So I've completely neglected my blog for the last two weeks...but it's not for lack of activity! This little boy is moving and kicking all the time now. I've forgotten how strange but cool it feels to have a little somebody hanging out inside of me. I'm beginning to realize that maybe my holiday sweater isn't going to cover the entire belly this year...and more and more shirts are looking like Donald Duck's. I'm still trying to stick to my resolution NOT to buy maternity clothes- tops, anyway. The styles in the stores make it easy- half of them look like maternity tops (which I will not be buying) and the other half are super long and as long as they have a little stretch to them work just perfectly!
Old Navy is having a ridiculous sale on things...lots of $6 tops which I've recently brought home with me. The only downfall is most of them are very boring solids (a few stripes...but really, with a widening waist do I need stripes to point out my biggest current attribute??!!) Ooo, and Old Navy has some great maternity jeans- a "real waist" style and another that has an extra low waisted band. They're 30 bucks, compared to some you find at Pea in the Pod for $120. I just can't justify buying expensive jeans to wear for less than 6 months! It's not like they're going to hide my belly or make me feel sexy. (We're a bit beyond that.) I ordered online because I'm short, and needed the shorter cut, but you can return them to the store if they don't fit (even if it says "online return only" on your receipt.) There were 5 or 6 maternity styles to choose from, so I just ordered all of them, tried them on in my own home and returned the rejects. Let me tell you, shopping is not nearly as enjoyable once your two little ones begin crawling in and out of the racks so I appreciated the convenience!
I also really like that Aerie brand...did I spell that right? Their tops are so soft and stretchy and have a little more "flair" to them.
Apparently, my little guy is about the size and weight of a Harry Potter book. (No, I didn't pull that out of my arss, I snatched it from my "3D Baby" weekly email update.) Crazy! I've gained about 10 pounds, but most of my weight gain usually is in the last trimester. I think the guidance is one pound a month for the first two trimesters and one pound a week for the last trimester. With all the holiday yummies and all the baking I've been doing, I don't think I'll have a problem there.
Other moments to note in the last two weeks: I've gotten my belly ledge. I catch myself resting my drink or hands on my tummy...and when I look down at my shirt cringe at the spots I"ve obtained from having a stomach that now protrudes over the counters and catches all my crumbs. Ug!! And, somewhat related to the first observation, I was working out and noticed my belly was in the way while I was lunging. Lovely!
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Friday, December 5, 2008
Week 20
What a difference a few weeks can make! After returning home from our Thanksgiving vacation, I feel completely rejuvenated. The lack of motivation that's been keeping me from my "normal" anal cleaning has dissolved and I'm now "Miss Hard Worker." It helps that Christmas is already around the corner and I have not yet ordered the Christmas cards. I've downloaded the picture and written the "Christmas letter," but I've been trying to complete all my other photo projects so that I can put it all in one order. Ug! This is the third night in a row I've been up past 3am...and my afternoon naps aren't cutting it any more.
I've also returned back to the pool. There is nothing better than the peace and buoyancy of the water, especially when pregnant! I'm feeling the little guy move, remembering how cool that sensation is and trying to savor it...as this is probably the last little bun in the oven. I'm so ecstatic my energy is back, especially at this time of year! And we're now 1/2 way through the pregnancy, so really this kid is done with the major stuff and just packing on the pounds...hmmm, will I, too? I've been good with exercising and have gained about 8 pounds, which I guess is about right. (The recommendation from most books says 10-15 pounds...but they don't know how much I eat in the last few months of my pregnancies!!!!)
Time for bed...for both of us!
I've also returned back to the pool. There is nothing better than the peace and buoyancy of the water, especially when pregnant! I'm feeling the little guy move, remembering how cool that sensation is and trying to savor it...as this is probably the last little bun in the oven. I'm so ecstatic my energy is back, especially at this time of year! And we're now 1/2 way through the pregnancy, so really this kid is done with the major stuff and just packing on the pounds...hmmm, will I, too? I've been good with exercising and have gained about 8 pounds, which I guess is about right. (The recommendation from most books says 10-15 pounds...but they don't know how much I eat in the last few months of my pregnancies!!!!)
Time for bed...for both of us!
Monday, November 17, 2008
18 weeks and it's a...
First of all, two days ago my belly suddenly popped out...it seemed to happen overnight! I'm still trying to squeeze into my low-rider jeans, but when I sit down I'm worried I may be causing head trauma to the little kiddo. Have you heard of "belly bands?" They're fantastic! It's a big wide stretchy belt type thing that you can use to cover the waist of pants that no longer look good or don't button...or hold up maternity pants that don't quite fit yet. I'm sad to say, I am now in stage two. I don't think I wore maternity clothes (or even really "showed") until I was 6 months the first pregnancy...it may have been a bit earlier the second time...but 18 weeks???!
I broke down and paid the money to have an ultrasound strictly to find out the gender. I guess it doesn't really matter either way, as we already have one of each, but we're going to visit TONS of family for Thanksgiving this week and they're all salivating to know. Plus, if we were having a girl, I was eager to purge Owen's outgrown clothes to his cousin, Brodie.
The place was soooooo nice...there was a huge room with a cushy sectional and a nice big fat flat screen on the wall so family could sit in comfort and watch. In the back against the wall were containers of toys for all ages- perfect because PR was still out of town and I was wondering what the heck I was going to do to keep the kids busy while I was laying on my back out of arms' reach. In no time, the technician said she was certain she knew- it was a boy! We looked at the 3D (I guess it's considered 4D because it's in motion.) I was actually not too crazy about it. I think the 2D profiles look much cuter and the bones, spine, heart, etc are more easily recognizable. At this point, my baby doesn't have much fat, so that may have been why the kid looked a little creepy to me. But we did get to see him yawn, and he was even lying in the same position I was, with his left arm up over his head.
I have to say, I'm a bit disappointed...but only because I had envisioned Caroline to have a little sister close in age they could be best friends and I could dress them in matching attire. As an only child, I have no idea about the whole sibling thing...so maybe the girls would be tearing each other's baby dolls by the limbs and fighting over clothes or something. Anyway, I was completely positive we were done with the whole baby business after this...but as I was going through Caroline's old clothes, I was not ready to part quite yet. Who knows, maybe chaos will suit me?!
I broke down and paid the money to have an ultrasound strictly to find out the gender. I guess it doesn't really matter either way, as we already have one of each, but we're going to visit TONS of family for Thanksgiving this week and they're all salivating to know. Plus, if we were having a girl, I was eager to purge Owen's outgrown clothes to his cousin, Brodie.
The place was soooooo nice...there was a huge room with a cushy sectional and a nice big fat flat screen on the wall so family could sit in comfort and watch. In the back against the wall were containers of toys for all ages- perfect because PR was still out of town and I was wondering what the heck I was going to do to keep the kids busy while I was laying on my back out of arms' reach. In no time, the technician said she was certain she knew- it was a boy! We looked at the 3D (I guess it's considered 4D because it's in motion.) I was actually not too crazy about it. I think the 2D profiles look much cuter and the bones, spine, heart, etc are more easily recognizable. At this point, my baby doesn't have much fat, so that may have been why the kid looked a little creepy to me. But we did get to see him yawn, and he was even lying in the same position I was, with his left arm up over his head.
I have to say, I'm a bit disappointed...but only because I had envisioned Caroline to have a little sister close in age they could be best friends and I could dress them in matching attire. As an only child, I have no idea about the whole sibling thing...so maybe the girls would be tearing each other's baby dolls by the limbs and fighting over clothes or something. Anyway, I was completely positive we were done with the whole baby business after this...but as I was going through Caroline's old clothes, I was not ready to part quite yet. Who knows, maybe chaos will suit me?!
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Week 16: Foot loose!
This kid is kickin'!!!! Last weekend we had my husband's Marine Corps ball and while the DJ played his music, I felt a kick for the first time during this pregnancy. It was very cool. Especially since I've been paranoid about my belly not growing the last few weeks.
I am wishing I had done a better job taking belly pictures, though. My first pregnancy, PR and I diligently took frontal and silhouette pictures of my belly nearly every other month. Unfortunately, we had used our new "super cool" video camera to take snapshots. We didn't realize until 7 months into our bright idea that the snapshots were stored as video because we hadn't switched the "function" button to "still camera." Brilliant! With Caroline's pregnancy (#2) we slacked off a bit, but I'd say we have enough snapshots to piece together the evolution of my somewhat in shape abs to a larger than life basketball belly. The poor kid is not even born, and already missing out because of his pecking order! (However, I suspect he will reap the benefits of having worn out parents when it comes to discipline during his teen years, so we'll call it a wash.)
I am wishing I had done a better job taking belly pictures, though. My first pregnancy, PR and I diligently took frontal and silhouette pictures of my belly nearly every other month. Unfortunately, we had used our new "super cool" video camera to take snapshots. We didn't realize until 7 months into our bright idea that the snapshots were stored as video because we hadn't switched the "function" button to "still camera." Brilliant! With Caroline's pregnancy (#2) we slacked off a bit, but I'd say we have enough snapshots to piece together the evolution of my somewhat in shape abs to a larger than life basketball belly. The poor kid is not even born, and already missing out because of his pecking order! (However, I suspect he will reap the benefits of having worn out parents when it comes to discipline during his teen years, so we'll call it a wash.)
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Week 15
I'm finally in the second trimester, and feeling MUCH better. While my daily naps have not ceased, my constant icky feeling and lack of motivation to do anything around the house have- woo hoo! I thought I had this whole pregnancy thing completely figured out and mastered. But the third time around had been a doozy- and I"m only 3 months into it!
First, my belly button has already popped out...enough so that you could see it through a snug shirt. Tell me that isn't attractive! The size of my belly (and overall body) hasn't changed much, but my waist is gone and I've resorted to workout pants, as my maternity pants are still too big.(Which is strange, because I've only gained a pound or two...) While my stomach was grumbling and finicky the first 2 1/2 months, I made absolutely NO effort to suck in my abs, and so....my stomach muscles are remembering how ridiculously large my stomach expanded. I guess what I'm saying is, with good posture, it's hard to tell I'm pregnant, but when I relax, I look like I enjoy a beer (or two or three.) Needless to say, my posture is only perfect for the few hours after I do yoga, pilates, or swim. Sait la vie!
I read that at week 15, the baby can be sucking on thumbs and fists, get the hiccups, and start to move around in there. And one web site I found compared the kid to the size of a Twix bar. Tell me that isn't weird! So, of course, after I read this article I was sure I'd felt the little twix kick. My first two did get the hiccups often, which looks hilarious once your belly is big and the whole thing moves with each "hic." Any by now, with luck and a good ultrasound tech, you can tell the baby's sex.
We're definitley going to find out if this one is a boy or girl...the standard is that they schedule the ultrasound for 18-20 weeks, I guess it's a bit easier because some parts are a bit bigger? Anyway, ours is scheduled for the first week of November. I guess it might be fun to be suprised about the sex in the delivery room, but with my OCD personality, I need to have months to get the baby's room and clothes together and I'm NOT doing a yellow or green room. Nope. With my first, that was my mentality...oh, just get newborn sacks and stuff that are plain so we can reuse them with all our kids, no matter what gender. But all it takes is ONE instance where someone mistakes your little princess for a boy, and it's PINK head to toe.
First, my belly button has already popped out...enough so that you could see it through a snug shirt. Tell me that isn't attractive! The size of my belly (and overall body) hasn't changed much, but my waist is gone and I've resorted to workout pants, as my maternity pants are still too big.(Which is strange, because I've only gained a pound or two...) While my stomach was grumbling and finicky the first 2 1/2 months, I made absolutely NO effort to suck in my abs, and so....my stomach muscles are remembering how ridiculously large my stomach expanded. I guess what I'm saying is, with good posture, it's hard to tell I'm pregnant, but when I relax, I look like I enjoy a beer (or two or three.) Needless to say, my posture is only perfect for the few hours after I do yoga, pilates, or swim. Sait la vie!
I read that at week 15, the baby can be sucking on thumbs and fists, get the hiccups, and start to move around in there. And one web site I found compared the kid to the size of a Twix bar. Tell me that isn't weird! So, of course, after I read this article I was sure I'd felt the little twix kick. My first two did get the hiccups often, which looks hilarious once your belly is big and the whole thing moves with each "hic." Any by now, with luck and a good ultrasound tech, you can tell the baby's sex.
We're definitley going to find out if this one is a boy or girl...the standard is that they schedule the ultrasound for 18-20 weeks, I guess it's a bit easier because some parts are a bit bigger? Anyway, ours is scheduled for the first week of November. I guess it might be fun to be suprised about the sex in the delivery room, but with my OCD personality, I need to have months to get the baby's room and clothes together and I'm NOT doing a yellow or green room. Nope. With my first, that was my mentality...oh, just get newborn sacks and stuff that are plain so we can reuse them with all our kids, no matter what gender. But all it takes is ONE instance where someone mistakes your little princess for a boy, and it's PINK head to toe.
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