Powering Through - 19 Weeks

19 Weeks

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces, and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. The hair on her scalp is sprouting. This is a crucial time for sensory development: Your baby's brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.

Oops. I skipped right over week 18! All is good here. We had an amazing Memorial Weekend due to some AWESOME weather and all those soldiers who continue to fight for our freedom and allow us to have weekends like these! THANK YOU!

The left side of stomach is always sore! I remember with Jackson it was my right side. It’s just a constant nagging pain, like there is a big knot needing to be rubbed out. I’ve also had trouble sleeping. I know the main reason is because we’re in the middle of moving and my brain won’t shut off. I’m up at 4…thinking, thinking, thinking!

Me at 18 weeks. Ummm...I look exhausted. Yes? 

We hired movers. I am VERY excited about this. It was TOO hard trying to round up friends and work with their crazy schedules with everything else I’m trying to manage. I started but already lost track of two friends, let alone any more than that. My gut told me to hire movers. Yes, more money, but I’m all about convenience right now. Trying to simplify. The less stress the better for me right now.

We also purchased a bunch of stuff this weekend – weed whacker, water softener, couches, kitchen table, BIG BOY BED, and patio furniture. The thing with me and Karl is we DO NOT SPEND. We SAVE. And I guess we’ve been saving for THIS. So we’re spending now. Ufdah. SCARY. Exciting too, but still scary.

When there was a down moment this weekend, I was in one of our many closets pulling things out and packing them in boxes or donating them. I separated all Jackson’s toys and found all the baby toys! I was even able to get Karl to go through his clothes. We have ONE garbage bag full of clothes he’s willing to donate. YAY! PROGRESS. This is a BIG step for him! This was between Jackson stealing the scissors, spilling my water all over and stubbing his toe and falling off the couch. It is something hard packing with a little guy around, but I also want him to know what’s going on. Before we start prayers, he’s always like “Pray. New HOUSE! Big bed. Choo-choo train.” So then we pray for all those things.

I'm very nervous about the transition into the new house. I'm starting to already miss the easy access to five parks by our current house. And how nice it is just to walk across the street to pick up Chipotle or a tasty treat from Dairy Queen... 

The plan is to pack one box a night until we move and work a little harder on the weekends. We're going to round up a friend on the day we are able to move in and fill his truck and trailer with what we have now in the garage. Then Karl and I are taking some time off work to CLEAN to prepare for the rest of the goods coming.

I made sure to find lots of time to play with Jackson too. We spent a lot of time running outside and playing soccer and going down slides and pulling his wagon and checking out all the construction equipment. Only two ticks on dad this weekend. YUCK!!!!!!! 

Jackson is ONE busy dude. I am VERY VERY VERY exhausted and am wondering when my body will give out? For real. I just can’t think about being pregnant because things start to hurt. I just pretend I’m energetic ol’ Christie, spry as ever. But I am FORCING myself to take a break during his nap time. I HAVE TO. For baby. I can’t have this baby coming early!!! I want healthy!

Otherwise, yes, still have the red rash on my face. Still craving peaches and all those summer fruits. YUM! YUM! YUM. I’m obsessing over asparagus cooked in olive oil and garlic and a lemon rind and lemon juice. I top on my salads. I had a huge craving for cookies yesterday so Googled “Easy Cookies”. Ended up making one with 4 ingredients. And I threw in a banana for good measure. Turned out SO good and HIT THE SPOT! Also, the top of my list is PUNCH Pizza. MUST go there soon. And same with a seafood restaurant.

LOVE this salad!!! I crave it!

Also COMPLETED Jackson’s Shutterfly Photo Album Age 1 to 2! I sent a copy to both grandparents. They are treasuring. Feels SO good to be done with that.

Seriously, I feel like a power house (or is that called a power horse?) right now. I’m pounding through the projects and am able to make quick decisions when it comes to the house. I guess I just don’t have time to mess around. I want to give Jackson the best of me too and that means simplify and straight up LOVE LOVE LOVE. Knowing that makes me focus more.

I realized it truly is NOT about how much stuff you have. It really is about BEING TOGETHER. I honestly want to get rid of most of our stuff. I’d be happy! Says the gal who just bought new furniture…

UNTIL next week! Ummmm…that will be the HALFWAY mark. Holy crap. Let me just say the second time around goes a zillion times faster. WHOA.

Only gained .5 pounds this past week!!! I honestly don't think I sat much. I have been very lightheaded too, so I know I need to slow down a little...

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Month in Review - 25 Months

We Love Spring!

Besides Jackson turning 2 and getting our place ready for renters and moving and being pregnant, we are still fitting in time for fun!

Here's what we have been up to in no particular order!

We also had conferences with Jackson's daycare teachers. They said he's doing incredible. The only thing that he doesn't know yet is how to pedal a trike, but that will come! Otherwise, they were blown away with his potty training - he is now STANDING to pee. It's the CUTEST thing EVER. And they say he is by far the FASTEST kid in class and he never ever stops going. EVER. That's our Jackson!

Checking out the construction zone right down the street. This was pretty awesome in Jackson's eyes.

Looks a bit like daddy here...

Birthday party at Choo Choo Bob's!

Jackson was more excited about the cars that had doors that opened. Yes, we left with one! (Don't worry, I bought it)

Enjoying Pizza at Preston's 2nd bday! The last time I had Pizza Hut MAY have been in college....shhhhh.

Goofing around

Tonsil check. Yep. Still there. 

Loving the swing

My sweetheart

Moving project: Cleaning out a closet. Someone found all the winter stuff!

Look mom! I put it on myself!

What up? What up?

We really have to pack this away too?

Mark, Tot and Kacey stopped by for a visit and to celebrate Jackson's 2nd bday. He's been working on his golf swing ever since! And saying ADT! ADT! (Articulated Dump Truck). Thanks Uncle Mark!

Lots of running going on!

A MOMENT of lying still. ONLY A MOMENT.

LOVES his wagon from Papa and Grandma Cindy.

Almost looks like a REAL drink, eh? I made it myself. No alcohol. And quite tasty. Too bad Jackson wanted most of it.

My SWEET Mother's Day gift from Jackson's daycare. A very sweet poem on the other side too. 

Loves to be in control of his wagon! "No, mom! Jackson do it!" 

My Mother's Day treat! A wagon ride!!

Front row to a sweet Forklift show!

EXCAVATOR!!!!! Jackson was in PURE heaven. I LOVE how he says "EX-cavato"

The big shovel and its TEETH. Yes, we have a book on dump trucks, bulldozers, trains and garbage trucks. His favorite pages are the ones with "EX-cavatos" in them.

All he wanted was to get in the door!

My sweet boys!

LOVE LOVE LOVE this little man and this photo of us and our slanty Powalish eyes!

Morel mushroom hunting with dad. Jackson LOVED being in the woods.

Came back empty handed but still precious as ever!

Hey mom! I'm up in a tree! Look, no hands!

Welp, until next time! We might be in a new home the next time I post. WHOA!!!! Change is SOOO scary, but so good. I'm honestly just going with it all because there is SO much happening at once. Trusting God here! Wish us luck!

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Baby Moving and Feeling TIRED - 17 Weeks

17 Weeks

Have to get a post in before I hit 18 weeks tomorrow! We’re in the middle of finding renters and moving, so time is slipping away from me! What a crazy job this has been.

It is good though because I’m getting really organized. I’m separating all Jackson’s toys and pulling put the ones he definitely doesn’t need to be playing with anymore and getting those ready for baby. And I’ve also organized ALL photos and am working on his ages 1-2 photo album and getting another one ready for baby #2. And I bought two Rubbermaid file bins so I can go through all his notes and art projects and well-visit reports, etc. and file them according to dates and what not. And start one for baby #2. So yes, moving IS a REAL GOOD THING. Just doing all this makes me feel tons better. There are SO many piles of papers everywhere, so it’s nice just to purge and organize and get a handle on all of it.

And I have popped! Belly is OUT. People are noticing.

Belly at 17 weeks!

First thing, I don’t remember feeling THIS exhausted when I was pregnant with Jackson. I know I’m chasing around a VERY active toddler, but wow, I really do get wiped out. I have been sticking to working out at the gym twice a week. I also will be out walking most of the other days. Not just once either. We’re talking two or three times (more so on the weekends). I love it, but I’m usually dead tired by dinner time. I lowered my fitness level on the stair stepper by a couple (now do Cardio Plus at level 9) and I’m keeping my weights to light during weight training.

I also forgot how busy we are once the weather gets warmer. As soon as the sun comes up (Jackson gets up at 5:30 now) we are on the move. We’re walking to parks and trekking through grass and hills and all kinds of things. He is SUCH a boy. And he RUNS everywhere. Think Forest Gump. Not even kidding. And it’s harder now that I have to pee so much. I know this is just a phase though and I won’t feel like this forever, but I just remember last summer. I was able to run and bike and bounce from one activity to the next (granted Jackson was also FINALLY sleeping through the night too so I felt like a NEW person). And I was able to drink!!! Now, it’s like I have to dig REAL deep to find that energy. REAL DEEP. My legs felt like stove pipes on Saturday. I HAD to take a nap on Sunday.

I have NO issue gaining weight quickly too. Learned that the hard way. I have to settle down or else I’m going to be HUGE for this baby.

I have been feeling baby MOVE a lot!!!!!!! I love this. Karl felt the baby move too. A sweet moment was when Jackson woke at 5:30 and we cuddled in bed and Karl put his hand on my belly and baby was moving. They were BOTH up at the same time and it was just one of those happy moments all of us snuggled up in bed. I knew it was short-lived but I promised myself right then and there I would enjoy THAT MOMENT. It was really nice. I felt and feel extremely blessed.

Last Monday I had a weird moment where I was cooking up breakfast for all of us and got really hot. Then I saw black all around me. I broke out in a HUGE cold/hot sweat and immediately had to sit down. I felt super sick and like I was going to faint. SAME thing happened when I was pregnant with Jackson once around the same time. SO STRANGE. Poor Jackson was so worried about his mommy.

We had our doctor appointment and everything looks and sounds great. Karl filmed the baby’s heartbeat and I was hoping to have that link in this post, but it’s still on his phone. Darn!

We go in for a Level II ultrasound in June. This is to get a closer look at the baby’s heart since my family has such a history with bad hearts, and there are some genetic issues. We do not plan on finding out what we’re having. I called our insurance provider just to make sure this type of ultrasound was covered. It is!

I went in to get my skin checked at a free skin clinic this weekend. Five suspicious moles this time. Sigh. So back in to the skin doctor to get those removed. But speaking of insurance, I might wait until we meet our deductible before I get these cut off… I also want to check to see if this might be covered since it’s preventative care in a strange way. I’m being proactive NOW so these don’t turn into something worse later on.

Symptoms and Cravings

·         Still wearing normal clothes for the most part, but did buy a belly band. My pants don’t button anymore!

·         Major craving for peaches! Love my V8 and oranges and these yummy sorbet things from Costco

·         Red rash still on face

·         Lots and lots of peeing

·         To me, it seems my belly is sitting a little higher this time around

·         VERY TIRED

·         Up to 158 lbs now. YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

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Getting My Workout Groove Back - 16 Weeks

16 Weeks

Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too.

Hit the Four Month mark today! Yay! I’m totally feeling more like myself. Have I mentioned the super nice weather helps? After six solid days of rain and gross weather, the sun is starting to come out and play. Thank God!

Back to the gym I go!!! LOVING IT!

I bit the bullet and added extra clubs to my gym membership. Best thing I have done. I’m so excited to get to the gym and fit my workouts in wherever I might be location wise. I feel like a new person. It’s GREAT!

I’ve been doing a quick workout over my lunch break twice a week and have noticed how my work performance has change. I have such a better attitude and am pounding out the work. I feel more creative.

My company also added an online wellness program where employees can accrue points every time we workout or do healthy things. TOTALLY AWESOME.  I blogged about it here. http://jhfoster.com/jhf-invests-in-employees-well-being-through-online-wellness-program/

My Weekly Workouts

Sunday

30 Minute Swimming Pool Time with Jackson. I might not have been swimming laps, but chasing a toddler around a pool is TOUGH WORK. Holy smokes.  I was exhausted. Pretty sure I had to take a nap after that. 

Wednesday

25 minute stair stepper cardio level 10

Thursday

30 minute weight training: lunges, arm curls, pushups, weighted stair steps, squats, crunches

Friday

Walk and park time with Jackson

Saturday

Walk and park time with Jackson

Symptoms and How I’m Feeling

• Feeling really good now that those endorphins are up and running again
• I will crave a beer or margarita or gin and tonic or glass of wine...or... The summer is going to be a tough one, but I know I can hold off and everything will be just fine. I’m just saying…some days are tougher than others.I mean, a frosty beer with a lime or lemon or orange. Oh dear. Drooling.
• I still get exhausted from time to time. Last night I couldn't keep my eyes open for one more second. I quickly kissed Karl and I was out.
• Still am FREEZING COLD
• Big rash on my face yet
• Peeing a TON during the night
• Weight: 154 now. GULP.

Our next appointment is Thursday! Can’t WAIT to hear baby’s heartbeat again!!!!

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Feeling SOME Movement - 15 Weeks

Week 15

So it’s been raining SOLID for four days now. We are tied for the second wettest April in Minnesota. Gross.

This prompted me to move forward with adding additional clubs to my gym membership. Currently I can only work out at the club closest to our house. That makes getting there tricky because it’s still about a 10 minute drive. Since we’re moving in June, I would have to add another club, which actually adds ALL clubs across the nation to my membership. Meaning the gym 10 minutes from work has been added. Can I get a “Wha? Wha?”

15 weeks!

Yes, my gym bag is already in my car and I’m ready for a lunch break workout!!!! I’m going to test today out and see how fast I can do this. If I can get to the gym twice a week and then get some outdoor activity in, I will be one HAPPY MOMMA and I KNOW this will benefit the baby too!

With all the eating I’ve been doing lately, I NEED SOMETHING! With Jackson I was at least going to the gym once or twice a week.

I’ve realized my schedule isn’t allowing me to get to the gym before bedtime or even before the birds come up. It’s hard making it to the gym being pregnant and with a toddler and with a hubby who works late and with me being in charge of dinners and getting the house ready for a move.  It’s a lot. But I know I have to put ME first somewhere in there so I can live the healthiest lifestyle possible. I don’t want to be a slug on the couch anymore.  And I definitely have been!

I’m beyond happy that there is SOME kind of system down for fitting in a work out now. YAY! And if I can get those 12 workouts in a month, it won’t be like I added the cost of those additional clubs! I’d be getting my “healthy living” insurance discount.

I can do this!

Also, I’m all about eating healthy again. I totally fell off the bandwagon there for several weeks. Jackson’s pediatrician knew it too. I think her eyes popped when I told her Jackson had been consuming jelly beans and fruit snacks. THE WORST SNACKS for kids’ teeth. So yes, we got lectured. His choices right now are OUR choices. We have to be smart about this stuff. I’m changing up the way he’s been snacking. Right now he’s content with frozen peas and baby organic carrots when I’m cooking dinner. This is good. Real good. Yes, I know. A phase. Always is!

Truthfully, Jackson’s pediatrician was getting tired of setting 3-year-olds up on meal plans because they are ALREADY obese. Oh dear. And she made sure we knew it’s VERY VERY common today. I know it is. I see it everywhere.  The thing is, it is SO easy to eat bad. We live in SUCH a FAST BUSY world - we WANT easy. I get it. But my head is back on straight (for now) and I’ve been meal planning and buying fresh produce and sticking to the easiest, healthiest meals I can make right now.  And if the meal doesn’t SEEM that healthy, I ADD healthy to it – as in more veggies, a side of fruit, etc.

I will say Jackson is in the 30 percentile for weight. He is skinny. There is no problem there. But she was just giving us a heads up that if he continues on this slippery slope of sugary foods, the next appointment might not be so great, or will that first dentist appointment. I hear ya!

Some Recent Activity For Mom:

Sunday – 2.5 run/walk – 30 minutes

Wednesday – 2.7 mile walk during lunch break – 35 minutes

Saturday – 4.5 run/walk with jogging stroller – we stopped at the park so it was a 3 hour deal

How I’m Feeling? Symptoms

·         I’m still FREEZING cold ALL the time

·         CRAVING V8 (Karl bought me a 48 pack from Costco. Limiting my intake though due to the high sodium)

·         HUNGRY all the time. Sigh.

·         Definitely feeling better though!

·         Exhausted by the time Friday comes. Still needing naps here and there during the weekend.

·         Yep, still have the rash on my face.

·         Have busted out some maternity clothes. But rocking the red hot TIGHT pants today!

·         FELT BABY FLUTTER and MOVE (not from outside but totally feel baby moving around from the inside)

Next appointment is May 8. Coming soon!

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Hello Second Trimester - 14 Weeks

14 Weeks

Welcome to the second trimester! This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb. Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him -- a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb. In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches -- about the size of a lemon -- and weighs 1 1/2 ounces.

WooHoo! We made it to Second Trimester. My energy is definitely back, but that nauseousness still likes to linger from time to time. I could do without that.

Here comes the bump!

So Sunday (Easter) was 78 degrees out or something crazy AMAZING like that. Instead of my normal “nap” I went for a run/walk instead (in a T-shirt!) - 2.7 miles in under 30 minutes. SCORE! I was pumped. Yesterday I went on a 2.5 mile walk during my lunch break. PERFECT. I’m baaaaaack! I have a lot of toning up to do though. Yikes! Things sure do sag a lot quicker the older you get. Woof.

I spent Monday talking to a nurse through our insurance provider. They are offering a Healthy Pregnancy Program. SUPER cool. She asked all the right questions. I realized all this time people mainly ask how I’m feeling. She really asked the in-depth questions: Will I have support when the baby comes? Who? Do I feel safe?  Will I nurse? How was I emotionally after Jackson? How am I feeling about a second child?

It was really GREAT to talk to someone. Life seems so rushed sometimes, doesn’t it? We don’t always get to talk about ourselves.

The best part? I get a free Medela Breast Pump!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am SO excited about this. Yes, I already have one, but what a PAIN to haul it to and from work all the time. This will help so much. It’s just nice to feel like SOMEONE other than family is in my corner about making life easier when it comes to nursing.

I’m back to eating and cooking pretty healthy again. LOTS of veggies! I just know I have to stick to a workout routine AND get some weights involved. The nurse I talked to kept telling me…”Keep moving! Whatever you do, keep moving!” 

She is right. So right. I’m shooting for every other day right now. That seems to be working.

I was pretty sure with Jackson I was having a boy. This time around I keep going back and forth. Boy? Girl? Will we find out? Karl is leaning towards finding out. I’m indifferent. I liked the surprise but even after Jackson was born, neither of us cared. The doctor was like, “OK, dad. Are you going to share if it’s a girl or a boy?”

We were like…”Oh Yeah! Duh!” We were both covered in tears.

I can’t believe we’re going through this again. This whole process is such a miracle. So precious.

Ever feel like God is closer than ever? That’s how I feel right now. I’ve been having a lot of conversations with him. The more I invite him into our life, the more I feel planted. If that makes sense? God provides. He knows us best. I have to trust that. The more I trust, the more GOOD (God) follows. The more I feel rooted  deep within in his love and my own.

My thoughts for the day!

Symptoms & Cravings

·         More energy (FINALLY!)

·         Love to eat – glad it’s not sweets but more like fish and oranges or apples. Chipotle/Qdoba.

·         Peeing a lot during the night

·         Usually cold. Freezing cold.

·         Little nauseous here and there

·         Still big ol’ rash on my face.

·         I think I might be up to 152 lbs. Yikes. 

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Month in Review - HAPPY EASTER - 24 Months

Hope you all had a WONDERFUL Easter!

I had one of the BEST Easters in a long time. Why? We stayed HOME and CELEBRATED just our little family. It was just what we needed.

We've been running around like crazy people and spending a TON of time with family. LOTS OF FAMILY. It was so nice to be home. The weather was perfect! We went to church. I was able to do laundry. We grilled lunch outside. I went on a RUN/WALK in under 30 minutes! I sat out on our deck and read TWO magazines and got a tan!!! I whipped up a ham dinner. We hit up a park. It was so perfect. We NEED more weekends like these.

Below is what we've been up to!

A family photo of us at church! Beautiful worship! God is GREAT.

My twins. I tell ya... I'm in trouble!

So Saturday we headed to the farm in Gaylord to spend it with Karl's mom's family. Jackson was able to go on an Easter Egg Hunt. So that was cool. Never mind the door-ding in my brand new car. Grumble. Grumble. 

Uh-oh! Easter basket throw up!

Helping Jackson search for eggs around the farm. Yeah, that's a microwave just hanging out... 

So cute watching Jackson collect eggs

Just a few blades at the farm. No big deal. 

My sweet sweets silly boy

Grandma Judy cutting Jackson's hair for the 15th + time!

Someone got his 2-year-old toddler photos. Adorbs!

Keep on smiling and living it up! Until next time!

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