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Sunday, May 8, 2011

Happy Mother's Day x 2

Giving her baby sister a kiss!

Mother's Day feels extra special this year as I am now officially a mommy of two. I am 26 weeks pregnant with Elise's baby sister! She has been affectionately nicknamed "newbie" by Elise. Elise likes to come up hug my growing baby belly and give newbie kisses. It is so cute how excited she gets. I'm not sure that she fully understands the whole idea of a baby being in my belly, but despite that she is still super enthusiastic.

Stats - I'm currently 26 weeks pregnant. At our 20-week-checkup the ultrasonographer confirmed it is a baby girl, who is plenty active and growing well. Baby girl # 2 is scheduled to debut August 13, 2011. Elise and her sister will be just over two years apart in age.

Weight gain - So far I've gained 13 pounds, but it feels more like 25. I feel much bigger this time around, and I think it's because I'm carrying higher than I did with Elise. Elise used to wedge herself way down into my bladder, and I remember the ultrasonographers would always comment on how low she was positioned. Newbie girl is positioned right smack in the middle of my belly, she's easier on my bladder, but not so easy to conceal under clothes. I'm still wearing my regular jeans, but I've had to go out and buy a bunch of flowy shirts to cover the oh-so-obvious baby belly. Oh and for those that buy into to the old wives tales - this is proof that carrying low or high has no determination on the sex of the baby.

How I feel this time around - TIRED! From weeks 6-21, I felt, simply put; exhausted. I had morning sickness again, not nearly as bad before, but enough to zap my energy and make me feel like an emotional pinball. Working full-time and caring for an energetic toddler has added to the exhaustion level. When I was pregnant with Elise, I took naps and slept in late when needed. This time around, I certainly haven't had that luxury. With all that being said, the last few weeks have been great! I've felt a surge in energy and the nesting stage had officially begun. I've been cleaning and cooking up a storm, while still finding plenty of time to spend with daddy and Elise.

Food cravings - Shocker here; lemons. Lemons is what I craved with Elise and the craving has come back again this time around. The more tart the lemon, the better. I've also been craving spicy hummus. I make my own spicy roasted red pepper hummus dip and it is absolutely delicious. I've made it three weeks in a row now, so I think it has officially acheived craving status. I garnish the hummus with parsely and serve it with warm pita bread. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. If you want to try out the easy and delicious recipe click the link below. 


Special moments - I've started to really feel baby girl moving over the past few weeks. She pokes, kicks, twists and turns all over the place. Daddy felt her first movement from the outside on 4/6/11! A few nights ago, her movements were visible from outside my stomach for the first time. She's making her little presence known and that makes me smile :) Also, the thought of Elise having a baby sister is making me especially happy. Growing up, I always wanted a sister close in age, so I know Elise will really enjoy having her around.

The six month baby bump

Elise is so excited to meet her little sis