Baby #2 Bumpdate: Weeks 24-27

How far along: Weeks 24/25/26/27 

Maternity clothes: Majority of all maternity 

Stretch marks: No

Sleep: Some nights are better than others. A good night’s sleep these days are only getting up to pee 3 times a night, a bad night would be waking up multiple times for 2+ hours at a time unable to get comfortable no matter which way I lay in bed or with how many pillows I put where.

Weight: Up 5 lbs over the past 4 weeks, 20 lbs total

Exercise: Trying to keep up the 10K+ steps a day 6 out of 7 days of the week. This past weekend I didn’t even attempt it get close, I was too tired, too sore, too uncomfortable and just wanted to be as lazy as possible with a 3 year old around. Thankfully for my Fitbit friends who keep inviting me to weekly Workweek Hustle Challenges, even though I unwillingly accept them every weeks, they are making me stay active and accountable for my steps. 

Baby Update: Heart rate was 160 bpm at this last weeks appointment. Baby girl was so active the midwife had a hard time getting a HR. She sits much lower than MJ did. At her 20 week ultrasound her feet were literally on top of my cervix, the next week at my follow up u/s she had turned head down and her head was in my cervix. I don't know which way she is currently but for the past 2 weeks it feels like she is going to fall out, she just puts so much pressure on my lady parts!  

Best Moment(s) this (4) Weeks: Baby reached viability! Celebrating Madden’s 3^rd birthday along with Dave’s, Papa Dexter, Grandma Karen, and Emery’s 1^st birthdays. Finished the majority of our big landscaping projects (just waiting on the landscaping company to come back to finish the backyard but that is a another story).  Starting on MJ's big boy room. 

Miss Anything:  Moving around comfortably. I already feel huge and the belly almost always feels like it is in the way. I am well aware I have a ways to go still and will continue to get better and feel much bigger. Sitting just an hour or two at my desk at work is getting to be too much. I have to get up much more frequently to walk and stretch my back.

Movement: Madden has officially felt his baby sister, he’s gotten kicked a few times. She is still very active and her movements feel so much stronger than what I remember with MJ, they literally make me gasp or make some type of noise from their strength. 

Food cravings: Still not having any crazy strong craving for anything particular however the closest thing is still Tropical Sno or Whitey's grape slushy's.

Anything making you queasy or sick: None

Gender: It's A GIRL!

Big Brother: Madden is definitely starting to get the whole “there’s going to be a little sister in my life” thing. Although he might not totally get it yet or at all before she arrives, he is showing signs and saying things about her that tells us he’s getting it. The other morning out of the blue he told me that baby sister will be getting his room, will sleep in the crib and that he will be in his baseball room. He climbed up on the couch wanting to cuddle with his snack, then laid his head on my bump and said baby is a pillow. He then continued to use the baby bump as a table for his snack :) 

Labor Signs: Braxton Hick contractions started a few weeks ago. I have infrequent contractions multiple times a day, usually there are just a couple here and there. 

Symptoms: Braxton Hicks. Leg cramps have started. Downstairs lady parts are hurting all the time! Still feeling large and I know that will just continue to get worse. Although I am sure I am not that big yet, this belly feels like it’s stretching out so much. Some days I feel great and some days I am completely exhausted with feeling achy and sore all over, especially my hips.  

Belly Button in or out: In, although its getting stretched out. 

Wedding rings on or off? On but I do take it off when I workout or take walks since my fingers tend to swell with the heat. 

Mood: Overall great, though there are many times I've notice I don't have nearly as much patience as I use to/normally do. Especially when it comes to the dogs for some reason, they are driving me nuts!!

Looking forward to: Finishing MJ's big boy room and getting him all moved into it. Then hopefully starting on baby girls room. Family reunion. MJ's BFF Violets 2nd birthday party.  Bi-weekly baby appointments starting this month! And continuing to watch MJ bond with his little sis on the inside. 

Baby #2 Bumpdate: 17-20 Weeks

How far along: Weeks 17/18/19/20 

Maternity clothes: After the last update I spent the weekend going through all the maternity clothes I got back from my friend Tera she borrowed plus all the clothes she had that she gave me and additional clothes another friend gave me. I am now practically wearing nothing but all maternity. 

Stretch marks: No

Sleep: Pretty well! Can't really complain these past weeks have been good. Some nights I wake up for a quick bathroom break but typically fall right back to sleep with no problems. 

Weight: Weigh in at least weeks appointment +1lb over 3 weeks, I call that a win!! That's +8 lbs total. 

Exercise: Keeping up the 10K+ steps a day 6 out of 7 days of the week typically which I think is definitely helping with keeping weight gain in check. Although I know this babe will be due for a nice weight gain here in the next few weeks.....and now looking at Week 19 vs Week 20 pictures I say it's begun :)  

Forgot to take an actual belly shot so a top view will have to due. 

Baby Update: Heart rate is keeping steady at 160 bpm at last weeks appointment .

Best Moment(s) this (4) Weeks: Hearing baby again of course. We got the large majority of our front landscaping done and plants/flowers finally all planted. Our new fence went in so now we have a much bigger fenced in yard area that we are so excited about. Potty training is in full effect, MJ seems to have peeing down and even is starting to go into the bathroom and pee all my himself without help. Going #2 is an entire different story that we are trying to work one. That would definitely not be on my Best Moments category.  

Miss Anything: Why do all the foods your told to avoid always sound the BEST while pregnant?!? A spicy tuna roll sounds fabulous. So does almost any sandwich as Subway with deli meat, not toasts or hot. A Summer Shandy or Citrus Rattler sure would be nice to enjoy sitting on the deck...I guess there's always next summer for that. 

Movement: More frequent movement. This past week I've finally been feeling much more kicks and jabs however the majority of all movement has still been low strong rolling. Often in the evenings is when I feel him/her the most, sometimes it feels like a softball is being rolled up again my pelvis and could possibly bust out. 

Food cravings: Tropical Sno!! It sounds so good every single day however I've only went to get it once :( Why don't they deliver or have more locations!

Anything making you queasy or sick: None

Gender: One week countdown till our 20 21 week ultrasound appointment, hopefully babe will cooperate and we can find out the gender. 

Labor Signs: N/A

Symptoms: 

Belly Button in or out: In

Wedding rings on or off? On

Mood: Feeling pretty darn good right now.

Looking forward to: Lots to look forward to over the next few weeks including finishing our large landscaping project, Micro Brew Mile & 6k, celebrating my nieces 3rd birthday, trip to Minnesota for a family wedding, Fourth of July, and of course the big doctors appointment next week. 

Woah baby sure grew this week!!

My Christmas Wish List

Here's what's on my Christmas Wish List this year.

1. Brooks Running Shoes 

2. Workout leggings from Old Navy, preferably a color other than black
3. My boring plain white mugs at home need some spicing up, a new coffee cup would be great.
4. I'm loving these blanket scarfs that are poppin up everywhere.
5. I'm always happy to accept gift cards for a mani/pedi, to my hair salon, Target, or even Lowe's for some DIY projects.  

6. A Programmable Crock-pot, cause some meals just don't need to be in there all-day-long while at work.  

7. A new Fitbit, I've felt completely lost without mine since I lost it in the Wisconsin Dells. 

It's That Season!

Can anyone guess what season it is??

Baseball season.

Hence why I've been MIA for the past 2 months. I have ZERO time for anything!! Between working full time outside the house, being a full time mama, taking baking orders, trying to keep up working out, taking MJ to baseball games so he can see daddy for 10 minutes during the week, tending to two dogs, and trying to keep our house in some sort of order while the hubs is pretty much gone 5-6 days a week.

I'm exhausted just writing that! Yikes! 

This kid loves being out at the ball field. He will actually sit for a while and watch the game when we first get there. Usually Jackson and Halana are there, once everyone warms up they are off and playing, following each other around, monkey see monkey do. In between games we watch daddy out on the field raking the pitchers mound and getting it all ready for the next game. Once he's done, MJ takes off onto the field or in the dugout to find baseballs and throw them to anyone around.  

.
.
.
Yesterday I completed an item off my baking bucket list, to make homemade cinnamon rolls. One of my friends from work had her birthday so I made them for her since it's one of her faves. I actually found a recipe that only takes 1 hour for prep and cooking. They were so good!!
I may never buy a tube of rolls ever again, how I can I ever go back?! 

After work we enjoyed some happy hour birthday drinks. I may have ordered a ginormous beer and ate an ungodly amount of chips, salsa and white cheese dip. It was heaven!!! All those splurges yesterday sure made me feel guilt plus I wasn't even close to getting in my 10,000 steps for the day.

 

What else does someone do to make up for it?

Sweat the booze out!!!

 

No gym, no problem.

I ran the hills in our yard!

 

How have I never thought of doing this before?

Oh, because it sucks that's why. I only lasted 15 minutes in the heat and humidity then took my workout inside for a Jillian Michaels session.

Totally felt better about my choices for the day :) 

 

Progress!

 It's been a little while since I've updated my weight loss progress.

Today marks 6 months of solidly using MyFitnessPal as a tool to help me manage a better and healthier diet, so I figured I would celebrate with a 6 month photo progess report.

Here is:

 October '13 - January '14 - April '14

To me it only looks like small suttle changes over the course of the past six months.

I can tell my muffin top has shrunk, my face it thinner, my thighs are a bit smaller, and my hair is most definitely different =)

We got a photobomber this time around ;)



I'm really happy I started keeping track of all my measurements along with my weight. Really wish I would have started that at the very beginning but 3/4 of my way through this journey will have to be good enough.
Even though I don't feel like there is a hige difference between my pictures from October to now, my numbers don't lie!!!

October 1st

Weight: 154.5

Waist: 37

Bust: 36.5

Hips: 41

Thigh: 24

Arm: 11

April 1st

Weight: 136.4

Waist: 32

Bust: 34

Hips: 38

Thigh: 22.5

Arm: 10

Total 6 Month Loss:

Weight: -18 pounds

Waist: -5 inches

Bust: -2.5 inches

Hips: -3 inches

Thighs: -1.5 inches

Arms: -1 inch

I measure my waist at my belly button or natual waist. My hips are measured at the widest part of my hips/butt. And I measure my thighs at the thickest part too. ::shrink baby shrink::

Thank gawd MyFitnessPal finally updated this past week to where you can view father back than just the last 3 months!! I can actually show what my progress has looked like.
It shows my setbacks, a few plateaus and that slow and stready wins the race.



The biggest difference is how I feel overall, pretty flippin' fantastic!

It's definitely not 100% easy all the time, I have a lot of slip ups. I don't always make it to the gym each week. But I don't allow a few bad days or a week to be an excuse to give up. Tomorrow is a new day...or my next meal to get back on track. I'm definitely making much better food choices when we go out to eat! I will hop online to plan my meal out if I know where we're going ahead of time to see what my best options are.

Another big difference is that the majorty of all my clothes are too big. I desperatly need to go shopping for some new work pants! I only have 1 pair that fits fairly decently without a belt. Even my belts are too big which are useless to use to hold up baggy/saggy butt pants. I know tough problems to have! 

My little photobomber!!

He thought it was hilarious to be in the background of all my pics :)

I'm not finished yet.

I still have a little more until I reach my ultimate goal weight, 1.4 pounds to be exact!

However, I am happy with the number on the scale. As soon as I reach that goal I actually want to move my focus away from the number on the scale.

I really want to start focusing on weights!

I want to tone up.

Get some actual muscles.

Lean out.

 

For the month of April I'm participating in the 30 Day Fitness Challenge. Two of my co-workers are doing the plank and squat challanges. I also decided to do the push-up and crunches challange. Hoping this will help kick start me into getting into Beastmode.

If you interested in joining a challange check them out here.

 

Now that it's finally, somewhat feeling like Spring, I'm also looking forward to running outside again. I would like to get back to being able to run a 5k. Participate in 2 or 3 this year and I'm even entertaining running the Bix...I want to throw up just thinking about it.

Better get to work then =)~

  

January Goal Check

To keep up on how I'm accomplishing my yearly goals I thought I'd do a quick check in.

• Books -  I actually read a book this month, it's shocking! Of course it was a Nicholas Sparks book, Safe Haven. Apparently they already made it into a movie so score for me, now I must watch it.
• Recipes - tried a new, healthy recipe Quinoa Salad at the very beginning of the month and made a Skinny Butternut Squash and Spinach Lasagna Rolls which I made into two meal and put in the freezer for future dinners! Blogging about those later
• Pinterest - completed 1 pin off Pinterest, see above!
• Work - working harder at my job, in progress.
• Fitbit - I'm wearing my Fitbit religiously and really am trying to hit my 10,000 steps a day goal the majority of the week.
• Food Prepping - so far so good
• Water, water, water. It definitely helps that I've actually starting tracking how many ounces I drink everyday with my Fitbit and My Fitness Pal, along with drinking out of a gigantic jug that shows the ounce marks on it.
• Goal Weight - work in progress, I will be updating with a separate blog post for this soon.
• Money challenge - so far I have kept up with it and actually added a bit more these first we weeks. I cannot justify only transferring 1 or 2 dollars each week, so I just rounded up to $10.
• Swim lessons - signed up for February
• Dave's Bachelor's degree - He started his 3rd class this month which is a 5 week class.
• January date night - Completed thanks to a Christmas present from the in-laws which included gift cards for dinner and a movie along with a free babysitter (them!), to enjoyed an evening out. We went to dinner at Red Robin, spend some time at a book store in between, then saw the movie Saving Mr. Banks (which was really good). After we got home Dave threw in Mary Poppins when we went to bed.....have I ever mentioned how much of a Disney fan he is!?! ;) 
• Student Loan - we have resumed payments (whomp whomp) since Dave's under the credit minimum for it to be deferred.

No too bad for the first month. Still have 11 more to go to complete everything. So far I'm feeling pretty good about these goals and this year in general!

Non-Scale Victories

Today I'm celebrating some recent non-scale victories (NSV).

Weight loss is not always about the scale. I'm trying not to focus so much on the number on the scale (though it's really hard not to) and focus on some of the accomplishments and changes that are happening from exercising and keeping track of what I eat.

1. I'm on an 8 day streak of getting over 10,000 steps in a day with my new FitBit!! Some days it's really hard! I never knew how inactive I could be everyday because I sit at a desk all day for work. But it's weekend too. The FitBit has definitely helped me get more active. If I haven't met my goal for the day I actually run laps throughout my house, run in place, do jumping jacks, or skip in front of MJ which helps entertain him and he thinks it's fun.  

2. See those tags....they say SMALL.

Granted they are over sized shirts to wear with leggings but it still counts!  

3. Regular width boots!

This girls always had thick calves. I've had to buy or try to find wide calf boots, which there aren't a ton of options out there. I found these on JustFab.com and they fit around my calves perfectly.   


MJ photo bomb!



4. My yoga pants are getting too big! Like saggy off the hips they might fall off while on the treadmill too big.