Baby Update · Daily living · Holiday · Parenting · Travel

Baby #2: Week 19

Happy New Year! We are almost to the halfway point of this pregnancy as we enter 2018!

How far along: 19 weeks on 2 Jan 2018
Approximate size of Baby: the size of a zesty zucchini or a hedgehog (5.5-6″ long)
Gender: Well, while visiting with family, the majority think girl!
Weight gain: none (-1 lb again)
Symptoms: back pain, fatigue, breast tenderness, dry skin, nausea/vomiting, dizziness
  • Back pain isn’t horrible, but I definitely feel it when I’m on my feet a lot. I did a lot of cooking/baking in Kansas, so my back was sore a lot.
  • Traveling is never good for Gerrit’s sleep. Our first night on the road was a freak event: Gerrit slept through the night for the first time in months! But the rest of the nights were not great, and I was chronically tired. He picked up a cold bug, and was up every 1-2 hours for the last few nights of this week, and I was really struggling the next day.
  • Breast tenderness is back…
  • Still dealing with what I think is eczema. Sudocrem seems to be helping it the most, but I’m going to talk to my OB about it at my next appointment. I also picked up some shea butter cream to try out.
  • Some nausea, more gagging/dry heaving, and my last night of week 18 I threw up again.
  • Dizziness comes and goes. It’s usually just when I stand up too quickly.

Maternity clothes: Yes. It was REALLY cold this past week in Kansas and even when we got back home to Texas, so my sweaters got some use!
Stretch marks: no new ones
Belly button in or out: in
Sleep: Not great. Despite being tired, I’ve been kind of restless (we were in unfamiliar beds this past week too), and I’m just not sleeping as much as I should be. There were 5 kids running around the house we were at, so sleeping in and naps were kind of out of the question. 
Best moment this week: Just being with family! Seriously though, with all the craziness of being in a house with 8 other adults and 5 kids, it was so great. I was barely on my phone at all, because I was never bored! Gerrit was entertained almost all the time by his cousins, and I actually got to sit, relax, and talk with adults. Like I said, a house full of 14 people was a little crazy sometimes, but I really enjoyed having everyone together. 
Miss anything: Sleep
Movement: Yes! I would say this was the week I can say I definitely felt movement. Gerrit was sleeping on a toddler air mattress on the floor while we were with family, so every time I got up with him, I’d have to squat or hunker down somehow next to him, and the baby definitely let me know he/she was feeling squished in those positions! I felt movements at other times too, but mostly in the evenings.
Cravings: extra sharp cheddar cheese and green apples
Looking forward to: My next OB appointment and Andrew’s Drop Night when he gets his aircraft assignment!

Daily living

Baby #2: Week 18

Merry Christmas, tiny baby! I skipped the Christmas morning mimosas for you, little one. Definitely worth it!

How far along: 18 weeks on 26 Dec 2017
Approximate size of Baby: the size of an bell pepper (about 5.5 inches)
Gender: I have no idea
Weight gain: none (back at pre-pregnancy weight)
Symptoms: back pain, fatigue, headaches, breast tenderness, dry skin
  • Back pain isn’t horrible, but I definitely feel it when I’m on my feet for a lot.
  • Still dealing with some late nights, early mornings, and 3:30am wake-ups with Gerrit. I’m always tired. Coffee still isn’t very appealing, and I end up grabbing a Dr. Pepper every afternoon.
  • I haven’t had a lot of headaches this week, but when I do, they don’t want to go away.
  • Breast tenderness is back…
  • Still randomly gagging/dry heaving. I don’t really feel any nausea though!
  • I think I may have pregnancy-induced eczema. 😦 I have one dry, itchy patch of skin on my arm and several on my upper chest and neck. I never had this when I was pregnant with Gerrit, but I was also not pregnant in winter with him. Plus Texas is much drier than England!

Maternity clothes: Yes… just yes.
Stretch marks: no new ones
Belly button in or out: in
Sleep: Pretty good… not falling asleep quite as easily, but once I’m asleep I’m good. And then Gerrit would wake up… 
Best moment this week: Christmas!! We had a lot of fun celebrating with Gerrit this year. On Christmas Eve we made cookies and got ready for Santa to visit, and Christmas morning we opened presents and had brunch. It was all pretty low-key, but everyone had a good time celebrating! 
Miss anything: Not feeling like I have the bladder the size of a walnut.
Movement: I think I’m starting to feel some small movements!
Cravings: extra sharp cheddar cheese and green apples
Looking forward to: Seeing my family this week for Christmas part 2!

Baby Update · Daily living

Baby #2: Week 17

Well, I started out week 17 with a burst of energy! I had the urge to clean after weeks of wanting to do nothing, and I took advantage of it. I’ve set up a new cleaning schedule for myself (haven’t done this since before I was pregnant with Gerrit!), and it’s definitely helping me stay on top of things. Unfortunately, the energy did not last… fatigue was probably my top symptom this week.

How far along: 17 weeks on 19 Dec 2017
Approximate size of Baby: the size of a pomegranate… or a chipmunk haha (4.5-5″ long)
Gender: still leaning toward boy
Weight gain: none (-1 lb)
Symptoms: fatigue, headaches, nausea?
  • I’m sure some of my fatigue this week was pregnancy-related, but it was also my own doing. I’ve been in Christmas crunch mode, trying to get all of the things done (since I’m a known procrastinator), which means late nights. This is when I really mourn the loss of naptime. Ahh, those good ol’ days…
  • I had several days in a row of headaches that were pretty persistent.
  • I think my nausea is pretty much gone! I still listed it with a question mark, because I find myself randomly having the urge to throw up (dry heaving almost), but it comes out of nowhere! No nausea leading up to it, or very minor at least. It’s weird.

Maternity clothes: Well, the day I hit 17 weeks, I pulled out the maternity jeans. My regular jeans are just too uncomfortable now, and sometimes I actually get sick of wearing leggings haha. I washed a bunch of maternity sweaters, because I just realized that this is my last time wearing them! And who knows how long cooler weather will last in Del Rio. So they’re out and will hopefully get some wear before getting packed up again.
Stretch marks: no new ones
Belly button in or out: in
Sleep: Eh… despite the fatigue, I’ve had a harder time falling asleep. I feel like I can’t shut my brain off some nights. I’ve definitely been craving naps, but they don’t happen with my little anti-sleep kid. 
Best moment this week: I don’t even know! We spent a lot more time out of the house meeting up with different friends on and off base, and it was a lot of fun! I know I can be a homebody, but I definitely like getting out to break up the days. I’d say that overall it was just a good week. 🙂 
Miss anything: Having energy. When I get a burst of it, it feels so good to get things done! But I’m usually feeling tired.
Movement: Still not sure
Cravings: extra sharp cheddar cheese and green apples
Looking forward to: Christmas! I seriously can’t believe it’s less than a week away!