prego stats - 21 weeks

How far along: 21 weeks, AKA OVER THE HUMPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Total weight gain: not 100% sure, probably 10 lbs? I've read + been told that for my body mass index + height my weight gain should be just as it should, so I'm glad for that. For those interested, it tends to average 5lbs in the 1st trimester, and then 1 lb every week thereafter. Resulting in approximately 25-35lbs gained total. This has generally been the way things have gone for me, and then it takes about the same amount of time to loose the weight (9 months). Don't we all wish it took ONE? But that's another post for another day :)

How big is baby: length of a carrot. anyone else find these slightly unhelpful? What kind of carrot? In my fridge right now we have carrots of various sizes. I want more details!

Maternity Clothes: A lot of my shorts from last summer fit right now (not maternity) because last summer I was still losing weight from my pregnancy with Oli. When I finally lost all the weight (approximately 12 months after his birth) the shorts were too large, but now that I'm 21 weeks, they're perfect. I also find pants/shorts can fit if they're low rise since my bump hasn't dropped yet. But shirts are mostly all maternity now since I need the extra length.

Sleep: my body and baby3 may be allowing me sleep (thank goodness!) but my older two kids haven't been lately :( Oli has been waking EVERY SINGLE NIGHT for over a month, between 10pm and 1am, and normally for up to an hour. Not fun. 

Best moment this week: The kids regularly take turns kissing, "hugging", and cuddling their little sister (aka the bump) which is the sweetest! And I found a darling little dress, brand new (tags still on!) in light blue/chambray for Little Sister for $2 at Salvation Army this week and it got me verrrrry excited for another girl!

Movement: yes, but very low! And much more subtle than the other two were at 21 weeks, but again, probably because she's so low. It's hard for others to feel her movements because of her placement but I feel a lot internally.

Food cravings:My sweet tooth is BACK. I'm sorry to my dentist.

Food aversions:Not much lately, though I've been opting for more vegetarian meals lately.

Gender: GIRL! 

Labor signs: n/a

Belly button in or out: like always in pregnancy, out. And Public Service Announcement: it's NOT FUN when anyone (including my husband) pokes the protruding belly button. It actually hurts and you might be surprised how many people do it. They think it's cute and funny but it's very stretched skin and painful.

What I miss: sleep, but I can't blame pregnancy on that right now (cough Oli cough).

What I'm not loving: at the end of the day my lower body aches a bit, and in the morning my feet get painful cramps, but they go away quickly.

What I’m looking forward to: 2 weeks without the kiddos!!! Brad and I are headed on our first kids-free trip and it is coming at THE BEST TIME. We need this bad.

What I'm loving: Being pregnant, seeing the kids engage with the pregnancy, warm weather :)

Milestone(s):?

prego update: weeks 19 + 20

How far along: 19 and 20 weeks, 'cause things have been busy I'm doing both in one post!

Total weight gain: Probably 10 lbs? Not really sure until my next appointment. And for anyone who thinks I'm gaining really slowly and not much weight, fear not, this is my typical pattern: I gain slowly (and my 1st trimester usually has me loosing weight because of excessive vomiting/nausea), and then gain RAPIDLY in the last 10-15 weeks. It's comin' :)

How big is baby: mango + the length of a banana

Maternity Clothes: Yes, but I've found that now I'm able to fit into a lot of pre-maternity clothes again, since I'm wearing summer clothes instead of winter. Most of my summer clothes are loose fitting so I can get by, whereas my winter clothes were too fitted to be worn at this point (unless they were low rise pants).

Sleep: Never enough, but unable to nap lately :(

Best moment this week: Attending a friends wedding in Toronto! It was a blast to see everyone and have Little Sister fawned over (albeit in the womb), but I got very little sleep there and couldn't dance much because my back was hurting. Which is never fun, but a worth while sacrifice to be prego!

Movement: Yes! Very low and not enough to disturb me yet, which is lovely. Just gentle movements every once and a while.

Food cravings: Just FOOD. Period. I've definitely noticed a mega-increase in my appetite the last two weeks. Right on target too - I read during 19 weeks that the baby starts growing faster around now so I'll be more tired and hungry as a result. Check and check.

Food aversions: None, really!

Gender: GIRLIE GIRL GIRL!!!

Labor signs: n/a

Belly button in or out: SO out.

What I miss: This may sound bad, but alcohol! It's always what you can't have that you want the most! Though I normally only have 0-2 drinks per week, I'm finding myself craving and wishing I could have a cold beer, cider, cocktail, or glass of pinot gregio something FIERCE.

What I'm not loving: the lower back and everything from the waste down (legs, feet, etc) has begun to ache at the end of a long day on my feet, or after a long walk. I got this particularly painfully with Oli in my third trimester. I'm worried that it's going to be a hard 2nd half of pregnancy with Little Sister since I'm already feeling pain here and there at just 20 weeks...

What I’m looking forward to: Now that we know Baby3 is a GIRL it's so much more exciting waiting for her arrival. I don't know how I could wait to find out because of this huge perk! Pregnancy is LONG, people. Having a big milestone half way through makes it seem shorter and more exciting in my opinion :)

What I'm loving: gardening and playing at the parks in this beautiful weather with the kids! I'm so glad they get a whole summer with just THEM before another sibling arrives. It's the funnest time of year here, and it's just for them this year. Here's hoping my energy can continue long enough for us to enjoy most of it!

Milestone(s):finding out the sex! GIRRRRRRRRRRRRRLLLLLL.

a little sister

We found out today that Lily and Oli will have a baby sister come September and we are SO THANKFUL. She's measuring right on target and 100% healthy so far. Jesus, you give good gifts and lavish us with your grace. And a GIRL! Oh... my heart was hoping :)

illustration by Slovly, and such a ringer for Lily + her baby sister :)

Pregnancy Sweet Spot (aka middle of the 2nd trimester)

Guys. Life is GREAT. At any given time, sure, there are things a prego in my shoes could complain or worry about. The leg and foot cramps have begun. Already. Any day now I'll be too big to carry both of my toddlers down the stairs at the same time, and then how the heck are we supposed to leave the house? But those thoughts can wait. Because pregnancy is so sweet right now.

Why?

Baby is starting to kick, but not in a painful, annoying, ruin-your-sleep kind of way. More like in a sweet, gentle, reminding-you-I'm here kind of way. And I love it! It wasn't too long ago I was in the ER with a friend (Brad was out of town) with severe cramps, sure I was miscarrying. Those kicks are signs of life for me and I am so thankful for every.single.one.

Nausea and vomiting are gone, and I haven't felt those wicked symptoms in weeks. I also haven't had to take the anti-pregnancy-nausea pills in months, which made me even more exhausted than I already was. I can enjoy food as a result, and cooking and baking too.

I'm showing and maybe even glowing. I don't know about the last part - but I've heard it once or twice. Probably more the glow you get when you haven't showered in a couple days and your kids are making you laugh and it's finally hot outside and you've been chasing the toddlers around. That glow, that's not at all related to pregnancy, is probably more the one I have, but I'll take the compliment :) And showing is great because people always give me their seats on the metro and I get a lot of smiles and kindness from the general population at large.

Our kids can see I'm pregnant and they're excited. Lily didn't know what the heck was happening when she was 4.5 months old and I ran to tell her the good news that she was going to be a big sister. Obviously.  But now she's 2.5 years old and well aware, she's even told us without a doubt that the baby is a girl! And even Oli understands a bit - at least much more than she did when I was pregnant with him! He kisses my tummy and says "baby!" a lot and cuddles it too.

I have some energy again, so I'm enjoying it. The 1st trimester and 3rd are often just such a blur of exhaustion, but the 2nd trimester really is grand. Some moms I know say they've never had more energy, and while I can't relate to that, I am feeling so much better than before that it seems that way. I'm loving taking the kids out in this nice weather and getting things done during some naptimes if I'm feeling extra empowered.

I'm realizing that my 3rd child is coming... soon! The 1st trimester is all about survival. I don't think much beyond the toilet bowl. I can't pretend I spend those early weeks dreaming of the baby who is being knit together in my womb. I'm thinking about what I ate last and how it's making me want to vomit. But now, I'm in a place where I can prepare, dream, and long for our third little sapling. I've begun buying some things we need (some cloth diapers in size 1, a car seat, etc), and I've started to prepare and get excited even for breastfeeding. I know September will fly by (and baby could come any time that month too!) and we have a busy summer ahead so he'she will be here before we know it!

it's a sweet sweet time and I'm savouring every last drop.

prego stats - week 18

otherwise known as the Pregnancy Sweet Spot (more on that coming).

How far along: 18 weeks

Total weight gain: 7lbs

How big is baby: size of a sweet potato

Maternity Clothes: yes, and I'm gradually gaining more thanks to friend's hand-me-downs! Not to mention a huge collection of nursing tanks and bras, so I'll be prepared :)

Sleep: sleep is good, I'm needing it a bit less and don't nap every day now. I wake almost every morning with leg or foot cramps though. Oh I forgot about that annoying symptom. I used to just get it at the tail end of my third trimester, but I guess the third time around it'll be for 20 weeks. sweet.

Best moment this week: hearing baby3's heartbeat on Thursday at an appointment and being reassured by my OBGYN that though the epidural didn't work last time, that's no indication that it won't work this coming time. It still may not, but it's just bad luck and fast labour when it doesn't - so she suggested I get it sooner this time instead of waiting out the pain for fear of getting it TOO SOON like last time. That was ironic! Oli was born minutes after getting the failed epidural, so it certainly wasn't too soon! This time around, I'm getting it ASAP.

 

Movement: YES! definitely, and it's noticeable by more than just me! I especially feel baby3 when I'm laying on my back or trying to rest (go figure), and he/she feels decidedly low for 18 weeks, but again, third baby... different ballgame. I love the gentle movements - they're not painful or annoying yet so I'm enjoying every minute!

Food cravings: It hadn't occurred to me that it was a "craving" but I have eaten a truck load of beets lately... wonder if that's pregnancy related?

Food aversions: Some meats still. I'm always more vegetarian when I'm pregnant.

Gender:we find out ON TUESDAY. I'm dying. And hoping for a girl, but just eager to KNOW.

Labor signs: n/a

Belly button in or out: out.

What I miss: energy for sure, but not much else right now :)

What I'm not loving: The foot and leg cramps. They hurt so badly and are a terrible way to wake for the day! But thankfully the constipation is almost gone and the heart burn isn't as bad anymore either... Wonder of they were a 1st trimester thing?

What I’m looking forward to: TUESDAY.

What I'm loving: everything. I'm in a great place. Not sick or huge or in pain. No real back pain yet (that left me almost bed ridden in my third trimester last time), and no symptoms I can't get through. It's starting to hit me for real: our THIRD baby is coming. We are so blessed. Thank you father.

Milestone(s): nothing I can think of this week, but next week I'll definitely have something to write home about!