Family P: Oh, Boy!

 A quick update…

oh boy!

oh boy!

oh boy!

oh boy!

16 Weeks / 17 Weeks – Finally the nausea has started waning! Reclaiming some energy. Looking more pregnant, less chubby!

18 Weeks

18 Weeks

18 Weeks – 18 Week Appointment and Sonogram, revealed a healthy, squirmy, growing baby. Celebrated with a gender reveal (It’s a Boy!) gathering with Family and Friends at Chicken Scratch. Complete with Sprinkles cupcakes filled with blue icing.

Gender Reveal - It's a boy!

Gender Reveal – It’s a boy!

Gender Reveal - It's a boy!

Gender Reveal – It’s a boy!

19 Weeks / 20 Weeks – Lots of Christmas shopping (not the most fun when pregnant with a toddler), swim lessons (I fear it’s almost time to invest in a maternity suit) and running around town.

21 Weeks / 22 Weeks – 22 Week Visit with Dr. Crites, baby boy has a strong heartbeat and is already kicking like a little mad man. Thanksgiving prep, Hosted Thanksgiving Dinner, Bethany’s visit

Food cravings: Anything Sweet! Pie, Pie Pie! Especially Emporium’s Apple AKA Lord of the Pies and Drop Dead Gourdous (Pumpkin), Carbs (Bagels, Muffins, Bread), Macaroni and Cheese, Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Hot Chocolate

Food Aversions: Meat is still iffy at the moment, especially chicken.

Family P: Pumpkin Doodle

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Yep! Finally getting around to making an announcement, at almost 16 weeks pregnant, I’m sure some of you were starting to wonder about my growing midsection. Daniel and I’s hearts are overwhelmed with joy! Becoming parents less than 2 years ago was the most wonderful gift and we couldn’t feel more blessed to be expecting another sweet baby on or around April 1st.

 

Picture 2

So you may remember… (hopefully not too well) that I blogged through my pregnancy with Via at Prego Mego … not likely that I’ll be able to capture as many details as I did when I was toddler-free, but my hope is that I’ll be able to document some of the major milestones with sweet baby #2 for the baby book! (Seeing as this post is happening 4 out of 10 months in to my pregnancy, don’t hold out too much hope!)

First Trimester ( and then some)

Week 5 – Despite being absolutely positive that I was NOT pregnant, and sure that my body was still trying to figure out how to ovulate & nurse a toddler… We took a home pregnancy test. And it was OH, SO POSITIVE. Ecstatic, Terrified, Shocked… I’m not sure I can accurately recall my exact emotion. Ready, or not…  Here we go… AGAIN!

Week 6 – Nursing & Pregnancy… did you know that in order to successfully continue nursing through pregnancy, Mom needs to consume an additional 500-800 calories a day? Not a joke. In some ways, I was starving… and in others, I’ve had no appetite what-so-ever. I won’t even get in to the other challenges that come with nursing a toddler while pregnant…  At this point, I was just PRAYING that my supply would remain decent and that Via will nurse happily as long as she wanted. Very mild nausea, slight fatigue, but easily distracted by chasing a toddler.

Week 7 – Nausea and fatigue settled in… Trying to nap with Liv during the day so I could keep up with her in the mornings / late afternoons. Nausea infinitely worse between 2AM – 8AM.

Week 8 – Family trip to California definitely came with a few awkward puking moments, huge dip in milk supply, awful summer cold… Still a wonderful two weeks of fun in the sun and of course, shared the happy news with Family Gorham.

Week 9 – Our First Sono revealed a wiggly little nugget with a strong heartbeat and revised Due Date (April 9th). Crazy hormones. Crying at the wonder of airplanes and Zillow commercials. Lots of Sonic Cherry Limeades to ease the pain of playing in the late afternoon Texas heat.

Week 10 – the roughest, by far. First half of the week spent in bed with the “Labor Day Stomach Bug” that just about wiped out my milk supply then an A/C that decided to quit… Dropped down to 2x nursing a day, once in the morning, once before bed.

Week 11 – Nausea, Nausea Nausea…. Finally gave in to a prescription for Zofran. Trying to snack often, drink lots of water. Snacking on Peppermint and Ginger candies. Expensive A/C and Foundation Fixes, decisions to be made about selling / moving / repairing our 100year old home. Dropped morning nursing session.

Week 12 – Second Sonogram and all good news 🙂 Mama’s belly is growing (already)… managing to keep weight gain under control this time! (If you don’t remember, I gained 62 pounds with Liv – about 40 pounds more than I probably should have! All of which it took me a year to lose!) Ready for the nausea and exhaustion to ease up. Realizing that chasing a toddler all-day, every-day is infinitely more difficult while trying not to puke. Also – hot dogs are the most foul smelling toddler lunch of all time.

Week 13 – Gramma G in town for 2.5 weeks to visit! Lots of meals out, trips to the arboretum, Perot, Swim Lessons, fun at Gramma B’s House! Less nausea, More food aversion/cravings. Broke the news to my dearest childhood friend, Ashley, whose wedding I’ll be 32 weeks pregnant in 🙂 Purchased my first pair of designer maternity denim… worth every penny.

HUGE WIN! *** Liv FINALLY started sleeping through the night!!! (At 19 months!) 8:00PM-6:00AM (give or take 30 min or so!) ***

Week 14 – Papa G in town for the weekend to visit with lots of fun fall treats! Fun meals out… and Pie… Spent lots of time outside in the gorgeous October weather! Finally completely weaned Liv. Finding it difficult to get dressed in the mornings. Most of my clothes are pretty snug, and my maternity goods from round 1 are just slightly too stretched out.

Week 15 – Finally reclaiming some energy! Still having 2-3 pretty bad headaches/migraines a month (something I was lucky enough to have completely escaped last pregnancy). Still holding out hope that they’ll fade once my hormones finally find some balance. The weather is finally wonderful making it easier to get out and play outside!

Food cravings: Honeycrisp Apples, Bagels, Macaroni and Cheese, Yogurt, Trader Joes Sweet & Spicy Pecans, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Twizzlers (thanks, Tammy!), Tortilla Soup, Chili, Sweet Tea, Peppermint Candies, Grapefruit Juice

Food Aversions: meat, especially chicken / steak

Thankful for a toddler who is finally learning to sleep, loves to give nose kisses and will surely be the best big sister in the world. Couldn’t do pregnancy round 2 without the bestest of friends and supportive family. Grateful for this crazy wonderful life we have. Can’t wait to meet the newest member of our little family this spring!

Reflections: Prego Mego

Lately, Daniel loves to remind me that Olivia has been outside my belly as long as I carried her. It’s so incredibly hard to believe how fast the past 9 months has flown by. I guess it’s time to start planning a first birthday party huh?

They say that you forget the way you felt when you were pregnant so that you’ll still want to do it again. Well… I felt pretty awesome for 90% of my pregnancy (I should probably re-read my own documentation {via Prego Mego} to make sure I haven’t fallen victim to pregnancy amnesia) – I often find myself missing the amazing feeling of baby kicks and constant warmth. Daniel + I agree that we’ll probably wait a bit before growing our little family any more but I just felt the need to admit… I really miss being pregnant.

35 Weeks Pregnant

Maternity Portraits by Shannon Markham Photography

Just in case you were wondering… The only thing I would do differently? NOT gain 62 pounds.