22 Week Pregnancy Blog

How far along? 22 weeks 1 days

Written on May 2, 2016

Baby: At close to 11 inches and almost 1 pound (about the size of a spaghetti squash), our little girl is starting to look like a miniature newborn. Her lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and even tiny tooth buds beneath the gums are appearing. Her eyes have formed, but the irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. The baby has fine hair (lanugo) that covers the body and the deep wrinkles on the skin, which she will sport until she adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside the belly, the pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.  

       

         

Total Weight Gain: Right now I have gained 8-9 pounds (114-115). It's always hard for me seeing the scale go up , but I can tell the baby has really grown recently, so that's a huge blessing! I didn't do too great with eating healthy this past weekend, so I am going to make a better effort this week.

 

Maternity Clothes: I feel like my belly has doubled in size in just a few weeks! It's funny how she stayed hidden for so long and then BAM, there she is! I'm finally at the point where I look pregnant, so I pulled out the maternity clothes and am trying to embrace them. With my first pregnancy, I was all about maternity clothes. I remember so desperately wanting to wear them that I put them on way before I even needed to. This time around, I've put it off for as long as possible and am begrudgingly putting them on! Thankfully I have some cute stuff, so that makes it a little easier ;) I'm still wearing my belly band and now wearing my smaller maternity clothes. I am definitely going to have to go shopping for maternity shorts because I only have 2 pairs and I have to make it through the entire summer!

 

Stretch Marks: I finally bought stretch mark cream and have been doing a much better job at applying it! I'm trying to apply the cream at least once, if not twice a day.

Sleep: I slept much better this week. We have so much going on and I'm just exhausted. I also think the lack of sleep for a few weeks caught up with me! I'm trying to nap when I can, but that's still very rare. (Welcome to having a toddler!) I still wake up frequently at night.

Miss Anything? Right now, I really miss being active. I'm still limited in the activity that I can do and after 3 full months of that, it's hard. I want so badly to go on a run or a long walk. I want to be able to take care of Grayson by myself and not have to rely on others to constantly pick him up for me. I just want to be able to do regular things and not always have to watch myself to make sure I'm not doing too much. While this is very difficult, nothing in my life is worth risking my baby's life, so I am always more on the cautious side. But I know this is all temporary and soon enough, I'll be chasing after 2 babies! :) Perspective is key when it comes to this topic!

Best Moment of the Week: We were able to announce that Josh has been appointed to Lizella UMC as the head Pastor. We will be moving there this June and we are very excited for this next chapter of our lives. It was a very bittersweet announcement and we are so sad about leaving our MVUMC church family and this community, but we are trusting God's leading and know the best is yet to come!

Movement: This sweet girl moves ALL THE TIME! I love it. I can feel her move all day long and can even feel her while I am up walking around (something I didn't experience with Grayson until the 3rd trimester). I can tell she's grown a lot and that there's a developed little baby in there!

Food Cravings: I did terribly with sweets this weekend. When there are a lot of sweets around, I tend to eat them instead of real food. Then I feel super guilty for feeding the baby sugar...which she loves, by the way! She goes crazy when I have sweets...mama's girl! I always love sweets, but I feel like it can be heightened during pregnancy for me. No specific cravings right now, but I am trying really hard to make healthy food choices! I'm also drinking a ton of water because I'm always thirsty.

Anything making you queasy or sick? Nope!

 

Gender: Girl! :) I bought my first "pink" purchase this weekend, so that was fun!

Symptoms: The round ligament pain has been better, but it is still worse than I ever experienced in my last pregnancy. I have to make sure I don't make a lot of sudden movements and I don't do too much physically or else it tends to get worse. My back has also been hurting me more this time around and I think the baby was sitting on my sciatica nerve recently (ouch!). I'm always thirsty, boobs have grown a lot!, bigger belly, and having to pee more (mostly because of all the water I'm drinking). My skin is a million times better and I'm not having many bathroom issues with this pregnancy which were my 2 biggest symptoms last time. Honestly, outside of the pains, I feel great! I'm very lucky to have such few pregnancy symptoms!

Happy or moody: Getting a little stressed because the next 6 weeks are going to be CRAZY! We have a million things going on and are just trying to survive it all!

Looking forward to: I had my regular OBGYN appointment last week and that went well, but I am still really looking forward to the specialist appointment. Only 2.5 more weeks! Also excited for my 2nd Mother's Day this weekend! :)

36 Week Pregnancy Blog -- 9th Month!

Written on Monday December 15, 2014 -- 24 days until my due date!

Hey there! I can't believe I am writing my 36 week pregnancy update. Time has flown and our baby's due date is quickly approaching! In fact, we are getting very close to the point where the baby could come at any time! So exciting, yet I'm trying to get as much done as I can before that day comes. I had my 36 week doctor's appointment on Friday and the baby is doing great! Peanut is already head down and my belly had grown 2 cm since the previous visit 2 weeks prior. The doctor did say it looks like I may have a smaller baby, but everything is very healthy, so I'm okay with that! I'm so curious to see how big the baby actually will be! My husband, Josh, was almost 9 lbs. when he was born, but I was only 6 lb. 1 oz. I'm thinking this baby takes after mama :) Here's some details about my 36th week (9th month!) of pregnancy!

How far along? 36 weeks 5 days -- so close!

Baby: The baby is still packing on the pounds at the rate of about an ounce a day! She/he now weighs almost 6 pounds and is more than 18 1/2 inches long (about the size of a head of romaine lettuce or a large cantaloupe). Peanut is shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered the body, as well as, the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected the skin during the nine-month amniotic bath. The baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, that will form the contents of her/his first bowel movement.

Thyroid: I got my thyroid levels tested last week and was happy with the results. The baby is getting the perfect amount of thyroid hormone and mine is only slightly high (hyper). This means my metabolism is a little high, but not high enough for them to change my dosage since the baby is getting exactly what he/she needs. It will be interesting to see how my thyroid adjusts post-partum. The doctor recommended I get my levels tested again within 4-6 weeks after birth to get my body readjusted now that it won't have another person to account for! Most likely my dosage will decrease significantly.

Activity: Thankfully, I have still been able to remain active. It's actually harder for me to sit still! I'm having trouble getting comfortable lately when I sit for long periods of time. I am still working out 3 days a week (30 min. on the elliptical and 10 lb. arm weights) and am feeling great doing it. Since I've done this particular workout for months, my body is very used to it. I'm also walking a few days a week during my lunch break with a co-worker of mine. It feels great to break a sweat and move around even at this stage of pregnancy.

Stretch Marks: Still applying lotion consistently and I think I may have a stretch mark or two. I honestly can't fully tell because my skill is so stretched out! My belly button is officially an outie!

Sleep: I've slept so much better and I'm so thankful for that. It's amazing what a good nights sleep can do for you. I think my body is just worn out.

Miss Anything? Overall, I will really miss being pregnant. I've truly loved it. Currently, the only thing I will not miss is always having to be monitored. From my thyroid to my weight gain to my food intake, there's so much I have to pay attention to and get tested for constantly. It can get exhausting after a while.

Best Moment of the Week: I had a very festive week! I went to a few Christmas parties and Josh and I went to 2 different Christmas plays over the weekend. It was all a lot of fun! I've always loved this time of year and to me, it's so special to be welcoming a baby during this beautiful Christmas season. I was also able to work around the house for about 4 hours yesterday night cleaning, organizing, working on the baby's room and wrapping Christmas presents! I wouldn't necessarily call it nesting because I didn't want to get it all done, but I knew it needed to happen! :) 

Movement: This child is super active! I feel movement all day long and multiple times each hour. Lots of hiccups, kicks, and booty shaking (this kid loves to move his/her butt around constantly!). The baby has definitely grown and finally reached my ribs...I can feel the baby right up against them! I'm soaking in and loving each and every movement. I'll miss that the most.

Food Cravings: I did a lot better with cutting down on the sweets this week and trying to eat more protein and veggies (my doctor's recommendation to keep up the baby's growth). I started drinking Raspberry Leaf Tea and taking Primrose Oil this week. These two things are not supposed to bring on labor, but they are supposed to help tone your uterus and get your body ready for birth. There is research supporting both sides (that it helps and that it does nothing), but the tea tastes yummy and it's all good for you, so I figure why not give it a shot? It can't hurt!

Anything making you queasy or sick? Nope.

Gender: Surprise! But getting more anxious to know the gender! We also started using the names this week to kind of "practice" instead of just calling the baby "Peanut". It's a little weird, but I love the names! I can't wait to put a name to this child!

Symptoms: More pressure/pain with the baby getting bigger, trouble getting comfortable when sitting for a long time, always thirsty, acne has really improved!, and having to pee more often.

Happy or moody: Happy and excited!

Looking forward to: I have 2 days off work this week which means I only have a 3 day work week! So thankful for that and ready to get a bunch of stuff knocked off my to-do list...it's almost baby time! 

 

Nursery decoration that I made last night...the hearts are made out of the baby shower cards!

 

More nursery décor! I will show you all the finished nursery soon enough! :)

35 Week Pregnancy Blog

Written on Monday December 8, 2014 -- 1 month away from my due date! :)


How far along? 35 weeks 5 days -- 1.5 weeks until I am considered full-term!

Baby: The baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he or she's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (the size of a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in my womb, the baby isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he/she kicks should remain about the same. The kidneys are fully developed now, and the liver can process some waste products. Most of the basic physical development is now complete — Peanut will spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

Total Weight Gain: This week I fluctuated between 130 - 132 (15-17 lb. weight gain). At the beginning of the week I was nervous that I still hadn't gained anything and over the weekend I gained 2 lbs. and wasn't thrilled about that! I'm looking forward to the weight gain part of all this being over. Gaining weight is no fun, but not gaining any makes me nervous! I'm getting my thyroid levels tested today, so I am very anxious to see how they are doing. I feel like getting the results will ease my mind about the weight gain (or lack thereof) issue.

Maternity Clothes: I feel like my belly has definitely grown and the maternity clothes are fitting better and better.

Stretch Marks: Still being consistent with applying lotion once in the morning and once at night and so far. I don't think I have any stretch marks, but it's kind of hard to tell with my skin being so stretched out!

Sleep: I slept better this week! I still woke up a lot during the night, but I was finally tired and didn't have this strange middle of the night energy. I got some good sleep this weekend and it was awesome. I woke up once in the middle of the night with pain in the space between my belly and my hip bones this week and that wasn't very fun. Maybe the baby is dropping or I'm experiencing growing pains?

Miss Anything? Getting a full 8 hrs of sleep without waking up and not having to worry about the weight I am or am not gaining.

Best Moment of the Week: The hospital tour was really exciting! It was fun to see where I'll give birth and to really start to consider how it will all go down. Getting closer!

Movement: The baby's activity is so on and off. Sometimes I don't feel anything and other times I can't even focus on anything else because I am so in tune with the baby's movements. I can tell the baby has grown because the movements are slow and more distinct.  My whole stomach shifts depending on where the baby is sitting and I can feel if the baby is on my hips, ribs, or bladder!

Food Cravings: Still loving sweets! I need to eat more real food this week.

Anything making you queasy or sick? No.

Gender: Surprise! But getting more anxious to know the gender! We also started using the names this week to kind of "practice" instead of just calling the baby "Peanut". It's a little weird, but I love the names! I can't wait to put a name on this child!

Symptoms: Having trouble sleeping and also experiencing random tummy pain, tired, always thirsty, extremely moody, waking up in the middle of the night starving and eating!, acne and constipation have been much better!

Happy or moody: So moody!

Looking forward to: Although it's a little stressful, I have a bunch of holiday activities and parties this week! I am trying not to be stressed out by it all and to enjoy it :)

Freezer Meals For The Win!

So as many of you know, I am expecting a baby in 6 weeks! I'm SO excited and my head has been buzzing for months trying to make sure I get everything accomplished for when the baby arrives. If you know me at all, then you probably know that I am a planner and an organizer. I like to think and plan ahead, so that things run more smoothly. So when my sister-in-law told me that she wanted to help me make a bunch of freezer meals for when the baby comes, I was totally on board! She is (in my opinion) an expert on the freezer meal front and wanted to show me the ropes. (Her blog is http://shalahgale.wordpress.com if you want more details!) I was excited to minimize the cooking after our child is born and for the convenience that these freezer meals would provide, but I was also a little overwhelmed at the idea of making so many meals and preparing them for the freezer. Turns out, it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought and dare I say it, I may even repeat the freezer meal process again in the near future!

First, I did a lot of research on the different meals I wanted to make. Turns out, you can freeze almost anything! I found some blogs with freezer recipes and I also found this link to be very helpful (http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2013/08/50-easy-freezer-meals.html). I am a huge fan of any Six Sisters Stuff recipe, so I was excited to see that they had freezer meal options as well.

Then, I compiled a list of 8 different meals and figured out which ingredients I needed. I already had a lot of it on hand which was very helpful! Always check your own fridge before going grocery shopping and you will be amazed how your shopping list dwindles. I chose to print out a list of the ingredients I needed, so that I could keep it all straight. It helped me to have a list in my hand that I could check off during my shopping trip.

Once I had my list of ingredients, I headed to the store. First, I went to Aldi to buy my produce. Then I went to Kroger for the rest of the ingredients. I took my husband with me and that was very helpful. We knocked out the shopping trip fairly quickly and it was nice to have an extra set of hands. I also picked up gallon size zip lock bags and disposable cooking trays to store the meals in. You will need foil, a sharpie and cling wrap if you don't already have that on hand.

The next day, my sister-in-law visited and we started our freezer meal adventure! We divided the recipes up and got to work. Many of the recipes only require assembly before they are ready for the freezer, while others require you to actually cook the meal first and then freeze it. I took on the cooking portion while Shalah began assembling the uncooked meals. With each meal we completed, we labeled the bag or cooking tray with the date, the name of the meal, and the cooking instructions. This system worked really well for us and we ended up knocking out 8 different recipes in about 4 hours total. I would definitely recommend having a partner help you out unless you want to be in the kitchen all day!

The preparation and time that went into making the freezer meals was definitely worth it! I ended up with almost 20 meals (each meal made at least 2 portions) and I only spent $130 total! At the end of the experience, I couldn't help but think I will be doing this again in the future. It's very cost-effective and will be extremely helpful for a new first-time working mommy.

The 8 recipes I ended up making were:

1. Chicken Pot Pie
2. Spaghetti Sauce
3. Slow Cooker Sweet and Tangy Meatballs
4. Meatloaf
5. Ham and Cheese Potato Casserole
6. Slow Cooker Black Bean and Corn Salsa Chicken
7. Taco Soup
8. Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole

If you are interested in any of these recipes, please let me know and I would love to pass them on!

Here are some pictures from our freezer meal day! We had a blast!