Good morning!

Here I am at 15 weeks and have I ever popped.I look especially huge in the evenings after dinner.

Over the weekend, it was decided that I am done with most of my regular clothing until August.  Thanks again to my amazing, wonderful husband for buying me a pair of maternity jeggings!  YES, I am still excited about them and yes, I still love them a week later.

As I grow, my non-maternity shirts and hoodies are getting too short/stretched out.  I may have to invest in a few long-sleeved maternity tops as I have none from the last time around.

Cravings- I have randomly craved a chocolate frosted donut with sprinkles, cashews (why are they so expensive), diet cherry coke, and as per usual, I could eat candy and chocolate all of the time.  I am doing my best to restrain myself.

Weight Gain- I am definitely starting to gain weight and if I am being honest, it feels weird after trying so hard to lose weight for the past year.I know I have to roll with it, I know that it’s fine and that it’s for the best, it is just a weird sensation to step on the scale and see the number go up.

Fatigue- I have good days and bad days.  I am definitely not as tired as I was in the first trimester but I still try to take a nap most days when Lula does.  Even fifteen minutes of shut-eye can help my energy levels in the afternoons!

Food Aversions- I still dislike the smell of Pa and Lula’s smoothies and butternut squash soup grosses me out.

smoothie + oats = ICK

Exercise- so far, I have maintained four days a week of running and I am trying to take walks on non-running days, if only when the weather is nice.

I learned long ago that no matter my mood, taking a brisk walk can almost always turn it around, or at least help me feel better!

Congestion- it is here!  I had it when I was pregnant with Lula, but not to this extent.  Every night, usually around 2 AM, I roll over and my nose begins to run and itch.  I can’t imagine how attractive I look once I stuff tissue up my nose to try to alleviate the problem.  A few time, I’ve ended up sleeping on the couch because I can’t stop sneezing and don’t want to wake up the whole household…good times!

This month’s doctor’s appointment- everything was fine.   My doctor is a character and we love going to him.  Often he will sit and chat for a long time but at my last appointment, we were there late in the day, and clearly he was ready to go home.

A qualifier: for my second pregnancy, I am not nearly as stressed, worried, or anxious about hearing Baby 2′s heartbeat, how much weight I’m gaining or not, if I should be slowing down my exercise to make sure my heartbeat doesn’t get above a certain level, etc.

Back to the appointment.

I asked him a few questions, after which he had me lay down to check Baby 2′s heartbeat.  He proceeded to talk the entire time the monitor was on (about 10 seconds).  After he turned it off, he said, “The baby sounds good.”  Seriously, I am pretty sure he didn’t hear anything other than static and I know that Pa and I didn’t.  We both cracked up when we recounted the story later because it was so obvious he was ready to get out of there.  Good times.

And finally…movement!  Occasionally, when I am very still, I feel some little flip flops taking place.  I think they might be Baby 2 frolicking around, which makes me smile.

Happy Thursday!