Category: Family

Merfbaby is 28 weeks!

About the size of a random chihuahua or…and eggplant. I prefer the chihuahua :)

How I’m Feeling: Still feeling good. My doctor always asks if I’ve had any issues at my appointments and I always (thankfully) say nope. She said boring is good. I have normal aches and discomforts, but nothing I can really complain about. I’ve been very blessed to have an “easy” pregnancy. Well, those first few months were a little rough with the morning sickness. Glad to have my appetite back!

Belly/Weight: I’m up a total of 26lbs from my pre-pregnancy weight. In our Bradley class we learned that babies have less chance of brain damage when the mother gains 36lbs or more. The majority of our class last week was focused on nutrition and weight gain. All the other baby books and sites tell you to stay within a healthy weight gain, but a woman can gain 25lbs eating junk food and soda when another can gain 25lbs eating lean protein and veggies. So it’s more about what you’re eating, not the amount you’re gaining. Make sense? I’ve recently started eating more protein (chicken, turkey) so my meals are keeping me more full, and I’ve been focusing on eating veggies and fewer carbs (bread, pasta) so overall my eating has been healthy. Sure, I’ll have some fries or a mini candy bar every now and then, but nothing crazy. My workout intensity has gone down since becoming pregnant, I’m not taking hour long spin classes or lifting like I was pre-preg, but I’m still moving and staying active. I don’t regularly weigh myself, I never have. So getting a weight check at the doctor once a month is all I do. Some months I gain more that others, but I feel comfortable that I’m eating right and not over-eating, so Merfbaby and I are getting what we need. Sure, there’s going to be “baby weight” but I’m not worried about that so much as being healthy during delivery and post-baby.

Life Changes: For our Bradley classes we’re asked to track our meals and protein intake. It’s interesting to see how I get more protein on some days than others. I’m attending a La Leche League meeting tonight with Momma-son, so that should be interesting. I have no idea what to expect.

Movement: My doctor told me at my appointment on Tuesday how to do Fetal Kick Counts. So you eat and drink something, then count 1o movements in 2 hours. If I don’t feel 10 in 2 hours I need to go to labor and delivery. Since Merfbaby is a pretty consistant mover I don’t need to worry so much, but she said if I find that it’s evening and I haven’t felt much movement I know how to make sure everything is ok.

Sleep: I’m sleeping ok, lots of rolling over ans switching from side to side. I feel bad that I sometimes wake Merfman with my constant flipping sides every few hours.

Cravings: I’ve started drinking a glass of milk in the morning to help with my calcium and protein intake. I only drink a small cup but sometimes it’s really refreshing!

Exercise: Walking every day this week. Since it’s lighter longer I head home after work and walk our neighborhood for a half hour before making dinner. Since Merfman works late it’s a nice way to spend my evening outside. I’ve been listening to Jullian Michael’s podcast which I’m really liking.

Favorite Pregnancy Moment this week:  Finishing a nesting project! Our kitchen is 90% done! Just need to do some paint touch-ups, add hardware and the island butcher block and we’re done! Ah, it’s so amazing to have a new kitchen. I love cooking in it, and having a dishwasher and a garbage disposal is life changing.

On My Mind:  Other nesting projects ;) It never ends, huh? Now that the kitchen’s done we can start focusing on the nursery. I’ve got everything packed, now I need Merfman’s help to move the heavy things around the house. I’m planning to do a big donation to the Veterans on Monday so I’ve got some closet purging to do this weekend!

Merfbaby is 27 weeks!

About 14 1/2 inches long and 14 weeks to go!

How I’m Feeling: Good. We learned some exercises in Bradley Class that help with stretching out my lower back so that’s helping a lot! I’ve been fatigued at the end of a long day, but nothing too bad. During our busy weekends around the house I take breaks to sit with my feet up a few times. I took a nap last night after work, which was awesome!

Belly/Weight: I’ve had several comments from co-workers that I really do look pregnant this week. Ha! I have to agree. It’s crazy how one week from the next my belly can really grow. I don’t feel “big” but I do notice that I bump my tummy into things not realizing how far it’s starting to stick out. No idea on weight? I have a doctor appointment next Tuesday so I’ll find out then. I feel like everything I’ve gained is in my boobs and belly.

Life Changes: I’ve been eating more protein, just chicken and turkey but I feel like it’s helping. The Bradley Method has a big emphasis on Nutrition so I’ve been tracking my meals this week and my protein intake. It’s hard to get that much protein! I’ve starting drinking a cup of milk in the morning to add a little bit more for the day. I take my Glucose Test tomorrow, fingers crossed I get a good result!

Movement: He’s been busy in there this week! Lots of rolling around. It’s such a funny feeling when he does it. I always make a silly face and Merfman know’s he’s moving around in there.

Sleep: I slept really well this week. I think I’ve been tired from all the projects around the house. Merfman is back to work so it’s back to early mornings and late nights for him :(

Cravings: Nothing specific? I still love my OJ, oh and I LOVE my Oats and Peanut Butter for breakfast every morning. But I think that’s my normal craving, not baby related. I really haven’t craved anything strange or way outside of my normal eating.

Exercise: More gym time this week! I like walking on the treadmill while watching the TODAY show in the morning. I have very little exercise clothing that fits anymore! I told Merfman I may need to steal some of his old shirts and make them into work out tanks.

Favorite Pregnancy Moment this week:  Talking about future family vacations with Merfman. It’s so fun to think about the future and our adventures at a little family of 3 :) We can’t wait to take Merfbaby on his first camping trip! Oh, and I had an awesome Saturday. Merfman and I went to our first Bradley Class, then he took me to Lululemon to buy me a new pair of pants. Then we went out to lunch. I felt so spoiled and happy.

On My Mind:  Becoming a MOM. That’s such a crazy concept. Something I’ve never done before and have no experience with. I’m thinking it’ll be similar to becoming a wife, where you just grow into the role and learn as you go. Since we’re taking our Bradley Classes I’m getting a lot of pregnancy and baby info, and I’ve read several books so I feel like I’m getting more than enough info there. This week I’ve read a lot about becoming a parent and a Mom. How to work through the stress and chaos and let the little things go. I’m wrapping my head around the type of Mom and Wife I want to be and the things I want to teach Merfbaby.

Merfbaby is 26 weeks!

About 14 inches long and 15 weeks to go!

How I’m Feeling: Waddle, waddle. My bionic ankle is a little stiff and swollen, mostly due to the strange weather. I’ve had some aches on the ride side of my tummy. It’s worst in the morning when I’m rolling over or getting out of bed. It feels like a burning right under my skin, lots of stretching happening! I’m more tired in the evenings especially if I’ve been busy around the house after work. Last night I was busy cooking and baking in the kitchen until 10pm! So I slept awesome last night :)

Belly/Weight: My belly button freaks me out. I hate if I touch it, it feels so strange. Clothing rubbing doesn’t bother me just yet, but I might have to stick a band-aid over it when it starts sticking out more. I’ve had a brown line on my tummy for a few weeks and it seems to be getting darker. I’ve also noticed that my tummy bumps into my desk at work more often now. Sorry, Merfbaby!

Life Changes: Getting dressed in the mornings is becoming a fun task. I normally stand when I get dressed, but now I need to sit on the bed to put my pants on. So fun. Putting lotion on my legs is funny too, my tummy hits my leg when I bend over which is a funny feeling.

Movement: Sometimes I feel him roll over! It’s so crazy! It’s like when you ride a roller coaster and your tummy flips, but you don’t expect it at all. I make a funny face when it’s happening because it’s such a crazy feeling. His kicks are mostly soft, just letting me know he’s ok in there. But every now and then I get a big smack! If he’s going really crazy when I’m sitting on the couch at home I’ll pull up my shirt and watch my tummy bounce. I’ll have to take a video when he’s going crazy sometime.

Sleep: I love my ear plugs. Seriously, they save me. If there’s any noise that’s bothering me I pop them in and I’m off to dream land. I’ve taken to “love patting” Merfman on the hand when he starts snoring, poor guy. But I try to hold his hand after so make it less traumatic when I wake him.

Cravings: Nothing major this week, but In N Out always sounds good :) We were talking about ice cream shops at work this week and someone suggested milk shakes…so, obviously we had to make that happen! My craving’s enabler (our PA) made a run for shakes and all was well :) I was only able to drink about 1/3 and I had to put the rest away, too sweet!

Exercise: I got some gym time in! Yay! Less and less of my work out shirts are fitting so I’m having to wear larger cotton shirts, ugh…working out in cotton is awful. I’ve been pretty busy around the house, up and down the stairs so that counts as a work out, right?

Favorite Pregnancy Moment this week:  Momma-son showed me a few things from my baby shower decorations! So cute! And it’s a theme I’ve never seen for a shower, I can’t wait! I’ll have to take lots of photos, I know it’s going to be adorable.

On My Mind:  This was such a sad week for so many families. Between Boston and now Texas there’s so much pain all over the country. I also read about an abortion doctor on trial for doing awful, horrible things in Philadelphia. And hearing about that 8 year old boy that died from the Boston explosions wrecked me. I was in my first trimester when the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary happened, so I’ve had a heavy heart for much of my pregnancy. So many families have lost loved ones, and it makes me realize how blessed I am to be starting my family and that I can’t take one second of it for granted.