21 Weeks (Round 2)

How far along? 21 weeks and 3 days

Total weight gain/loss? Up 14.9 pounds. According to one pregnancy weight gain calculator I'm right on track.  But another one, that I'll never look at again, says I'm overgaining by a pound already.  I'm trying not to freak out about the weight gain, but a good friend of mine may have received an email yesterday from me (when my weight gain was up 15.7 pounds - yes, I "lost" .8 pounds in a day - I think I need a new scale...) that said something to the effect of:  

It had been a week since my last at-home weigh in.  I've now officially gained 15 pounds.  But the important thing to note is that in one week, yes SEVEN LITTLE DAYS, I gained 2.2 pounds.  Ok, so let's break this down.  I have 18ish weeks to go.  If I continue with the 2.2 pound gain per week, we're talking an ADDITIONAL 39.6 pounds to the 15 already gained for a grand total of 54 pounds.  Now, a few thoughts on this.  A.  This would be 10 pounds LESS than last time, so that it is a positive, right?  B. For the love, I do not want to gain another 40 pounds.  Just sayin.  C.  I'm kicking myself for not keeping track of my weekly weight gain last time to see when I started packing on the pounds.  D. You had yummy food in your house and with traveling last weekend and indulging in lots of yummy food, perhaps the 2.2 is a fluke.  E.  I'm trying not to freak out about this.  F.  I hate those women on the babycenter website who have gained 2 pounds at this point.  They officially suck.  G.  Thank you for listening to this rant. The end.

Maternity clothes? You know it.  I'm loving my maternity dresses, but just wishing the weather would get a little warmer so I didn't look so ridiculous walking around with bare legs in 30 degree weather.  I refuse to purchase maternity tights.  Refuse.
 
Stretch marks? Same.  Did I tell you that I read that any existing stretch marks might darken with subsequent pregnancies?  I'm fearful of this happening, so I've made it a policy to simply not check out the stretch marks on any regular basis.

Sleep? Good one night and awful the next.  I really wish I could sleep on my back.

Best moment last week? Watching my little man play with my friend Carey's daughter Mack.  Aren't they just adorable!

Movement? All the time.  This little man is an active one and is practicing his karate moves on my belly.

Food cravings? Dunkin Donuts coffee. Roasted carrots. Ribeye salads from this restaurant called Aviva by Kameel in the food court of my old office building.  If you work in downtown Atlanta, you MUST go check this place out - it is delicious.

Food aversions? Milk/yogurt/dairy.  They just don't sound appealing

Gender? Peter Pecker.

Labor signs? I think I may be having the occasional Braxton Hicks contractions, but they aren't painful and just feel like my belly is suddenly super tight.

Belly button in/out? IN.

What I miss: Martinis.  Sleeping on my back.  My waist.
What I am looking forward to: Seeing my momma - she's been in California visiting my brother for a week and I've missed her.  Thankfully she's back in the South and we'll get together tomorrow sometime!

Milestones: We've narrowed in on a name.  Sort of.  We're down to 7.  That may sound like a lot to you, but it's seriously big for us.  We started with a list of about 60 or so names that we liked.  I have no idea how we will pick from these 7.  My gut is that this little dude will be called one of 3 names out of the 7, but we haven't made any final decisions.  And we haven't even begun finding a middle name.  There's still plenty of time for that!

20 Weeks (Round 2)

How far along? 20 weeks and 3 days


Total weight gain/loss? Up 13.5 pounds. I have a feeling the weight is about to start packing on. I fear it anyway.

Maternity clothes? Full on. Thankfully my friend Emily just hooked me up with some long sleeve maternity tops and I finally splurged (thanks to a gift card from another dear friend) on a pair of AG Stilit maternity jeans. I LOVE them. Think pajama jean comfort with designer jean style!

Stretch marks? Same.

Sleep? Starting to get bad. Last night I tossed and turned the entire night.

Best moment last week? My pregnancy massage last Friday night...it was AMAZING! Check out The Pregnancy Massage Center if you are preggo in Atlanta. I highly recommend it!! Also the fried pickles I had at DBA BBQ afterwards were pretty great!

Movement? Lots! Little dude is kicking me often.

Food cravings? Dunkin Donuts coffee. And carbs.

Food aversions? Veggies. Bad, I know.

Gender? Team Blue.

Labor signs? Nope.

Belly button in/out? IN.

What I miss: Red wine and martinis.

What I am looking forward to: Spending the weekend with a few of my favorite girlfriends. Sadly, we're down one, so it won't be the same as a usual girls weekend. Guess we'll have to have another one soon!

Milestones: Popping. Seriously, this belly has popped. For reals.

19 Weeks (Round 2)

How far along? 19 weeks and 3 days


Total weight gain/loss?  Total gain of 12.7 pounds. So far I'm "on track" according to one of the many weight gain calculators on the web.  As of week 19 I "should" (don't you just love that word?) have gained between 11.9-16.6 lb.  Check!  But my OB did tell me that I'm about to enter the "rapid weight gain" phase of the 2nd trimester.  Well, alrighty, pass the ice cream!

Maternity clothes?  Yup.  I'm now wearing only maternity pants/skirts/dresses and mainly maternity tops although I can still get away with many non-pregnancy tops that are of the flowy or empire variety. 

Stretch marks? Nothing new.  And I decided this time around that the shea butter and utter cream are a waist of money, so I'm not even going to do anything to combat new stretch marks.

Sleep? Some nights I sleep through the night without any problem.  Other nights I wake up multiple times with either bad dreams, general discomfort or the urge to pee.

Best moment last week? There were two and they both involve food, go figure.  The first was meeting for a Dim Sum brunch at Canton House with good friends and the kiddos.  We squeezed seven adults and 5 kids around one table and had a great time laughing and eating delicious food.  And then yesterday I had lunch with a dear friend from law school who is also expecting a little baby boy a week or so before me this July so we talked babies and pregnancies the whole time!

Movement? Every day!  This little boy is a mover!

Food cravings? Back to avocados and eggs.  With the new addition of homemade french bread pizza.

Food aversions? Salads.

Gender? Team Blue

Labor signs? Nope

Belly button in/out? IN.

What I miss: Red wine and being able to take real drugs for a cold.  I'm starting to wonder if Tylenol is really just a sugar pill.

What I am looking forward to: My pregnancy massage in t-minus 8 hours!  And settling on a name for Pop....we aren't even close, so keep any suggestions coming!

Milestones: Being asked if I was fertile.  If you don't know what I'm talking about, you should go here.  You'll laugh, I promise.

Bump #2 @ 19 Weeks

 I forgot to take a picture last week @ 18 weeks.  Oops.  But I'm back at 19 weeks with my bump.  Here I am this morning before work! 

And now for the comparison picture of Bump #1 vs. Bump #2.  AKA, am I on my way to getting as rotund this time around?  What do you think? 



19 weeks w/Lukas

19 weeks w/#2



Name that Baby!

The baby naming has official begun.

I sent Mr. Cob my list of 18 potential names. 

If we go with something off my list, we could end up with a little boy whose name means "enthusiasm" or perhaps "garden".  (And yes, we seriously will consider the meaning of the name we'll pick.  We finally decided on Lukas over all the other names we liked because we both loved that his name means "brings light", which is exactly what he has done.)

Mr. Cob has been in the process of compiling his list.  I've yet to see it.  I'm waiting somewhat patiently.

One possible route we've both been discussing is picking an Italian name in honor of my dad and his heritage. (My dad is 100% Italian for those who don't know - he has a strong widows peak, drove a big black car when I was in high school and some of my friends were convinced he's in the mafia.  Let's just say he looks the part.  Combine that with the fact that he was a green beret and you don't want to mess with him.  On the other hand, he's a vessel of love and wouldn't hurt a fly.  Unless said fly messed with his family.  Just sayin'.)

Anyway, where was I?  Oh, yes, an Italian name.  Have you looked at Italian boy names lately?  They aren't exactly typical (Julius, Pasquale, and Arthur all run in my family).  And while I like Leo, we've vowed to knock out any "L" names to avoid the whole "all our kids names start with the same letter" thing. 

So I did a google search for Italian-American baby boy names.  And I found this fantastic list of names.  It just so happens it was a list of Italian American mobsters, but hey, I don't see anything wrong with naming my baby after a mobster, do you?

I think Joe "The Boss" Swan has a lovely ring to it.

18 Weeks (Round 2)

How far along? 18 weeks and 3 days (but the baby is measuring 19 weeks exactly!)

Total weight gain/loss? Total gain of 10.9 pounds so far. Double digits.  It was inevitable.

Maternity clothes? Yes.  All maternity pants, but I can still wear regular tops.  I don't have many long sleeved maternity tops (my seasons are flipped from last time around), but I'm able to wear most of my sweaters and not look too crazy.

Stretch marks? Nothing new.

Sleep? OK.  I've been waking up once or twice each night and some nights I have a hard time falling back to sleep.

Best moment last week?  The BIG ultrasound!  The baby is doing great and looks perfect!

Movement? Every day!!!  I forgot how amazing it is to feel a baby moving inside your belly.  The movements have definitely been more noticeable this week and if you watch my belly when the acrobatics are going on you can see my stomach moving where the little one is punching or kicking me!  And the ultrasound tech mentioned many times that we have a very active one on our hands.  Just like Lukas...

Food cravings?  Sushi and miso soup (the soup felt good on my sore throat...did I mention that I had laryngitis earlier this week?  I couldn't talk and did not enjoy it at all.  I'm a talker y'all!).

Food aversions? Nothing that sticks out.

Gender? DRUM ROLL PLEASE.....we're having another BOY!!!  Team blue.  Slugs, snails and puppy dog tails.  Can I just say that I am SO excited to have two little boys.  The idea of Lukas having a brother just warms my heart.  I'd have been thrilled if we were having a little girl (terrified, but thrilled), but I'm not going to lie, I'm excited this one is a boy.

Labor signs? Nope

Belly button in/out? IN.

What I miss: Sleeping on my back.

What I am looking forward to: Picking out a name for our little boy!  Poppy just doesn't sound fitting anymore (unless you say it with an exaggerated Spanish flair and raise your hands in the air - think "Paaappppii"), so I'm hoping to pick something soon.  At least now Mr. Cob will talk to me about it. Thoughts?  Ideas?  Hates?  Percival?

Milestones: The doctor told us yesteday that the baby is looking great and is healthy!  Oh and there was that double digit weight gain thing.  Details, details.

Sex Poll!

So in light of Valentine's Day, I'm curious how often you and your loved one get it on.  Take the poll below...JUST KIDDING!

That's not the kind of sex poll I'm talking about (though it is a very interesting question that my girlfriends and I discussed just last week...how often is normal?  Perhaps a post for another time).  No, the sex poll I've put up is about the baby growing in my belly and whether you think Poppy's a BOY or  GIRL?!?  Hopefully we'll find out tomorrow at my big reveal ultrasound.

But in the meantime, please take the poll (on the top right of the page) and give me your guess!

17 Weeks (Round 2)

How far along? 17weeks and 3 days


Total weight gain/loss? Total gain of 9.1 pounds so far (as of yesterday). My weight has been all over the place this week.  So who knows how accurate this is.  My bump seems to be protruding more and more though so I'd say I'll be in double digit weight gain before long.

Maternity clothes? Yes.  I've made the switch to all maternity pants/skirts, but am still wearing regular tops.  And next time I'm pregnant (if there is a next time), please remind me to make this switch sooner.  Maternity pants are amazing.  The stretchy waist band is just so comfortable.  I don't know what I was so uppity about.  (It might help that I've purchased a few new fun maternity clothes that I LOVE....including a pair of dark skinny jeans that look just like regular jeans. Score!)

Stretch marks? Nothing new.

Sleep? I should never have said that my sleep was great last week.  The sleep fairies must have seen that remark and laughed because this week I have been sleeping terribly.  One night I woke up at 2:45am and simply couldn't fall back asleep.  I think it might be time to pull out the body pillow.  Sorry Mr. Cob.

Best moment last week?  There were three.  (1) Taking a camera class where I learned just how much I don't know about my camera.  (2) Bringing Lukas to the aquarium for the very first time - he was so happy and loved all the fish!  (3) Eating homemade French onion soup that Mr. Cob made.

Movement? Most days I can feel Poppy bumping around at least one time, usually at night when I'm laying on the floor in Lukas' room after I've read him his books and again when I'm about to fall asleep.

Food cravings?  Sushi.  (I really wish I could eat the raw tuna, but the cooked sushi is somewhat doing the trick).  French onion soup.  (Thanks to the husband for making me a big pot!)  Pad Thai - strangely one of my cravings when I was pregnant with Lukas.

Food aversions? Sweets - they just don't sound appealing.

Gender? 6 more days and we'll know!

Labor signs? Nope

Belly button in/out? IN.

What I miss: Spicy tuna rolls.

What I am looking forward to: Finding out if Poppy is a girl or a boy!!!

Milestones: I officially look pregnant.  I think.  Depending on what I'm wearing.  Given the right time of day.  In the right light.  Definitely sometimes look pregnant.  Maybe.

Bump #2 @ 17 Weeks

For some reason I'm incapable of picking just one picture to post for these bump pictures.  Perhaps it's a form of self-torture.  Who knows.  Anyway, here I am at 17 weeks!

Perhaps I shouldn't use a white door as a background....I look somewhat ghostly

My bump is sort of egg shaped, no?

P.S. For comparison, here's what I looked like last week!

P.S.S. Next week I can do side by side pics of bump #1 vs. bump #2!  Get excited!

Random Preggo Thoughts

I generally feel icky today so this will probably not be the most uplifting of posts.  But let's roll with it in an attempt to somewhat document this pregnancy #2 for posterity.  So here are a few really random things on my mind today.

1.  If there is a next time and I'm ever knocked up again, someone remind me that maternity clothes are not the devil.  I finally pulled my bin of maternity clothes out of the basement this weekend and I've been much more comfortable ever since.  The fact of the matter is that even if you keep jumping up a size in your pants, regular pants are not built for a baby bump.  Maternity pants are.  Coincidence?  No, dumbass.  I'm happy to report I am very comfortable in my maternity pants today and will not be turning back for oh, you know, another 6 months or so.  So please forgive seeing me in the same 5 outfits.

2.  I must have been waiting for the flood when I was pregnant with Lukas.  Or perhaps I just didn't care.  So far the two pair of maternity pants I've worn (designer jeans that I'd forgotten I'd even bought and black GAP work pants) are both seriously short.  As in, even short for flats short. I must've tried them on with flat sandals or barefoot before because I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have purchased these if my brain had been correctly screwed on.  Will this stop me from wearing them?  No.

3.  2nd trimester is not the honeymoon phase I remember from last time.  I feel "blah" most of the time.  And I'm convinced my face is just looking old and saggy.  Perhaps I'm having a girl and she's stealing my beauty (anyone heard that old wives' tale?).  But seriously, I think I look rather mousy lately.  Mousy is not a good look for me.  I also don't have a ton of energy like you're "supposed" to have in the 2nd tri.  Mind you I don't feel the need to get in bed the minute I get home from work every night either, but I'm certainly not bursting with energy.  And this nausea thing has subsided but randomly pops back up, say when I'm in the middle of eating my lunch and suddenly cannot fathom swallowing the food currently being chewed in my mouth.  Blah I tell you.  Just blah.

4. I'm really getting anxious about this bump growing big and not being able to rock Lukas or hold him in my lap.  He woke up calling for me at 4am last night and just wanted to be cuddled.  I don't know if he had a bad dream or wasn't feeling well or what.  I do know that having my son hug me tight and snuggle up into my neck while he falls back asleep is one of the best feelings in the world.  Last night as we were rocking all I could think about was how much I was going to miss that when this belly becomes an obstacle.

5.  I'm equally as anxious about gaining massive amounts of weight again.  This feeling isn't going away, but neither is the FEED ME NOW hunger that seems to strike all day, every day.  I really need to let it go, I know. 

16 Weeks (Round 2)

How far along? 16 weeks and 3 days


Total weight gain/loss? Total gain of 7.4 pound so far. So yea, a little more than 0.8 pounds gained this week.  More like 1.9 (which at least is under 2).  But I think there's something wrong with my scale.  Really. I do.  I stepped on it 4 different times today and the numbers (digital, mind you) ranged from me having lost .4 pounds since yesterday to GAINING 1.5 pounds in a day.  So today I split the difference and decided my actual weight was in the middle of the high and low number from today.  Which I think is far.  I could've just lied and said I'd lost weight this week.  Ha.  Right.

Maternity clothes? Not technically.  Though today I'm wearing the Bella Band with my jeans and yesterday I wore a wrap dress, which expands with you, so it might as well have been maternity.  Let's just say it's time to get the bin out of the basement.  Sigh.

Stretch marks? Nothing new.

Sleep? Great.  I'm still having really strange dreams.  Two nights ago I dreamed that a landscape crew redid our front yard by accident (they were supposed to be beautifying another house) and I flipped out on them, but luckily the owner of the landscape company's wife was a sorority sister from college (whom I have not  seen or talked to in about 10 years), so she let us keep the plants for free.  Odd.  Then last night I dreamt that my mother and I had a huge fight over something silly but I can't exactly remember what now.

Best moment last week? Getting together with some amazing girlfriends and talking about life and kids and husbands and pregnancy.  They help make me feel sane.

Movement? Occasionally I feel those baby flutters, but not consistently yet.

Food cravings? Eggs over easy, preferably on toasted sourdough bread with smashed avocado and a dollop of pimento cheese.  Yum.  Oh and cinnamon rolls, which I've yet to indulge in.  (But there's a can from Trader Joe's in my fridge right now....breakfast anyone?!)

Food aversions? Nope.  Shocker.

Gender? 13 days til we find out!  My gut is telling me Poppy's a girl!  But my gut's been wrong in the past.  A few times.  And by few I mean many.

Labor signs? Nope

Belly button in/out? IN.

What I miss: Being able to pick anything out of my closet and knowing it will fit.  I suppose I could get back to that if I just took everything out of my closet and replaced it all with maternity clothes.  But it's just not the same.

What I am looking forward to: My camera class tomorrow (a Christmas gift from Mr Cob!)!  I've had an SLR camera since I was pregnant with Lukas (a birthday gift that year from my dear hubby), but I've never taken a class and only know how to use the camera on auto.  I'm excited to learn all about it and how to take great pictures!

Milestones: I haven't had to put Lukas in time out all week!  Perhaps the patient parenting resolution is working out because I'm pretty sure my 2 year old hasn't suddenly learned to follow directions and do everything that mommy wants when mommy wants it! 

15 Weeks (Round 2)

How far along? 15 weeks and 3 days

Total weight gain/loss?  Total gain of 5.5 pound so far. Another 0.8 pounds gained from last Friday, so somehow I'm staying on track. My doctor told me that the "major" weight gain would probably start in another month.  Oh joy.

Maternity clothes? Nope!!!!  (Insert happy dance here).  Now to be fair, I probably could start wearing some maternity clothes (some might argue I should start wearing them).  But I still haven't been able to bring myself to haul the bin out of the basement yet.  I have however, expanded my maternity clothes closet and bought another fabulous dress this week.  If you're pregnant check out Bellydancematernity.com - they have some designer maternity clothes on sale.  I bought another Isabella Oliver dress for $95 less than retail!  I think it will become a staple in my summer wardrobe.  So while I'm excited about these new maternity clothes, I'm just not quite ready to start wearing them. 

Stretch marks? Nothing new.

Sleep? Fabulous.  I've been fighting off a cold this week so I've been going to bed very early and sleeping for 10-12 hour stretches.  It's wonderful!  The only thing interrupting my sleep these days is strange sex dreams.  What is up with those dreams and pregnancy?!?  So odd.

Best moment last week? Realizing I could still fit into my suit for a work event!  I was not looking forward to figuring out what to wear for a "business attire" cocktail party at my firm if my suit was too tight.

Movement? Every few days I'll feel Poppy fluttering around, usually at night when I'm laying very still!  My doctor said it's still very early to feel any movement.

Food cravings? Roasted tomatoes and milk.  But not necessarily together.

Food aversions? Silly question.

Gender? Less than three weeks until we find out!  I've been leaning towards thinking Poppy is a girl.  Who knows though.

Labor signs? Nope

Belly button in/out? IN.

What I miss: Running.  I ran/walked one day last week and it was just not feeling right so I stopped.  I've been walking on the treadmill but it seems like such a waste of time because how many calories can one really be burning by walking for 40 minutes?  I also still miss wine.  Especially during work cocktail parties.  Blah.

What I am looking forward to: Finding out if Poppy's a girl or a boy so we can really get into picking out a name.  I have a top girl name contender in mind but the boy names are more up in the air.  And Mr. Cob refuses to talk to me about it until we know for sure what we're having.  He's no fun.  I keep doodling names on paper like I'm a 15 year old girl in love. 

Milestones: While not baby related at all, we're 25 days into the new year and I've kept most of my resolutions so far!  Especially the ones about cooking/not eating out and saving $2000 per month!  I'm still working on the patient parenting thing...something tells me that will be a lifetime battle.

14 Weeks (Round 2)

How far along? 14 weeks and 3 days

Total weight gain/loss?  I'm up 4.7 pounds from pre-preggo weight. So that's only 0.8 pounds gained this past week. According to the American Pregnancy Association you "should" gain between 1-4.5 pounds during the first trimester and approximately 1-2 pounds per week in the second trimester.  So far I'm staying in these guidelines, thanks to some serious planning and willpower this time around (and exercise).  My mantra: I will not gain another 60 plus pounds this time around.  It might even be what I wake up to every morning on my phone in an effort to get me out of bed to work out.  No, it hasn't helped me get out of bed at 6am to exercise, but it does remind me not to overdo it with the food.

Maternity clothes? NOT YET!!!  I have jumped up a size in my work pants (thankfully I have pants from a size 2 to 12 in my closet), but everything else fits.  My belly is starting to bloat out though so certain clothes are less than flattering right now.  I'm wearing a lot of long, flowy tops to conceal what appears to be a muffin top.

Stretch marks? Nothing new.

Sleep? Could be better.  I've been waking up often at night for no apparent reason and continue to have very bizarre dreams.

Best moment last week? Going to a kids play with the little man and seeing the excitement on his face as he watched the story unfold.  (If you're in Atlanta, check out the Alliance Theatre's Theatre for the Very Young
which puts on plays for kids aged 18 months to 5 years.)

Movement? A few times this week I swear I've felt those butterfly movements.  Usually at night when I'm sitting very still.

Food cravings?  French onion soup, but I want it to be homemade so I haven't had any yet.  I'm thinking we'll have to make it this weekend.  Strange craving, I know.

Food aversions? Please.

Gender? I have no idea and my mind changes from day to day.  I can't help starting to list out boy and girl names that I love.  We can find out the sex on February 14 but part of me wants to wait...

Labor signs? Nope

Belly button in/out? IN.

What I miss: Red wine.  I've been cooking dinner every night and there's nothing that goes better with cooking a meal than a glass of red wine.  Well, I suppose conversation with a good friend goes with cooking too, but it's very rare that a friend shows up in my kitchen in the middle of the week during dinner prep.

What I am looking forward to: My next OB appointment next week to hear Poppy's heartbeat again - such a sweet sound! I'm also looking forward to someone at work finally asking me if I'm pregnant.  You see I haven't made any sort of "announcement" at work and only a handful of people know.  Inevitably someone is going to say something about my belly at some point and I'm just waiting to see who the lucky person will be.  If you'll remember, my coworkers don't exactly hold their tongues.

Milestones: I'm officially in the 2nd trimester according to all sources (there are some "people" who say the 2nd trimester doesn't start until week 14 even though I think week 13 sounds better.

13 Weeks (Round 2)

Ok, let's wrap up this self-indulgent pregnancy posting week with a survey and maybe a picture.  Maybe.  We'll see how I'm feeling after writing.

How far along? 13 weeks and 3 days

Total weight gain/loss? In a shocking turn of events I've lost weight this week.  I'm up 3.9 pounds from pre-preggo weight.  I think this is due to a combination of eating in, trying to walk 10,000 steps a day, my pregnancy workout DVD and being overly sensitive to the weight gain.

Maternity clothes? Nope.  But I think they'll be coming out this weekend.  Or at least the Bella Band that I'm going to borrow from a friend and give a whirl.  I never tried it last time, so we'll see.  Have I mentioned that I did splurge a little on myself and order a few new work pieces from Isabella Oliver Maternity?  And I found a Diane Von Furstenburg maternity dress on ebay!!  I'm super pumped for their arrival.

Stretch marks? No new ones, but I will say that it feels like the old ones are more prominent.  Hopefully that's all in my head.
Sleep? Pretty good.  I just wish I could get more of it.

Best moment last week? Sharing my news on the blog and with some work friends and more friends.

Movement? I know it's too early to feel Poppy jumping around in there, but occasionally I swear I can feel him/her.  Though, it's likely just gas.

Food cravings? Nothing comes to mind

Food aversions? Never.

Gender? I'm feeling girl right now.

Labor signs? Nope

Belly button in/out? IN.

What I miss: Dirty vodka martinis and running.  Admittedly, i could still run and I just haven't tried but it doesn't have the same appeal right now.

What I am looking forward to: Getting my new maternity clothes in the mail!

Milestones: 2nd trimester baby!

Ok, what the hell.  Let's go ahead and start the Weekly Pooch pic while we're at it.  5 weeks earlier this time around....

13 weeks!

Secret Preggo Post #4

(If you're just joining the show, start here and then go here & here to catch up on my secret posts that I kept before going public with pregnancy #2).


Wednesday, December 26, 2012 - 11 weeks and change. Ah I'm starting to feel like me again! The extreme fatigue is lifting and now I'm just feeling pudgy. I can deal with some pudge if my energy stays up - it is much easier to stay positive when you are awake. The worst pregnancy "side effect" right now is constipation. TMI, I know. But in case there are any other closet pregnant women out there wondering if this is a normal side effect of pregnancy, I'm here to tell you it is.
On another note, I blurted out to my boss last week that I was expecting. I didn't plan it, it just sort of happened. I'm glad he knows so that my random absences in the middle of the day and lack of enthusiasm are now explained. I'll just say that I have a great boss. If I ever question my job in the future, someone please remind me of this fact. He's totally support of me and was expecting me to walk in his office with this news any day now. I definitely feel a sense of relief now that he knows.

But for some reason, I'm still not ready to tell the whole world. Our close friends all know. Our families know. And for now that is perfect. I think I'd like to get to 13 weeks and also get through our next ultrasound (January 3rd) before being totally open about being pregnant. I know my risk of miscarriage has decreased greatly after week 11, but it's still possible. So give me another two weeks and I'll probably be blogging again every day about this baby.

And instead of starting the bump pics at week 18, I could probably start them today. I feel like I've already popped.

January 3, 2012 2013 (does it take anyone else a good month into a new year to write the correct year?)- 12 weeks, 2 days. Ultrasound #2 today! We saw the baby again and his/her heartbeat sounded strong and I think he/she is already super cute! The baby kept its legs closed the whole time, so it's a good thing it wasn't the big "reveal the sex" ultrasound, because I think we'd have been out of luck. The baby's measurements were good and at some point the screen flashed to all my info and the EDD was July 16, 2013 (the due date my doctor gave me), but the EDD(AUA) was July 14, 2013. After a quick google search, EDD(AUA) stands for Estimated Due Date (Actual Ultrasound Age), so that due date is based on the actual measurements from the baby. I've suspected that my due date should actually be the 14th, so I'm game going with that!

In other news, I'm continuing to gain weight. (Insert eye roll here.) I hate you women who lose weight in the first trimester. Turns out there are some perks to morning sickness. Just sayin.

I officially have a bump and the size 4 clothes are about to be hung up. Oh who am I kidding, I'm in my size 6 trousers today. I predict full on maternity clothes by the end of the month. I don't mind the bump, it's the gigantic ass I'm not looking forward to. Again, fingers crossed that better eating habits and more exercise this time around will curb that.

Oh, and we'll find out if baby #2 is a boy or girl on VALENTINE'S DAY! So six more weeks!

Secret Preggo Post #2

(If you're just joining the show, start here to read the first in the series of 5 posts I kept before going public with pregnancy #2).

Tuesday, November 20, 2012 - I really am not very good at keeping this pregnancy thing quiet. Well, Mr. Cob was the first to somewhat spill the beans. We were at the park with friends and I was asking him when we need to leave the park to make it to a party that evening in time. He said, rather loudly, but unceremoniously, "well, we need to stop and buy your prenatal vitamins." I looked at him in horror as my friend T laughed behind me. She may have been laughing at something else entirely, but I was convinced she'd heard him (she had, but claims she wouldn't have made the jump to assuming I was pregnant). So we told her. And then we told her husband. I've been avoiding my mom like the plague because every time I talk to her I want to shout out the words. But we have started a tradition of announcing the news to her with a tee-shirt and Lukas will proudly (I hope) don his shirt announcing "I'm Going to be a Big Brother" on Thanksgiving, in just two days. Surely I can keep it quiet for two more days. The shirt has two turkeys on it. It's adorable. Last week I was at a birthday party and my friend was drinking champagne and said to me "This champagne is really amazing" and handed me her glass to take a sip. I should've just taken the sip and moved on. But no, I froze and she instantly knew. And last night I was with another friend getting a pedicure and she made some comment about my being pregnant or with a new born over the holidays next year. I have no poker face. She immediately knew. Maybe I can't make it through another two days without my mom figuring it out.


Tuesday, December 4, 2012 - 8 weeks here. And I'm still 2 weeks away from our first prenatal appointment. So the past two weeks have been busy - Thanksgiving rolled around and I ran my third half marathon. Only this time it was the first one where I was pregnant. Go me. We told our families the big news, which went over very well - apparently they'd all been suspecting/hoping for this news, but were nonetheless thrilled. A few more close friends have shared in the news with us as well. So it's been fun spreading our cheer.

I am still exhausted. I'm going to bed very early every night. Although I'm not sleeping well between the trips to the bathroom and strange dreams. I'm trying to eat healthy and not pack on the pounds too early. I even started a pregnancy exercise program - The Tracy Anderson Method: The Pregnancy Project. So far I love it and my ass and legs hurt, so hopefully it's working. I'm feeling pudgy now. My stomach is in this constant state of bloat. All of my clothes are still fitting and I have my fingers crossed that remains the case for at least another month or so (wishful thinking? perhaps).

The one big difference this time around is the nausea. I feel generally icky and like I'm going to throw up for at least a few hours each day. Perhaps this means poppy is a girl! Which scares the shit out of me. My teenage years are flashing before my eyes....is payback on her way?

Wednesday, December 5, 2012 - I cannot stop obsessing about gaining weight again. I REALLY REALLY REALLY do not want to pack on the pounds this time around. I want to be a cute pregnant girl. This is not good considering I still have 8 months of this pregnancy to go. I know that you are supposed to gain weight when you are pregnant. And I'm OK with gaining weight. I'm not OK with the prospect of pushing 200 pounds on the scale for a second time in my life.

Grand Adventure #2

So I feel like the blog has been kind of lacking and slow these days.  And figured it was time to spice things up.  I was running out of material.  Lukas didn't like having his picture taken and all his daily ins and outs being broadcast over the interwebs.  And I respect my child's privacy.  So I need new material.  And with the help of Mr. Cob, new material is on the way!   In about 6 more months.  Yup, I'm pregnant!!!!  All in the name of blogging.  (Kidding, of course.) 

And as a side note, to any friends who learn about baby #2 through this blog, please don't take offense - it seemed really strange to call everyone up and share the news the second time around.  I don't know why, but I've felt really funny spreading this news.  So I figured I'd just write about it.  I'm much better with the written word than the spoken word.

Over the past two months I've been jotting down my thoughts on this pregnancy and how I've been feeling.  Here's the first post in the series of 5 from the past few months, with new posts to follow later this week.  Enjoy!

Saturday, November 10, 2012 - I've been really tired the past week.  And depressed according to the husband, which I think translates into my being mean.  I hadn't really given my mood much thought, just assuming it was another down in the ups and downs that is life.  And I was only three days late.  Nothing too out of the ordinary. But I woke up this Saturday morning and decided it wouldn't hurt anyone to take a pregnancy test.  Mr. Cob was still sleeping.  Lukas was still sleeping.  I was alone in the quiet morning.  I shouldn't be left alone in the quiet morning.  So I did my thing and then put the stick down on the back of the toilet.  I brushed my teeth and then went back over to the stick to check it out.  I assumed it would be negative.  The actively trying gears hadn't been shifted yet.  I am training for a half marathon (ironically, the same thing I was doing the last time I found out I was pregnant).  I'd drank way too much wine just the weekend before.  So I was a little surprised when two lines showed up on the stick.  Two distinct lines.  Two lines mean positive.  Two lines mean pregnant. 

I walked out of the bathroom holding the stick and somewhat coherently said to my sleeping husband "I think I'm pregnant."  This is what Mr. Cob woke up to this morning.  You could say he was shocked.  But happy.  I started crying.  He smiled, still half asleep.  Then he was worried my tears were not happy tears.  I reassured him they they were.  It was just a bit of a surprise.  A very welcomed surprise. 

But just to be sure I took one more test.  Two lines again.  Definitely pregnant.  Happy dance.  Time for a nap.

Sunday, November 11, 2012 - I'm having a hard time keeping this news quiet.  We've now seen my three closest mom friends and I really wanted to share the news.  I've avoided my mom all weekend, fearful that I'll blurt it out over the phone.  But for now we're keeping it quiet.  We decided to tell our families over Thanksgiving.  Today I ordered a "I'm going to be a big brother" shirt for Lukas to debut on Thanksgiving day.  It has a picture of two turkeys - one little and one big.  I wonder what the little man is going to think when he learns that he's no longer going to be the littlest man in the house.  Well I suppose he might still be the littlest man if poppy turns out to be a girl.  And yes, we're calling it poppy for now.  Ok, it's time for another nap. I forgot how quickly the exhaustion sets in.  And the gas.  It's just plain gross.

Thursday, November 15, 2012 - Early pregnancy is weird and unsettling.  There's no reassurance that everything is OK in there.  I sort of wish I'd start having some morning sickness or something to settle my fears (I might be eating those words in a week or so...).  I am definitely tired and I've convinced myself that my bump is already showing - Mr. Cob assures me it is entirely in my head.  Considering I'm wearing my size 4 trousers today, it probably is.  But I still feel bloat-y.  I called the OB this week to make our first appointment.  December 18.  Over a month away.  I'm just trying to think good thoughts and give poppy some love.  I'm making sure to eat clean as much as possible.  I'm starting out every day with a green smoothie.  This morning's concoction had pineapple juice, carrot, broccoli stem, avocado, spinach, banana, frozen mango, frozen peaches, some protein powder, moringa and a few springs of cilantro just because.  It was an interesting combination.  I've also switched to decaf coffee...I know "they" say you can drink 1-2 cups of regular coffee every day of pregnancy and be OK, but I figure I'd rather be safe early on and just stick with decaf.  It worked when I was pregnant with Lukas.  Last night I found some prenatal yoga videos online and tried one out - I loved it!  I really am going to work out this entire pregnancy.  I will NOT gain 50+ pounds again.  I repeat, I will NOT!  (post-script: I ran 10 miles that night  ON THE TREADMILL.  Do you know how awful running on a treadmill for two hours is?  I'm serious about the not gaining 50+ pounds again.  2 hours on a treadmill serious.)