!
Snack #3 (8pm) - If dinner hasn't filled me up completely, I'll go for something simple like 8oz of Fairlife chocolate milk or a string cheese or a bowl of Multi Grain Cheerios with 1 c. skim milk.

That's it! In all, I consume about 1,800-2,000 calories a day.  As you can tell from above, if I eat carbs, I'm always pairing it with protein.  That is essential for anyone that has dealt with PCOS and just in general for stabilizing blood glucose throughout the day.  I'm a creature of habit so I tend to follow the same diet for about 2-3 weeks before switching it up (which by the way, I due for a menu switch up next week so I'll try to get that posted in the near future).

 

I do try to get plenty of veggies in at lunch and dinner, but I have been staying away from fruit.  As wonderful as fruit is for the body, I know from experience that I gain weight too easily with it. 

 

Now for a visual on how different I look from Conner's pregnancy compared to this one!

 

This is me at 22 weeks with Conner at my sister-in-law Shannon's wedding. Those are size large maternity jeans from Motherhood that I could barely squeeze into anymore at that point.  (My pre-pregnancy size for pants are size 6 - proof that I grew a lot!)

I quickly snapped this photo of me this morning at 23+ weeks.  (Ignore the fact I haven't brushed my hair or put on makeup yet!) But you can see the big difference!  I can still wear my normal workout shorts and tank tops.  I still haven't worn the maternity jeans shown above because they are actually too big for me at this point.

 

Sometimes the best way to learn a lesson is learning it the hard way.