How far along? 22 weeks today!
Weight gain: I'm up to 163lbs, up another 2 pounds since last week. Total gain: 25 pounds. By this week the recommended gain for my starting BMI was between 23-34 pounds so I'm pretty much spot on! Super happy about that.
This week I started to feel big too. Not just in my belly, but all over: arms, legs, face. My wedding rings are even starting to get tight on my hands! I should probably take them off soon so they don't get stuck on me, but I feel naked without them. Maybe I'll buy a cheap replacement band. What did you do when (if) your rings got too tight?
How are you feeling: About the same as last week. I feel pretty great during the day, besides occasional heartburn and being easily winded. At night I have trouble getting comfortable and I've started to have a few bouts of restless leg syndrome. So far taking a warm bath and stretching my legs out seems to help enough. I had restless legs every time we flew to see or came home from seeing Arie, so in a weird way this symptom brings back memories from when I was "expecting" him. Didn't think these two experiences would have any symptoms in common! Ha.
Noteworthy moments: We bought our stroller! I'm like a child in a toy store. So excited! After our second ultrasound, John and I got lunch at a deli and a woman with two kids came into the deli with this stroller. It was the Britax Bready stroller. I knew right away I wanted that stroller! Two weeks ago I found someone selling it on craigslist about an hour away! She only used it 10 times (before her kids insisted on walking everywhere) and sold it for less than half of new. I'm so thrilled with it! Can't wait to walk my babies around with it in May! I posted a picture on instagram if you want to see it.
John and I also got our old playroom/new playroom-guestroom combo basically finished. After reading about how toxic polyurethane is for pregnant women we decided to hold off on finishing the floor (AFTER it was sanded. Fail on our part for not researching sooner!). Instead we bought a big rug. It looks pretty nice despite not being finished! We need curtains and sheets for the bed yet, but once we finish it I'll take some pictures to share. Now that we have a guest space finished we can start on the nursery.
Get a little spiritual: This morning as I was driving Arie to school the sun was rising. The sky looked pink like cotton candy and the tops of some very tall pines were hit by warm yellow rays so bright it almost looked like they were glowing. Arie was amazed by the beauty. It has been cloudy here basically since November; neither of us could remember the last time we saw such a beautiful sunrise. "Mom! Why is the sun doing that?! Why is the sky pink? Why are the trees all bright on top?! Look Mom! Look!"
I'm not glad that it's been overcast here for many weeks nor am I glad I suffered infertility before this pregnancy, but I am thankful for the perspective of awe and gratitude both have given me. Just like Arie was amazed by the sunrise in a way he would not have been if it had been normal and expected, I find myself amazed by this pregnancy. The babies have been moving like crazy this week. Each time I feel them kick my heart grows warm. I can't tell you how many times in a day I think, "I almost didn't experience this. It almost didn't happen." I am incredibly grateful. I am incredibly happy.
Bump shot:
xo
Weight gain: I'm up to 163lbs, up another 2 pounds since last week. Total gain: 25 pounds. By this week the recommended gain for my starting BMI was between 23-34 pounds so I'm pretty much spot on! Super happy about that.
This week I started to feel big too. Not just in my belly, but all over: arms, legs, face. My wedding rings are even starting to get tight on my hands! I should probably take them off soon so they don't get stuck on me, but I feel naked without them. Maybe I'll buy a cheap replacement band. What did you do when (if) your rings got too tight?
How are you feeling: About the same as last week. I feel pretty great during the day, besides occasional heartburn and being easily winded. At night I have trouble getting comfortable and I've started to have a few bouts of restless leg syndrome. So far taking a warm bath and stretching my legs out seems to help enough. I had restless legs every time we flew to see or came home from seeing Arie, so in a weird way this symptom brings back memories from when I was "expecting" him. Didn't think these two experiences would have any symptoms in common! Ha.
Noteworthy moments: We bought our stroller! I'm like a child in a toy store. So excited! After our second ultrasound, John and I got lunch at a deli and a woman with two kids came into the deli with this stroller. It was the Britax Bready stroller. I knew right away I wanted that stroller! Two weeks ago I found someone selling it on craigslist about an hour away! She only used it 10 times (before her kids insisted on walking everywhere) and sold it for less than half of new. I'm so thrilled with it! Can't wait to walk my babies around with it in May! I posted a picture on instagram if you want to see it.
John and I also got our old playroom/new playroom-guestroom combo basically finished. After reading about how toxic polyurethane is for pregnant women we decided to hold off on finishing the floor (AFTER it was sanded. Fail on our part for not researching sooner!). Instead we bought a big rug. It looks pretty nice despite not being finished! We need curtains and sheets for the bed yet, but once we finish it I'll take some pictures to share. Now that we have a guest space finished we can start on the nursery.
Get a little spiritual: This morning as I was driving Arie to school the sun was rising. The sky looked pink like cotton candy and the tops of some very tall pines were hit by warm yellow rays so bright it almost looked like they were glowing. Arie was amazed by the beauty. It has been cloudy here basically since November; neither of us could remember the last time we saw such a beautiful sunrise. "Mom! Why is the sun doing that?! Why is the sky pink? Why are the trees all bright on top?! Look Mom! Look!"
I'm not glad that it's been overcast here for many weeks nor am I glad I suffered infertility before this pregnancy, but I am thankful for the perspective of awe and gratitude both have given me. Just like Arie was amazed by the sunrise in a way he would not have been if it had been normal and expected, I find myself amazed by this pregnancy. The babies have been moving like crazy this week. Each time I feel them kick my heart grows warm. I can't tell you how many times in a day I think, "I almost didn't experience this. It almost didn't happen." I am incredibly grateful. I am incredibly happy.
Bump shot:
xo
When I was pregnant with my daughter, I went to a department store and purchase an inexpensive sterling silver ring to temporarily replace my wedding rings. I went with a simple Mother of Pearl ring that had a Celtic feel to it, and LOVED it. I was so sad when I lost the baby weight and the ring literally fell off my hand and I lost it. I was hoping to hold onto it for my daughter, it was so special to me. So, if you buy something you like, make sure you remember to switch back to the real deal when you lose the weight! :D
ReplyDeleteI really like the idea of buying something to pass on one day! Thanks!
DeleteWe have the Britax B-Ready stroller too and we LOVE it!! Our kids are only 20 months apart, so we've really enjoyed using it as a double :)
ReplyDeleteAwesome! I've heard so many positive reviews about it. Thanks for sharing!
DeleteI ended up having to have my wedding band cut off when I was pregnant for our first child. I would recommend taking it off before that happens.
ReplyDeleteThe cool part in all of this was, my father was a truck driver and never wore his wedding ring when he was working. He knew I was upset when mine had to be cut off so he brought me his to wear. It fit on my middle finger and I wore it until our daughter's baptism and then gave it back as mine fit by then. Wonderful memory.
Love your posts! Love reading the on-going answer to many, many prayers.
That is so special Dawn! What a memory.
DeleteI ended up getting a Qualo silicone band in replacement. I would definitely reccomend it! I had gotten a sterling silver cross ring, but it was getting caught on everything. The silicone ring was also nice to have when our tiny was brand new so I didn't catch my wedding ring on her precious new skin either.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! I'll have to look into those.
DeleteI look forward to your weekly posts every week! I've been praying for you for many years and I'm so excited you're joining the 'twin club.' My twins are 16 months and that awe and excitement hasn't gone away yet. :)
ReplyDeleteThat means so much to me. I love hearing from long-time readers and pray-ers! So excited to join you as a twin mom!
DeleteWith my first son I bought a ring and worse my wedding ring around my neck. I love the idea someone had about passing the ring down, that is really sweet. I need to remember that!!
ReplyDeleteAgreed!
DeleteI wore my wedding band on a necklace and put away my engagement ring. After I had him, my hands never went back down (even though I'm at pretransfer weight) so I bought a new band. I haven't gotten the engagement ring out since I don't want to scratch him but luckily it's half a size bigger so it should fit. All that to say, try not to get too wrapped up in what will be just a few months. You never know what your body will end up doing. My feet are permanently a little bugger too.
ReplyDeleteSeriously hoping my feet don't grow. They are already a size 10!!
DeleteI wonder if magnesium would help those restless legs? I like magnesium glycinate - easier on the digestive system than what most drug stores sell. I also like Natural Calm in orange. You have to drink it in water and it's not very sweet so you might prefer capsules while pregnant with a sensitive stomach.
ReplyDeleteYou are not the first person to mention magnesium to me! Will have to ask my OB. thanks!
DeleteI bought a cheapo replacement ring for the last trimester of my pregnancy. It was only like 10 bucks. I would NOT recommend Claire's, though. It turned brown very quickly. I got one at Walmart when my husband and I travelled to Europe (didn't want to bring my wedding ring with me), and it held up much better than the Claire's one, and it was about the same price.
ReplyDeleteI'm in Australia and was pregnant through 2 summers (hello puffy fingers!). There was only a few days where I couldn't wear my rings and had to put them on a chain as a necklace. I felt so naked and thought they'd fall off the chain so I stuck em back on my hand where they belong! When they got tight I'd run them under cool water or add a tiny bit of lotion for comfort.
ReplyDeleteI wore my wedding ring on a chain for the last 2-3 months of pregnancy. Having a replacement band didn't feel right, but I found myself adamant about wearing *my* ring every day, even though I wasn't a big necklace person before that.
ReplyDeleteAnd heartburn is no fun, but if you find yourself a daily sufferer at the end, take comfort in knowing that your kiddo is likely to come out with a full head of hair. It's not just an old wives' tale, science has shown it's true! At least for singletons. You'll have to keep us posted. =)