Daily Owen: 6.30.2014

Terrible twos or terrible molars...maybe a combo of both? First two pictures were how we spent our afternoon. Tantrums, "no no mama" (to literally EVERYTHING), screams, throwing, time outs (about 8 total).... good times. I think the top two molars are starting to cut through.... So this would explain his pissy pants-ness. (Poor guy). By this evening he was a little more pleasant and then drifted off to sleep. Ahhh, it's so peaceful when they sleep! The resting monster just looks so loveable. So hard being a little kid. 

Daily Owen: 6.29.2014

Playing hide and seek with blankie in the car. Goofball.

Daily Owen: 6.28.2014

Today was baby day! We met two new adorable little girls who were born just a day a part- the first, Millie, who was born June 26 to our good friends Rich and Stacie and the next, Dylan Enzi, who is our newest niece. Owen did great with both and touched them softly....good news especially considering we were pushing naptime!

Daily Owen: 6.27.2014

Playing inside while mama and poppy worked up the energy to go on a rainy day walk. After several hours in the car this morning, a walk was much needed... Owen however was happy to play basketball, jump on poppy and broom with his "glove."

Pregnancy Round 2: Week 29.

Last week in the 20s. Unbelievable. For as much as I felt like the first 7 months dragged on, I'm in a little bit of shock that we are almost in the single digit week countdown. On the other hand, I am SO over being pregnant. I can say till I'm blue in the face that I am so beyond grateful that I can be on this journey, but it doesn't negate the fact that I just really, really am miserable being pregnant. It's going to be a challenge with two kiddos for sure, but at least I will have my energy and body back to chase them around.

Pictures:

Week 29 side view.

Week 29 front view.

Week 29 with Owen for reference. I feel like I look WAY bigger this time around, but who knows.

Week 29 with Owen, one more. 

Week 28, with #2. Clearly not with Owen (HI TURTLE who photobombed my picture....aka Owen!)

Week 28 front view.

How I'm feeling?

Ah, feeling ok. Huge- given. Pregnant - given. Over it- already stated. Other than that, just fine. One new thing this week that I had forgotten from the last time around is leg cramps. I'm not sure what brings this on this time in pregnancy but I went back and looked at my blog archives from Owen and I had leg cramps with him around this time as well. Weird! I know they are common in pregnancy, but odd that for me they seem to occur right upon entry in to the 3rd trimester. It may have something to do with the warmer weather... which, by the way, HELLO SWELLING. Anyway, I've found that I can mitigate the cramping by drinking electrolytes so I've been chugging those like no ones business lately. 

How I'm changing?

I am getting to the point where I am being forced to realize my limitations. We went to a fitness class this weekend (similar to the one a couple of weeks ago) and it was awesome! I really kicked butt on the bike and sweat my booty off. It was one of the best workouts I'd had in a while, save for the same similar workout we went to a couple weeks prior. I felt like, for that hour, I wasn't pregnant and could push myself to that "fitness point" I love and crave so much. Walked (kind of waddled) out of there feeling like a complete rockstar. Then we went home and had a completely productive day getting things done around the house. The next day? I felt like I had run not one but TWO marathons. I literally was so exhausted, it took energy and focus to blink (slight exaggeration, but how tired I felt was incredible). And it wasn't that I was tired as in needing to sleep tired, it was tired in a way that my body said STOP. HALT. ENOUGH. As in, we are trying to grow a baby here, THE END. And so, in that regard, I am having to realize that as much as my head tells me to GO GO GO and "you're still you, you can still do everything you want," my body will eventually revolt and say "HELL NO." 

What I'm eating?

Since my failed first glucose test, I am trying to be a little bit more conscious about what I'm eating. I could literally eat potato chips by the bag, but I'm thinking that doesn't really fall in to the "healthy" category (and when I'm not pregnant, I wouldn't come within 10 feet of them...) So, I'm really trying to be good this week and telling my cravings to piss off because I need to make a more concerted effort to eat better. I guess for better or worse, that failed glucose test got my attention. I guess I was right on the cutoff line of even needing the additional test, so everything is probably fine anyway but it was a good smack in the butt to try to eat better regardless. I was committed this week to eating a healthy breakfast (usually egg whites and a yolk with veggies, sometimes a banana/peanut butter/oatmeal), then a healthy lunch (usually a lean protein and some veggies and fruit) and a good dinner (my big thing this week was turkey burgers and salads). 

I'm still kind of in flux about the whole meat thing as I was such a big vegan before, but I know it's good for me right now since the baby needs the protein, and so do I most likely. But, I can't think about it too much or I get completely grossed out. On the other hand, there's only so much hemp protein I can eat and I really don't like soy as an alternative when pregnant. So, I'm doing the meat thing. I am tolerating it now, but I could be completely repulsed by it again once I'm not pregnant which is what happened with Owen. We shall see. 

Weight I'm gaining?

This week I was 144 pounds, which is two up from last week, but last week I was one down from the week before so I guess I'm just fluctuating. I was 141.5 with Owen at the same time last time, so again, pretty consistent.  I feel huge but the numbers on the scale really aren't too far off to make a big deal about. No stretch marks yet this time around (didn't get any last time so fingers crossed), and rings still fit unless it's a hot and humid day and then they don't come off. 

How I'm sleeping?

Well, Owen was sick for part of this week. He had a 102-103 degree temperature for the better part of 48 hours. No other symptoms other than being clingy and lethargic. We initially thought it was teething, then didn't feel any teeth, which in hindsight sticking our finger in our mouth at the expense of being bitten by all of the other teeth was probably not the best test for this. We called the doctor who thought it was a virus and to let it run it's course. Then, upon fighting Owen to brush his teeth I saw two brand new bottom 2 year molars that had cut through and to that we said AHHHH, the initial assumption was right. So given that, I will give anyone reading this about 2 guesses as to how we slept this week. Ha! 

What's the baby doing?

-The baby is 15.25 inches or the size of a butternut squash and weighs about 2.5 pounds

-The baby is beginning a major growth spurt that will continue over the next 3 months (NO KIDDING)

-Movements may become less pronounced as the space in your stomach gets smaller (again, DUH)

-Muscles and lungs are continuing to mature and your bay's head is growing bigger to make room for the developing brain (great, as long as the head is not HUGE as it has to come OUT of me...note: Owen has a HUGE HEAD so I might be doomed here. Also see: why I don't run long distances anymore unless I am in very close vicinity for bathrooms).

-The baby is sucking all the calcium from you as the bones are continuing to harden.

What we are doing to prepare for the baby?

I actually have news to report here! We did a lot this weekend around the house as it was our first weekend really at home in quite a while. Justin was able to make good progress on some outstanding house projects, which to me are definitely a way to prep for the baby as once baby is here I just do not think these will be touched. So, that was a definite win! I also dug through all of Owen's old clothes and realized several things: 1) Owen was SO incredibly teeny when he was born. I actually don't remember him being that small. I saw several outfits where I was like, "I LOVED this one" and then thought "How in the HELL did he fit in that?!" But, he most definitely did, it's just unfathomable to me that he was every that small. 2) The next baby is also going to be that small. I feel like I keep thinking in my head that just another Owen is going to pop out and I'm going to have two 2 year olds running around (crazy, I know). I can't quite wrap my head around the fact of having a newborn around quite yet. Which leads to 3) I realized, quite frankly, holy #!*@ we are having a baby. Like a real live one. This sounds so ridiculous but it was like the moment of truth where everything clicked and I was like OK, we are doing this. It's really happening. And also: OH MY GOD please help me. Little bit of a moment of panic. 

But all of that did lead to me completely going in to freak out mode and cleaning out closets like a mad woman- purging, washing and hanging newborn clothes, cleaning, etc. It was awesome. It was also following the workout above which is why the next day meant I could have just laid on the couch all day, not moved a muscle and I would have been very happy about it (which, if you know me, is not something I would ever usually say...laying around drives me batty!) 

Oh, we also took Owen's two year pictures/maternity pictures. Click here for our photographer's blog post in case you missed my post with the link (love them all!):

http://blog.redthreadimages.com/2014/06/two-denver-photographer-in-seattle.html

Random thoughts on pregnancy (pregnancy brain?)

As a result of the above moment where I realized that indeed a baby is going to pop out of my hoo hoo (hopefully), I then started to get completely freaked out about labor. It's so funny that this is what is scaring me now and I attribute a lot of this to the pregnancy hormones and a little bit to the unease of the unknown. Either way, I got completely freaked by it. I think I was very lucky in Owen's birth and after it I said that I would give birth a million times over because it was such an incredible experience (if of course it meant not having a million kids or pregnancies). I think that is what is making me so nervous this time though. The "what if" this one isn't so smooth. Or "what if" something goes wrong. Or even the other side "what if it comes too fast" and I'm the person giving birth in a car or something. Second labors are notoriously known to be faster and more intense, which could be good or bad I guess. Needless to say, I'm a little scared about it. I know at the end of the day, it will all work out but I think I need to spend the next 9-10 weeks really coming to grips with "whatever happens, happens." 

Maternity pictures blog post

The amazing Tara from Red Thread Images did it again- she caught some beautiful images of our little family minus the big boys. Love them all!

Click on this link to view her post for a preview:

http://blog.redthreadimages.com/2014/06/two-denver-photographer-in-seattle.html

Daily Owen: 6.26.2014

Little devil is up to no good... (But at least he's feeling better!)

Daily Owen: 6.25.2014

Owen felt much better today...fever broke and mama made the discovery during our bedtime routine that there are in fact 2 bottom two year molars that have cut through. Ah ha! That explains that then. Should have listened to my intuition after all.

Feeling better meant not wanting to go to bed....so we ate frozen blueberries "blue" at 8:30pm with the little nut.

Daily Owen: 6.24.2014

Poor Oe was still fighting something today with a 102 degree fever...don't let the first picture fool you. That's called Tylenol. The last few are more indicative of our day. Apparently it's some sort of 3 day virus that just needs to run its course. No other symptoms and he's sleeping/eating/drinking, so we are just getting lots of cuddles until he feels better. 

Daily Owen: 6.23.2014

Poor little guy woke up from his nap today with a 101 degree fever that got to 102. No other symptoms so it might be his 2 year molars. Felt horrible for him but the cuddles were so nice. Actually not sure I've ever sat still with him that long, at least not since he's been mobile!

Daily Owen: 6.22.2014

Little monkey before naptime then vacuuming with poppy after naptime. Another productive day around here! 

Daily Owen: 6.21.2014

Fun and productive Saturday! Mama and poppy worked out while Owen played with Miss Collette. Then naptime while M and P started on a whole bunch of house projects. Then mama and Owen watched some soccer, played outside and had dinner with poppy before crashing for the night. Felt good to have a day at home for the first weekend in a while! 

Daily Owen: 6.20.2014

A shot from the talented Tara from yesterday.... One of the last shots, moments before Owen lost it. Not sure how she always manages to catch the most beautiful moments.

Daily Owen: 6.19.2014

We had 2 year pictures plus maternity pictures today. They went great until the very end when Owen lost it! All was saved by a vega protein bar...a very melted bar. Ignore the mess in the car seat for a happy kid. And later: baby bum after bath helping poppy with dishes. LOVE. 

Pregnancy Round 2: Week 28

Week 28. WOAH. I swear we are in hyper-go mode now. Racing to the finish line.

Week 28 side view.

Week 28 front view.

Week 27 side view.

Week 27 front view.

How I'm feeling?

Feeling a lot better this week than last. Feeling the first tri sickness and complete tiredness was WAY BETTER this week. Thank goodness. It helped that we had a few other things on our plate this week so maybe I was too preoccupied to notice, but hey, I'll take it. Really nothing too notable here other than the fact that we are still just creeping (galloping) along to the finish line. 

How I'm changing?

Bigger and bigger and bigger! We took another quick trip across the mountains again (this week for a funeral) and again, I was cursing the car. It's just not too comfortable. I had forgotten how uncomfortable it gets as your stomach grows and I forgot how warmer weather = swollen EVERYTHING. At one point I realized that my wedding ring was not going to come off in the slightest, and my feet definitely had cankles. I am glad I blocked this out from last time, but wish it would not have returned at all. 

Still working out as much as possible which between life, jobs, other stuff, and kiddo plus husband is the equivalent of about 2-4 times a week. I'm really trying to make a concerted effort to at least get some walks in, if nothing else. 

What I'm eating?

Absolutely no more quinoa. Makes me want to throw up just thinking about it. I guess perhaps I OD'd on it. Still loving potato chips, though. Also: oreos. New obsession. Costco has gluten free oreos that I am LOVING. Trying to not overdo it for obvious reasons but I have a couple a night. Delicious! 

Weight I'm gaining?

This week I was 142 pounds, which is one down from last week. I was 140 this time last time with Owen, so I'm pretty happy with the weight gain this time.   

How I'm sleeping?

Again, doing great in this department. Up once a night to pee and otherwise sleeping pretty good. And (knock on wood), Owen is still sleeping too. 

What's the baby doing?

-The baby is 14.8 inches, or the size of a a chinese cabbage and about 2.25 pounds (um, what is a chinese cabbage?? And also, can I just say, I have NO idea how in 12 weeks, he/she is going to gain probably 6ish more pounds and how is it possible that THAT much more is going to fit in there??!)

-Again, the baby just continues to grow- the lungs and immune system are continuing to develop for life outside the womb.

-The baby's brain is developing more tissue and has probably developed a more regular sleep schedule

-Your baby is still blinking his eyes, which now sport lashes and can see light through the womb (I can vouch for this...if we are in the sun, I get kicked more)

What we are doing to prepare for the baby?

Well, last pregnancy at week 28 we were in a baby class, doing the nursery and I had packed the bag to take to the midwives.HA! My how things change... THIS time I am thinking that I need to really start thinking about this, particularly the packing of the bag (since clearly we are not doing a baby class). It's hard for me to really care about the bag, though, because we had such a great bag packed last time and used NOTHING out of it as we left 4 hours after we delivered Owen and were only there for 6 hours total. 

I DID order newborn diapers, so that is something! 

We also went to the midwives and had the glucose test done. Unfortunately, it came back on the high side (boo). Owen's was fine so I have no idea why this one was high. Could be the timing, could be that I'm not working out as much this pregnancy as last. But my weight is really relatively consistent and I'm really not eating bad. If two oreos a night puts me in to gestational diabetes, that is complete crap. Just saying. SO, I go back next week to do a 3 hour fasting glucose test which sounds completely miserable. Other than that, though, the baby is head down (!!), something that Owen wasn't for another few WEEKS (and after multiple trips to the chiropractor/acupuncturist, etc), so that was good news. Also, his/her heartbeat was great and everything else looked great. 

Random thoughts on pregnancy (pregnancy brain?)

It occurred to me the other day that my hormones this time around have been really stable. Last time I was a weepy mess, and I still have my moments this time but they generally only occur if I haven't eaten enough. Even during a few stressful moments lately, I was completely even keeled and not freaking out at all... in pregnancy #1, I would have completely lost it. I'm not really sure what the lack of hormones mean but I will not complain about this one (and neither will Justin, I'm sure!)