Happy Saturday, everyone! I'm posting this very special post today because I am officially full term and we will be welcoming our new little baby very very soon! This pregnancy has been a roller coaster of a ride, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm so grateful for this blessing of having another child and while I will miss his kicks and my big belly, I truly can't wait until he is finally in my arms. I wanted to look back on this 2nd pregnancy journey though because even though it was a difficult one, it was still incredible.

Finding Out
We found out we would be welcoming another baby in to our family back at the end of March. March 28th to be exact. We were all laying in bed just being lazy and it was dinner time. I was procrastinating packing for my trip to Nashville for one of my closest friend's bachelorette party. I jokingly said to Caleb, "I should probably be responsible and take a pregnancy test just to be sure I can drink this weekend." I has a week late on my period but I also had just finished my breastfeeding journey with Kai. My periods were all over the place while I was breastfeeding so I wasn't 100% convinced I was pregnant. I had an extra test stashed in the bathroom though so I figured it wouldn't hurt to take it just to be sure. Caleb got up and took Kai downstairs to get dinner ready and I told him I'd be right down after I took the pregnancy test. I did the thing, set it on the bathroom counter and went to change in to something comfy. I came back after 3 minutes and looked at the little screen (yes I had a digital one this time, ha! - Go read about us finding out about Kai to find out why that's funny) and it said YES. I was actually shocked. I just walked downstairs with the test in my hand in a daze. Caleb looked at me and said, "wait, really!?" He was so excited and our family was just filled with so much happiness over this new addition.

First Trimester
The sickness set it almost right after finding out I was pregnant at 6 weeks. I had terrible morning sickness this time around with throwing up in the mornings and being pretty nauseous all day long. It lasted well in to my 2nd trimester, too. I was so tired and I actually caught a terrible cold toward the end of my first trimester. I had a horrible cough for about 4 weeks and really just spent the majority of this time at home. I also found out that my progesterone was low at my confirmation appointment and had to take a daily progesterone pill to help sustain my pregnancy. It was a very scary thing to think I could have lost this precious little baby so while the progesterone probably made me extra nauseous, it was so worth it to keep this little one safe.

Second Trimester
The 2nd trimester is always the best part of pregnancy, in my opinion. I finally started to feel better towards the end of my 2nd trimester, which is always something to look forward to. I also started to feel baby kicks around 15 weeks this time, which is my absolute favorite part of pregnancy. We got to see the baby twice during ultrasounds, as well as find out we were having another boy! We hosted a BBQ at our house with some of our family and friends and did a fun reveal with balloons this time around. We actually didn't know it was a boy until the reveal this time! My best friend took the envelope we received at our doctor appointment and got the blue balloons for us to surprise us at the BBQ. Deep down I just knew we were having another boy but I was so still so excited and surprised when the blue balloons flew out of the bin. I did my best to enjoy this trimester and summer with Kai and I've got to say it was a really fun one.

Third Trimester
We finished redoing the nursery at the very beginning of my third trimester and it turned out even better than I had imagined. We went with the theme of the Hundred Acre Wood, and I'm so excited to spend lots of time in there nursing, cuddling, and playing with our little guy. Kai has slowly started to become more temperamental as my belly has gotten bigger. He knows change is coming and while it's very hard at some points, it's completely understandable. It has taught me a whole new level of love and patience. We've spent these last weeks just spending quality time together, pulling all the baby things out of storage, and organizing the house as much as we can. I also got to be Mike Wazowski for Halloween this year! Last time I said if I was going to be pregnant again during Halloween, I wanted to do that for my costume. I got lucky and my belly was nice and big for Halloween, so it worked out perfectly! I can't believe we're almost at the end and we're going to be starting this new journey so soon. Honestly though, I'm ready. My belly is so big now and I'm really struggling to get around these days. I'm ready to start healing but most importantly, I'm ready to hold our littlest baby boy in my arms. We're ready for you little guy, you're welcome anytime now!

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Happy November, everyone! It's also officially baby #2 month! My due date is the week of Thanksgiving and I'm 100% looking forward to starting this new journey in our life. I've started working 100% remote now, so I've been trudging along all week at home this week. I actually took a day off in the middle of the week to get some last minute baby stuff done as well as get some rest. I've started having a lot of false contractions, so I'm trying to get as much rest as possible before it's go time!

So if you haven't kept up with us on Instagram then you're probably still wondering what we're having...I meant to do this post months ago after we had our gender reveal party but per usual, time just got away from me. So I'm very excited to share on this little space that we're having another BOY!

In my heart, I knew we were having another little boy. Yes this pregnancy has been very different than my first one, but something kept telling me I was carry another incredible baby boy. I remember still being surprised though at our reveal! Right before we unveiled the gender, I remember second guessing myself and thinking, maybe it's a little girl!? Either way, our reveal was so special and the gathering was so much fun. Here's how we did it...

We had our 20 week anatomy ultrasound early in the week. We asked the tech to check the gender but not tell us what it was. She wrote it down and put it in an envelope for us to open later. That weekend, my best friend Ashlyn came in to town and we gave her the envelope. We hadn't looked at it all week because we wanted to be surprised at our reveal party with the rest of our friends and family. We hosted a BBQ at our house to do the big reveal. Ashlyn secretly opened the envelope and went to get either blue or pink balloons to tell us if it was going to be a boy or girl. Funny side note: it was a crazy hot day and helium + heat really don't mix well. All the balloons popped in her car on the way back to our house on her! She said it was like a massacre in her car! She got it all figured out though and safely made it back with a few balloons to release for us at the BBQ. She then put them in a bin and the wait continued...

After everyone arrived and filled up on some yummy appetizers, we went out in the backyard and opened the bin. The blue balloons flew out and we we're so excited to finally know we were having another little boy! To this day, I remember how happy my heart was and I'm so excited to be a mama to not just one, but two handsome little boys. I love being a boy mom. I know how to do it, I love it, and I feel like I'm pretty good at it. It suits me and I'm truly so honored that God has chosen me to mother not only another little baby, but another baby boy. He'll be in my arms so soon, and I truly cannot wait.

Happy happy Monday, friends! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. We had a slow one here, which was so necessary. Last week was really emotionally tough for us as it was the one year anniversary of my dad's passing away on Friday. We did make it out for Kai's first ever trick or treating Saturday afternoon though! This year we did Monsters Inc as a family. Kai was Boo, I was Mike Wazowski, and Caleb was Sully. In true Chicago fashion for Halloween, it was cold and drizzling. I remember it always use to be like that for me as a kid when I went trick or treating, so I thought it was very fitting for Kai's first time. However though, Kai woke up with a cold yesterday, so we stayed in all day just cuddle up on the couch watching all his favorite movies.

So I am officially 35 weeks pregnant and really feeling it! I looked back on some photos of how I looked at 35 weeks when I was pregnant with Kai compared to this pregnancy, and wow...this is how I looked when I was 40 weeks and my water had broke. It really is true that you're bigger and show way more after your first!

Cravings
The only thing I crave in excess right now is chocolate and pop. Of course right, two not healthy things at all. I just crave the carbonation of pop so badly all day long. Plus I am so tired these days that a Coke always sounds good for that extra caffeine kick.

The Not So Fun Stuff
I am so uncomfortable these days. I can no longer bend down to pick stuff up very well, touch my toes, etc. I wake up so much at night from having to turn from side to side because my hips are so achy. My belly is so big that my back is always on fire, too. However, whenever I'm sitting down, he is constantly kicking. The across the belly movements aren't bad at all, but he is so low right now that I can actually feel him in my hips and on my pelvic floor. I've also started having to wear a panty liner because after I go pee and stand up, I pee more. Awesome, right!?

The FUN Stuff
He is such a mover that it really is fun to watch him move around. The other night we actually saw the imprint of his foot. Toes and all! You hear about that stuff but I never actually thought I'd get to see it myself. I'm in full on nesting mode, too. It's a great feeling knowing that we're almost there. I spent a lot of this pregnancy sad and scared of what was to come, but now I am just ready. I'm so excited for this little guy to be here and finally be a mama to two incredible little boys.

The Medical Stuff
His heartbeat was 134 bpm last time I went to the doctor two weeks ago. I just love hearing it on the doppler. My blood pressure has been really good, too. I've gained about 30 lbs this pregnancy, so all is well! I get to go back to the doctor again this week and they are actually going to check my cervic this time to see if I'm dilated at all. I will also be getting tested for Group B Strep at this appointment. I had it during my first pregnancy, so it's really important that we check again this time around so they will know at the hospital if they have to give me antibiotics when I go in to labor.

I hope you all have a wonderful week! Follow along with us on Instagram as the baby watch is getting real these days!

Hooray for finally being 30 weeks pregnant and in my third trimester! The bump has officially started coming out of my t-shirt that I've been taking my bump photos in. I'm way bigger this time around but that's ok because I'm so grateful to be carrying this healthy little boy in there.

Cravings
Pop...oh gosh it's terrible, friends! I'm so sick of drinking water and all I want all day long is pop. I crave the carbonation so badly. That's really the only consistent thing right now though. Food hasn't really been a pattern lately and I'm just trying to eat a variety of things that are good for me. My top choices are salmon and sweet potatoes.

The Not So Fun Stuff
I'm starting to get so tired again. My "2nd trimester bliss" didn't last too long this time around and I've started to get uncomfortable. Sleeping has started getting harder plus chasing Kai around all day is pretty exhausting with my big belly.

The FUN Stuff
The baby kicks have started to be more rolling across my belly kicks now. I love watching him every night just moving around in there. I can already tell he's going to be a wild, playful little guy. It's been such a fun journey to see my belly get bigger and see Kai be excited for it. He always points to my belly and says "baby!" He loves to give my belly raspberries, too. It makes me laugh so hard. We finished the nursery, too and it looks so good! I can't wait to share it with you guys. Kai loves to run in there and point at the crib and say "baby!" I think he's getting excited for his little baby brother and it makes my heart burst to think about him as a big brother.

The Medical Stuff
I got my TDAP shot this time around at the doctor so the baby will be all set when he's born. We also have another ultrasound scheduled in 3 weeks to see if my placenta moved. I didn't get a third trimester ultrasound during my first pregnancy, so I'm grateful we get to see our little guy again before he's born. My doctor has ensured me that 99% of the time the placenta usually does move, but the only way to tell is with an ultrasound. I haven't had any spotting, which is a really positive sign that it moved. The baby has also already turned head down! He turned about 2 weeks ago. I had a couple of painful/high movement days from him and I just knew he was turning head down. Hopefully he stays put now so we'll be good to go in 10 weeks!

Time for another bump date! I am officially 25 weeks and starting to feel so much better. I'm almost to my third trimester but I've finally hit that pregnancy bliss and I'm so grateful for it. Here's how we're feeling at 25 weeks...

Cravings
The craving for sour candy continues. I'm still obsessed and I'm wondering when it's going to let up!? I've also been on a cheeseburger kick as well as a spicy food kick lately. I absolutely love spicy foods but I really try to limit it during pregnancy because of the fear of having severe heartburn. Not a problem so far though and if that's what baby boy wants then that's what baby boy gets!

The Not So Fun Stuff
This little guy is a serious kicker. It's not the fun across the belly kicks yet either, it's the punch my pelvic floor kind of kicks. I didn't really have that with Kai, so this is pretty new for me and wow does it hurt. Sometimes I can even feel it in my hip flexors. It feels like I have a pinch in my hip, which is really uncomfortable. I've also been having some serious sciatic nerve shooting pains too from wherever he is resting inside which makes it hard to walk sometimes.

The FUN Stuff
Ok but baby kicks! Even though they hurt, I'm so happy to feel them. It gives me some much peace of mind and fills my heart up so much to think about the little human that's playing around inside my belly. Caleb can feel his kicks now, too, which is always a favorite part of mine. As women, we're so lucky to experience pregnancy and get these little babies all to ourselves for 9 months, so for our spouses to be able to take part in that small part, too, I think is very special. We've started working on the nursery, too! The theme we chose this time around is the Hundred Acre Wood. It hurt my heart so much to dismantle Kai's Up themed nursery, but now that the room is painted its new color, I'm getting so excited for transforming it for our new little guy.

The Medical Stuff
So I found out at my last appointment that I have a low lying placenta. It's not covering my cervix but it's within 2 in of it. I thankfully don't have any restrictions because of it but it definitely has me nervous. I had a vaginal birth with Kai and while I know a C-section would 100% turn out fine if I had to have one for this baby, it's still unknown territory for me. It's caused me a lot of anxiety but I've tried to pray and meditate through it in hopes that the placenta will move up and we can plan for another vaginal birth again.