18 Weeks!

Almost halfway there!

Size of Baby: Our baby is now about 5.6 inches and about 6.7 ounces (about the size of a sweet potato!).

Symptoms: My back and hips have been a little more sore, but nothing too bad. I, also, started getting a few nosebleeds, as well. I don't know if that's from pregnancy or the colder air.... Also, my allergies have still been horrendous! I'm hoping that the colder weather will bring more relief.

Maternity clothes: This will probably be my last week wearing "normal" shirts. I don't want to stretch them out, too much! I'm still wearing one pair of "normal" jeans... the rest are maternity.

Cravings: HUGE breakfasts! I feel like I could eat eggs, pancakes, bacon, a bagel, cereal, etc. every single morning! I obviously don't, but I feel like I could! I still really love carrots and bagels and cream cheese. I've, also, been eating grapefruit every morning! Yum!

Movement: Most of the time, I feel this little one at night. The kicks have been getting stronger. In fact, on Monday night, Benjamin felt the baby move for the first time! That was so exciting... especially because he didn't feel Tatum move until around 22 weeks, last time.

Gender: Ok, this week, I definitely started feeling very confident that this one is a boy! The main reasons are because of some of the differences between this pregnancy and last. I feel like I'm carrying lower and more round. Also, I had horrible heartburn with Tatum... pretty early on. I might be speaking too soon, but so far, I've had none. This baby seems more active. All of these things might just be different personalities between this baby and Tatum, but it might be a gender thing. We will find out (hopefully) on Monday!

17 Weeks!

Last week was a super busy week, so I didn't have time to update. However, I'm thinking of maybe updating every other week. 23 more blog updates in this pregnancy seem like a lot. We'll see!
Size of Baby: Our baby is now 5.1 inches and almost 6 ounces (about the size of an onion!).
Symptoms: I'm starting to feel my belly "stretching". I've been told by a few people that I seemed to "pop" this week. Besides just feeling bigger, I haven't noticed any new symptoms.
Maternity clothes: I'm pretty much only in maternity jeans, now. I'm still not in "official" maternity shirts, only stretchy ones. I've gone up a size or two in hoodies, too.
Cravings: Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches! I could eat one for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! I, also, started to eat cottage cheese for the first time this pregnancy. I've, also, unfortunately been craving salty things. I have to be careful of that!
Aversions: I feel like, at this point, things are not as nauseating as before. However, blueberries still sound gross.
Movement: This is a busy little one! I usually feel him/her (I hate it when people say "it") at night. It's usually around 8:30 (will we have a night owl??) and as I'm trying to fall asleep. I still can't feel our baby moving from the outside, but I can definitely feel movement on the inside!
Gender: Wow, at this point, I have NO IDEA! One day, I'll feel like this one is a girl (just a feeling and B and T still say girl). Plus, he/she's heartbeat has been higher. Other days I feel like this one is a boy. I feel like I'm carrying more in front, as opposed to side to side (like T). Also, I've been craving more salty foods... rather than sweet (different than T). Come November 7, we will hopefully find out for sure! No more guessing. :)

15 Weeks!

Size of baby: Our baby is about 4 inches and 2.5 ounces (about the size of an orange!).
Symptoms: I haven't had many "new" symptoms, but my skin is starting to breakout, again. My lower back is still a little achy, but not too bad... yet! I do have one new weird symptom (I don't remember this happening with T)... I get an unusual aftertaste in my mouth after I eat certain things (strong flavors). It's probably just the hormones affecting my taste buds.
Weight gain: I've gained 4.5 pounds so far.
Maternity clothes: I had to put another pair of "regular" jeans away. I'm still wearing a few non-maternity jeans and stretchy non-maternity shirts and tanks. Many of my hoodies have to be worn unzipped.
Cravings: Anything with chocolate and mint... York patties, Junior Mints, and Mint chocolate chip ice cream! I, also, had Chipotle on Tuesday... it was delicious! Yes, I will most likely go there when I have my appointments. I am, also, loving anything having to do with potatoes... baked potatoes, french fries (yikes!), etc.
Aversions: I went to an Italian restaurant on Tuesday evening. Mushrooms sounded nasty to me (same as my pregnancy with T).
Movement: Yes, movement! I thought I possibly felt movement last week, but on Sunday night, it was for sure! As I was lying in bed, I felt definite fluttering. I asked my doctor on Tuesday if it was even possible to feel that this early. She said that because this is the second time around (I know what it feels like from the last pregnancy), it is possible! The fluttering and movement isn't very consistent, but I've felt it since Sunday! Very exciting! :)
Gender: Our ultrasound is scheduled for November 7! I'll be almost 19 weeks, but my doctor seemed pretty confident that they'll be able to tell if this little one is a girl or a boy! At my appointment on Tuesday, the heartbeat was 149 bpm. It was definitely lower than last time. A boy?? We'll hopefully see in a few weeks! We'll be ecstatic for either!

I'm so happy to be in the second trimester. We've been so blessed by this pregnancy... and this little one!

Hello, 2nd Trimester (14 weeks)!

Size of baby: Our baby is 3.4 inches and 1.5 ounces (about the size of a lemon!).
Symptoms: I'm definitely getting more energy back and starting to feel more like "myself". A few times, my lower back has started to hurt if I stay in one position for too long... I just have to keep walking and stretching! I, also, started to feel my belly stretching a little this week. I've noticed that when I wear my contacts (as opposed to my glasses), sometimes my vision is a little blurry. I remember my vision changing when I was pregnant with Tatum, too. It's so strange... I have no idea why that happens! The good news is that my skin is starting to clear up a little. I have to keep drinking that water!
Cravings: On Sunday, I drank my first (half) cup of coffee... and it tasted great! :) It sounded good to me, so I tried it. I haven't turned back since. I wouldn't say that I "crave" it, but I'm definitely enjoying it. I only drink about half a mug in the morning (I probably won't ever drink more than one full mug), but it gets the job done. Benjamin is thrilled! He was really struggling drinking coffee by himself. ;) 
I'm still really liking bagels and cream cheese, carrots, pretzels, and black beans (??). I'm, also, looking forward to Chipotle opening in Davenport on Tuesday! T and I will be there! :)
Aversions: Certain foods are not as "nauseating" as before, but they certainly don't sound good.... blueberries, dairy, etc. I had Pizza Hut's deep dish pizza on Sunday night.... wow, never again! I felt so sick, afterward. I don't know if it was a pregnancy thing or not, but it was not worth it!
Gender: This week, I actually started feeling like this little one could possibly be a boy. I don't know why, but I started picturing our family with a little baby boy.... mother's intuition?? B and T still think this one is a girl, though. We'll see who's right in about 6 weeks!


I'm so blessed that I had a pretty comfortable first trimester! I can only imagine how miserable it could have been... especially with a busy toddler! I'm praying that this little one will continue to grow, healthily. We are so blessed!

13 Weeks!

Size of Baby: Our baby is about 2.9 inches and .81 ounces (about the size of a peach!).
Symptoms: This week I started to notice that if I eat too much sugar, I feel super nauseous! I'm actually glad about this, though. I'd be stuffing my face with desserts if that wasn't the case! My belly is still growing like crazy, but I've had more energy.... especially early in the morning! I've been waking up pretty early, and haven't been able to get back to sleep. My body must be preparing itself for the early mornings! 
Weight gain: I've gained 3 pounds total.
Maternity clothes: I'm still not wearing maternity shirts... just stretchy ones. I'm, also, mostly in maternity jeans (some regular ones, still). 
Cravings: I feel like this changes every week. This week, I've been loving bagels and cream cheese, things with melted cheese (yeah, not good!), and still carrots.
Aversions: I'm still not drinking coffee. Things with a lot of dairy (besides cereal) are still nauseating. I'm used to craving chocolate (pre-pregnancy) and that has not been sounding good. Weird!
Gender:  I still feel pretty confident that this little one is a girl. This pregnancy is pretty similar to when I was pregnant with T.  We'll see! 7 more weeks! :)

This week, I had to remind myself that my tummy is expanding for a great reason! Sometimes, it's hard comparing (I know I shouldn't compare!) this pregnancy to the last one. When I was pregnant with T, I didn't wear maternity clothes nearly this early. I just have to remember that the more kids you have, the sooner you look pregnant. It's only natural. Our bodies are amazing. I just feel huge (haha, I know I'll look back at this when I'm 38 weeks, and just laugh!!)! :)
T will be a fabulous big sister. She's been "rocking" her babies to sleep, lately. So cute!

12 Weeks!

Size of baby: Our baby is about 2.1 inches long and .49 ounces (about the size of a plum!)

Symptoms: This week, I started to feel more nauseous. However, I did start to feel more energized... not as tired. I, also, started to get a few headaches. :(My face is breaking out like crazy, as well. Darn those hormones!

Maternity clothes: I'm still going back and forth between stretchy, low cut jeans and maternity jeans. My favorite American Apparel hoodie is now a little snug. :( I'm still wearing normal shirts and my hoodies and cardigans... unzipped and unbuttoned. :)

Cravings: My new cravings have been pancakes, juice (specifically orange), and carrots. I would, also, eat at Subway everyday if I could!

Aversions: I'm still not drinking coffee and dairy products are kind of nauseating too.

Gender: We, obviously, still don't know. Tatum still talks about her "baby sister". If it's a girl, she will name her "Baby Doll" or "Dora".

We set up the crib in the new baby/guest room. It's definitely feeling more real, and it's so exciting.

11 Weeks!

So, yes, at 11 weeks, I am already starting to show. I'm so glad we made the news public when we did. This would have been hard to cover up. :)

Size of baby: According to thebump.com, our little one is about 1.6 inches long and .25oz (about the size of a lime).
Symptoms: I've been super tired and a little nauseous every once and a while. It's a lot harder being pregnant when you're chasing a toddler around! As of this past week, though, my energy has returned a little and I haven't been AS tired. I definitely have a "pooch" going on, and tears come and go a little more frequently. ;)
Weight gain/loss: I've gained two pounds, so far. I think I gained those two pounds on vacation, alone! All we did was eat!
Maternity clothes: I'm still wearing "normal" shirts, but my jeans and shorts have been a little tight. I go back and forth between wearing stretchy, low cut jeans and maternity jeans. When I was pregnant with Tatum, I didn't start wearing maternity clothes until 17 weeks!
Cravings: I just started craving cereal and orange juice, lately (same cravings as the first time around.... maybe another girl??). I've, also, love raisin bagels and strawberry yogurt. If we had a Jamba Juice nearby, I would be there everyday!
Aversions: Anything having to do with blueberries makes me nauseous. Also, cottage cheese and string cheese have been pretty nasty too. At around week 7, coffee started to make me feel nauseous. However, that happened with Tatum, and I started to enjoy it, again, in the second trimester! Phew! :)
Gender: We, obviously, don't know yet. However, Tatum has been talking about a "baby sister" ever since we told her that there is a baby in Mommy's tummy. Benjamin thinks it's a girl, as well. I totally thought boy until I heard the heartbeat, yesterday. It was 177 bpm. The old wives tale says that anything about 150 bpm is a sign of a girl. I've let that... and the influence of my friends and family... tell me that it's a girl. Only time will tell. We will be more than happy with either!

Yesterday, I was able to hear the baby's heartbeat for the very first time! I forgot how amazing that moment is! I'm so thankful that God has blessed us with this little miracle. Hearing that has definitely made this more real for us. We're all so excited. Tatum talks about having a "baby sister" all the time (I hope she's not too disappointed if this "baby sister" turns out to be a "baby brother"). She's, obviously, excited too. :)