25 weeks

Well, I already suck at posting updates this time around...and after my last update, I missed a week.  I'd love to say it's because I've been SO super busy that I couldn't squeeze in a post, but then I'd be lying.  It's more that every time I think about sitting down to write, I get distracted, or lazy.  But seeing as I'm sitting here at home watching my third episode of Dora this morning as my double-ear-infected toddler plays (read: pulls out every toy and makes a giant mess) on the floor at my feet, I figured now is as good a time as any!

How far along are you? 25 weeks,  4 days

How I'm feeling: Pretty good this week.  Have a cough that is more annoying than anything else...but went to the doctor for it and they said "it's just post-nasal drip".  So that was also annoying.  Not that I can really take anything while pregnant, but it would be nice to have some kind of option to help when I'm hacking up a lung at 2am.

Total weight gain: I have no idea.  More than I wish to know.  And at my last Dr. appt we totally pulled a "don't ask, don't tell".  I didn't ask, and he didn't tell.  And yesterday at my PCP appointment, the nurse said "skip it, or try it?" while pointing to the scale.  Obviously I chose "skip it".

Blood pressure check: I feel it's important to add this section after the complications I had during my pregnancy with Nick.  So far my blood pressure has been incredible.  When I was pregnant with Nick, I went in with it a bit high.  Normal readings for me were borderline high, so when I started to become pre-eclamptic (I have no clue how that's spelled), my blood pressure skyrocketed and went through the roof.  I'm proud to report that every OB appointment so far I have been told "blood pressure is great!!" and just yesterday at the PCP, it was 120/78.  Fingers crossed it stays this way!

Cool baby facts: Baby is starting to put on some baby fat!  And his hair is starting to grow in, which IF we could see it, we could now discern the color of it.  I'm dying to find out if this baby will be a little red head like Nick, or turn out to be a little toe-head like his daddy was. 

How big is baby? He is now approximately 13.5 inches long, but only about 1.5 lbs.  According to BabyCenter, he's the size of "your average rutabaga".  Not that I have any idea what an average rutabaga...or an unaverage one for that matter...looks like.

Sleep: Sleep is still ok.  Still no giant maternity pillow in our bed, though last night I had some discomfort and considered it...but that was quickly squashed by my 2:30am cough attack that in turn woke up the sick toddler who then wanted nothing more than to "google mommy" (aka snuggle).

Maternity Clothes: Yes.  And every time I get dressed, I think "ugh, I have nothing to wear" despite having a fair amount of maternity clothes to choose from.  I'm just at the point where I feel huge no matter what I put on, and in turn think it all looks awful.  My go-to has been a white maternity tee or tank, with a non-maternity open front/over sized cardigan.  And can I just reiterate that I'm so happy to be pregnant in fall/winter again?  Despite the fact that I'm already a warm person to begin with, the thought of having to wear clothes that expose my extra pounds makes me nauseous.  Thank goodness for sweaters, jeans, uggs, and being able to accessorize with big scarves. 

Best moment this week:  Up until this past week, anytime I would lift my shirt and show Nick my belly, he would point to my belly button and exclaim loudly "Whoa!  Big hole!"  But when I showed him this weekend and said "Nick, what's in mommy's belly?" he said "baby!!"  Although he did tell me for the first time last night that this was his baby sister...any other time, he's said "baby brudder!"  He's also started hugging and kissing my belly a bit...but I think that's more so because it's always in the way when he tries to cuddle on my lap. Other great moments this week were spending the weekend at the Lake for the fall festival - despite not knowing that Nick was working on a double ear-infection, he had a blast at the festival and held off on the cranky crying and fever spiking until after the festival. 

Movement: Baby boy loves to move particularly right after breakfast, or as soon as I lay down for bed at night.  He's pretty chilled out otherwise, but he still has quite a bit of room to move as it is.

Food cravings: Nothing particular.  And I'm not choosy between salty or sweet. It's only when I get a food thought into my head that I have to have it.  Like last week, I was dying for homemade chicken soup...so I HAD to make it.  And this morning we decided to go to dinner at Chili's tonight for Dad's birthday and now ALL I can think about is Chili's chips & salsa, and chicken fajitas.  Oh - and it appears my nightly bowl of cocoa puffs has returned.  Trying to squash this and make it only once or twice a week instead of every.single.night.

Food aversions:  Still nothing much.  This morning I was super psyched to make a cup of coffee with pumpkin spice creamer, so I make a pumpkin spice k-cup in the keurig, and then was grossed out by the smell.  Which is totally odd.  I pushed through and drank it anyway and it tasted way better than it smelled.  So strange.

Belly button in or out: Still in.  It never popped out with Nick, just ended up getting flat.  And I totally forgot from when I was preggo with Nick, but I have a freckle inside my belly button that just came back into sight.  Also, I could've sworn my linea negra showed up at this point with Nick, but so far no sign of it at all.  Maybe it won't show up this time?

What I miss: Being able to breathe after just a short walk.  Being comfortable.  Having a waist line.  Being able to wear my wedding rings without further irritating my finger or worrying about swelling.  Pumpkin beer. 

What I'm looking forward to: Finally starting to pull Nick's big boy room together.  It suddenly dawned on me that we only have about 3 months to get it done, and re-do the nursery.  Fortunately the nursery doesn't require much more than a little paint and some new bedding.  But Nick's room is going to be a big task.  Also - if you know of anyone getting rid of a dresser that would be good for a toddler's room, please let me know!

Randoms: I passed my glucose test with flying colors.  My sugars looked great and I'm not anemic.  So far, aside from a bit of discomfort from all my organs being smushed together into my lungs, this pregnancy has been healthy and smooth sailing.  Also of random note - BabyCenter says that my hair should be looking thick and lustrous at this point due to not losing any hair.  My hormones this time around are so out of whack and completely different from my first pregnancy.  My hair is growing so fast and coming in so dark that my roots look ridiculous.  But it's far from thick as I'm losing tons of it every time I shower.  Just ask Nick, who is so over sharing a bathroom with me...every time he takes a bath, he scoops up a handful of my hair and says "icky, mommy!"

 

I can't believe this week is my Dad's 60th birthday and Halloween.  Before we know it, Thanksgiving will have come and gone, and we'll be celebrating Nick's last Christmas as an only child.  Then we'll have just about a month to prep for baby boy #2's arrival.  This pregnancy is flying!