Category: Parenting

Baby Update · Daily living · Holiday · Parenting · Travel

Baby #2: Week 19

nk3302 Comments

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!

Baby Update · Daily living · Parenting

Baby #2: Week 16

nk3302 Comments

I was really tired this week. Gerrit was waking more often again, and I think I just wasn’t getting enough consecutive hours of sleep at night. But overall it was a better week! No throwing up, and a decrease in nausea by the end of the week. There’s definitely more pressure on my bladder all of a sudden though… I have to go to the bathroom so much more than normal.

Well, we might have to do some indoor photos for awhile… Andrew just gets home too late to take advantage of the daylight.

How far along: 16 weeks on 12 Dec 2017
Approximate size of Baby: the size of an avocado (about 4.5 inches)
Gender: still leaning toward boy
Weight gain: none (-2 lbs)
Symptoms: back pain, nausea, fatigue, food aversion, headache, cramps
  • Back pain isn’t horrible, but I definitely feel it when I’m on my feet for a lot.
  • Still had nausea most days, but it’s subsiding, I think.
  • Gerrit was having some rough nights for no apparent reason. He went through about a week of waking every 2-3 hours, and the worst night was up every hour and 45 minutes until about 3:30 am. I was pretty tired to say the least! It didn’t help that I can only stomach a few ounces of coffee every day too.
  • Food aversion is going away finally! I mean, I have my days, but it’s getting better.
  • Once in awhile I get a day with a really persistent headache that just doesn’t want to go away.
  • The cramps were only on one day and were pretty minor.

Maternity clothes: I think I’m giving up on the jeans. But I’m not feeling ready for maternity jeans… so leggings it is.
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: Sleeping in on Sunday. Andrew was gone Friday night until Saturday late afternoon, so sleeping in on Sunday felt AMAZING. 
Miss anything: Not feeling like I have the bladder the size of a walnut.
Movement: Still not sure
Cravings: extra sharp cheddar cheese and green apples
Looking forward to: Christmas! I LOVE this time of year so much!

Baby Update · Daily living · Holiday · Parenting

Baby #2: Week 14

nk3302 Comments

Hello, 2nd trimester! As much as I thought the first trimester dragged on and on, it feels weird to already be a third of the way done. I’m hoping this trimester really is the best — I’m ready to be feeling better.

I’ve come to the conclusion that eating in the first trimester is like eating like a toddler. I basically only want carbs, cheese, and fruit. I pretty much snack all day instead of eating meals. I want to eat things like chips and ice cream, and, because I’m an adult, I do, haha. It’s just a huge switch from what I was eating before the nausea and food aversion set in.

How far along: 14 weeks on 28 Nov 2017
Approximate size of Baby: the size of a lemon or a house mouse
Gender: I have no idea
Weight gain: none (-5 lbs)
Symptoms: Nausea, back pain, vomiting, fatigue, low appetite, burping
  • The nausea is bad one day then much better the next. Then bad again, then better…
  • Minor and occasional back pain… same as I’ve been having.
  • Okay, scratch everything I said about being better about avoiding getting sick this time around. My new thought is that if your body wants to throw up, you’re just going to throw up. I had a day where I had on and off nausea ALL day, and when I finally threw up around midnight, I felt SO much better.
  • I still get extra sleep when I can, but I feel like maybe the fatigue is lifting.
  • I don’t think I’m having as much food aversion, but my appetite is low. I’ll eat a little, then need a break to digest or something. One night I had half my bowl of spaghetti, cleaned up the kitchen and put Gerrit to bed, then went back and finished my spaghetti.
  • I forgot to mention this again… the burping! At least the last half of my first trimester, I had a lot of burping, especially when I’m feeling nauseated.
Maternity clothes: Slowly pulling them out. I’m about done with any shorts/jeans that zip and button. Elastic is my friend. If it’s too hot for leggings, I find elastic waist shorts, maternity shorts without the full panel, or a skirt. I can still wear most of my regular tops though.
Stretch marks: no new ones
Belly button in or out: in
Sleep: Good! Still sleeping very soundly. Sometimes I have a hard time falling back to sleep if I have to get up with Gerrit though. 
Best moment this week: Thanksgiving! It was a little stressful getting everything made, but the actual meal and company was great. I LOVE hosting things like this!
Miss anything: My patience. I asked Andrew if I seemed moody, and he said, “No, you just act like you don’t feel good.” But I have been more snappy with Gerrit, and I feel really bad about that. I usually pride myself on my patience, but it’s been really low lately. Gerrit has been showing an interest in potty training, and I really need patience for that!
Movement: Not yet… I don’t think.
Cravings: chips and guacamole
Looking forward to: Our 2nd OB appointment… FINALLY. My last one was supposed to be at 12 weeks. It got rescheduled for 11 weeks, and then it got canceled and rescheduled for next Monday. I hate having such a big gap between appointments, even if it was the first trimester.
One more with the big brother-to-be: