number 2 [week 28]

Hello 3rd trimester! 

I can't believe we've already made it this far!

Symptoms: Tired? Check. Back aches? Check. Reflux? Check. Anxious to meet this boy? Check!

Cravings: Carbs. I'm convinced it's because I'm trying to not eat them. 

Aversions: I wish it were carbs. 

Missing: Energy. Not feeling tired so easily. Moscato. 

Mood: Hanging in there. This past week just flew by, but it was a good one. I really have nothing to complain about and am thankful for life.

Sleep: I grabbed my prego pillow and what do you know--I'm sleeping heavier. I forgot how cozy it was and still have no idea why I stopped using it for a few weeks. Nothing I do makes sense.

Dreams: I dreamed that I was walking around with Wesley, pushing him in a carriage-like stroller. He was wrapped in a swaddling blanket and I couldn't see his face. As I walked, people stopped at my stroller and commented on how adorable Wesley was and that he was the cutest baby they'd ever seen. After several comments I finally reached down to adjust the blanket and see his face. He looked exactly like my dad, but without a beard; and I mean as if my dad shaved off all of his facial hair today. My newborn baby resembled his 59-year-old, bald-faced grandfather. Weird to say the least.

Movement: While catching up on the new season of Dancing with the Stars, Mr. Wesley was shaking his groove thang during the entire 90-minute episode. It was hysterical. Maybe I'll have a little dancer on my hands?

Best Moment: Remember last week when I alluded to knowing a secret? There was a big one that I was keeping: Eric's Aunt Sam flew in to town last Thursday to surprise Ashley for her birthday. The surprise was unveiled at Ashley's birthday dinner, which she was unaware that we were attending. The surprise was a huge hit, and we enjoyed a great night at Red Lobster. Eric was gone at Levi's bachelor party that Friday and Saturday, and Simon and I enjoyed more family dinners, shopping, and having Ashley and Sam spend the night at our house. Eric returned home around lunchtime on Sunday and was able to visit more with Sam and made delicious burgers for dinner. We had a lovely time and are looking forward to her next trip out here for Christmas!

Baby Buys: Sam wanted to get me a baby shower gift, so we went to Buy Buy Baby and she generously bought us our new changing pad for Wesley's room. She also insisted on getting a present for Simon and let him pick out an Octonauts toy at Babies"R"Us. He was over the moon.

Other News: Eric and I went to my 28-week prenatal appointment where I took my routine glucose test and received the whooping cough booster and RhoGAM shot. My doctor also gave me the Kick Count Card to start and a birth plan worksheet to begin thinking about. This trimester marks the final round of this pregnancy journey, and I cannot believe that we are already to this point.

Looking Forward To: Moments of relaxation, wherever I can find them!

walking after dinner with Aunt Sami & Auntie

number 2 [week 27]

Symptoms: I can't believe this was the last week of my 2nd trimester! I feel like my pregnancy has just been flying by, even though I also feel like I've been pregnant forever. This week was just another week full of back pain, leg cramps, fatigue, heartburn and acid reflux, and cute baby hiccups. And for additional fun, I've also had worse nearsided vision (from what my doctor says is extra fluid in my eyes due to pregnancy - why am I even surprised) and caught the return of the linea nigra. I'm grateful for it all, but sometimes I feel like the medical conditions are just piling on top of each other one after another!

Cravings: Chocolate and pizza. Wesley is seriously undermining my attempt at healthy eating habits.

Aversions: I'm over chicken. This mama wants steak.

Missing: It's all the same! Alcohol, sushi, cold meat. I'm counting down the weeks.

Mood: Still happy. Looking forward to meeting my baby bear and already way too excited for Christmas. It'll be our first as a family of four and I'm super giddy!

Sleep: It's been rough the last few nights. I've been tossing and turning more often and feeling uncomfortable. I'm not using my pregnancy pillow and I have no idea why. The more frequent cramps in my legs make it all worse every time I change positions.

Dreams: I had this odd dream that Simon was swimming laps in his bath tub like a little Olympic swimmer. The odd thing was that even though he was swimming underwater, he wasn't holding his breath and was instead breathing in water. It scared me that he was swallowing so much water, but he didn't act bothered one bit. In reality, Wesley is the child of mine who is currently breathing in watery amniotic fluid and flipping laps in my uterus. I wonder if my subconscious transposed my two boys?

Movement: On Saturday, Wesley was seriously a constant wiggle worm ALL. DAY. LONG. He barely slept at all and repeatedly beat on my belly hour after hour. It's wasn't painful, but instead cracked me up as I couldn't believe he was so full of energy. My tummy continued to go crazy well into the evening and even tickled Daddy's face as Eric rested his head upon my bump to talk to his little boy. Wesley's movement has been back to normal since, but Saturday was quite the exciting day for some silly reason.

Best Moment: We made our annual "Fall" trip to Apple Hill on Sunday. While we're still a few weeks out from the first official day of Autumn, it is already officially Apple Hill season with most growers open. We brought my dad along with us as a thank you for all of his help around the house, and Jen and her family also met us up there for fun and treats. We packed a lunch and visited 4 different apple growers, indulging only in fudge, apple donuts, and fresh Early Fuji apples for home. My dad bought an apple crisp to share, and we were barely able to make a dent in it. The weather was so beautiful and breezy, a preview of the Fall temperatures for which I cannot wait. We had so much fun, and Simon had a blast running around with Bliss and Brydon.

Pregnancy Purchases/Baby Buys: Still nada, but I did sell the last of the maternity clothes that I didn't want to keep and the owl wall decals I had framed in Simon's old nursery (sad to see them go, but he's outgrown them). It's great clearing things out and getting some cash back!

Other News: Eric will be out of town in Tahoe this upcoming weekend for Levi's bachelor party. He'll be gone two nights, Friday and Saturday, returning Sunday. I'm not worried about being on my own with Simon, but I do see myself being quite tired by the time Eric gets home.

Looking Forward To: It's a secret, so I can't tell. There is something exciting happening that I'll get to share next week!

Brydon, Bliss, & Simon

our family of almost 4

silly poses with Cho-Cho

number 2 [week 26]

Symptoms: Feeling as well as I possibly can. I haven't noticed any major changes since last week. Wesley's started having hiccups, almost daily, which is just so incredibly adorable and funny. I feel super large and waddly and am trying to keep hydrated and moisturized as much as possible.

Cravings: Momma finally got some Oreos! I may have been feeling particularly stressed after a long day and sent my darling, loving husband out to the store at 9:30 pm. He returned with a package of Double Stuffed sweetness. That man is truly my soulmate.

Aversions: Not really an aversion, but recently I had been eating too much snacky food before lunch and was becoming too full to finish my lunchtime salad a few days in a row. I felt guilty and asked Eric to make me smaller salads in better hopes of finishing them. So far it's been a success.

Missing: Sushi. I've probably already mentioned that, but come on... it's SUSHI.

Mood: Still really happy and eager to meet my next boy. I feel pretty crummy in the evenings when my energy has peaked out and my back can no longer tolerate being upright. That part's a bummer.

Sleep: I fell asleep early a few nights this week. I think I'm still sleeping pretty hard. Cramps have been giving me a break!

Dreams: Before my baby shower I dreamed that Erica RSVP'd "no" to the event, which makes no sense in real life because she was one of the hosts. It was super silly, and I almost didn't realize in the morning that the memory wasn't real!

Movement: Wesley has been moving higher and higher. It's uncomfortable sometimes if he's in a particular spot, squishing my internal organs. He pushes my belly out in odd directions more often and continues to dance every time I eat.

Best Moment: My baby shower was this past weekend! Jenny and Erica hosted it at our house. It was penguin themed, after Wesley's nursery, and included cute touches like penguin cupcakes and a waddling diaper toss relay. My hosts, along with additional helping hands, did a great job putting everything together for what was a fun event. Wesley was loved on with many wonderful gifts, for which I am so thankful.

Baby Buys: I made a few exchanges from the shower, and I've also got some gift card money to spend. I'm going to hold off for the time being.

Other News: I was so mad to find out that the soonest available installation appointment for the carpet in Wesley's room is OCTOBER 21. I can't fully set up the nursery if we're just going to have to move all of the furniture out again for the install. The inside of the closet still needs to be painted and can be organized once finished, and I guess I can hang stuff on the walls as well. This just puts stress on my Halloween deadline for the nursery being done. Hopefully I can still meet it!

Looking Forward To: The upcoming 3-day weekend! Eric doesn't have to work, and we've got nothing planned. Hello relaxation and fun!

penguin cupcakes

my hosts, Erica and Jenny

Wesley's sign