Week 20 Update

Weekly Pregnancy Journal Update

How far along: 20 weeks! Half way, wow!! :-)

Weight Gain: I think I have now crossed the 10 pound mark. Yesterday I was at about 127 and change, today I seemed to have skipped right up to 129, if that's true that will officially put me over the 10 pound mark, which I guess isn't terrible considering I'm half way, and leaves me still with a buffer of 15-25 lbs to still be in the safe/healthy range and stay under 35 lbs total. I really hope I can make that!

Body & Changes: Let's see. Well Boobs first for sure! I had to buy new bras last weekend and I didn't realize how bad it was till I got them, wow I felt like a new woman after. Also I just tried on a pair of jeans and that pair wouldn't button! Uh oh! Mostly though my boobs. Every morning when I wake up they just feel heavy, getting big too.

Exercise: Getting slightly more winded when I'm teaching now. I've also switched from a flat bench to an inclined bench just to be safe. But otherwise still teaching at least 4 classes a week still!

Clothes: Still all regular minus the larger bras. I haven't had to buy any maternity clothes yet.

Sleep: Still really good, no problems to report!

What I’ve been eating: Absolutely still loving any type of frozen treats, that is my indulgence at night!

Emotions: Cool and collected? haha, nothing out of the ordinary.

Purchases: I bought a belly belt to extend my regular pants. It was my first purchase in the maternity store! Seems like the timing was quite fitting bc tonight I couldn't button a particular pair of jeans. I also bought a beautiful decorative pillow last night from Pottery Barn Kids for the nursery to put on the rocking chair

What I miss: Still mostly just coffee although I've had a small cup on a rare occasion now in the second trimester

Stretch marks: I'm still pretty tiny so nothing there

Food cravings: Ice cream/yogurt! Frozen treats you name it

Movement: The ultrasound technician told me on Friday my placenta is in the front so it may be a couple more weeks before I start feeling anything :-/

Anything making you queasy or sick: All is good

Have you started to show yet: Yes finally! Although if I wore a lose fitting shirt you prob couldn't tell, but that time may be passing quicker now.

What I’m looking forward to: Hmm, decorating and registering come to mind at the moment!

Best Moment of the Week: Our 20 week ultrasound of course and seeing the spud. And also knowing that now I am half way, oh man I guess that means from this point forward we're closer to the end than the beginning? Another 20 weeks till life changes forever, feels like it's just around the corner!

Week 15 Update

Well this was supposed to be a weekly thing, I really hope I can pick up the pace going forward. I'm now officially in the second trimester (was that last week? I'm not sure with these dates). But I do know I'm a full 15 weeks and counting as of today. So here goes!

Weekly Pregnancy Journal Update

How far along: 15 weeks today, baby is the size of an apple

Weight Gain: I think about 5, which according to my app is right on target. Yesterday I was 122, but today I was 122.8, sometimes I think it's bloating but I'm not sure. As long as I'm not gaining too quick, I don't want to he huge (my starting point was 118.4).

Body & Changes: Honestly still nothing major

Exercise: Going strong! Teaching all my classes, ran a 5K today, I start prenatal yoga next week

Clothes:  Regular, although jeans at slightly tight in the button area sometimes at night after I've eaten

Sleep: Fantastic, can't complain, getting really good sleep at night, I have strange dreams most nights though, so odd!

What I’ve been eating: Baby likes ice cream/yogurt, my guilty pleasure!

Emotions: Excited for what's to come

Purchases: Bug spray for zika and also pregnancy belly butter for stretch marks, both preemptive purchases are sitting in my amazon cart right now

What I miss: Coffee (more than wine). I miss the caffeine. I know I can have some but I'm choosing not to

Stretch marks: No belly yet, I was going to order some belly butter though

Food cravings: Ice cream/yogurt! Frozen treats you name it

Movement: Soon I hope, maybe another 4 weeks?

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nada

Have you started to show yet: I think it's all bloating, it's tiny, and only at night, so yeah def bloating

What I’m looking forward to: A cute little bump! And also prenatal yoga next week

Best Moment of the Week: Running a 5K for two! Go us!

We Have a Photographer!

I can cross one more item off my list of things to do before the baby comes, securing a photographer for newborn pictures. I'll never forget when Bridget told me she booked her amazing newborn photographer before she was even out of her first trimester. I think she jokingly said she told the photographer before telling friends and family. But when you've got someone good, you don't mess around. As much as I would have loved to use Bridget's photographer, the thought of making the 90 minute plus traffic ride to Long Island with a 10 day old infant just didn't sound appealing so I began the process of searching for someone a bit more local.

I spent a lot of hours on my tablet looking all over at various local photographers. The process was def different from finding a wedding photographer. These days it's not just about finding a "family photographer" it's about the newborn photography with the beautiful props and styling. When I went for a haircut last month, my hairdresser, also named Rachel, who is also pregnant with her first baby due in September told me about a photographer another girl she works with used, and who she's planning to use as well. She showed me a picture and I loved it.

At first I didn't even think about using her as well bc she's still up by our old house but when I looked around more and more this photographer and beautiful pictures, great prices, and would travel to use for only another $50 more. After I spoke with her on the phone I knew she would be perfect to work with. For our package we're getting 4 different sessions, maternity, newborn, 6 months and 12 months with a cake smash, how could I beat that? And for the maternity pictures she suggested we do them outside in the fall, that just really sealed the deal for me, after I told her how we did our engagement pictures, she said we could def do something similar!

I'm so excited to work with Martha Sobanko for our pictures this fall! I know they're going to be beautiful!! Here's a couple of her beautiful pictures!

 

Baby's 1st Race

I've been very fortunate so far in my pregnancy that I've really been able to do everything I was doing before. I have been careful not to overdo it or push myself too much at the gym, but it really hasn't been an issue. When the opportunity came up that work sent out an email to join Team Samsung and participate in the Eric LeGrand, A Walk to Believe, run and it was being held at Rutgers, I jumped on it. One, it's only a few miles from the house, score on that, I didn't have to travel anywhere, and two, the gym was closed today anyway, which is a rare occurrence so it was a way to get my exercise in anyway.

Although it was less cardio and calories burned than I do in an average class I still managed to run over 3 miles in just over 30 minutes. And I ran the entire course, I didn't have to walk at all. A few years ago I know that def would not have been possible (my knees are killing me now for it, but that's totally normal for me). I had a great pace going of about 10 minutes a mile and I watched my heart rate the entire way. I know I was def capable of doing more and going faster but I didn't push it. I made sure my heart rate stayed under 155 max, my same self imposed max for teaching at the gym. The doctor told me last time as long as I can still talk, I'm fine, which for me at that heart rate is not a problem at all.

Despite the fact that it rained on us for part of the course and also not pushing myself, I managed to complete 3.22 miles in 33 minutes. I know I could have done a little faster pace, but I was comfortable the entire race and enjoyed it, it didn't even seem like work. I was so proud of running the race after at 15 weeks pregnant! It's good for me and good for baby. Double win!!!

Beautiful Blooms

When we moved into our house we had this dreadful mailbox, it looked like a giant green rubbermaid box. To make matters worse it was surrounded by some ugly shrub that just climbed over the bottom and had no personality at all. Although the curb appeal on our house was far from screaming overhaul this was one easy item we knew we wanted to tackle. It's not a close up of the mailbox but you can get the idea from these pictures that I just came across and love, so much fun, us playing in the front yard of our new house.

Anyway, about a year ago, Mike, his Dad and brother tackled the first part of the equation. Getting rid of the horrible green mailbox. We replaced it with a much nicer mailbox that was much more our style. It was my job to then figure out what we should plant around the mailbox. I really did try to look into options and my mom kept bringing me over this perennial book to read and look at, although it's hard to look at it and then go to the store and say I want these. So the space has sat vacant for over a year now, just dirt. Still an upgrade from before but none the less unfinished, until today that is.

We went back to our favorite nursery, although we have been there before and today we really looked around and decided on a plan of action. Now if only I could remember the names of the flowers we got. I do know we got a beautiful clematis for next to the mailbox. Through a lot of sweat, all Mike's, not mine, he planted this amazing garden for us today. We could not be any happier with the way it turned out! Absolutely love it. And now every time we come home we get to look at this beautiful garden when we pull up.

A Wave Hello

Well I've done a pretty terrible job of keeping up with my blog posts. I'm so disappointed in myself for not updating on a more regular basis. I don't know how I used to do it, maybe I'll chalk it up to being home more, and more energy. But I really want to make sure I don't miss out on capturing some of these exciting moments! I particularly wanted to make sure I updated at least today and then maybe I will try and back track a couple of things that happened recently.

Today was our 12 week ultrasound! We got to see the little spud again (did I mention that is what we named the baby? spud!). I was so happy we got to see the baby. When the picture comes up on the screen it's like a sigh of relief to see the baby and that it's there and growing along, cause honestly otherwise I don't really believe half the time that it's in there, I feel like I feel too good, and I've had none of the pregnancy symptoms they tell you all about.

We had the same ultrasound technician that we had last time, he's very nice. The baby however did not want to cooperate for the scan, already not listening. The baby apparently was chilling sitting up instead of lying down. We couldn't get "him" to move, the technician tried pushing on my belly a lot with the wand, he had me go to the bathroom in the middle to see if that helped get him into a better position, and also he had me try to cough to make him move, nothing, kid wouldn't budge. He was comfortable where he was, but he said he was able to get enough of the measurements that he needed for the test.

The coolest part had to be actually seeing the baby moving, so wild. Like we actually got to see the baby's arms, and legs, and the baby even picked it's arm up at one point almost like it was waving. You can already see the arm, and the little fingers. Coolest thing ever, and the baby is only about the size of a plum right now.

Even as I look at the pictures on my desk, I still can't believe this little person is growing inside of me right now. Today was such a great day all around, it makes me happy seeing the little spud. I already can't wait till the next time. More to come later when I'm not so tired, although not too tired for a small scoop of Ben & Jerry's before bed.

The first real picture

The long awaited day had finally come, although I think I was more nervous for our last appointment, the wait for this appointment didn't seem as long as the last time. We had our first ultrasound today. After our last appointment and almost missing it, we were sure to leave early this time and we had smooth sailing right to the office, thankfully. And after relatively little wait time, it was the moment of truth. 

I was excited since this was our first real confirmation of timing and my due date. Here's a fun fact the first ultrasound is not over your belly. Use your imagination for how they get the pictures this time ;-) For the first few seconds as it loaded and it was a blank screen for a split second I couldn't help but think oh no, where is the baby, but then as soon as it came up, it was unbelievable. There it was our little baby on the screen and it was perfect. For once it was exactly as described in all the baby books I had been looking at. 

The baby was growing at the perfect size, you could even somewhat identify the head and the body forming, although there's no hands or feet right now. But the most amazing part was you could actually see the baby's heart beating, and we heard it too. He said if I stayed real still we could listen, amazing. The baby had a strong heart beat of 170! He said 120-180 is in the normal range. Supposedly a high heartbeat means girl, but maybe that's just an old wives tale. 

The baby measured at 8w4d which is right on track, by my estimates I am 8w1d and so he said since it's too close and not far off it would not change my due date which as of right now defaults to Nov 27 based off my last period. Which was my due date! Although I obviously came on the first. Looks like my days of birthday celebrations are behind us. I'm just hoping the baby waits till after Thanksgiving dinner is served to come, that's the best meal of the year, lol. 

I def had some tears in my eye as we saw the baby today for the first time. It really felt even more real, and just knowing the baby is growing so well  is so reassuring. Although I was thinking about it before I guess you trade one worry for the next. Before this I was so worried about the baby being the right size and all, and now the next piece is getting through the next set of tests at our 12 week appointment where they test for downs and other things. 

Mike looked in awe as well seeing the pictures come up on the screen. It was pretty cool watching his reaction as well to seeing the baby. The only words I can think to describe is just amazing, we made a little person that's growing inside me right now and we got to see it! Amazing.