Weeks 14-17!

In an effort to catch up on my pregnancy posts, I am condensing a few of the weeks into one post. I'll do the same for the next couple of weeks until I'm up to speed, and then will hopefully post weekly.

Dates: January 20-26

Baby is the Size of a: lemon (approximate length and weight: 3.5 inches, 1.5 ounces)

How I'm Feeling: Still nauseated, but having a blast in all of the snow!

How I'm Changing: I notice that my body looks pretty different, but I think it's still unnoticeable from the outside--especially if I'm not wearing maternity clothes.

What I'm Eating: Still craving carbs...bring on the bagels!

What the Baby is Doing: Still moving!

Dates: January 27- February 2

Baby is the Size of an: apple (approximate length and weight: 4 inches, 2.5 ounces)

How I'm Feeling: I'm feeling a little sore, to be honest. Last pregnancy I had symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD), which caused significant pelvic pain toward the end. I'm a nervous that I'm already feeling similar pains and I have so much more of the pregnancy to go. I got a prenatal massage this week, and that really helped. I plan on getting a monthly massage from now on.

How I'm Changing: still growing,

What I'm Eating: nothing too unusual. I'm always thirsty though.

What the Baby is Doing: The kicks are getting more consistent and stronger. I feel them most when I'm laying on my back in bed at night.

Dates: February 3-9

Baby is the Size of an: avocado (approximate length and weight: 4.5 inches, 3.5 ounces)

How I'm Feeling: Pretty good! The nausea seems to be subsiding, for which I am so thankful. We also interviewed our first daycare provider for the new baby, so even though it's early, it is starting to feel real.

How I'm Changing: This weekend we went to a James Bond-themed cocktail party hosted by my graduate school. I was worried I would have nothing to wear, but thankfully my cocktail dress with an empire waist worked perfectly. So perfectly, in fact, that when a drunken party-goer accidentally bumped in to me, he apologized by telling me how fantastic I looked (though not quite in those words). I'll take it!

What I'm Eating: Nothing too special. Now that the nausea is subsiding, I'm craving carbs less.

What the Baby is Doing: Moving so much!

Dates: February 10-16

Baby is the Size of a: turnip (approximate length and weight: 5 inches, 5 ounces)

How I'm Feeling: Excited to go to Harrogate, England in a couple of weeks! I was supposed to go to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico with my mom, dad, sister, Dan and Zahara. We've been planning this vacation for ever, but unfortunately I had to cancel due to the Zika virus outbreak (Zika is most dangerous for developing fetuses). Instead of just sitting at home while everyone else had fun, I decided to visit my friends in the UK. I can't wait!

How I'm Changing: If I'm wearing fitted clothes, my bump is starting to be more noticeable to outsiders

What I'm Eating: I'm back to loving sweets, which is both a good and bad thing.

What the Baby is Doing: Lots of movement.

Read about my first pregnancy:
My Pregnancy
Week 14
Week 15
Week 16
Week 17

Catching up on Pregnancy Posts: Week 13

Dan, Zahara, and I are so excited about this new little baby. As I did with my last pregnancy, I'd like to keep a journal of the changes I was feeling from week-to-week. Unlike last time though, I now have a full-time job and a 2 year old to chase after. Therefore, these updates will be a lot less "Pinterest-worthy."

Dan and I have known about this pregnancy for a while now. We found out really early--around 6 weeks. So it feels like I've been pregnant forever, but we really haven't told too many people. We told our families at our Fakesgiving in December, because it was just too great of an opportunity to pass up. Our whole families were there--parents, grandparents, in-laws, cousins. There aren't too many chances for such a joyous celebration.

This week we had a really great ultrasound! We had an early one at 6 weeks (which was crazy...so tiny!), but on this one you could really tell it is a baby. Everything looks great!

Dates: January 13-19

Baby is the Size of a: peapod (approximate length and weight: 3 inches, 1 ounce).

How I'm Feeling: Excited to be in the second trimester, and hopeful that some of the symptoms I'm feeling will subside. It completely took me off-guard how nauseated I am all the time. I didn't have any morning sickness with Zahara, so this was all new to me. I know it could have been a lot worse, but riding the metro for more than two hours a day when you feel like you could throw up at any second is not a treat.

I have also been feeling really tired. I know this pregnancy is different than my last: I'm three years older; I have a 2.5 year old; and I have a full-time job. But, I am surprised how much harder it seems already. Sorry to sound like a Debbie Downer. I know it will get better and I'm excited for that!

How I'm Changing: I think my body is reacting faster to this pregnancy than the last. My stomach already looks different to me (including my poor belly button that is definitely going to be an outie sooner, rather than later). It's not obvious from the outside though and it's pretty easy to hide at work.

What I'm Eating: Carbs, carbs, and more carbs. I don't know if it is because I'm feeling so nauseated, but all I want are bagels.

What the Baby is Doing: This week I started feeling kicks! It's funny because I felt them around 13 weeks with Zahara too, even though it's pretty early. Both pregnancies have been posterior placentas, which makes it easier to feel movement. It's very light and inconsistent so far.

Approximately 6 weeks

12 weeks

Read about my first pregnancy:
My Pregnancy
Week 13

Galentine's Day Cookie Swap

Though I am not a huge fan of Valentine's day, I am a fan of friends and cookies...I mean, who isn't? So, in the tradition of Leslie Knope, my friend Erin and I hosted a "Galentine's day" cookie exchange.

I love cookie exchanges. I know they aren't for everyone because they do require quite a bit of baking (or buying), but the reward is so great. You get to take home SO MANY COOKIES!! Of all different kinds! And none of the calories count.*

This year's exchange was such a success. We had six wonderful women (and one adorable baby) join the festivities. 

We kept the menu very light: cheese and crackers, veggies and dip, and lots of cookies! It is physically impossible for me to throw a party without champagne, so we had some bubbly (along with non-alcoholic cider and sparkling water). Coffee and tea rounded out the offerings.

Now, on to the cookies. These were seriously some of the best cookies I've ever had:

• Jacques Torres' Chocolate Chip Cookies
• 7-Layer Bars (with and without nuts)
• Peanut Butter Sugar Cookies
• Chocolate Banana Mini Muffins
• Spritz Cookies
• Snowy Bonbons
• Homemade Thin Mints
• Maryland's Famous Berger Cookies
• Blondie Bars

Click here for some of the recipes featured at the exchange.

*Not technically accurate

Read about previous cookie exchanges:
Festive Cookie Exchange
Cookie Overload

Big Announcement

Dan, Zahara, and I are thrilled to make a pretty big announcement...

We are expecting a little boy in July! We are so excited, and nervous, and anxious, and all of the other emotions you would expect. I'm woefully behind in posting this, as I'm already 18 weeks pregnant! Poor second child. By this point in my last pregnancy, Zahara already had six blog posts (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)! Kid, get ready for a different life than your sister had. Sorry.

18 Weeks

I will try and do better from now on though, if for no other reason that I really, really love looking back at my pregnancy posts. It's so fun to see how my stomach grew and how I was feeling from week-to-week. I love comparing symptoms and cravings to my friends, and now between my own two pregnancies.

Here's to a healthy and happy pregnancy (and little boy!!)

Read about my first pregnancy:
My Pregnancy

Visit with Pop Pop

What a treat! Pop Pop came to visit. It was so nice to get to spend some one-on-one time with my dad. It was a really quick trip, but we tried to pack in as much fun as we could. Here are some highlights:

Making Pizza

I love how interested in food and cooking Zahara is. It is so fun to watch her knead the dough, taste test the sauce and spread on the toppings. 

Ice Skating
We headed to downtown Silver Spring to check out the farmer's market, the fantastic new library, and the outdoor skating rink. This was so much fun. Dan, dad, and Z took to the rink and had a blast. I've never seen this before, but the ice skating rink had a penguin that Zahara could lean on to help her stand and skate on her own. She still needed some help, but this tool made it much easier for her to glide around. Dad liked it too :)

 

Being Silly
We spent lots of time reading, playing, jumping, and showing off our new "magic trick." I have no idea where she got this from, but lately Zahara runs up to the arm chair, says, "Presenting Zahara and her magic trick," climbs up and then jumps off the chair. So weird. So funny.

It was a great visit and we can't wait to see you again, Pop Pop!

Things I Love: Skechers Snow Boots

As you know, we were hit with a huge snow storm (Snowzilla!). I had a terrible realization two days before the storm that I had no appropriate shoes to wear in the snow. All I had were sneakers or leather boots. Neither of which are good options for more than 2 feet of snow. So I turned to my best friend Amazon to find some good boots.

Dan and I signed up for a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime, and it really, really came in handy. I ordered these Skechers Performance Women's Go Walk City Winter Boots. It said they would arrive on Monday, which was just after the storm. Since it was Wednesday night when I ordered them, I couldn't realistically expect them to arrive any sooner than that.

But...the most amazing thing happened! I got a notice on Friday morning that my boots had arrived at the post office for sorting. The storm was scheduled to start around 1 pm, so I wanted to get my boots before then. My mail is not usually delivered until the end of the day, so I knew I couldn't wait for the postal truck to come to me.

I called the post office right away to ask if I could pick up my package before it went out for delivery. I was too late. It was already on the truck. So then I asked if they could tell me where the truck is and I'll go find it--on foot.

I'll let the story unfold through my Facebook posts:

At this point I've called the post office 2 more times and told them I'd come to them at 2:30 when the delivery trucks were scheduled to come back to the warehouse. Now, the depot is only a couple of blocks from me, but the snow had already started and remember, I don't have any snow boots. I was willing to go in my sneakers, but I didn't have very high hopes this was going to work out. And then...

That's right! I opened my front door and there they were! The USPS and Amazon Prime did it!! I got my boots just in time for the storm. And you know what? They are awesome! These boots are so comfortable and warm. I LOVE them!

All's well that ends well. #happyfeet #warmfeet #snowzilla

P.S. I have not been compensated for any part of this post. I just am really happy with how everything turned out and wanted to share it with you.