2nd Trimester Update: week 16

I follow a fair amount of blogs and I have to say I definitely get sucked in by the mommy blogs but I do like this quick and easy way to document the pregnancy.  As expected, I have not been documenting every week with this pregnancy.  I have yet to even take a picture of my pregnancy belly.  I do want to document at least a little so I have something to remember and so if baby #2 is ever interested, I actually have memories to share.  I hope to do this a few more times over the course of this pregnancy.

How many weeks pregnant: 16 weeks.

Weight gain:  About 4 or 5 lbs 

Cravings:  I haven't had a lot of cravings, mostly food aversions but because of the aversions on the days that NOTHING sounds good, I have only wanted bread and potatoes and salt. 

Food aversions:  Chicken (mostly grilled), mexican food and eggs have been the big ones.  These came on strong at the end of the 1st trimester (seems a little late?) and have lingered since.  I am getting back into eating eggs once in a while but mostly these three items are still not the most appetizing. 

How are you feeling:  Mostly great.  With Ariy there was a lot going on and I was working full time.  Based on my own memory (not always super reliable), I do feel this pregnancy is a lot easier.  I had about 4 weeks of feeling really tired in the beginning but mostly I have had decent energy and no morning sickness.  I have had weird symptoms like excess saliva and the need to chew gum all day long but not to the extreme this time of carrying around a spit cup (I know Rick was relieved).

Boy or girl:  We have scheduled the ultrasound for August 23rd.  I will be going alone and I am so torn about finding out right then and there (Rick seems to think he doesn't care if I know first) or to try and do some surprise for him or the both of us.  Ideas, let me know.  I have to say,  I am still picturing a girl and hoping for a girl but I am working on trying to get excited about two little boys and the madness that would bring.

Wearing maternity clothes:  Yes and no.  I definitely can't button my pants without being very uncomfortable so I am going strong with the little elastic trick.  I have started wearing maternity clothes mostly because of comfort and being in the stage where regular clothes just make me look like I have a little belly and not so much a baby belly.  

Overall thoughts/Updates:  I am anxious to find out the gender which I think will help this all to feel even more real.  It is so weird that long periods of time goes by where I realize I totally forgot I was pregnant.  I kind of don't like that feeling.  After much research, talking with friends and encouragement from my midwife, I have decided to attempt a VBAC as I really believe it is the healthiest decision for myself and baby.  My other hope is to go natural again, this time not so much to prove to myself I can do it (my big motivating factor last time) but because my labor was so quick last time I would rather have it move quickly along and not let an epidural stall any progress.  I was only in labor (before pushing) for about 6.5 hours.  The practice I go to really encourages VBACs to at least labor as long as possible without medication or to have none at all.  As a VBAC, they won't do anything to induce or push labor along like pitocin or even breaking my water (this one is a little up for debate but they would rather not) and sometimes an epidural can bring on more interventions so if it is 6.5 hours or less, I think I can get through it.  My other big hope is that I do not need to be induced because ultimately, if they want to get the baby out (induce) I will have a c-section.  I would love to just go into labor on my own and experience what that is like.  That is my big hope and prayer.  

2nd trimester and a new home

As of July 1st, we became Portland dwellers. We are sharing a home with my close relative Dodgie. He is basically like another grandfather to Ariy so Ariy has LOVED being able to see him every day. Our hope is that in about a year or maybe less, we can save up and be ready to buy a home. We are very thankful that Dodgie has graciously opened our house to our busy family and support us in our goals.

As for baby #2, we are getting excited but I think it is still surreal. I am about 15 weeks along and am thankful to be in the second trimester. I have to be thankful because all in all I have had a very easy pregnancy but I am happy to see a few weird symptoms slowly go away. Again, I have had lots and lots of saliva. Soooo gross and caused me to chew gum like it was my job. That has mostly stopped. Lots of food aversions. With ariy I ate eggs every day and meat and protein was no problem. It was until this week that I took the leap and successfully made some eggs and ate them. I also ate chicken this week. Mostly, I have wanted bread and French friends. Pretty much the healthiest diet you can imagine.

I am happy that despite the not so good diet, I am healthy. I have been able to stay pretty active. I've gained a total of 5 lbs in the last three months and my belly is definitely starting to look like a prego belly. My blood pressure is great so far which was the issue at the end of my pregnancy with Ariy. At this point, things look great. One thing that has been very uplifting about this pregnancy is my care. I was able to see a midwife with my last pregnancy and I was able to labor that way I wished and besides having a csection, I enjoyed my labor and delivery experience. However, having a fresh perspective and new midwife has shown me that it can even be better. I have had a lot to process given the stress of my last pregnancy and start the decision making process of how I hope to see this pregnancy go. I am so thankful to be with a midwife and practice that really supports me and who believes first and foremost, how things play out and the decisions we make is always my decision in the end. I think last time, there was a lot of fear and pressure and although those things may come into play, I believe that this time, they will remind me of my octopus and the ability to say no. Even with my care at this point, there is no pressure to come in every 2 to 4 weeks right now. I am very healthy and I can wait until the next needed appointment which is around 20 weeks. It's nice to be able to stretch things out and feel confident that I am doing good thus far. Our next appointment is August 23rd and it is also when we can find out the gender. I plan on having them write it down and finding out later. I want to do something easy but creative...if you have any suggestions let me know.

Finally, Ariy is getting more and more of a personality every day. We now live with a cat and somehow Ariy decided that when you ask "what does a cat say"? He responds with not a sound but by scrunching his nose. I just think it is so funny. Not a great video but you get the idea. In the video he is standing at the top of the stairs looking down to where the kitty lives.

 

 

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Life Updates

As many of you know, we have been in a constant state of transition around here.  I'm thankful that my husband and I could both be described as flexible and laid back.  If this wasn't a normal trait for either of us, I think the last 6 months would of been a lot harder than they have been.


Jobs
I moved to a 10 hour a week part time position in my office in January of this year.  This was a big move from working full-time for the last four years in the same office.  May 1st of this year marked my official last day of my part time position.  It was a sad day and honestly, I mostly just felt like I was going on vacation and I would be back.  God had other plans though as I think my stay at home status is going to stick for sometime now.  Rick has been working 2 jobs consistently since February.  He was employed by our local First Student as a sub bus driver for our school district which meant crazy and random hours and early mornings.  Rick has also been working part time at a church since September and recently he started another part time position in which he gets to use his writing skills at a Hillsboro-based company called MyBinding.com.  Since the bus driving just ended Rick is now working the two part time position which makes for a much simpler schedule.  


House and home
We are sad at the decision to move but feel like this is a great opportunity for us.  We are moving to Portland at the end of this month.  We have LOVED Newberg and hope to possibly end up here again in another year but for now we have decided to live with family for a short period of time to try and save up money fast.  We have been on a quest to buy a house and have encountered a few roadblocks and realized it would be another 6 -12 months before we could buy so we are using that time to save save save.  We are extremely thankful to Dodgie who is so graciously taking in a family of 3/almost 4.


Ariy
Ariy is a full on toddler now as he is walking and starting to talk and show more emotions.  We recently got back from a 2 week vacation to visit college friends out east.  Ariy did so well and we had so much fun with old friends and meeting their kiddos.  Ariy has definitely been in a slight depression since returning home and having to go back to playing with just Mommy and Daddy.  As for becoming a big brother, I think he is excited but time will tell.


Baby #2
On Thursday I had my first prenatal appointment which was a bit later than when I went with Ariy.  I am at least 10.5 weeks along if now further.  My midwife did a little wand thing on my belly to see if we could hear a heartbeat but she said at 10 weeks we really shouldn't.  Well that baby was up higher than expected and we heard a heartbeat loud and clear.  Since the dating is not exact, I will have a dating ultrasound this Wednesday which I think is a pretty great Birthday present.  I think we were all a little in shock when I realized I was prego but at this point, we are all excited (and hoping for a girl).  

Ariy's got an announcement

 

A year in pictures (4 month to come)

                                         

                                         

Let me eat my cake.

Yesterday was Ariy's one year birthday and we had a LOT of fun. Highlights to come soon but I'm sure his favorite was when he got his first piece of chocolate cake ever.

 

 

364 days in my new job

Tomorrow marks Ariy's one year birthday. I have been thinking about the post I would like to do about and for him but I also have been thinking about the fact that I have now been a mom for almost 1 year. I am shocked honestly when I say that out loud.

I don't know if I have fully taken on my identity as a mom. I mean, I love Ariy so much and wouldn't change a thing but sometimes when I am away from him or when I go to get him from his nap, I think "wo, he is mine. Forever.". It's hard to wrap your mind around.

I think one misconception I had was that I would feel very different and ignorantly I thought I would be more complete. I had what most have when it comes to getting married; I thought Ariy would make me understand myself more. To the contrary, I have only felt those holes, insecurities and all the baggage I carry behind me become more noticeable than ever. Thankfully, Ariy pushes me to surrender those things and pursue wholeness in hopes of being the best mom I can be. I have started making steps in directions I really needed to take and have noticed so much change already.

I am a messy mom. Or maybe, I am a mom who doesn't mind mess. Ariy has fully entered tornado stage. He moves through the house with an unbelievable skill to make everything end up on the floor, in piles, dirty, and sticky. I am the Mom that mostly ignores it or becomes a twin tornado next to him. Daddy is not sure how he is liking living with two tornados.

I thrive when I am "fed.". Generally speaking, I mean socially fed but also vocationally. I need to build friendships and to get to know people. I have enjoyed pursuing friendships since being a mom. It it does take intentionality. I also notice myself feeling very insecure about how to navigate friendships now being a mom. Sometimes I can't hangout alone. Will they mind having a baby around? When I get the chance to go out on my own, will my other mommy friends want to get out too or would they be offended to know I was going out alone?! I am a better mom and wife when I get my time; whether that's working, going to a coffee shop or hanging out with friends. This is important for me and I am thankful for the family that make this possible.

I'm still every bit me. I am quirky, I love colors, I eat too much junk food but I love health, I love people, I'm deeply insecure but working on it, I enjoy working hard, I am messy, I like to laugh and I love reality singing competitions. This was all true before ariy and still true now. I am beginning to embrace the fact that I get to be my strange self and raise my child. I will love learning about his oddities and embracing the many uniqueness he has.

I love being a mom. I am very blessed. My hope for year 2 is to really embrace the title of mom. Own it. I am a mom and hear me roar or something like that. I also hope to continue to work towards wholeness realizing that I will always be me.