I apologize for the no-make up, bed-hair picture. I had to quickly take it this morning straight out of bed.
Weeks are definitely dragging but at least I feel well.
STATS:
Baby size: Little Alexis is about 1 2/3 pounds and is 14 inches long head-to-heel. “Air sacks are developing in your baby’s lungs, which means it just might be possible for your baby to take a breath at the end of this week.” AWESOME!
How far along: 26 WEEKS
Total weight gain: 154lb (that’s +1 for this week for a total of 18 lbs). If I continue gaining 1 pound a week like I’m supposed to ( or is it 1/2 lb in the third trimester?), I’ll be at 33 lbs total pregnancy weight gain , which is fine. Doesn’t seem like much to lose.
Sleep: Body aches – oh they are starting. I wake up with sore muscles almost every morning. Luckily the soreness subsides pretty quickly. Going to the bathroom now 4-5 times a night ( I drink a lot of water after those bathroom breaks)
Maternity Clothes: Dresses when I go out, otherwise comfy pants and sleeping bra at home. I am finally at the point where I need to buy new underwear in the next size up. What I have is getting awfully uncomfortable.
I just bought “threads for thought” organic pants from Whole Foods ( i know, right?) to wear around the house and they are so comfy. I’ve been buying their tees to wear at home and I am just really digging them. Thought I’d give a heads up to other preggo women. The pants are really stretchy and soft and a perfect loungewear during pregnancy.
Food cravings : Garlic whole grain pasta and flash fried zucchinni, homemade ceasar salad wrap, mashed potatoes.
Food aversions: None
Symptoms:
Heartburn – Mild
Rash – Mild
Energy- on and off
Braxton Hicks- I am finally having them. During the last 2 appointments my doctor inquired about BH but I honestly didn’t know what they were supposed to feel like. I told him I was having some cramping on and off and he said that might have been it, but whenever he described the tightening I really couldn’t tell that I had felt that before. So I figured I was having BH but just wasn’t recognizing them. So finally about a week and a half ago, the actual Braxton Hicks started- the feeling is unmistakable- your belly tightens completely! I’ve been having them pretty much daily- once or twice a day. Work, body, work!
Exercise: It’s truly amazing how much exercise does! I am starting to get back pain on the days that I skip exercise because I am too busy. The days when I do my ab and back routine as well as walk are pain free. So ladies, don’t skimp on it! I am hoping that while I feel good I can get as much back/ab strengthening as I can. It truly makes you feel so much better.
Movement: She’s an active little girl, which I hope continues. She’s also somehow kicking the side of my waist. How earth she’s getting to it – I have no idea.
Belly Button: An innie with a Napoleon complex.
Gender: GIRL!
Best moment of the week: Accomplishing 3 different HUGE projects that I’ve been working on for at least a year. It’s such a relief and such a weight of my shoulders.
What I’m looking forward to:
Time moving faster! But at the same time, I am trying to remind myself to enjoy these few months left without diapers, lack of sleep, no time for things I like and with just the two of us. I am not a patient person and while I love change, I hate temporary states. For me pregnancy is a temporary state “to get through”, and I have to keep my mind from racing ahead and dreaming of times when Alexis is here and be more in the present enjoying it.
What I miss:
Smoked salmon and brie cheese! I am starting to strongly desire things I cannot have. I have to tell you: the second that baby is out ( well, after hours of cuddling), I will be requesting a smoked salmon focaccia bread and Fiji sushi roll.
Things that have been on my mind:
1. My mom ( whos’ in Russia and who I talk to daily via Skype and who will be coming before birth to be with us and help us out and whom my husband adores and who is the most loving and devoted human being I’ve ever encountered in my life….) is incredibly excited about meeting Alexis and my heart melts when she says things like this every time we talk: “Len (my short name), I am totally shocked that I feel like I know Alexis. I mean I had never felt it with you or your sister before you were born or any of the grandchildren. They were always just hypothetical, and I always cared about “the mother” not the child during pregnancy. But with you I just feel like she’s here and I know her and her temperament. Like, she’s already such a “naughty” (meant in a good way) girl! And I already love her SO MUCH, like I know her. I’ve never experienced anything like that”
I love it when she says that! It’s so sweet and it makes me and Alexis feel so special. She calls her “my little brat” ( again the use of that particular word in Russian is meant in a playful manner- “zasranka”). I know she feels that way partly because of the ultrasounds they didn’t have in her day, partly because I tell her so much about Alexis and her development and I share things we are doing to help that development as if we already have her.
2. Since this post is late due to the fact that my hubby cut his foot and we had to go to an ER to get it stitched up/glued together ( some of you know about it from my Facebook page), the nursery update will be one day late, as well. Hope to post it by Saturday. And then Sunday I’ll be talking about yet another maternity/nursing company as part ofPregnant with Style project. This time it’s all about LINGERIE!!!! 😉
I went to a Chiropractor every week during my last trimester. She specialized in maternity chiropractics. I had severe siatic pain and she was AMAZING! I highly recommend that if you get to uncomfortable.
I went to a chiro every single week (twice a week) during most of my pregnancy. I had absolutely terrible back aches and headaches that went away almost immediately after I started going. I LOVED IT. Plus my baby was actually breach for a little while and he totally turned her around! I couldn’t be more happy with my experience.
and Lol @ zasranka! My mom calls me that from time to time lol
I hope I can keep the back pain to a minimum, but if not- I totally see me going to a chiro daily 🙂
Glad your hubby’s foot is doing better! Ouch! It’s so hard not to wish away pregnancy. You just can’t wait to meet the little person inside. I know the feeling!
I love the way your belly looks from the front 🙂 nice shape!
Alexis is gonna be such a spoiled kiddo 🙂 spoiled with love and attention 🙂
She totally is! I’m loving it! We definitely waiting long enough to have her 🙂
What beautiful pictures! I can’t get enough of baby-related posts — baby fever!
Thanks, Emily :))))
Hey great post and totally love the photos. Will vote for you…..
You look great Elena!! It looks like we started out the same pre-preg weight and you’re being good and keeping on track. I ended up gaining 60 pounds during my pregnancy. YIKES. I had terrible, debilitating nausea 24/7 my entire pregnancy, so almost half of it I barely got out of bed. Would have helped if I could have kept exercising! Now Lillian is almost 5 months old and I’ve lost most of the weight…still have 11 pounds to go though.
WOW, 60 is a lot, but I totally see how easy it is to gain weight during pregnancy. The second I put a few extra cookies in my mouth I gain an extra pound for that week. And I can’t imagine not being able to get out of bed, and having to constantly eat because you get nauseous otherwise. I’m so sorry you went through that. It’s funny, because before I got pregnant, I was somewhat terrified of gaining too much, but now I see it as “well, it also can be lost- no biggie. As long as the baby gets all her nutrients”.
Good job on loosing almost all of it- you look fabulous, especially considering it’s only been 5 months!
Thanks Elena! You have a good attitude about it…that will help a lot in losing the weight afterwards! Funny thing is my feet puffed up so much AFTER giving birth and took almost a week to get back to looking like feet. But then you shed all the water weight almost all at once and then the scale numbers just keep coming down.
That’s good to hear! It’s so weird, but I get excited just thinking about things like losing weight after the baby, seeing the scale go down. I’m strangely looking forward to all those things I’m supposed to go through. And hearing from you and your experience makes even more exciting!
Cool! 🙂