2nd Trimester.

(This post was originally written on 2/27/2011, at 14w0d pregnant. This is the last of the old posts; everything will be up-to-date from here on out!)

How far along?: 14 weeks, 0 days
Total weight gain/loss: No idea. I lost the weight pretty quickly after Brooke, so I’m naively assuming I’ll follow the same pattern this time and, therefore, just am not obsessing about it.
Maternity clothes?: My pre-pregnancy jeans are no longer wearable, just super uncomfortable. So it’s either maternity jeans or sweat pants these days.
Sleep: The upper respiratory infection was in full swing this week, so sleep was at a minimum.
Movement: Not yet.
Food cravings: There’s some double chocolate chip Graeter’s in our freezer that has been beckoning me each night. I didn’t give in every night...but the pint is long gone.
Gender: I’d love to give Brooke a sister at some point, as my relationship with my sister is pretty awesome. Will it be baby #2?
New w/pregnancy #2: Lifting/carrying around 31 extra lbs all the time.
What I miss: Feeling good. It’s been a few months now. I feel like things are starting to turn around, though, so we’ll see...
What I am looking forward to: A slightly bigger belly. Because while I’m starting to show, I probably still just look fat to most people.
Best moment this week: I’m finally starting to get some of my energy back! Hooray!
Weekly Wisdom: Not very wise this week, sorry.
Milestones: We have sailed right into the 2nd Trimester, which is just crazy!! Are we really already at 14 weeks?

165.

(This post was originally written on 2/20/2011, at 13w0d pregnant.)

Heartbeat Day was fantastic. It took her a few minutes, but the nurse finally found that strong, little thump thump thump. 165 bpm. I immediately felt a wave of relief go over me. I had no real reason to believe we wouldn’t hear it, that it wouldn’t be there. Especially considering how craptastic I’ve still been feeling. But it didn’t matter; my own heartbeat was probably around 165 in unfounded fear. But when she finally found it, that most perfect noise allowed me to breathe again. I instantly fell in love. I am very confident that we will be a family of four by Labor Day :)

How far along?: 13 weeks, 0 days
Total weight gain/loss: -2 this week, +1 total. I spent all of Wednesday in bed and the weight just fell off all in one day.
Maternity clothes?: Oh hello, maternity jeans! Lovely to see you again!
Sleep: PROGRESS! I’m finally getting some sleep. But this nasty cold I seem to have developed in the last 24 hours is bound to squash that.
Movement: Of course not, but now that I know what to expect, will I feel it earlier this time? If so, this may be just a few weeks away :)
Food cravings: I’ve had a Pop-tart every day for the last week. Even Wednesday, the day nothing (else) sounded good. Unfrosted strawberry only. And no matter what my sister & husband think, the edges are the best part; I could totally forgo the filling.
Gender: If an easy pregnancy = girl, then this one is definitely a boy.
New w/pregnancy #2: I don’t remember having this many digestive issues. My stomach rumbles all day long. Bad enough that I even talked/whined to the doctor about it. She gave me a few things to try, but pretty much said I have to suck it up for a few more weeks.
What I miss: This week? Alcohol. I could’ve used a 6-pack of Bud Light this week.
What I am looking forward to: We have started spreading the news! I love doing it and I’m looking forward to continuing!
Best moment this week: Hearing that mighty heartbeat. 165 beats per minute.
Weekly Wisdom: When they say that you start showing earlier with each subsequent pregnancy, believe them. My oh my has my little fat belly popped out in the last few days. I went from “Man, she’s gained a little weight lately” to “Wait, could she be pregnant or has she just been eating a lot of Pop-tarts?” in a matter of 3 days. Good thing we’re telling people now or else I’d be wearing a lot of hooded sweatshirts this week.
Milestones: Heartbeat, news-spilling, bump-popping...it’s been a crazy-awesome week (with the exception of Wednesday, of course.)

Heartbeat Day!

(This post was originally written on 2/18/2011, at 12w5d pregnant.)

HAPPY HEARTBEAT FRIDAY! Not gonna lie, I’m a bit nervous, but mostly just big-time excited. Come on, baby, let Mommy (& Daddy) hear ya!!

Under 200.

(This post was originally written on 2/13/2011, at 12w0d pregnant.)

How far along?: 12 weeks, 0 days
Total weight gain/loss: No idea. Just not as concerned with it this time so I keep forgetting to check.
Maternity clothes?: Coming soon.
Sleep: Sigh. At least I’ve figured out how to nap again.
Movement: Um, no.
Food cravings: The food aversions are kicking in. And, unfortunately, they are coming in the form of fruits. But I am loving fruit juices and fruit snacks....do they count?
Gender: No feeling this week.
New w/pregnancy #2: Still getting sick all day long. And it sucks. So, so much.
What I miss: Turkey sandwiches.
What I am looking forward to: I’m renaming Friday this week as Heartbeat Friday! So excited to get that little piece of reassurance that will give me the confidence to start spreadin’ our good news.
Best moment this week: I dunno.
Weekly Wisdom: Half of a Pepsi can be both a life-saver and an enemy (yep, only half - caffeine is being limited.) The caffeine helps my headaches, the sugar keeps the nausea at bay, but the bubbles....they cause some issues.
Milestones: This babe is growing like a weed. Already 2 inches long and weighing half an ounce, according to “the books”. Of course, I am growing a Reeder baby, so I’m sure he’s already off the charts. Oh, and also, WE’RE UNDER 200 DAYS!!!

Big Lady news :)

I'm interrupting the pregnancy posts to celebrate a pretty big day. Today marks Brooke's 14-month birthday! My baby girl is getting so old! And big - she's at least 31 lbs, maybe a touch more...

(Coincidentally, it is exactly 6 months until my due date, a reminder that if this baby is born between Aug 29th-31st, I'll have 2 kids without real half birthdays. A seemingly silly factoid to you, terribly sad news to me.)

Here's my girl in a nutshell at 14 months:
- Still super-obsessed with all things Daddy. If there's a picture of him in the room, she will find it and point him out (nevermind that I'm also in 99% of the pictures he's in.) She talks about him all day long. She just loves him (I guess I don't really blame her...)
- She had her 1st haircut today. And by haircut, I mean that I made one little cut to the hair at the nape of her neck so she didn't have a baby-mullet anymore. I saved the tiny little lock of hair for her baby book :)
- She has developed her own little language, full of all sorts of jibber-jabber that we don't understand. She tries to tell me so many things every day. She even sings along to songs in her little language.
- She's the proud owner of 9 teeth, as 1 of her molars made an appearance this month.
- She loves to "find Mommy's baby", i.e. lift up my shirt to point out that the baby is in my belly. Not that she really understands what that means. In fact, she might just think "belly" and "baby" are interchangeable words.
- Probably the biggest change in our world with this little lady are the tantrums. They are in full effect, folks. Like, big time Terrible Twos. She has started throwing tantrums about everything. If she doesn't get her way, watch out. We figure the best defense at this point is just distraction, so we try to get her attention on something she is allowed to do/have/etc. On rare occasion, the tantrum turns into a full-on meltdown. And we just laugh at her. Because, honestly, it's funny. We don't know why she's crying; heck, she doesn't know why she's crying. She'll just stand in the middle of the room with the most dramatic little sob (wonder who she gets the drama from...) I don't foresee an end to this anytime soon, so I guess we'll just have to ride it out.

Random pics from her 14th month (including goofball smiles and middle-of-the-floor snack time.)

Lime time.

(This post was originally written on 2/6/2011, at 11w0d pregnant.)

How far along?: 11 weeks, 0 days
Total weight gain/loss: I’m pretty sure I lost a pound this week...I really need to start writing this down so I remember where I was the week before.
Maternity clothes?: Not yet. I’m hoping to get by with just a few key pieces for the rest of this winter (i.e. maternity jeans, a few shirts, etc.) and then really stock up when it starts to get warm. I foresee a lot of dresses this summer!
Sleep: I got a few decent nights this week (meaning I only got up to pee about 3 times, plus the munchkin actually slept through the night!)
Movement: Nada.
Food cravings: Nothing in particular, though I am eating a lot! I can’t get enough. And I have to eat something every hour or two or I get a killer headache.
Gender: No clue, but wouldn’t it be great if all this sickness meant I was having a boy?
New w/pregnancy #2: Crazy nausea. I’m SOOOO sick of throwing up. My OB was all “For most women, it’s usually worst the 9th week and then gets better.” Clearly I’m not most women. I honestly think I pulled a muscle in my stomach this morning.
What I miss: Good sleep.
What I am looking forward to: A much, much, much-needed date night with the husband next weekend.
Best moment this week: I’m too tired to come up with one...pathetic.
Weekly Wisdom: Husbands are particularly invaluable when dirty diapers need to be changed, especially when it’s before noon and you already threw up once.
Milestones: Baby Reeder is the size of a lime already, something neither the husband nor I could believe.

Week 10 :)

(This post was originally written on 1/30/2011, at 10w0d pregnant.)

I started the weekly pregnancy updates at 10 weeks with Brooke, so it’s only fair to do the same for bambino numero dos.

How far along?: 10 weeks, 0 days
Total weight gain/loss: As of this week’s doctor’s appt, I’m up 2 lbs so far.
Maternity clothes?: Nada as of yet. But I found myself unbuttoning my jeans to get comfy on the couch the other day, so I know they are coming soon. (Do not judge; it’s a miracle I was wearing jeans and not sweatpants...it was just a Thursday...)
Sleep: Ugh. Pregnancy insomnia is in full swing, as is the peeing-9-times-a-night thing. Uber fun.
Movement: Well of course not.
Food cravings: Nothing and everything. When asked what sounds good for a meal, my answer is always “Nothing”. Yet I’ll eat anything that’s in front of me (hence the fact that I’m already gaining.)
Gender: Lord knows we could use a little man up in here to balance out the pink & purple.
New w/pregnancy #2: Severe exhaustion. And it hit me right away, like Week 5, much earlier than with Brooke.
What I miss: Sleep. I will likely answer this the same way for the next 30 weeks. I already hate my bed.
What I am looking forward to: Hearing my munchkin’s heartbeat in a few weeks :)
Best moment this week: When my sister returned my giant bottle of Tylenol PM that I lent her during her pregnancy.
Weekly Wisdom: The grocery store is no place for a pregnant woman.
Milestones: 25% down already. Wow. This pregnancy is a-zoomin’ on by.