A monster appetite

I swore that when I get pregnant with #2 I would be much healthier, limit my food intake in particular sweets, and work out a lot. OK, I'm keeping my promise on the working out part...so far...even though I'm feeling tired and lazy. Well, I don't know what happens to my body but it seems like it gets taken over by food monsters because all I want to do is eat. I'm so hungry all the time, and I crave sweets like crazy. I didn't remember it being this bad so early on with Maia, but I went back and looked at my pregnancy book with her, and at 6 weeks I was craving sweets and feeling really hungry too. I also had other similar symptoms...crazy dreams, sore breasts, and a huge case of pregnancy brain. Man oh man, I feel like I can't remember anything...sometimes I even forget people's names...and I mean people's names I actually know. I just draw random blanks. Oy vey. I already feel like going into hibernation...so early this time...I feel like it didn't happen until a little later with Maia but I basically just feel like cuddling up in my bad at night in my beloved PJ's and resurfacing after 9+ months after the baby. I have no desire to go out, really. I'm also exhausted at night because I have a 14 month old baby that is super active and keeps me busy all day. She also loves for me to carry her around and lay on my belly which already feels too heavy. It's definitely a whole different deal this time...no resting on the couch and taking afternoon naps...haha just writing that makes me laugh...I don't even know what that is anymore. A distant memory I last saw happening when I was pregnant with Maia and would stuff my face with Lucky Charms cereal and then take an afternoon snoozer.

Tomorrow, I'm going to go for a run again. I'm determined not to let my legs become like cottage cheese again. I didn't work out at all during my first pregnancy because the beginning of my pregnancy was so crucial and I had doctor's orders not to work out for the first trimester and then after that I was just too lazy and once I had a belly, forget about it. So, I'm doing good so far. I even went to Bikram Yoga  today and I felt great. I did every pose as I did before I was pregnant. I'm going to continue to go maybe not 3 times a week but at least once or twice. It's going to be difficult to watch me lose my in shape body and get big and round again. It took me 4 hard months of working out and eating healthy to lose the 40 pounds I gained with Maia. But it's so worth it so it doesn't really matter.

Today, for some reason I was thinking that I bet I'm having another girl because it seems like I'm having a very similar pregnancy as my first so far. My skin is not radiating and I already feel like I'm blowing up. I would love another girl. A sister for Maia would be ideal. So perfect. If it's a boy, I hope this pregnancy takes a turn and I end up with the perfect basket ball belly, thin face and radiating skin. Otherwise I would feel cheated haha. A boy would be wonderful too. Equally as perfect.

Night, night. Sweet dreams little baby in my belly.

I'm pregnant!

So here's how it all went down...

Ever since Maia turned one, Brad and I have been actively trying to conceive our second child. At first I thought I wanted to wait a while until we have another child, but as Maia was getting close to one, I changed my mind. I wished for Maia to have a sister or brother and for them to be around two years apart. I see how close my two nephews and nieces are and wished for Maia to have the same. Also, I wanted to get over the early baby stages and not have to keep our garage full of baby stuff until the next one arrives years later. Another reason is that I've been in great shape, working out a lot while in the back of my mind I keep thinking that at some point I was going to get fat and pregnant again! I wanted to get it over sooner than later so I could get back to my normal body without feeling like I was going to be pregnant again in the near future. I think after two children we will take a loooong break, possibly forever. I don't think we would even consider a third child unless we were financially very well suited to even support another child.

Since it took me a while to get pregnant the first time, I worried that it might take a while again (how wrong I was!) and that's another reason I wanted to start trying as soon as Maia turned one. I wasn't ready to try before that. I enjoyed having my freedom somewhat back and I had a great routine going with Maia. I was enjoying spending time with her, working on my dissertation from home, and gardening a lot. 

As I was waiting for my period this month, I didn't think much of it. I refused to take any pregnancy tests right before or when I was supposed to get my period as I remembered getting so discouraged and upset when each month the test was negative as I was trying to get pregnant with Maia. I had taken one the month before, and of course was disappointed when it came back negative. So, this time I told myself I wouldn't waste anymore pregnancy tests unless I was absolutely sure...

I felt really good this month. I was in a good mood and as I was getting closer to my period, I noticed that I wasn't pms'ing. Actually, Brad was the one to point out that I was not pms'ing this month. Poor guy, he gets the brunt of my PMS. Usually I am a total bitch a week before I get my period. Well, not this time. I was in great spirits. One of the first clues I had that something was up was when I slept really well and deep at night. I had insanely vivid dreams. I remember one morning waking up, shocked and bewildered at my dream. Then, I remember being so hungry and craving protein. Since I don't eat meat these days aside from turkey and chicken, I was making myself a turkey sandwich each day that week...devouring it and then still being hungry. I thought, wow my period is going to be hellish this month haha. Little did I know, I was on my way to being pregnant or already was. Those were the biggest signs I had (not to mention all the signs my mom was giving me over the last month that something good was to come...lady bugs everywhere...butterflies...and a huge rainbow a few days before I conceived) so when my period didn't come the day it was suppose to (that's a little exaggerated...my period was so irregular when I went off birth control and was trying to get pregnant the first time around. I couldn't figure out when I ovulated and it was very frustrating having 20 day cycles to 35 day cycles. When I stopped breastfeeding and got my period again I've been having 27 day cycles give or take a day) I started to get a little hopeful. Though, I was still convinced I was going to get my period by at least day 30 or 31 of my cycle. Though by then, I still wasn't pms'ing and there was no sign of my period coming. I slowly started to think something was up. But then after my girlfriend was here and we had a few beers on a Friday night, I decided to take a pregnancy test just for the hell of it. It was negative. I thought, of course it is negative! I thought I had seen a slight line, so invisible it was basically nonexistent. I wanted it so badly, I thought I was starting to hallucinate and see lines or it was the beer talking haha! So I trashed the test, and was pretty sure my period was coming over the weekend. By Monday morning, I had to pee a lot and my breasts were a little sore. As I was doing work that late morning on my computer after Brad had gone to work, and Maia was out with her nanny, I couldn't resist to take another test. In my gut I knew something was up that day. I took a test, and usually I would walk away and then come back to check it, I stayed right there and stared at the stick. It immediately turned into two lines which meant...PREGNANT! I had to sit down, I couldn't believe it! I was so happy and I started to cry. I immediately thought of my mom and all the signs she was giving me over the last few weeks. I felt her closeness in that very moment and missed her like crazy too! Then, I put the test in the drawer and went back to work. I was smiling and so happy inside. I only took one test. I knew I was pregnant. With Maia, I took five or six tests. It was a very different start to a pregnancy than it was the first time because I had all that bleeding and they had thought I miscarried. I haven't had any spotting yet and I am praying I won't. 

I decided to wait to tell Brad until he got home that day. Last time, I told him over the phone because I couldn't wait and sent him pictures of the positive pregnancy tests via text message. This time, I wanted to see his face and reaction when I told him. I didn't tell anyone before I was going to tell him. So when he finally came home, I blurted it out in the kitchen as I was feeding Maia dinner. He was like...what?!...I knew it!!...he said. He was so excited. I think he was less scared than the first time around although I could tell later he was already thinking of work and how to make money to support our growing family ;) 

I called my family right after with the exciting news. Everyone is stoked. Looks like baby #2 is coming in March. There is something about me and spring babies haha. We have a birthday in February (mine) and Maia's end of April and it looks like we may have one in March now... :) how fun! 

More to come...

I'm one happy, grateful and excited Mammi :)

Week 4 Update

Total weight gain:

I don't think anything yet...starting this pregnancy at 123 pounds. I've been on vacation and eating indulgently, which explains why I am starting at two pounds more than I was a few weeks ago ;) One pound less than when I got pregnant with Maia. Let's just hope I don't gain as much this time haha

Body changes:

I can't really tell any changes yet. Maybe a little bloated but what's new there...

Sleep:

Sleeping very deep. I am having vivid dreams which was a clue to me that I am pregnant. I am generally a light sleeper but I have been sleeping really well lately. 

Best moment this week:

Finding out I am pregnant with #2

Gender:

Too early to tell...

Food cravings / aversions:

Nope. 

What I miss? 

I already miss sushi (thankfully I had sushi over the weekend) & fried eggs in the morning and lots and lots of coffee...

Symptoms:

None. 

Movement:

Way too early...

What I am looking forward to?

Early nights in bed...staying home on weekends ;)

Occasionally playing the pregnancy card haha...

Milestones:

Getting the nursery ready and prepping for baby #2

Thought of the week:

Life is damn good! 

We are happy to announce Maia is expecting a sibling!