Friday, April 25, 2014

Baby #2: Weeks 27 - 28

27 weeks

Dates: April 8 - April 21, 2014

Highlights: We've had a lot of fun over the past couple weeks! On Saturday the 12th, we had a fun family outing to Sweet Berry Farms in Marble Falls to pick strawberries, and then on the 16th, my sister and brother-in-law arrived for a long weekend. Laura is just a few weeks behind me in her pregnancy (with a baby boy) and it's been so much fun to share the experience with her. We enjoyed a few leisurely days of pool time, some nice meals - both at home and out on the town, a little baby clothes shopping, and lots of bonding over our upcoming bundles of joy.

Cousins!

Another recent highlight is that Nicholas is really starting to act excited about baby sister's impending arrival. He talks about her often and loves to come up to me and kiss my belly (to give baby sister a kiss.) A few weeks ago, we purchased him a few "big brother" books, and he requests them frequently before naps or bedtime.

Symptoms: Now that I've officially reached the third trimester, the pregnancy symptoms are firing up again, particularly in the aches and pains department. At the end of a long day, or even when I've just been a little more active than usual, I'm starting to experience some pelvic floor pain. On that note, I've slowed down a bit with the exercise. I'm now going for long walks, usually with Nicholas in the jogger, a few times a week and I may slip in one workout per week with light free weights. I'm also starting to experience frequent Braxton Hicks contractions, as well as leg cramps at night several times a week.

28 weeks - Happy Easter!

What's Different: The pelvic floor pain is new, but my doctor assured me it's common and to be expected in second or subsequent pregnancy. At my 28 week appointment, I also had an ultrasound to check her size since I am measuring two weeks ahead. My doctor was wondering if we might need to change my due date, but the little lady is just measuring slightly above average, about 5 days ahead of schedule. So we are keeping July 14th as my due date. (My fluid levels are very high, so that may be part of the cause of my big belly.) One other difference is that baby girl seems to be much less active than Nicholas was. Her big brother did constant acrobatics in my belly from about 20 weeks on, whereas she seems to be much more mellow. (Maybe that's a good thing!) Nicholas also had the hiccups all the time, and I felt them for the first time with baby girl around 27 weeks. I've felt them a few times since then, but not often.

What's the Same: Everything else is generally the same. I'm gaining weight at about the same rate (about a pound a week) and most of the aches and pains I'm feeling these days are familiar.

What I Miss: Not much new to report here... wine, beer, big mugs of coffee. The usual.

What I'm Looking Forward To: Next week we head to Nashville to visit one of my best friends from college and her family. This will be more of a "family-moon" and last hurrah for the three of us before we become a foursome.

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Baby #2: Weeks 24 - 26

24 weeks

Dates: March 18 - April 7, 2014

Highlights: It's been a low key, but productive few weeks for us. We officially moved Nicholas into his big boy room at the very end of March (which deserves its own post) and started working on baby girl's nursery-- more to come! We also finalized our name choice and started sharing it with a few family members and friends, although we won't go public with it until she makes her debut in July. We've also started to really focus on preparing Nicholas for baby girl's arrival, and I can tell it's starting to click for him (as much as it can for a two year old.) He refers to her by name and now calls his old bedroom her bedroom. He also likes to offer sips of water or milk from his sippy cup to my belly.

25 weeks

Symptoms: I feel like I've reached the uncomfortably large and pregnant stage, several weeks sooner than I did with Nicholas. My lower back and hips ache at the end of the day, and I am making good friends with our heating pad. I've also started getting leg cramps at night while I sleep, so I'm trying to ramp up the fluids, potassium, and stretching. And, I continue to experience very vivid weird and/or disturbing dreams each night. (This has been going on for most of the pregnancy thus far.)

What's Different: Based on how my body feels, it seems like I should have already hit the third trimester-- but I think this is to be expected with a second pregnancy. I also found out at my 24 week appointment that I am measuring two weeks ahead of schedule, so my next doctor's visit will include an ultrasound to get some more precise measurements and determine if my due date needs to be moved. Otherwise, nothing is too different at this point.

Baby girl!

What's The Same: At this point, the pregnancy is largely the same. I'm grateful it's been uneventful and smooth sailing thus far.

What I Miss: All the usual suspects... mostly, I'm just tired of having to monitor everything I put in my mouth. I'm looking forward to eating (and drinking) whatever I want in a few months.

26 weeks

What I'm Looking Forward To: I can't wait for my sister's and brother-in-law's visit in less than two weeks. She is currently pregnant with her first baby and is due just 5 weeks after me, so it's been fun to go through the pregnancy experience together. I'm looking forward to catching up and
comparing bumps.