accessories

If you know me, you know I am not big on accessories. I wear simple earrings and rarely a matching necklace since my work badge overshadows it. I paint my nails once in a blue moon and walk around with chipped paint until it all comes off naturally. I wear one ring, my wedding ring, and my purse never matches anything I wear. In fact, my socks are loud and make a statement better than anything else I wear.

In pregnancy, I am even less motivated to accessorize. I'm all about making things simple and in pregnancy, that is intensified by 1000.  For example, I take my showers in the evening so I can sleep in an extra 10 minutes. Last night I scrunched up my hair and spun it into a loose bun so that I'd have some awesome waves today. I didn't do ANYTHING to my hair when I woke up, not even a bobby pin.

My sense of simplicity sometimes overshadows the things that I really do need and honestly, when do I even consider what I need anymore?? **tangent: I did a personality workshop on Wednesday and of course this is my weakness in not taking care of myself**. All this to say, it took me 22weeks and a 2nd pregnancy to realize that I needed a few accessories that are only (mostly) for pregnancy.

I carry my babies low. I have a long torso and the baby likes to sit right on my sacrum. This causes horrible low back and tailbone pain. For some reason, I don't remember it being this bad the first time and maybe it wasn't. So I did some research and bought a maternity support belt. Today is day 1 and I'm not thrilled to wear it. It's cumbersome, but gives a ton of support. No difference in the pains yet, but I know that with time that will go away (um...like...delivery!).

I also bought a exercise ball for work. That alone has been making the biggest difference in comfort. Lastly, I bought some new ice packs. These are my new accessories. I'm making them work all in the name of comfort. I'm always making accessories work in the name of comfort. ;)

a little late

Tomorrow, I'm 14 weeks and officially in the 2nd trimester of this very fast-moving pregnancy! I really cannot believe how fast it feels.

The ups:

I feel like I am carrying this baby higher than I did with Logan. I can still wear my work pants and today, I just discovered that I really don't even need the belly band. Maybe I really did need it for the last few weeks, but the baby/my uterus has moved up some.

I look pregnant. People notice and comment. I love this stage where it is obvious and the attention to my belly is nice. I've always loved having a pregnant belly.

B and I had a date night on Saturday. It was amazing. I love him so much.

Heidi has found a house to move into! She and her kiddos should be making their way out of our digs in the next week or two. We are all so happy and excited for the next step in her transition here.

The downs:

I have been having pregnancy-induced migraines. I never had migraines prior to this pregnancy and they suuuuuuuck. I have a script for powerful tylenol and they're upping the dose because NOTHING is working. I am also scheduling a massage and maybe even a chiropractor adjustment. I'm even looking into buying a 10s unit.

Logan is in a weird phase, one which I am sure is going to last awhile. He cries over almost everything he wants and cannot have. It's exhausting.

Pregnancy #2 Survey

How old are you and the father?

• We are both 28

Where did you meet?

• At school in our senior seminar class. Read our story in three parts: Part 1, Part II, Part III

Are you boyfriend/girlfriend, engaged, married, or not together?

• Married 4 years

Was it planned?

• Nonyabiznass. ;)

When is your due date?

• May 21, 2013

What week are you in?

• 7.5 weeks

What was your weight pre-pregnancy?

• 130

What is your current weight?

• 132

Do you plan on a natural birth or using an epidural or other drugs?

• Natural

Is this your first baby?

• Second

How did yours and the baby’s father’s parents react?

• They are all thrilled for us!

When did you tell them?

• I told my parents the day after we found out. I had Logan say "big brother" but it did not sound like he was saying that so I had to share it. We called B's mom a few days ago and she is so happy for us!

What were your first symptoms?

• Very little so far. Tender bewbs, tired, and some nausea, but I'm nauseous all the time so no difference yet. Plus some major bloat going on.

How did you find out?

• On Sunday night I picked up a test. I was only a day late and was not expecting to be pregnant. The next morning I took the test and the line appeared before the control line! Total shock.

Have you had an ultrasound?

• Not yet and I don't plan to until the 20 week scan.

Have you heard the heart beat?

• Not yet, hopefully at our appointment next week.

Do you know the sex?

• No, and we will be waiting until the birth. We're both hoping for a girl though. :)

Do you have a name picked out? What?

• For a girl, yes. Boy, no.

Does the name you chose have any special significance?

• Yes, the girl name is after my paternal grandmother.

Do you have any supplies yet?

• Lots of left over things from my first pregnancy with Logan including maternity clothes and some baby things. We will need a new car seat and crib.

Have you felt the baby kick yet?

• No, way too early.

When is your baby shower?

• Probably won't have one since this is baby #2.

What are you looking forward to?

• Everything. I loved being pregnant the first time, despite the aches and pains. I love seeing my belly grow and I cannot wait to see Logan become a big brother. He is going to be incredible.

Have you had any cravings?

• Not anything specific, but I am hungry more often.

Do you wear maternity clothes?

• Not yet

Has anything major changed in your life since your pregnancy?

• Well we had four other people move into our house before we found out! But that will not affect our having a baby. In fact, having them with us makes this experience even richer and more exciting.

Do you take prenatal vitamins?

• I was not happy with the prenatal vitamins so I take individual vitamins. I'll write a post about it soon.

Are you going to breastfeed or use formula?

• Breastfeed

Disposable or cloth diapers?

• Cloth

Has your baby had the hiccups?

• Too early for that, but I loved it when Logan had the hiccups!

Do you have any stretch marks?

• A few left over from the first time.

Any complications with your pregnancy?

• None so far. Hope it stays that way!

Do you get any criticism?

• Nope.

The Stats: Week 7

(7wks with Logan)

Size of Baby: blueberry

Total Weight Gain: two pounds

Continuing Symptoms: nausea, fatigue, hunger

Maternity Clothes: none, HOWEVER I will admit to wearing my mat pants the last two days to work ONLY because everything else is dirty.

Sleep: sleeping well!

What I'm Eating: just about anything. Not a fan of meat right now.

Cravings: Veggies, greasy foods

Movement: none

Labor Signs: n/a

Special Pregnancy Moments: Sharing our news with everyone this week! It has been so exciting!

Here comes number two!

On September 17th before the sun was up, I saw a plus sign appear, the first sign confirming pregnancy. Wow. We're doing this again! We are in shock. We had talked about wanting to have another baby soon, but since our housing arrangements changed we decided to wait. I guess someone else had other plans!

The last few weeks have been insanely stressful with a full house of people to take care of on top of school and work. The first indication I had that I *might* be pregnant was four weeks ago when I broke out all over my face. I rarely ever get acne and when I was pregnant with Logan that was the prime reason for my break outs. Secondly, my work pants are getting tight. No, I am in no way "showing" yet but I noticed a huge (3 pounds!) weight gain in less than two weeks. I had assumed it was because I have been doing a great job with my diet. Weight gain is still a goal, though more important now, and when I noticed the snugness I raised an eyebrow. Then, on Saturday September 15th, there was no sign of the monthly friend showing. This is not entirely unusual, but I decided it was time to take a test on Monday morning.

I was not expecting anything to show up. And there it was. I'm pregnant!

At first I had been feeling okay with a few waves of nausea here and there, though that is not unusual for me with the GERD. I feel nauseous most of the time anyway. But the last two weeks have been so rough. I'm a lot sicker-feeling this time than I was the first time with Logan.

So I guess this is it! We're going to be a family of four sometime in May! I can hardly believe it!!

41 weeks Old

>

For some reason, motherhood has made me incredible nostalgic. This is me 41 weeks ago. I am posting it because I was pregnant with Logan for exactly 41 weeks. I went into labor at 12:01am on February 8th, one week after my due date. So hard to believe that the last 9.5 months have gone so fast! Pregnancy sure was not that quick. I know I posted something similar a week ago, but I just had to note it with a lovely pic of me drugged up with the epi. Ahhh heaven!

Please notice how nice my nails look in this picture. My nails are nothing close to that now!

So if you're reading this and are nearing the end of your pregnancy, just remember that I have been pregnant longer than just about anyone I know (minus H with A @ 11 days) and YOU WILL HAVE YOUR BABY! I swear I began to think I would be pregnant forever.
So anyway...Happy Monday!

Not Just a Twinkle...

>May 30, 2010

Not just a twinkle….

One year ago YESTERDAY, I sat anxiously at work, browsing websites trying to figure out if I was pregnant or not. I had peed on a stick four days prior and it was negative. I’d been 5 days late a few months back, got very excited, had a big fat negative and on the 6th day Dotty arrived.

I was 6 days past and had been texting my most special cousin Heidi, a momma to 3 now, and she was BEGGING me to pick up a test that night. We live a good 1000 miles away from each other and I am pretty sure she was on her knees. At the time, she was 10 weeks pregnant with River and I wanted more than anything to experience pregnancy with her, even if miles separated us. Well, now we are in the mommy club together and it is amazing!

I wrote this post back in the day when I first announced I was expecting. I got off work at 10pm and drove straight to Walgreens, picked up a test and some ice cream because you can’t take a pregnancy test without ice cream on hand, just in case it was bad news. So I drove home and ran down the stairs of our basement apartment. B was sitting on the couch playing a game, the dogs were next to him. I waved the test at him and told him I was peeing on it again. He was not excited, just *whatever-okay*. He did not want to set himself up for disappointment and neither did I, but I had to know.

So I peed and waited. While I waited, I left the tests in the bathroom and paced outside the door and after 5 minutes, checked it. I was half convincing myself that there was no way I could be pregnant. That it would be negative again and we’d wait a little longer to try again.

Boy was I wrong! Two pink lines, my breath taken away, and a smile that could stretch across the universe, I stepped out into the living room and waved the test at B. I was nodding my head and told him I was pregnant! It is one of my top 5 best moments of my life! B and I hugged and kissed. I was so happy I could not even cry!

And now, now we have our little Logan. We have the most precious blessing and gift we have ever been privy to and we could not be happier. Logan is always growing and changing. I love seeing how far he has come from a little newborn. It is the BEST job I could have ever been offered.