Da Belly: 28ish Weeks

 

So, I'm pregnant. I haven't exactly forgotten that fact, I just haven't been very good about documenting anything about it this go around. What's my deal-io? It's like I have 3 other children to attend to or something. And I say 28ish weeks along because my doctor had the nerve to change my due date to September 29th. 6 days later. What a jerk! ;)  It's just not nice to tell a girl who's already going to be pregnant through the whole summer that she has almost an entire extra week. I actually really don't believe it though, and I don't think I'm even saying that in denial.  I am just SO positive on all my dates that I really am thinking this baby might just be a bit more like Reesers.  She always measured a bit behind during ultra-sounds and was a little peanut for the first year or so of her life. Anyway, now on to the super exciting things. Like my fatness.

Weight Gain:  I kid (kind of), but really, gaining weight is no fun.  It's been especially hard this go around because I worked so very hard last year and got down to the lowest I'd been since high school.  Granted I've never been a little girl (Koch girls are curvy), but that was still dang good for me. I thought that by starting at a lower weight that I would end lower overall. Turns out that my body has its own little (or not so little) plan when it's pregnant though. If you were to look at my doctor's chart, you would see that no matter what weight I started at, I ended on the exact end pound with all 3 pregnancies. Crazy huh? And right now I'm looking to be on that same path. So yeah, that's not fun to see, but I guess my body knows what it's doing to get healthy babies here. I do have to say that a few weeks ago while I was driving somewhere all alone, I had a moment when I suddenly felt so grateful that my body can even do this! I thought, "Who cares [about the weight gain]! You are bringing one of Heavenly Father's children to this world! This sacrifice is more than worth it." I try and remind myself of that short-lived perspective often.

Exercise: So I've covered that exercise hasn't helped me in the weight-gain department, but it has made me feel overall so much better.  I've kept up my same exercise routine from before and am quite happy about this. I go to the gym 3 (aim for 4) times a week doing my same class (cardio/weight intervals), and I'm pretty sure carrying my 31+ lbs son around counts for something (he ended up in the 97th percentile in height and 75th in weight at his 2 yr old appt, by the way!).  I had AWFUL sciatic nerve pain until about week 21/22 and I am so happy to say that I woke up one morning and it was completely gone! I'm not sure if it's because the baby just shifted or if maybe exercise has helped. I swear exercise has at least taken away (or postponed) some of the aches and pains I usually have by this point.

Cravings: I had some funny cravings at the beginning: turkey bacon and a strong, random desire to watch Wheel of Fortune, but those have mostly subsided. I like to use the excuse that Del Taco is a craving, but really it's just a love that started while pregnant with Everett and it's never gone away. 

Sickness: None! Hallelujah! This is my first pregnancy where I haven't continued to throw up at least 1-2 times a week until the end. I think any nausea I had went away around week 20. Yippee!

Movement: This little girl hasn't been too wiggly just yet, but just this week her activity has really picked up. This is my first baby who's had (or more likely that I've noticed) hiccups.  It's kind of cute. The girls have been super excited at the couple times when they've had the chance to feel her kicks. 

Thoughts on Having Another Girl: We did have our other ultra-sound and it is for sure a girl! I feel so much better having seen the 3 lines myself. I'm having a hard time expressing to people that I really am excited about this. I feel like I shouldn't have to convince people, but I get so annoyed after I say "girl" and people give me that look and say "Ohhh." Do they really think I'm sad? It's not like I found out I actually have an alien growing inside me this time. I've had some interesting conversations where I've left really sad when I'm left defending girls. It just drives me nuts when people feel the need to tell me why one is better than the other (mainly that boys are better than girls). Yes, boys and girls are pretty darn different, but so is each child! And at the risk of sounding cheesy, each is so special and unique. (Girls just have the added bonus of cute clothes and accessories! So I guess they're better. ;) )

Baby Names: We may already have this baby named. Can you believe it?! This is so not like us! It's a super simple name that we've loved for years, and it's just feeling right this time. I think I'm the only one in the family not fully ready to commit though. I guess I just feel like I have to cover every name in the world until the very end.


So that's about it for now. Things are going well. I have my glucose test tomorrow. Yummy, yum, yum! Only 12ish more weeks to go. Yikes!