Baby #2 BUMP REPORT – 40 Weeks – My due date!

PREGNANCY WEEK 40 – October 23, 2015 – MY DUE DATE!

Funny how I thought I might not make it to my due date. Silly me…I was 2 days overdue when Winter was born, so not sure why I thought I’d be early this go round. I’m not saying this to complain at ALL. I’m perfectly happy that baby girl has chosen to keep on cooking until she is good and ready. But I must say there’s a mental game that gets played when you aren’t sure the day or the hour of when labor will begin. I’ve been a hormonal mess this week because of the unknown. I just hope that we are near the end so I can stop feeling this pressure of NOT KNOWING!! Physically, my body feels great being pregnant, but emotionally and hormonally, I think I’ve had enough:)

According to sources, baby is on average 19-21 inches long and 7.5-8 pounds…the size of a…???? Baby, that’s what. I think we’ve used up all the fruits and vegetables possible at this point. My prediction is that she will be a bit bigger than Winter was at birth. Winter was 7 lbs 2.5 ounces and 18.5 inches long. I think we will be somewhere in the 19-19.5 inch and 7.5-8 pound range if she’s born within this week. Now if she goes way overdue, then maybe into the 8 pound and above range. Let’s hope that I don’t go way overdue. I don’t like the idea of induction….and I don’t like the idea of being 42 weeks pregnant either. So let’s just pray that she decides to pick a birthday this week naturally.

I feel pretty happy with where things stand on getting stuff done. I got my photo editing done, house cleaned and bags packed. The baby’s room is pretty much ready. Her name is picked. We have the infant car seat out and ready to go. Now we just need her to be born. Like anytime would be great! I’m not sure what she’s waiting on, but this family is ready!

Winter is going to love being a big sister. I really think she will. She is obsessed with babies and I know it won’t be any different having her OWN baby to love on and help with at home. She is the most nurturing little girl you could meet. She not only loves REAL live babies, but she is also very obsessed with baby dolls. She has 4 dolls and she loves pushing them in her toy stroller, putting them in the toy car seat, rocking them, feeding them bottles, and keeping them wrapped up and swaddled at all times. We have been encouraging her to use her baby sister’s name. We say, “baby _________” is going to come home and live with us soon. She is coming out of mommy’s tummy and you’ll get to help take care of her every day.” I hope and pray she doesn’t get jealous.

For the past week I’ve honestly been on edge thinking I’ll go into labor at any moment. My Braxton Hicks contractions are non stop. The baby is SO LOW and the pressure is insane. I’ve been doing a lot of exercise and running this week, but still the baby is not out! Running is pretty uncomfortable, but hey….I’ve yet again reached my goal of running until delivery in this second pregnancy. Go me!

Two friends delivered their (second) babies this week, and both had FAST labors and deliveries. Like fast! One friend had less than 4 hours from the time her water broke until the baby was born. I sure hope my labor is faster than the 22 hours I experienced with Winter. Especially since this time I’m planning for an all-natural drug-free birth. Soon! Speaking of natural births, I re-watched the documentary on births/midwives called The Business of Being Born. I also watched the followup series that goes into more topics. The documentary is a bit out there for me….maybe too crunchy, but I do agree with a good portion of it. I’m so happy to be using a midwife this time.

I had my appointment this morning and I’m dilated to 2.5 cm and my belly measured 38 cm. Then this afternoon I went to the chiropractor for (I hope) my final pregnant adjustment. I will of course go back again after delivery.

Baby girl….come!

My age: 29

How far along: 40 weeks

How big is baby: the size of a baby (19-21 inches and 7.5-8 pounds)

Gender: Girl

Events of this week: Went to a pumpkin patch/festival, went out to eat (eggplant parmesan), play date, went walking several times, lots of exercise, mucho cleaning, mucho photo editing, lots of wondering WHEN it’s gonna happen.

Symptoms: Braxton Hicks, baby dropped, lots of pressure down there, heartburn, feeling huge.

Exercise/Activity: 5 days, go me!! And that includes several times of RUNNING this week. Yet I still haven’t ran her out of my uterus yet. I’ve tried to exercise more and eat healthier this week….since after all, I’m prepping for my upcoming event: birth. Similar to a race.

Sleep: Pretty good this week.

Maternity clothes:  Yes.

Stretch marks: No.

Belly Button: Out.

Food cravings: I’ve been on a health kick this week. I didn’t want to go into birthing a baby feeling yucky and bloated. So no sweets or junk have been a part of my diet and I feel refreshed.

Food aversions: Nothing.

Movement: Yes.

Best Moment of the Week: Spending time together as a family enjoying these last days as a family of 3 before life gets a little crazy!

Worst Moment of the Week: Some emotional/hormonal roller coasters that had me happy one moment and weepy or irritable the next. Yucky hormones!

What I’m looking forward to: A healthy baby born after a successful all natural delivery!

What I’m nervous about/praying for: Praying that everything goes smoothly.

What I miss: I want to HAVE THIS BABY!

Next appointment: Thursday, October 29, 2015 at 8:20 a.m. if I still happen to be pregnant. Hopefully not.

Comparison shot:

40 week pic:

Baby #2 BUMP REPORT – 39 Weeks

PREGNANCY WEEK 39 – October 17, 2015

Oh what can I say? We are here. Full term. Cooked. Photoshoots are done and hardwood floors are in. So that means I’d be ok with you being born anytime now. Although I do still have some work to do to finish editing many of those photo sessions…that can be done even with a newborn at home. I’m logging hours everyday working as hard as I can to complete the work I need to get done, just in case you do come soon.

At my appointment on Thursday, I was dilated 2 cm and she said the baby feels SUPER low. I concur with that. In the past day I’ve dropped even more….I really think things are pointing in the right direction. My belly measured 38 cm, up from the previous week’s 36, so there must’ve been some more growth.

Will this be my last update before baby is born? Guess we will see!

Here’s a bare belly shot taken today at 39 weeks, 1 day…see how low this baby is?!

My age: 29

How far along: 39 weeks

How big is baby: the size of a jackfruit (19-21 inches and 7.2 pounds)

Gender: Girl

Events of this week: Photography sessions, editing, play date, walking outside, enjoying the changing fall colors, life group, church, MOPS, park.

Symptoms: Braxton Hicks, feeling super low, it feels like the baby is going to fall out of me, the need to pee all of the time, but then there’s nothing, super achy when I first get up from sitting or lying down. Big belly. Like big.

Exercise/Activity: 4 days, though I’m counting walking:) I haven’t been running for fear that the baby will literally fall out of me, but I think now that I’m 39 weeks I’ll give it a go again. I’m in no big rush to give birth, but I’d be fine from anything here on out.

Sleep: Sometimes great, sometimes horrible. Insomnia hits badly at times. Like the night last week when I couldn’t fall asleep until 5:30 a.m. That was rough when I woke up 2.5 hours later and wanted to die!

Maternity clothes:  Yes. Many shirts don’t cover my belly fully at this stage.

Stretch marks: No.

Belly Button: Out.

Food cravings: Swiss cheese, yogurt, sweets

Food aversions: Nothing.

Movement: Lots.

Best Moment of the Week: Finishing the hardwood floors! What a relief to have that huge project done before the baby is born. Also, we really enjoyed our family day last weekend on Winter’s birthday. We went to breakfast, spent the day at the zoo and then went to church. It was a REALLY nice day where we enjoyed spending time together as just the 3 of us.

Worst Moment of the Week: My bad insomnia night.

What I’m looking forward to: Finishing up all of my remaining photo editing so that I can be ready for a baby to be born.

What I’m nervous about/praying for: A smooth and safe delivery. I am really wanting to have a drug free natural birth, so I pray that I have the strength and tools to accomplish this when the time comes! I’m a little nervous, yet excited too!

What I miss: Not being so tired.

Next appointment: Friday, October 23, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. (my due date!)

Bump comparison:

39 weeks pregnant:

Baby #2 BUMP REPORT – 38 Weeks

PREGNANCY WEEK 38 – October 10, 2015

Oh my goodness, happy 2nd birthday to my sweet firstborn, Winter Elizabeth. I cannot believe she is two years old! Time really does fly. It’s really bittersweet to think that my days with JUST HER are numbered. I know I will love having two daughters, but things are about to change very drastically. I am soaking up these precious moments that I have left with her as an only child! I love her so much. We celebrated her birthday with a simple Friday morning playdate with cupcakes. Since she loves Sofia the First, I did pick up a few Sofia decorations. I think it was perfectly simple and casual…just enough for a 38 weeks pregnant mommy to organize. Anything more would’ve felt like too much for me.

At 38 weeks, I am showing closer progression that labor is just around the corner. At my appointment on Thursday I measured 36 cm (again, same as last week), 1.5 cm dilated and 50% effaced. I mentioned that I feel as though I must’ve dropped because it feels like the baby is going to fall out. The midwife said by feeling, she also agrees that the baby has dropped. I doubt I have too much longer until labor begins. I hope to make it to at least 39 weeks. Anything 39 and beyond would be just dandy with me! According to the sites, baby is approximately 19-20 inches long and just under 7 pounds, the size of a small pumpkin. Happy fall, y’all!

So much progress has been made on floors and photography this week. Let’s keep on keeping on!

As I mentioned, it feels as though I’ve dropped because the baby feels like she’s going to fall out! I haven’t ran at all this week because I fear that it’ll actually happen. Perhaps I’ll attempt running again this week. Weight lifting and walking has been my go-to this week.

Check out this belly growth:

My age: 29

How far along: 38 weeks

How big is baby: the size of a small pumpkin (19-20 inches and 6.8 pounds)

Gender: Girl

Events of this week: Hardwood floors, photography, play dates, life group, Winter’s birthday.

Symptoms: Braxton Hicks all the time, heartburn, some sleep issues, heavy belly. Maybe this is TMI, but I joked with a friend that I know it’s the end of pregnancy when I can barely reach to wipe after using the bathroom!! HA!

Exercise/Activity: Got in 3 days this week. No running, but walking and weight lifting. I’ll attempt running again this week.

Sleep: Hit or miss. Last week I got up at 3am one day and was up for the day. Ugh!! Last night I couldn’t fall asleep until 5:30 a.m. Then I woke up at 8a.m….talk about fun! I just want to sleep:(

Maternity clothes:  Yes. Ready to slim down this belly down and get back into some regular clothes.

Stretch marks: No.

Belly Button: Out.

Food cravings: Swiss cheese, yogurt, fruit snacks.

Food aversions: Nothing.

Movement: Mucho.

Best Moment of the Week: Celebrating Winter’s 2nd birthday.

Worst Moment of the Week: Had an emotional meltdown one day because of feeling overwhelmed with the amount on my plate right now.

What I’m looking forward to: Getting lots DONE and feeling more and more prepared for baby girl’s arrival!

What I’m nervous about/praying for: I get so irritated so easily and I just pray that God will help my anxiety and mood so that my poor family doesn’t have to suffer.

What I miss: Free time. One day….when I have a newborn? lol What a joke!

Next appointment: Thursday, October 15, 2015 at 8:00 a.m.

Bump comparison:

38 weeks pregnant:

Baby #2 BUMP REPORT – 37 Weeks

PREGNANCY WEEK 37 – October 3, 2015

News flash! I finished reading my Hypnobirthing book! I finished prenatal classes (a series of 4 classes)! Making some headway on my “prep work.” Go me. I’m getting my head in the game. Birth has been something I’ve been thinking about and talking about a lot lately. Here’s what’s really left on my to do list before she comes:

-Pre-register and complete hospital tour

-Organize baby clothes & finish nursery

-Create a baby pool and invite people to guess baby’s stats

-Finish installing hardwood floors & deep clean everything afterward (SO DUSTY!)

-Get through my scheduled photoshoots & photo editing

-Clean my car

-Pack a hospital bag

-Make a belly cast again (???)…maybe

With only 19 days left until my due date, I think I can manage to get all of this accomplished. So long as I have the full 19 days, that is:) I really think she’s going to come right at 40 weeks, but there’s a little intuition in the back of my mind that keeps wondering otherwise. It’d be totally fine if she does, but we’d just have to make a few adjustments. I’d really like Winter to have her birthday (October 10th) be first and baby girl’s birthday to follow. I’m sure that’ll happen.

At my prenatal appointment I had a cervical check and found out that I’m thinning out and have dilated 1 cm. I think I was starting to dilate around this time last pregnancy too. So not too much to worry about there.

The hardwood floors are coming along great. Where things stand right now, we have 40 out of 48 boxes of hardwoods installed! Nearly there. Just need to finish the hallway and bathroom. And of course trimwork.

I got a prenatal massage which was amazing! It was part of a girls’ weekend for my friend Ashley’s 30th birthday. It was a fun time and it felt good to get away for a night and day to relax and do something unrelated to photos or floors. 🙂

My age: 29

How far along: 37 weeks

How big is baby: the size of a winter melon (19-20 inches and 6.5 pounds)

Gender: Girl

Events of this week: Photography, birth class, breastfeeding class, babysitting, lots of work on hardwood floors, sewing project, girls’ weekend overnight to celebrate a friend’s 30th birthday. Got a prenatal massage.

Symptoms: Heartburn, some insomnia, crazy dreams, Braxton Hicks, lots of movement, feeling like I’m lugging around a mass ton of bricks.

Exercise/Activity: Only twice this week. Let’s just say the hardwood floors and photo editing has taken over every moment of my life. Shooting for at least 3-5 days this upcoming week. Running is getting to be more challenging. It feels like the baby might just pop out when I run….uh….

Sleep: Depending on the night it can be great or terrible.

Maternity clothes:  Yes. Things are getting tighter though since my belly is massive at this point!

Stretch marks: No. Midwife complimented my skin.

Belly Button: Out.

Food cravings: Swiss cheese, yogurt, fruit snacks.

Food aversions: Nothing. Though I’ve been getting a lot more heartburn which isn’t fun.

Movement: Very active.

Best Moment of the Week: Spending the night in a fancy hotel in downtown Denver with my friend to celebrate her 30th birthday! We had afternoon tea at the Brown Palace Hotel, went out to dinner in Larimer Square, woke up to breakfast in bed and then spent the day in the spa where we each got massages.

Worst Moment of the Week: Nothing in particular.

What I’m looking forward to: Getting through all of the photoshoots and editing I need to get done in the next week or two. Also looking forward to Winter’s 2nd birthday next weekend!

What I’m nervous about/praying for: Praying for a healthy girl. I want her to come when she wants to, but I also want to feel prepared and ready if possible!

What I miss: A laid back life! Ha!

Next appointment: Thursday, October 8, 2015 at 1:00 p.m.

Comparison Shot:

Baby #2:

Baby #2 BUMP REPORT – 36 Weeks

PREGNANCY WEEK 36 – September 26, 2015

I had a reality check this week that there’s less than a month until this baby is coming. In truth, I think I’ve been in denial about the fact that this baby is coming soon, whether I’m ready or not. After a conversation with a friend, I decided to face reality and get with the program…I NEED TO BE READY! I have been logging hours nightly reading my Hypnobirthing book and trying to get myself mentally ready for an all natural birth. She made a good point–“Katy, you can’t read the book after you give birth…you have to read it and get ready BEFORE!” In addition to reading and mentally prepping myself, Eric has also started to regularly give me massages. He came up with the idea himself. He thought if he’s going to potentially give me a 10 hour massage while I labor, he should probably start conditioning his hands by starting now. What an AMAZING idea. Thanks, hunny! I agree. He massages my back while I sit and read. What a great way to prep for labor:) It’s all going to pay off.

The baby is around 19 inches and 6 pounds this week – the size of a watermelon. I had my 36 week appointment on Thursday and am measuring 37 cm, another 3 cm growth in the past 2 weeks. Wow. I believe it though. At my 36 week checkup in my first pregnancy, I was measuring 34-35 cm. So that’s a big difference in belly size compared to last time! When I look at the side by side comparison photo from then, I see a distinct difference. Let’s hope this baby isn’t a huge chunk. I am planning on a 100% natural birth, after all!

We still have yet to pre-register at the hospital or take a hospital tour. I plan to call about that and make those things happen very soon. Time is running out. We have done several birth classes already, and those will be finishing up this week.

I got 3-4 inches chopped off my hair and it’s still halfway down my back! But it feels refreshing to get a bit of a cut.

Last week I wrote about the hardwood floors. Well, that project has officially begun! As of today (Saturday night I am writing this), the entire front room is laid and the kitchen is started. We hope to have the kitchen complete by tomorrow. Then what will be left over the remaining weeks and weekends is the family room, hallway, bathroom and closets. I think we could get this done before my due date. On Friday I did a lot of help with the floors, but I also ended up getting light headed and having more Braxton Hicks contractions than usual. So I am planning to take it a bit easier so I don’t overdo it. Eric begged me NOT to go in to labor if at all possible. Here’s for hoping for a full-term baby!

My age: 29

How far along: 36 weeks

How big is baby: the size of a watermelon (19 inches and 6 pounds)

Gender: Girl

Events of this week: Several photography sessions, birth class, life group, chiropractor appointment, prenatal appointment, lots of photo editing, dentist appointment, installing hardwood floors, girls’ night at my house for my new MOPS table, had friends over for dinner, went to a baby shower.

Symptoms: Braxton Hicks, growing belly and minor aches.

Exercise/Activity: 4 days this week. Woo hoo! And let’s really call it 5 because the first day of laying hardwood floors was a lot of exercise.

Sleep: I’m not that comfortable anymore. But I still don’t get up much at night…maybe once a night. Not bad. I just feel uncomfortable though.

Maternity clothes:  Yes. Though I basically wear yoga pants that sit underneath my belly most days of the week paired with a maternity top.

Stretch marks: No. Using lotion like crazy and hoping for a stripe free pregnancy!

Belly Button: Out.

Food cravings: Eating healthier this week. Having cravings for greek yogurt with craisins as well as swiss cheese.

Food aversions: Nothing.

Movement: Very active.

Best Moment of the Week: Finding out some good news in my family!

Worst Moment of the Week: Winter fell face first into our brick fireplace one night. Thankfully she’s fine, but that shook me up!

What I’m looking forward to: Continued progress on hardwood floor installation! It’s looking SO BEAUTIFUL. I love these beautiful floors. Also looking forward to Friday night. My good friend is turning 30 and to celebrate, she m, I and one other friend are staying at a fancy hotel downtown and then having a spa day. What a treat! I’ll be 37 weeks getting a prenatal massage. That’ll be heavenly!

What I’m nervous about/praying for: A full term baby. Part of me feels like the baby is going to play a dirty trick on us by showing up early since we don’t want her to. Please stay in until at least 39 weeks. Thanks!

What I miss: Downtime. I don’t have any. At all.

Next appointment: Thursday, October 1, 2015 at 1:20 p.m.

Comparison…big difference!

Baby Girl #2 36 Week Pic:

Baby #2 BUMP REPORT – 35 Weeks

PREGNANCY WEEK 35 – September 19, 2015

Now that it’s Tuesday and I’m closer to 36 weeks than 35, I am only a month away from my due date. YIKES! Lots to do between now and then. Eric and I are starting to feel a bit of pressure to get done all that we have on our plates over the next month before she arrives. We agreed that we are both feeling like we can’t even focus on a baby coming soon because we have too much that has to happen before she makes her grand arrival into our family. Baby girl, please wait! Please don’t come early. This week she is approximately 18.5 inches and 5.5 pounds.

We are in the midst of tearing apart our house…it’s kind of a disaster. Carpet has been ripped out and the kitchen tile got busted out over the weekend. Starting on Friday we begin installing hardwood floors. The entire main level of the house will be hardwoods once we are finished. It was a combo of carpet, tile and linoleum floors. It’s going to be a lot of work and very time consuming to install the new floors. We would like to have the project finished, or at least mostly finished, before the baby is born! That might be a big undertaking to reach that deadline goal! We did hardwoods in our old house, but that was quite a bit smaller square footage than this house. So that’s Eric’s big thing on his agenda that is making him feel a bit of pressure with my looming due date.

My pressure is getting all of my photography clients done between now and then (my due date). I’ve been non-stop busy with photography whether it’s shooting or editing. Over the weekend I had two newborn sessions and 1 family session alone! Newborn sessions take 3-4 hours each (plus drive time and setup/teardown). Regular sessions take about an hour. Editing each photoshoot takes me approximately 3-4 hour each. In the span of 7 days (Saturday to Saturday of this past week), I did SEVEN photo sessions! SEVEN! Three of those being newborn sessions. Wow. So if you can imagine, I am eating, sleeping and dreaming photography these days. I actually do DREAM about photography most nights. I stress and think I’m forgetting something. I’m loving this because it’s helpful for me to build up my portfolio and experience. I’m trying to squeeze in all of these sessions before my baby comes. I probably won’t ever be THIS busy again…so I keep reminding myself this is just a short season for a few weeks where I get to be super busy doing something that I really love.

In the midst of our busy season of life, we have now attended two birth classes at the hospital. We both didn’t feel like we learned anything new, but it was good to help us focus on what’s coming. It got us in the right mindset. It was also good to practice some labor positions. I still have a ways to go in finishing my Hypnobirthing book…I should try to get a move on reading that so it’s finished before I’m due.

My age: 29

How far along: 35 weeks

How big is baby: the size of a honeydew melon (18.5 inches and 5.5 pounds)

Gender: Girl

Events of this week: Lots. I can’t even think straight.

Symptoms: Some “annoying” pregnancy symptoms–not going into detail on that, but thankfully the midwife got me a prescription that is helping that lovely issue. My belly is MASSIVE. It’s growing like crazy.

Exercise/Activity: Got in 3 days of exercise, one of those being a nice fall outdoor stroller run with one of my mom friends. Feeling great in the workout department, though I am definitely doing less and slowing down a bit when it comes to how much I’m doing.

Sleep: Good. I am having dreams that stress me out though. Like my photography dreams. And one night I dreamt that we euthanized both of our pets (dog and cat). Am I feeling overwhelmed?? Maybe my dreams are a reflection of my true reality.

Maternity clothes:  Yes. In fact, some of them no longer cover my belly!

Stretch marks: No.

Belly Button: Out.

Food cravings: Ehhh…I ate sweets a few times too many in the past week. I’ve been doing so good at eating sweets only once a week. Need to get back on that habit. Between birthday cake, shower cupcakes, etc….I had a few too many!

Food aversions: Eating a full meal.

Movement: Very active.

Best Moment of the Week: Meeting my friend’s baby girl in the NICU. She went into preterm labor at 30 weeks after her water broke. She was able to keep the baby in for four days before the baby was born. She’s only 3 1/2 pounds but doing SO GREAT! I was even able to hold her for a while when I visited! She wasn’t due until November 20th, wow.

Worst Moment of the Week: Can’t think of anything.

What I’m looking forward to: Getting a lot of progress done on my photography. Once these busy few weeks are over, I’ll miss the craziness. Also SO EXCITED about starting the installation of the hardwood floors.

What I’m nervous about/praying for: All of the stress on our plates.

What I miss: Watching TV, having time for a nap, being lazy. LOL

Next appointment: Thursday, Sept. 24 at 4:20 p.m.

Comparison shot:

35 Weeks preggo:

Baby #2 BUMP REPORT – 33 Weeks

PREGNANCY WEEK 33 – September 6, 2015

Happy Labor Day Weekend! We have Eric’s parents in town the past several days visiting us. It has been fun to watch them with Winter. She really enjoys her grandparents.

My life is suddenly very busy with photography. For years I’ve loved photography, but it’s only been recently that I decided to finally make a jump and start taking pictures and make it a thing. I have a 50 mm lens on my Nikon dSLR camera that I am IN LOVE WITH….I have been doing a lot of photoshoots recently, but I counted last night and I have NINETEEN more shoots between now and when I’m due. NINETEEN!! Whoa! I am busy these next few weeks. Plus, I’d like to squeeze a time in to get my own maternity photos taken in there too. Hoping to do that soon. I love photography because it’s such an art and I like capturing memories for families. I especially am enjoying newborn photography as it’s so precious to capture pictures of these tiny little infants. I have 4 newborn shoots lined up in the next few weeks…just waiting on each of them to be born! I’m loving all of these photoshoots…but man am I busy all of the sudden!

Thankfully I have been getting better sleep this week. Yay. Very grateful for this change because I was feeling pretty ragged on the days I wasn’t getting very good sleep. Hopefully this trend continues of better sleep.

Next week we start our birth classes at the hospital. We have 4 sessions over the course of 4 weeks. Two are childbirth classes, one is a baby care class and one is a breastfeeding class. Though I’ve been through all of this before, I feel that it would be good to freshen up on all of these subjects.

Here’s a look at my belly growth in the past 5 weeks:

My age: 29

How far along: 33 weeks

How big is baby: the size of a durian (17.5 inches and 4.5 pounds)

Gender: Girl

Events of this week: Had a girls’ night, did a photoshoot, went to the chiropractor, spent time with the in-laws, went up to the mountains for a BBQ with family, went to Tiny Town, had the first MOPS meeting of the new year.

Symptoms: Feeling really great still. Having a bit more fatigue and the need to take naps during the afternoon. My insomnia and sleep issues seem to have cleared up this week, thankfully. I’m seeing the chiropractor weekly which is keeping my aches and pains at bay. Having occasional heartburn. My belly aches after a while if I don’t have good back support.

Exercise/Activity: Only 3 days this week because of the holiday weekend and having guests in town.

Sleep: Good! Back to solid sleeping.

Maternity clothes:  Yes.

Stretch marks: No.

Belly Button: Out.

Food cravings: Still not able to eat a lot at once. I run out of room.

Food aversions: Eating a full meal.

Movement: Busy, busy baby in there.

Best Moment of the Week: Watching Winter have such a fun time with Eric’s parents (Papa and Nana). She loves them.

Worst Moment of the Week: None.

What I’m looking forward to: My baby sprinkle next weekend! My good friend Ashley is throwing it and I’m looking forward to celebrating with my friends.

What I’m nervous about/praying for: Nothing.

What I miss: Being able to move around more easily.

Next appointment: Thursday, Sept. 10 at 4:00 p.m.

Comparison Shot:

33 Week Bump:

Baby #2 BUMP REPORT – 32 Weeks

PREGNANCY WEEK 32 – August 28, 2015

I knew my heavenly sleep would be ending soon. And now here we are….having sleepless nights. In fact, I am writing this in the 3:00 a.m. hour because I awoke and couldn’t fall back asleep. So why not be productive instead of get angry as I lie awake in the middle of the night? The past few nights I have really started to experience some real sleep troubles. Such is the life of a pregnant woman. I am 8 months pregnant now….so from here on out, things just get a little less than glamorous.

This sweet “little” baby is topping the charts at 4 pounds now, though I’d have thought she was weighing in around, say 100 pounds. It feels like I have a concrete block strapped to the front of my body that I cannot remove. She feels SO HEAVY! Thankfully I STILL have maintained a 23 pound weight gain…that’s zero weight gain in 4-5 weeks, yay! Funny how my body tends to gain in the 2nd trimester but not in the 3rd. But this baby SURE IS GAINING! My back is starting to ache. Thank God I see the chiropractor for weekly appointments…what a life saver. I feel very ready for an adjustment today, but I don’t have my appointment until Tuesday. Maybe I’ll call to get in on Monday.

On Thursday my parents flew to California to visit my brother, and on their way out, they scheduled a layover in Denver. They did this on purpose as it was a good opportunity to spend a few hours with Winter and I. It was so nice to see my mom and dad. The last time I saw them was in January, seven months ago. You can imagine just how different Winter is since January! It was fun to see them. They already have a trip booked to stay with us for a week at the end of October once the baby is born, so thankfully we will be reunited again in less than two months.

Since I’m seeing the midwives for prenatal visits every two weeks, I had another appointment this week. Her heartbeat was 140 and my belly measurement was 31 cm. The midwife suggested I get around to scheduling a hospital tour as well as pre-registering at the hospital. How is it already time to be discussing these things?? My due date sure is going to sneak up on me! At the hospital where I’ll deliver, they have several rooms with large tubs, so she said when I am in labor, she’ll make sure that we request one of those rooms. Since my goal is a drug-free natural birth, I’d LOVE to spend as much time in the tub as possible…so grateful this hospital has that option, as my previous hospital did not. It’s slightly intimidating that birth is approximately eight weeks or less away…. uh…

My age: 29

How far along: 32 weeks

How big is baby: the size of a jicama (17 inches and 4 pounds)…i.e. “concrete block”

Gender: Girl

Events of this week: Met up to walk with friends, went hiking, did some home improvement projects, had a girls’ nails and movie night, went to church, went to the park, went to a play date, spent several hours with my parents at the airport on their layover, had life group, met for coffee with my mentor mom, did another newborn photoshoot.

Symptoms: Feel good…but having some back pain, stiffness, heartburn and insomnia.

Exercise/Activity: 5 days! Feeling great and keeping up with running and weight lifting.

Sleep: Not good.

Maternity clothes:  Yes.

Stretch marks: No.

Belly Button: Out.

Food cravings: I can’t eat much anymore. When I eat a full meal, I feel like my lungs get too crowded and I can’t breathe. I’m snacking frequently and eating few meals.

Food aversions: Eating a full meal.

Movement: I was telling Eric the other day that we are in TROUBLE with this daughter. She is so much more active than Winter ever was in utero. I think we might have a kid who bounces off the wall with endless energy. Oh my! Her movements and kicks are constant…and often sharp. She gets the hiccups a often too.

Best Moment of the Week: Seeing my mom and dad.

Worst Moment of the Week: Getting a call from Eric right after I left for an appointment that Winter got a bee sting. I could hear her wailing and my heart just ached for her. I hated that I wasn’t there when my daughter was in pain. Thankfully she doesn’t appear to be allergic to bees like her daddy…but she was pretty traumatized by her first sting.

What I’m looking forward to: Eric’s parents are coming into town for labor day weekend. Looking forward to spending time with them and seeing them interact with Winter. They haven’t seen her since March. Also, I am looking forward to the first day of MOPS on Thursday! I am a table leader again this year…looking forward to meeting my new group of girls.

What I’m nervous about/praying for: My insomnia. Lord, help me!!

What I miss: Being comfortable in bed as well as sleeping soundly.

Next appointment: Thursday, Sept. 10 at 4:00 p.m.

Belly comparison with Winter vs. baby #2:

32 Weeks Pregnant:

Baby #2 BUMP REPORT – 31 Weeks

PREGNANCY WEEK 31 – August 22, 2015

With only two months to go, baby girl is approximately 16.5 inches long and 3.5 pounds, the size of a pineapple. From what I’ve read, a major growth spurt is just ahead, and baby will be packing on a half pound a week from now on. My overall weight gain so far has me pretty pleased, as I’m up 23 pounds. In my last pregnancy I gained majority of the weight during the 2nd trimester and then maintained and even lost weight in the 3rd trimester. I doubt that I will maintain or lose weight this go round, but as long as I gain 30 pounds or less, I will be very happy. I started this second pregnancy significantly lighter than my first pregnancy, so I was worried that I might gain more weight, but so far I’m doing great!

My belly is feeling “huge” lately and feels like it weighs a thousand pounds. When I lie in bed in my pillow fortress, I am so grateful to have a pillow underneath my belly, otherwise it feels like a ton of bricks. I have trouble reaching to the ground and now regularly sit down to put my shoes on. Certain tasks are a challenge for me, but all of that is to be expected at nearly 8 months into pregnancy.

Nannying is going great. I have 3 full weeks under my belt now. The first couple of weeks were interesting and challenging because I was trying to figure out how to do everything. I also was trying to get into a groove. As of this week, we really did master getting a good schedule down! I am SO thrilled because I need the predictability of a schedule as it helps me to have structure around my days. Miles would only nap for the most of one hour at first, but now I’ve got him taking 1.5-2 hour naps, which is fantastic. He’s a happier baby and I’m a happier lady! Here’s kind of what my nannying days look like.

6:30 am – Drop off, I get him a bottle ready and feed him

7:00 am – He dozes off for his early-morning nap and I hit the home gym for a workout (7-9 am nap, two hours)

9:00 am – He gets up, Winter also gets up at this time. We typically head out the door to get to a morning activity by 9:30 or 10.

10:30ish – He takes another bottle and dozes off from about 11-12 (1 hour nap)

12:00/30 pm – He wakes up and we play, Winter gets lunch

1:30 pm – Bottle and then takes an afternoon nap from (1:45-3:30/45, nice two hours!) Winter also goes down for her nap at this time.

3:30/45 pm – He gets picked up

Now that I’ve got him on such a good solid routine, I feel like a new woman with new energy! I’m just reminded again of HOW IMPORTANT a schedule is for me when I care for a baby. I think I thrive and the baby thrives much better and we are all happier campers. When my baby is born, I plan to nurse on demand for the first month and then try to get a good schedule going around 1 month old. I pray for another good sleeper like Winter!

My age: 29

How far along: 31 weeks

How big is baby: the size of a pineapple (16.5 inches and 3.5 pounds)

Gender: Girl

Events of this week: Nannying, spent time with best friend who’s visiting from TX, went to library storytime, went walking several days by either by myself or with friends, had a MOPS leader meeting, went to the chiropractor, went to a MNO, did a newborn photography shoot (eek!).

Symptoms: Feeling great overall! Whenever people ask me how I feel, my answer is: “Great! This is a really easy pregnancy.” I almost feel guilty saying this as I know how tough pregnancy is for a lot of my friends. Having some occasional heartburn, my belly feels like a thousand pounds, but overall great.

Exercise/Activity: I got back into a good groove this week. I exercised 5 days and did a lot of additional outdoor walking (3-4 milers) on top of working out. Lifting a lot of weights, doing tons of weighted squats and running on the treadmill. Since my nanny baby is getting into a good routine regarding naps, it helps. Since I am already up early in the morning, so I’ve been knocking out my workouts first thing when he takes his first nap but before Winter gets up for the day.

Sleep: I’m sleeping wonderfully. Not even getting up at night to pee. At all. It will be short-lived, I promise.

Maternity clothes:  Yes.

Stretch marks: No.

Belly Button: Out.

Food cravings: Peaches, swiss cheese and greek yogurt with craisins mixed in.

Food aversions: None.

Movement: Sometimes I almost lose my breath because of her kicks!

Best Moment of the Week: Miles had an appointment on Friday so his dad took the day off work. Since I got the day off from nannying, Winter and I had a “just the two of us” day, which was really sweet. It felt really special to spend the whole day with her and cherish time spent as mom and daughter. It was a great day.

Worst Moment of the Week: None.

What I’m looking forward to: Downtime with my family. Lately we feel too busy, and I just look forward to lazy weekend days. Also looking forward to seeing my Dad and Mom for a few hours on Thursday (they have a layover in Denver and I plan to visit during their stop).

What I’m nervous about/praying for: Praying that I continue to feel good and not too tired. Taking care of a toddler plus a baby while being almost 8 months pregnant does present some challenges. I am thankful that I can do it, but I pray that my body doesn’t put up a fight.

What I miss: Not feeling achy for the few moments when I first get up from lying or sitting.

Next appointment: Thursday, August 27 at 4:20 p.m.

Bump comparison:

Baby #2 31 Week Pic:

Baby #2 BUMP REPORT – 30 Weeks

PREGNANCY WEEK 30 – August 15, 2015

I’m a few days late in getting around to writing this, so we have only 67 days left until our due date! 30 weeks marks 3/4th or 75% completion, which boggles my mind. How does it go so much faster the second time around? It seemed as though the weeks dragged on slowly in my first pregnancy. But with baby #2, it feels pretty crazy that we are already in the 30’s!

I had my 30 week prenatal checkup and baby’s heartbeat was 143 bpm. My belly measured 30 cm and baby is still head down. I got my whooping cough vaccine, so my arm is sore. Grateful for a very “textbook” and easy pregnancy. I’m seeing the midwives every two weeks at this point, so it feels like I’m at the office a lot! Thankfully they have a location that’s less than a mile from my house — talk about convenient. The hospital where I’ll deliver is literally walking distance from home, so I could very easily walk there when I’m in labor. Ha!

It seems like everyone is pregnant this year. In one of my mom’s groups, some of the ladies decided to throw a baby sprinkle for those of us due this fall with our second babies. They did such a nice job of throwing a party and making us all feel special. There were 9 of us being celebrated, due mainly in September, October and November. I speak for the other expectant moms too, that we feel so blessed and honored by the sweet women who put together such a nice party for us. The bar has been set high for a baby sprinkle to celebrate the next round of expecting moms due in 2016! It was fun to get some group bump pics.

My age: 29

How far along: 30 weeks

How big is baby: the size of a cabbage (16 inches and 3.2 pounds)

Gender: Girl

Events of this week: Nannied all week, took photos, spent many hours photo editing, went to a horse farm, went to an alpaca farm, went to the park, went to a concert in the park, celebrated at Eric’s friend’s birthday party, went to the zoo, went to the chiropractor, had a prenatal appointment, celebrated at a baby sprinkle, went to a few kids’ birthday parties, went to FAM night at church, and did a DIY home project. Whew…busy week!

Symptoms: Heartburn (unexplained….even when I’ve eaten NOTHING!), occasional uncomfortableness, emotional, growing belly, tired, need naps.

Exercise/Activity: Oh man, my week was so hectic and busy that I really skimped in the exercise department. I only got one good solid workout session in this week. I think I just overloaded my plate and was too tired to get in formal exercise. On an up note, we did buy a weight bench and more free weights to add to my home gym collection. I’m excited about that! Now I have a treadmill, stability ball, jump rope, bench, and free weight dumbbells (20’s, two sets 15’s, two sets 10’s, 5’s and Winter’s 1 lb pink weights). I didn’t have 20’s before, so I’m grateful to start using those for some of my weight training where 15’s seemed to light (like chest presses and dead lifts).

Sleep: Sleeping great. Waking up early in the morning for the past two weeks due to nannying has me nodding off much earlier at night.

Maternity clothes:  Yes.

Stretch marks: No.

Belly Button: Out.

Food cravings: Nothing in particular this week.

Food aversions: None.

Movement: Her movements are getting even sharper! If that’s possible. It felt like I could feel a foot dragging across my belly the other day (from the outside). That’s always a weird sensation. It was confirmed at my prenatal appointment that baby’s still head down, which explains all of the kicking up high in my ribs and diaphragm.

Best Moment of the Week: Spending a good Sunday with my family yesterday as well as seeing my best friend who is visiting from Texas.

Worst Moment of the Week: None.

What I’m looking forward to: Spending some more time with my best friend who is in town this week.

What I’m nervous about/praying for: My emotions…sometimes I get so wrapped up in a moment and that’s hard for me because I am not typically very emotional.

What I miss: Nothing.

Next appointment: Thursday, August 27 in the afternoon (I forget).

Comparison:

Baby #2 30 Week Pic: