we were so blessed to have our friends and family visit little baby ellie!
first off, in the hospital, we had my family come say hi. kim, terry, and the boys stopped by to see miss ellie {although the boys couldn’t come in}, terry and kim said hi to the new babe! they brought little miss olive with them {they watched her all weekend while we were in the hospital} and she got to say hello for the first time to her new baby sister! it was the sweetest thing to watch! it totally melted my heart to see her intrigued, excited, & shy about the whole thing! you can see it in her face. my favorite picture is of her holding miss ellie! too precious!
we then had dana and scott {fresh from their honeymoon!} come to the hospital and visit us! we were so excited to see them. they stayed for awhile and brought the cutest gift for the girls. i laughed because it was so dana to get me a balloon that said ‘you did it!’…she seriously cracks me up with her quirky humor. she bought olive a cute little teddy bear, one for ellie, and flowers for me! how sweet are they?! love these two so much!
while dana and scott were visiting us, my sister thuy showed up! we all hung out in the hospital room together, talking about the baby, their honeymoon, the wedding, future vacation spots, etc. it was pretty awesome to have them all there.
once we got home on sunday, my family came over and reagan and bennett were able to meet their new cousin ellie. it was so sweet to see them excited to hold her! my parents were over, along with my sisters and terry.
the following day, we had rich’s parents, dick and jane along with grace come say hi. grace brought me flowers and dick and jane brought ellie a cute little gift. it was so sweet to see them with ellie! their new granddaughter and grace’s new sister!
we then had rich’s sister missy, nephew daniel, and rich’s aunt wendy come say hello! missy always brings the best gifts, especially for olive! she brought her a peppa pig set and she absolutely loved it! or loves it…because she still loves playing with it! well, if anyone knows olive, they know that her most prized possession in this world is her bunny blankie. a gift from her aunt missy. well, missy found another one and gifted it to miss ellie! i really hope she loves it just as much as olive does!
we also had lan, pete, and avery come visit! i really didn’t get a good pic of them holding ellie but nevertheless, it was pretty awesome to have them come by to say hello. they were over along with my family, again, and my brother dan finally made it over to see ellie. thank you so much for the awesome gift you gave olive! we call her dr. olive now! she absolutely looooooooves it!!!!
we then were blessed to have kim come visit us. we were so excited to see her! i love catching up with this lovely lady. she is just the sweetest and it always feels like there is never enough time between us! we always have so much to talk about and before we know it, it’s time to do something else, get somewhere, or time is just plain up! she also brought the cutest gift for ellie’s room. thank you so much for such thoughtfulness!
well, there ya have it. ellie’s first week and a half of visitors. we were so happy to have so many special people come by and say hello to our new baby girl in this world. thank you to our friends and family who were able to make the trip out to us!
[she wasn’t sure what was going on]
[look at her cheeky look]
[how precious is this? my heart is melting!]
[how beautiful, my sister kim with her niece ellie]
[dana {and scott in the background} and ellie]
[cutie pie on her way home]
[having fun with the presents]
[dying over the balloon dana and scott got me…plus flowers and a gift for olive, so thoughtful!]
[olive loves the song, ‘the wheels on the bus’ so naturally she said, ‘shhhhh, shhhhh, shhhhh’ to baby ellie as she cried!]
[cousin reagan and ellie]
[sweet bennett really wanted to hold ellie]
[grace and baby ellie]
[love the laughter and love shared between these two]
[papa and gramma loving ellie]
[flowers from grace]
[as usual…the baby is crying in auntie missy’s arms]
[vera bradley bunny lovie…hoping ellie loves hers just as much as olive does!]
[she was totally into the peppa gift from aunt missy]
[a gift from aunt wendy]
[cousin daniel with ellie]
[lan, pete, dan, and family visiting ellie & each other!]
it was early in the morning. not as early as olive’s journey {4:45am} but it was right before 7am. i was feeling very strong braxton hicks all morning but i couldn’t tell if they were actually contractions or really strong braxton hicks {my braxton hicks had gotten progressively stronger the last couple weeks}. hc kissed me goodbye right before 7am before he left for work. shortly thereafter, i felt a really strong contraction. again, it felt different but i wasn’t sure! i text hc to let him know that i had a feeling and he insisted on working from home, so he turned around to head back.
while i was lying in bed…i wasn’t sure if my water had broken or something else was going on! let me just preface this by saying i never experienced my water breaking with olive or anything else. her contractions were very, very, very consistent though! olive’s labor was very different than ellie’s!
well, for those of you faint of heart…my mucus plug had left it’s premises, that was the ‘water’ i was feeling between my legs {or aka the bloody show}. i got up to get ready for the day and waited for hc to come back home. i finished packing my hospital bag, grabbed olive’s suitcase, and waited. the contractions were soooooo inconsistent. 15 minutes, 10 minutes, 16 minutes, 12 minutes. i remembered olive’s contraction being very consistent and continuously dropping in time whereas ellie’s was all over the board.
i contacted my sisters to let them know and called my obyn’s office to let them know that i was possibly in labor. they wanted me to come in just to make sure i wasn’t leaking any amniotic fluids and just to double check that everything was ok. mine and hc’s plan has always been to head into the city if i started to feel any labor pains and that is exactly what we did. although we joked non stop that we were hoping it wasn’t on a friday at 3:00 in the afternoon! well, it was a friday…but at least it was in the morning!
we headed down, traffic was light, and made it to our appointment on time. the head nurse didn’t detect any amniotic fluids and told us just to track and gauge how i was feeling throughout the day {i was dilated 3.5 cm}. hc and walked around a bit and decided to eat breakfast. the contractions were there but not in any timely fashion. i would have them here or there so, we just decided to eat and then walk around until i felt it was time.
we checked into the hotel right next door to prentice and decided to wait it out in the hotel room. the contractions were getting stronger and i didn’t want to walk around anymore…i was so tired! the front desk lady was so kind, she upgraded us to a really nice suite and gave us a discount! fabulous! the room was great although we weren’t in there for long! we checked in around noon? i can’t remember and only stayed til about 4:30 pm. my contractions got progressively worse. they were so incredibly painful but i am so stubborn and have a high threshold for pain…i waited way too long again {i did the same with olive}. i told hc it was time and we walked the half block over to the hospital. on the way there, i went through a contraction and had to stop in the middle of the sidewalk to bear down the pain. i am sure people and cars going by were like, whoa! that women is in labor!
we checked into triage and while we were in there, i went through two more contractions. they checked us in and told us we could get checked in to the delivery room anytime {i was over 4 cm dilated by then}. well, things are so slow and it took over an hour for us to finally get scooted upstairs {it was near 6 o’clock by then}. my contractions were ridiculous. so darn painful. i cried, shook, and sweated through each one. they wheel chaired me up and i thought i was going to break the wheelchair going through such awful contractions.
once i got into the delivery room, it was smooth sailing and the nurses were great! they had to iv me but it was awful going through a contraction while they were poking a hole in my vein. i was trying hard not to look but blood was seriously squirting a half foot into the air as i clenched my fists going through the pain! so bananas! they had the anethesiologist on the way and i couldn’t wait! omg…my contractions were absolutely numbing. the anesthesiologist was hilarious. he looked barely 30 and was so funny! they made it so much more bearable as i had to sit still during the whole process and going through body shaking contractions isn’t easy when they want to put a foot long needle into your spine! once the epidural was administered {that was around 7pm…12 hours after the first contractions}, life was fantastic. i was relaxed, i couldn’t feel the contractions anymore {hallelujah}, and now it was just a waiting game.
i settled in, thinking i might nap but everything went faster than i thought it would. while i was waiting around to get dilated, one contraction i felt was really, really strong. i, obviously, didn’t feel the pain but the pressure was absolutely uncomfortable. i said something to the nurse and she came over to analyze the monitors. they all seem to become very concerned. they thought maybe i had already hit 10cm and the baby needed to come out. i was like whaaaaaa?! it had only been 45 minutes or so since the epidural was given. the nurse checked me and i was only a bit over 5 cm so that wasn’t the case. she then said to me, “the baby’s heartbeat has dropped and i am going to press a button, once i do…there will be a dozen people in the room within the next minute, so don’t get worried, they are here to help”. i started crying. all i could think about was the baby ok, was the baby ok.
she was right. within a minute, a dozen people filled the room. i was crying and kept mumbling if the baby was going to be ok. they asked me to get on all fours…holy cow, are you kidding me?! i am flippin’ numb from the the waist down! and not only that, i had wires and plugs attached everywhere on my body {epidural, blood pressure arm band, catheter, iv}. i needed the nurses to help me flip my body over to get on my knees and elbows. they wanted me in that position so oxygen could circulate better for the babe. they threw a cap on my head {for possible emergency c-section}, threw a pill in my mouth, and then an oxygen mask on my face {all the while i am still crying, worried about the baby being ok}. there was a nurse who had her hand up me to see how far i had dilated while i was on all fours and a dozen people standing around waiting to react. it was the worst few minutes of my life. i was scared the baby wasn’t breathing, i was scared that i would have to have an emergency c-section, and i was just scared because i wanted everything to be ok.
after 10 minutes or so, the baby’s heart rate climbed back up and everything was ok. they took off the mask, the hair cap, and let me lay back down on my back. every time i went through a contraction, i strained to see where the baby’s heart rate was at. i could not relax after that! i was so worried every contraction would cause the baby to freak out. they explained to me that the really strong contraction i had caused the baby to become disoriented. they gave me an example as if you were dunked in cold water and weren’t sure what was going on…the baby got confused {shocked} and was ‘gasping’ for air and that is why her heart rate had dropped.
so, after that i just waited and everything was just fine. it was near 9 o’clock when i felt immense pressure with every contraction. like intense pressure. it was constant. i paged the nurse and told her about it. she came in and checked my stats to analyze my situation. within minutes, both nurses were back in and said i was 10 cm dilated. it was so fast! just a little over an hour ago, i was just a smidge over 5! they said the doctor {auger} was paged and that the baby was coming! i didn’t expect it to be so fast! one, my labor was still a long time…everyone said it would be so quick, nope, still a loooooong labor but once ellie decided to come, it was super speedy!
dr. auger came to the delivery room and we were ready to go. legs were up and i was ready to push. i went through 3 contractions, 9 pushes, just a little over 10 minutes, and ellie made her debut!! omg. i can’t believe how fast it was! 14 hours of labor and less than 13 minutes of pushing and here she was! she came out just staring…maybe for 5-10 seconds and then she started crying.
i was sooooooo happy! there was my healthy girl! she was incredibly beautiful. they placed her on me right away. oh, i was so elated to see her. she was finally here. after a very long, tough pregnancy, ellie was finally by our side. words can’t describe the joy and love you feel meeting your baby for the first time. my heart was beyond full…i now have two beautiful girls to call my own. i was relieved, joyous, in love, happy, and content to finally have her in our world.
welcome ellie harlow heintz | 7.15.16 | 9:13pm | 7 lbs. 9 oz. | 20.5 inches and a beautiful head of hair just like her sister olive. our family is now complete. we are truly blessed.
well, i had written this post a day before ellie decided to make her debut, so i thought why not post it still? i was a day and half shy of hitting my 40 week mark and i think it’s pretty cool to show her in the belly and outside the belly! i was going to make hc take a 40 week pic of me on saturday, but ellie decided it was time to meet everyone on friday night!
so, here is the last ‘bump’ update we will ever see. oh, how bittersweet it is. ellie, you are a dream and we are so beyond ecstatic that you are here. god has blessed us with two beautiful baby girls and i couldn’t be more grateful for these wonderful souls who now give our lives the magic it needs!
how far along? 40 weeks!
who knew i would make it this far?? so many people thought i was going to go early. as early as 37 weeks! i had a feeling a would go between 39 and 40 weeks but baby ellie had other plans!
weight gain: i slowed down in my weight gain since my 36 week update but definitely picked up momentum the last week or so. i still am outweighing olive’s pregnancy but it doesn’t help i haven’t been as active and eating more than usual.
maternity clothes? i literally have three outfits to choose from and pretend some of my dresses are ‘maternity’ dresses. hahaha! for reals though, i have completely outgrown my maternity shirts and tanks and barely fit any of my bottoms with how BIG my belly has gotten!
sleep: i have digressed. ugh. my first trimester i had insomnia and then the last couple weeks have been difficult. i am anxious on when the baby is coming so my sleep isn’t the best. i also am waking up randomly around 4-5 o’clock in the morning and having a hard time falling back asleep. it’s not the belly that is bothering me, it’s really the anxiety. yuck!
physical state: i am pretty much in the same physical state. i haven’t been as bad in the last week or so but still so darn exhausted and still in pain. i am out of breath very easily and sciatic pain is on and off…mostly on but i see the light at the end of the tunnel!! after i give birth…i will be back to my old self. i just know it!
miss anything? i can’t wait to get my energy back. i can’t wait to be able to do everything myself and not rely on anyone. i can’t wait to move at a fast pace. i can’t wait to not be physically exhausted alllllll the time. i can’t wait to eat any type of foods without worrying if it will effect the baby. i just can’t wait to not be bogged down with pregnancy dont’s!
baby movement: after the 36 week post, this babe continued to be crrrrrrrrazy in the belly. she is a mover and a shaker. it was like wrestle mania inside the womb but the last week, she has really slowed down. i assume because she has gotten so big and there is no more room for her to move. i can even tell how she had grown exponentially.
food cravings: i haven’t had any cravings but i haven’t been eating very well. my palette has changed a bit and i am consuming foods that aren’t so healthy. ugh.
bump status: i have the biggest belly everrrrrr. at the last doctor’s visit, the dr. said this baby won’t be much bigger than olive but my, how stretched out and big my belly is! it should have it’s own zip code!
gender reveal: as y’all know, it’s a girl! we cannot wait to meet you!
at first, i wasn’t sure what i was going to do with ellie’s room. like i have said when i was decorating olive’s room, i am not a super pink kind of gal. well, yes. i love pink but just because they are girls doesn’t mean everything has to be pink. aaaaaand i am not a fan of characters. nope. no winnie, no mickey, no monkeys, na da. the only character items i allow around here are her pj’s and toys that are given to her.
anyhoo, back to ellie’s room. i love neutral colors. olive’s room is white, grey, with pops of gold and coral. ellie’s room ended up being black and white with pops of light green and light pink. at first i was going to go with light pink and green but change it to the accent color. i looooooove how it turned out! i love that her room is mainly black and white and everything else, all the decor, just fell into place.
i really enjoyed pulling everything together and finding all the cute items for her room. i shopped big retailers and shopped small as well. i tried my best to shop small for a lot of the items but ended up having a good mix. decorating is so much fun but yet so time consuming and it’s so hard to figure out if an item will go with the room, the whole look, or not.
i love her room so much! i special thank you to dick and jane for the beautiful rug…a baby shower gift for ellie and a big thank you to jane who hemmed the black out curtains for the room! they turned out perfect! i am so happy how the room turned out and can’t wait to enjoy it with our baby ellie!
[love her starry wall, executed by hc]
[fun bright pillows to liven up the room]
[cat hamper]
[how amazing is this wood name sign and felt flower garland?!!]
[custom made crib sheet]
[a lot of flower crowns]
[custom made changing pad cover]
[we changed out the drawers knobs to coordinate with her room]
ok, ok, i know this is nothing new. billions of women have more than one kid but i must confess that i am quite nervous to bring another little one into the world. mainly and mostly because of me. i am a bit neurotic, too type a, wayyyyy too much of a control & neat freak, and just plain crazy. haha! just ask hc. i run on structure, on timelines, and always do way too much more than i need to.
sure, you can say to me…that’s not going to last. or you have to give something up. or whatever you want to say to get me to understand that how i behave is going to have to change but that is easier said then done, isn’t it? how many of you have completely change your ways after being who you are for soooooo many years? not easy, huh? i know i definitely have to pick and choose my battles. i did with olive but not too drastically because, honestly…she was and still is a great babe!
that is why i am worried about how i will handle the second addition. lots of people are scaring me. they keep on saying how having two kids isn’t like having one and then doubling the work and time. they are saying that having two kids is like having five kids. whaaaa? one to five kids?! yikes! i already feel like i have no time ever and now everyone is saying you will have zero time for anything! now, i hope they are just exaggerating…really, they must be, right?! i have already cut down on things that i do {creatively and personally} and i can’t imagine not being able to have an outlet through my blog or insta or even having the time to take care of myself! i will not be a ‘mom’…that’s my new mantra. haha!
don’t get me wrong. raising my girls to be kind, smart, loving human beings is my number one goal. natch. butttttt, it’s not about that right now…it’s about me in this blog post. ha! i pray that i will learn how to balance everything. i hope that getting out the door is not going to take an hour because this mama ain’t got no time for that {how’s that for proper english and grammar?}.
i kind of had the same fears with olive entering into our lives and i did acclimate well. i was able to keep up with the things that i personally love doing and still spend my time with olive. i guess it comes down to time, learning, and balancing it all without too much sacrifice. my babies will always be my number one priority but i don’t want to lose myself, my creative outlet, who i am, and the wife i need to be for my hc. those factors are very important to me, so naturally i worry that i might not be able to handle it. but like i said in the beginning of this post, billions of women have made the transition from one to two/three/four kids effortlessly and i just know i will be able to as well {and not lose my mind along the way}. bahhhahahahaha!
[i know this pic might risqué to some but it’s just me and my belly in all it’s glory!]
it was such a perfect day. i was so excited for my baby sprinkle, hosted by dana and olivia.
the weather and temps were amazing. it was so hot the days before the sprinkle and pretty hot the next day, so we lucked out with it being sunny and temps in the mid seventies!
olivia and dana came over to prep for the party. it was a very small, intimate gathering. i was so excited when dana offered to throw me a shower! we wanted it to be small and intimate. obviously, it’s our second baby and it’s a girl and we pretty much have everything we need for her! we didn’t register anywhere and i was happy to have a little get together to celebrate this new babe. i believe every baby first or third or whatever number should be celebrated!
the guests slowly arrived and we met and greeted with everyone. mimosas were served and soon was brunch. we sat outside and enjoyed the nice weather and conversations. the kids played…it was cute to watch them interact. reagan and grace get along so well and olive kind of did her own thing. she’s such a funny, quirky gal. i love her for it.
after brunch, cake was served and presents were given. baby gifts and cards are always so darn cute! i can’t believe we are going to have a little baby soon. a tiny little cute baby girl. it was surreal to see all the little things…how tiny the clothes are, how small the booties are, i remember olive being that small and now she’s such a big girl. wahhhhhhhh.
we lingered a bit longer, soaking in the sun and enjoying the wonderful company. i was so happy! my heart was so full being surrounded by such great friends and family. it definitely was a glorious afternoon celebrating our baby to be!
this could possibly be my last ‘bump’ post! everyone is guessing that i will go earlier than 40 weeks, so we will see! my next post would be the 40 mark {i carried olive to exactly 40 weeks!} if this babe decides to hold out until then!
weight gain: i definitely feel like i packed on some pounds this time around. maybe because the babes is suppose to grow exponentially the last few weeks and i need to eat to keep her big and healthy! haha! i have my official appointment this week but quite surprisingly, at my 32 week check up, i had gained NO weight! i actually lost weight! whaaaaaa? i was shocked. i have never lost weight with olive and at the rate i have been gaining with this babe, i was besides myself i lost any! i am a professional weight gainer when it comes to being pregnant, so it was a bit of a shock to see the scale lower! so far, for this pregnancy, i have gained a total of 34 lbs. i am expecting to be at least five pounds heavier the total weight i had gained with olive.
maternity clothes? um, what happens when you start to outgrow your maternity clothes?? haha! yes, it’s true. my maternity shirts and pants are becoming too short, too low, or too tight. oh my goodness. what’s a preggo lady to do?? i am definitely not buying new clothes and i will just have to settle that my belly might peek out, y’all. i only have four weeks or less left!
sleep: i’ve gotten a bit better. finally! i am going to bed not so late and i am able to sleep in when i can. olive is a night owl and late morning sleeper {just like her momma!}, so our schedules coordinated pretty well. on days where i can, i will sleep in until 9 am! woo hoo! it’s a bit of give and take…i was on a roll for a few months, where i was sleeping 5 to 6 hours or less every day and that was no bueno! so i am glad i have been able to creep in more hours here and there. eep…until the new babe gets here! that will be a whole ‘nother level of sleep deprivation!
physical state: so, when i was pregnant with olive, i was a freaking trooper. i was the energizer bunny up to 40 weeks. when i hit 37 weeks with olive, my feet started to ache {with no special shoes…just flats everyday} but it didn’t bother me that much. with this babe, i hit 5 months and i was exhausted, like tiiiiiiiiiired. who knew it would only get progressively worse? exhaustion turned into pain. yes, pain. i have so much pressure on my pelvis area…it’s almost unbearable at times. the sharp a pain in my hip joints, the pain and pressure in the vulva area {yes, tmi but all y’all moms out there know exactly what i mean!}, the swelling of my legs, the sensitive throbbing spider veins, the pressure i feel in my bottom half stops me in my tracks! i am barreling through, though…i can do this!
miss anything? i miss being fast. i miss being able to do everything…i am not very good at depending on others and i have to being this pregnant, slow, and in pain. every one has been so helpful but it’s been most difficult at home. olive is very demanding of me and it’s hard to not accommodate. i love doing everything for her and she loves having me do everything for her too. hahaha! there are moments i just can’t. there are days where i am in a lot of pain, so i miss being able to be there for her.
baby movement: this babe is so crazy in there! she kicks more than olive and she’s a total fighter inside! she definitely moves more, i remembered olive was pretty stationary in the tummy but this babe swings back and forth and kicks like a mad person along the way. olive never really bothered me in the womb. i didn’t understand it when moms said their babies would kick their organs, ribs, etc. because olive didn’t do that. welllllll, this baby does d. all of the above. the pressure and the pinching of my bladder is the worst. that is probably the most painful and it’s gotten worse since she’s gotten so big!
food cravings: same old, same old. i have become so routine with what i am eating every day, maybe that is why i lost a little bit of weight last time? i am not craving anything in particular, although fruit has been on my radar of late. i replaced eating a bowl of cereal at night with lots of fruit instead!
bump status: oh my goodness. i am so big. so, so big. how am i so big in the belly?? this babe is estimated to not weigh too much more than olive but my belly is huge! it’s heavy, cumbersome, and i forget how big it is sometimes, trying to squeeze through cracks or getting up or sitting down at a table. ha! i will hit the belly on something! i also cannot reach for items in high places or anything on the ground. so cray, right?!
gender reveal: as y’all know, it’s a girl! we cannot wait to meet you!
with the new babes coming here soon {i can’t believe it!}, there are a few things i really have my eye on! some decor, some lifestyle, and some necessities! we are decorating her room in monochrome colors with pops of light whimsical tones and i am super excited to get started! hc is prepping her room right now and by next week, i will be able to get things together! my goal is to finalize olive’s room {with her big girl bed} and finish decorating the nursery, get her going home outfit together and then i should be set {or i like to think so…hahaha}.
i just ordered this lovely, whimsical bassinet mini banner for our babes {no, this is not her name!} for her first day in this world. we will use it for pics at the hospital and possibly her newborn pics a few days later! after that, i will hang it in her room!
i love these felt flower garlands! so fun and pretty! i want to get one to hang in her room to soften up the strong colors we will decorate her room in! i think it will be the perfect touch and add some prettiness!
i would have passed down sophie to our new babes if we didn’t lose it in the city! right at the tail end of when olive was starting to lose interest in sophie, we lost it while we were walking around in river north with a friend. such a bummer! olive really did love it and it was of great use; for her teething moments, it kept her entertained, and sophie was her bestie for many months! so, i hope to get another one for her baby sister!
hc is totally digging this stroller! it’s tooted as the world’s most compact, smallest stroller out there! i only know a few details about it but hc is most excited over this item! i know that it can fit into your backpack and, obviously, it’s a perfect item to travel with, plus it’s not too shabby looking!
i love these little stuffed animals from pottery barn kids! it’s a perfect decor item for the babe’s new room! i am not into a ton of stuffed animals but i love cute, whimsy items such as these that just add a bit of fun to her room and gives a bit of pizazz to the decor!
so, the new rage is this dock a tot. i have only heard amazing reviews about it. it’s convenient, it’s an all in one baby lounger, it’s a portable bassinet/crib, great for co-sleeping, and it’s super snuggly {100% breathable materials} for the new babes! i am really interested and hoping we can get this before the babes is here!
weight gain: well, unofficially – none, but my actual appointment is this week. i am now at bi-weekly appointments and then will go into weekly ones, so i will get the official weight gain digits soon! so, at my 30 week check up, i was shocked i had not gained any weight. whaaaaaa?! i couldn’t believe it. i feel like i am always on track to gain something. this is now the second time during this pregnancy where i haven’t gained any weight! i keep hoping i will level out with the same weight i gained with olive but i don’t think that will happen! eep!
maternity clothes? full on maternity wear. i really can’t put on anything else. this belly is too big. my oh my, though, it’s so much more comfortable. i feel like the maternity shirts i purchased are almost getting too small or short?! haha! oh this belly!
sleep: the usual. i am going to bed way too late and not getting enough sleep. i am just preparing myself for this new baby! right?! i think the worst part about all this, is when i try to sleep in on the days that i can, i am so used to waking up early every day that i can’t! arghhhh…it’s the worst. i just pop awake in misery. c’est la vie.
physical state: i am admitting defeat. it feels like i have a twenty pound sack of sand sitting on my belly. yes, i am carrying around a big sack of sand and it’s totally weighing me down, slowing me down, and making me really tired. my legs are exhausted and i am getting uncomfortable just trying to sit or lie down. i have succumbed to compression socks and orthopedic shoes to relieve the stress i feel on my body. yikes!
miss anything? i miss my energy. i miss having a glass of wine. i miss sleeping more than six hours. i miss eating a hearty deli sandwich, cold. i miss that i can walk for miles and miles and not get tired. i really can’t wait to be back to my energizer bunny self.
baby movement: she’s a mover and shaker! it feels like she’s spinning all around my belly. i love watching and feeling her move inside but wow, she’s quite strong. i can’t imagine what it will feel like when she gets bigger. i already feel like she’s going to jump right out! she’s constantly like, hello? i am kind of getting cramped in here! unfortunately, she is still breeched but the doc’s say to not worry until we hit 36 weeks…so i am hoping we get some good news by then!
food cravings: i am not craving much of anything. i am eating my usual meals and snacks. i have become pretty routine with my breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. if you take a peek at my last bump update, my meals have pretty much remained the same.
bump status: i say ginormous but everyone says basketball. haha! this belly feels huge! it’s wiggly, it moves, and i lovingly look at it as it grows, for my darling baby girl is growing inside. i am curious on who she is, what she will be like, what will she look like, and what’s she doing in there when she moves around like she’s beating a drum inside of me. we seriously cannot wait to meet you little one!
gender reveal: as y’all know, it’s a sweet baby girl!
weight gain: six pounds. bleh. really? still on trend to out gain the weight i gained with olive. at 20 weeks, i was on track to level out but that went out the door. interestingly, hc has been on a diet for the past four months, eating healthier meals, and i have increasingly outpaced his weight loss to my weight gain. ugh. i.can’t.stop.eating. mmmmmmm.
maternity clothes? not only did i break out the maternity clothes last month, i caved in and actually bought a bunch of items the other day. i was so frustrated with my wardrobe. nothing fit. i don’t know what i did when i was pregnant with olive?! i didn’t buy anything! i had dressy pants, maternity hosiery, and i think that was about it. wtf? what did i wear last time?!!! everything looks like a crop freakin’ top on me right now! anyhoo, i bought a bunch of tanks, tees, dresses, and pants to wear. yay!
sleep: i am trying. not trying too hard. but trying to get myself to bed earlier. olive digressed a few days in sleep a few weeks ago, but besides that, i try and try to get to bed earlier but don’t really succeed. so, sleep has been okaaaayyyyyyy. some nights are better than others. i am always kickin’ myself in that department.
physical state: i am tired. my legs are so tired. i have to wear compression socks and tights. whaaaaaa? yes, like an old lady. i am out of breath. i am tired when i am walking. i can’t believe how exhausted i am?? i did not feel this way with olive, at allllll. not until i hit 36-37 weeks. so, my mind is blown away that i still have ’12’ weeks to go {i put that in quotations because who knows when this babe with make her appearance}. i could cry. i really feel like i could wheel chair myself around everywhere because i am so beat down already. yikes!
miss anything? i miss my energy. i miss wine. warm weather makes me want to have a beer or a glass wine while eating dinner alfresco. i miss my pre-pregnancy skin. i have acne, dry patches, and crazy blotches all over my face. i miss fresh salmon and reaching my toes without being uncomfortable. oy vey!
baby movement: she’s nutty!!! olive was very calm in the belly. well, she did kick like crazy but she was very stationary and was never breeched. she always stayed in the same position. this babe is all over the place. like seriously! she’s always spinning around. kicking, punching, stretching – upside down, right side up, and twirling round and round. she’s constantly breeched and moving everywhere in the womb. this must be a sign of how crazy this second babe will be. gah!
food cravings: no real food cravings. things are about the same. according to the weight gain, i could probably eat a bit less but i do my usual – yogurt in the morning, snack mid morning {a chocolate croissant is healthy, right?}, lunch, dinner, and a late night snack. i go though phases where i really love dessert or i don’t want anything sweet at all. i can definitely say carbs are my best friends.
bump status: so stinkin’ big. so many people say i am small {they’re so sweet} but i know the truth. this big belly don’t lie! i look and feel sooooooo B I G! it’s heavy and i am already having a difficult time getting up and down, whether it be sitting in a chair, laying in bed, or sitting on the couch. holey moley!
