Just an Update

So, according to my WTE app, I am 24 weeks and 5 days along, in my 2nd trimester, with a 15 week and 2 day countdown. The baby is roughly the size of an eggplant this week, at about 9 inches and 1.7lbs.
At the beginning of this pregnancy, all I wanted were empty carbs and greasy foods - mainly due to severe morning sickness that barely allowed me to hold down anything, let alone raw fruits and veggies. Now, my cravings have turned for the cliche-expecting-a-girl sweet tooth. Every day after lunch I have 3 Oreos (well, Newmans O's, all natural ;] ) dipped in milk; a must have. At night, it's usually a square of dark chocolate or hot chocolate covered in whipped cream. Just delicious. I've also had a NEED for peanut butter; sandwiches, on toast with banana, smeared on apples, even just spoonfuls. Another recent must have.

The other day I discovered my first "mother-mark" - a varicose vein right in the middle of my lower right leg. Thanks, baby Hannah. I managed to make it through my entire pregnancy with Lyla without a single mark, and now 6 months in to this one I'm sprouting purple spider webs. Just goes to show you can't stop mother nature; even with stretching & yoga daily, exercise 3x's a week and drinking more than enough water, I'm still turning into a human fly catcher. Very sexy.

I'm starting to feel little Braxton Hicks contractions; mainly noticeable when exercising, but sometimes happen even just sitting on the couch. Not painful though, just uncomfortable with the extreme tightening.

Little Hannah has been more active than ever! Eric and I were watching my belly roll like waves in the tide as she performed her nightly gymnastics routine. I'm enjoying it now, since once she's in position she'll only be able to kick me in the rib cage.

After feeling so sick my first few months, it's funny what things can still trigger my nausea. I still can't go anywhere near ginger or bran muffins without a twinge in my stomach, but then there are other things - non-food things, that can trigger it too. For example, the television show Little Einstein's that Lyla loves to watch in the morning. At the time of my sickness, she would watch this show every single morning. She recently switched over to Little Bear for a while instead, and is now back. The sound of the little voices on the show literally make me feel sick. It just reminds me of eating saltines on the couch, sipping my gingerale, and racing to the bathroom. How weird is that?

Exercise is becoming more difficult as the baby gets bigger and heavier on my bladder. Up until recently, my work out routine consisted of a warm up on the bike, 25 minute run on the treadmill, 5 minute jog and 10 minute walk to cool down. Well, after nearly peeing my pants on the treadmill at the gym on more than on occasion, it was clear to me that my pregnancy-running days were over. Bummer. I have now traded the treadmill for the elliptical - alternating 5 minutes forward, 5 minutes backwards. I'm determined to work out as much as I can, while I can. I know that soon the elliptical may even become to difficult and I'll be left with my only option: walking. But, every little bit helps; I feel better, I'm gaining weight at a steady, healthy pace, my labor will (hopefully) be easier, and my body will (again, hopefully) go back to pre-pregnancy status sooner. This all reined true for everything with Lyla; hopefully I will be lucky enough to have it happen twice.

Well, a little more than 3 months until our little girl is here, and for now I'm just going to sit back, eat my cookies and peanut butter, feel those little kicks and flutters, and exercise as much as my body will allow.

Until next time, blog.