WEEK 36

I have been a fire breathing dragon the past few days.  Like indigestion 24/7 and nothing helps! I kept thinking I was out of the woods of having bad indigestion because it hadn't reared its ugly head yet, but it's here now....and it blows! I get it when I don't eat and I get it when I do.  It's just there. All. The. Time!  I hope this means that baby girl's going to have a full head of hair like little miss Kenzoid did!

And for fun, here is a comparison of my 36 week preggy pics! It's nice to see that my face isn't so fat this time around! hahaha

Any Cravings?  Honeycrisp apples and donuts. Not together but that doesn't sound too bad either.  Even Kensie has jumped on the donut train.  Just the other day she said "Mama, I want a pink donut.  We probably should go buy one".  Umm okay kiddo. If you insist.

Weight Gain? Up 35lbs

Maternity Clothes?  I have very few items that still cover my belly.  Good thing there's only 3 more weeks left, otherwise I might be wearing a bathrobe.

Movement?  So much movement!  Baby girl is so cramped in there that you can actually see her body parts protruding out of my stomach.  I looked in the mirror the other day and I literally saw her knee cap. 

How are you feeling? Honestly, pretty miserable.  I was put on temporary bed rest this week, so that was interesting.  I've been having some lower abdomen pain on and off for several weeks now, but the other day it got really intense.  Luckily it was during Kensie's nap time so I was able to lie down for a while and it went away.  However, the next morning the pain returned and it was worse than ever.  It got so bad that I could barely stand and I had to call Ian home from work.  Any weight on my right foot would send me to tears.  I called the doctor and he wanted me to come in and get checked out.  It turns out that my right round ligament that attaches the uterus to the pelvis has stretched to capacity and is now starting to tear.  Luckily it isn't affecting the baby in any way.  However, as you can imagine it's extremely painful and my doctor wants to avoid further damage, so for a few days following the appointment he told me to stay off my feet.  Luckily this happened on a Friday so I had Ian home to help care for Kensie.  Our wonderful neighbor also came to the rescue in caring for Kens while Ian had a quick trip to Chicago.  She has been such a blessing!!  After about three days of basically doing nothing but sitting/laying down, I'm feeling much much better.  I got a belly sling to help support the baby's weight and that also seems to be helping.  I still have to be conscientious about keeping off my feet as much as possible, not lifting Kens, and resting when I feel the pain coming on, which is easier said than done, but I'm feeling a million times better.  I'm pretty ready for this little girl to come out though. 

Stretch marks?  Uh huh. The doctor said we're having another "big one".  He's guessing that the baby is over 7lbs now and will probably weigh top 8's or low 9's when she's born.  No wonder my skin is stretched to the max!

Best moment of the week?  Our sweet neighbors threw us a neighborhood baby shower/potluck.  This is actually the best and saddest moment of the week.  Unfortunately, the shower was the same day that I had to go to the doctor for all of my pain.  I had been crying all day and was still in so much pain that I was unable to attend the shower.  Luckily Ian and Kens went and had a great time but I was so sad that I wasn't able to go.  I'd been looking forward to it for weeks.  It was so sweet and generous of our neighborhood.  Everyone here is so wonderful.  We're really blessed to live in a community surrounded by such caring people.

 
Sleep? Sleep is still good while I'm asleep.  However, I'm waking up every two hours or so with aches and pains and need to get up and walk around.  Usually a quick trip to the bathroom does the trick and I can get another two hours of sleep.  I think my body is just getting geared up for feedings every two hours.


Miss anything? I've never craved booze before but I really could use an ice cold margarita! Or some Cupcake Moscato wine.  Mmmmm  I guess you crave booze when you are the size of a whale running around chasing after a two year old! HA!

Belly button in or out? Can you say "gross, discolored, alien nub?"

Wedding rings on or off?  The time has come this week that I've had to remove my rings.  Sad day! They still fit fine until I try to take them off.  Then there's no budging them.  So to be safe, I have removed them until after D-day!

Current mood? Extremely happy, but getting anxious, nervous, terrified, etc...You name an emotion, I'm sure I've experienced it today.  I've been told that I'm also quite irritable.  I haven't noticed it, but someone that I live with may have hinted that I am.  Sorry babe! :)

In other news.....Kensie is still cracking us up on the daily.  Her word this week has been "probably" and she is definitely getting some good use out of it.  Aside from her desire to get a donut, here is our favorite conversation this week:

Me:  "Oh no!  Look Ian, someone scratched our car door."
Kensie:  "Oh nooooo!  We probably should get a new car daddy."
Ian:  "WHAT?!"
Me:  "I swear I didn't teach her that!"

Loving her gift from Aunt Katy, Uncle Tom, and Cousin Lex

Going for a ride in the cow train at Oktoberfest

Enjoying a nice October night in the backyard

Maternity/family Picture Day!

A few weeks ago we got together with Lune De La Rouge, a local photographer, for our maternity/family pictures.  It was something we both weren't sure if we had the energy to do, but in the end I'm SO glad that we did.  We went to a local wildlife area and found an amazing sunflower field.  I can't believe some of the shots that she captured.  Kensie was such a trooper.  Especially since this was at her bedtime and of course, she skipped her nap that day.  I can't believe that in just a few short weeks, our little family of three will become a family of four!!!

WEEK 32

Can you say "Holy Huge Belly?!"  Life has been getting crazy around here!  I'm currently 36 weeks while writing this 32 week update.  Enjoy!

Any Cravings? Nutella and banana's on EVERYTHING!!  Also, I can't get enough peanut butter banana sandwiches.  Mmmm.  Clearly my body is seeking out potassium.  Luckily I don't mind because I love bananas.  AND I haven't had any bad leg cramps (as of yet).  Knock on wood, would ya?  Those were brutal during my last pregnancy.  I still remember one like it was yesterday.  What is this crap about women forgetting what pregnancy and child birth is like?  That's a lie!  I remember almost everything about last time like it just happened. 

Weight Gain?  Up 30lbs.  I'm starting to see some chub accumulate but I really feel like most of the weight this time around is mainly baby, fluids, boobs, etc...I honestly feel bigger this time around but  it feels like its all belly and less bootie.

Maternity Clothes?  They're starting to get snug.  I have some medium maternity shorts that I think I'm going to have to say goodbye to in the next couple of weeks and just say hello to my large ones. 

Movement? Lots of wiggles, jiggles and full on karate kicks! 

How are you feeling? Still feeling good overall.  I'm starting to get some discomfort in my lower abdomen but nothing too bad.  I rest when I feel it coming on and it seems to dissipate. 

Stretch marks? Oh so many stretch marks.  And they're starting to itch.  Fun times!

Best moment of the week? We've had a great and eventful couple of weeks around here.  We've transitioned Kensie out of her crib and into her big girl room and big girl bed.  I truly thought it was going to be a train wreck but it has gone so much better than I expected.  We put a child lock on her door thinking we would need it to keep her in her room, but she doesn't even try to come out.  She talks daily about her BIG bed and is now even referring to her old room as the baby's room.  About a week after she was settled into her new room we decided it was time to try and potty train.  Again, it went SO much better than either one of us expected it to.  We stayed home for two days and just let her run around in panties.  The first day she had a few accidents.  The second day she started to get it, and by day three we were pretty much accident free.  Since then, she hasn't had any accidents in over two weeks!  She still wears a diaper during nap time and bed time but she is officially "day trained".  I think night training is still a ways off but I'm so happy with her progress!

Sleep? Sleep has been awesome!  I get up a million times a night to pee but other than that, I'm sleeping like a rock.  I love that we have an adjustable bed.  The bed itself isn't very comfortable, but the adjustable feature makes sleeping while pregnant so much more enjoyable!

Miss anything?  A nice cold margarita!

Belly button in or out? What belly button?  It looks like some sort of weird hernia or something.

Wedding rings on or off?  On! Which is so strange that they still fit.  Especially with the heat, I fully expected to have taken them off weeks ago. 

Current mood? Very happy, content, and proud! 

Here's a few pics of the last four weeks.....

WEEK 28

Does that really say week 28?  Yeahhhhhh, so I've seriously fallen behind this time.  While writing this I'm currently almost 33 weeks along.  Whatever.  I've given up on trying to post in a timely manner.  Hopefully I can recall the details for the pregnancy tracker below.  

Keep an eye out for the 32 week post hopefully in the next........ehhh few days?!

Any Cravings?  Nothing new.  I'm still wanting sweets constantly.  Oh and cream of wheat with fresh berries.  Oh and pancakes with Nutella and bananas.  Mmmm, I can't get enough!  

Weight Gain? Up 25lbs

Maternity Clothes?  This is redundant

Movement?  Constant!  I forgot how much I love feeling a little one squirming around in my belly. 

How are you feeling? Pretty good!  Still hot!

Stretch marks? Again, redundant.

Best moment of the week? I can't remember.  BUT, I will say Ian and I have been spending the evenings in front of the tv - binge watching shows on Netflix.  It's been awesome!  We haven't done this since before Kensie was born and although, we get nothing done at night, it's been so nice to sit and do nothing! This is our time.  Time where we snuggle  sit a few feet away from each other on the couch (because it's too damn hot to sit any closer than that) and just check out for a few hours.  

Sleep?  Meh.  The pillow count is up to 8.....for me.  2 for Ian.  Hahahaha.  

Miss anything? Being able to do anything without getting winded. 

Belly button in or out?  Ohhhhh you better believe it's out.

Wedding rings on or off?  On! 

Current mood?  Honestly?!  Quite irritable.  I don't know why.  I have no reason to be but I am.  So many things are bringing out the feisty-ness in me lately.  Take for instance, the child "friendly" carts at the grocery store.  Who designed these things?  Clearly not someone who goes grocery shopping regularly.  It's like driving a bus through the store that doesn't turn for poo. And of course, Kensie insists that we use these carts every time we go shopping.  Like every. single. time!  And in order to avoid a meltdown, I agree.  You'd think that people would take pitty on you for pushing this, larger than a mini-cooper cart, through the store and possibly give you the right of way, but nooooope.  I feel like I'm playing a real-life game of frogger every time we need a gallon of milk.  For realz!  Look at the size of this thing.  You can't turn around in the isle without hitting the shelves on either side.  I can't wait to see what we look like once we add an infant carrier to the mix.  It's going to be comical! :)

In other news.  Kensie has been such a big helper lately.  She wants to help me with all of the household chores, and it's adorable!  We don't get much done, but it's adorable!

Helping Mama clean out the closet

Helping Mama vacuum

Well that didn't last long

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daddy got the pea out!

"Daddy got the pea out," is all we've been hearing lately at our house!  Why?  You guessed it!  Kensie and I were eating lunch the other day when she thought it'd be funny to put a pea up her nose!  I should have seen it coming.  She's quite the jokster these days, so just minutes before, she was testing me by pretending to put a pea up her nose.  No sooner had I just finished telling her that it wasn't funny and that peas don't go in our nose, do I hear "it's all gone mama."

"What's all gone?"  I ask.
"Da pea.  It's gooooone.  Upa my nose," as she tilts her head backwards to show me her handy work.
"Kensie!  Are you kidding me?  I just told you that peas don't belong in our nose.  Aye aye aye."
"Ha ha ha Aye aye aye, mama!" She repeated.

Oh lordy.  How am I supposed to get this thing out?!  Then I remembered the story I've heard countless times about when I was little and put a fish weight up my nose.  (It's true what they say.  Paybacks are a B!)  I remember my mom telling me that they plugged one nostril and blew in my mouth and the weight popped out.

"Alright, I'll give this a shot," I thought.  It didn't work.  Kensie was less than impressed and I bet that when I had the fish weight up my nose, I wasn't also covered in snot!  I swear, she was producing it faster than I could wipe it away.  And have you ever tried to blow in someones mouth, simultaneously covering their nostril, while they're covered in goo and in hysterical tears? Well... It's no easy task!  I'm fairly certain that wrestling an alligator would have been easier. 

At this point, I started to freak out a little bit.  The pea was going further and further up her nose.  I could barely see it anymore.  Do I call the fire department?  It's not really an emergency but what if she keeps sniffing it up further and it gets lodged in her brain?!  Yes, I know that can't really happen but you try reasoning with a pregnant mom of a hysterical toddler.  I was hot, sweaty and my nerves were shot.  I just experienced a workout the equivalent of running a marathon and the pea was still in her nose.  "Okay, it's time to call in Daddy reinforcements!"

By the time my husband got to the house the pea was barely visible.  He tried to blow it out, which was about as successful as my attempts, and then he grabbed the tweezers.  Between the two of us, and about ten minutes later, we finally retrieved that blasted pea! I think it's safe to say that peas are no longer on the menu at our house anytime in the foreseeable future.

WEEK 24

Yet again I'm behind on my post.  Finding the energy to put on a cute outfit, and do my hair and make-up to take a picture is Just. Not. Happening!  So I put it off for a day, and then another day, and then another day, until I realize that I'm another week along.  Oops.  Good thing I'm not attempting to take pictures each week!

The temperatures haven't been as hot lately but they're still brutal so we limit our outdoor activities on the days above 95.  We got a membership to a children's museum here in Medford, so that has helped keep Kensie busy, and me comfortable, on the really hot days.

Overall I'm feeling pretty good.  I typically have low blood pressure (Yay me!) but unfortunately I've been experiencing really low blood pressure with this pregnancy.  Like really low.  My last reading was 90 over 55.  More and more I'm experiencing an hour or two a day where my heart starts racing, I get really lightheaded, short of breath, and nauseous. Annnnd it's completely out of nowhere, which is fun!  Once I sit or lie down for a while it subsides and I feel better.  They say that your blood pressure is lowest during the latter part of your second trimester so hopefully it will get better in the coming weeks.  I don't remember experiencing this last time. 

Picture is at 25 Weeks

Any Cravings?  Sadly, Junk!  All I want lately are sweets. Like constantly!  Mainly s'mores or cake.  I'm really trying to eat natural sugars, like fruit, as much as I can instead of the processed ones, but I allow myself a little dessert on the daily.  It just tastes sooooo good!  Like 10 times better than usual.  And with all of the uncomforts (yes that's a word) of pregnancy, a little comfort food goes a loooong way!

Weight Gain?  Even with all of the junk cravings, I'm only up 15lbs.  At this point with Kens, I was up a good 25, soooo WIN!

Maternity Clothes?  Uhhhh huhhh!  My Medium maternity shorts are starting to get a little snug around the tush and thigh area.  Lovely.  I've taken a few weeks off from the gym due to the whole blood pressure/passing out thing, but I need to get back!

Movement? YES!!! Finally!!!  I feel baby girl all the time now.  I can even see my stomach move once in a while.  She still gets shy when people try to feel her move but she cooperated just long enough that even daddy felt her move the other day! 


How are you feeling?  Some days good.  Some days meh.  And some days Gahhhhh!  I think the "Gah" days are mainly the days where Kensie is a bit of a stinker so I'm completely exhausted.  She's been cutting her two year molars (for real this time!) so the past few weeks have been DRAINING!  It's been like fighting with a bag of cats while trying to smuggle a watermelon at the same time.  Have you ever tried doing that?  Let me tell ya, it's no piece of cake!  Mmmmm 

Stretch marks?  No new ones yet! But based on how pointy my stomach is (on account of my placenta being in the front, right underneath my belly button) I anticipate a whole new brigade of them moving in any time now.  My stomach is so incredibly hard.  I really don't know how the next 14 weeks (Yes 14! Whoa!) are going to play out. 

Best moment of the week? There have been two.  The first is when Ian felt the baby kick.  We were laying in bed getting ready to go to sleep when she started kicking like crazy.  He put is hand on my left side and she tried to kick his hand away.  I love his reaction when he can feel her move.  It's so wonderful finally being able to share that with him!

The second best moment this week was......wait for it........Kensie went pee pee in the potty!!!  Hallelujah!!!  She loves to tell us that she has to go but when we have her sit there she laughs and runs away.  I think she loves messing with us!  Well this time, she told her Mei Mei that she had to go and she actually went!  She was so proud of herself and all of the excitement that she received.  Hopefully she'll keep it up!

Sleep? Ugh, don't get me started.  If I actually fall asleep in our bed, I wake up in pain.  Back pain, neck pain, just pain in general.  I'm pretty sure it's mattress related and not pregnancy related.  We're considering a new bed but ughhhh.  We just bought this one two years ago so I'm having trouble pulling the trigger.  In the meantime, we have a really comfortable guest bed/future Kensie's big girl bed, and couch so I've been spending a lot of my time in other rooms.  I miss sleeping with the hubs though.  I don't know how some married couples have separate bedrooms.  I really miss him when I'm gone!

Miss anything?  I should be missing lunch meat, but I eat that almost daily.  Still microwaved of course!  


Belly button in or out?  Almost all the way out!

Wedding rings on or off?  On! 

Current mood?  Currently, as in right now?  Very happy!  But Kens has been back to herself the past few days so that makes me very happy!  Ask me again next week. ;p

WEEK 20! We're having a........

GIRL!!!  We're having another baby girl!!  I'm so excited for Kensie to have a sister! (and a little terrified for the teenage years, if I'm being honest)! Although, I think she might be slightly disappointed.  Every time I ask her who's in mommy's tummy she responds "baby boy in mama's tummy".  I'm not sure where that came from but we're working on "baby sister in mama's tummy".  Its now starting to catch on.

Again, I'm behind on my posts. Sigh......While writing this I am currently 21 weeks along, and we found out our gender news at 19 weeks.  It's taken me this long to post a picture because honestly.....I keep forgetting to have Ian take one.  It was my goal to do a picture every two weeks but at 19 weeks I realized that I'd forgotten to take an 18 week picture and then at 20.5 weeks I realized that I still hadn't taken a 20 week picture!  I wanted to have my hair all cute with a cute outfit and my make-up done, but by the time I would think about having my picture taken I'd be a hot mess.  Between my forgetfulness and my desire to look presentable in the photo, I've come to the conclusion that a picture was never going to meet my requirements.  So here you go folks!  No make-up, hair's a mess, and I'm wearing blue when it would have been a better picture in pink, but at least I took a shower!   WIN!!!  Oh well, at least it's being documented, right?

I spy a little helper

Any Cravings?  The salsa craving has kind of subsided the past few weeks and I've moved on to Cream of Wheat with fresh berries in it.  Can you say YUM?!?!  And also weird!!  I wake up every morning needing a big bowl of it.  And it's so delicious!!  Being pregnant in the summer does have its perks.  All the fresh berries I could want!!!  To offset all of this healthy eating, I of course, want ice cream ALL. THE. TIME! 

Maternity Clothes?  I went and bought a few more tank tops this week and two more pairs of shorts so hopefully I'll be set for the summer.  I thought I could make due with two pairs of shorts but having a toddler around makes this impossible!  I constantly have peanut butter, or strawberries, or some questionable substance on me, so more shorts were a necessity!

Movement?  I think I mentioned that I've been a little nervous because I haven't been feeling as much movement as I remembered feeling with Kensie around this time.  Well it turns out that there's a reason!!  At our gender ultrasound I was told that the placenta is in the front so it will make it more difficult to feel her wiggles.  The doctor said it's like having a thick wool blanket between me and the baby so no wonder the movement has been subdued!  The movement I have felt has also been a very odd sensation.  It's much deeper and less on the surface of my stomach than I felt with Kensie.  And I'm pretty sure this kid gets a good chuckle from kicking what I can only imagine is my colon....And on a pretty regular basis.  Talk about a bizarre butt-puckering experience!!!   I'm sure I look like a lunatic when this happens as I have an uncontrollable reflex that makes me jump and and say "woooo" like I'm being goosed by the invisible man!  I can safely say that this didn't happen in my first pregnancy, and I'd be okay if it didn't continue for very long.

How are you feeling?  HOT!!!  Like really hot!  And we're supposed to hit 108 this week!  Gahhhhh!  Thank goodness for air conditioning!!  And ice cream!! 

Stretch marks?  No new ones yet! 

Best moment of the week?  I'd like to say our gender appointment but that would be a lie!  Unfortunately we had an overly excitable doctor at the appointment who had terrible bedside manor.  Long story short, he scared me to death by telling me that with my previous c-section and my placenta being in the front, that I was at risk for a life threatening condition.  Then he continued to tell me that if I had this condition then "it would be disastrous" and I "would have to have my uterus removed or I would bleed out and die on the table".  Needless to say, I was a basket case for two days!  Once I got in to see my actual OB he assured us that I don't have this condition and he even requested that another neo-natologist take a look at my scans to be sure.   Luckily all is well with the baby and myself!!  So fast forward three days to the best moment of the week.  We had a few family members over for a small gender reveal celebration.  It wasn't anything crazy like I did the last time around, but it was nice!  We had a backyard bbq, a little cake and ice cream, and we sprayed the fam with pink silly string when they weren't expecting it!  It was fabulous!! Although I forgot to get pictures of the silly string surprise.  Fail! 

Sleep? It's been great!

Miss anything?  Nah, not really.  

Belly button in or out?  It's pretty flush.  It's as far out right now as it was at the very end with Kensie.  I'm a little scared.....

Wedding rings on or off?  On! 

Current mood?  So happy!  And HOT!

I happened to run across this Coke that said "Share a Coke with your Sis" and had to get a picture.  Kens insisted her baby be in the picture too!