Eric felt the baby kick for the first time this week! It might be one of my all-time favourite moments that we’ve shared together. He was so genuinely excited and surprised. I’m so happy that he finally got to feel this crazy circus going down in my belly. Lately at night we stare at my belly and watch it move. I talk to her in a creepy baby voice (it’s scary, for real) and we try to poke back and forth a few times. I wonder what the kicks will feel like when I’m near the end of my pregnancy? Right now they are soooo gentle and they even tickle me sometimes if she kicks in this one spot on the right. Somehow I don’t see them tickling in a couple months! I get some rib pressure lately, but nothing too painful yet. She is still the most active at night and into the early morning hours, but I do feel her in the afternoon hours a bit around 3-5pm. The other morning at 5am she was having a full out dance party in my belly. “Mom, how many kicks will it take for you to get out of bed and feed me?”
I’m still feeling good with energy to spare for exercise. It’s such a change from the first trimester when I honestly couldn’t fathom moving my body more than a few feet. I think the nice weather helps with energy levels too. I’m going on 50-60 minute daily walks and doing 15 minutes of weights/resistance exercises most days of the week (either with a prenatal video or just doing moves on my own in front of the TV). Lots of lunges and squats with weights and lots of arm work. I’m also trying to do prenatal yoga stretches to end my workouts (with focus on lots of pelvic stretching). I really hope I can keep up with exercise until I get close to delivery because right now I feel so strong physically and mentally. I think there’s something to be said about weight lifting for confidence building. It does a mind (and body) good. I hope this carries over into labour!
My baby shower invites were mailed out this week. All I can say is thank goodness for the the talented Etsy designers out there. This is designed by OhSoParty.
I don’t know what it is but my interest in food is so fleeting these days. I’ve heard pregnant women say that they lost interest in food and I never fully understood it (how could you not be interested in foooood?), but now I get it. I’m still eating normally, but food just doesn’t seem as exciting as it usually does. Or I will make a recipe, love it to pieces, and then the next day I’m over it and no longer want to post it on the blog anymore. Total Jekyll and Hyde. Hopefully it passes!
I’m getting a lot of belly stares these days. I have to say, men don’t hide the stares as well as the women do. 
I don’t blame people for checking out pregnant bellies…I do it too. It’s hard not to because they are quite spectacular in all their glory.
In other belly news, my belly button is slowly disappearing. I think the baby ate it?
Congratulations Angela! I’m enjoying reading about your experiences as another vegan mom-to-be. I’m 29 weeks and starting to feel like a punching bag. Sometimes the kicks/punches take me by surprise. And yes, all of the stares are funny, but it’s amazing how nice people are to you when you’re pregnant: holding doors, letting you cut ahead in the bathroom line, etc. Enjoy!
punching bag – that’s a good analogy! hah. Congrats on your pregnancy Bryanna!
Congratulations!!! You’re such an inspiration.. Your recipes are so delicious and thanks to your amazing blog my family, boyfriend, and his family have been vegan for awhile. Thank you again!
Thank you Leva :) So happy you are enjoying the recipes!
Haha! I chuckled at the thought of your belly button being eaten by the baby :-) You’re looking lovely, and your story about Eric feeling the baby kick just about made my day.
Your belly is pretty magnificent. Mine was about the same size at 23 weeks, and let me warn you, you’re going to be HUGE at the end. Forget about tying your shoes, you aren’t even going to know you HAVE feet anymore! :)
I had that fleeting feeling about food too. Don’t worry, once that placenta is out, you’ll want to eat everything and anything.
I made your most recent granola bars this week, so good!
it’s already challenging to shave my legs and put on shoes so I can only imagine what it’ll be like in 3 more months.
Glad to hear you made the new granola bars! We need to make another batch of the almond joy ones as we’re already out.
you look adorable! I had lost interest in eating when I was pregnant..The only thing I felt like eating were fruits (It is scary the amount of oranges I have consumed) and cold cereal. I think I lived on these thing for most part of it!
yes FRUIT! Grapes and watermelon for me. Lots of smoothies too. Now that you mention cold cereal, that does sound really good too. ;)
Lovely update. I’m curious about your strength training regimen: do you just work out certain areas each day, or do you do a full- body workout on most days of the week. I’m trying to wrap my head around some conflicting info I’ve been getting about muscles needing to rebuild after lifting/resistance.
Hi Ruth,
I’m all about listening to my body – so if my arms or legs are tired I will skip them and just focus on the opposite for the day and resume arms/legs the next day. Some days I have tons of energy and I will do both at once. That being said, I’m not doing heavy lifting either (5lb arm weights with resistance) so I’m sure it’s different if you are really tearing the muscles.
I just RSVP’d – can’t wait to celebrate with you :)
BTW – the no sugar granola bars are a big hit – love them!
Yay, can’t wait Heather!
I know what you mean about the fleeting interest in food! I’m 25 weeks this week and last week I could not get enough food in my belly, and this week I could take it or leave it. I live in Chicago and often walk along the path along Lake Michigan, and I get a lot of stares. It’s like people expect pregnant ladies to sit on the couch eating ice cream and pickles for 40 weeks!
You look beautiful!! I hope your energy level keeps up! I must say, even in the last two weeks, it’s getting harder and harder to put shoes on!
I hear you on that one…I keep thinking I’m going to squish the baby when I shave my legs in the shower or put on shoes. I’m sure they are a bit more resilient than that though, hah. ;)
Your bump is beautiful!
I love reading your updates, because at 20 weeks & 4 days today, I get a good idea of what to expect the next few weeks.
Like you, I’m enjoying the heck out of my near-normal energy levels, but unlike you, food is ALL I can think about. Luckily (well, could be unluckily…) everything tastes amazing to me.
I love those shower invites; and that’s awesome that Eric got to feel her move! I’m a teensy bit jealous because I’ve felt very little movement (thanks to my placenta placement on the front of my uterus), but I’m sure once my little guy gets even bigger, I’ll feel it frequently. :-)
Congrats on your pregnancy Catherine :) I do remember having weeks when I was starving and eating everything in sight. I think it might have corresponded to the baby’s growth (or maybe my own hormones!), but it’s funny how each week is so different.
You look great, love the baby bump! :) I love the sweet little tidbit about Eric feeling the baby move. During the 3rd trimester of my 1st pregnancy, I remember my son making waves along my tummy. He must’ve been doing flips in there. Haha It was quite funny! During my 2nd pregnancy, my 2nd son was very active as well, but he loved pressing down on my pelvic bone with his head, so I was quite sore all the time!
I don’t recall eating more than usual during both of my pregnancies. My appetite remained the same. It was only after giving birth that I was ravenous all the time because of breastfeeding around the clock.
Losing interest in FOOD?! Maybe I’ll remain childless, hah. ;)
Seriously.. you look so cute!! I’m so happy for you and your hubby. I love your updates! Do you think you’ll announce the name if you pick one?!
I know, it’s so weird not to be that excited about food. Total opposite of what I’m normally like! Well, I should clarify the only thing I’m excited about lately is watery fruit – grapes, watermelon, etc. and coconut water hah.
We’ll most likely share her name with the birth announcement.
I love reading about your pregnancy Angela!! You look absolutely beautiful!
I got your cookbook yesterday evening for my birthday (haha, after asking for it specifically :D) and I have to say I LOVE IT! It is gorgeous, stunning, spectacular! I love looking at your gorgeous photography, wonderful recipes and reading about your lovely antidotes throughout the book! I’ve already made the mushrooms for dinner tonight and the overnight oats are in the fridge at this very moment! I am looking forward to trying your fat free zucchini muffins tomorrow :D Thank you again for such an amazing cookbook – it is pure vegan gold!
Woops, spelling mistake **anecdotes not antidotes :D
Happy Birthday Ceara! I’m so touched by your kind words & support for the book – thank you so much! Sounds like you started off with some good recipes. :)
You look amazing! I love reading all of your stories. Although, I must say I am not pleased to hear of your recent lack of interest in food…considering I rely on you for about 99% of my meals, haha! Love, love, love your recipes and very happy for you!
hah my hubby isn’t very happy either! It seems to change day to day, so I just have to take advantage of the inspiration when it strikes I guess. Thanks for your kind words Leah!
That is so neat that Eric was able to feel the kicking this week!! I’m currently 18 weeks pregnant and I love feeling the little flutters at this point, and really can’t wait for my hubby to be able to feel them too :) It’s been so fun to read your baby posts especially because I’m a few weeks behind you! We find out in a week if we are having a boy or a girl. The weirdest thing for me this week was that my Linea Nigra has showed up! Its pretty faint, but it’s definitely there right below my belly button. So cool!! :)
Aw congrats :) So exciting you get to find out the sex soon…it was such an emotional moment for me.
I think there is something wonderful about baby bumps too – it really is a beautiful thing!
Great to here things are going good. I’m so pleased for you Angela! It’s funny, with the blog it makes me feel like I know you so I’m genuinely happy for you!
Maybe it is your hormones distracting you away from food? I’m never hungry near TOM so I’m guessing that’s hormonal!
I’m 14 weeks and totally know what you mean by not being excited about food anymore. I mean, I’ll eat it, but it doesn’t bring the same satisfaction as before.
I can’t wait to feel my baby move! I’m hoping it’ll be on the early end around 16/17 weeks?? Sometimes I think I have felt it once or twice already, but I’m guessing it was something else. Sadly, I guess it will be even longer until my husband can feel it.
I felt little flutters early in the second trimester, or even before (but it was hard to tell). They felt more like gas bubbles than anything else! hah.
How exciting that your baby invites went out! My belly button has crazy popped out. It makes me happy though because I know it’s all for our baby boy. Having my husband be able to feel the baby move was the most awesome thing. It makes my day every time I feel him move, which is a lot more now at 30 weeks (tomorrow!). I definitely think that’s by far one of the best parts of pregnancy. Also, I made your Glo Bars over the weekend and they were such a hit! I don’t know how I went so long without making them. My husband absolutely loved them too :)
I totally agree….I said to Eric Im going to miss the kicks when the baby is out (oddly enough!). Happy to hear you enjoyed the Glo bars :)
I meant to say I’m the same way with food. Once I’ve had something, I’m generally over it. Food hasn’t been as thrilling for me as of late…but when I’m hungry, man I need to eat ASAP!
Hi Angela! I am 24, and although I’m waiting till marriage to have children, I have found your blog posts very helpful. I do not have any nephews or nieces so I know virtually nothing about babies (other than the fact that they are adorable handfuls lol). Even though I go in and out of being vegan, I think I want to go more plant-based during my pregnancy. I also read recently that a woman’s diet during pregnancy can greatly impact the child’s DNA, so healthy eating will really help the child. I will be printing out these tips and advice for when I do have a baby myself. Thank you so much and congratulations on everything. That little girl is so lucky to have you two!
Your baby shower invites are so pretty!
I’m 27 weeks pregnant with my second baby and I started feeling movement earlier this time, so at this point, it’s definitely not tickling anymore! It’s so strange how different this time around is but it’s still just as magical :)