A friend of mine took some great belly photos at my Blessingway last weekend, and I had intended to use them for my 37 week journal entry.
…BUT, it seems that baby girl had other plans!
She arrived like a whirlwind on Feb. 7th. What a day! We’re babymooning for a little while, but stay tuned for our birth story, coming soon!
Until then, I’d like to introduce our newest little nursling, Baby E!
Gettin’ down to the wire, baby!!
Welcome to my Pregnancy Journal: 35 weeks!
Baby is about the size of a coconut! (A 5lb coconut? I think this one might be a little off…no offense, TheBump.com)
Fun facts about Week 35: According to TheBump.com, baby’s hearing is fully developed and now she’s just focusing on gaining fat and filling out. Continue reading
Filed under My Pregnancy Journal, Parenting & Family, Pregnancy #2!
Welcome to Week 32 of My Pregnancy Journal!
It’s been a little while since I’ve posted a journal entry. The biggest news I have to report is that this baby is seriously kicking mama’s butt! I had no idea that 2 pregnancies could differ so much. When I was 32 weeks with my son, I was still going strong and had no complaints, but this time? Ugh…
Week 32: According to TheBump.com, baby is the size of a squash!
New developments: Lots of Braxton Hicks contractions (painful ones!), extreme fatigue, and back pain that just won’t quit. Baby has settled into a really low position, and she is SOOO active, constantly kicking me in places that really don’t feel so good. 
Weight gain: 15 pounds total. Next weigh-in is Friday.
Names: Nothing yet. I have one I like, but the hubs won’t buy in on it. So basically, we are at square one. Not good.
Baby purchases: We bought a Fisher Price Rock n Play sleeper, a new Ergo (on clearance for $50!) a Maya Wrap ring sling and a few outfits. Car seats are the main thing I’m concerned about now. I’m thinking Graco or Britax.
The unexpected: So, last night we spent several hours getting checked out at Labor & Delivery at the hospital. I spent a good day and a half flat on the couch, unable to move much and feeling really sick. It was very flu-like with aches and pains, but without the fever or head symptoms. That can indicate HELLP Syndrome or pre-eclampsia, so I called our midwife and she wanted us to come in right away. I could barely stay awake while they poked and prodded, but after a few hours and lots of tests they told me baby looks good, and it must be me just brewing up some kind of flu or something. I’m not confident that it’s really just some kind of bug, because I feel fatigued and drained but not “sick,” but I’m happy baby checked out ok. I guess we’ll just wait and see.
All in all, things are going well. I’m glad the holidays are over, and I’m going to try really hard to appreciate these last weeks. It’s tough when I can’t walk across the room without having to sit down (and to think just a few weeks ago I was still jogging!) but I have to be thankful for what I have. I can’t wait to meet this little one!
To-do List: Baby’s room (haven’t started yet!), finish shopping, redo bathroom floor (I ripped out the carpet this week, much to Daddy’s surprise), replace toilet, organize closets, go through baby stuff and sort what we can reuse, get back to Knocked Up Fitness DVDs as soon as I’m feeling better, fill out Maternity Leave paperwork, and use January to stock up on freezer meals.
Oh, I almost forgot. The photo…Getting big, huh?
Filed under My Pregnancy Journal, Parenting & Family, Pregnancy #2!
How far along: 27 weeks on Monday!
Baby is about the size of a rutabaga!
Fun facts about Week 18: According to TheBump.com, baby is practicing inhaling and exhaling with her rapidly developing lungs, and brain activity is increasing, too. She’s getting to be a real smarty pants!
Due Date: February 24ish, 2013
Boy or girl: Baby girl on the way!
Currently craving: Sweets. Donuts, candy, cinnamon buns, and oddly enough, McGriddles. I’m not eating any of those things, but I sure want to!
Currently avoiding: See above.
Weight: 10 lbs total so far.
Sleep: Bad subject. (Yawn.)
Recent Crazy Dream: Nope, none. I don’t think I’m sleeping in long enough stretches.
Symptoms? Lack of appetite, fullness, slight heartburn that I hope doesn’t get worse. Breathlessness. The worst thing right now is probably the sciatica that seems to be increasing by the day. Oh, and charlie horses. Those are the worst!
Health: Good! I had an appointment last week, and they’re still telling me that my sugar levels are being adequately controlled by diet. No meds yet. Everything else looks just as it should, and I have a high-risk ultrasound scheduled for Tuesday this week.
Movement: Tons! This one is a mover and a shaker, for sure. A few times, she made me yelp out loud at work. Ha! I’m sure I’m feeling movements I never felt with my son (and from what I can feel, I think she may still be breech.)
Any baby related purchases?: I bought a purple ring sling and a Boba Air carrier. Babywearing, here I come!
Frustrations: The anxiety I’ve been experiencing has been up and down, with the last few days being a real challenge. I’m already having lots of trouble sleeping with my congestion, but my little man has been sick, too, and up at night with a fever and vomiting. Once I wake up, the anxiety begins. I’m not sure why, but it seems to turn into a whole different beast at night. One that tells me I can’t do this, I’m scared, I’m not strong, I need the baby OUT. NOW. It’s pretty scary, but I’ve been researching some hypnobirthing methods, and I’m hoping that helps once I learn a little more. I’m finding that as long as I can get my head in the right place, the panic is a little more manageable, so that’s my goal.
Bump photo? Proof that I’m still movin’ it when I can!
Filed under My Pregnancy Journal, Pregnancy #2!
How far along: 22 weeks on Monday!
Baby is about the size of a papaya! 
Fun facts about Week 18: According to TheBump.com, baby is sleeping in cycles of about 12-14 hours at a time. She had more developed eyes and lips, and is looking more like a newborn than ever! Normal weight gain from this point on (for me) is about 1/2 pound per week. Yikes!
Due Date: February 24ish, 2013
Boy or girl: Baby girl on the way!
Currently craving: Still lots of apples, but if I had my way I’d be eating doughnuts. Lots and lots of sugary doughnuts!
Currently Avoiding: Um, mostly doughnuts. 
Weight: 5 lbs total so far.
Sleep: My schedule isn’t allowing nearly as much as I need, but when I get the chance I sleep well. I’m starting to really feel her a lot at night, so I’m trying to really focus on bonding with her during those moments before I fall asleep at night, when I can concentrate solely on her.
Recent Crazy Dream: I had one about some flu-like illness that was killing everyone. I think that’s because of the anxiety issues I’m having. Congestion brings it on HARD, so getting sick is a huge fear right now.
Symptoms? Still having trouble brushing my teeth without vomiting. Breathlessness, lack of energy…nothing else too specific. Maybe a tiny little bit of swelling, but nothing to worry about.
Health: Good! BP and sugars are looking pretty stable, so I get to go 3 weeks between visits this time! WOOO! I’ve been keeping extremely busy, but I think I’m going to have to start slowing down a little soon. A few days off wouldn’t be a bad thing right now.
Movement: Lots! She’s really starting to move more frequently, which is fun. It feels more real, and it reminds me to think about her when I get too busy at work or running around at home.
Any appointments?: Not this week, thank goodness.
Any baby related purchases?: Nope. Still holding off.
Frustrations: Too much to do, too little time. But who doesn’t have that frustration? My job is becoming more demanding by the day, at a time when I need it to plateau a little. I’m also a little worried about the logistics of work, day care, etc with 2 kids, and how we’ll possibly get everything ready for the kids to share a room by February. But, no complaining. At this point, I can only be thankful and very, very happy.
Bump photo? Here it is! Just about 22 weeks, rocking the bump the best I can!
Filed under My Pregnancy Journal, Parenting & Family, Pregnancy #2!, Uncategorized
