baby #2: 36 weeks

(written June 5th)_MG_2745

Baby’s size: The book value is 20.75 inches long and about 6 lbs, and at our ultrasound yesterday, she came in at 6 lbs 2 ounces (with a margin of error of 14 ounces). So I guess we’re spot on!
Maternity clothes?: Um. Duh.
Gender: Girl!
Symptoms: I’ve been getting some nerve pain down my legs at random moments, mostly on the right side. I had the same thing with Kaya once she got this big, too.
Labor signs: My midwife said I’m 50% effaced, but not dilated at all yet. She’s at a -2 station. I can’t believe that at this point with Kaya, I was already at 1.5 cm! Obviously, it didn’t make any difference since she didn’t come early.
Sleep: I’ve been waking up a lot (and so has Kaya, for some reason). I did get a couple of nice naps this week so I’m cherishing those.
Movement: Still so many hiccups! She also seems to move extra when I’ve been practicing deep breathing/relaxation techniques.
Cravings: Ice water, Twizzlers, and chocolate chip cookies.
Anything making you queasy or sick?: Mostly feeling good this week!
Belly Button in or out?: Mostly flat… and sticking up in one spot. Weird.
Exercising?: I have not been good at keeping track of my miles. For the most part, though, I still run 2 miles in the morning and then we do another 2-mile walk in the afternoon. So I’m still doing about 20 miles per week, but half of it is walked.
Mood: Sappy and sentimental. I know it’s hormones… and I also know how much crazier it gets in the first couple weeks after baby comes. Can I just skip all this emotional mess?
Best moment this week: We didn’t get any cute pictures of her face at this ultrasound because she had her hands AND feet in front of it! It was still really neat to see all her little toes moving around though. I just find it hilarious that she’s had her feet way up by her face every single time we’ve seen her!
Comparison: 36 weeks with Kaya! I definitely see a difference in size and shape, even though my weight is the same.36weekcomparisonAnd I can’t believe I’m saying this… but month 8 is complete!month8collage

blog every day in may | day 31: something I’m looking forward to this summer

Here we are… the last day in May! I’m glad I stuck with the challenge and wrote all the posts. It’s been fun!blogeverydaymaybutton31_2I hope it’s obvious what I’m most excited for this summer.

Tiny toes, late-night snuggles, and spending a million moments memorizing all her features.

Taking my two girls for walks every day.

Nursing again.

Kissing her forehead.

Having my heart grow another size bigger.

baby #2: 35 weeks

This is our “quick-take-it-before-it-pours-down-rain” photo!_MG_2705

Baby’s size: The book says 20.25 inches long and over 5.5 lbs. That seems so crazy big to me, but I guess we’ll find out her actual size at our next ultrasound next week.
Maternity clothes?: Yes… and I’ve had a few people tell me this week that I look like I’m getting “close to the end” or “ready to pop”! I never heard that when I was pregnant with Kaya, but maybe this little girl sitting so much lower makes me look closer to birth? She is so low (and balled up) that I honestly sometimes forget I have a belly (which probably sounds ridiculous to anyone who looks at how big it actually is)!
Gender: Little baby GIRL! :) 
Symptoms: I had some seriously intense Braxton Hicks last Friday, but nothing really since. I also have some rib pain, which is totally new to me, and just slight nerve pain starting down my legs if I stand too long/in a certain position. I’m not complaining… just keeping track of it all!
Sleep: Great if I go to bed exhausted (which has been every night this week)!
Movement: Lots of hiccups! She also loves to push [HARD] on me with her feet!
Cravings: Ice water… does that count? And chocolate is pretty much always on the list.
Anything making you queasy or sick?: I have seasonal allergies, and I think the congestion from it is what makes me nauseous. I’ve also stopped drinking milk in the mornings because my stomach is always turning after that.
Belly Button in or out?: Flat!
Exercising?: Running is hard now, and I’m trying to balance staying active with not overdoing it. I know I totaled over 20 miles, but a lot of them were walked. I also did one random arm workout!
Mood: I’m in full-fledged nesting mode!
Best moment this week: Getting A LOT of things checked off my to-do list!
Comparison:
35 weeks with Kaya!35weekcomparison

baby #2: 34 weeks

(written May 22nd)

I love my little photo-bomber this week 🙂_MG_2644

Baby’s size: The book says about 19.75 inches long and almost 5 lbs. We finally got to talk to the OB about our ultrasound from a couple weeks ago, and she said everything was great, except her abdominal circumference was a bit small (which is an indicator of whether or not she’s getting enough nutrients). So we have a follow-up ultrasound in a couple weeks to check on her again. I was 33 weeks, 6 days at my appointment and my fundal height measured at 31 weeks. The OB has the same opinion as my midwife, though- I’m a small girl, so I could just have a small baby in there.
Maternity clothes?: Yes.
Gender: Princess :) 
Symptoms: I can feel my pelvis loosening up!
Sleep: Over the past month (at least), I wake up on my own around 5:30 am. Our vacation put a temporary stop to it, but now I’m back to being awake super early! I just need to actually get up and accomplish things instead of trying to fall back asleep.
Movement: All the time. Sometimes it feels like she’s scraping at my insides (ouch), or popping her joints or something.
Cravings: Ice cream and Twizzlers (which I always craved with Kaya, but this is only the second time I’ve had any during this pregnancy). Otherwise, I really haven’t been too interested in food the past few weeks. I eat to live, not live to eat, I guess!
What I miss: Sleeping better?
Anything making you queasy or sick?: It’s crazy to me that I’m still nauseous at times. It’s like it never truly went away during this pregnancy. Meat, dirty diapers, and picking up after Jax are not my favorite things right now.
Belly Button in or out?: Flat and pretty unattractive (as far as belly buttons go, anyway).
Exercising?: Last week (I count my miles from Sunday to Saturday) was our vacation, and I snuck in one run before we left (3 miles). We did a good amount of walking while at the beach, though.
Mood: Part of me wants time to slow down, but there’s a piece of my heart that just wants to hold her already and know she’s safe. Pregnancy hormones are crazy and I cry at the drop of a hat (but I’m happy, I promise)!
Best moment this week: Celebrating our 5-year wedding anniversary!
Comparison:
34 weeks with Kaya! This little girl still looks so much lower to me.

34weekcomparison

baby #2: 33 weeks

(written May 17th)_MG_2633Baby’s size: Supposedly about 19.5 inches long and 4.5 pounds. Our ultrasound results put her in the 29th percentile for growth. She’s just a little girl!
Maternity clothes?: Yep. Either maternity or bigger sizes than I’d usually wear.
Gender: Princess 🙂
Symptoms: Honestly, I am feeling pretty great for being 33 weeks pregnant. I remember that starting around 32 weeks or so last time, I definitely had moments where I just wanted to be done. Now, I sometimes I even forget I’m pregnant, so I’d say that’s a pretty good indication that I’m mostly still comfortable.
Sleep: I’ve had so many bad dreams lately it’s not even funny (but when are nightmares funny, anyway?)! The dreams aren’t even baby-related.
Movement: All the time, and some of it is getting uncomfortable! I still love feeling her though.
Cravings: Ice cream still wins!
What I miss: Nada.
Anything making you queasy or sick?: Nauseous sometimes.
Belly Button in or out?: It is looking pretty weird these days. Not quite in, not quite flat. Kaya thinks it’s hilarious whenever she gets a glimpse of it.
Exercising?: Ran 20 miles and walked 6.
Mood: Excited… but definitely feeling the time crunch.
Best moment this week: Vacationing at the beach with my family 🙂
Comparison:
33 weeks with Kaya! (also, I try not to read my weekly post from last pregnancy until I write the post for this one, but this week, they are eerily similar! Weird.)33weekcomparison

blog every day in may | day 10: on my heart

I’ve had a countdown widget on my phone’s home screen for a few months now.

Today it reads, “53 days until my baby is born“.

It’s obviously just an estimate, but seeing that reminder each day just gives me a little dose of reality.

We are SO CLOSE to having two kids. Two little girls who need their mama and daddy for everything.

I can’t even explain how grateful I am for both of them.

Our Peanut gets stronger and stronger by the day, making her presence even more known. Her wiggles and kicks are the last things I’m aware of before I fall asleep at night, and they’re what I first recognize when I wake up in the morning.

Soon enough, those kicks will be replaced by cries for milk and diaper changes.

I am already so smitten by this new little girl. Between her and Kaya, my heart might actually explode from being so full.

_MG_5022(Kaya, 3 days old)

I just hope I can be the best mama to the two of them. I’ve wondered and worried a little about how I’ll balance a newborn needing to nurse with a toddler who can seem more like a little monkey at times.

I’ve realized that I want to give both girls 100 percent of my best efforts, but I can’t help asking myself how it’ll be possible (100% divided by 2 is 50%… and that isn’t really what I’m going for). I want them both to have all the things they need and some of what they want. And I hope that my attention isn’t so divided that either of them feels left out.

I know it’s going to take some time to figure out a new routine and way of life. This new baby is only going to add to our lives, even if it might be a little difficult at times, especially in the beginning. We’ll figure it out and do better than we ever thought we could.

baby #2: 32 weeks

_MG_2345Baby’s size: The book says she’s nearly 19 inches long and almost 4 pounds, but we had an ultrasound this week and she actually came in at about 3 pounds 5 ounces.
Maternity clothes?: Um yes.
Gender: She was confirmed to still be a little girl at our ultrasound!
Symptoms: Achy pelvis, but that’s all.
Sleep: If I’m really exhausted, then I sleep great. If I’m just “tired”, I toss and turn a lot.
Movement: This girl is almost always moving. I’ll be sitting in a meeting and she actually distracts me! I feel her even when I’m running sometimes, which is so odd, since I think exercise used to put Kaya to sleep.
Cravings: We are not even going to talk about how much ice cream I’ve had this week… I’m keeping Kroger in business all on my own, probably!
What I miss: Nada.
Anything making you queasy or sick?: Still a little nauseous here and there.
Belly Button in or out?: In.
Exercising?: Ran 20 miles and walked 4. This week felt a lot easier exercise-wise than the previous one!
Mood: Pregnancy hormones are crazy. I’ll want to cry and not know why… and other days I’m completely fine.
Best moment this week: We had a bit of an unexpected ultrasound this week. As I’ve mentioned before, my fundal height has been measuring about a week behind every time I visit my OB/midwife. This week, I measured even further behind, so my midwife ordered an ultrasound to check on Peanut’s growth. As far as I know, everything looked great.

It was so amazing to see her again now that she’s so much bigger and more developed. She was blinking, grabbing her toes, swallowing fluid, and practicing breathing. She even covered up her little face at one point so we couldn’t see her! I can’t wait to kiss these cute cheeks so soon.

babyirwin32weekcrop
Comparison: Same shirt, different bump! 32 weeks with Kaya! This one definitely looks and feels lower to me.32weekcomparison

Month 7 is complete!month7collage

baby #2: 31 weeks

_MG_2233Baby’s size: About 3.5 pounds and nearly 18 inches long!
Maternity clothes?: Yep. I’m ready for summer and to wear shorts every day though!
Gender: Our second little princess 🙂
Symptoms: I’m kind of wondering if I’ve already been having Braxton Hicks contractions… my stomach gets tight and uncomfortable at times, but I’m just not very good at identifying if that’s what’s really going on.
Sleep: I’ve finally hit that point where sleeping isn’t enjoyable. I’ve had crazy dreams and I wake up a million times or don’t even feel like I’m getting any rest. Oh well.
Movement: She’s running out of room, so I’m just feeling her push on me a lot at all hours of the day. I still don’t think she sleeps much. 🙂
Cravings: None.
What I miss: Sleeping better and running faster.
Anything making you queasy or sick?: Still a little nauseous here and there.
Belly Button in or out?: In.
Exercising?: Ran 20 miles and walked 6. Some days are hard, but if I take it slow I feel pretty good!
Mood: Excited! I’ve started getting things ready for her and it feels like we are officially in “baby mode”!
Best moment this week: Celebrating my friend Brittany’s upcoming arrival at her baby shower!
Comparison: 31 weeks with Kaya!31weekcomparison

baby #2: 30 weeks

_MG_2133Baby’s size: The book puts her at about 3 pounds and 17 inches long. At my appointment this week, my fundal height is still one week behind. At least we are staying consistent here!
Maternity clothes?: Yes… and I’m nervous that even some of my maternity tops might get too short!
Gender: Sugar and spice 🙂
Symptoms: There were a few days this week where my belly just felt sooo tight and uncomfortable. I guess everything was just stretching. Luckily, it’s passed and I’m feeling a lot better.
Sleep: Still waking up a lot and having weird dreams, but otherwise, good. I’m usually awake at 5 am every morning and can’t sleep much after that.
Movement: She is moving almost always now! She was crazy while we were at my appointment this week, so her heart rate was up. She even hit/kicked the doppler! My OB was really impressed with all her activity and said she must be really healthy 🙂
Cravings: Ice cream!
What I miss: I’m kind of missing feeling fit and lean, but I’m not thinking about it too much because I know I’ll miss the baby bump when it’s gone!
Anything making you queasy or sick?: I’ve been a little nauseous again in the mornings and at night, which is when my morning sickness used to peak in the first trimester.
Belly Button in or out?: Amazingly still in.
Exercising?: Ran 16 miles and walked 4. Running is starting to (sometimes) feel difficult.
Mood: I’ll admit that I was a little stressed earlier this week… but now that I’ve started checking some things off my to-do list, I’m feeling a lot better.
Best moment this week: Just hearing that everything looked great at my doctor appointment was a great feeling! I also (finally) chose and ordered her diapers, which helps me feel a little more prepared and excited!
Comparison: I thought I’d be cool and wear the same shirt… 30 weeks with Kaya! I think there is definitely a difference in the shape and size of my belly now.30weekcomparison

baby #2: 29 weeks

(written April 18th)_MG_2020

Baby’s size: 2.75 pounds and 16.75 inches long!
Maternity clothes?: Um… yes. These chilly mornings have me running in long pants again, which isn’t so great because they are borderline too small. Warm weather needs to stay so that I can run in loose-fitting shorts!
Gender: Sweet baby girl!
Sleep: Waking up to use the bathroom at least once, but otherwise good. I still feel like I need a nap every day…
Movement: She moves almost constantly now. I love touching her and feeling little arms/legs/hands/feet.
Cravings: Milk! Chocolate milk is especially good.
What I miss: My abs! I’ve been remembering how my postpartum tummy looked and how much work it took to get it feeling strong last time. Hopefully I can get there again!
Anything making you queasy or sick?: The glucose test drink. This might deserve a whole post of its own…
Belly Button in or out?: In… but getting flatter.
Exercising?: Ran 20.25 miles (one of those runs was 7.25 miles, which is my longest pregnant distance ever!) and walked 6.5.
Mood: Happy!
Best moment this week: Passing the glucose test!
Comparison: 29 weeks with Kaya!29weekcomparisonAnd Michael was just so excited to try out the updated version of the Android camera app, so he snapped this one of us! It’s supposed to create a kind of background blur/bokeh, but it kind of blurred out Kaya’s eye. Oops. She was fussy, but still cute! 🙂 Love my girls.Processed with VSCOcam with c1 preset