bump update - 24 weeks - round 2

Due Date: April 13, 2015 (I'll have a scheduled c-section sometime between April 6th-10th)

Gender: Boy!

Movement: He comes alive when I slow down, jabbing me with his limbs primarily at nighttime, but I also feel him a bit in the morning. He loves when I eat a late night snack!

Feeling: As good as it gets, haha! My nausea and vomiting went away at 21 weeks, but it's been replaced with sleep issues and a major problem bending over/getting up off the floor. I feel extremely front heavy, so bending over is becoming a difficult task, and I bend over to pick up Trace's toys all day long! Getting up off the floor after playing with Trace is comical! I'm pretty sure I moan and groan and act dramatic when doing so, but the thing is I'm not acting dramatic... they're real moans and groans. 

Food Cravings: protein shakes, pizza, cereal, pasta, potatoes and a cold glass of milk always sound good... notice the carb pattern, yikes!

Food Aversions: Fish, any Asian food, pickles, chicken, raw tomatoes

Clothes: Although my maternity jeans are still a little too big (they slide down), they're all that I'm able to fit into anymore. I'm still wearing my pre-pregnancy maternity work out leggings as leggings these days, but because I gain a good portion of my weight in my thighs/butt, pants are getting more and more snug in that region more quick than in my waist. I can still fit into all of my pre-pregnancy long tops, but am rocking my more fitted maternity tops also... they're just so comfortable! Leggings with a tank top and long sweater seem to be my go-to outfit this winter.

Stretch Marks: No, but I'm nervous because my belly is much more tight and large than it was with Trace, so I need to up my game on the cocoa butter routine

Sleep: I'm always so tired, so I crash pretty hard at night and try to sneak in a couple of naps every week. As of this past week, nighttime sleep has become horrible -- I move around a lot and am very achy throughout the night. My hips and legs are so sore during the night and right when I wake up (from having to sleep on my side). It seems too early to have such awful sleep issues, but I'm thankful that insomnia hasn't kicked in yet

Symptoms: exhaustion, uncomfortable sleep, sore hips and legs after a nights sleep, heartburn

What I Miss: Having energy! I'm always so tired, physically and mentally. And my knees crack and creek when I stand up from the couch or the floor... This added weight is killing me!

Best Moment: Bryan felt him move for the 1st time at 24 weeks! We were laying in bed watching tv and the baby was going nuts. I grabbed Bryan's hand, gently placed it on my underbelly and he got a swift kick to his hand. Love the moments that daddy's involved in the most!

Memorable Moment: Celebrating Trace's last Christmas as an only child, knowing that I've got his little brother nestled in my belly and that they'll take on all future Christmas' side by side. I can't wait to be a family of four (plus my angel girl, Cali!)

* 24 weeks with Trace

santa told him our secret

Santa informed him that he only has 4 months left as an only child.

He's thrilled! Can't you tell? ;)

thanksgiving 2014 - our week back in orange county

We packed ourselves up, headed to the airport and boarded the plane... Bryan, Trace, Cali and I. It's safe to say that we were getting side eyed by everyone, giving us that look of "they better not sit near me." Haha!! Lucky for them, but especially lucky for us, NO ONE sat next to us, so we had the entire row to ourselves! We thought it was a blessing, but as we got into our flight, we quickly realized this was going to be a flight from hell. And it was! Yikes... Trace giggled, jumped, cried, fussed, whined and screamed for over a couple of hours. He only slept for 1 of the 5 hours, and our internet was shoddy, so we couldn't even watch a movie, etc. Upon landing, Trace was balling his eyes out and didn't stop until we got inside the terminal. My anxiety was through the roof and I was just so thankful to have made it! Let our vacation commence...

Lots of backyard fun at Bryan's parents house!

Bryan's best friends from high school are still all super close friends! Two of them, Mike and Chad (the same guys who came out to visit us for the 4th of July), are expecting babies within 2 weeks of us. They're all so excited to have kids the exact same age and so am I -- these boys are family!

Morning snuggles and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

We had so much fun at Pretend City!

Dana Point Harbor with a silly, uncooperative toddler... Trace had a BLAST!

My favorite park and look out point in Laguna Beach - Crescent

This darling little girl skipped into Trace's life, and within the blink of an eye, she was gone. It's safe to say she's his first love...

We took Trace back to the beach that I spent all of my time at in high school/college/20s, that Bryan and I had our engagement pictures taken at and where Trace put his toes in the ocean for the 1st time (at 6 months old)... SO many more memories to be made at Woods Cove in Laguna!! My little beach boy loooooves Orange County!

Back at my parents house, swimming with Daddy. Cali ended up diving into the water (on her own) to play with Trace. It was so funny! My kids are such water babies!!

Thanksgiving Day

Cousins on Thanksgiving

The next morning we went to my nieces soccer tournament in Huntington Beach. I lived just down the road from these fields in college, so I was feeling very nostalgic being in this area as a mom... Trace is a natural in this environment and seeing him with my brother and my brothers kids makes me so happy!

Our time spent back home is always incredibly overwhelming, quite stressful and just plain busy. Trying to make our parents happy and accommodate all of our friends chaotic schedules is always a challenge. Unfortunitely we weren't able to see some friends of whom we really wanted to see (I'm talking about you, Leslie!... and my friend, Ed). We need to find a way to create balance in the future, prioritize and put ourselves first, but for now we are left with all of these yummy memories; memories of which I am so thankful for! Until next time Orange County....