Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Pregnancy, Week 16

Physical Symptoms: Honestly, I feel really good! Lots of energy! My only complaints are constipation (sorry, had to say it) and feeling icky after I eat too much. But I am so grateful that I am overall feeling great!

Food Weirdness: Get away from me salad! Come on over yummy ice cream/milkshakes!  Trying to balance my good eating/bad eating is challenging!

Size of little bug: Avocado!!

Workout: Enjoyed a lovely long and somewhat challenging hike with Lindsey and Janell last weekend and have been doing the 15-min fit breaks during work along with walking at lunch!

Preparation: Switched our health plan from a PPO to an HMO so we can save tons of money on the labor and delivery/ hospital stay. Thankful for working for a company that has great benefits and also thankful we are in open enrollment so we can switch to the HMO before giving birth.

Discovery: Last week I went to the doctor and asked her for a quick ultrasound to see if she could see the gender. Well, little babe was doing a headstand and we could not tell.  So I made an appt at Heavenly Ultrasounds that weekend, paid a fee, to see if we could find out the gender. Sunday after church, Chris, J & I went to the appointment and the baby was making it easy (legs wide open) for us to see that we are having... drum-roll please... a GIRL!

Funny Moment: Chris and J's faces when we found out it was girl! You could tell 100 things were running through their minds. We are all excited though! Chris says he feel like he has to throw everything he has learned raising a boy out the window. I am sure we will use a lot of that knowledge but yes, raising a girl will be different. We will do great and J will be a great big brother!

Feelings: I am bursting with excitement to share this pregnancy and surprise them with the gender when we go to VA for Thanksgiving. Cant wait to share these moments with my family.

Also, over the weekend we took family pictures so we can finally announce publicly I am expecting. We haven't received them back yet but cant wait to post! That picture will also serve as my 16 week belly bump photo.

PS: We pretty much have already decided on the name :)

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Pregnancy, Week 15

Physical Symptoms: I am feeling great! I have only experienced a few symptoms one being that my nose is always stuffed up. Also my ears tend to pop because of my stuffiness and I sometimes get nosebleeds. They say this is very common during pregnancy. Also, in really fun news, sometimes I feel the baby.  I only feel it if it gets up near my ribs. It feels like gas bubbles in my upper abdomen but I imagine the baby doing cartwheels and back flips.  I especially feel it after I eat or workout.  So fun!

Food Weirdness: Ill eat anything and everything and the more ice cream the better.

Size of little bug: Pear

Workout: I have been pretty consistent in working out.  They have started having 15-min fit breaks at my work 2x a day, I have been walking with my co-worker pretty consistently and I have started doing some pre-natal yoga which has been fabulous! It helps me get all stretched out and it is preparing my body for childbirth.  Chris and I have also done a few Fitness Blender workouts. So I feel good about my activity this week.

Preparation: Chris and I have started talking names! We have come up with some good ones so far!

Discovery: The baby can hear now. I am trying to figure out what that means. Should I read to my baby bump? Put some headphones on my belly and play Mozart? Or is that stuff just kind of silly?

Funny Moment: I cant think of anything in particular but I do enjoy blaming eating unhealthy food on the baby "Baby wants some ice cream," is most common.

Feelings: I am starting really embrace the baby bump. Now out of that awkward looking chubby stage I have found some cute clothes and have started enjoying seeing this bump grow. I get a little anxious when there are quiet moments at the house, where all is at peace and there is nothing demanding my time or attention. Will this be the last few months of experiencing this? Anticipating how my/our life will change is daunting. One day at a time...


Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Pregnancy, Week 14

Physical Symptoms: I LOVE THE SECOND TRIMESTER. My energy is back! I can see why people encourage you to get everything done in preparation for the baby now. If it wasn't for my expanding belly and food restrictions (wine) I wouldn't even remember I was pregnant. I am so grateful for this time in my pregnancy! Some ladies do not feel as well as I do so I am counting my lucky stars.

Food Weirdness: None. I love food. Especially ice cream and milkshakes. And salt! Anything with salt! Pass the pretzels!

Size of Little Bug: Georgia Peach

Workout: I am happy to have energy back to workout. Chris and I ran a few miles at the track the other night and I have a desire to start doing Pregnancy Yoga. Hopefully I can report about that next week.  One thought about running though.  This weekend I wore a belly band while running and it made my stomach feel so much better.  In the past, I have run without a band around my belly and it felt like little babe was just flopping up and down and it pulled on my stomach a lot.  In reality, babe was sitting comfortably in my womb but the belly band makes mama feel a lot more comfortable and supported while running. Also, in regards to working out, is that I really need to be careful not to over do my activity. The other day I had to take a personal day from work and I walked a few miles, did chores, covered our furniture in the garage, etc. etc. That night, I had a tiny bit a blood in my urine. It freaked me out! Thankfully, there was no other bleeding after that so it was just my body telling me to SLOW DOWN! I will be a lot more careful moving forward.

Preparation; This week we decided on switching our insurance to an HMO because it will save us so much money when I give birth. Thankful to work for a company with amazing benefits and open enrollment has started so we can easily make the switch. Also, I talked with my HR to see what kind of maternity leave I am granted.  I was a little disappointed with the answer in terms of time off but thankful I signed up for supplemental disability when I was hired so I can get 70% of my income while I am away.  Chris and I are trying to come up with alternative ways to make up the rest of the 30%. Grateful for my hardworking hubby!

Discovery: Everyone has an opinion about what I should eat, wear, act, prepare. I am choosing to be comfortable in my own skin and trust that my choices are the right ones for me. Trying to consider but be decisive about other people's advice. Basically, take what I need from it but mostly trust my own instinct.

Funny Moment: Since it is fall, I was walking out of Target holding a Pumpkin in front of me that I bought in preparation for Halloween.  When I looked down at the pumpkin I realized that one day my belly will be as large as this pumpkin! CRAZY!

Feelings: I have been in a really happy and joyful mood.  Sure, I have my days where I feel exhausted or just off but in general I am content and living in every moment.  Trying not to look too far ahead but enjoy the moment for what it is.  November is my favorite month so I am ready to squeeze every drop out of it and enjoy every second.

Week 14 Belly Pic