Pregnancy Update: 24 weeks pregnant!

Poor baby #2. Emma got regular updates during my pregnancy with her, and this is only my second update since announcing that we are pregnant with baby #2! I feel so terrible, but life has been nuts and most of the time, I have to stop and remind myself that I am pregnant and need to take things easy! Being pregnant + having a toddler is no joke! On top of working full time, running a private practice, serving at church, and overall LIFE in general.

Needless to say, it’s been a busy season. Busy, but also exciting and full of God’s blessings! Every time I get exhausted or overwhelmed, I remind myself of how grateful I am for my life, my babies, my husband, and my community. God is so so good, y’all.

Anyways, onto the updates!

How far along are you?

24 weeks! This pregnancy is FLYING BY.

Gender:

GIRL!! We’ll be announcing the name soon :)

How big is the baby?

She is the size of an eggplant…so big!

Total weight gain:

I am 4-5 lbs up from my pre-pregnancy weight! I’m really grateful for steady weight gain since gaining weight was so difficult with Emma and our abnormal umbilical cord. Thank God for a normal cord this time around and a healthy appetite for mommy!

How am I feeling?

I have moments of extreme energy and happiness, followed by being an emotional and exhausted mess. I had a breakdown yesterday just because I couldn’t switch a load of laundry (our machines are on the 3rd floor, Emma was on the 2nd floor, she’s getting heavy to carry up and down with me, but I digress). I’m learning that it’s ok to ask for help, and even though I want to do it all and feel like I should be able to do it all, those are just unrealistic expectations I have been placing on myself. Moms, ASK FOR HELP. I’m preaching to the choir on this one.

Maternity clothes?

I have been re-wearing all of my clothes from my pregnancy with Emma but I finally ordered a few new sweaters and a pair of pants this past weekend! I wanted some fresh clothes to enjoy!

Favorite workouts:

I workout at home and do mostly Beachbody workouts! I’ve been alternating between lifting, maternity workouts, kickboxing, and modifying some of my other favorites. I am so grateful to be able to move my body!

Stretch marks:

None and I hope it stays that way!

Cravings:

Hmm lately I’ve been wanting big leafy salads and warm fresh baked chocolate chip cookies!

Sleep:

Sleep has been off and on. Better than it was but definitely not great. I’d say it’s mostly just restless nights!

What I miss:

Intense workouts, more than 1-2 cups of coffee/day, having more energy to play with Emma, and having more energy to stay on top of house chores! Also, wearing cute(r) clothes!

What I am looking forward to:

This hasn’t changed: having two little girls to play with and enjoy! I am an only child and prayed for a sister almost every day of my life, so I feel so blessed and happy that Emma will be able to enjoy that special bond.

That’s all for now! Hopefully I’ll be a little more regular with these updates, I enjoy writing them and I’ve enjoyed reading through Emma’s old posts too! Thanks for reading and have a great afternoon, friends!

Baby #2 is on her way!

Yep, we are expecting our second baby girl and couldn't be more thrilled! Lord willing, we will be welcoming the 4th member of our family at the end of February 2019. We are so excited and blessed and happy Emma will have a little sister!

I blogged through my last pregnancy with Emma, and I want to TRY to do the same with this one. But let me tell you, being pregnant with a toddler is no joke. For all you first time pregnant ladies out there, ENJOY ALL THE REST. Because right now, I feel like I am forgetting that I'm pregnant because I am so busy running around a 16 month old, working full time, and taking care of all the things. It's okay though, God provides His strength and that's the only way I could get through!

I'm 15 weeks now, and finally starting to feel better and shedding that first trimester getting-hit-by-a-car feeling. I thought I'd do a little recap about how this pregnancy has been so far...hope y'all enjoy!

How far along are you?

15 weeks and 2 days.

Gender:

GIRL!!

How big is the baby?

She is an avocado this week....so cute!

Total weight gain:

I am still below my pre-pregnancy weight since I lost some in the first trimester. I will say that I am definitely hungrier with this baby compared to my pregnancy with Emma, so I am sure I will be gaining weight in no time!

How am I feeling?

Pretty exhausted...the nausea really knocked me off my feet in the first trimester, but I have finally been feeling better the past couple weeks! A bit more energy and being able to enjoy the nourishing foods I love!

Maternity clothes?

Oh yes! I feel like I started showing the minute I found out I was pregnant this time around! It's like my body knew to just pop out!

Favorite workouts:

I do at-home Beachbody workouts because they have gotten me the best results and I've never been as consistent as I am when do their programs! Right now I am doing Liift 4, a 4 day/week program, plus adding their maternity workouts and MMA style kickboxing workouts!

Stretch marks:

None and I hope it stays that way!

Cravings:

Gimme ALL the Greek salad! And can I just say, I am so grateful I've been craving salads because for a solid 2 months my diet consisted of ritz crackers, cheez its, and bread. Those are the only foods that seemed to settle my stomach. It's such a relief to be able to eat some nourishing veggies again!

Sleep:

Sleep has been AWFUL, but it was the same with Emma so I was expecting it!

What I miss:

Intense workouts, more than 1 cup of coffee/day, and having more energy to play with Emma. She is such a good independent player and loves her toys. She sings and talks to me all day long while I rest and sit on the floor with her. I just wish I could be more active with her, but for now I know this will do, and she still loves me! (Mom guilt is real, guys).

What I am looking forward to:

Having two little girls to play with and enjoy! I am an only child and prayed for a sister almost every day of my life, so I feel so blessed and happy that Emma will be able to enjoy that special bond.

That's all so far on this pregnancy! Thank you for all of your sweet words. We are praying for a smooth pregnancy and healthy baby, and are so excited for our new blessing!

Emma's Birth Story: April 29, 2017

Hello world! Please excuse my absence this past month, as I've been a little preoccupied with our little pink bundle of joy! Baby Emma was born Saturday, April 29th at 3:04pm, and both her daddy and I are completely in love with her! 

I still can't believe how it all happened, and it took me a while to process everything since it all happened so fast! I know that I enjoyed reading birth stories during my pregnancy, and wanted to chronicle ours so I can look back and remember :) I'll try to keep it brief, but here it goes! 

I had my (little did I know), last check up on Friday, April 28th with the doctor. 3 days prior, I had a check up that showed that Baby Emma was about 1 month behind in her measurements. My doctor expressed his concern, and stated that on Friday, we would make a decision about whether or not to induce the following week. 

When I went in on Friday, the baby's stress test was still normal, and they did a check to see how "ready" I was for labor. To my surprise (and the doctor's surprise!) I was already 3 cm dilated and 70% effaced. After a few phone calls, the doctor got me in that evening at 10pm to be induced at the hospital! I called my husband, and we prepared ourselves to head to the hospital that very evening to get induced! I couldn't believe it was all happening so fast, and I was scared but also excited to see how it all would unfold, and to finally meet and hold our sweet baby! 

We got our things ready and were at the hospital by 10pm. They checked me again, and I was 4 cm dilated by this point, 80% effaced, but still not "in labor." The doctor was surprised that labor hadn't started on it's own considering how ready I was! They started me on a pitocin drip at 11:30pm, and I felt minor contractions all night, but nothing too crazy. By 5:30am, my doctor came in and broke my water. Then, it was a WHOLE different story. 

The contractions were SO painful. I originally wanted to do labor naturally, without an epidural. But my doctor warned me that induced labor is more painful than going into labor on your own, and to show myself some grace. I endured the contractions for a few hours, but by 9am I was crying and asked for the epidural. I am SO happy with this decision! The epidural only kicked in on my left side for some reason, but it still took the edge off my pain and I was able to sleep for a few hours! At 1pm, the nurse woke me up to check me and stated I was 10 cm and 100% effaced, and that I was ready to push! I was SO ready to meet my girl! 

Looking back, I'm happy that the epidural only kicked in 50% because I was still able to control my pushes and feel our baby come out. But, pushing was pretty traumatic. Things started to get a little risky, because with every contraction and every push, the baby's heart rate was dropping dangerously low. They put me on oxygen and had to remind me to breathe so that the oxygen would reach the baby. I also had to push lying on my right side (my doctor said he was so happy I worked out during my pregnancy because he was amazed at how I could hold that position!) because her heart rate wasn't dropping as much when I was on my ride side. After 2 hours of pushing, the doctor said the baby's heart was still dropping too low and we would have to do an emergency c-section or use a suction vacuum to get her out. We decided to go with the suction vacuum, and with one push from me and pull from the doctor, Baby Emma was born! 

And then I burst into big ugly tears. I guess it was the rush of the baby coming out, exhaustion, and relief. But I was so happy she was here! The NICU team was in the room to check her real quick, but after a few minutes they said she was healthy and placed her on my chest. There are no words to describe how we felt at that moment. We were so happy and thankful to God that she was here and healthy and in our arms. 

The rest of our hospital stay was a whirlwind of visitors, eating (I was HUNGRY), and learning how to breastfeed. As a certified lactation educator, I was the most excited about being able to breastfeed my daughter. Breastfeeding has been challenging, amazing, and rewarding all at the same time. We are in the processes of weaning off our pesky nipple shield, but Emma is eating like a champ and I love the moments we spend together while she is feeding. She lost a little too much weight in the hospital so we had to supplement with formula for 24 hours at the hospital until my milk came in, but once it came in, we stopped the formula and thank God I've been able to exclusively breastfeed her ever since! My goal is to breastfeed her for at least one year. It is an amazing feeling to be able to nourish your baby, and I am so thankful that God created our bodies the way He did. Ladies, we are pretty amazing! 

Being a mommy has been incredible, challenging, exhausting, and pure JOY all at the same time. All my life, I wanted to be a mommy (probably because I have an amazing mommy myself!) and I feel so thankful to God that He blessed us with sweet Emma. She makes silly faces, loves to stretch before waking up, and hates getting her diaper changed. She loves hearing her Daddy's voice and calms down when she ears the water running for her baths. She hates being swaddled and is always trying to get her hands free to sleep with them raised up. She is absolutely adorable and has stolen our hearts. 

**I just wanted to say thank you to ALL of you who prayed and showed us amazing love and support throughout this pregnancy. It was tough not knowing what would happen with our baby and the risks we had with our umbilical cord, but the comments and emails I received filled me with such gratitude and joy! Thank you all for praying, and praise the Lord that Emma is here! 

As I finish typing this, Emma is stretching and getting ready to wake up, so I should go! I hope you all have an amazing Tuesday, and thanks for reading!

Maternity Leave: Day 1!

Yesterday was my first day of maternity leave, and to say that it was busy is a definite understatement! My husband has demanded me to nap every day until the baby comes, but I'm starting to think that may not happen considering all that needs to get done before she arrives! I'm definitely in "nesting" mode and wanting to do "all the things" around the house (cleaning, decluttering, washing all the baby clothes, reorganizing her room over and over again, etc). It's so hard to just relax. I am SUCH a planner and the fact that I can't write on my planner "Baby Emma is born" on any day in the next few weeks kind of terrifies me. God is definitely teaching me how to let go of my plans and let Him take control. This is something I 100% canNOT plan, so I am definitely having to roll with the punches and give over every anxiety and worry to Him!

But, needless to say, there are still things that need to get done, and yesterday my lovely mama and grandma came over and helped me a ton! But first, I made a quick trip to the new Sprouts by our house. I usually don't shop at Sprouts because $$$, and our bill definitely was higher than usual, but I loved perusing around the new store and buying some goodies for our meals this week!

It felt so good to get fresh produce! I got zucchini and bell peppers to make a beef stew for dinner tonight, plus some gluten free products that I can't really find anywhere else. I usually stay away from gluten free processed foods (a cracker is a cracker, a cookie is a cookie, etc) but I wanted some quick things I can grab and go at home when hunger strikes! I got two kinds of crackers and some waffles for easy breakfasts. I also got some fruit, larabars, and nuts from their bulk bins! Overall, I spent $85, and I usually spend $50-$60 per week. So even though Sprouts won't be my go-to grocery store, I defintiely will visit it from time to time! 

I made a quick breakfast when I got home of 3 scrambled eggs with some coffee! I haven't had much protein the last few days, and knew I need a good dose. These eggs hit the spot!

Around 11am, my mom came over and we washed some baby clothes, picked up my grandma, and headed out! We went to Babies R Us and Hobby Lobby for some baby stuff, and I found this super cute sign that made me cry. I didn't get it though, because I think that it might me too mushy for my husband haha but I just cried in the aisle for a little bit, then walked away. Ohhhh hormones....

We got a ton of shopping done, then headed to Souplanation for lunch (MY FAV!) I wanted to go back for seconds, but got nauseous just after this much food as my belly is slowly running out of space. I'm having to eat less and less food, but more often throughout the day I am also kind of sick of eating and have way less of an appetite than before, but I read that's totally normal. We go for our next ultrasound tomorrow and I hope baby girl is still growing strong! This mommy is trying to eat eat eat! :) 

We came back home after lunch, packed up the hospital bag a bit more, and then I hopped into the shower to get ready (finally...it was 2pm at this point). My belly felt so big yesterday! 

After this point in the day, I totally spaced and forgot to take pictures! BUT, I went to the mall with my mom in the afternoon, had dinner with my parents and my aunt, uncle and cousin (I split a pasta and chicken dish with my mom), then went to the hospital I am delivering at with my husband for an orientation/tour in the evening! It was nice seeing to see the hospital and hear what to expect when we check in, how labor and delivery looks, and where we will be staying once our baby is born. It is feeling more and more real as the days go on! We are so excited! 

I'd say maternity leave is off to a great, yet busy start. I'm hoping to incorporate more rest and relaxation in the days ahead! I am SUCH a busy body sometimes, and now with all this nervous and anxious energy, it's even worse! 

Today has been great so far though! Did my workout, finished up a meal plan for my client, and now about to fold some laundry and head to Target to print some Easter pictures! I am hoping a nap happens in the afternoon (right, Vasken?)

I hope you all are having a great start to your week. If anyone has tips on keeping anxiety at bay while you get closer to your due date...I AM ALL EARS! :) 

Pregnancy Update! Weeks 31-33

I can't believe we are in the 30s as far as my weeks of pregnancy! This whole shabang FLEW by and we are getting so close to meeting our baby girl! Here's the latest update and how Mama and Emma are doing!  

Our baby shower was last week and we got the cutest clothes and blankets! It was so fun washing everything and getting ready for our baby girl!

 How far along are you?

33 weeks and 4 days!

Gender:

GIRL!!

How big is the baby?

She is a cauliflower blossom this week! 

Total weight gain:

I am 12 lbs up from my pre-pregnancy weight! I'm finally gaining and as weird as it is to see the scale go up, I know it's for the best reason ever! 

How am I feeling?

I am feeling a little more tired lately, but still have pretty good energy considering! Sleep has been so-so, heartburn has kept me up most nights but that is getting better too as baby is slowly dropping!

Maternity clothes?

All day every day! I am loving all the stretchy pants and leggings, it's going to be so hard to go back to real clothes!

Favorite workouts:

I have been doing Core de Force, which is Beachbody's MMA fighting/kickboxing program. I am loving it! I am going to start incorporating more walks and get back to my Country Heat workouts too. My type A personality loves following programs from beginning to end, and you best believe I will be doing that post baby (I already have the programs I want to do lined up once I am cleared!) But for now, I am so thankful I have access to all the Beachbody on Demand workouts and can jump back and forth with what my body feels best doing!

Stretch marks:

None and I hope it stays that way! I’ve been using bio oil and some Cocoa butter too! My belly is itchy so I just keep moisturizing!

Cravings:

PIZZA. Lately, all I want is pizza. I could eat it for each meal. Actually I just realized I had some last night, and have leftovers today for lunch, and will be having some tonight at church. Oops. Oh well! I am balancing out all the pizza with lots of vegetables and fruits and healthy fats! Oh and protein, which the doctors want me to focus on to support Emma's growth!

Sleep:

Not too great with all the heartburn and now frequent trips to the bathroom. But oh well, I am used to having sleep problems (I didn't sleep through the night till 4th grade apparently) so it's not a big deal to me.

What I miss:

Working out as intensely as I used to. With all the anxiety that comes along with pregnancy, I miss my intense workouts and my runs. But I know I will get back to those things eventually! For now, I am just grateful that I am still able to be active in some capacity! I also miss having more than 1 cup of coffee a day, even though I only used to drink one, it would be nice to have the option of two...or three...

What I am looking forward to:

I am looking forward to packing our hospital bag (gotta get on that soon) and being on MATERNITY LEAVE! I am ready to just be home and prepare for our baby! The doctor wants me off work between 35 and 36 weeks, and that is so soon!

Thank you all for your prayers as we move along in this pregnancy. We appreciate it more than you know! We feel very loved and I know Baby Emma feels loved too!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Pregnancy and Body Image

It is freaking crazy to me how big my belly is getting. Being 32 weeks pregnant, it literally feels like there is a basketball in there. It makes me SO happy because it reassures me that baby girl is growing, and feeling her little kicks and rolls excite me every single time.

But a fresh outlook on body image is needed in pregnancy. I always knew that I'd be okay with the weight gain that comes along with pregnancy (and thank GOODNESS that I am finally gaining weight now; didn't start till the third trimester!) but even when you know you are gaining weight for the right reasons, it is hard sometimes to get used to your growing body and the escalating numbers on the scale.

I love my growing baby bump, it's my favorite part of pregnancy! I love that people notice and ask me about my baby, and I loveeeeeeeee the sweet lady at Panera who gave me free coffee and a cookie the other day in the name of "feeding the baby!" It's so fun to be growing and feeling the baby move. But it can also be taxing on your body image, especially if you are a gal like me who has struggled with body image and weight her whole life.

Pregnancy is such a delicate time when you are gaining weight and WANTING to gain weight. My doctors (both my OB and my high risk perinatologist) both want me eating lots of proteins and nourishing foods to support Baby Emma's growth. So that's what I've been doing! I am always one to listen to my doctors (expect when my doc diagnoses me with a gluten allergy and I still eat gluten....but that's another story for another time. Still working on that one!).

But I won't lie and say that I am totally cool with not being able to flip around in bed easily, go on a run when I'm stressed, being told how "huge" I am, and seeing those numbers creep on the scale. On top of that, with my history of binge eating, a LOT of my pregnancy symptoms are similar to my post-binge episodes such as heartburn, nausea, burping, and indigestion. It is so hard for me to experience the symptoms of a binge, but know deep down that I haven't binged! By the grace of God I have been binge-free throughout the pregnancy, but these symptoms can mess with your head! When I look down and see a big belly and am struggling with heartburn and nausea, I can't help but feel "guilty" even though I've done nothing wrong.

And isn't that just the way of the devil? To get us living in regret and guilt even when God has purified us and made us whole? It's terrible and I hate it. I am praying for God to renew my mind and take ownership of my thoughts. Because all I can say is pregnancy does funky things to your thoughts and moods.

All I know is that I am proud of every pound I've gained because I know these pounds are nourishing my sweet baby girl. And the heartburn and nausea and ickiness will pass, it's temporary and oh-so worth it. And I am excited to be looking pregnant because hellooo I get free cookies! And I know that I am doing my best to nourish my baby while giving myself grace for the occasional sweets and treats. I appreciate my body and love that God has given us women this gift of growing a child inside of us. I mean if you stop and think about it, it's pretty crazy! And no bad thoughts or negative body image can take that crazy miracle away from me. I have 8 more weeks (or maybe less depending on when she makes her debut!) of being THIS close to my baby girl and sharing my body with her. And I'm going to enjoy it!

My body has gone through many changes over the years, but hands down, this is the best change of all.

Pregnancy: Weeks 24-26

I feel like SO much has changed since I last updated everyone on my pregnancy! I am getting bigger and bigger, but feeling so much better! Very thankful to God that my energy is back and I am feeling more like myself!

How far along are you?

26 weeks and 2 days

Gender:

GIRL!! 

How big is the baby?

This week, our sweet baby is the size of a butternut squash, which seems HUGE to me! 

Total weight gain:

I am finally 141! So I have gained 4 lbs since my pre-pregnancy weight of 137. 

How am I feeling?

I'm feeling pretty good! I have a lot more energy now, just getting bigger and getting used to having a big belly!

Maternity clothes?

Yup!!! I'm loving maternity leggings, they are so comfortable! My husband jokes that I am not going to want to wear normal clothes once the baby comes. But I DO miss shopping for clothes and kind of can't wait to get back into normal clothing. But for now, comfort trumps all. 

Favorite workouts:

Country Heat has been a lifesaver! I am streaming the workout on Beachbody on Demand (basically netflix for workouts!) and also get access to a million other programs as well! So I am doing Country Heat along with Beachbody's Active Maternity workout, and going on walks. I am so happy to be active again!

Stretch marks:

None and I hope it stays that way! I’ve been using bio oil and a “bump cream” I found on Amazon. I also just ordered some Cocoa butter too! My belly is itchy so I just keep moisturizing! 

Cravings:

I am having fleeting cravings that don't last long, so I rarely give in. The other day I craved Frosted Flakes cereal (a childhood favorite that I haven't had for 10 years!) but an hour later, they sounded disgusting to me so I never go them. I am trying to choose healthy foods when possible, but also giving into cravings from time to time. Everything I eat will effect baby girl, so I want to give her the best options I can!

Food aversions:

Still not a fan of red meat, but everything else has been sitting well! 

Sleep:

It is getting better some nights, then terrible other nights. I'm just rolling with the punches at this point!

What I miss: 

Working out more intensely, clothes shopping, and more than 1 cup of coffee/day! Especially with the lack of sleep!

What I am looking forward to:

Our next ultrasound is tomorrow where the will measure her and make sure she is growing on track since we have a velementous cord insertion. We will be checking on her growth every 2 weeks which is kind of nice because we get to see baby girl every 2 weeks! We are praying she still keeps growing big and strong!

Thanks for reading and for your sweet comments and prayers for our baby! It's been so exciting to see all the changes happening to my body with pregnancy. It is truly is a miracle! We can't wait to finally meet you, baby girl! 

Pregnancy: Weeks 21-23

The weeks are flying by over here, and both my husband and I are in shock of how quickly my belly is growing lately!  

 How far along are you?

23 weeks and 3 days! 

Gender:

GIRL!! 

How big is the baby?

This week, our sweet baby is the size of a bunch of grapes! 

Total weight gain:

I'm finally at my pre-pregnancy weight! I was 137 when we got pregnant, then went down to 130, now back up to 137! Finally eating again and enjoying my food! 

How am I feeling?

I'm feeling pretty good! I have a lot more energy now and almost forget that I am pregnant except when my belly gets in the way! 

Maternity clothes?

Yup!!! The pants are a lifesaver! 

Favorite workouts:

I actually just started a brand new program, Country Heat! The doctor wants me to do walking and light exercise, and this is a line dancing program that is perfect for my pregnancy right now! 

Stretch marks:

None and I hope it stays that way! I’ve been using bio oil and a “bump cream” I found on Amazon. Hopefully they continue to help! 

Cravings:

No cravings lately just HUNGER! And then getting full too fast :( for a while my big craving was goldfish crackers but it isn't as strong now! I've been following my old meal plan (the 21 day fix container system, just increased in calories!) and I've been feeling so much healthier and craving healthier things! 

Food aversions:

I still have aversions sometimes to red meat, but everything else is sounding good to me! 

Sleep:

Terrible! I have no comments about this haha 

What I miss:

Energy, working out, and more than 1 cup of coffee/day!

What I am looking forward to:

Our next ultrasound is Tuesday where the will measure her and make sure she is growing on track since we have a velementous cord insertion. We will be checking on her growth every 2 weeks which I'm actually looking forward to because we will get to see her and make sure she is on track with her growth! Grow baby grow! 

We are so thankful to God for this sweet baby and praying she keeps growing big and strong and keeps kicking mommy! 

Pregnancy: Week 17-20

Happy New Year everyone!!!  2017 is finally here! I haven't posted for a while, life has been crazy! But I thought I'd do another pregnancy update since I hadn't done one in a while...and we finally know our baby is a girl!! 

 How far along are you?

21 weeks today! 

Gender:

GIRL!! Pink everything!! 

How big is the baby?

This week, the baby is the size of a large carrot! I can't believe how fast she is growing! 

Total weight gain:

I am still 2 lbs under my pre-pregnancy weight. But my appetite is improving so I'm hoping to start gaining weight soon! And the baby is right on track with her growth, so that was exciting to see! 

 How am I feeling?

I'm feeling pretty good! I had a bout of sciatica a few weeks ago but a few trips to the chiropractor and I'm much better! Now it's just those good ol digestive issues (TMI sorry!) 

Maternity clothes?

Ohhhh yes! Loving my maternity pants and flowy tops! 

Favorite workouts:

I've been told to lay off the workouts because of some minor complications, so that's what I'm doing. Just some light walking. I definitely wanted to workout during this pregnancy, but I'm listening to the doctor and doing what's best for my baby! 

Stretch marks:

None and I hope it stays that way! I’ve been using bio oil and a “bump cream” I found on Amazon. Hopefully they help!

Cravings:

None lately...just getting hungrier which is good! I'm trying to stick to healthy foods, but I'm really liking sweets too! 

Food aversions:

I still have aversions to meat, but I'm trying to fill up on beans and fish for protein! 

Sleep:

No change here! Still sleeping terribly and tossing and turning. My OB says this is normal, so I guess I’ll just have to deal!

What I miss:

Energy, working out, and more than 1 cup of coffee/day! 

What I am looking forward to:

Our next ultrasound so we can see our baby again! Also I am feeling her move so much and I am looking forward to more of that! 

I can't believe I am over halfway through this pregnancy! It's been so exciting to watch our baby (and my belly) grow! 

Pregnancy: Weeks 13-16

How far along are you?

16 weeks and 2 days

Gender:

We will find out for sure on December 27th!  

How big is the baby?

This week, the baby is the size of a pickle! So cool to see how fast this baby is growing week by week. It really is amazing!

Total weight gain:

Initially, I lost 7 lbs in the first trimester, and so far I have gained back 2. Hopefully I will get back up to my pre-pregnancy weight soon and go on from there! My doctor wants me to gain 25 lbs by the end the pregnancy, so that is my goal as well. Healthy weight gain is so important in pregnancy!

How am I feeling?

I'm feeling a little better since the first trimester! The nausea comes and goes instead of being an all-day affair, which is a relief! I'm still pretty exhausted but my sleep has been terrible so that is probably why. I'd say the biggest change I've seen in the past few weeks is that I am getting massive migraines. The only thing that seems to help is about 1/2-1 cup of coffee/day. So that's what I've been doing!

Maternity clothes?

I've been having fun buying a few outfits from Pink Blush Maternity, I absolutely love their clothes! I also got maternity leggings which are life savers, and a few flowy tops! 

Favorite workouts:

I'm sticking to walking for now; my doctor told me to put my feet up frequently and take it easy. So that's what I'm doing! This baby is worth it :) 

Stretch marks:

None and I hope it stays that way! I’ve been using bio oil and a “bump cream” I found on Amazon. Hopefully they help! 

Cravings:

BROWNIES, cinnamon rolls, and all kinds of beans. I have been craving brownies like crazy lately. I finally got my craving fulfilled last week, and I thought the cravings would have disappeared, but they came back a few days later so off I went to bake another batch, just in time for my Gilmore Girls party! Luckily, I've been able to just have a square and stop. Moderation has been easier during pregnancy than before pregnancy, which is weird! Another craving I've had are Cinnabon cinnamon rolls...yummy! And the beans...I don't even know where this craving is coming from but all I want are bean soups and stews and beans and rice! My hubby is joking that it is the 1/4 Mexican in him coming out! Our baby is going to love beans!

Food aversions:

I still have an aversion to Mexican food (minus beans), tomato-y things, meats. I am trying to force myself to eat more vegetables lately. I'm definitely doing better than a few weeks ago, so it can only go up from here!

Sleep:

No change here! Still sleeping terribly and tossing and turning. My OB says this is normal, so I guess I’ll just have to deal! 

What I miss: 

Energy, working out 100%, more than 1 cup of coffee, and my clear skin. The acne has been crazy and really getting to my self-esteem, but thank God for make up! 

What I am looking forward to:

I live for ultrasounds and  being able to see our sweet baby! Also can't wait till my bump gets bigger, I'm so curious as to what it will look like since this is my first pregnancy!

That's all for now! We had our 16 weeks check up yesterday and baby is moving and kicking like crazy! We love our little pickle already!