And Three Became Four

That’s right, folks. Baby S number two is on the way! I’m due on September 25th though I’d place money on having another October pumpkin. I was nine days late with Parker so I’d be shocked if this baby arrives early/on time.

This pregnancy has been a million times different than it was with Parker. I found out super early that I was pregnant—3w2d!—which is just one day shy from the earliest you’ll get a positive preg test. From 5 to 10ish weeks I had all day, all night morning sickness. My cravings have been more intense and my belly looks now like it did at 18w with Parker. I’ve felt a lot of stretching and Braxton hicks at 11w which is like the earliest BH’s can show up. While I was miserable for weeks and sure that I was going to die, I’m feeling like a rockstar now. My energy is back, I’m able to eat something other than garbage food, and I’m able to run around like a mad woman with Parker. I’m back!

I’ve been keeping a pregnancy journal this entire time but have been waiting to share the news until I got the results of my NT scan. Baby looks fab—both the u/s and bloodwork came back with no elevated risk for chromosomal abnormalities. I’ll be updating each week. Here’s the latest on where I am now and some of my past posts. Get ready for post overload—it will take about 4 hours to read.

Yay!
How far along: 12 weeks (photo to come!)

Total weight gain: 116lbs, up 3.6lbs. Almost the exact same gain I had by 12w with Parker. I’m hoping for another 22lb weight gain for this pregnancy—it was so easy to lose!

Maternity Clothes: rocking the Bella Band. I tend not to buy maternity shirts. I buy tops in the next size up (medium) and dresses

Best moment this week: seeing baby on the u/s screen! He/she was moving all around with HB of 159bpm.

Movement: still nothing—soon though

Food Cravings: I am finally back to my normal eating self! No more pizza binges. No more greasy food. I’ve been eating a lot of grapes, mangos (YUUUM) and strawberries. I still do need to eat every two-ish hours or I start to feel nauseous

Sleep: I’m still trying to get 10 hours a night. I was finally able to drop my weekend naps. My energy is back!

Milestones: baby is about as long as my pinky and started swallowing

Girl or boy: girl!

Random: I am back to my normal, energetic self. My belly is huge and I freaking love it. April 30th is the big day when we find out if Parker is getting a brother or sister.

*****
How far along: 10 weeks 

 


Total weight gain: 114.4lbs, up a total of 2lbs.


Maternity Clothes: Still rocking the Bella Band Best moment this week: I'm still feeling a little bit better Movement: none just yet


Food Cravings: Chicken Enchilada Casserole. I had it for breakfast, 1st lunch, 2nd lunch (no joke) and dinner one day this week. It's that good.


Sleep: I'm still trying to get 10 hours a night. I still feel a million times better when I'm at home on the weekends since I can be lazy with miss Parker. Not so much when I'm at work!


Milestones: the baby has graduated to fetus status! The tail is gone and has moved up to where the spine is. Girl or boy: I'm sticking with girl for now. We will find out for sure in 8 weeks.


Random: My stomach is enormous compared to when I was pregnant with Parker. I'm still eating like a fool--pizza, McDonalds breakfast, Jimmy Johns…lord help me

*****
How far along: 8 weeks



Total weight gain: 113.6lbs, up 1.2lbs. I ate like a mad woman this past week in an attempt to curb my all day m/s.


Maternity Clothes: Not yet, but I see the Bella Band in my near future. I can barely button my work pants.


Best moment this week: Ultrasound, baby! My O date may be off a bit but according to my calculations I was 7w at the u/s appointment and baby measured 6w4d with a strong heartbeat of 118bpm. I forgot how magical it is to see the life inside of you for the first time.


Movement: Soon!


Food cravings: I don't know what I want to eat until it's time to eat so I stop at Kroger every morning on my way to work to pick up the flavor of the day. I crave unhealthy food right now--sausage gravy, Doritos, hummus (not bad unless you eat the whole container at once...not that I did that...no way). My go to meal, salads, make me gag. As does chicken. Yuck yuck yuck.


Sleep: Knock on wood, but Parker's sleep is starting to finally improve (she's been battling a cold) which means that I'm getting more sleep--around 9 hours a night which is like unheard of for me. I wake up at least three times each night to pee though--annoying.


Milestones: webbed fingers and toes sprout this week. The heart has separated into four chambers. The eyelids, ears, lips and nose are starting to form. Girl or boy: I'm still going with boy based on how lousy I feel


What are you looking forward to this week: My first midwife appointment is on Friday and I think we'll break the news to immediate family on Saturday!
Random: Second pregnancies are no joke, especially when you have a full time job, a toddler, and feel nauseous all freaking day. I need to eat at least every 2 hours or I feel worse than I already do. Dear God I hope that I don't blow up this pregnancy!

*****
How far along: 6 weeks Total weight gain: 112.4lbs--no gain Maternity Clothes: Nope, but I'm not wearing anything remotely form fitting. My bloat is out.of.control. I have no clue how I'm going to hide this until I hit 2nd tri.


Best moment this week: Looking at Parker and thinking how excited I am to do this baby thing all over again.


Movement: In due time Food cravings: I got a nasty stomach bug on Friday and that has really curbed my appetite. The smell of most food makes me nauseous and I feel sick when I don't eat and sick when I eat. Lose lose situation.


Sleep: I'm tired. This past weekend I napped with Parker for both of her naps--3 1/2 hours each. Baby knows mama needs some sleep. Damn work during the week not letting me take advantage of naptime. Boo.


Milestones: eyes, ears, and the mouth have started to form. The baby is about the size of a sprinkle :) Girl or boy: I'm feeling (1) twins or (2) boy this week


What are you looking forward to this week: Getting my betas drawn. FX that the numbers are going up like they should be! 5 weeks...that's one week closer to 40. Or more like 41w or 42w for me :) I took another pregnancy test on Friday and a super dark line popped up almost immediately so I'm feeling pretty optimistic. I haven't called my midwife yet but I know that my first appointment will be at 8 weeks which is light-years away when you are pregnant. It's silly, but I look at the pregnancy tests every morning and smile.

*****4 weeks
I'm pregnant--eek!

I love being pregnant and can't wait to experience it all over again. Well, minus the labor but let's not think about that yet. Out of sight, out of mind...

I'm so happy to be giving Parker a sibling. We're on the right track to have a house full of kids like I dream about :) (Almost) 2 down...how many more to go? At least three, maybe four :)

It's a secret right now though so shhhh. I don't know when I'll break the news but it sure won't be anytime soon!

How we found out: I took a test at 9DPO, aka super early, and it was negative. I looked an hour later (big no no) and it was positive. The same thing happened with Parker so I was feeling pretty optimistic. I tested again the next morning and boom, two lines. I gave the test to Parker and had her walk into the bathroom where Kris was getting ready for work. I was charting so I know exactly when we conceived. Well, I think that I do. Charting is hard when you can't get three straight ours of sleep thanks to my precious bambino but I still think that I have the date pinpointed.

Two babies, two years apart, two full time jobs. Crazy? I think so!

How far along: 4 weeks (pic is from 5 weeks--bloated already!)

Total weight gain: Nothing yet. I'm starting out at 111.2--my all time low weight! Usually I'm more like 112.4 so it's weird for me to be this low. Please dear God let me see that number on the scale again. It's so pretty!

Maternity Clothes: I've been eyeing them in the stores but haven't bought anything yet, though everything I do buy I make sure that it's belly friendly :) I did find out that H&M has a Mama section and can't wait spend some moola there!

Best moment this week: Finding out I was pregnant!

Movement: Can't wait for it :)

Food cravings: Meat. I'm not a meat girl, but when we went out to eat a couple days ago I ordered a nice, juicy burger. Hit.the.spot.

Sleep: I'm up a lot at night because of Parker, not because I'm pregnant :)

Milestones: the placenta and umbilical cord are developing!

Girl or boy: We eventually want a boy but I want a girl this time. I'll be thrilled to have a boy and thrilled to have a girl, so either way works. Right now I feel like it's a girl.

What are you looking forward to this week: Designing the nursery and trying to decide on a girl’s name. We've had our boy name set for years but a girl name is tough.