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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Postpartum Love with UpSpring Baby

It takes some guts to have a baby.

9 months of being pregnant: morning sickness. swollen everything. narcolepsy yet sleep deprived. heart burn. joint pain. compressed lungs. feeling large. very large.

Childbirth: enough said

Postpartum Life: why doesn't my belly button look the same??? (too much info?)

 

No doubt there is so much that we go through when welcoming a little squishy baby into the world. During pregnancy our focus is set on our due date, but what about after the big day of meeting that little babe (or babes)?  I totally get why the postpartum period is called the 4th trimester. It's the last chapter that nobody really studies for.

 

When you think about it, there's so much change that our bodies go through after the baby comes that you kinda just sit there and wonder where to go now.  My plan of action after both of my boys involved UpSpring Baby.
 

 

I did some reading prior to Conner's due date about belly wrapping and came across this gem of a product called Shrinx Belly made by UpSpring Baby. Their adjustable main band along with adjustable compression bands just made sense! And then I stumbled on their Shrinx Hips product and I was sold! I bought them both pretty much as fast I found them.

 

Some of you know that Conner's delivery ended with an emergency c-section which made me a little hesitant to use the bands with my incision, but I did anyway. Best decision ever.  The Shrinx Belly made me feel like everything in my torso was being held together. (I know you C-section mamas know what I'm talking about!)

 

Within days my stomach looked amazingly flatter and the results got better over the weeks.  Same thing with the Shrinx Hips.  The hormone that your body uses to spread your hips hangs out in your body up to 8 weeks post-delivery. That is your window to use this product and gently push those hips back into place.  And it worked like a charm.
 

 

With these results, I obviously used them again after Linden's birth with the same happy results. The best part is that since Conner's birth, UpSpring Baby's product lineup has expanded! They've launched a great line of prenatals, milk supply products, and even baby vitamins. And let's not forget, for all those mamas having a night out sans babies... Milkscreen is there for you.

 

I recently had a chance to try out one of their newest products - their Shrinx Belly Bamboo Charcoal.  It's the same design as their original Shrinx Belly but made with bamboo charcoal which is wonderful at wicking that sweat. And after you have a baby, that sweat is real.  Plus an array of other benefits listed on their website involving circulation, metabolism and reduced swelling. 

 

Seriously, it's a no-brainer. This new belly wrap is a must have and makes a great gift for those mama's that are getting ready to have a baby or have just welcomed their little babe and entering their own 4th trimester.
 

 

Check them out! UpSpring Baby. Now Go! :)

views expressed are solely my own and I was not paid to make these statements. :)

 




 

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.



LETTER TO THE LITTLE ONE

Littlest Baby,

Your estimated due date is already one day away!  These nine months of holding you tight as you grow and develop are coming to an end.  Soon you will be born, and I will have to share you and let others share in the great gift of getting to know you.

Your arrival is more of a gift of grace than you will ever know.  At this time a year ago, your daddy and I found out that we were pregnant and were overly excited to be welcoming a new life into our family.  But what ended in so much pain has been healed by the gracious gift of you.  Without that pain and loss of your brother or sister, we will never have this moment now, a year later, that we will get to welcome you, special baby, into our family.  I truly can't wait for the moment that I get to see your eyes soak in your surroundings for the first time, hold you, and give the first of way too many kisses that you'll be getting from this mama.

We are so overjoyed that you will be joining our family soon.  Over these past months, I've gotten to know your little schedule.  You always wake up and move around at the same times everyday.  And you are such a little mover!  When your big brother lays his head on my belly, you always respond with a little push or kick to let him know that your are there, ready to meet him.  And unlike your brother, when your daddy puts his hand on my belly to wait for a kick, you respond to him with strong movement.

Your daddy and I are eager to see what you will look like.  Will you have dark hair and dark eyes or will those recessive genes get the best of you too? Will you be laid back and easy going or will you be like your brother and want nothing more than to be on the move and setting the pace?  Regardless, you have been wonderfully made, and we just can't wait to see how perfect that will be. 

You are coming into a family that truly wants you.  I know the adjustment of bringing you home will feel difficult at times, but I also know that those difficult adjustment times will only grow a deeper love within this family.  You have a brother that will probably be unsure of your presence at first, but we know that he will grow protective of you.  I trust that your sibling bond will grow and be unbreakable. 

There is so much life here that we want to share with you.  There is so much to teach you, and there is so much that you will teach us about living as a family of four.  We can't wait to meet you, little one.  You are already so very loved.

With all my heart

Mom

 

 

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.



PREGNANCY FOOD JOURNAL

It's been a month now since I got my sketchy results on my blood glucose test for gestational diabetes.  This past prenatal appointment my doctor was confident that I was doing just fine with my diet, and I that I could still avoid any additional testing.  He even thinks that I may not have it, but since I made an agreement to take preventative maintenance with my diet to avoid additional testing, we'll never know for sure.

 

I haven't been too adventurous with trying different food and carb combinations these past couple weeks, but when I do eat something that's not on my typical meal/snack list, I am diligent to check my glucose levels 2 hours later.  Most of the time, it turns out fine, but for the few other times, I've learned there are certain foods that do no work well with my body.

 

I'm finding that one of the hardest things is actually gaining weight.  Certainly not a problem with my first pregnancy, but it's just not happening this time around.  Trust me, there's no lack in trying, but it does get tricky when you try to limit carbs.  I'm already eating 6 meals a day to keep blood sugar stabilized, and with heartburn, eating that frequently isn't always fun.

 

I've really upped my protein and fat to try and help, but the fun little thing about protein is that is takes up to 20% of the protein calories you consume just to break it down into useable form for your body.  Not usually a huge deal, but when a good chunk of your daily macronutrients are coming from protein, it does play into it.  (I am definitely that person that likes to analyze how all my food works in my body.)  As far as fat goes, I've increased my amounts there too, but I try to keep my total fat intake to about 30% of my daily intake. 

 

Curious about what I'm eating? I thought I'd open up my pregnancy food journal to share in case you are.

 

 

breakfast

 

I switch it up between two or three different meals everyday:

1) oatmeal + peanut butter + cinnamon + 6 egg whites

2) berry/spinach smoothie w/ flax + 1 slice whole wheat + 6 egg whites

3) 2 pumpkin protein pancakes + 6 egg whites

 

I know omelets are a popular go to for breakfast, but I'm not huge on veggies with my eggs.  I'm usually quite content with just scrambled egg whites for my protein.  I'll drink 16oz of water with breakfast and sip on another 48oz of water before lunch.  I also try to always get a good 30 minutes walk in after breakfast.

 

 

lunch

 

Lunch is the most predictable meal of the day.  Ninety percent of the time, it's a salad.  It's my time of the day to really load up on veggies and salads get the job done.  With cool weather around the corner, I'll probably start adding in soups to the lunch rotation.  I'll also drink another 64oz of water between lunch and the rest of the day to hit my one gallon goal and even more on some days.

 

1) cobb salad (romaine head + cheddar + boiled egg + bacon bits + extra veggies + chicken breast + dressing)

2) chicken caesar salad (romaine head + chicken breast + caesar dressing + parmesan)

3) panini sandwich with whole grain low carb bread + side salad

 

 

dinner

 

Dinner is a little easier since that's the meal that can handle the most amount of carbs which gives me a little more freedom.  As long as I keep the meal around 45g of carbs and balanced out with lots of protein, I'm fine.  Here's some of my most frequented meals for dinner:

 

1) chicken burrito bowl

2) a salad

3) chicken caesar wrap (same salad listed above wrapped into a spinach herb wrap)

4) chicken kabobs

5) portabella pizza caps

6) some form of red meat + veggies + potatoes or rice

 

 

snacks

 

Like all my other meals, I have a list of snack that I just rotate between.  I've said it before, I'm a creature of habit, and I'm completely okay with eating the same thing for long periods of time.

 

coffee w/ 2 tbs creamer + greek yogurt + string cheese

pumpkin protein shake (pumpkin + whey + milk + cinnamon + ice)

apple + 2 string cheese sticks

1/2 c ice cream + 2 pumpkin protein cookies (oh yes, I found an ice cream that works!)

 

 



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.