What’s Going On

on November 13, 2014
in All Posts

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I’m at this weird point in my life where I am simultaneously in countdown mode while begging time to move slower. I remember this happening towards the end of my pregnancy with Henry, too – you’re looking forward to meeting your baby but the upcoming changes make you feel so anxious. 

 

I’m a tad bittersweet about it will impact my firstborn’s life.  I know that Henry will really enjoy a sibling, but I get teary eyed whenever we’re all alone and he announces, “It’s just mommy and Henry!” (he likes to identify who is in the room).  So we’ve been soaking up family time, as well as mom/son time, to try to squeeze the last few drops of the whatever time we have left with just one child.  Soon – he’ll be a big brother!

 

I definitely cried writing that last paragraph.  Damn pregnancy hormones!

 

I’ve had a rough few days, actually.  I ended up in Labor & Delivery on Tuesday morning (from 3 AM to 5 AM – ouch) because I was cramping pretty badly and concerned about the baby’s movement.  I kind of felt like a worrywart checking in, but the super kind nurses assured me that it’s better to be safe than sorry.  This kiddo is just so lazy compared to how Henry was in utero – what’s normal for this pregnancy seems so different.  But everything was perfectly fine!  Whew.  The cramping has continued almost non-stop since – again, just so different than my first pregnancy, where I was practically symptom-free until my water broke in the middle of the night.

 

Check out the difference in my belly – there’s only 8 weeks in between the pictures!

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My body is clearly busy, but I’ve been trying to strike a balance between resting and getting some exercise… if I don’t make an effort, I find myself glued to the couch eating Nutella straight from the jar (okay, that happens anyway…).  I think I probably “exercise” more than I know just by taking care of busy toddler, but I’ve been trying really hard to stick to my walks, too.  As long as I have Kristien to push the stroller, I can nearly do 2.0 miles. 

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So – that’s my update! 

 

And here are some recent eats:

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Amaaaaazing pumpkin oatmeal (with pureed pumpkin, banana, DIY pumpkin spice, and brown sugar).

 

And this awesome Trader Joe’s soup:

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Which is really tasty with chips and cheese.

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<3

 

Hope all is well with you, too!

{ 20 comments }

 

  • Sarah November 13, 2014, 2:58 pm

    Love your bathing suit! Where is it from? I’m looking for a maternity suit for an upcoming beach vacation

  • Catalina @ Shades of Pink November 13, 2014, 3:36 pm

    Hi Caitlin, I have a quick question, hopefully you have some time to look at it, I remember in one post you mentioned that you wanted to transform Henry’s room into a Montessori one, which I like the idea. Does it mean that he goes to a Montessori pre-school? We want to enroll our son into one when he turns two, and I want the find your thoughts/opinions about the program. Thanks in advance.

    • Caitlin November 13, 2014, 3:48 pm

      I wish! The M preschools in charlotte are very expensive. I’ve just been trying to do more montessori actovities with him at home. There’s a group on FB called montessori on a budget that is really great!!

      • Catalina @ Shades of Pink November 14, 2014, 12:25 pm

        Thanks a lot for the reply, we live in Jersey City, NJ (very close to NY) and they are very expensive too, I want to send him for half day only (4hours), and its $1,500 a month. I know, crazy expensive, but I am working fulltime, and can’t be home to do the M activities with him during the week. I am lucky if I see him one hpur in the morning and 2 in the evening. Thanks again for your feedback.

  • Maryea {happy healthy mama} November 13, 2014, 3:44 pm

    Oh, I remember that bittersweet time waiting for baby #2. I love the photos of Henry resting on your belly! 🙂

  • Reghan November 13, 2014, 3:53 pm

    I worried about the same kind of stuff but it will be fun in a different kind of way! I have a 27 month old and a 12 week old and my son LOVES his new little sister. When I go to get him from nap and she’s with me he will get so excited and want me to carry them both down the stairs and he says “2 babies!” and lights up. It makes my heart melt.
    Also…you are totally having a girl. Just sayin’ 🙂

    • Erin November 14, 2014, 11:23 am

      Omg!! I have a 5 month old and a 28 month old. Her favorite is after her little sister’s nap. SHe runs in to see her and the baby smiles. She says “happy to see me!”. Then I carry them both downstairs. She ALWAYS says “two babies!” when I am carrying both of them!!!

      • Reghan November 18, 2014, 6:15 am

        haha aww I love it! I always remind him he’s a big boy and he nods and smiles his head lol

  • Mrs sob November 13, 2014, 4:03 pm

    I know what you mean about cherishing the last weeks of ‘only’ with your firstborn. We’re 11 weeks in to my son being a big brother and he’s doing amazingly. Whilst obviously he has to share my time now we’re able to do so much more now I’m not pregnant! Lots more fun now I can chase him so I actually don’t feel as guilty as I thought I would. Plus I try and make sure he has some mummy and son only time every weekend so he feels loved and special. Trying to emphasise quality time over quantity time with them both. Wishing you lots of luck with these final weeks and labour – mine was an undiagnosed breech birth with no time for an epidural and what got me through was saying ‘you can do this, you’ve done this before!’ over and over. Worked surprisingly well!

  • Rachel November 13, 2014, 4:17 pm

    Glad to hear you and little one are ok! It’s so scary when stuff like that happens. I remember having horrible pain with my first that got me sent for xrays.

    Henry will be so thrilled to be a big brother, so don’t worry too much (easier said than done, I know;). Kids are resilient and families have been expanding since the beginning of time! I’m on pins and needles waiting to see if you’re having a girl or boy.

    That soup plus “seriously sharp cheddar cheese” sounds amazing! I freakin’ love cheese…

  • Erin @ Her Heartland Soul November 13, 2014, 4:28 pm

    I love your belly! I’m so excited for your growing family!

  • Casey @ Camo Tails November 13, 2014, 5:20 pm

    You’re doing such a great job! Keep up the awesome work.

    Henry is going to be such a great big brother, and even if life will be busy when the baby is born, I’m sure you will find ways to still spend one-on-one time with him 🙂

  • Jess T November 13, 2014, 8:29 pm

    My #2 is 6 weeks and I look back on those last few weeks of just me and my big boy with such fondness. It’s been a rough transition at times, but waaaaay easier than from 0 to 1 kid! Can’t wait for your little guy or gal. We have two boys and just love it!

  • Jess November 13, 2014, 9:24 pm

    I can so relate…due with baby #2 mid December and the siblings will be about 27 months apart. Bittersweet indeed. Isn’t it crazy how different each pregnancy can be? And so much more taxing on the body this time around with a toddler to take care of as well!

    Best of luck to you in this home stretch of pregnancy!

  • Tricia November 14, 2014, 6:00 am

    I totally feel you. We had to go through (only) 6 months of fertility treatments to get pregnant the first time. I was in shock when it actually worked. My son is going to be 1 on Tuesday… And I’ll be 27 weeks pregnant. What?! The doctors told us that our best chance of conceiving on our own was in the first few postpartum months. We tried on our own for a year with our first so we didn’t think it was even remotely possible that it would work. Well it did! We are so happy but it is bittersweet sometimes. On one hand, I’m grateful that Nolan won’t have memories of just the 3 of us or being “dethroned” as they say… But simultaneously that makes me so sad!! So, we recently did professional family photos/1st bday pics. I’m so glad we did. I feel like we froze a moment in time. Being pregnant the second time is just so different though.

  • Stephanie @ Whole Health Dork November 14, 2014, 12:03 pm

    Sorry you’ve had a crummy few days. It must be such a bittersweet time! I can tell you that as the oldest of two, I don’t have any bad memories of going from the only child to having a sibling. I think I felt a sense of responsibility (yes, at 2.5 years old) that I now had this baby I had to help my mom look out for. People still paid me plenty attention, especially since I could communicate with them. So don’t feel too bad for him–think of all you’re giving him and how your family will be different, but even more amazing. Think of Henry x2 (in terms of the love, not in terms of the complexity).
    I can’t believe the difference in those two pictures! Holy growing baby! Love Henry’s expression in the first picture. Too stinking cute!
    Enjoy these last days/weeks with your son!

  • Christina @ The Beautiful Balance November 15, 2014, 12:22 am

    Such an exciting time for you! You look beautiful!

  • ida November 16, 2014, 4:33 pm

    i was sick a few weeks ago and finally tried a neti pot-it’s amazing!

  • Katie November 17, 2014, 9:43 am

    I totally understand your thoughts. I have a daughter Henry’s age and had a baby two months ago. I SOBBED like a baby when my water broke and we dropped her off at my parents house because I felt like I was turning her whole world upside down. Of course, everything was great and she is obsessed with her baby brother 🙂 Enjoy these last few weeks!

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