My Pregnancy Journal for Baby #2: Week26

Baby at 26 Weeks:

Baby BOY is as big as a Head of Lettuce!

Baby boy's eyes are forming and will soon start to open. His eyelashes are grown, as well. He's getting his immune system ready for life on the outside by soaking up your antibodies. He's taking breaths, too. They're of amniotic fluid, not air, but it's still good practice!

I had to include a head on picture... since I've never documented this angle before. 

My Symptoms: Feeling big, starting to experience some back discomfort, my hips get sore when I sleep on my side, heartburn, my varicose veins are starting to show, bending over to get stuff on the floor is becoming quite a hassle. I just feel pregnant.

Maternity clothes? Yes, but I do still wear regular t-shirts... soon, though, I will have to go get some summer wear.

Sleep? Apart from the hip pain and the needing to go to the restroom a lot, I sleep pretty well.

Best moment last week? Coming home from a wedding to a clean apartment (leaving it tidy and clean makes me so happy when I come home)

Movement? A lot!! I can see it through my shirt now!

Weight Gain: My last appointment was this past Wednesday at the 26 week mark. Still 149 lbs. which the nurse said is good.

Cravings: Chocolate, sugar... but that's pretty normal even if I wasn't pregnant. :P

Food Aversions: Still Cilantro and Basil. I guess a lot of the common spices like Oregano, Cumin, Parsley, etc. are on my list of aversions. That hasn't changed and I haven't found any new aversions.

What made me cry this week: Feelings of resentment I am not able to shake. Suffering silently can be a very lonely road, but I'm glad I have my people to keep my spirits up :)

Medical Stuff: Due to some outside stress (physical and emotional) put on my body, I have been ordered to take it easy the rest of this week and maybe next week (bed rest can be really wonderful sometimes). This past weekend I experienced some regular Braxton Hicks contractions that should not happen this early (not regularly, at least) and it was cause for concern. So now I'm in bed with my beautiful girl coloring and watching cartoons (and sleeping when she naps). It's been nice. My mother has offered to come out and take care of us for a week, which is amazing of her to offer. I think we shall be just fine now, though :)

Time to hydrate and rest!

Something I am excited about: One of my sister's, Erin, that helped me prepare for Agnes' birth offered to pay for a postpartum doula or cleaning service or whatever I need to make it easier for me before/during/after baby boy comes. I am still thinking about what I will need but it was so nice of her to offer. I will hopefully take her up on her offer :)

My Pregnancy Journal for Baby #2: Week 25

Baby at 25th Weeks:

Baby BOY is as big as a Cauliflower!

Baby boy's enjoying his NEW sense of equilibrium. He now knows which way is up and which is down. He's growing more hair too!

I didn't take a pregnancy selfie at 25 weeks, but here is a pic of the family!

My Symptoms: Pregnancy insomnia kicked in this past weekend... or it was from all the stress I'd been experiencing (but I just blamed it on the pregnancy). Got my first kankles this past weekend... omg my feet hurt so badly and my ankles swelled like no other! Acid reflux, BUT now I have Zantac so all is well with that :D I'm worn out. I got Braxton HIcks this past weekend (probably from stress since I only felt them for two days and haven't since) and felt extremely dizzy and basically miserable. I've never felt like that and I'm hoping all the stress, anger, and frustration I felt didn't effect this little baby boy :(

Maternity clothes? Yes

Sleep? Ha! Well, preggo insomnia only lasted 2 nights so far so I guess sleep is fine... except the using the restroom a lot at night. Still thankful for my body pillow.

Best moment last week? Easter! Great to be with family and Agnes had a blast looking for eggs and stealing everyone's candy :P

Movement? A lot!!

Weight Gain: Last weigh in was 149 lbs. We shall see this coming week what it is...

Cravings: Yesterday I was craving hamburgers... We went to my In-laws for dinner and they grilled hamburgers!!! I love them :D

Food Aversions: Still Cilantro and Basil. I guess a lot of the common spices like Oregano, Cumin, Parsley, etc. are on my list of aversions. 

What made me cry this week: Lots of things... this week was not a good one. Maybe the worst I've ever experienced. But we move on and things get better :)

Medical Stuff: When I get to 26 weeks, I get my glucose testing done. Also see about those Braxton Hicks contractions.

Something I am excited about: I'm now getting more and more excited/ nervous about welcoming this little boy. Still so much to do. We have no clothes for him and Agnes still needs to transition out of the crib and into a big girl bed. BUT I will say that I am excited to visit Colorado for his Baptism :D

My Pregnancy Journal for Baby #2: Week 24

Baby at 24 Weeks:

Baby BOY is as big as a Cantaloupe!

Baby boy's see-through skin is gradually becoming more opaque and he's got a new pink glow, thanks to the small capillaries that have recently formed.

My Symptoms: It's now getting harder to get around. I'm starting to put extra thought into getting up from a sitting position or bending over to get something off the floor. Lifting is becoming more and more annoying. I took Tums for the first time for Acid reflux and it worked up until about midnight when I had to take two more (not a fan of having to do that in the middle of the night) and then I felt better the rest of the night. HOWEVER, I am starting to really hate Tums (not a fan of the chalky texture and yucky taste).

Maternity clothes? Yes, and I'm becoming more worried about the hot summer and how I'm going to keep myself cool (more shopping for maternity clothes in the future)... and I'm dreading having to purchase a maternity swimsuit :P

Sleep? Apart from the Acid Reflux and the getting up to use the bathroom, I sleep wonderfully all thanks to my snoogle pillow (it makes such a HUGE difference).

Best moment last week? The weather is starting to get warmer so I'm able to take Agnes out to the park and have fun! Leaving the park is a different story but at least she is enjoying herself and she likes to take walks which really helps me get some exercise.

Movement? Baby boy is active and I'm happy that I don't have to worry about not feeling him move.

Weight Gain: AHHHH I'm at 149 lbs.!! This is getting serious! My ice cream craving subsided so I haven't had a bowl (or two) in about a week which is good. I've also been cooking pretty healthy meals for us (besides the Hamburger Helper we had twice in 2 weeks). 

Cravings: Hamburger Helper (it's just easy and YUMMY!!), AVOCADOS!!!! This is still ongoing (it's been 3 days of this seriousness).

Food Aversions: Still Cilantro and Basil. I guess a lot of the common spices like Oregano, Cumin, Parsley, etc. are on my list of aversions. I made that avocado pasta sauce again with Basil and it wasn't as bad... but then Paul asked if I had put in any at all (since he couldn't taste the Basil), so I guess that means I liked it because I put in less. Still an aversion.

What made me cry this week: Nothing, so far, but as of writing this, I am 24W+2Days so we still have a few more days to go ;)

Medical Stuff: Had my 24 week check up and Agnes is always so protective of me when I have to lay down for the doctor to measure my tummy and check baby's heartbeat. She always comes up with me on the table/medical bench (no idea what to call that) and sits next to me while the doctor checks. This time, however, there was a male med student with her and Agnes was EXTRA clingy so as I laid down, Agnes was still hugging my neck crouching over me watching the doctor and paying extra close attention to the med student :P sooo cute!

Something I am excited about: This weekend in STL for Easter! I'm also excited to see my family for my brother's wedding in Tennessee. I really miss them and have been keeping in touch with them every day for the past 2 weeks planning our schedules and making sure we can keep all the kiddos happy and meltdown free for the busy that is to come :)

My Pregnancy Journal for Baby #2: Week 23

Baby at 23 Weeks:

Baby BOY is as big as a grapefruit!

Baby boy is forming little nipples and his face is fully formed (he just needs a little extra fat to fill it out). He's listening to your voice and heartbeat, and even loud sounds like cars honking and dogs barking.

My Symptoms:  Stupid Acid Reflux!!! It's anything I eat and I've tried all the ways to avoid it (eating slowly, a few hours before bedtime, keeping drinks and food separate with mealtime, sitting down to eat, apple cider vinegar). I guess it's time to talk to the doc about Tums or Pepcid (I'm not a fan of Tums). Growing belly, filling out in my face and hips :( BUT I can say that my hair looks fine and so do my nails so I'm happy about that (I think pregnancy has something to do with it).

Maternity clothes? Yes and I don't mind it. Now when the weather gets really warm, I'll have to get more short sleeve tops and maybe a few more pants/shorts/skirts. What I'm not looking forward to is my feet swelling.

Sleep? My hips and legs are starting to feel uncomfortable so I have to switch sleeping positions a lot, but it helps that I have to get up and go to the bathroom anyways so I get blood circulating again. 

Best moment last week? Paul, Agnes, and I attended a 30th birthday party (my only stahm friend in town) and it was a great time just sitting outside around a fire having s'mores and playing a game while the kids ran around the yard. 

Movement? Lots and lots... and I'm starting to get used to it so that I can sleep through it at night :)

Weight Gain: My last appointment was March 4th, where I weighed in at 142 lbs. I've gained about 12 lbs so far this pregnancy... not bad.

Cravings: I've eaten a lot this past week not knowing what has satisfied me. It's a downward spiral sometimes when you start snacking and can't stop some days...

Food Aversions: Still Cilantro and Basil. I guess a lot of the common spices like Oregano, Cumin, Parsley, etc. are on my list of aversions.

What made me cry this week: I was drying after cleaning my MIL's Corning Ware dish, that she had left with some yummy food in it that we ate one night, and it flew out of my hands onto the kitchen floor shattering to pieces... cue waterworks. I think things had been festering and that was the last straw. It was a miserable night.

Medical Stuff: All seems to be going well. Next appointment is April 1st

Something I am excited about: Easter with the in-laws in STL. I'm excited to get family pictures... the last picture we took as a family was in October :/