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.