It’s hard to believe that it’s been 3 weeks since we entered the 2nd trimester, but it’s true! Time seems to be moving more and more quickly lately. I’m not sure how frequently I’ll post these updates (they are meant to be weekly) but here’s the first one! I stole the format from fellow runner/blogger Kristen from Glitter and Dust who is just a week or so ahead of me in her pregnancy. Tomorrow I’ll be 17 weeks. I don’t have a bump photo yet because we usually take it on the weekend.
Baby is now the size of a: turnip (last week it was an avocado which seems bigger than a turnip!? Maybe just in California? These food comparisons are funny).
Total Weight Gain: ~ 12 lbs (eeks!)
Maternity Clothes/Preferred Attire: I officially do not fit into any of my old pants! Luckily my friend Alison, who is someone I regularly share clothes with, was pregnant last year and shared a lot of her maternity clothes with me. I also have a few work slacks and skirts that were too big for me before (they were from my pre-P90X days) that I can wear for now. I have purchased a few items, but some of them I can’t really wear quite yet (maxi dresses for example which now just look big on me). I have a selection of flowy tops from my normal wardrobe that I’m pairing with maternity pants. When I get home, the first thing I get into is sweats, yoga pants (also got a maternity pair from Old Navy) and leggings! I’m still wearing my pre-preggo workout clothes thanks to the magic of spandex, although I can’t wear everything and my shorts are definitely getting snug!
Sleep: I haven’t been sleeping as soundly as I was in the first trimester, but I still get a good night’s sleep and sometimes don’t even have to get up to go to the bathroom! I still sleep on my back at times since I’m not at 20 weeks yet but I know that’ll have to change soon.
Cravings and Favorite Foods: I‘m sad to say that my ultimate craving as of late is DIET COKE! Terrible, I know as it’s full of processed crap! I used to drink Diet Coke about 1-2 times a month, usually at a lunch on a warm day. Now, every time I go out to lunch (which is about 1-2 times a week) I get one and get at least one refill (caffeine is ok up to about 200 mg and there’s only 45 mg per can of diet coke). There’s just something about the cold fizzy bubbles that gets me! I’m also still craving smoothies and bagels but not with the same intensity as before.
Food Aversions: I still cannot go near a KIND bar or any kind of processed bar for that matter. Same goes for almonds. Lately I’ve been snacking on cashews or pistachios instead of my morning almond kick (which is a big change from first trimester when I couldn’t eat nuts at all).
Exercise: Since I entered the 2nd trimester, I’ve had a ton of energy and my nausea is totally gone. I have been great about getting in my workouts and have consistently been doing 3 days a week of strength, 1 yoga class, at least 3 runs and a lot of walks. Last weekend I ran 9 miles and felt great! Running still isn’t “easy” like it once was, but it is still enjoyable.
Mood: Mostly excited but sometimes irritable.
Symptoms: Headaches, lower back pain at times (I really notice this in yoga and need to focus on stretching more!), and a growing belly (finally!).
The worst symptom right now- weakened immune system. My co-worker was sick last week and now I’ve got the sniffles! Trying to rest up a lot and drink lots of water.
Missing: BEER. I’ve had a few sips of Mike’s beer on occasion and it just makes me want more. I read Emily Oster’s book “Expecting Better” and it claims that you can safely drink 1 alcoholic drink a day in the second and third trimesters (I’ve also done my own research to confirm this, although many doctors and experts still do not recommend it). As of now, I haven’t gone down that road and I’m not sure I plan to have a full drink ever during my pregnancy, but for now, the little sips are tasty!
Best Moment of the Last 4 Weeks: On Saturday we finally unpacked everything in our new home and Mike and I set up a redneck patio set out in our new backyard (2 beach chairs and a cardboard box for a table) and ate cold fruit in the sun. Our house finally felt like home and I was happy to be there (I’ve been struggling with the adjustment of leaving the beach, even though we’res still in the same city and live only 3 miles from the beach and our old neighborhood).
Dreaming About: Finding out the gender of our baby! I had a doctor appointment on Monday and we made the appointment for the ultrasound – it’ll be on Tuesday, April 28th! That’s 12 days from now! I can’t wait!
If you’ve been pregnant, when did you start showing enough for strangers to notice? What was your favorite part of the 2nd trimester?
I feel like I’m starting to show more this week, but that it definitely still looks like I’ve been eating too much. I’m looking forward to when I actually look pregnant. So glad to hear you’re startinng to feel settled in your new place. I know that can take a while. 🙂
I find the fruit associations pretty funny too. When I told my mom the baby is the size of a sweet potato this week, her response was “those range significantly in size and shape.” I guess take the average size…?
Eeeee, I can’t wait to find out what you are having. Do you have any guesses?
I live in sweat pants and yoga pants when I am at home. That is so funny that you are craving diet coke, especially when you didn’t drink it that often when you weren’t pregnant. I guess it could be worse, right? I had a few sips of beer on Monday when we were at a brewery with some friends. It was an IPA and so hoppy and yummy. I’ve had a few sips of wine here and there too.
I have a feeling your bump is going to become a lot more prominent in the next week or two. I feel like I went from zero to 60 in a matter of days. It’s a big growth spurt time for the baby. 🙂
Haha yes the fruit thing is so weird. I actually got some really small avocados this week and was thinking “is this what they meant by the baby being an avocado?” I get a couple of weekly emails and this week’s from Pregnant Chicken (super funny – i recommend signing up if you haven’t already) told me that my baby is as long as an iPhone! It definitely was easier to visualize 🙂
And yes, the bump has already been making big progress in the last week or so.
And I’m guessing girl!!! But will be happy either way.
I started showing later, more in the 16-18 week range and was a little sad at first bc I thought it was fun to show. All of the sudden between weeks 20-24 my stomach popped a lot and finally my hubby even said I looked pregnant. My fave part of second trimester was all of the energy I had, taking lots of walls. Starting to get more uncomfortable toward third tri with hips and ribs and definitely not sleeping as well. (27 weeks today)
Enjoy!!! 🙂
Congrats on your pregnancy as well! Yeah I know I shouldn’t complain about not showing yet because I have plenty of time to be big and uncomfortable! 🙂
Love your honesty about the sips of beer!!! 🙂
I can’t wait if beautiful baby Doby will be a boy or a girl!!!
So great Alison shared her maternity clothes with you!
Definitely rest up so you don’t get sick. When I got sick at Christmas, it was the worst cold I’ve ever had (mind you it was winter in Alberta and not sunny California 🙂 )
I’m so excited to hear the sex of your baby. I bet you guys can’t wait! Do you have nursery plans yet?
This cold is the worst ever!!! 🙁
I have some ideas for the nursery – a lot of the ideas are actually unisex anyway so we’ll see! I’m really like the tribal theme w/ cute little foxes right now!
I’m so excited!!! I can’t wait to see you on mother’s day! You will finally have a bump! My grandchild is growing!
You look great! I am always so amused by the weird aversions that develop in pregnancy. My aversion was meat and I had to eat a cucumber every day. I also ate a lot of watermelon which helped my nausea immensely.
Cucumber is random!!! Aversions and craving are so weird. Pregnancy is really just a weird thing!
I totally agree with a little alcohol being fine…. I’ve never been pregnant but I’ve done a little research about it… in Europe I believe they say to limit alcohol to one glass/day. I just think in the US we do everything in excess so its easier to tell someone to never have anything then to have it occasionally. I had two friends that would indulge in the occasional glass of wine while preggo and neither child had an issues. Sometimes you just need to take the pregnancy edge off, haha. Wishing you a great rest of your pregnancy 🙂
Thanks Jess! Yes I’ve heard that in Europe they are way less strict because drinking a glass of wine at lunch is a part of normal life!
I finally had people realizing it a few weeks ago, around 22 weeks or so. I enjoyed the burst or energy I had at the beginning of the second trimester….which is fading these days. I hope you feel better soon!! I am a teacher and around germs all the time…luckily I’ve managed to stay healthy. 🙂
Thanks Laura! At this rate 22 weeks will be here before I know it!
Revisited this post as I’m here at almost 15 weeks now. Love your blog, so much great info 🙂
Thank you! Glad it’s helpful. How are you doing!?