{Bumpdate} 38 Weeks

Posted in Bumpdates {Baby #2} by sneaksandstilettos

Halfway through the 38th week and eek!! The real scary thing isn’t Halloween this October, rather it’s the unfinished things on our list. Despite having some things to do yet, we are excited to meet you! I’m hoping to share some photos from your room very soon.

Baby Girl,

I’ve been thinking about how raising a daughter will be different from raising a son. Teaching middle school has given me quite the insight into how big gender differences are in the teen years. Dealing with all those emotions and challenges could be interesting. I also think about the important things I hope to teach you and realize that they are not so different from your brother.

I want to teach you to be kind to yourself and others. To be confident, but not arrogant. To be happy, but always grateful. To achieve your hopes and dreams, but be willing to tackle a challenge to get there. To love yourself and others, but be humble. To make the world a better place than when you arrived. To be a friend to those in need even if they might be different from you. To embrace people’s differences while acknowledging your own. And of course so much more.

I look forward to seeing your sweet baby face and watching you grow into the person you are meant to be my little love.

Love,

Mom

Feeling: Completely overwhelmed by our last minute tasks, but so excited to meet you, too. This past month involved a husband gone for a weekend, a child who visited the doctor 4 times and has been sick on and off with two ear infections and an allergic reaction to antibiotic with full body hives, water in our basement resulting in the complete removal of our finished basement flooring, our washing machine basically quitting and my teaching partner colleague leaving the teaching profession so my long-term sub plans went from an outline and resources to 60 days of day-by-day lesson plans for two long term subs to follow. Now I know why I’ve been stressed. Soon you will be here and this will all be forgotten.

Relieved to cross items off our list like gifts for labor and delivery staff (Angie’s Kettle Corn, Kind bar, Chips Ahoy, Ghirardelli Chocolate and Tic Tacs), big brother gift (shirt-got for his bday, puzzle, flash cards, train set and snacks) and daddy’s hospital survival kit (soduko, beef jerky, chips, Mike and Ike’s, Snickers, mints, gum and one dollar bills for the vending machine. A card, too). I love making stuff like this, but it totally stresses me out, too.

Cravings: Some days nothing. Other days sweet stuff. Pumpkin spice lattes.

Weight Gain: At my 38 week appointment I had gained 25 pounds.

Symptoms: Nothing new other than feeling like you have moved downward. Not dropped completely, but on your way.

Workouts/Running:

36 Weeks & 37 Weeks-Walking, Prenatal Sculpt and Yoga as often as possible. I haven’t been tracking my walks as I just have been so rushed for time. I’m fitting in a prenatal sculpt workout and/or yoga at home whenever possible. I’m definitely not rocking the workouts like I’d hoped to be at the end of this pregnancy.

Freezer Meals-(Both are from Diary of a Fit Mommy’s Blog)

Southwest Chicken & Rice

Ingredients

2 cups cooked brown rice
15 ounces drain and rinse Black Beans, Canned
1 cup drain Whole Kernel Corn, Canned
½ cups Salsa
1 teaspoon Cumin
½ cups Cheddar Cheese, Shredded
2 cups chicken, shredded

Instructions:

In a large mixing bowl, combine rice, beans, corn, salsa, and cumin.
Divide among indicated number of baking pans and top with cheese.
Cover tightly with foil. Label and freeze.
Bake from frozen at 350 for 1 hour or until cheese is melted and rice is warmed through.

Pepperjack Chicken Taquitos-SO AMAZING. A must make!

Ingredients:

8oz. cream cheese
3 c. chicken, cooked & shredded
1.5 c. shredded pepperjack cheese
1 6oz. can green chilies or 1/2 cup salsa verde
20 small tortillas
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. onion powder
2 tbsp. lime juice
1 tsp. cumin

Instructions:

Melt cream cheese in a bowl. Mix in the spices, lime juice, chilies (or salsa), chicken, and cheese.
Add 2 tbsp. of mixture to each tortillas and roll.
To freeze, place on wax paper on a cookie cheet and stick in the freezer for 30 minutes.
Remove from cookie sheet and place in a ziplocked gallon bag.
When ready to cook, bake at 425 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

Looking Forward To: Your arrival and holding you for the first time, AND you and your brother meeting for the first time.

Sarah

23Sep2016

{Bumpdate} 36 Weeks

Posted in Bumpdates {Baby #2} by sneaksandstilettos

Baby Girl,

36 weeks kind of has me like whoa! How is it possible that you could really arrive at any time now? This whole big scary adventure that we’ve been envisioning is really about to start. I feel so not ready, but yet so ready. With your brother being sick so much, and what feels like everything else going wrong and things continually popping up on our calendar, I can’t imagine having another small person in the house to care for. I was really freaking out this week.

Luckily, I had some contractions that woke me up to reality and made me think I need to get real here. I need to start mentally preparing myself for labor and your arrival if I want to welcome you into a prepared and calm environment. It got me to read some birth stories and really focus in on what was important. It made me remember how I can’t wait to meet you and snuggle you on my chest. It reminded me how amazing forming that breastfeeding relationship can be. It focused me in on how I can’t wait to see you and your brother become friends as you grow older.

All this mental focus and prioritizing has been so helpful for me to remember that this is truly one of the most exciting times in our lives. You don’t get to welcome baby #2 again. Finding water in our basement after all this rain and having to tear up the flooring in our finished basement this weekend still threw me for a bit of a freak out.

You seem to be the blessing that brings my focus back to life’s important things. I love that about you.

Love,

Mom

Feeling: Nervous about your arrival, but more mentally prepared for the work of labor, delivery and keeping a newborn alive.

I know I can do this. It will be hard. I will freak out at times. Baby girl has a good daddy and a wonderful brother. She will be so worth the work.

Cravings: Chocolate and Sweets still! My 1/2 cup serving of frozen yogurt is happening quite a few times a week now. Blood sugars are still great.

Weight Gain: At my last appointment at 36 weeks on the dot I had gained 22.3 pounds. I had lost an ounce since my last appointment. I was concerned since I’ve really only gained back the weight I lost since 29 weeks and now weigh actually just below the amount I did at my 29 week appointment. The dietician had also mentioned my lack of weight gain at my last appointment, which I did point out to her that I had gained some weight, but after losing a few pounds it didn’t look like it. When I spoke with my midwife about not really gaining weight in the past weeks, she said I had gained at a steady rate during the second trimester so she was not concerned. My uterus is measuring on for my 36 weeks, too so baby is growing even if I’m not gaining weight.

Symptoms: Feeling good early in the day and much more tired as the day goes on and in the evening. No new symptoms! Just exhausted at times, uncomfortable at times and feeling good at other times.

Workouts/Running: I have been walking and got in a great run. I still am fitting it in when I can rather than making any regular routine work.

34 Weeks-

Walked-9 miles

35 Weeks-

Ran-2.5 miles (I felt amazing on this run. Wish I could find a way to make more running work right now.)

Walked-12 miles

Freezer Meals-

I don’t have time to share the links this week. Nothing special with these, but I will add in links later.

Homemade Mac n’Cheese

Slow Cooker Roast

Looking Forward To: I’m going to be honest. I’m wavering back and forth between looking forward to not being pregnant anymore and trying to enjoy every last kick she gives. You never know if this is the last baby or not.

Sarah

13Sep2016

{Bumpdate} 34 Weeks

Posted in Bumpdates {Baby #2} by sneaksandstilettos

Baby Girl,

Most of the time I now think of myself as having two kids. It is both exciting and scary. Not a vision goes by of our family’s future that you are not a part of. Dream vacations, family trips, and thoughts of everyday moments include you in it. When you think about how we don’t even know what you look like or who you will be, it is kind of crazy that you are such a part of our life already.

I’m also convinced that your brother knows you are in there even if he can’t understand what that means exactly. He has become even more obsessed with lifting up my shirt and poking my belly button, but he also seems to be feeling my belly more lately. Without any prompting he has also started laying his head on you. The other night when I was up with him all night because he’s been sick, his little head was laying on my belly and you were just a kicking away. Looks like you are picking on him already.

Of course, I hope you spend more time getting along than not.

Love,

Mom

Feeling: Nervous about your arrival and guilty for having another child.

I’m so caught up in what this change will be like for Pierce and worrying about how he will take it. I feel guilty for the time it will take away from him and the attention he will miss out on. I can’t imagine spending less time with him or not being involved in his every moment. At the same time, I’m nervous about your arrival. I feel like I’m not as prepared as the weeks keep flying by and I haven’t been preparing like I did last time. I feel like it was so long ago that we had a newborn even though it was only 16 months ago.

Cravings: Chocolate! Hershey kisses have only a 2.8g of carbs, so I find myself enjoying a few here and there. My blood sugar still remains great, and I have only had one high reading by 1 point on a unique day (after eating out and sitting).

Weight Gain: At my last appointment a week and a half ago I had gained 21.5 pounds.

Symptoms: Feeling good some days and very pregnant others. Very tired after school days. Like I can’t even think straight tired. Suffering battered feet. It appears my feet have grown a half size or more by the end of some days. I have almost no work shoes that I can get my feet into. The ones I can squeeze into leave my feet brutalized by the end of the day. Peeing all of the time. Seriously! Multiple times a night.

Workouts/Running: The struggle has been real.

I’m trying to not make excuses, but juggling the school day, picking up Pierce and getting dinner ready for a hungry little person earlier than I expected everyday (he eats lunch at 11:00) makes getting in a workout after school impossible. The husband is home too late to help start dinner or help in other ways. After Pierce goes to bed, forget about it. I am falling asleep in seconds if I sit down. Right now I feel I need the extra rest.

As for my weekend goals, well the struggle continues. Two weekends ago we were out of town the entire weekend. If you have a young kid or more, then you know this means your kid(s) will wake up extra early and probably not sleep that great. On top of this, they can terrorize a hotel room in seconds, so working out is super difficult if your also trying to get yourself, a husband and a child fed and ready to be places.

This weekend the husband was gone fishing and I am beyond my capacity to run and push a stroller. Pierce has also been pretty sick. We’ve been dealing with a high fever that showed up on at least 6 of the last 7 days. We’ve been to the doctor twice. We had planned to run the Labor Day Dash 5k in Madison this past Labor Day, but the little man woke up too sick to do that so we had to adjust our plans. I was bummed and hoped to run one last race. Oh, well. Sacrifice is part of parenthood. Sick babies need love and attention so workouts take a backseat.

Needless to say, you won’t find many miles ran. I’m not ready to say I’ve ran my last run yet. Most of my reasons for not running have little to do with how I feel and more just logistics of life. I am hoping to get in a few more runs, but if life has another plan for me then I’m also ok with that. I will have lots of time to run in the future. As for other types of workout, well logistics have made them a struggle, too.

32 Weeks-

Ran-4.5 miles (2.5, 2)

Walked, but haven’t been keeping track of miles.

33 Weeks-

Ran-0 miles

Walked, but haven’t been keeping track of miles. I should start.

Freezer Meals:

Baked Ziti-We like to use whole wheat noodles and up the spices. Season to your taste!

Cheesy Taco Bake and Tuscan Pasta

Looking Forward To: Making the most of our last moments as a family of three.

Sarah

27Aug2016

{Bumpdate} 32 Weeks

Posted in Bumpdates {Baby #2} by sneaksandstilettos

Two days from 33 weeks, I finally got this post together. I’m glad to be documenting along the way even if it often takes me longer to get a post organized than I’d like. Looking back on these memories is always special and worth it.

Baby Girl,

We are down to single digit weeks until we meet you. I’ve come to terms with giving up lattes and treats for our health, and it hasn’t really been all that hard. As the days dwindle down, I find myself daydreaming about what you will look like. Will you look like your brother or have your own features from birth? What kind of baby will you be? Will you show us your personality early on or save that for later? I look forward to snuggling you and the feeling of a new baby on my chest, those little legs all tucked in. I can’t wait to look at your fingers and toes and the shape of your nose.

At the same time some of that new mom anxiety is creeping in. Will you arrive healthy? Will I feel as great after delivery as last time? Will breastfeeding be as much of a success as last time? Will you sleep any better than your brother? How will I share the love between two? How will I get two kids ready and dropped off at daycare on my own?

When I start to worry I default back to the good things…new baby smell, those little newborn sounds, watching you sleep, memorizing your face and seeing your daddy and brother hold you for the first time. When I think about all the exciting and scary first moments to come, I know it will be crazy emotional, crazy overwhelming, crazy blissful, but mostly just crazy good.

Love,

Mom

Feeling: Whoa, we are actually having another baby! I have so much to do. Let’s do this, this and this. Wait, I’m so tired!

Ironically I felt this exact same way at this point in my pregnancy last time minus feeling so tired at times. A combination of where has the time gone and there is only/we still have 8 weeks to go is definitely taking place.

I also have an intense desire to get projects wrapped up. We’ve been working like crazy every moment we have to cross something else off the list. Everything in our garage was removed, organized, sorted and cleaned. It is currently in piles waiting to be put back on shelves, but it will be so great to have a clean and organized garage.

In the kitchen, a few cabinets have been touched up with paint, the coffee/beverage bar project underway, a new kitchen faucet installed and a hideous storage cabinet relocated to the garage that was also cleaned out and organized.

The house has been pressure washed, the deck swept and scrubbed, gutters cleaned and trees trimmed. To do is a new mailbox post.

Baby girl’s room has been painted and needs a few touch ups, her curtain rod has been hung, some wall art ordered and her dresser ready to go. Still to do: hang wall art, put up shelves, new closet doors and put the finishing touches on her room.

Cravings: Chocolate occasionally, but not really anything. It helps knowing any treat I might crave I can’t really have so why even go there.

Weight Gain: 20 pounds. After my appointment with the dietician last week I had lost 2 pounds since my previous dietician and 29 week appointments. I guess giving up the lattes and the few times a week treats can add up even when pregnant.

Symptoms: Feeling good most of the time, but very pregnant and tired at other times. Frequent potty breaks, feeling very pregnant by the end of the day, fatigue and being emotional at times.

Workouts/Running:

I’m already struggling with balancing back to school, getting projects done and working out. In the past after bedtime was my go to workout time during the school year, but by evening I’m feeling too tired and uncomfortable to get in much of a workout. I am still excited that running is even something I still want to do at this point. Last time around I was done for and didn’t even really have an interest in running at this point in my pregnancy.

As for balancing time, I’ll be honest, I don’t have a solution in mind yet exactly. Getting up earlier really isn’t an option unless I get up at 4:30 am, and that is not going to happen. I already have to be up by 5:30 a.m. to get myself ready, my son ready and dropped off at daycare, and get myself to work.

I’m hoping to feel well enough to run a day or two a week after school and to get a run or two in on weekend mornings. I will plan to walk most nights. With less than eight weeks to go until baby girl, this might be the best I can muster knowing there will be after school meetings and more frequent doctor appointments, too.

30 Weeks-

Ran-7.5 miles (3, 3, 1.5)

Walked-10 miles

31 Weeks-

Ran-4.6 miles (2.5, 2.1)

Walked-8 miles

Freezer Meals-So far I’ve made two freezer meals-Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas (we like to add extra veggies to this recipe like different colored peppers) and Chicken Manicotti (it’s called Super Easy Chicken Manicotti, but I’ll be honest stuffing those shells is a pain in the butt.) When making freezer meals I simply make two pans of one dish for dinner one evening. One gets eaten that night and as leftovers, and the other frozen with a label for a later date.

This means that once baby girl arrives the meal has already been cooked and only needs to be defrosted in the refrigerator the night before and popped in the oven for dinner. I’ve linked both recipes above. By using low carb tortillas and eating only one manicotti shell with extra chicken, both dishes have met my GD diet requirements.

Looking Forward To: Meeting baby girl for the first time. I’m really starting to look forward to all those sweet new baby moments. I can’t wait to see what you look like, hold you and for you to meet your daddy and big brother.

Sarah