31 Weeks



31 Weeks

 

Total weight gain?

22 pounds. The nurse asked me at my 31 week checkup how much I  gained with Austin-45 pounds. She then reassured me that wouldn't happen this time!

Sleep
I wake up around 4AM every morning and it takes me a while to fall back asleep. Also, I can't seem to take naps. If I have time to, I lay down but can't fall asleep! Otherwise, I sleep great at night and am so thankful.

Movement

She is definitely moving a lot more lately and I love it. Even when I go to bed, I can feel her shaking my whole body. Sometimes, I wonder if it will wake Stephen up. Then I remember a train running through his room couldn't budge him.

Exercise

This has been tough! Honestly, the times I really don't want to exercise but I do, I gain so much energy! Working out has given me the energy to make it this far. I still run 3 times a week for a 3 mile stretch each time. Last week, I had my fastest time since I started running while pregnant. Go figure. I've been slacking on my weights and other muscular endurance exercises though, but my stretching is still going well. I really need a kick in the butt some days to get my workouts done! I always feel great afterwards-it's just the part of getting it started. Now, if only I can actually get it all done for (at the most) another 11 weeks...

Stretch Marks
No sir-ee.

Name
We finally picked a first name-Harper. After Bryce Harper on the Washington Nationals. It was Stephen's idea, but the name is cute for a girl. We still aren't sure on a middle name...at least I don't think we are.

Harper on the left, Austin on the right

31 weeks flexed-hard to tell!

 

 

28 Weeks

28 weeks, 2 days

Total weight gain?

20 pounds. I don't know how, but pounds keep coming on.

Sleep
I can sleep well still, but I have the strangest dreams. I've always had weird dreams, but now they are worse. And I do have to get up to use the bathroom at least once each night.

Movement

Certain moments in the day and night she moves a lot. At other times, she is so still till I poke her.

Exercise

I have stopped doing my dvd as much because it bored me, but I do it about once a week still. Running is the same and going well. I do lunges and squats and variations 3 times a week at least, along with my planks and pushups. I finally got some dumbbells so I have added them to my regimen 3 days a week as well-mostly for my upper body.

Stretch Marks
Still nothing new.

Most Exciting Thing This Week
I got some new maternity clothes- a tshirt, tank top, shorts, & pants.
I'm also reminded of how a year ago this week we found out we were expecting our 2nd child. Even though they are with their Creator now, I'm so thankful for the hope we have and another healthy baby in the making 💗

27 Weeks

27 weeks and 2 days.

Total weight gain?

18 pounds. I'm actually okay with that because it's right on track.

Sleep

I'm a professional at this sport. Even if I can't breathe out of my nose half the time (thank you, sinuses), I can still manage a wonderful night's sleep. I may be achy when I wake up, but as long as I can sleep when I close my eyes, I can handle it.

Movement

I can tell she is getting stronger because her movement the past 2 weeks has shot through the roof...and I love it. I know she's healthy.

Exercise

I am still running 3 miles three times a week and doing my pregnancy workout on dvd. I've started to do more planks and pushups to strengthen my upper body. I've been using my medicine ball 3 times a week to do some arm strengthening too. And every night, I stretch anything I possibly can. I start to feel some lower back and hip pain at night so I'm hoping the stretching can help some with that.

Stretch Marks
So far, so good! Hope it keeps up!

Thoughts on this pregnancy
I think things are going great and on track for a healthy baby. I still have fears that something could go wrong. I don't talk about that though, because regardless,  God is still good. I think Stephen still gets a little worried about the possibilities of something happening but we are very positive and hopeful.
I've stayed healthier this pregnancy than when pregnant with Austin so I am hoping our baby will be perfectly healthy and that labor and delivery go well for her. I want her to be taken care of. 

Austin is going to absolutely love her too. He loves baby Kara, who we have been helping with this week. I can't wait to see him with his own sister 💕

25 Weeks

How far along? 

25 weeks today.

Total weight gain?

16 pounds. I gained another this past week. I was always eating. Seeing that I have about 15 more weeks, I may become a balloon.

Sleep

I still have no problem sleeping. I'm going to say that's because I wear myself out during the day. Now, I've just got to keep it up!

Movement

She moves most when I bend over ( I must squish her) and when I lay on my side.

 

Exercise

I logged 13.5 miles this past week. 5 miles were from walking and 8.5 miles were from running. I did my pregnancy workout twice as well. I signed up to do the 100 Mile Challenge, so I'm well on my way to getting there. It goes from July 1st through September 26th, so I've got plenty of time.

 

Best Moment of the Week

As cheesy as it sounds, my best moment has been spending time with Stephen. I got to watch him at his softball game, watch our Washington Nationals play, and sit on the back deck at night with Stephen. It was a 3-day weekend for him so we soaked up the time we all had together.

 

 

 

Gender Reveal

We had some friends and family over the first Saturday in June to find out the sex of our baby.






I made some last minute decorations, of course, and hung them up around the party.

We had hotdogs, chicken salad, macaroni and cheese, watermelon, corn, cookies, and homemade ice cream to satisfy everyone's hungry belly.




Stephen had read the ultrasound to find out the sex of the baby. He then blew up and filled twenty-some balloons with pink confetti for all the guests to pop at the same time. He passed them out to everyone asking them not to look because some of the balloons were see through.






Everyone held their balloon over their head...





...and we popped them on the count of 3. PINK confetti went everywhere. It was so cute!
 



Stephen did such a good job getting the reveal balloons ready. This picture describes real life as well-we couldn't get a picture of both of us with our eyes open. Oh well!






Austin was so scared of all the popping balloons that he held on to Stephen for dear life afterwards.





Our baby girl got an early gift from her great grandparents.



We had such a good time. It was nice having enough food for everyone and being able to relax with everyone. And we are so thankful for our healthy baby girl!

20 week ultrasound

24 weeks

How far along? 

24 weeks today.

Total weight gain?
15 pounds. Wowsers. The doctor measured the height of my uterus today & said it was measuring juuust over 23 weeks. My blood pressure was 100/57 and my weight was up 4.8 pounds since my 20 week visit.

Maternity Clothes
I wear more maternity shirts now. I have yet to wear my maternity pants since the rubberband trick still works. I also wear workout clothes a lot because I don't have much to dress up for, and let's be honest - they are cozy!

Sleep
I sleep fine at night because I've been sooo tired. I'm starting to notice my hips are more uncomfortable though. This means I'll need to start sleeping with a pillow between my legs soon. Ugh. Since 21 weeks along, I no longer sleep on my stomach.  Baby girl would start moving a lot so I've opted to no longer squish our child. I'm sure she is glad about that. And yes, I have to use the bathroom at least once every night. 

Movement
Some days more than others, I feel her move a lot. Thankfully,  I feel her move every day.

Food cravings and aversions
Keep the bacon away, please. Can't stand it. Same with pork. I will gladly eat some ice cream or a milkshake though ☺

Exercise
The past two weeks I've only exercised 4 times since I was exhausted from watching a 6, 4, 2, & 1 year old along with a 3 month old for eight and a half hours each weekday. I'm hoping to return to my 3 mile runs 3 days a week and my pregnancy dvd workouts 3 days a week. I would like to keep baby and myself healthy.

Stretch Marks
None. Let's keep it that way.

Sex of the baby
Girl!  We popped balloons and pink confetti came out! We are excited.  Austin knows that his baby sister is in my tummy now too. Next, we hope he will say 'baby'.

Baby Times

Our little rainbow baby is growing.
Statistics say if you become pregnant within 6 months of a miscarriage, you are more likely to have a healthy pregnancy and carry to full term. A healthy pregnancy means a healthy baby.

 

Our baby is now 16 weeks and 3 days along. I have felt some squirms and finally escaped that darn morning sickness. No more running to the bathroom or avoiding food and smells. I have an appointment next Tuesday and then, the next appointment will be when we find out the sex of our baby!

 

I told Stephen I may cry if it's not a boy because I think Austin would love to have a brother so close in age. Of course, a little girl would be awesome, but I will definitely have to prepare myself.

 

At our first (and only appointment thus far), Stephen and I were so scared that we would not see a heartbeat. I cried when we did and Stephen's face lit up with relief. The toughest part of this pregnancy, even among the morning sickness, is waiting to hear our baby's heartbeat. Every doctor's appointment will come with anxiety until that 'thump, thump' is heard.