21 weeks

How far along:  21 weeks  (1.22.15)

Total weight gain/loss: 11 lbs - i've been 126 pretty consistently the last several days

Maternity clothes:  yes... shirts.  i've been wearing pretty much only maternity shirts lately or regular shirts that have the gathering on the sides.  maternity shirts definitely make me look bigger than non-maternity shirts, but at least then i look big and pregnant, not smaller but beer bellied.  i bought a black bella band from old navy this week and have worn it once.  i borrowed and used one pretty much every day when i was pregnant with abigail, but with brady i didn't have one and got along fine.  so this time i wasn't planning on getting one except that it was half off and only $8.50 and in the size and color i wanted so i just went with it.  i tried it out one day with my super small target skinnies (i ditched those during brady's pregnancy when i was just single weeks along) and it worked really well.  much better than the borrowed one i used to use, but i think this one works better because it's an extra small and is super snug and secure.  sooo, here's hoping i don't have to wash and wear the same pair of maternity jeans every day later in pregnancy since i can use this on my regular jeans and have some more variety.

Sleep:  pretty horrible.  mostly because i came down with a horrendous cold and can't take anything for it.  so i've been up blowing my nose every hour of the night and doing my best at attempting to sleep sitting up (so i can breath).  also, i think it's because my cold has kept me half awake and messed with my sleep cycles, but my pregnancy dreams have been beyond bizarre this week.  like i couldn't even begin to describe them because they are so weirdly intricate and so far off from anything resembling reality or normal life.  the plus side, i slept through the night (11:30 to 7:30) so i think i'm getting better!  i had several nights of a stabbing sore throat and then several more nights of congestion so bad i couldn't breathe and gagging/coughing when i would sneeze or blow my nose (because i was so stuffed up) so just regular congestion is a welcome sight!  the best news through it all though is that my days haven't been too horrible.  not sure if that's just because i'm comparing them to my nights which are so much worse, or what... but really the days have been totally manageable and i haven't wanted to die.  

Best moment this week:  i don't think there's been just one moment, but honestly, the whole week has been just great!

Movement:  just the same that it has been.  i'm feeling stronger and more frequent quicks and punches though.  thankfully, a few less rolls this week and i'm getting better about focusing on something else and not thinking about how uncomfortable it is.

Food cravings:  eating has been great. is that obvious by my weight gain as of late? ; )  i'm wanting more variety of foods lately and more and more often lately i'll sit down to eat something and it will taste better than anticipated (whereas i used to make a meal, take one bite of it, and be completely repulsed) which was super great when i was eating french dip leftovers from our freezer and spaghetti leftovers from our fridge.  we've been eating out a lot (because jan and feb are just like that for us and we've got a lot of gift cards and other stuff going on) so that's probably also contributing to my weight gain.  friday night we went to outback (i got french onion soup and a steak and mashed potatoes) to use our last outback giftcard and i've got to say it again... texas roadhouse is so much better than outback!  the bread, the salad, the steaks, the serving sizes, etc.  i do like that outback has french onion soup... but everything else is better at texas roadhouse.  anyways... we'll be back to those gift cards for the remainder of the year so no worries for my pregnant, steak loving self.  sunday night we went to the hilliers for dinner (so we could have a family history lesson after) which was delicious and i got off easy only needing to bring a salad (romaine, mandarin oranges, craisins, and pecans with poppyseed dressing) and kelsey made a deliciuos chocolate fudge and reese's peanut butter cup cake.  monday afternoon was mlk day and the boys went skiing and then to the office while klaudette, kelsey, and i (plus kids) went to red robin (since johnny carinos is closed now... so sad about not getting a wedge salad) and i got the turkey blt with avocado on a croissant and it was wonderful!  it really hit the spot!  monday night we went to seasons 52 for a work dinner thing with stacy and her husband and then brent, klaudette, bri, and kelsey and while it was good (they make what's in season and everything is under 450 calories), i would have loved a good 2000 calorie dish from cheesecake factory.  ; )  anyways, i ordered the shrimp pasta and honey got the salmon and we shared... both were delicious.  anyways, i've been doing very little cooking and a lot of eating out and my belly is growing exponentially as a result.  also, i normally only like cold cereal during summer months when it's warm outside and virtually never eat it during the winter.  this past week... oooo i've been loving cold cereal!  it's my first thought when i wake up in the morning.  i've loved cookie crisp, life, and frosted flakes.  maybe next week i can like something with a little nutrition in it?  but don't worry, i'm still eating tons of eggs... just normally for lunch now since breakfast is all about the cold cereal.

Symptoms: nausea has been almost non-existent this week and only at night.  other than that, pregnancy dreams, and thinking about food a lot more than usual, i haven't been experiencing pregnancy related symptoms.

Gender:  my goodness, i'm so excited to have a little baby girl!!!  i need to go through those bins of clothes from abigail in the next month or so.  there are SO MANY little girl clothes and i know we don't need them all.  also, i've noticed with my kids that i would much rather repeat a favorite outfit than put them in things i love just for variety.  does that make sense?  so i need to get rid of dated, stained, worn, etc. clothes that i know i won't put on my child and give them to someone that will appreciate and make good use of them.  that'll be a big job though.  i'm also trying to think of ways to transform brady's nursery into something that looks girly again.  also, i'm so wishy washy about the future bedroom setup for our kids and if i really want abigail and brady to share a room.  i wonder if i could put a crib in abigail's closet and keep all else the same... she's the deepest sleeper and a better listener than brady.  hmmm i wonder if that would fit...

What I miss:  not worrying about my weight.  i know i'm technically on track as i have bee with my previous two pregnancies, but for whatever reason, i can't get that through my head, and i already feel myself beginning to wonder (as i did both times before) if i'm gaining too much too fast (it always comes in spurts) or eating too much unhealthy food or a not balanced enough diet.  the guilt and worry that comes with knowing your food choices are affecting another human.. one that is developing inside of you.  all of that being said, my food choices are never influenced by these thoughts... it's just the thoughts and worry themselves.

Milestones:  being on the other side of 20 weeks.  i'm worried at how fast the next few months are going to fly by so i'm trying to just soak up all the wonderfulness of being pregnant and enjoying my two kids.
Theme: the week of i think my belly popped even again... it's really huge to have so many weeks to go.
What's different this time around:  with both previous pregnancies i'm pretty sure i was decently consumed with thoughts of food by now... this is looking to be the same.  

Extra:  i'm thinking we should get a minivan before this baby (instead of before our fourth as we'd previously planned) so i'm looking into that.  i also feel like i'm somewhat nesting already but i can't tell if it's actually that or if i'm just wanting to get organized and get my life in order because it's the beginning of the year, or mostly likely, because i don't feel like crap anymore and am anxious to get my hands on a good organizing project.  anyways, i need to sort through girl stuff, research minivans, research and buy a five year food supply for five people, keep thinking of the different possibilities to configure three kids into two bedrooms, and eventually tackle the basement mess that somehow happened when i was experiencing a few months of morning sickness.

1.27.15 at 21 weeks 5 days

1.27.15 at 21 weeks 5 days