I guess since we're already halfway through this pregnancy I should finally do a baby update now shouldn't I?
how I'm feeling | once I hit around 18 weeks I started noticing an increase in my energy levels and a decrease in my nausea. Thank you Jesus! Nausea and vomiting are no joke. Pregnancy fatigue is no.joke. God bless those beautiful women who have to deal with it all 40 weeks.
weirdest symptoms | I've got some serious pelvic pressure and sciatica this time around...with Pier that didn't hit until mid third trimester, so I find it interesting that I'm in this much pain so early on. Another strange symptom? Not being able to swallow. The first trimester every time I would take a pill (no matter how small) or eat certain foods I would gag or throw up. Luckily, that seems to have passed now and I'm back to eating solid food groups and taking my prenatal vitamins. The main difference between my pregnancy with Pier and with this little one is the insomnia. I get a few hours of sleep each night...despite wanting nothing more than to sleep all the time. I guess it's just preparing me for all those highly anticipated newborn night wakings right?
cravings | first trimester cravings included my favorite vices: pizza, chic-fil-a, coke, and ice cream. I'm happy to report that my main cravings now are a lot healthier! Carrots/red bell pepper and hummus, fruit of any kind (can't get enough fruit!), and....waffles. For some reason waffles have been my go to food when nothing else seems palatable. Another favorite snack is toast with almond butter, honey, chia seeds, and coconut flakes.
a few of my favorite moments so far | finding out that baby is a GIRL, witnessing the look on my husband's face when he felt her soft kicks for the first time, seeing the details of her face at our 20 week anatomy scan, designing her nursery, and teaching Pier how to become a big brother. He has a baby doll that he's starting to become more and more attached to. Currently his favorite game is for mama to rock the baby doll and sing "rock-a-bye baby"...Then Pier takes her, gives her a pat and throws her on the ground with a big enthusiastic "UH OH". It's pretty cute. And a bit violent. But mostly cute.
Brad felt the baby kick for the first time last night. No matter if it's your first or seventh pregnancy, there is something so beautiful and exciting about those initial baby kicks. I truly believe heaven meets earth when you feel the flutters of growing life. Our lives with this girl are already intertwined for all eternity and I'm beyond grateful that we've been given the gift to raise her.
I MEAN LOOK AT THAT SWEET FACE! Can't wait to snuggle her earth side. She still doesn't have a name yet...but we're working on it. Girl names are easy to pick because I love so many of them, but at the same time we can't decide on one because, well, we love so many of them. I keep asking Jesus to name her for me. 20 more weeks to figure it out!