I added a bunch of questions you guys left for me after my Part One post this morning. Thank you again for sharing in our excitement. It honestly means so, so much to me!
More Pregnancy Questions
- Will you be sharing weekly pregnancy updates on the blog?
I started writing “secret” blog posts documenting my pregnancy and our journey at 8 weeks and will publish them soon! I have them organized in three-week increments (weeks 8, 9 & 10 together, etc.), but may share weekly updates if it’s something that might interest you guys. Just let me know!
(That pic was taken right after we found out whether we are having a boy or a girl!)
- How far along are you now?
17 weeks and 3 days.
- You said you went off birth control several months before you and Ryan decided to start trying. Did you get your period right away?
Yes, but my cycles were a little strange. At first, my periods were something like 42 days apart, then 40, 37, 35, etc. until eventually they normalized to my usual 28-30 day cycle.
- Did you use any ovulation predictor kits or track your periods before you decided to start trying?
I didn’t use an ovulation predictor kit, but I had been tracking my periods for a few months using the (free!) iPeriod app since my cycles were a little wacky when I went off birth control.
- Were you nervous to tell your family so early?
No. If anything happened, I knew I would lean on them for support and love, so sharing the news with them was important to me. My mom is also a nurse, so I really, really wanted to tell her so I could ask her a billion questions and have someone I love to reach out to in the early stages of pregnancy.
- How have you been feeling?
Okay. I actually started to feel worse and more nauseous when I entered my second trimester, which goes against pretty much everything I’ve read about morning sickness. I felt great for the first seven weeks, but right around week 7.5/8, I started to wake up feeling nauseous most mornings. Thankfully eating something immediately makes a BIG difference and I joke that I need a solid layer of food in my belly at all times or I will feel pukey.
I felt more and more like myself last week after a rough weeks 14 and 15, but then yesterday I ended up throwing up in the bathroom right after my pregnancy announcement post went up. I do feel very fortunate that once I throw up, I tend to feel MUCH better and can eat again right after and go about my normal day.
Though I want to go to bed by 9 p.m. most nights, fatigue hasn’t really been an issue (thank goodness), except for a few (3?) days where it totally knocked me on my butt.
- Do you have morning sickness?
Most of my sickness does seem to occur in the morning. I wake up feeling like I have a hangover most mornings, but eating something immediately helps a TON.
- Do you have any cravings?
My overall food preferences have changed pretty dramatically. I want ALL SALTY FOOD all the time.
As someone with a perpetual sweet tooth, this is so crazy to me! So far my biggest pregnancy cravings have included: Sandwiches (I follow my doctor’s advice and heat all deli meat up before eating it), chicken noodle soup without the chicken (I’ll seriously pick it out), burgers, chips/nachos, gummy candy (Sour Patch Kids, red licorice and Swedish Fish are the jam), eggs and fruit.
- Have you had a hard time eating healthy?
Yes. This was such a bummer because I really thought that the moment I got pregnant I’d feel all the more motivated to eat ALL THE VEGGIES and give birth to a little kale baby or something. Well, aversions are real my friends and most cooked veggies still make me want to gag. Thankfully raw veggies are appealing again right now and I’ve been obsessed with FRUIT for ALL of my pregnancy.
- Do you have any food aversions?
This is such a strange one, but the thought of tortilla soup makes me want to gag. The smell of cumin in anything is also very off-putting. Cooked vegetables still sound horrible (which is so sad) – I actually avoided Whole Foods for a while because I didn’t even want to see the cooked veggies in their hot bar. What!?
- Have you experienced any crazy pregnancy-related emotions?
Oddly enough, I haven’t felt overly emotional or weepy at all. I joke that I felt “really rage-y” around week 10. Ryan said he was “lucky to make it out of that week alive.” Haha! It was so strange… I just felt way more easily angered over stupid stuff than usual!
- Any mood swings?
Not really. Except for the very odd anger in week 10. Yikes!
- Any unexpected feelings or symptoms?
A lot of anxiousness and anxiety. I’ve truly never worried so much in my life. A lot of praying is going on in our household right now.
As for unexpected symptoms, I feel like everyone talks about the “pregnancy glow” but I hear much less about pregnancy acne! My skin was quite clear until a few weeks ago when I got more zits than I’ve had in years!! If the pregnancy pimples would like to go away soon, that would be grrreat. I recently switched up my skincare (just purchased some of the Belli products), so I’m crossing my fingers that will help a bit.
- How much weight have you gained so far? Do you have a baby bump?
I hadn’t weighed myself in months before stepping on the scale at my 8 week appointment. Since my 8 week appointment, I’ve gained about 8 pounds, but I was about 5 pounds heavier than my usual weight at 8 weeks. It’s so strange, but I honestly feel like I’m showing most in places other than my belly right now. My arms and thighs are bigger and I feel like my hips are widening. My stomach definitely looks thicker and my belly button looks a little different, but I don’t really see a defined, round baby bump yet.
- You’ve mentioned before that you are scared of giving birth. How are you feeling now?
I’ll be 100 percent honest… I am still quite scared. And I don’t see that changing anytime soon, given my not-so-great history with anything medical. I am horrible with needles and was sweating and shaking going into my first round of blood work. When I told the doctors I was really bad with needles, I almost expected them to laugh and say something like, “Ha! Good LUCK with childbirth!” but they were all so understanding and kind.
Around 11 1/2 weeks, something rather unexpected happened though that has helped put my mind at ease. I was able to see an ultrasound before my first round of blood work and see our baby MOVE for the first time. This flipped a switch in my mind. I was still nervous about the needles and medical stuff, but I realized, as I watched our baby move, I would do anything for that little fuzzy black and gray image dancing back at me. I keep thinking back to that moment and feeling whenever I start to worry about actually giving birth and it helps a lot.
- Have you thought about how you will decorate the nursery?
Yes!!! I am SO excited about this! Ryan actually started painting the nursery a bit last weekend when I was in Chicago. I’ll share more pictures and nursery inspiration photos once I announce the sex of the baby, but I love a very calming/neutral look with lots of whites, creams and beiges.
Workout Questions
- How has working at the gym/teaching been going?
Pretty well so far! I fortunately feel great during Spinning classes and still love teaching PiYo, barbell strength and boot camp classes (<– I don’t take them, I just teach/correct form), but I always, always make sure to have a snack immediately before a workout and something to eat in my bag right after I am done to help fight nausea. The other day I told Ryan I’ve felt super lucky that the days I’ve felt the worst during pregnancy have seemed to fall on a weekend or a day when I didn’t have to teach, so that’s made sticking to my gym schedules easier than I anticipated.
- How long do you plan to continue teaching?
As long as I can! I spoke with my doctor and was given the green light to continue exercising at the same level I did pre-pregnancy, which means I can also continue to teach. Woo! My boss was particularly happy to hear I’ll be staying on the schedule for a few months since there’s a bit of a pregnancy boom going on at our gym right now.
I was planning to teach water fitness outdoors again this summer, but I don’t think that will be a go anymore simply because my doctor said it’s important not to get overheated. If we can figure out a way for me to teach in the water, that would be great! We’re talking about it now…
- Have your workouts changed at all? Do you plan to continue working out throughout your pregnancy?
The main way my workouts have changed is that I’ve all but cut out running. I tried taking Sadie for a run a few weeks ago and it was just really, really uncomfortable. (Things just felt heavy down there – sorry if that’s TMI – but my doctor said that’s normal and encouraged me to pay attention to how I feel.) I ran a little on the beach in Sanibel but it was more of a walk/run. I’m just trying my best to listen to my body and right now workouts that feel the best include barre, spinning and strength training.
In the beginning, I also had to opt out of a number of early morning workouts simply because I woke up feeling so crappy.
I really, really hope to remain active throughout my pregnancy. I have no plans to stop exercising, but will continue to listen to my body and take rest days when I need them. Walking almost always feels great, so that’s a plus!
Sadie Questions
- How do you think Sadie will handle a little brother/sister?
Oh gosh. Saaaadie. The funny thing about this question is that it’s one we’re asked all the time by friends and family. Clearly they know Sadie is one heck of a needy little girl.
I have absolutely no idea how Sadie will react to a little one. She’s super gentle, so I am not worried about aggression or anything (though we will obviously take all the proper precautions when we introduce her to the baby), but I do think she’ll be jealous and a little miffed by any sort of shift in attention.
Ryan and I love Sadie like crazy and hope to continue to give her all the love, exercise and attention she deserves and craves, understanding that things obviously do change when a baby enters the picture. Sadie is our little love machine and I cannot wait to do lots of family walks and outdoor activities with Sadie and our new addition when the time comes.
- Do you think Sadie knows?
I think she is 100 percent clueless.
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I am 25.5 weeks preggo with our first- a little boy due in June! All the aversions and tendencies that you have with food sound identical to mine! I am way more Ito salty things than ever before!
Yes, I for one would be happy to read updates about your pregnancy! Anything you’re comfortable sharing, I’m sure we’d want to read about.
Julie I would love to see pregnancy updates along with your other lifestyle blog posts 🙂 So very happy for you. I hope you start feeling better soon, I’m sure it will all be worth it!
Ohhhh Julie, I just LOVED reading all of this!! So fun, and once again, just overwhelmed with excitement for you guys! I felt like I was nodding and agreeing to so much as I was reading through these Q&A’s. 🙂 Thank you for sharing the details and your excitement with us! Can’t wait to follow along your pregnancy journey! xoxo
That is the stangest thing about the food aversions! How weird.
Please do weekly updates! I always love reading them! I did them on my own blog, and I love looking back at them now 🙂 And I had the most wonderful delivery experience ever. You can read it on my blog if you want. 🙂
http://www.blondewithachanse.com/2014/02/rosalies-birth-story-part-one.html
http://www.blondewithachanse.com/2014/02/rosalies-birth-story-part-two.html
thanks for sharing!
Congrats!! I don’t want to be salesy…I have been following your blog for years….but a pregnant friend of mine recently started getting pregnancy acne and used the It Works skincare line and it cleared right up! You can see it here: lindsayrosenhagen.com.
I might help!
Can’t wait to find out the sex of the little nugget!
thanks for the recommendation!
Your answer about Sadie being absolutely clueless about the pregnancy gave me a good laugh:) I’m sure Sadie will be a wonderful big sister;)
Congrats!!! I’ve been following your blog for a few years but haven’t been keeping up since I had my own kiddo almost exactly a year ago (wow). I’m also a runner and didn’t run at all during pregnancy. I felt severely fatigued and nauseous since I found at at 4 weeks until 14 weeks and didn’t work out at all. Once I started feeling better, it was just wasn’t comfortable to run. I did go to a prenatal yoga class 1-2 times a week that I love love loveeeed. Partly for the workout, but mostly to be around other preggo women who were going through the same thing I was. We joked that it was therapy in addition to being a workout. I also kept in tough with the girls in my class and met up with them and their babies during maternity leave. I would highly recommend it if you can find a good class. I also continued to do body pump, other weight workouts and this prenatal pilates video: http://www.amazon.com/10-Minute-Solution-Prenatal-Pilates/dp/B000RIWARG/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1425514820&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=prenatal+pilates. Hope you continue to feel well and enjoy the ride!
I am really hoping to find a great prenatal yoga class around me soon!
Oh my goodness, I am just catching up on blog reading, and big congrats! So excited for you!!! We have a 5 and 2 year old, and two big dogs (German Shorthair Pointers(. The dogs we had before the kids, and friends were worried about us having both BUT, we brought a baby blanket home from the hospital, so the dogs could get used to the smell, before we brought home a baby. The dogs were and have always been VERY careful around the kids. So, Sadie will be great! Our girl dog has been quite an awesome lil mom to the kids. : ) CONGRATS CONGRATS!
love this idea!!! and I adore GSPs… we’ve talked about getting one in the future. 🙂
Congrats on the expansion of your family!
I have a chocolate lab who I am pretty sure knew I was pregnant before I knew! In the first weeks of my first pregnancy (before I had taken a pregnancy test), my dog started sleeping on the floor next to my side of the bed, instead of in his usual doggy bed. So when we were trying to conceive our second baby, my dog started sleeping on the floor next to my side of the bed…and I just knew I was pregnant! The only times he has ever done that were in the first few weeks of pregnancy for both of my pregnancies!
so sweet!!!!
So exciting! Sounds like you are staying pretty active and keeping to a normal schedule, that’s awesome!
Would love to hear weekly updates about your pregnancy (how your feeling, your cravings and workouts!)
You look beautiful in your “baby bump” picture – I was hoping that you would post one! So excited for you and Ryan – you will make wonderful parents. I enjoyed your pregnancy Q&A posts….I absolutely vote for weekly pregnancy updates! I hope you continue to have a happy and healthy pregnancy…and that the morning sickness subsides!
So excited for you!! I really hope that you will share weekly updates- in pregnant myself with my first so reading pregnancy posts right now is my absolute favorite!
Congratulations! After reading your blog for a few years, I loved your announcement! Would love to hear more on your workouts through your pregnancy/ pregnancy fashion/ answers to any of those early on questions you had for your mum! I’m currently planning our wedding (which your blog has helped with!) so I’m not going through the same things but is always nice to know when I am there what others have been through for when I am there! I wish you all the best x
I’ve been a huge fan of your blog and following for years! I’m so excited for you! Crazy how you can be excited for someone you haven’t met 🙂 thanks for sharing you have lots of support and dans on here 🙂
*fans whoops
Congrats again! I love reading this because it’s almost like I’m reliving my first pregnancy (I have a 20 week old).
I was the same way with initial cravings; salty despite my sweet tooth and cooked veggies were “bleh.”
Although I don’t have the same medical fears as you, I will say that, as you grow, feel movement (THE coolest thing!), and get closer to your due date, you just don’t think about the scary part of childbirth. It’s tough, but honestly I feel so removed from it at this point (not in a bad way). You’ll be amazed at your body for what it can do; you’ll also find out you’re much tougher than you think you are.
I wish you a healthy pregnancy. And I’m sure Sadie will be an awesome big sis!
thank you, Catherine!! <3
Just so excited for you, Ryan, and Sadie! I have been following your blog for several years and love it. I am soooo happy for you all. Plus, your due date is my wedding anniversary! 🙂
Congrats again!!
I’m thinking it’s a girl because your cravings were so similar to mine when I was pregnant with Lily. I can’t wait to find out regardless though!!
And kudos to you for maintaining a healthy/fit lifestyle so far. I hope you can continue to do so, because I believe it totally helped me in labor/delivery & postpartum/bouncing back, so I hope the same for you too!
YAY! Loving all these baby posts 😉 When I started reading back when you started, I just had started dating & now I have kids of my own, so don’t worry about turning PBFingers into a baby/mommy blog 😉 hehehe! Oh ps… We have a vizsla as well & once my belly started to get bigger, she LOVED snuggling with it & never left my side! I can’t even tell you how many times I found her sleeping next to him/under his crib! Also.. I would have never guessed you were 17 weeks prego..you look great!
aw I love this!!
Kudos to you for using the appropriate terminology — “sex” vs “gender” when it comes to the big reveal! Know that little things like that are much appreciated 🙂
As a long time reader, I congratulate you on this exciting time and I know that you and Ryan will make wonderful, wonderful parents.
All the best,
Louise
thank you!! <3
Your blog is one of the few I’ve been reading for years! I knew this day would come! I’m so happy for you! Between myself and 3 sisters we have birthed 10 children…9 boys and 1 girl! The sister who had the girl had problems with her skin during pregnancy too. She was told she was having a girl because “girl babies take the beauty from the mother”! Hurtful! HA HA I think it was just a coincidence!
You will always be beautiful!
Marcy
haha! I’ve read the same thing — that girl babies “steal your pretty” — LOL!
I would love to hear weekly pregnancy updates!! And CONGRATS, so excited for you!
I am so happy for you and Ryan. You two will make wonderful parents! Congratulations!!!
CONGRATULATIONS!!
I’ve been a long time blog reader, since about the summer before you got married, and have never really commented on any posts until now but I just had to say congrats. What an exciting time for you and Ryan, I know you’ll be fabulous parents and I can’t wait to read more about it on the blog!
All the best,
Emily
thank you!!!
Congratulations! I love that you are sharing your pregnancy journey with us 😉 You will feel a gazillion times better post-partum if you can continue any sort of wort out regimen during pregnancy – spoken from experience! Sadie looks like she’s ready for the responsibility of big sister for sure!
Pregnancy acne is the worst – sorry to say mine wouldn’t go away until after I gave birth. I hope you have better luck!
Congrats Julie! I’ve been reading your blog for about 4 years now and it’s awesome to see how much your life has changed! Motherhood is incredible – you are going to love it and be a fantastic mom!
We have a huge 90lb plott hound and got some really good advice when I was pregnant with my 2nd – if possible, have someone bring one of the babies blankets home from the hospital while you are still there. Something that has his/her smell and place it next to Sadie’s food bowl. She will associate the smell of the baby with something positive. We had my mom do this and when we arrived home with baby our dog was so excited and then ran over to his food bowl 🙂
So exciting! Congratulations and I hope your little one is happy and healthy.
How exciting! I wish you a healthy and great pregnancy. Can’t wait to hear if you are having a boy or girl. My friend told me she had a dream of being at my delivery of twins. But the real shock was that they came out to be smurfs! Lol
Here is another yes, to pregnancy updates and baby features once born. I am not even in the baby scene (not married, no BF, not prego) and I still find it very fun to follow! Along with your blog, another one I love is KERF and love seeing her posts including little Mazen. I am guessing boy. Do you guys have thoughts yet on how many kids you want?
Congratulations!!! So excited for you and your family. I too was terrified of having a baby and the labor and delivery process, but once I got pregnant I knew he had to come out. I was so convinced it would be terrible I dialated to a 10 hoping I had progressed from the 1 I had previously been and gave birth naturally when I intended on having an epidural. January 12 my little man was born and so worth it.
After reading your blog for a couple years I know you and Ryan will be great parents!
You look great! I just hit my 3rd trimester and am pretty back to normal with food. I actually couldn’t stand cumin (a spice I use regularly) early on either. It’s not totally back like before but I can use a little now. It’s funny how your body works. I would eat salad and Greek yogurt almost daily before pregnancy but both were a no go early on. They’re back now so hopefully as you progress things will get back to normal. And I figure fruit has a lot of the same benefits as veggies, so you’re fine! Keep up the great work. Can’t wait to see what you’re having!
This is so exciting, Julie! I’ve been reading your blog for years and I’m just so happy for you. Praying for a safe and healthy pregnancy. Congratulations!
Congrats! I’m loving all of your latest posts. Your writing style just feels so real and natural like it was way back when 🙂
I’ve been a reader for a few years and had to comment. Congratulations! Such exciting news! I am a labor and delivery nurse and I just want to say I think you will do great with childbirth (not that I know that much about you) but childbirth is a lot of mind over matter and focusing on the end result which you do when you have a tough workout or long run. Except this time you have a baby waiting for you at the finish line!!
thank you, Kelsey! and what an amazing job — thank you for all you do!
i can’t imagine teaching my aquacise class withou being in the water. I have them facing me and me facing the clock. we aren’t quite like a regular aerobics class thrown in the pool, but it i a lot harder than people think…i’ve had skeptics tell me how sore hey were after and how hard it is to keep up with the older ladies! . being able to control chatter (is is HARD to scold a 79 year old woman!!!) is key as is calling loud enough to be heard. i am detailed when i each a new call and have propped myself half-up on the wall a few times.
email me if i can help with any questions on waer aerobics/aquacie stuff (admitedly small issue in comparison)
yessss! the water fitness crowd is always a social one! 🙂
Congratulations!!! I am from France and just discovered your blog a few weeks ago looking for fun workouts and healthy recipes! Very happy for both of you and look forward to “follow” you through your pregnancy. Cheers from Paris, France!! Anne-Charlotte
love that you’re reading all the way from france!! thanks so much for commenting!
“I think she is 100 percent clueless.” 😀 That made me laugh!!
Hey Julie, were you taking any sort of pre-natal vitamin before you guys really started trying in November? If so, for how long?
I actually wasn’t but AFTER I found out I was pregnant, I read that it is advised to start taking a prenatal while for a month or two before you’re pregnant. I bought prenatals the DAY I found out I was pregnant and my doctor said that was totally fine, too! 🙂
Thanks gal!
Such an exciting time! Thanks so much for sharing all of this information with us, I loved reading every bit of it! I’ve been reading your blog for a while now…going on almost 3 years?! And I’m so thrilled for y’all!
Hopefully your nausea subsides soon!
I’d love to read weekly baby updates, however I understand if you choose not to share that much. I’m excited to follow along in your journey! Congrats again!
thanks for reading for so long, sarah!! <3
Congrats!! I think it’s so hilarious that Sadie has no clue. My last pregnancy and this current one were kinda tipped off by my pup literally sleeping on top of me at night before it was time for me to take a test!!
Congratulations!
I am 34 weeks with No. 2 and a group ex instructor. I teach barbell and coach boot camp classes, and I have had no real trouble so far. The biggest hiccup has been participants thinking that I shouldn’t be doing or teaching the workouts. I didn’t teach the first time around so I don’t know how to compare it but I would advise you not to put a timeline anything. If it feels bad, stop. If it doesn’t, keep going (if you want).
Best wishes!
Yes!! I’ve already had some people ask me if I should still be teaching spin. I just try my best to explain that I feel great and that my doctor gave me the okay!
“I think she is 100% clueless” hahahaha aww sadie! She’ll make a great big sister. And I’m another yes to pregnancy updates!
You look SO cute pregnant!! I’m SO excited for these pregnancy posts to keep coming! Ahhhh!! SO SO SO excited for you guys!
thank you!! <3
Congratulations! I’m very happy for you both and can’t wait to read all of your updates! I’m also terrified of giving birth (not that I’m anywhere close to being pregnant) so really appreciated hearing someone else feels the same way 🙂
definitely!!!
looking great 🙂
great t get the commentary at different stages of the pregnancy.
Weekly updates for sure! Being a Mom is the best!