Tag: 1st Trimester

Baby 2, Pregnancy Updates

Baby #2 13/14 Weeks

peanutsmiles

Dear Baby,

This week went by in a flash! We had your first trimester prenatal screening and although you were a little un-cooperative, so far you are looking to be a healthy little bug. You continue to measure a little big, but your guess date of arrival continues to be March 3rd. During our first attempt you were cozy as could be in your little position in my belly and just didn’t want to move for the nurse to get the correct measurements. They were doing all sorts of tricks to get you to move like having me roll from one side to another, tipping me backwards so I was almost upside down, drinking water, doing jumping jacks, going to the  bathroom and nothing seemed to do the trick. So, I had to go back again the next day, which actually worked out really well. Due to a variety of reasons, Daddy wasn’t able to make it to the first two ultra-sounds, but he was able to make it to the second one, so he finally got to see you. We were even able to bring Lexi with us so she could see you.

This week, I also celebrated my 29th birthday, took you to the fair and enjoyed some quality time with Daddy and Lexi. We’ve been busy working on the basement and Lexi’s new room so by the time you arrive, the house should be in good working order, at least that is the my hope!

In other news, this week I think I jumped pass the sickness nauseous stage. I don’t seem to have too many issues when I wake up in the morning or in the evening. I also don’t feel as hungary as I was and thankfully don’t need to eat every hour anymore. I’m still pretty tired on work days and would prefer to take a 20 minute nap/rest when I get home, but I don’t need them like I did in previous weeks. I haven’t been weighing myself regularly, but still fluctuating between 2 and 4 lbs., although I feel like it looks like I’ve gained 10. I’m mostly in maternity pants, but have one pair of shorts and found a pair of regular jeans I can wear (although they weren’t very comfortable).

I think most family and friends know about your impending arrival and are very excited to meet you. We’re also officially into the 2nd trimester! You’re about 3 1/2 inches long, can suck your thumb, frown, squint, pee and your liver is producing  bile and kidneys making urine.

I’m also going to start taking weekly belly pictures next week. Although I’m no longer able to fit into my regular pants, it doesn’t feel like my belly is growing at rapid paces so it will be interesting to watch and compare from week to week.

Love, Mama

 

Baby 2, Pregnancy Updates

Baby #2–9 Weeks

peanutsmiles

Dear little babe,

This past week has been pretty good! Your big sister was getting over a summer fever sickness and bad rash that kept us on her toes, but now she is all in the clear. We also spent some time up at the b-well cabin on Lake Superior. While up there we shared the news of your upending arrival with Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Joe and Auntie Angie. Grandma and Grandpa were very surprised and Joe and Angie suspected that you may be coming.

Overall, I’m feeling pretty good. I only had to take one nap this week and feel like the extreme exhaustion has passed. I feel much more confident after our appointment last week, but it still feels so different than my pregnancy with Lexi it makes me a little nervous.

1st Trimester Pregnancy Symptoms with Lexi:

  • Extreme EXHAUSTION (naps everyday after work, nap in the closet while getting ready for work in the morning, going to bed 2 1/2 hours earlier each night, non-funtioning at work from 3:00 on.)
  • Sore boobs
  • Nausea
  • Gagging while brushing my teeth
  • Food aversions: Eggs, Buffalo sauce
  • Food cravings: McDonalds & Strawberries
  • Extreme excitement and constant daydreaming about you

1st Trimester Pregnancy Symptoms with Baby 2:

  • Tired (but not nearly as bad as I was with Lexi and it only really lasted two weeks)
  • Face breaking out more
  • Food aversions: hamburgers (they don’t sound good, but I still can eat them if I have to)
  • Gaining weight faster (I’ve gained 2 lbs. so far, Lexi I didn’t gain a pound until I was 16 weeks.)
  • I can feel the hard belly starting to form, and am uncomfortable when I bend over.
  • A little panic of ‘what are we getting ourselves into?’ Don’t get me wrong, I’m thrilled to be blessed with you and wanted you and prayed for you, but I do have moments here and there where I’m ‘GULP, am I ready for this again? The pregnancy discomfort, labor, learning how to nurse again, the lack of sleep and just generally starting all over again.’

I know I need to stop complaining and should consider myself lucky, and I do, but I also want to be real about these moments and remember the true emotions I experienced. Because I physically feel different, emotionally I’m in a different place and am pre-occupied with big sissy, the reality of you just hasn’t set in yet. I feel like part of me is still waiting for something to go wrong. I know the likelihood is pretty small, but I just haven’t been able to let myself get there emotionally yet.

Additionally, this is my last week at UnitedHealthcare. Next week, I’ll be starting a new job at Best Buy! Lots of change is in the air my dear little babe. Cheers to hoping these last 4 weeks of summer slow down a bit and I’m able to get over this odd hump!

Love,

Mama

Baby 2, Pregnancy Updates

Baby #2–8 Weeks and Dr. Appointment

peanutsmiles

Dear Baby,

I’ve been looking forward to this moment for weeks. Today, we went to the doctor to get a little status update on how you’re doing in there. The doctor said everything looks fantastic!!! To hear those words and to see your little movements up on the screen was such a HUGE relief.

Unfortunately, your daddy wasn’t able to join us. Big Sissy came down with a summer fever yesterday and daddy had to stay home with her. However, technology came to the rescue as I was able to FaceTime Daddy while we were having the ultrasound and he was able to see you up on the screen and hear your little heart beat, a strong 160 beats a minute.

Back to the appointment, I had been anxiously awaiting this appointment, probably as most moms do, but I was much more worried this time around then I was with Lexi because the lack of pregnancy symptoms I was having. I was worried you didn’t really exist and my body was playing games with me, or something had gone wrong and I just hadn’t gotten to signs of that yet.

Everything during the appointment went really well. Some of your measurements were a little large so they potentially threw out an earlier due date, but for my sanity, I’m sticking with the later one of March 3rd. Other than some blood work and a couple reminders from the doctor about taking care of myself, everything looked great and we are due to arrive back in the middle of August!

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Take care little one!

Love, Mama

Baby 2, Pregnancy Updates

Dear Baby #2–7 Weeks

peanutsmiles

Dear Baby,

You’ve started to make your presence a little more over the past week. Extreme exhaustion has set it. I pretty much need to get over the idea of doing any thinking or work after 3:00 as I’m just so tired I can’t think. I rarely nap as it messes up my sleep pattern for the evening, but I need to rest nearly everyday when I get home from work. I don’t always sleep, but need to lie down and close my eyes for 20 minutes. On Sunday we drove home from the Wisconsin Dells and after unpacking a little, we laid down and I had the most devine nap of my life. I was OUT for a three solid hours. And it was amazing. Regardless of how much I sleep, I never wake up refreshed am always craving a nap.

Another fun pregnancy symptom is the amount of trips I make to the bathroom. I pee at least twice as much as I used to. Knock on wood, but I haven’t had any nausea or sickness yet. For the most part, I haven’t had any food aversions or cravings like I did with your sister. Most food doesn’t sound appetizing in general but I’m still eating everything. I also feel larger than I did with your sister. I’m not sure if it is because I weigh a couple pounds more than I did when I first got pregnant with Lexi or if things are advancing faster as this is time around, or if I’m just going to gain more weight this time around (although I really hope not, but doubtful I will be that lucky). I have a feeling I’m going to gain twice as much with you as I did with Lexi. Another difference this time around is acne. My face stayed relatively clear throughout my whole pregnancy and already, I’ve had several pimples.

Daddy and I have our appointment next week to see how your doing and make sure you’re still growing.

Other events that have happened in the last week, we spent 4 days in Wisconsin Dells and had a great time. Hopefully, we’ll head back in several years when you’re a little older and can enjoy the fun and entertainment of the water parks.

Stay safe in there little one,

Love, Mama

Baby 2, Pregnancy Updates

Finding out the news

peanutsmiles

Dear Baby #2,

First of all, we need to find a nickname for you so I don’t have to keep referring to you as Baby #2, it just sounds to statistical referring to a little person growing inside of me.

The news of your arrival was not what my pinterest-loving self imagined. I suspected that you may have been burrowing a new home for yourself for a couple of days, I had been feeling much crampier than usual and had a couple odd back pains that reminded me of your big sister’s pregnancy. For whatever reason, I woke up on a Saturday morning and decided, ‘I’m going to take a pregnancy test, just to see. It will probably be negative, but we’ll see.’ Less than a minute later, ‘pregnant’ shows up on the stick. I literally had a burst of 7 different emotions run through me, ‘I knew it, YEAH!!, uh-oh, is this real?, I need to tell Daddy, how am I going to tell him?

This is where a little better planning and timing on my behalf could have been useful. At the time, Daddy was in another room getting ready to leave in 15 minutes for a Bachelor party in Chicago for the weekend and Lexi and I were going to be heading up north for a couple of days.

Knowing we wouldn’t have any alone time for about a week, I decided I needed to tell him before he left. But how? I felt like I needed to do it in some creative way. I quickly ran downstairs, put some strawberries and blueberries into some tuberware containers and ran up to him with a huge smile on my face and said, ‘What’s your guess?’ And he responds, ‘No Thanks, I don’t want any.’ To which I respond, ‘No, what’s your guess?’ as I have a huge smile on my face and can’t look him in the eyes in fear he will see through me and my little game. Irritated, as I’m interrupting him from selecting which Cubs jersey to wear and he needs to leave shortly, he looks up and says, “I don’t get it.” So I spell it out a little more clearly, ‘What’s your guess, boy or girl?’ He looks down, chuckles a little and says, Girl, it is for sure a girl. He kisses me a couple times and continues on his way of getting ready.

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It was the most bizarre response and just awful planning on my behalf of dropping a huge bomb on dada like that before he has to get into a car with one of his closest friends for 6 hours and not be able to say anything. The next week proceeded on and we had less than 10 minutes of time together where we were alone and awake and hadn’t discussed the fact that I was pregnant and our lives were going to dramatically change. It was so strange to not have talked about it at all. It was as if we were watching the news and the reporter said, the world is going to end in 5 weeks, but please continue to operate as normal? What?!?! How the heck do to you hear news like that and then proceed as nothing has changed and not discuss it at all?? Once we did have a little bit of time, we were able to talk and discuss and everything has felt much more normal, but it really was strange to share the news and then literally not be able to talk about it for a week! I take full blame on it as it really was terrible timing and there was no reason I needed to or probably should have taken the test when I did.

And that is how Dada found out about your arrival.

Love, Mama

 

Baby 2, Pregnancy Updates

Baby #2–6 Weeks

peanutsmiles

Dear Baby,

Well we are 6 weeks into this gig and only have 32 to go! So far, you have given me very few reminders that you’re developing and growing all of these important things like your cheeks, chin, eyes, ears, kidney, liver and lungs.

You already feel so different than you’re big sister. I had nearly every pregnancy symptom in the book: nausea, exhaustion, food aversions, sore boobs and the need to pee every 5 minutes. This time, I’m a little tired and have taken a couple of naps here and there and am almost always hungry, pee a little more often then normal but that is about it. I know I should be grateful I don’t have those less desirable symptoms, but it made me feel like everything was OK in there. I’m definitely questioning your health on a daily basis. Another thing that is different this time around is I don’t have the burning need to tell others about you. I’m not sure if it’s because I don’t feel the symptoms of you and it isn’t always on my mind, I’ve already been through the drill or I’m questioning whether you’re going to stick around, but I’m much more content keeping this little secret to ourselves right now.

This week has also brought lots of craziness in the life side of things. It was the 4th of July weekend and we enjoyed a nice low-key weekend at home. I was also offered a new job at Best Buy. It has been an emotional roller coaster weighing the pros and cons of the new opportunity with my existing one. It hasn’t been an easy decision and pray that I’m making the right decision for my career and for you and our family.

Love,

Mama

Baby 2, Pregnancy Updates

Baby #2

peanutsmiles

Dear Baby,

I have been trying to write this post since I saw that positive pregnancy test and have made excuse after excuse of not doing it as I wasn’t sure what to say to you for the first time. And I think it was/is such a struggle because I’m still in a state of shock. And I’m not sure why. You were planned and prayed for but at 14 weeks into this journey, it doesn’t feel like the reality has set in and that you will be joining us in 6 months. 90 percent of me am ecstatic, thankful and overjoyed to be on this journey again and giving Lexi and sibling and another little person for Daddy and I to love, chase after and add personality to our family. The other 10 percent of me is scared. Am I really ready for all of the changes my body will go through in the next year, challenges that will come from having two little people, sleep deprivation, breast feeding, things that I never experienced with your sister and can’t be prepared for, anxiety over you being healthy and how and when you will arrive and so much more. Am I really ready for this?

And the answer to that is no, of course not. How could I possibly prepare myself for such a dramatic change that has thousands of possible outcomes? There was no way I could prepare myself to understand how much I was going to love your big sister and I don’t think there is any way possible I can prepare to understand how much I am going to love you and love Lexi just as much, but it will happen.

So the reality is that I don’t think I will ever really be ‘ready’ for a change as large as you, especially all of the unexpected and unknowns. But regardless of what all of those unknowns are; I do know I am ready to love and snuggle you, listen to your sweet little noises, smell your innocence, feel your soft skin and be the best mama I can be to you.

Keep growing little munchkin. You are joining a wonderful family that will shower you with love and know we can’t wait to meet you in 6 months.

Love,

Mama

Lexi, Pregnancy Updates

Boy?

peanutsmiles

This past week, I got the feeling that you are a boy. I’m not sure why, but it doesn’t seem possible that you could be a girl. Last Tuesday, we had our regular monthly doctor appointment and everything looks great! We tried to hear your heartbeat but because the placenta is at the front of my belly, it was too hard, so we had another ultrasound and got to hear your little pitter-patter. No real changes—I can still fit into all of my clothes and am having fewer and fewer episodes of feeling sick. I haven’t gained any weight yet (at least according to our scale at home. The scale at the doctor says I weigh a couple of pounds more, but I haven’t gained anything there either so that is a good sign.) This past weekend, we found a crib for you, and I looked at fabric that we are going to make a crib skirt and some other items for you. Right now it looks like you’re room is going to be grey, aqua with maybe a little bit of white and orange in there too. My goal is to have the nursery done be the end of summer! I’m off to Madison again tonight/tomorrow and am hoping it will be the last trip for a while. All this traveling is exhausting.

Love, Mom

P.S. We met your cousin Ruby Griswold over the weekend. She is a little cutie and can’t wait to have play dates with you!

Lexi, Pregnancy Updates

12 Weeks

peanutsmiles

Dear Baby,

So many things to share! Last Friday was quite the day. I had a genetics appointment to make sure you’re extra healthy. Originally, I was told it was going to be a quick 15 min appointment, so I told Daddy he didn’t need to come. The appointment ended up being over an hour and included an ultrasound. Luckily, Daddy was close by and able to join us for the ultrasound. They took all sorts of measurements and pointed out all of your different organs. Right now, you’re 6 cm so 2.5 inches. We even got to hear your heartbeat, which was very exciting! They also took some 3D photos of you. Right now you kind of look like a teddy bear but you’ll keep growing to look like a little human. My favorite part of the ultrasounds is watching Daddy’s reactions. His whole face lights up when he sees you and gets this sparkle in his eyes that brings tears to my eyes. He is so excited for you to arrive.

From everything they could tell, you are looking like a very healthy little baby. After the appointment, we took some bump pictures. There isn’t much of a bump yet, but we’re going to take photos every week to show your progress! That evening, I shared the news with the Hickels and they are beyond thrilled for your arrival! Saturday, we took some newborn photos of your friend, Carter Hall. It was such a thrilling experience to hold him and think in 6 months, we’ll get to hold you. Holding him brought emotions to the surface I had never felt before. Whenever, I had held babys previously, it was fun and they were cute, but knowing you were growing in me made it that much more real.

We also shared the news with your auntie Kelly—she was so excited she cried. We also shared the news with Great Grandma T and she was overjoyed. We have another Dr. appointment today so we’ll get to hear your heartbeat again. I’m also hoping to ask Dr. G why I get so sick while standing up. It is such an odd feeling. It isn’t really nausea—it feels more like motion sickness. Hopefully we’ll get some answers.

Love, Mom

Lexi, Pregnancy Updates

11 Weeks

peanutsmiles

Dear Baby,

Once again you made another trip to Madison this week. Maybe that’s an early sign that you’re going to be a badger?!?! Your Uncle Joe, Aunt Angie and Aunt Sheila would be very excited about that. You continue to be quite the little stinker on airplanes. I feel very sick and almost always have to rest my head in my hands and between my legs for the entire flight. Let’s hope you get over that soon. You are now 11 weeks, just  three weeks away from the 2nd trimester, which means only 6 months until you get here! You’re as big as a prune and weigh almost half a pound. Nothing too big happened last weekend. We took pictures of your friends Abigayle and Annabelle on Saturday and then on Sunday I just hung out on the couch for most of the day. I wasn’t feeling the greatest and felt motion sickness just while walking in Target. I had to go sit down on the patio furniture to try and rest so I could make it home. You’re Dad was busy at Grandpa Sampson’s doing a train session, one of his favorite things. We also told a couple more people about your existence, Trevor and Nikki, Rachel and Jake, Jenna and Cory and Lindsay and Dan. In one week we hope we can tell everyone! We’re also on the countdown for your cousin baby Griswold. He or She should be arriving any day!

Love, Mom