A 2nd trimester recap

27w0d

There have been so many changes in the past 3 months, I almost don't know where to begin!

Week 14 brought that energy surge that I heard people talking about. I know some women never get that during the 2nd trimester, but fortunately, I did. It enabled me to return to my workout routine and to come home at the end of the day and NOT fall asleep at 7pm. :)

Weeks 14 through 19 were just spent growing and anticipating feeling Cookie move. I finally felt him (for sure) at around 19 weeks, and Chris was able to feel him at about 20 weeks.

Week 19 also revealed that Cookie was a boy, which took me a little by surprise even though all my dreams up until that point had indicated that was a reality. It took us awhile to decide on a name for the little man, but we did it. (Some people are disappointed to hear that we're not sharing the name until he makes his appearance, but overall people seem understanding of our rationale for it.)

During week 22 we were finally able to start seeing Cookie's movements from the outside. They were relatively minor at that point, but have continued to grow in intensity as he gets bigger and stronger.

No strange cravings to report really...requests for a cheeseburger or brownie have been made periodically, but that's not all that out of the ordinary! :)

Our new glider

26w5d

I've been searching on craigslist for weeks and weeks, trying to find a decent glider and ottoman that aren't a) hideously ugly, b) super worn-down, and c) outrageously priced. (Because new gliders and accompanying ottomans seem to be totally outrageously priced!)

I found one in Santa Cruz (road trip!) that would have been perfect, except for the fact that it had already been sold and the ad remained up on the site. But then I found another one (and it was even in Corte Madera), and I snapped it up. The ad said that it was barely used, and get this: it's actually barely used!

Now we just have to figure out where to fit it...

26 weeks

26w0d


Cookie is now the length of an English hothouse cucumber (about 14 inches from head to heel) and weighs between 1.5 and 2 pounds.


He's rolling around a lot lately, which is a totally different sensation than kicking. I definitely still experience the short little jabs, but I can also feel lingering pressure in certain spots, and can now see bulges that last for 2-3 seconds before disappearing again.

And if I put the remote control on my belly, it will jump around. :) It hasn't been kicked off yet, but I'm sure it won't be too much longer!

Double digits

25w6d

As of today, my countdown has hit 99 days. Double digits! Cool and scary all at the same time. :)

Cankles.

25w4d

Oh, how I dreaded your appearance! But...you're here.

Now go away, please!

It was not a pretty sight when I returned from the airport last night. I know you like to see pictures, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. Sorry. :o/ Chris asked me if I had been elevating my feet. But I'm not really sure when I had the opportunity, what with being on the airplane and then driving home.

I was good as new this morning, but then I joyously discovered that they had returned by this evening. Chris did give me a lovely massage, though, and the swelling did retreat a bit. (That part I can get used to.)

I guess now I have an excuse for putting my feet up on my desk at work! :)

25 weeks

25w0d

25 weeks already! I can't believe how close I am to the 3rd trimester.


Our little guy is kicking up a storm lately. Generally, as long as I'm up and moving around, he's pretty quiet. But when I sit down for a bit or lay down before bed, that's when he gets started. It's pretty fun to watch my belly jump around on a nightly basis. :)

Off to Nevada

24w6d

I'm headed off to the airport soon for my last business trip during this pregnancy. Though I'd love to go to Pennsylvania later in the year, those trips are just too close to my due date for my doc's comfort.

So, today is a short flight to Reno, then a very short shuttle ride over to Sparks. I'll be staying in and having meetings in a casino, but fortunately the smoky air really does stay down on the ground floor and is not part of the upstairs air circulation. Thank goodness!

I passed!

24w3d

I went in last week for my Gestational Diabetes test. And I'm happy to report that I passed. :) (For obvious reasons, of course, but also because that sweet-avoidance thing that was happening in the first trimester is certainly gone!)

The test really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. The drink they gave me tasted like flat orange soda, and wasn't nearly as sweet as I was dreading it to be. I had to drink the bottle they gave me within 5 minutes, then sit around for an hour before getting my blood drawn. Once the hour was up, I was in and out pretty quickly. Thank goodness for the video capabilities on my iPod and transfers from my TiVo! It makes sitting in a waiting room much more pleasant.

I was also told that my iron levels are "a little low" so I will now be on a daily iron supplement. Eh, what's one more pill?

Baby as food: 24 weeks

24w0d

Fun facts

Cookie is now approximately the size of an ear of corn: almost a foot long, and he weighs about 1.25 pounds.

24 weeks

24w0d

Happy viability day! Today is a milestone in my pregnancy because I have reached the point where doctors will take heroic measures to save Cookie should something happen. Before today, most insurance companies wouldn't allow it. Though of course we all want him to stay put for the next 16 weeks or so!

23 weeks

23w0d


The belly is getting more prominent these days, and I'm feeling much more "round". I'm getting more and more comments from coworkers, too. Some people are polite, and some are totally clueless about appropriate ways to broach the subject. For example: "When you have it?" (complete with a finger pointing at the belly). Um, yeah.

Say spaaaaaaah!

22w6d

I took the time this afternoon for a little pampering. I got a 50-minute prenatal massage, and followed that with a facial. My back now has that lovely post-massage ache, and my face is so much happier!

I haven't changed up my skin care routine since becoming pregnant, even though it's obvious that things are not the same as they used to be. Some "me" time was just what I needed. :)

Seeing is believing

22w0d

We can now not only feel Cookie's kicks, but see them too! At this point, the motions we can see are still small; really nothing more than a little bulge quickly rising up and then disappearing again. But it's pretty neat!

Do we have a contender?

21w4d

For Cookie's name, that is. The answer: we just might!

Chris and I have been thinking long and hard about this lately. I knew it wouldn't be the easiest task, but it's proven to be even more difficult than I thought it would be.

There are lots of things to consider:

• does the name sound good with our last name?
• does the name sound good with and without the middle name?
• do the initials spell anything weird?
• do we want to incorporate family names?
• do we want to use 18 letters (a Jewish tradition for good luck; my parents did this for both my brother and me)
• how would nicknames sound with our last name?
• would the name be easy to make fun of on the playground?
• does it sound natural when we call the name out?
• would the name look professional at the top of a resume?

and so many more!

Whew. This name may not prove to be "it", but it's so nice to at least have one in the bag of possibilities!

21 weeks

21w0d

A friend recently commented that I now have a shelf. Apparently, I do!

Our stroller is here!

20w6d

It came mostly assembled, but Chris wasted no time putting on the wheels and the infant car seat adapter.


Now, how long will it be until the cats think of it as a cozy place to sleep?

Are you kicking me?

20w4d

So for awhile now I've been feeling Cookie move around, but the sensations have been very light. I've been referring to the movements as "taps." They are noticeable to me, but not strong enough to be felt by another person. Well, last night, he kicked it up a notch! (Yes, yes, pun intended, haha.)

We had dinner plans with some friends last night. I got home before Chris did, so I was just sitting on the couch and watching some TV while waiting for him. I felt a couple of taps, and these were definitely stronger than any I've felt before. I thought to myself, "Hmm, I wonder if these are strong enough to be felt from the outside?"

So we make it to the restaurant before our friends and as I'm telling Chris about the stronger taps I felt while I was at home, Cookie decided to do it again. At this point I was pretty confident that they were strong enough to be felt from the outside, so I grabbed Chris's hand, placed it on my belly, and said, "Here. I don't know if he'll do it again, but I think you might be able to feel this!" And sure enough, Cookie delivered another blow about 5 seconds later, directly where Chris's hand was. It was really neat to watch the smile slowly spread across his face as he said, "Wow!"

So was it a kick? A head butt? A high five? I don't know, but it was really amazing moment. :)

Leg cramps!

20w3d

Oh my goodness, these things are no joke! I wake up out of a sound sleep several times a night because of these suckers. Right now they're limited to my calves...I sure hope they don't start to affect my entire legs.

I really try to eat only locally grown fruits and veggies, hence my weekly trip to the farmers' market. But in an effort to kick these cramps to the curb, I've resorted to eating bananas for the potassium. Even though my conscience nags at me for it. So far though, the bananas aren't helping.

I heard an old wives' tale somewhere that says placing a bar of soap under the sheets at the foot of the bed will help. And I'm about ready to try it!

Baby as food: 20 weeks

20w1d

Fun facts

Cookie is now approximately the size of a banana: about 6 1/2 inches from head to bottom, and about 10 inches from head to heel.

And he weighs about 10 1/2 ounces.

Halfway day

20w0d

I'm 20 weeks today, which means I'm halfway there.

Halfway there! Wow.