I “journaled” my pregnancy with Nora on this blog, posting a photo and my thoughts/progress each week. I started at 16 weeks and went all the way through the end. I am so glad that I have those posts to look back on, and I really hope I can keep up with it for this baby, too.
So, here we are. 16 weeks. It’s time to start, considering I haven’t written down anything about this pregnancy prior to this point. I was too sick in the first trimester to do anything requiring any effort, and once that went away, we had a vacation, birthdays, work, etc. that got in the way. Plus, it’s only fair that I start them both at 16 weeks, right? :) Here we go.
It’s a good thing that none of my pants fit, because otherwise, I’m at that stage of pregnancy where I don’t feel pregnant. Not really at all. Even the belly still feels mostly like I’ve eaten too much junk, not like there’s a baby in there. My belly is still mostly soft and squishy, not that glorious round ball of BABY. But that whole thing about “popping out” earlier during your second pregnancy?
Totally true.
Um, yeah. I’m pretty sure my belly wasn’t this size until I was 20+ weeks pregnant last time. Whatever. I just hope it evens out at some point, and that this doesn’t mean I’m going to be HUGE this time around. :)
I felt the first signs of movement at 16 weeks with Nora, and I think I’ve actually been feeling a few periodic pokes for a week or two now. I know it’s really early for that sort of thing, but it’s common to feel it earlier in your second pregnancy than you did with your first, plus my doctor told me at my last appointment at the beginning of the month that my baby was moving all over the place in there. She was trying to get a good listen to his/her heartbeat and kept hearing these big SWOOSH sounds instead. She commented how it wouldn’t stop moving, and how she wouldn’t be surprised if I felt early movement. *shrug* I’m still waiting for those pokes and jabs that are SO COMPLETELY OBVIOUS that they can’t be mistaken. I think it’ll make me feel a lot more pregnant once I feel more regular movement, too.
Other things that are different this time: I just don’t have a ton of time to THINK about this pregnancy. I mean, when I was pregnant with Nora, it was like the pregnancy was the center of my universe. With this one, there’s so much going on and we are caught up in the hustle and bustle of our daily lives… so again, instead of having it be on my mind all of the time, I instead have moments when I have to remind myself, “Oh yeah. I’m pregnant!”
I’m also definitely noticing how I’m six weeks ahead in this pregnancy than I was with Nora’s. In other words, with Nora, I was due on September 19, and this time I’m due earlier in the year—August 6. By the time I was at this point in my pregnancy with Nora, the weather was already getting nicer and I was able to take walks outside several times a week. This time, it’s still freezing cold and dark by the time we get home and have dinner, so I’ve still been doing a whole lot of nothing. I can’t wait to be able to get outside and be at least a little bit active again!
I’m in maternity pants full time now. I made the switch a couple of weeks ago because I couldn’t take it anymore. I’m not a big fan of the Bella Band (it rides up and shifts around and I feel like I am constantly adjusting it), so my real pants just had to go. By the way, it’s total crap that you can reuse all of your maternity clothes. There are a few pairs of pants that I was able to “shrink” enough in the dryer, but other pants are so huge from being stretched out in my third trimester last time that I can’t even consider wearing them right now. I had to go out and buy some new ones. I am already feeling extremely limited in what I can wear—I have like ONE pair of work pants, yay! (sarcasm)—so I need to do some more shopping.
We’re excited. But it’s still really surreal. Right now, our focus is on making some pretty big transitions with Nora—all of which are in preparation for this baby. I know he or she will be here before we know it!
Flashback! 16 Weeks Pregnant With Nora
14 Responses to 16 Weeks: Wait. I’m Pregnant?
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About
I'm Heather. I'm 33 and have been married to Michael for seven years. Together, we have two beautiful little girls we love more than anything, and a miniature dachshund who drives us crazy. I'm a full-time working mom who has very little time for my own "stuff" these days, like home improvement, cooking/baking, cake decorating, and photography. Despite the team not making the playoffs since 1999, I'm STILL a Buffalo Bills fan, which I think speaks to my loyalty AND sense of humor. I can't wait to pick up the pace with travel again some day... you know, when we're done being ruled by tiny fists. Welcome to my blog.
Will you be finding out this time around or leaving it as a surprise again like with Nora? I’m sure that everyone has already asked you this question, it just so exciting. I had my daughter a few months after you had Nora so it was kind of nice, it felt like I had some connection with you. My hubby and I are still trying for #2, so maybe by some bizarre stroke of luck I’ll get pregnant again and be able to follow your blog again with baby #2. (I really hope that doesn’t sound stalkerish… I promise it wasn’t meant that way.)
Hi Rachel,
We are planning another surprise. I have actually been feeling more tempted to find out this time—it feels like there’s a whole new element involved, because this determines not only what we will have, but whether Nora will have a brother or a sister! :) I think I am more curious for that reason than anything else. But the surprise was so fun last time that we’re going to stick it out. And no worries regarding being stalkerish (haha), I know what you mean about following bloggers who are on a parallel track with you. It’s so easy to relate! Good luck with trying for baby #2!
Phew, I’m glad you understand. I guess I’m just ansty for everyone else to find out because it’s so exciting to hear when they find out and how they tell everyone. I just did these super fun gender reveal cupcakes for someone that had a party for everyone, including the couple expecting, what they were having (pictures here: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151505208951224&set=a.137783896223.136786.137769436223&type=1&theater) They were so fun. This just seemed like something you would do since you’re good at making cakes. Best wishes with the rest of your pregnancy. I’m sure Nora will be a great big sister.
I enjoyed reading about your pregnancy with Nora and look forward to reading again. I agree I did not like the belly band either when I was pregnant either. I my h rather had worn stretch pants.
I bumped into your blog about three years ago because at one point I had the same due date (but then my due date got adjusted to Sept. 24). Now I’m due with #2 in late July, so I was thrilled to see your news! I was just complaining to friends yesterday that my maternity jeans from my first pregnancy are too stretched out and the belly band makes me feel like my pants are always falling down. I bought one new pair of maternity jeans and after a few weeks I feel like I’ve already worn out the knees— guess I’m crawling around on the floor a bit more with a toddler in the house! I have lots of short sleeve maternity shirts and can’t wait for it to get warm! I SO understand where you are coming from and continue to enjoy reading your blog.
Congrats again Heather! I just had my baby boy almost 7 weeks ago (and actually started using the prefolds I bought from Marie today, thanks). Anyways, the second time around is so much fun and kudos to you for keeping it a surprise again it would be super hard for me. During Christmas I kept wondering if there was something going on with you because you didn’t post a lot and I thought for a minute that you were pregnant since Nora is getting so big already so imagine my surprise when I saw the news :) It’s going to be so much fun reading about this journey again :)
Just wondering that with 2 kids will you take a year off from work or just do the maternity leave thing like you did with Nora and then place the baby into the same daycare Nora is in?
I know so many people who find with their second child its just easier to take 1 year or 2 off rather than put both into Childcare (as it ends up costing a similar amount as to what one of them earns).
But in the end its what you feel is best for your little family :)
Hi Erin, yes, I will be returning to work. It’s true that daycare is ridiculously costly, but we planned accordingly. We wouldn’t have had a second if we couldn’t have afforded the daycare! It’s still worthwhile for me to work, my salary covers more than the cost of daycare, thankfully. The new baby will go to the same daycare with Nora! We’ll have to pay for two in full-time daycare for two years, but then Nora will start kindergarten. Crazy!
I haven’t had a chance to say congrats yet since I’ve been taking care of my own LO who will be 10 weeks old tomorrow! So…CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! I’m so excited for you and your family.
I do have to ask you this, I’ve had this question for you for the last month or so. How do you find time to blog????? I have had a blog for a while and I have been reading yours for years. When you had Nora I thought it was so neat that you wrote her a monthly letter and were able to get on and update almost daily (or close). I can hardly find the time to READ a blog let along actually write in mine. My little girl eats every 2 hours still and doesn’t nap very well. 20 mins is about her max and then we have to try to shush her back to sleep. I want so badly to get on and post pictures and write but I simply can’t find any time to do it.
Did Nora nap really well? I hope at some point I can get on and “catch up” but I’m not seeing it any time soon lol. These little babies take up a lot of time!
She is in the middle of her 20 min nap now but wanted to write this on the computer instead of my phone lol.
Congratulations again, so happy for you and I look forward to hearing all about this pregnancy :-)
P.S. I briefly searched through your blog because I can’t remember that far back, but did you write about Nora’s sleep habits? Sleeping during the night, naps and how often she nursed? I’m always looking for other people’s experiences.
Hi Lena,
We’ve been really lucky with Nora all of her life in that she has been a great sleeper pretty much from the very beginning. I didn’t really blog about it at the time because I didn’t want to 1) appear to be bragging, or 2) jinx anything! But she started sleeping through the night–like good 8+ hour stretches–when she was only two weeks old!! It was insane. And it spoiled me big time. I am scared to death of what this next baby will be like. When she did wake, it was only once during the night to eat. I got good at nursing her in the side-lying position so I wouldn’t even get out of bed. I’d continue dozing (or sometimes would just completely pass the heck out) while she nursed and then put her back in her bed (which at the time was a Rock ‘n’ Play). No getting up for a diaper change or anything.
It took a while for her to be a “good napper,” though. Most babies tend not to really get on a napping schedule until around 4 months old. I used to blog when she was nursing, or sometimes with her sleeping on me. It’s not easy! The frequency of my posting definitely decreased once she was born; it’s tough!
During the daytime, I used to nurse Nora at LEAST every three hours. I would wake her up if I had to. I felt like if I could get her on a good schedule during the day and “load her up” on milk throughout, she would have a better chance of sleeping through the night. I know that does NOTHING for some people, but whatever it was, it worked for her… so I stuck with it!
Good luck! She’s only 10 weeks, I promise it will not be like this forever. :)
Thanks for the response. Now that you mention it I do remember you saying something about her being a good sleeper and not wanting to jinx it. I hope that you’re second one is as easy because let me tell ya…the flip side is not fun. I just got Alivia down for a nap in her swing, slept 30 mins then I had to shush her and hold her arms down while kinda staying out of her view for 15 mins before she fell back asleep. It’s now been 16 mins…we’ll see if it lasts more than 20.
I do nurse her a LOT during the day. Every 2-3 hours as well. She just seems to have a hard time staying asleep after the initial 20 mins of “light sleep”.
We’re working on it though. My biggest fear is when I go back to work. My MIL is watching her and I’m afraid Alivia will never sleep bc it takes so much to help her fall and stay asleep. I wish I could stay home with her :-)
I currently have LO in a Rock-N-Play as well. (How long did you have her in there?) We use the Snugga-monkey bc it is at an incline and she has acid reflux. It’s nice having it right by my bed since she wakes so much. I think her meds need adjusted because last night was really bad. She ended up sleeping in bed with me all night propped up on my arm so she could nurse when she needed and not let the reflux bug her too much. Long night!
Anyway, thanks again. Hopefully I’ll be able to get back to blogging soon.
Feel your pain on the maternity pants thing!! I was not a huge bella band fan but it did help a lot to keep up too loose maternity pants. If I used it with my normal pants, I wore it differently than it says – put it on inside out, put my pants on OVER the band, then rolled down the band on top of my pants. It stayed MUCH better that way!
I definitely had many of those “oh wait, I’m pregnant” moments. How can you not chasing after a 2 year old on top of everyday life. Kira actually reminded me a few times when she’d ask to “touch the baby.” I also moved into my maternity clothes by 15weeks, maybe I freaked a little bit ha-ha. I called a friend of mine, mother of 3, who said that by her 3rd she was into her maternity clothes by 10weeks; it had gotten earlier with each child.
You’re having babe #2 and I just had babe #1! :)
Bella Bands suck. I couldn’t use them without them riding up. I finally broke down and just wore leggings with VERY LONG shirts or dresses.
You look great! Everyone told me how little I was the entire time…I must have hid my 51 lb weight gain well. :)