I’ve been writing a lot lately about my frustration with maternity clothes. Luckily, online shopping has been paying off! There are some fantastic sources out there for maternity clothes that are more than just “okay”…they’re actually totally cute! I just love finding maternity clothing that is similar to what I’d buy any other time, and Sweet Pea Maternity is the perfect place to find it! Continue reading
How far along: 18 weeks (give or take a day. Going forward, I’m going to round to the nearest week for the sake of this journal…)
Fun facts about Week 18: According to TheBump.com, baby is about the size of a sweet potato. Baby is yawning, hiccuping, swallowing and kicking up a storm!
Due Date: February 24, 2013 (although my cycles are long, so this could be off by a few…)
Boy or girl: No idea!
Currently craving: Honeycrisp apples! I just wish I could find organic ones a little more readily. 
I also splurged on a pint of Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Therapy…only about 4 bites at a time, and it doesn’t even affect my sugars when I test. Yay!
Currently Avoiding: Everything that isn’t good for my blood sugar and blood pressure. I’m learning a lot about what works and what doesn’t. It seems that eating a piece of chicken before bed really helps my fasting sugar, but…yuck.
Weight: I was up 4 pounds total, but now I’m back down to 3.
Sleep: My nighttime anxiety is letting up a little, and I’m sleeping a little better. But just a little. I really need a Snoogle! We’ve also made HUGE progress in transitioning Little Man into his own bed (details in a future post, coming soon!) so sleeping is easier in that respect, too. Except when I wake up and miss him…
Recent Crazy Dream: I seem to have them every night. Last night’s was most vivid, and it was about my aunt who recently passed away. I loved it, but it was sad, too.
Symptoms? Still having trouble brushing my teeth without vomiting. (Sorry, yuck, I know.) Breathlessness is setting in very early, which is not helping anything right now…
Health: The doc says I am doing the best job I could possibly do in regard to my blood sugar (Yay! 
) and my blood pressure meds seem to be kicking in! My numbers have stabilized well enough that I can now schedule appointments every 2 weeks instead of every week. But even with that good news, this has been a tough 2 weeks. Without going into too much detail (because I could write page after page, and that’s just boring…) I’ve had a lot of anxiety set in which has resulted in some really difficult panic attacks. I’m suffering from the same type of claustrophobic/breathless feeling I felt in month 8 last time around, only much earlier and much more severely. I saw my doctor about it and was prescribed Lexapro, but given the risks and uncertainties, I just can’t bring myself to take it. So, I’ve started increasing my exercise, I’m looking into starting prenatal yoga and massage, and I’m using a homeopathic product called Rescue Remedy (review coming soon!) I’ve promised myself that I will try to get my head around this problem and do what I can without medication before I break down and take it, and then only if I think the anxiety is posing a threat to the baby. Oh, and I’m also supposed to start cutting back on work, but that’s easier said than done. This kind of problem is so hard to explain, but suffice it to say that these weeks have been pretty terrifying.
Movement: Yes! I’m starting to feel the cutest little flutters. 
Although I didn’t feel any AT ALL for about 5 days and it really scared me. Doc confirmed a good heartbeat at the last appointment, though, so all is good. Baby seems to be a mover because she couldn’t keep the heartbeat for more than a second before baby wiggled away.
Any appointments?: Just the ones I mentioned above. Next appointment is Oct 4th, and that is our 20-week ultrasound. Stay tuned for the gender reveal!
Any baby related purchases?: Nope. Still holding off.
Frustrations: See health section, above… also, I’m just having trouble slowing down. After much back and forth, I decided to attend the Natural Products Expo East last Thursday, which was FAB but had me on the trade show floor for an entire day, along with 5 hours in the car, and tomorrow I’m heading to Long Island for my aunt’s funeral, which will require 11 hours or so in the car in one day. It’s not right to call that a “frustration”, though, because I wouldn’t miss it for anything, and my heart is breaking for her whole family. It’s just my schedule in general. My body is yelling at me to chill a little.
Bump photo? Here it is! 18 week bump, in all its glory!
Well, that’s about it for this week. I’ll update again after my 20-week appointment! Thanks for stopping by!
Filed under My Pregnancy Journal, Pregnancy #2!, Uncategorized
Welcome to the When Seasons Change blog hop and giveaway event!
(sponsored by And The Little Ones Too and Taking Time for Mommy.)
We all go through our seasons, and the transition into motherhood is certainly a season of change. You’ll have to handle most of those changes with learning, patience and experience, but there’s one thing I can help you out with: the wardrobe! (Well, me and my friends at Sweet Pea Maternity, that is!) Continue reading
Filed under giveaways, Pregnancy #2!, Uncategorized
Well, my long-awaited vacation week is over, and I head back to the office tomorrow. I’m not too excited about it.
It’s a little easier, however, with some new fall maternity wear from Seraphine Maternity! Finding office-appropriate maternity clothes has been a real thorn in my big, round belly, and I am so excited to have found a place to get some really great quality clothing that will carry me right through to the end of my pregnancy. Seraphine’s clothing is inspired by the best European fashion, and is a favorite of celebrities and fashion-forward moms-to-be worldwide.
I wanted to take a moment to show you the Blossom Print dress I’ll be wearing this fall from Seraphine’s new fall line…but I tried to take my own photo, and, well, I ended up with one of those cheesy blogger-in-the-bathroom-mirror photos…
So, I enlisted my mom to help me out and we got one that shows you the whole outfit (along with a bunch of silly ones for a future “bloopers” post!) I think the patent taupe shoes are a must with this dress!
This dress really is the nicest piece of maternity wear I’ve ever owned, and wearing it made me realize that having good, quality clothing that fits is just so important. In my pregnant opinion, comfort and fit are absolutely paramount to everything else – and this one is a winner. It’s SO comfortable, I feel good in it, and the fabric feels like it’s going to stand up to a lot of wear. I’m just trying to decide if I need to hem it a little. It cuts off at a not-so-flattering length for me, but that’s at no fault of the dress. It’s just me, being short…
See that “knot” up there above the belly area? That is by far the best feature of this dress. That knot provides a nicely draped, delicate gather in the middle that not only complements your belly, but accommodates it as it gets bigger. The whole dress fits well without being oversized, and with the knot, it fits great without feeling like a tent. Seraphine has several dresses in this style, and I highly recommend them!
Now, I’ll admit, I layered a light tank under this dress because the neckline was just a tad low, however, it’s made to be easy to breastfeed in, which is a huge plus. I didn’t wear a dress for the first 2 years I nursed because they’re usually just too hard to nurse in. This one will be perfect!
Finally, I love the bold print. (The floral print is dark blue with black outlines.) It’s contemporary and on trend, and doesn’t scream “MATERNITY!” I usually find myself having to settle for the least ugly maternity dress on a small rack, and with Seraphine, I couldn’t stop finding things to love…and I would love them even if I wasn’t pregnant!
I would love to head to Seraphine to pick up a few more things during this pregnancy, because key wardrobe pieces are just SO worth the investment. Last time, I delivered in November, so I didn’t need many cold weather clothes. This time, we’re due in February, so jeans and cozy sweaters are sounding really inviting. Here are some of my top picks from Seraphine:
Since my only pair of maternity jeans are pretty unattractive and give me a droopy, stretched-out butt after about 2 hours of wear, I’d get these straight-leg, over the bump jeans. I just think they’re so cute and flattering, and would be an everyday staple. (They also carry lots of below the bump jeans, too.)
And in the sweater department, I am head-over-heels for the two pictured above. Both are unique and stylish, while being soft, comfortable and flattering. And they both have great breastfeeding access, which means they can be worn for a long time! The gorgeous plum knitted cowl-neck nursing top has a double layer that lifts for easy nursing (and plum is THE color for fall this year!), and the ivory and blue striped nursing top not only has a popper opening that allows for convenient access, but it’s also made of an innovative fabric that helps regulate body temperature during the postpartum phase. (I had no idea before I had my son that this could even be an issue, but it definitely is!)
So, if you’re looking for great maternity wear that will really make you feel great about how you look, check out Seraphine. They’ve got you covered through pregnancy and beyond with everything from maternity pants, skirts, tops and tights, to nursing bras and sleepwear. You’ll even find maternity wedding dresses and swimwear (wedding and beach honeymoon, anyone? ) Check out their Pinterest board, featuring photos of real moms like me and you wearing their designs.
Now, I’m going to go pack lunch for work tomorrow. Boo. But at least I’m going back in style!
Have you ever shopped at Seraphine Maternity?
What is your top MUST-HAVE piece of maternity or nursing apparel?
Filed under Breastfeeding, Pregnancy #2!, Product & Restaurant Reviews
Well, I guess I’ve procrastinated long enough.
I’ve decided to join in a weekly Pregnancy Journal!
I might be irregular in posting for a week or two until I get on a better schedule, so please bear with me!
How Far Along: 15 weeks, 5 days 
Due Date: February 24, 2013 (although my cycles are long, so this could be off by a few…)
Boy or girl: No idea!
Currently craving: If I had my way, donuts, Chinese food and French fries. I do not have my way, however, so I’m just eating lots of apples with almond butter.
Currently Avoiding: Everything that isn’t on a strict gestational diabetes diet, anything processed or high in salt, anything to drink except water with lemon, and veggies still don’t sit well (that was my BIGGEST aversion in the first trimester.) The restrictions aren’t too bad, but my opinion might change around the holidays when I can’t eat cookies or pie (or drink wine!)
Weight: Up 2 lbs so far.
Belly button status: In. Never did pop last time…
Sleep: Wow, second pregnancies are so much different! My almost-3-year-old just doesn’t seem to care if Mommy is tired! haha… I would sleep all the time if I could. My work schedule gets me up at 4:30am, and I usually get to bed around 10:30pm. It’s not ideal. I was on vacation this past week, and I thought I’d catch up on sleep, but no. Still tired. And I can be fine one minute, and the next it hits me like a ton of bricks. I think this might be due to the problems I’m having with my BP and GD.
Recent Crazy Dream: SO many! They’re so long, involved and vivid that I feel like I could write a movie screenplay if I could only remember all the details after being awake for 5 minutes! I’ve had one about a baby boy and one about a baby girl, so who knows…
Evidence of pregnancy brain: I freaked out (almost to tears) the other day because I thought my purse had been stolen. My husband calmly pointed out that it was hanging on my shoulder… 
Symptoms?: Super tired, my hair and skin feel weird, lots of headaches, (I think some are complication-related symptoms), and I have to be extremely careful brushing my teeth or I will definitely barf!!
Health: Baby is measuring well and moving a lot, so that’s good. I, on the other hand, am struggling a little. Without boring you with all the details, I have high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, and a thyroid condition, all of which can affect the baby. I’m also starting to experience the same kind of pregnancy-related claustrophobia I had last time. It is TERRIFYING and I hope I can figure out a way to deal with it because there is a loooong time to go. For now, I’m just trying to make it week to week, exercise when I can, and eat the best way I know how. The doctor did say that my numbers were good enough that my risk level is the same as someone without GD, so I was happy. We’ll see if I can keep it up. The blood pressure is another story…and one that worries me a lot.
Movement: Yes! I’m starting to feel the cutest little flutters.
Any appointments?: I’ve been going weekly, but I get to skip next week and start going every 2 weeks. I really hope we can slow down on the appointments soon. My 20-week ultrasound with the high-risk specialist is coming on Oct. 4th! I’m nervous, but pretty excited, too. I just wish I didn’t keep feeling like this baby was going to up and disappear by the next ultrasound.
Any baby related purchases?: Nope. I think I’m still having trouble even believing it…
Frustrations: People who make rude comments, and those who push things on me that I do NOT want. “Oh, you can have this, it’s sugar-free!” or “Oh, a glass of wine won’t hurt the baby.” Support is good, but hardcore pushing just brings out the B-otch in me! Why can’t people just back OFF and MYOB? I’m the one responsible for this baby’s health, so I’ll decide what to do with my body. Ok, #endrant.
Oh, and nursing is getting tough. I’m fully committed to letting my son self-wean, but those bedtime nursings are so painful. I have a feeling it won’t be long until they’re over, and then I’ll be sad. In less pain, of course, but definitely sad.
Bump photo? Oh, if I have to…but I don’t have any good ones yet. This one will have to do for now…at least it’s proof that I’m exercising, right? 
Filed under My Pregnancy Journal, Pregnancy #2!
