bump watch: 2nd trimester must haves

seeing as i am almost to my 3rd trimester (WHAT?!?), i figured i would document some of the things that have worked (and haven't) in my 2nd trimester, especially as its becoming more obvious to strangers that i am pregnant.  by no means am i claiming to be some sort of pregnancy expert, but this may be useful for one person, or even for me if and when we get pregnant again.

so.  i guess the biggest thing this trimester that i have kind of figured out what works for me is the clothes.  i have a bump now (obviously) and its hard/weird to know how to show it off, what works with it, etc.  i have a ton of great maternity tops, but they're all still big on me. i feel like they will be great in the third tri.  so, my absolute FAVORITE tops right now are the long stretchy tanks from target. i literally have them in every color.

i like to wear these layered over a snug cami/undershirt thing and a sweater over it for work. add a long necklace and some earrings, and you are good to go!  for non-work events, i wear the same tops with either maternity shorts, skirts, or long maxi non-maternity skirts. speaking of, these skirts from target are also THE BEST.  they aren't maternity, but they have this bunchy fabric at the top that you can stretch over the belly, and they are nice and thick material. i have them in 4 styles now.

for my shorts, my favorite ones are some from motherhood maternity that my mom bought me for my birthday. i don't see them on the website anymore, but they are full panel black shorts, a little longer than normal shorts, so very modest.  i have them in M and L, and for now, the M fits me.  but i am glad i bought both sizes. i also got this pair of half-panel denim shorts from target that i like--but with any half-panel bottoms, you really have to wear a great cami/undershirt.  the problem with those is your back will squish out the top of the panel.  its super cute, let me tell you. 

for work pants and jeans, my absolute favorites are from gap and old navy, moreso gap.  all of their sizes run true to pre-pregnancy, and i like the full and demi panel tops on their long and capri pants.  the gap jeans are also the only ones so far that don't bother the CRAP out of me by the end of the day, and they also have real pockets. (other maternity jeans have fake pocket panels you can't really use.)  

since i am in my 2nd tri in the summer and its starting to get into bathing suit season, i have also had to make some investments into maternity swimwear.  i rarely wear a bikini pre-pregnancy, so there was no way i was going to rock one with a belly.  (more power to those girls who have awesome bodies with a teeny bump. i am just not one of those girls.) not to mention, my, ahem, ladies cannot be corralled by a normal bathing suit top any longer.  NONE of my bathing suit tops would fit in a way that i would wear in public.  so i ended up buying two maternity tankini tops and a maternity one piece.  none of them is super baggy on the growing tummy, and they are all really supportive up top.  the two tankini tops are from (you guessed it) target! and the one piece that i get a TON of compliments on is from my birthday shopping spree at motherhood maternity.  

things i HATE: leggings.  i have worn leggings all of one time so far and i absolutely was messing with them all day long. i kept tugging on them, pulling, etc, and felt really self conscious.  leggings are not for the faint of heart.  also, belly bands.  it was ok for about, a minute, but after an hour or two or wearing them, they would make me NUTS. i would rather go ahead with the paneled pants than mess with belly bands.  ARGH.  and they seemed to come apart really easily too. 

other than clothes, i haven't really bought into the stuff you NEED being pregnant (yet).  i have a ton of belly butter, but i literally just this week started using it.  i kinda think that stretch marks are going to happen whether i slather my belly or not, but this week i have been kind of itchy and tight, so i am more using it for that than anything else.  same with those big pregnancy pillows--maybe in the coming months i will want one, but for now, the extra pillow on our bed is completely fine for me.  for prenatals, i tend to like whatevers in ONE pill and is swallowable. those dang chewy things made me sick after awhile.  i am pretty sure i am on a nature made bottle right now.  

i haven't had many cravings per say, but i do like to have the freezer stocked for after dinner dessert at night.  some stuff that i usually like is rainbow sherbert, weight watchers snickers ice cream bars, good old fashioned chocolate milk, and (occasionally) coke floats.  i am betting that as it gets hotter, my cold treats will be more and more welcome.  i also like to keep at least a couple of different types of juice in the fridge.  i get sick of water all the time, and its nice to have a glass of juice with dinner (instead of wine).  this past week i have been having milk though because i feel a teeny bit of heartburn happening. capri sun is a new found friend of mine.  

i think those are the big things i am digging in my 2nd trimester...i am sure they will change and adapt as i cruise into the 3rd tri! (EEEEEE!!)  and here's hoping i get some energy to start this kids room going.....whoops! 

bump watch: 25 weeks

today is my little hopey bears 13th birthday and also marks my 25th week of pregnancy!!  (can you believe hope is a TEENAGER??? me either.)

all in all, things are going pretty well. we are cruising right along in the pregnancy.  we just got back from our 2nd annual easter camping trip, which i will write about separately, and life is pretty good. i mentioned in my last post that my placenta was marginally-low lying--well, at my 24 week apt it has moved! so no more pelvic rest and no more potential talks about a c-section because of the placenta.  HOWEVER, i did get some other news.  i am anemic, so they are starting me on iron pills, and i also have low platelet count.  the iron thing we can fix with pills and foods (olivers researched what foods i should be eating) but the platelets are just one of those things.  in pregnancy, the doctors like to see the platelet count of 154-370ish i think, and mine are at 134.  so not terribly low, but definitely something to watch.  if they go below 100 around the time of delivery, an epidural is apparently out of the question.

so.

there's that.

but i'm (we're) choosing to think positively and not worry.  i'm a natural worrier, and i honestly feel proud of how LITTLE worrying i have done so far regarding the baby, pregnancy in general, etc.  my bff annie has even mentioned how impressed she is with my lack of worrying.

the anemia, now that i know that is what is causing the tiredness, makes sense and actually makes me feel a little bit better to know that there's actually something wrong and i am not just a lazy bum.  i am anxious to get my iron pills started and see if that kicks the energy back up.  right now i could lay down and sleep for about 4 hours.  that is not conducive to getting a lot of stuff done.

we have picked a name and shared it with family and friends..but i don't think i want to share on the blog JUST IN CASE.  maybe i will change my mind later in the pregnancy, but for now, i don't really want it out there like that.

little miss is still kicking up a storm in there, to the point where oliver, family, friends, and i think harley can feel and see her moving, and i can feel her over my clothes (instead of having to have a hand on my bare belly).  she especially likes to kick after lunch and after dinner, when her dad is playing music, when her sister is barking, and at loud noises.  she also likes when i take my baths.  as far as what i've gotten done so far....the list is short.  we picked a daycare and i am pretty sure we have a pediatrician picked out, but thats really it.  her room is still the guest room and dark blue, and i've got to paint the hallway and guest bath too.  we also need to register and start getting ready to have a real live baby in the house.  it seems far away in some ways, but i know once may 1 is here, its going to FLY.  3 months from cinco de mayo, i could be having a baby!

as far as the weight gain, i have gained 13 lbs so far, which my doc says is fine.  ugh.  i hate seeing the scale go up, but oliver is good about reassuring me that shes healthy and i am healthy and need to gain weight.  since i am back off pelvic rest, we started my little "work outs" too.  he is big on getting me to stretch my body and get stronger for labor and delivery, and harley is happy to walk the mile around our neighborhood with me. so i do have a great support system for trying to get strong and ready for her birth.

on a non-baby update, work is going good. i miss the interns, as much as i hate to admit it, but i think if i did have to manage that program right now i would be SO stressed.  i am getting ready to study for and take my PMP exam.  i'll be so happy when that is behind me and i can focus on baby baby baby.  i've got both showers on the calendar for june, and cannot wait!!! but i also have been receiving the cutest baby stuff from friends and family.  baby's cousin scott got her a little camo dress for deer season, and she got boots and headbands from scott's wife tonya.  she also got a vera bradley onesie from her aunt mims, and some adorable burp cloths and a silver baby spoon from my work friend tammy.  she is going to be one spoiled girl!

Ok enough rambling...here's my 25 week bump pic. I have given up on the whole mess of taking them with the big camera and uploading, etc. so bathroom selfies are where it's at for the next 15 weeks.