April photo favorites

 

^^ She loves tank tops and mine are even more fun, because they are dresses to her ; )

^^ I was trying on hats and Ellie decided she wanted to try on a hat as well. 

She grabbed the biggest one there was of course, hahaha

^^ Just decided to lay on the floor and watch a movie like this for a minute

^^ Daddy painting toe nails. This guy melts me.

^^ About 33 weeks! 

HAPPY EASTER

^^ Whatever make up I have out Ellie wants to play with it. Total girl.

^^ Rare sleeping moment captured 

^^ Helping put baby sisters crib together!

33 weeks

How far along?: 33 weeks and 4 days

Movement: Her movement isn't as often, but when it is happening, boy is she strong!

Total weight gain: 18 pounds total so far. I don't think I've mentioned, but for those that don't know, the recommended weight gain for me is 25-35 pounds. So I think...at least I hope...I'll be within that this pregnancy! I exceeded that by 3 pounds with Ellie and it certainly felt like it. Yeesh!

Maternity clothes: Since the belly is getting bigger and bigger, every day it seems, I've had to expand my wardrobe in the shirt department especially. I pretty much live in guys Hanes v-neck white t-shirts. I'd wear these a lot before pregnancy, but I just got one size up and they are still great! I've also snagged a couple of Steven's smaller shirts to wear. Trying to make the best out of what I have though, because I only have about a month left! There are some drawstring shorts I'm eyeing at Old Navy though, which would be nice to have post-pregnancy, too...

Currently craving: Ice cream, anything with chocolate and peanut butter sounds delicious (as it always has, but it's increased!!!), La Croix - Peach/Pear and passionfruit flavors and fish/cod sandwiches. And pretty much any junk food...though I try to limit it!

Anything make you sick or queasy?: Eating too much, which isn't surprising. Not as much food can be in my belly at once like it use to.

Stretch marks: I don't think I've gotten any new ones. I've mainly been using coconut oil on my whole mid-section at least twice a day and trying to drink plenty of water. When I was pregnant with Ellie a lot of the stretch marks I got came during the last month or two. So we'll see what happens, because really there is only so much I can do to prevent them.

Sleep: When night comes, I can't wait to put my head to my pillow. However, every once in awhile it can take me longer to fall asleep. Also, there have been a few nights where, around the 3 o'clock hour, after I get up to use the restroom for the 10th time (exaggerating, but it feels like it's that many times), it can take an hour or two to fall back asleep.

Feeling: Heartburn has been the most common and unpleasant symptom I have. But I pretty much eat and drink all the things that irritate that. Therefore, I think it's my fault I experience it every day! I'm also nesting like crazy with the babies room and want to have all I want/need for it, like, now! So, impatience is something I'm trying to tone down a couple notches. There are also moments where I get shortness of breath, after doing something such simple things such as picking up things around the house and sit down right after. Baby girl is putting pressure on my lungs for sure! Hot flashes have also made several appearances. Thankful I won't be pregnant during our hottest months!

Working on/thinking about: As I said in last paragraph, the babies room! I love how we're getting more and more of the furniture pieces and more of the decor together. I love walking in there and imagining it all in the end. Also, still thinking about labor often. Praying I have the strength to endure it and peace for any issues that arrive.

Favorite moment from this week: During my routine OB appointment last week I had a "just for fun of it" ultrasound. Granted the scan was on one of their old machines, the screen wasn't in a great spot and the PA was super fast at it. It was awesome to see little bits of our girl, even if it was for less than a minute.

March photo favorites

As the arrival of baby girl nears I realize these moments of just a family of three are really important. Ellie's world is going to be rocked and our time is going to look a bit different. I'm so grateful for these two and really want to soak up these last couple months. March was wonderful. We had a ton of beautiful days that allowed us to get to the park, go on walks around the neighborhood (sans stroller, too), I finally planned a dinner and a movie night with a couple girlfriends and then Steven and I had the chance for a date night (pictures we took didn't turn out well, unfortunately-but it did happen!). 

This girl loves dancing and especially loves to dress up like a real ballerina

^ March 19th. The day Ellie moved up to the Pre-K room at church. 

She could technically still stay in the nursery, but we didn't want to make this big transition for her right when the baby comes. And if we waited a little bit after the baby comes, she would just seem sooo big in the nursery. Therefore, we made the change now! Ellie can have some separation anxiety randomly and this day we were able to leave her in this new, big room with no tears! 

(The following week however, she did cry for a little, but today, none!)

^ if you look closely Ellie has the blanket wrapped around her head/neck, haha

^ At our life group. All, but one, of the girls were on the floor coloring in the same position all wearing pink, and I couldn't help but snap a picture

^ She is getting better and better at coloring in certain detailed spots

30 weeks

How far along?: 30 weeks and 2 days. 28 weeks marked the start of the third trimester - woohoo!

Movement: Baby girl has some crazy movements, often. There are many times when I'm sitting and out of the corner of my eye I can actually see my belly jut out for a second or belly roll while she's being active in there! Then there are times when she kicks my bladder-yikes! I've tried to put Ellie's hand on my belly while the baby is moving, but of course, baby girl stops when I do that.

Total weight gain/loss: 11 pounds total. At my routine doctor appointment last week I asked if there's any concern about how little weight I've gained and how slow it's come on. Doctor said even though it is on the slower side, baby/belly are measuring on track and that's good. Then she said to make sure I was eating 3 good meals, plus snacks, a day. And I said I was.

Maternity clothes: All my pre pregnancy jeans are uncomfortable now. I can still get them on, but can't button them. I could do the whole rubber band trick, however, I don't have a lot of long shirts to camouflage that. So I got some new pregnancy jeans (because the other ones I have are still too big); much more comfortable. I may need to get a couple more maternity shirts, or at least some bigger shirts I can wear after baby comes. During my pregnancy with Ellie I received several hand me downs from my sister in laws, but they got pretty worn out, so some things weren't in good shape to wear this time around as well.

Currently craving?: Iced coffee, ice cream, seafood, gourmet vegetarian pizza from Papa Murphy's, bacon and chips. Of course pretty much all junk...

Anything make you sick or queasy?: Nothing really

Stretch marks?: I don't think I have additional new ones...

Sleep: It seems like the sleep I need has increased. We try to get to bed at a decent time...however those nights we're up a little later makes a difference in how I feel the next day - more TIRED than normal! I'm waking up more to use the restroom as well and after some of those times, it's hard to fall right back asleep.

Feeling: Excited and nervous. Been thinking more about how there's only 10 weeks left, give or take, seems sooo close to the due date! Still feeling heartburn at some point every day, sciatica pain off and on, tired, and some cramps.

Working on/thinking about: The nursery and getting other things we need. A lot of people say, "oh that's nice you're having a girl, you have everything you need already!" Well, that is the case for clothes, toys and blankets mainly. Though, the girls are going to be in separate rooms, so we need duplicates on all the furniture pieces and we need more of the same basic things anyways (crib sheets, towels, etc). There were some items handed down to us that aren't in good enough shape to re-use. And, since baby #2 is being born in the summer (Ellie was born in "winter") we need some more light weight clothing pieces for that early stage. With all that said, we're slowly getting more and more of baby #2 needs!

Favorite moment from this week?: Passing my glucose test!!!! Hearing that was such a relief. I failed the hour one when I was pregnant with Ellie, and had to take the 3 hour one, which I thankfully passed. I was just so curious if I really did develop gestational diabetes this time around. Hallelujah I didn't!

January/February photo favorites

During the month of January and February I/we didn't take many pictures and so I decided to just combine the last 2 months together...

^ giving Madeline a piggy back ride

^ This girl and dressing up...one morning she spotted this hat in her drawer and wanted to wear it and then wanted to wear her slippers. That smile, too-such a ham!

^ she gets pretty excited out in the snow

^ these little crossed ankles get me every time

first family cookie date...Ellie approved ; )

^ DATE NIGHT!! 

^ Ellie loves "snoothies" haha

^ whenever we are at Old Navy now Ellie has to sit at the coloring table 

^ Valentine's Day with my loves! Later that day Steven and I got to go on another date night!

We have such wonderful friends who bless the 3 of us like that! 

^ This was right after we got home from grocery shopping. The paper towel bag was partially opened  already and when I was in the kitchen, putting away the food items, Ellie opened the big bag the rest of the way. She stacked ALL of these on her own. AND she was really wanting to get that roll in her hands on the very top! I was super impressed when I came around the corner to see what she was up to. 

First park trip of the year! It's been either windy, snowy, rainy or just too plain cold to be outside, more often than not this year. So it was nice to take advantage of a decent afternoon! 

This girl still loves slides.

^ playing dress up during our life group night

^ One day Steven got the idea of taking Ellie to see a movie at the theater. Moana was playing in a theater near us-one that does $1 movies on Tuesdays. And we figured if she didn't like it/was over it, we'd only be out a couple bucks (kids are free till age 3!). Well, Ellie sat in one of our laps the whole time, totally enthralled with the movie. Granted she did need to use the restroom a couple times, but overall she did way better than we thought she would. 

26 weeks

How far along?: 26 weeks

Movement: Baby girl is pretty active a few different chunks of time a day; morning, afternoon and evening - right when I'm settling into bed. Ellie was the same way and they are times when I can really sit (or lay) and soak in the amazingness of this life inside me. It truly is a mind blowing thing and I'm very grateful for it. And Steven was able to feel her a couple weeks ago, too!

Total weight gain/loss: So far I have gained 8 pounds my total pregnancy. It still surprises me and Steven that it has been so little. I may be eating a little better and may be a little more active than last time, but still...really?! Less than 10 pounds?!? At my appointment last week I asked what I weighed this time around when I was pregnant with Ellie, and it was 10 pounds more than what I weigh now. Yessss!!!!! I do need to be careful though, because I don't want to gain a ton of weight really fast at the end and I do have a little ways to go till this girl comes. The doctor's office hasn't said anything, other than "good" when I get on the scale, too.

Maternity clothes: More and more of my shirts are needing to be retired...they tend inch their way up and pulling them down constantly is a bit annoying. Some also don't go around the belly nicely and I don't want it to be sticking out from under my shirt! Two out of my four pre-pregnancy jeans still fit and I still don't fit into my actual pregnancy jeans.

Currently craving?: Dutch Bros. coffee all the time - Hazelnut freeze to be exact, ice cream (but I don't have this too often), fruit, crackers with salami and cheese and Taco Bell.

Anything make you sick or queasy?: Sometimes waiting too long to eat in between meals/snacks can make that queasy feeling come on.

Belly button in or out?: It's sticking out pretty much 99.9% of the time and through my clothes you can see the little bump.

Stretch marks?: Maybe a few more?? I am getting more itchy off and on throughout the day and I try my hardest not to itch. Still trying to slather on the lotion (Palmers stretch mark lotion and coconut oil) several times a day and when I feel that itch come on.

Sleep: I still get pretty tired earlier than later (9:30pm) and fall asleep super fast. There are times throughout the night however when I have a harder time falling back asleep, you know, after getting up to use the bathroom several times! But overall, I'm still doing good in this department. More than not I try to get up, read and take a shower before Ellie wakes up. Later in the day though I feel the tiredness come on more than if I had just slept that extra hour. Naps could happen most days, however I don't always give into that.

Feeling: Emotional still. Mostly just crying about things faster, or I may have more attitude. Heartburn has come on the last couple weeks. It usually hits around mid/late afternoon and can last off and on till I go to bed. Sciatic nerve pain on the left side gets me every few days, but doesn't last too long. I got that when I was pregnant with Ellie and there were several times when I just had to lay down on the couch because walking hurt!

Working on/Thinking about: Even though my weight gain has been great, I have known the whole time that I should be working out and be consistent about it. Plus, it would make me feel a little less guilty for those treats I have! So, this last week I worked out a handful of times and I'm really proud of myself for that. On top of this I am thinking about my next routine OB appointment and how I will be getting the glucose test (routine for around this time) and when I was pregnant with Ellie I failed the first time. That means you need to take the three hour one as well, which also entails getting stuck with a needle more and fasting longer - none of that is fun! (Thankfully I passed that second time.) But, I'm very curious if my splurging throughout this pregnancy, or just this pregnancy in general, has caused me to develop gestational diabetes??
And then, I think about labor quite often. Ellie came on the first due date I was given (the earliest of all three dates I was given) and labor only lasted 9.5 hours, with pushing for only a couple of that. Everything was pretty much to the book and I am very curious how it will go this time. I'm also a planner, and not being able to plan/control something like this is a big thing. Labor is a BIG thing and I want to be as easy going as last time, with relaxing and not getting caught up in things.

Favorite moment from this week?: Hearing how much less I weigh this time around was really nice! And then of course hearing the babies heartbeat again! We also brought Ellie with us to my last appointment just so she could see me getting "checked out" by my doctor. It was her first time (as a toddler) going there and I want to try whatever we can to help ease her stress when she goes to her doctors office. Anyways, when the doctor put the doppler to my belly to check the babies heartbeat, Ellie said "wow, that's noisy!" haha. It was a precious moment having her there and hearing that at the same time...both my girls...one in my belly, one in our arms!