39 Weeks--We all can't be supermodels

Baby Size: Watermelon

Symptoms: Nothing!  Seriously...next to nothing!  Ever since I turned 37 weeks I've been feeling pretty good--unfortunately.  ;)  I mean, I'm tired-- a lot.  I try to take a nap when my toddler takes a nap.  Sometimes I get extremely hunger, but other than that I don't have a ton of contractions or pains.  I'm dilated 1 cm (I've been dilated that much for 3 weeks).  Soooo...now I'm just waiting.

I don't mind being pregnant since I'm not in much pain.  But I still worry constantly, and I'd like to see her (deliver her) and know she is perfect and healthy and safe.  But I know once she is here there will come a whole new set of worries.  It's tough.

Workout: Squats.  I try to do squats because I heard it can help put you into labor.  So far, nothing.  But I guess a little working out can't hurt.

Cravings: Mangoes!  The already cut ones from Costco are the best!

Best Moment(s) of the week: Getting the glider I've been wanting!

Missing: The ability to bend over without any problems or awkwardness.

35 Weeks

Baby Size: Coconut

Symptoms:Contractions, contractions, contractions...all the time.   So different than last time...or not.  Maybe I did get a lot of contractions the first time around and just didn't realize it.  And I have a serious case of pregnancy-brain.  I've decided to embrace it.  I crack eggs over the sink, and as I was cracking and opening an egg I totally spaced and just opened the egg up and let it go down the drain...then as I was silently chastising myself as I grabbed another egg--I did it again!  I opened another egg and let it go down the drain!  I have no idea what I was thinking.

But speaking of eggs...I was making a scrambled egg for Liliana one morning and as I went to put the carton of eggs back into the fridge, the carton literally flew out of my hands and fell to the floor.  All of the eggs (there were only 4 left) broke, but all in the carton.  Easy--just pick it up and throw it away.  As I picked it up, I turned around and AGAIN it flew out of my hands and splatter all over the floor!  Luckily, my sweet husband was home and cleaned it all up!  Man oh man!  I just couldn't help it!

And no swelling yet (by this time last time I was way swollen).  But you can see from my picture my face is officially chubby.  I can't help it.  It just happens.
 

Workout: None...and it's a terrible thing.  Now anything I do that raises my heart rate causes pain and contractions.  It's quite annoying.

Cravings: Hotdogs...but I'm not eating them.  I've never been a huge hot dog fan, but for some reason they sound delicious to me!  Oh, and salmon...the very pricey salmon. 

Best Moment(s) of the week: Just feeling okay.  Contractions are in check and other symptoms are manageable.

Missing: Sleeping on my back, laying on my stomach...and really working out...and eating anything I want.  And being able to pick up and play with Liliana like a normal person.

31 Weeks

This is at around 29 weeks while playing at the Children's Museum.

Baby Size: Pineapple

Symptoms: Heartburn and Acid Reflux in full force.  I sleep sitting up like the Elephant Man.  My neck hurts as a result, and every so often I nestle down in bed and I wake up chocking on the acid coming back up.  It's pretty awesome---not really; it's gross and scary.  And I get a ton more Braxton Hicks then I ever did the first time around.  Oh, and emotions!  I can feel myself getting REALLY angry over stupid things...so stupid I can't even think of them right now.  Like, if dinner is taking longer to cook then I thought it would...silly things like that.  It's very weird.  I can go from happy to sad to angry in seconds!  Ohhhh...and I had to take the 3-hour glucose test.  I passed, but the actual test was miserable!  It was so hard not to throw up!  Seriously, I did not handle it well...and you get pricked over and over...man I hope I never have to do that again!
 

Workout: I'm only doing Pilates and yoga these days.  Back to the Braxton Hicks...I had what I believed was way too many in a certain amount of time.  (4-5 in an hour and painful) so I went into the doctor's office to be monitored.  Everything was fine, but still kind of scary.  And the only thing--the only thing--I can think of that I did differently that day was workout at the gym (which, ironically, I felt the best I had felt while running...but...then the contractions came...) so I've been nervous to go back to working out.  So, I'm sticking with prenatal Pilates and yoga.

Cravings: None really.  In fact my appetite isn't what it used to be...which is good, because I was eating everything!  Now, I just eat normal.

Best Moment(s) of the week: I say this a lot, but movement...it is, by far, the coolest part of being pregnant.

Missing: Sleeping on my back, laying on my stomach...and really working out.

24 Weeks

Baby Size:Canteloupe

Symptoms: Pregnancy dreams!  I really don't remember them being this bad and vivid with my last pregnancy.  The other night I glanced at the computer screen while my husband was watching "Breaking Bad" with headphones, and I had a nightmare about drug dealers!  (I watched the first two season on the show, but it got to be too intense for me.)

Workout: Some prenatal Pilates.  It was a busy week, and I find that if I don't workout in the morning then it's probably not happening--sadly.

Cravings: Sweets.  All day every day...no joke.

Best Moment(s) of the week: Hearing the heart beat--it never gets old.  I had my regular check-up this week, and everything looks good.

Missing: Being regular.  With my last pregnancy I was regular until the bitter end; in fact it wasn't until after I gave birth that I had a problem.  This time around, after the first trimester it has been rough in that department!

This week has been busy, but relatively uneventful--just the normal "life" things that need to be done.  I'm currently dealing with a toddler who is struggling with finding her way.  She cries more now then she ever has in her little life.  We're struggling to figure out the best way to handle it.  I really don't want a spoiled monster for a child, but when you're in the moment and it's happening it's hard to know the "right" thing to do.  Overall she's still a very good girl, but man does she have her moments. 

22 Weeks

Baby Size: Papaya

Symptoms: Stuffy nose.  It wakes me up at night, because I can't breathe.  I've started wearing Breathe Right strips and they have been helping a ton.

Workout: Went to the gym 3 times...cardio mostly.  Plus Lili likes playing at the Kids Club.  Also, at home, I did an Arm workout 3 times, as well as Prenatal Pilates.

Cravings: Still Apples.  I have at least one every day.

Best Moment(s) of the week: Getting to the gym.

Missing: Eating food with reckless abandon.  Lili and I went to one of our favorite places, Whole Foods, and at the cheese counter they were giving away samples of Parmesan.  We each ate a piece and it was delicious, so I decided to buy a small block of it ($22.99/lb!!).  When I got home I realized it was "raw milk Parmesan"...........it's probably okay for me to eat, but just to be on the safe side I didn't/haven't eaten it.  =(  But it was so yummy in the store!

I'll try to lay off the bathroom photos next time.  =)

My belly button is starting to make it's way out.  I guess that makes sense because my uterus is just above my belly button, I think.  Or it's at my belly button.  Either way, it was probably around this time last pregnancy that my belly button started to pop.  I used to think outtie belly buttons on pregnant women looked ugly...but when I had one, I couldn't care less about it!  I remember thinking I'd put tape or something over it, but in the end it really didn't matter to me.

I have a couple pairs of pants I want to turn into maternity jeans.  I have all the materials, and I've read plenty of blogs/instructions on what to do...but I'm still nervous about messing them up so I haven't made any yet.  Plus, the weather is starting to get really cold so I'm pretty okay with sweats!  Ha!  My desire to "look cute" this pregnancy is waning.  Darn.

And I've decided not to keep track of my weight gain.  I don't own a scale, and I'm not too concerned about it.  Although I can tell you I'm gaining weight much differently then with Liliana.  This time around I appear to only be gaining weight in my hips and thighs!  (Every girl's nightmare).  Oh well...not much I can do now.  I'm trying to workout still (although I don't workout nearly as hard as I'd like) and I try to eat sensibly.  To be honest, I'm not too concerned about losing the weight once I have the baby.  I'm also trying to cut down on eating overt sugar.  That is, cookies, cake,  brownies, ice cream...you get the idea.  It's harder then you think, because I would eat desserts all day every day if given the chance!

21 Weeks

I've said this before, but it's worth saying again: Being pregnant is by far the coolest thing that has ever happened to me.  I am always amazed by pregnancy and the absolute miracle of birth.  Do you know how insurmountable the task of getting pregnant (the actual science behind it) seems to be?  It seems so unlikely.  Well, for me, it's happened again and I couldn't be more excited--and nervous--and a little scared.

Baby Size: Pomegranate

Weight gain: 9lbs total so far

Symptoms: Feeling bigger as I can feel my uterus growing.

Workout: None...oh wait, Prenatal Pilates (it doesn't really feel like a workout though)...it was a lazy week. 

Cravings: Granny Smith Apples

Best Moment(s) of the week: Anatomy scan!  Everything looks great!  Let's hope it stays that way!

Missing: My desire to workout.  =(

18 Weeks

One of the things that I wish I had done with my first pregnancy was take more picture of me actually being pregnant.  I wish I had documented my growth better.  There is probably a handful of photos of me, and I think they're all from my 8th and 9th months.  So...I've sort of dropped the ball already.  But starting now is better then nothing.  

Here we go....

Baby Size: A bell pepper

Weight gain: yes--I don't know the amount at the moment, but I'll know next time.  =)

Symptoms: A slight amount of nausea, hunger, extremely emotional over random stuff, and slight back pain.

Workout: Running 3-4 times a week, light weight training 2 times a week, and Prenatal Pilates 3-4 times a week.  Let's see if I can keep it up.

Cravings: Meat.  Steak.  Vegetables.

Best Moment(s) of the week: Increasing amount of fetal movement--there really is something in there!

Missing: Carefree living in my body.