Still here, still pregnant (woohoo), and still very happy that baby has decided to stay put for the time being. It’s Adriana’s 2nd birthday today (yep, this mama totally cried), and I’m just hoping baby continues to enjoy life on the inside for a bit longer! I’m starting to really wonder, though; this morning on our walk I had quite a few shooting pains…and I’m just feeling kind of off and crampy today. Eek.
How I’m feeling: My attention span is that of a peanut (thank you, preggo brain). I’ve also been feeling emotional when I think about how our days as a family of 3 are limited, and how there isn’t much time left with just us and Adriana. It kind of breaks my heart to think that she could feel jealous and have a tough time adjusting. We’re going to do everything we can to help her, but it’s still sad to think about. I’ve been welling up with tears quite a bit this week, which seems so strange because I didn’t feel emotional for most of the pregnancy. I know any tough transition will pass and soon enough our family of 4 will feel like it was always meant to be, though!
I’m also feeling quite tired. Yesterday I pretty much thought I was going to fall over, I was so tired. It’s been tough trying to keep up with Adriana; she is so active these days! (And hysterical—did I mention how funny this age is? Omggggg.) I’ve had a couple days this past week where I thought I could be in early labour, and both times one of my first thoughts was, “OMG…I’m way too tired for labour today!! Please, no…I need sleep!” hahah. Always a motivating thought. Eric assures me that I will get a “huge endorphin boost” before labour. He cracks me up. I guess if I start bouncing off the walls it could be a sign…
Midwife appointment: My midwife offered to check my progress this week (to see if I’m dilated and whatnot), but I decided not to bother because I figure it’ll happen when it happens! I was much more curious for my first pregnancy (and opted to have the checks), but this time I’m kind of like…what will be will be. I’m still doing about 20 minutes with the EPI-NO each day. I think, if anything, it’s helping me mentally prepare for the pushing stage and build my confidence.
Symptoms: Oh boy, do I feel like I’m slowing down this week! I feel so much more out of breath pushing the stroller on walks. I haven’t had any “lightning bolts” (shooting nerve pain) this week (aside from on this morning’s walk), but I’ve had some fairly consistent groin pains all week. Baby feels really low (especially today), and my midwife thinks baby dropped a bit more this week.
Home life: We’re hoping to move back into our master bedroom by Friday if we can get it all cleaned and set up. Our master bathroom is almost finished; now we’re just waiting on the mirror to be installed and a couple small electrical things. Both rooms need a major deep clean as they’re covered in dust. We had another delay with the painters this week, so Eric took matters into his own hands and did some patching, sanding, and painting into the wee hours of the night just so we could get back into our room a bit sooner. Bless that man!!
Exercise: Still walking 25 minutes every morning. Today will probably be my last Barre3 workout of the pregnancy. Or I might just skip it depending on how I feel!
Wearing: This week has been all about the dresses! I discovered a maternity dress at the back of my closet this week (shown below). Score. It’s super comfy. I need to figure out what I’m wearing for the maternity photoshoot, too.
Cravings: My appetite is strong, but I wouldn’t say I’ve had many cravings at all. Update: I just thought of a craving—spicy food! I discovered this heat and eat chickpea curry (Tiffinday brand, based out of Toronto) at Whole Foods this week and it’s the best thing everrrrrr. I’m actually feeling nauseous today and hoping it passes!
Best thing I ate/drank all week: Homemade banana bread. I’ve been testing a new recipe and it’s so close to being ready to share! Keep your eyes peeled for it on the app (this week, unless I go into labour), and on the blog, (likely in October). A close second: the homemade cappuccinos that I’ve been testing this week. (You may have seen both featured on Snapchat recently).
Baby prep: We picked out a gift for Adriana “from baby”, and I wrapped it this week. I also picked up a few newborn and 0–3 month onesies. You can never have too many onesies! Bonus points if they are zip up rather than button up. (We don’t enjoy fooling with tiny buttons in the middle of the night!)
Food prep: I froze a batch of soup, banana bread, and cookies (priorities!). I also finished prepping the hospital cooler. Other than that, I feel too drained to do my planned freezer meals. My mom said she’s going to cook for me when she gets here next week, so bless her sweet heart!
Names picked out? We STILL haven’t decided what we’re naming this little one. Lol. I’m not too worried though. I’m sure once we meet baby it will be more clear. The two middle names are decided though.
Maternity photos? I wasn’t going to get maternity photos this time around, but I felt a bit guilty doing it for one pregnancy and not the other, so I booked a shoot at the last minute. My shoot is 3 days before my due date (this Friday)…so I’m really hoping I make it! Although, with all of these pains I’m having today, I’m starting to wonder if I will. Friday is actually a busy day of appointments for me as I have dentist, hair, and photoshoot appointments all back-to-back. What are the odds baby will stay put? *insert nervous, teeth-gritting emoticon*
Hospital bag packed? About 80% packed
Birth plan: I’m not bringing a birth plan with me to the hospital because it’s easy to remember: Healthy baby, healthy mama, intervention/drug-free (if possible).
Days left until due date: 6
PS—you can read my 39 weeks update from my first pregnancy here. (It was my last one since Adriana was born on her due date!)
How exciting! My youngest turned two this month, too. I’m somewhat doubtful you’ll make it to Friday but good luck!!
Happy birthday to your little one! And thanks for your good luck wishes Nicole. :)
How lucky Baby 2 will be, to share their birthday with ME! :)
My brother is also a September baby and for our entire childhood we had to share a birthday celebration. To this day I hold a grudge about it and turn a bit cranky if I don’t plan something on the actual day itself (like if my birthday falls on a weekday and my husband will plan something for the weekend; I often end up taking the day off work and just treat myself to a movie or a day in a book store). ANYWAY, I just wish your Adriana and Baby 2 a better fate than mine. :)
Best of luck to you!
I just had to comment. You are so smart! It’s literally never occurred to me to take my birthday off from work and just treat myself all day (Do many people do this?). I typically save that for the weekend after. But I will definitely start doing that since that period is super slow at work anyways.
I’m a little shy to say this, but at the same time I feel I have to. When I opened your 39 weeks update and saw your photos, I was like: “Oh my gosh, the labor started! And she still looks so pretty and shiny!”. I just noticed the shadow on your dress (the one below the belly), and was convinced your water broke… This kind of openness I think you have! Hehe. Whether you’ll make to Friday or not (I hope you will), I wish you & baby/baby & you stay healthy. All the rest will be just fine. Good luck, Angela!
Hi Angela! We shared many of the same feelings about having the second baby- I just had min in July and I have a three year old girl. It was a tough couple of weeks (I think its harder on the mamas, quite a few tears were shed!). But everyone has adjusted quite well now and there’s plenty of love to go around! Just be patient with each season of parenting and have faith it’s all meant to be!!
Thank you so much for all of your wonderful recipes :-)
-Rennae
I think you might avoid the jealousy- just make sure Adrianna feels spoiled/special, continues to get attention from mama even once baby is here. <3 Lots of "look how much he/she loves his/her big sister" stuff, you know, stoking the ego ;). :)
Good luck Ange!
You look so wonderful! I’m 21 weeks today and already feel huge. I also just found out my cervix is shortening…which means I likely won’t make it to full term. It’s my first baby and I’m super upset and stressed about it. Congrats on making it this far and best of luck for a speedy and healthy delivery!
Thank you Liza. I’m keeping you in my thoughts and know that everything will work out in the end. Big hugs!
Hi Angela. Wow! Baby is due on Friday and you’re scheduled for the dentist, hair and a photo shoot. What do we do to ourselves?! I remember scheduling 2 weeks off work prIor to our little one’s due date, to give myself time to wind down, and our baby actually arrived 2 weeks early, in the early hours on a Saturday morning. I worked my last full day before we went to hospital (early in the evening) and delivered 13 hours later. I had little to no sleep for the next several weeks after baby arrived. If I could go back in time I know I would want to do everything possible to get more rest, prior to being a new mom, yet I’m not even sure I would know how I would do things differently. I’m sending you a very warm hug and the softest kleenex. I feel your sadness and happiness and wish you and your family good health and peacefulness with everything. I also wish I could come over and help you clean up the reno mess. Totally! In exchange for keeping me so uplifted this week with your incredible tasting reset button green smoothies. They’re the greatest! Tana
Tana Lise, your words never fail to make me smile! Thank you so much. :) And how funny about the timing of your baby’s arrival! They sure keep us guessing.
And yes, Friday’s appointments are my own fault for booking so late! If I was more on the ball I would’ve done it all a week or two ago. It’ll make for an interesting day I’m sure! lol.
Oh my goodness, I can’t believe you’re full term already! Happy birthday to Adriana and I hope she does well with this transition – if it’s a comfort, my sister loved it when I was a baby and helped with diapers and everything. We’re just over two years apart, so maybe Adriana will see your new little one as her baby too! Best of luck with your labour and settling in with baby number two :)
That’s so sweet about your big sis. :) I’m hoping Adriana is the same because she’s obsessed with babies (real and stuffed) right now, lol. Thanks for your bday wishes!
Good luck with the final leg of your pregnancy! It sounds like you’re getting close but baby will show her/his face whenever timing is right. I’m sure you’ll do amazing and looking forward to reading about it (hopefully ;)).
P.S. Bless Eric for working so hard to get everything ready!
Thank you Denise!
Oh and I do hope to write our birth story once we’re settled.
PPSS Totally forgot to say Happy Birthday Adriana!! You must be so proud. My little one is turning 1 next month and I’m already getting emotional thinking about it now..
Aw, thanks! And happy almost 1 year to your little one. I definitely cried for that milestone too! (I now understand why my sister says she cries each time her boys have a birthday. That’ll be me I’m sure.)
Happy Birthday Adriana!! I feel like I was just reading her birth story (and crying silently in my cubicle…). Hope you’ll share your story for baby #2. Best of luck with the rest of your pregnancy and delivery!
hah that’s cute! I love reading birth stories too. Never gets old.
Thanks for your birthday and good luck wishes!
Oh such an amazing, exciting time!! We have two little babes 26 months apart, and our youngest is almost 8 months, and he already seems so old and I miss the itty bitty baby stage (haha minus the zombie like sleep exhaustion and painful labour recovery) I look back to the last few weeks of pregnancy and it was exhausting and busy too! I know so many people will tell you this, but savor these last moments as I tear up and miss him in my belly often. It’s such an amazing, and beautiful time. Oh and get a good pic of your baby bump and Adriana, I wish I got better photos, but I was so sick near the end I didn’t want a camera anywhere near me. Sending good vibes your way for a positive labour. Good luck mama and sweet sweet babe! Ps you look beautiful!
Best wishes for an easy labour and a healthy baby!! What an exciting time! I’m enjoying the lemon tahini dressing from your new cookbook-yum!
Happy Birthday to your sweet girl. I think she will be a delighted big sister. I hope everything goes smoothly. Just a reminder that sometimes 2nd labors can be fast, so trust your gut – and your midwife/doctor (as I should have!). Hope you can tick off everything you’ve scheduled.
I remember worrying about making the transition from a family of 3 to a family of 4. I felt sad that our first daughter wouldn’t get our undivided attention anymore and felt guilty about bringing another baby home – like we were cheating on her!
I will never forget a chance conversation I had at the hair salon with a seasoned mom in the chair next to me. She reassured me that you don’t have a finite amount of love and it’s not like you have to steal some love from the first in order to give it to the second. If anything, you just have even more love for both children as your family grows. On the cusp of our eldest’s 10th birthday I can tell you that she was 1000% right.
I’m not saying it was always easy (ha!) but I soon realized that I didn’t actually have to worry about any of the things I was pre-worrying about.
Now, getting out the door with 2 kids? That was another story….
Hi Angela!
Congrats on Adriana’s 2nd birthday! I know with #2 so close it must be an emotional time. As a big sister, I want you to know that not all big sissies struggle with the transition! My mom tells me I loved my sister, Lina, from day 1! I wanted to breastfeed her just like my mom. I’ve loved being a big sister, and I know it has made me a better person. I know all transitions aren’t as easy, but have faith in Adriana! (We big sisters stick together!!)
Sending lots of good thoughts on a safe, wonderful labour,
Iliana
Your comment about being too tired for labor today cracked me up! At my 39 week appt with Baby 2, my OB said she thought it would be soon. I was exhausted that night, and literally thought the same thing “I’m just too tired to have a baby tonight!”
Thankfully I caught up on some sleep, and he was born 39 weeks 1 day, after only 2.5 hours of labor (best thing possible in my opinion!!)
Congrats and best wishes!
You look radiant! You sure do carry babies beautifully!
So excited for you! Hope baby stays put for you just long enough! My baby just turned 2. My boys are 22 months apart (so, 2 yrs old and almost 4 yrs old). They are best friends. You’re going to love it! Wishing you the best!
Hi Angela,
I can’t believe how much energy you have! With baby #2, I was so exhausted that I couldn’t have imagined doing all you are doing! It is so great that your hubby fixed up your room. Will pray for a healthy baby, quick delivery, and rest! Will also pray for big sissy to adjust quickly. Our first had trouble adjusting, but now she is a super big sissy at 3.5 yrs old.
Blessings to you and your family on the soon arrival of your sweet gift!