One Tired Mama

Dear Second Baby,

Holy Cow am I tired beyond belief.  I honestly do not remember feeling this tired with Harrison.  I know I was exhausted with him but I was working 40+ hours a week and I didn't have time to feel this sleepy tired with him. With Harrison I was emotionally and physically exhausted, with you all I crave is my bed or the couch while wearing my bathrobe!

I do try to stay busy with Harrison to fight the tired feeling.  Today, I had tentative plans with a friend and a friend of Harrison's for a play date but I decided to reschedule the plans for tomorrow.  Once I did that I had every intention of cleaning the house, well do you know how much cleaning got done today? NOTHING. NOT ONE THING.  I put the TV on for Harrison as I prepared to clean and then I sat on the couch and never made it back up to clean.  I figured I could work a little and barely moved all day except for going to the grocery store around 5 PM and moving to the bed to take a nap with Harrison around 2 PM.  This overwhelming tired feeling has become depressing.  I just feel so overwhelmed with the building house work and toys and constant messes that it is just taking over.  I keep hoping this tired phase passes real soon.

Today I considered reaching out to a cleaning person to possibly come once a month.  I did this when I first got pregnant with Harrison and it was the best money I ever spent.  It is hard for me to justify both for money reasons since I am not working full time and because I am home full time you'd think I would have the time to clean!  But I do remember what a relief it was to know my house was being cleaned by someone other than me!  On the other hand, I know me and I know I will end up cleaning before the person gets here to clean.  But if they could do the bathrooms and vacuum and mop that would be huge.  HUGE. And it might be worth it to save my sanity.  Definitely something to consider.

Here is a sneak peek of two of the messes that your older brother creates in his room in just a few short minutes.  I usually forget about the mess in his room until we go in there for bedtime and I think I am done cleaning up for the day and then BOOM!  One more mess.  That is usually when I start shaking my head and think "Oh my God, I can't bear to put away one more toy!"

Hurricane Harrison

Even Clancy is overwhelmed by the mess!

Here's to hoping my energy returns as we are nearing the end of the first trimester.  I can't believe it!

Love you so much,

Love Mommy

Bumpdate - Week 11

How far along? 11 Weeks

Baby is the size of? A fig.  Baby is only about 1.5 inches long.

Total weight loss/gain? I did not weigh myself this week.

Maternity Clothes? Not yet but I did pull them out.  Regular clothes that fit are pretty slim.  Leggings are worn most days.

Stretch Marks? No sign of them yet.

Sleep? Sleep has been pretty good.  I was very restless last night after a busy Halloween weekend.  I am super tired and have no energy at all.  I try to nap when Harrison naps, even if for just 10-15 minutes.

Best moment of this week? Slowly telling more and more people.  One week until we are through the first tri-mester!

Worst moment of this week?  I don't think I went into much detail on my last bumpdate because I figured I would write a separate post about it but I never got around to it..sorry kiddo.  But anyways at my OBGYN visit, since I am AMA (Advanced Maternal Age) I was treated totally different than I was when I was pregnant with Harrison.  The doctor discussed having extra tests done that I was never asked to do with Harrison.  Its a little frightening to think about it.  We are still undecided if we will do all the recommended screenings or not and I think we will just stick to non-invasive for now unless we feel something is otherwise needed when we get to that point.

Miss Anything? Not really

Movement? Sometimes I think I feel a twinge but really I'm not sure if its just in my head.

Food Cravings? I wish I was craving food.  I have no appetite at all.  All I want to eat is soups and Ritz crackers.  We got Chipotle one night and I can usually eat my whole burrito in one sitting because I LOVE Chipotle.  But it took me three meals to finish it and I ended up throwing the rest away and it about killed me.  That is so NOT like me when it comes to eating Chipotle.

Anything make you queasy or sick? Ugh see above.  So sad I feel like eating nothing.  When I was pregnant with Harrison, I ate like a horse.

Symptoms? Tired, Tired, and Tired.  I have absolutely no energy and just want to sleep all day which with a two year old is naturally impossible.  My house is a mess and I have no energy to do anything about it.  I remember this was right around the week when I got my energy back when I was pregnant with Harrison so I am hopeful it will return soon.

Have you started to show yet? I feel like I popped real quick in the beginning and have not really grown much since.  I also think I am gaining weight in other places and not just in my belly.

Harrison remembered to weigh himself but forgot to remind me!  

He is standing on the scale in the pictures below.

Gender Predictions? We haven't told many people but some that know are already saying a girl.  I really don't know but this pregnancy is similar to Harrison's so maybe another boy!

Labor signs? Fingers crossed not for awhile.

Belly Button in or out? In

Exercise? Ha, no.  Lots of walking with Harrison but no real time dedicated to actual exercise.

Happy or Moody most of the time? Despite the tiredness I would say I am pretty happy.  I do get a little frustrated with Harrison when I am exhausted and he doesn't listen or makes things harder on me.

Looking forward to? Having my energy back.

Any irrational worries? ZIKA.  So annoying.  Another thing the doctors office scared me about.  I was already taking preventative measures but now I feel like I just smell like bug spray all the time.  

Bumpdate - Week 10

How far along? 10 weeks

Baby is the size of? A kumquat

Total weight loss/gain? Gained 3.5 pounds

Maternity Clothes? Not yet but really close

Stretch Marks? Nope

Sleep?  Sleeping pretty soundly except for Harrison waking up quite a bit and coming into bed with us.  But before he wakes up I get some pretty deep and good sleep.

Best moment of this week? Met with my OBGYN and went over ultrasound and he said everything looks great.  We talked and set up my next appointment and physical for four weeks.  Seems so far away.

Worst moment of this week? Can't really think of anything that was bad this week besides me getting frustrated with Harrison for throwing my stack of thank you cards that I had written out for all the gifts he had received for his birthday.

Miss Anything? Can't say that I do.  I don't even miss beer yet.

Movement? Have not really felt anything but I imagine I will really soon.

Food Cravings? I had my first milkshake of this pregnancy about ten minutes ago.  I craved milkshakes so badly when I was pregnant with Harrison.

Anything make you queasy or sick? Eggs.  I gagged and threw them up yesterday.  Gross.

Symptoms? Just really tired, a little emotional and teary.

Have you started to show yet? Yes I believe so.  No one else has noticed (or said anything) yet.

Gender Predictions? I kind of think a girl.  But I have no morning sickness again and the old wives tale says that means its a boy!

Labor signs? No

Belly Button in or out? In

Exercise? Gah so bad at this!

Happy or Moody most of the time? Pretty happy, just a little teary but not moody or mean.

Looking forward to? Starting to tell more and more people.  We will be through the first tri-mester in two weeks, it seems like it went so fast!

Any irrational worries? Being over 35 which comes with risks for the baby.  

It's Really Happening!

Dear Baby,

Yesterday we had our first pre-natal appointment, where we actually got to see YOU on the big screen and confirm that this is really and truly happening!  Harrison and I arrived to the doctors office first and checked in and daddy met us there and watched Harrison while I went in for the appointment.  I was very nervous at first, I just wanted to hear that everything was ok.  The tech began the transvaginal ultrasound and you popped up on the screen immediately.  The tech said "that blob is baby and right above the blob you can see the heart-beat".  To hear that there was a heart beat was like hearing music to my ears.  She continued to examine all my organs and to take measurements of you and then told me that everything looks great.  You are measuring one week less than I thought you were which is surprising because I thought I was right on with my due date. So its possible they will change my due date from May 22 to May 28.  Which I guess is fine if you bake another week..? (Ironically enough as I was just about to hit publish on this post the doctors office called and said the doctor reviewed my ultrasound and I was correct with being 9 weeks along and my due date is back to May 22.)  Your heart rate was 179 bpm which she said was great, Harrison's was 173 bpm at our first ultrasound (maybe another boy?)

Here are our first pictures of you!

These are the same pictures, I just added some really bad arrows and descriptions

After the ultrasound, I had my height and weight taken and quite a few vials of blood drawn and spoke with the nurse about any questions I had.  I have an appointment with the OBGYN doctor on Monday to go over the results of the ultrasound and hopefully blood test results if they are back. This is a little different than how it was done with Harrison but its a new doctor.  Hopefully all we will hear is good news.

This morning I called Grandma Margaret and told her the news and she was very excited.  We all can't wait to meet you!

Until next time,

Love Mommy

Bumpdate - Week 9

How far along?  9 Weeks

Baby is the size of?  A Grape!

Total weight loss/gain? I have been traveling so I have not weighed myself but will when we get home.

Maternity Clothes? I will probably have to pull out the boxes of maternity clothes this week.

Stretch Marks? Not yet

Sleep? I have been sleeping with Harrison in the same bed and he moves around A LOT and insists on sleeping with his head on my chest/tummy so its not the most comfortable for me.  Sleep will be better when I am back in my own bed,

Best moment of this week? Having family and friends find out, now we need to tell Grandma Margaret.

Worst moment of this week? Just feeling really exhausted but there really wasn't a bad moment this week that I can think of.

Miss Anything?  Not really.

Movement? I swear that I feel random small kicks, still seems awfully early for movement though.

Food Cravings? Really nothing yet.  Lots of soups this week but I think that is because we are up north and its cold!

Anything make you queasy or sick? Eating eggs, its the texture but that has always been the case.  I was choking them down this morning and Harrison was imitating me gagging on the eggs.

Symptoms? Just tired and worn down.  A little queasy when I am hungry.

Have you started to show yet? Oh yes but not really obvious to others.

Gender Predictions? Still don't know.

Labor signs? No

Belly Button in or out? In

Exercise? Got a lot of exercise in this week with helping aunt Whitney and taking lots of walks with her and Oliver.

Happy or Moody most of the time? Pretty happy.

Looking forward to? First pre-natal appointment on Wednesday!

Any irrational worries? Birth defects, managing two kids, needing a bigger house, etc. etc.

Bumpdate - Week 8

How far along? 8 weeks

Baby is the size of? A kidney bean

Total weight loss/gain? I am in Boston this week visiting your aunt Whitney so I have not weighed myself.

Maternity Clothes? Not yet

Stretch Marks? No

Sleep? Sleep is good at this point.

Best moment of this week? Spilling the beans to grandma and grandpa and Whit and Rob and a few others. Grandma Mary Ellen had a gut feeling and asked me point blank if I was expecting. I am the worst liar and let the cat out of the bag. Everyone was super excited!!

Worst moment of this week? Can't think of a bad moment this week.

Miss Anything? Nothing yet

Movement? I swear I feel random kicks

Food Cravings? Nothing too crazy

Anything make you queasy or sick? Not until I am super hungry do I feel queasy.

Symptoms? Just pretty tired in the afternoons.

Have you started to show yet? Yes, Aunt Whit and Krista noticed today when I showed my stomach, but with clothes on you can't tell.

Gender Predictions? Still don't know

Labor signs? No signs

Belly Button in or out? In

Exercise? Been walking a lot with Whitney and Oliver this week

Happy or Moody most of the time? Happy but tired and overwhelmed especially when Harrison doesn't want to get dressed or takes forever to do something.

Looking forward to? First ultrasound next week!

Any irrational worries? No fears of zika this week because we are in New England!

Bumpdate - Week 7

How far along? 7 Weeks (This post is a few days late due to traveling and Hurricane preparations.

Baby is the size of? A Blueberry

Total weight loss/gain? Gained 4 pounds

Maternity Clothes? Not yet

Stretch Marks? Nope

Sleep? Fine

Best moment of this week? Spending quality time with dad and Harrison in North Carolina.  We had a very nice trip and it was nice to get away.

Worst moment of this week? Having to come home and prepare for a hurricane!  My anxiety level was pretty high right before the hurricane while preparing.  Here are some pictures of our hurricane preparations.

Hurricane Harrison

Miss Anything?  Due to my anxiety from the hurricane I would have loved to have had a beer to calm me down.

Movement? I could have sworn I felt kicks while we were laying by the pool in North Carolina but I know it is way too early!

Food Cravings? Nothing really.

Anything make you queasy or sick?  I don't really have an appetite for anything much and some foods make me gag still.

Symptoms? Nothing really.

Have you started to show yet? I think I have but the common person probably wouldn't notice.

Gender Predictions? I have no clue!

Labor signs? Nothing

Belly Button in or out? In 

Exercise? So bad at this, perhaps I should just remove this question!

Happy or Moody most of the time? Happy

Looking forward to? Mine and Harrison's trip to Boston and Connecticut.  I think we will tell friends and family when we are there.

Any irrational worries? ZIKA!