Baby #2 Bumpdate

How far along:

17 weeks

I took this at night, after dinner..so I always feel a little bigger haha.  PS--weird prego symptoms: baby hair growing in on the side of my head?! OY! I know once I start nursing after baby, it all falls out but it's kinda annoying.

See, I feel like the left side is already protruding a bit more; what's so comfy about the left?? #sadiebomb

Baby is the size of:
A turnip

Gender:
NO clue.  We have zero girl names and I am terrified to think of how we will ever come to agree on one, if need be!! {Any suggestions??} Joe thinks it's a girl, Brooke says, "Boy" and I am just staying out of it. Haha. I was totally wrong with Brooke so, I am not even guessing.

Mood:

Better this week! I was all out of sorts last week and I really don't know why. I couldn't get my head on straight and just was really emotional.  We took it really easy this weekend, like Joe and Brooke asleep by 8/9 pm.  Sunday we really did nothing, but take Brooke to a playground for a bit and all that resting I think really helped!!

Sleep:

I have trouble falling asleep before 10.  I like to read or watch You Tube videos, but once I do fall asleep I seem to be good until around 5 am when I get up to pee. I fall back to sleep until 7, when we all have to get up!  On days where we don't have to be up, I have been known to sleep in until 9 or 10--whoa!

Belly Button:

That thing stretched out last time around; I don't think it will ever pop out. It's too deep. Enough belly button questions.

Stretch Marks:

No new ones---I still have the faded ones under my belly button from Brooke. I didn't have any until the last few days I went over 40 weeks…they're not terrible, but they're there. I am SUPER itchy on my boobs and my belly so I use Burt's Bees Mama Bee belly butter in the am and Bio-oil at night.

Cravings:

Lots of veggies {cucumbers, tomatoes and hummus omg!}, fruit, lemonade, and the other night it was warm, from the oven chocolate chip cookies.  I didn't make any, or eat any, so those would still be awesome.  I miss my occasional glass of cold, Pinot.  Not gonna lie. This sort of works.

Best Moment of the Week:

Feeling baby #2 move more and more.  I feel like he/she is sitting in the bottom left corner like Brooke did, so it makes for a little discomfort.  After I eat or when I lay down, I feel baby move around the most!

The other wonderful moments are when Brooke randomly says, "Baby!" and pats my belly. It really is so cute...

What I'm looking forward to:

This weekend I believe Brookie will be visiting her grandparents and hubby has a tent sale--SO mama gets some alone/GIRL time!! I am really excited about that.  My friend and I will be getting pedicures!

Exercise:

I am really making more of an effort this time around!! I feel my absolute best first thing, so the last three days we have gone on little half hour walks.  She loves nature and is just sleepy enough to not wanna run around like a crazy kid.  I feel great just moving! I believe my new sneakers really helped because my feet feel fantastic!! Who knew how important a good pair of shoes were??

I have also been doing more yoga stretches and planks.  I need to start in on the weights a bit!  I want to keep my lean muscle mass I worked so hard to get before getting pregnant.

Overall thoughts/questions:

I am SO ready to get this party started!! I just wanna know boy or girl so I can let the fun nursery decorating begin! I have some ideas floating around, so I can't wait to put those into place.  We were going to do a Gender Reveal Party, but the timing is just weird and I just don't want to deal with making others upset for missing it.  So, Joe and I will find out and just tell people, some how. Muahahahaha. 

There is so much to look forward to--we still have so much of summer left and then I get excited about Fall and then Christmas with Brooke..and then omg she's two and we have 2 kids! What a wild ride 2015 will be.  

Any suggestions mamas with two, under/near two??  

First Fair

Last Friday I saw that one of our local fairs were happening.  I thought it would be fun for Brooke to experience, so we went during the day since I figured it'd be less crowded.   There really wasn't a whole lot going on and not too much to see, but it was still something and I'm glad we took her!

The "petting zoo" area.  There were just some cows--she loved it!

You could't pet the Alpacas, so I thought that was odd they'd have them out…Brooke thought so too.

She just kept running away from us and wanted to go explore!

Her faaaaavorite ever: Swings.

And then she's done.

Daddy was naughty and grabbed some fried dough while mommy used the ladies room.  The pictures speak for themselves! haha

She won her first prize!  She just had to pick up a duck and if it had a #2, she would get a duck.  She won!

Then Daddy tried winning something at the 'break a bottle' game.

And all Mama won was this itty bitty crab at the balloon dart game.

She was still very happy with her lucky duck!

It was super hot, after feeling like Fall these last few days…but it was a nice little outing for sure!

Next time I hope there are rides for her or something; I know she would just love that!  

Last Challenge of Summer

If you remember, it was about a year ago I started my first 24 Day Challenge with AdvoCare. [here]  It was actually the beginning of my journey towards being a healthier version of me; a stronger version of me; overall, a BETTER ME!!  While I obviously cannot cleanse or use some products, I can hold myself accountable for eating cleaner.  I am NOT eating for two this time; I am enjoying foods in moderation, but still really trying to maintain my 80/20 rule.

Looking at that photo below, I'm like oh my goodness, I think my stomach is smaller right now 4 months prego than it was 6 months postpartum!! And in 24 days, look at that.  What a reminder that ANYTHING is possible, just focus and believe.

My girlfriend is doing a challenge so I am throwing it out there, who wants to join us?  I need to hold myself a little more accountable and back to eating clean foods, and MORE greens!  I would love to have a little support group here.

I know that I feel more positive when I eat cleaner and move more too; if you're stuck in a rut, just try it!!

I'm not gonna lie, I'm a little jealous that we can now "build your own bundles" and mix up whatever flavors you want!!  How cool.  I would STRONGLY encourage the add-ons, Thermoplus, Catalyst and Carb-ease.   With that, I must once again thank my friend Nikki for pushing me, when I needed it.  Thanks friend/coach!!  She is such a fireball and is doing such a great job with her new bundle of joy.  Love ya girl!

I am forever grateful for her interrupting my life and I know I say it a lot, but I will NEVER be on a diet--and Brooke will NEVER hear me say that.  I know it is so crucial for children, especially girls, to not be bombarded with thinking that they're fat, or mom is constantly trying to crash diet etc.  On top of it, all while getting healthy, I am still able to continue to our family's finances.  I still am in awe of that.  

So Summer is still rocking and you've got one more chance to challenge before Fall!  It's not easy, but I promise it will be worth it.  

Currently {Summer Edition}

Playing:

Outside.  Girl would stay out there all day errr day, if we could, I would.  I hit up the Dollar Tree and scored some garden tools, hula hoop, baseball bat, a ball.  She doesn't even know what to do with these, but finds them fun to run around with and play.

Eating:

I will admit I have already started packing on the pounds, so now that birfffdays are done, I am back on my 80/20.  Ok, it's more like 70/30 there may have been a cheesesteak earlier this week but I am making a REAL effort to eat cleanER.

Breakfast is pretty standard-- I try to eat a few eggs/egg whites w/ kale, spinach, or whatever leafy green I have on hand, and load up on ma fruit.  I feel like if I can start the day "clean" I have a little bit better control throughout the day.  I said a little.

Sometimes I have a whole grain flat sandwich, toasted.



I ran out of fresh fruit, but sometimes we don't always eat the bowl of fruit I cut up, so I freeze it. Perfect for days like this, I just whip up a smoothie.



Lunch-- I try really hard to get my greens in.  I invested in some OG salad dressing and use a little on the side.

I have been craving deli meat, but I don't even like to get it and microwave it, so I have been using sliced chicken instead--PERFECTION!  A little hummus, cream cheese, tomato, cucumber, lettuce and voila!! So tasty.  I use a low carb wrap and one is the perfect amount!

That Prego:

I wish I was all trendy and cute with heels and stuff…but chasing after Brooke and running a house all day, I am so happy I have some comfy kicks to support my tired feet. I am definitely getting older haha.

I do love that the clothes I wore with Brooke can be worn again…I made this, aka ironed on a little image that says, "What's Kickin" with feet.

Something New:

This summer hasn't been super hot, which is fine, so we haven't really needed the air on a ton.  The issue however, is that we can't even open our windows in our room, so it gets a little stuffy and warmer than any other place in the house.  Or down comforter was just too heavy and we both kept waking up hot--so I scored this pretty at Bed Bath and Beyond.  $99, came with sheets, a bed skirt and shams.  I used a 20% coupon and I am loving the pattern.

Apparently we never have company, but a few times this month people popped over and wanted water to drink and we literally had NO glasses.  So I bought a set of 16 at Marshall's.  $10.99 holla!  Don't mind the rando baby bottle…I'm totally in limbo. Like why bother putting all this stuff into storage when I'll need it all again in 6 months?!

Joe and I feel so grown up.  Oh wait, we are and have a second kid on the way! About that…yeah, still haven't done a darn thing with the nursery or anything.  I feel like once we know boy or girl, it will be go time and I'll be super motivated to get my booty into gear.

Crunchy moment:

It's kinda hard when most  all of my energy goes into this little girl.  Holy smokes!  She is go go go and I love it, just wish I could keep up better.  We do the Farmer's Market every Thursday and she goes CRAZY for the berries.  We enjoy supporting our local CSA and she loves going.

Aha moment:

Kinda gross, but if you have fresh fruit/veggies out that you're constantly cooking with or snacking on, maybe you have an issue like I did with fruit flies! I hate them. So nasty.  So I rolled a piece of paper into a cone, filled the bottom of a mason jar with apple cider vinegar and a few pieces of fruit.  I have caught like 20 in two days. Ew!!

Me moment:

I just try to do something for myself, out of the house…it doesn't happen weekly, but every few weeks I pop out to get my nails done.  I just like having a little girlie time and I loved this 'hot rod red'.

Toddler Tornado:

I know it's not going to get any easier.  I know that it's actually going to get messier and harder, but I really try to embrace these moments.  Our basement got a little water in it and so we were starting to get some mold…so I grabbed this baby rocker and brought it up, since it was one of the many items that didn't need to be cleaned, Brooke has been trying to sit in it. Quite funny!

Thinking/feeling:

17 weeks pregnant today and I still feel good; just tired.  It has been a long and somewhat trying week and I am glad it's almost over!  It's sooooooo hard to listen to my body, but I really don't want to end up on bed rest, so I just keep doing what I can and if I need to rest, I do.  I didn't need to go on bed rest with Brooke or anything, but it's like one of my fears--because I don't know what would happen with my home if that were the case!  {like right now, I felt a little like I was overdoing it with the house cleaning, so I sat…to blog.   Brookie happens to be down for nap, so that helps! :)  She has been all over the place napping inconsistently again. Random.}

You really can just do so much and pushing yourself while pregnant, I just don't think is the thing to do.      I'm literally trying to tell myself this as I type, I guess.  I hate feeling lazy, but growing a baby is not exactly a walk in the park on my body!!