I had more than a few of you ask me if I will be sharing weekly pregnancy updates like I did with my first pregnancy. My answer to this question is rather long-winded. (You’re shocked, I know.) I think I have a grand total of three belly pictures on my phone at the moment – all crappy mirror selfies and answers to requests from close friends and family – and I haven’t taken any notes or written one word about my pregnancy to share on the blog up until the blog post I published Tuesday morning. I actually didn’t even think about how I was going to share our special news until Monday. Now, even though I’ve been a hot mess of emotion for the past few months, I am finally feeling the itch to share and fill all of you in on everything. As for weekly updates… That’s not my plan this time around for a myriad of reasons.
Part of me feels almost guilty when I think about the way I shared my first pregnancy in this space but another part of me misses the way I had such unabashed excitement and complete faith that things would be okay. Truly, that’s what I wish for any woman experiencing pregnancy! I LOVED reading weekly pregnancy updates from other bloggers when I was pregnant and do not regret recapping my first pregnancy in such a detailed way at all. I’ve honestly enjoyed referencing my first pregnancy posts during this pregnancy to see how things are the same or different this time around. All that being said, I’m in a different place during this pregnancy (my fourth pregnancy… which in and of itself feels so heavy to type) but I’m also in a place where I feel like I realize now more than ever that pregnancy and healthy babies are a TRUE MIRACLE.
I want to share and I want to talk about everything surrounding this pregnancy but I feel conflicted (and still anxious). While I always, always felt joy for those who were expecting a baby, I’ve admittedly had a hard time reading about pregnancy over the past year and don’t want my blog to be a place of heartache for anyone. With that being said, I really do want to let all of you in and share about my pregnancy in this space because PBF has always followed my life and this is currently a HUGE part of it. I guess I write all of this to say that if you are not in a place where reading about pregnancy is good for your heart, I get it and I am sending you so much love. I will be periodically talking about my pregnancy on this blog and don’t want to be the source of heartache for any of you. Please skip the blog posts you need to skip, take a break from this blog if you need a break and take care of yourself.
While weekly updates are not currently part of my plan, I want to share semi-regular updates and will likely do this in a monthly format unless I feel the itch to share with more frequency. I’m planning to play it by ear. As for today’s blog post, this is my incredibly wordy “let’s catch up about everything that’s been happening over the past four months of my pregnancy” post. I’m also planning to do a follow up Q&A-style post to address some of the questions I’ve received, so if you guys have anything you’d like me to dive into that isn’t addressed below, please let me know!
The Facts
When Is the Baby Due?: June 18, 2018. I’m currently 19 weeks pregnant.
When We Found Out: On Ryan’s birthday, October 5. Talk about timing, right? My period wasn’t due for another couple of days but something in my gut told me I might be pregnant. I took one of the super cheapo pregnancy tests I bought in bulk off Amazon right when I woke up in the morning and the faintest – and I mean the FAINTEST – line showed up. It was SO faint I wondered if I was tricking myself into seeing something but in my heart I had a feeling I was pregnant. I didn’t mention anything to Ryan before he went to work and told myself I’d wait until right before he got home from work to use the one expensive “fancy” pregnancy test I had – the one that simply reports back “PREGNANT” if you’re pregnant. I took the test and stared intently at the tiny screen as it began blinking. It read what I hoped and prayed it would: Pregnant.
How I Told Ryan: I put the cap back on the pregnancy test and wrapped it up in a small bag to give to Ryan as his last birthday gift at the end of the day. He was completely surprised and thrilled! And of course he had all the emotions I had which ran the gamut from sheer excitement and hope to the desire to not really dwell on the pregnancy news too much until we were farther along in our journey.
How We Told Chase: At nearly two-and-a-half, Chase is a sponge and repeats and remembers nearly everything we say so we held off telling him about the baby until last Thursday after our wonderful 18-week appointment. Chase came along to the appointment, so I did my best to explain that the fuzzy gray thing dancing on the screen was a baby in mom’s belly. It wasn’t until after the appointment when I showed him my growing belly and explained that a baby was in there – a brother or sister just like his best friend’s baby brother – that the news seemed to click and the excitement and questions began. When I told him we don’t know if the baby is a boy or a girl, his face scrunched up and he very matter-of-factly said, “It’s boy. Not a girl. It’s boy.” Anytime we try to say it could be a girl, he gets angry and tells us it’s a boy and his name is Thomas the Train. With a little coercing we were able to get him to finally suggest a baby girl name and he said Emily, not-so-shockingly the name of another train from his Thomas books and train set.
Does Sadie Seem To Know?: I still laugh when people ask if Sadie knows I’m pregnant. I walked around with a big ol’ bump at the end of my pregnancy with Chase and was 100 percent convinced Sadie had no idea. (She’d constantly try to sit on my belly and attempt to curl up on my stomach in bed and on the couch even when it was giant!) The same sentiment rings true this time around. She has no idea and that’s probably for the best considering it took her a solid two years to embrace Chase.
Boy or Girl?: We don’t know and we won’t know until we get to meet our little one! I’m actually the driving force behind our decision to be surprised and no one is more shocked by this fact than me! I always joked that if I could’ve peed on the pregnancy test I took when I found out I was pregnant with Chase and found out whether we were having a boy or a girl, I would have… but this time is so much different.
To be 100 percent honest, I was kind of hoping for a baby girl when I was pregnant the first time. I wasn’t disappointed to find out we were having a boy – not at all! – but I was intimidated and a bit nervous since both of my parents have sisters, I have a sister and I feel like I’ve been surrounded by girls my entire life. But then we had Chase and he is the freaking BEST. I love our boy with every single ounce of my being and he changed my life in the best possible way. He’s my sunshine, my joy and everything to me. I could have a bazillion boys now and I would be 1,000 percent happy. Couple this feeling with the two losses we experienced and I when I say I just want a healthy baby, I mean it from the very bottom of my heart and soul. I just want a healthy baby.
Do We Have Any Names In Mind?: Not really! Oddly enough, the names we loved when I was pregnant with Chase have lost a little bit of their luster and we haven’t really discussed names for either sex much at all. Ryan actually suggested one name last week for a baby boy that started out as almost a joke but we both laughed when we started to really, really like it as time went on. We tend to like easy to say, easy to spell names, so I have a feeling we’ll select something that fits into that criteria. I actually have way more ideas for middle names than first names right now!
The First Trimester
When I went in for my first ultrasound at 7 weeks, Ryan and I were both overcome with nerves. The appointment went well which was an incredible blessing, but it didn’t dissolve our anxiety since our two losses were both preceded by healthy ultrasounds with strong heartbeats in the beginning. Though I typically rotate through doctors at my OB/GYN’s office, I began exclusively seeing one doctor, the amazing doctor I met because she was randomly the doctor who performed both of my D&Cs. She is beyond wonderful. She was also very proactive in administering various tests before Ryan and I tried to get pregnant again after our second loss. (All of our testing came back normal which was a tremendous blessing. My doctor believes we “got unlucky twice” and believes both of our losses were likely chromosomal.)
My doctor wanted to see me again at 9 weeks for another ultrasound and then again at 12 weeks. Everything seemed to be going well and I began feeling all of my “normal” pregnancy symptoms, including intense nausea (ALL DAY nausea which often culminated in the evenings which was new to me since I was mostly nauseated with Chase in the mornings), fatigue and horrible aversions. (I was on an all-carb diet for a solid two months and if I even smelled meat I wanted to puke.) All of these symptoms, though uncomfortable, felt incredibly reassuring. I felt nauseated all day but I just didn’t care. Every time I ran for the bathroom, I felt like it meant things were progressing and hormones were flowing. Even Ryan said, “I hate seeing you so sick, but I feel like it means things are moving in the right direction.” I started to breathe a bit easier… and then I got the flu.
The Second Trimester
The flu completely knocked me out for nearly 14 days (weeks 13 to 14 of my pregnancy) and I don’t think I have ever been that sick in my entire life. Couple the flu with pregnancy symptoms (nausea and the most debilitating headaches) and I was physically so sick but also mentally freaking out. (Side note: I had NO idea headaches were something many women experience during pregnancy but they were killer!) I worried non-stop about our baby and the medications I was told I should take to protect myself since I was apparently in a very vulnerable place as a pregnant woman with the flu. I simply felt scared for weeks.
I went back to the doctor at 16 weeks and while I didn’t have an ultrasound, they used the Doppler to check for the heartbeat. The first woman couldn’t find our baby’s heartbeat. I began sweating profusely. She mentioned something about “possibly not being low enough” and left the room to find another woman to try to find the heartbeat. Thankfully this whole process happened fast – within a couple of minutes – but I was a nervous wreck. Thank God the second woman found our baby’s heartbeat quickly but I was still a bundle of nerves. The nurse practitioner who saw me after the Doppler experience found our baby’s heartbeat again but I still left feeling anxious. I hadn’t physically seen our baby since 12 weeks so I still felt nervous as we went into our 18-week appointment last week.
Our 18-week appointment was incredible. I saw the fluttering heart beating immediately and our baby was active the entire time. I cried, but then again I have yet to make my way through a doctor’s appointment without crying during this pregnancy.
As for how I’m feeling in the second trimester, I am still quite nauseated, but it comes and goes and isn’t all day long like it was in weeks 7 to 17 of my pregnancy. (Like my experience with Chase, my nausea definitely didn’t dissipate after the first trimester.) I’ve also felt wayyy more tired during this pregnancy than I did with Chase which I attribute partly to the fact that I have a toddler to care for all day but also to the fact that this pregnancy has physically (and emotionally) been more challenging. But again, I just don’t care. I’ll take it all and then some just to have a healthy baby at the end of all of this journey. Pregnancy – even in its hard moments (and there are plenty of hard moments) – is such a freaking blessing and I feel more acutely aware of this fact than ever before.
Food (Aversions, Cravings)
As I mentioned above, aversions have been INTENSE during this pregnancy. Most meats – especially the smell of meat cooking – made me want to run for the bathroom for weeks. If I so much as saw a picture of chili, I started heaving. (Instagram and food blogs were not my friends for a few weeks there!) I think cheese and yogurt were the only way I got any kind of protein into my diet for well over a month and a half. And this probably sounds like a total cop out, but the thought of cooking/preparing most hot meals made my stomach turn for a while, too. Too many smells, textures, etc. for my weak stomach, I guess!?
As far as foods I’ve loved during pregnancy, from a healthy standpoint, fruit – primarily CITRUS – is my BFF. Oranges and grapefruits always sound appealing, as do bananas, watermelon, berries and grapes. I also embraced what I jokingly call an “all carb diet” for what felt like two solid months and ate my bodyweight in mashed potatoes (being pregnant over Thanksgiving has its perks), pasta (mac and cheese, I love you), cereal, bagels, oatmeal, toast (SO MUCH TOAST with butter and jelly) and crackers. One night Ryan woke up at 3 a.m. and rolled over and said, “Are you eating crackers right now?” Yep. At 3 a.m. Bring on the Saltines, baby!
(That plate of toast is exactly what dinner looked like for me many, many nights.)
I’ve also had some really intense and random cravings during this pregnancy including the fried rice and sauce typically served with hibachi meals. We ordered takeout from a local hibachi restaurant numerous times and I would just get the fried rice with veggies and LOAD it up with shrimp sauce. I chalked it up to a win because at least I was finally getting some vegetables in my diet, right!?
Now, at 19 weeks, I’m able to eat most foods again. Though my all-carb diet continues some days, certain foods that didn’t call to me for months sound good again, including salads, vegetables (I prefer raw veggies over cooked at the moment), eggs, seafood and soups.
Fitness
My workouts have been ALL over the place this pregnancy. From the moment I found out I was pregnant again, I instantly began dialing things back, modifying exercises and taking care not to push myself too hard. I avoided most cardio other than walking and some very light jogging just because my anxiety was at an all-time high, though through my personal training and education (as well as conversations with my doctors), I know it’s typically safe to continue exercising close to your normal level in the beginning of pregnancy. I dialed things back mostly for my own peace of mind.
I’ve loved strength workouts throughout my pregnancy and still do! Pre-pregnancy I typically made it to the gym five(ish) times a week, but right now it’s more like three or four. I took a solid two weeks completely off during the flu and after that really eased back into fitness with maybe two workouts a week for a couple of weeks until I felt stronger. I’m back to feeling really good in the gym which is SO nice!!!
Since I’m feeling better all around, my workouts have become more consistent though they typically include more strength and circuit-style workouts and barre-based workouts than cardio. As for cardio other than walking, I’ve fallen in love with rowing because it feels good and is such a great low-impact cardio option.
I had to cut out running around 14 or 15 weeks when I was pregnant with Chase due to some serious discomfort down there and have accepted I’m just not a good pregnant runner. I’m completely okay with that and simply stick with workouts that feel good. I’ve been picking and choosing what days to attend Burn Boot Camp based on the schedule and supplement with at home workouts and gym workouts. Barre workouts have been a staple for me during my home workouts and I am always on the lookout for new barre-based workouts to try on YouTube. (If you have any you love, please let me know!)
Physical Changes
Physically things didn’t change a ton for me for a few weeks other than some intense bloating. I gained a few pounds seemingly right away and began to notice my pants and leggings fitting tighter around 10 weeks. My belly felt bigger and much more noticeable to me right around Christmas (15-ish weeks).
(15 Week Bump)
Since very few people other than our families and a handful of my best friends knew about my pregnancy up until last week, I’ve been wearing a lot of black and super-flowy workout tops mainly because I just didn’t want any questions because I wasn’t sure I had the mental strength to share another loss publicly if it happened to us again. (I probably would have shared in the long run, but I truly didn’t want to talk about my pregnancy too much for a while – I think it was a self-preservation thing.) Last week I began telling more people at my gym and I had one woman I workout with tell me she knew I was pregnant because, in addition to my thickening waist, my face looked rounder which I’ve noticed a bit as well. I’ve also noticed a definite loss in muscle definition and simply feel softer all over. My arms feel bigger, my hips feel wider and I’ve noticed weight gain all over, not just in my stomach.
As far as significant belly changes, I think something happened last week because my belly now feels noticeably rounder and all-around bigger, especially at the end of the day.
(19 Week Bump)
The difference between the size of my belly when I wake up in the morning and the size of my belly before bed at night looks like several months of pregnancy progression. Phew! I don’t weigh myself regularly when I’m not pregnant and also don’t weigh myself much during pregnancy, but if I had to guess, I’d say I’m up about 15-18 pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight. I definitely feel like I gained weight and noticed belly changes faster this time around! Also, my breasts started to grow like crazy the minute I hit the second trimester.
If you followed my pregnancy with Chase, you may remember I had some horrible skin issues during my pregnancy with him. I struggled big-time with zits all over my face and even my upper back. Thankfully that hasn’t been an issue during this pregnancy and, if anything, I feel like I’ve been very lucky and noticed clearer skin than usual over the course of the past few weeks (with a few exceptions.) One not-so-fun thing I’ve noticed with this pregnancy is that I feel stinkier. I always sweat more when I’m pregnant but this time I’m way more aware of the need to swipe on deodorant or I pay the price and feel incredibly self-conscious when I sniff my armpits!
I haven’t felt certain I’ve felt our baby move yet because nearly every time I think I feel something, it’s usually accompanied by gas (TMI!?). No movements have been strong and obvious enough for me to feel confident that they’re our baby and not some digestive bubbles but for the past two nights I’ve felt bubbles with no gas, so I hope that feeling regular movement is not far off. I cannot wait to FEEL and SEE our baby moving!!!
Aaand 3,600+ words later, I think we’re all caught up. Phew! Thank you again for following our journey and please let me know if you have any specific questions you’d like to see addressed in my follow up Q&A post!
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It’s so sweet of you to acknowledge and be sensitive about the pregnancy struggles your readers have had. However, please don’t deny yourself the joy it brings you to talk about this pregnancy with everyone! You deserve it! As someone who has suffered pregnancy loss (and a rainbow baby afterward), I think stories like yours provide hope for others in the same situation. Keep being you!
I am so happy for your wonderful news, Julie! You had been on my mind lately and I’m so so so glad you get to share the happiness. I really respect your empathy for readers who are struggling with infertility, but don’t forget you are a reminder that happy news can follow after sadness. Sending you and your sweet family love!
Just so thrilled for you, Julie. I finished reading your delightfully long post with a few tears in my eyes. Sending you good thoughts and warm wishes for a continued safe and healthy pregnancy <3 <3 <3
One of the first things I thought of when I read your pregnancy post was that you had the flu not long ago and that you must have been pregnant. I got it when I was 5 months pregnant with my third and I was the sickest I’ve ever been in my life. I remember all the worry and anxiety about having a high temperature, having to take Tamiflu and the round the clock Tylenol for 6 days while I had a fever. I worried about my son so much during that time but he is a very healthy and happy 18 month old. I hope the rest of your pregnancy goes smoothly. Happiest of wishes to your growing family.
EXACTLY!!! I was seriously a mess for two weeks — so, so sick but absolutely overcome with fear, too. The Tamiflu made me SO incredibly nervous (remind me NEVER to Google anything when I’m pregnant, please) but I am so happy to hear you had a healthy pregnancy and have a sweet 18-month-old after finding yourself in a similar situation.
I’m so happy for you and your family! I lost a baby in September of 2016 so when I found out I was pregnant again in January of 2017, I experienced ALL those emotions…it was so scary to go back to the doctor, especially to the first appointment (when I miscarried they couldn’t find a heartbeat at all at our first appointment and it was devastating). I will definitely be keeping you all in my prayers because I remember so well all of the anxiety I felt the whole time I was pregnant with my daughter, who, I’m happy to report, is as healthy as a baby can be! Again, congrats to you all! I’ve been hoping to see this announcement!
I am so sorry for the loss of your baby, Mary Katherine <3 Thank you for sharing this with me. I'm also so happy you experienced a healthy pregnancy and have a beautiful daughter to snuggle up with now!
This just makes me smile. So happy for you all & I love the updates.
So incredibly happy for you and your family. I can’t believe you had to go through the few minutes at your 16 week appointment. You are so very strong. Can’t wait to keep reading along!
That was absolutely terrifying but thankfully it was only a few minutes and everything ended up okay. Chase was at the appointment and thankfully talking to him was a MUCH needed distraction and I tried to focus on keeping him engaged when my mind and heart felt like they were exploding. And thank you so much for following our journey, Lauren!
All of this sounds exactly like I was with my pregnancy. The worry, the cravings, everything. I don’t feel like I really relaxed until I held her in my arms. I’m praying for you and can’t wait to see that healthy baby!
Julie,
I didn’t have time to comment yesterday. But I just wanted to say how happy I am for you, you seem to be a very genuine, joyful and strong woman, wife and mother and I wish you all the best with the new baby.
Thank you for sharing with us readers, it’s very good to follow your journey and envision myself one day with a child. In the world we live in, it’s refreshing to read your words so happiness, gratitude and truth.
I am so incredibly happy for you! I cried reading your post. Thank you so much for sharing.
Thank you so much, Ivy <3
Congratulations!!!
Wow you been thru a ton. The flu while prego..can’t even imagine as I just had it a week and it was awful. How did u manage with chase and we’re u allowed to take any meds?
I’m assuming tylenol was ok for fever reducer. Hoping the rest of your pregnancy goes really well and all the best!
I initially started with Tylenol but when I went to urgent care they prescribed Tamiflu. I spoke at length about the medication with two doctors before taking it but I was so scared and apprehensive about it. They really encouraged me to take it, saying the “risks outweighed the benefits” and after getting scared about getting sicker when I was already so, so sick (and the potential of ending up in the hospital which they said is a bigger risk for pregnant women), I took it. As for Chase, Ryan and I initially had plans to go to NYC when I got the flu so my mom was already scheduled to come in town and ended up keeping her plans which absolutely saved us otherwise Ryan would’ve had to miss probably 10(ish) days of work.
Congratulations! I never comment, but I want to tell you you won’t regret being surprised about the sex of the baby! I had my first last May and we didn’t find out – it was so amazing, motivating, and special. There is nothing like it. You will love it! Good luck!
Yay!! I have yet to talk to someone who was surprised who regrets their decision and I’m so excited about that moment! <3
This post makes me so happy, Julie! You are such a wonderful writer and even though I’ve never experienced pregnancy, I love the fact that you are so conscious about other women’s feelings. I enjoy reading about your experiences and look forward to many more! Again, continued prayers for a healthy pregnancy–hugs!
Julie- congratulations I am so incredibly happy for you and your family. I have an almost two year old and found myself in a similar workout situation as your describing during your pregnancy. I often did Barre Amped Sleek and Tone Prenatal workout at home and found it to be wonderful!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00SCJ56HI/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1516900404&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=barre+amped+prenatal&dpPl=1&dpID=41Nghga3cDL&ref=plSrch
I look forward to following along in your journey- best of luck!
Ashley
So very happy for you! You have a great mindset. After experiencing loss between my first and second kids, I did things like you for the second full pregnancy. By that I mean, it’s all about the baby. I ate what I wanted and exercised how felt best. I definitely gained more weight the second time around, but it’s all about a healthy baby (and mama). I figured, I can ramp up my fitness again after baby no 2 was born, and I was right. My body is different now, but I am a strong mama and role model for my littles. Thoughts with you and when you can (for me it was after 24 weeks), try to savor all the pregnant details (kicks, hiccups, etc).
Hi Julie, just wanted to pass along my congratulations! Though I don’t know you, you come across as so genuine and I was so sad for you and your family when you experienced your losses so it’s very uplifting to hear (read haha) this news.
Loved reading this, as we are again so similar in due dates (I’m due June 22). I also started the 2nd trimester sick, but with strep, and the headaches are No. Joke. I am also not finding out the sex (I didn’t last time either) and really is such a fun surprise. I was 99.9% certain I was having a boy last time so when they said it was a girl it was such a fun surprise. Thanks for sharing what you have so far; I look forward to reading your posts!
that’s so neat! i really cannot wait for the surprise!! one of my close friends was positive she was having a girl this summer and was surprised with a boy! i guess you never really know until they’re out!! 🙂
I love reading this, Julie, and I am so happy for you! Right after I read your post the other day I called my husband to tell him the good news, haha! I am truly ecstatic for you and your family. I am excited to follow along with you through this pregnancy! Sending you hugs and many prayers for a healthy pregnancy! Xoxo
This made me so happy to read!!! Thank you for taking the time to jot all of this down! <3
Hi, Julie!
I relate to your feelings so much. My first pregnancy ended in a miscarriage and it made the next pregnancy really challenging for my husband and I, emotionally. I struggled because I was so anxious about the pregnancy that I felt like I wasn’t allowing myself to truly enjoy every moment. It got easier as time went on and having a supportive doctor and a network of family and friends to talk to helped immensely. Now we have a sweet baby girl and thank God for her every single day. You’re right- babies truly are a miracle!
So happy for your wonderful news! Praying for a healthy and happy pregnancy for you.
I am a few weeks behind you (16 weeks) with our first baby and I loved reading your updates! Glad to know that I’m not the only one who lived on carbs through the holidays! With regard to feeling the baby move, my doctor gave me some advice at my 16-week appointment yesterday that I thought might be helpful to share. Depending on the location of your placenta, you may be less likely to feel the baby move because the placenta acts like a mattress that cushions some of the movement. Because my placenta is in the front by my tummy, my doc said that I will likely not feel the baby move until Week 24 or later, and even then I will not feel her move as much as other mamas (whose placentas are in the back) might. Who knew? Anyway, just sharing in case this is helpful for you in easing any anxiety if you don’t feel the baby move a whole lot! Wishing a healthy rest of the pregnancy for you and your little one!
I was thinking the same thing. With my first my placenta was in front and I didn’t feel anything until around 20 weeks. I’m pregnant with my second and my placenta is in the back and I feel like I’m comparison this baby is alwayssss moving.
Thank you for being sensitive to others’ struggles during this pregnancy. I am now pregnant with my second (yay!), but had a miscarriage before getting pregnant with my first daughter, right around the time announced your pregnancy with Chase. I was interested in the weekly updates, and it was great to see so much joy in your pregnancy. However, when you announced the gender with an entire themed spin class, I remember thinking I would have been so discouraged had I been in that class. I have really appreciated your posts on loss and grief, and now the joy of another pregnancy — God is using your story to encourage others! Congratulations on your pregnancy, praying for a healthy, joy-filled, anxiety-free rest of your journey!
Congrats! So happy for you!
Congratulations! This is such an exciting time for your little family. I hope things continue to go well.
So happy for you I have goosebumps and tears! And I think its a girl from all of your “changes” compared to chase! Can’t want to see?!
It’s so hard to know! I was definitely thinking girl due to how different this pregnancy has been for me but then last week I began to doubt myself. I have NO idea!!
Thrilled for you. You’ve had a hard year and it’s wonderful you are now at this point.
Also appreciate your sensitivity. I have had a few negative tests in a row this week (including this morning) following a miscarriage around the holidays. These moments are tough.
I’m so sorry for your loss. It’s so, so hard. I pray that your rainbow baby awaits you soon and I am sending you so much love. <3
Hi Julie,
Thank you so much for sharing. Long time reader, first time commenter! Congratulations on the pregnancy. I just wanted to chime in and say I really appreciated you sharing the section about food aversions in particular – I’m not pregnant but am dealing with nausea and loss of appetite due to medication I’m on for an injury and have been feeling really anxious and discouraged about it. Reading your thoughts on how you have coped with the aversions and gone with the flow was tremendously reassuring to me.
Thank you so much for your blogging and best wishes to you!
Aversions are tough! Especially when you’re SO used to eating one way but then seemingly overnight your preferences are all out of whack. I really hope you begin to feel better soon and am sending healing wishes your way, Sarah! <3
I am SOOO happy for you!!!!!!! Congrats Julie <3
Thank you, Brittany! You seem so full of joy in your pregnancy and I cannot believe you are due so soon! Best wishes for a healthy baby and delivery!!
CONGRATS!!! Long time reader (8+ years??), but first time commenter! I love reading about your growing faith, and the updates from you and your little family! It’s so hard to present happy and exciting news without feeling like you’re bragging (whether it’s trips, pregnancy, etc), and I think you do a perfect job with it!
I would love more information on how you use those cheapo Amazon strips! Did you buy the cups on Amazon too, pee in the cup, and then put the strip in there? I love how affordable they are, but it sounds so gross to me! Would love to know if you have any tips or hacks. 🙂
yes!! that’s pretty much exactly right! also, you definitely HAVE to dip them for them to work because i tried just peeing on one way back when we tried for chase and it didn’t work and i WAS pregnant! 🙂 disposable dixie cups work well for dipping and you get over the gross-factor pretty fast. 🙂 the cheap price (and accuracy!) called to me, especially if you want the ability to take a bunch of tests without spending a billion dollars each time.
Ooh good call on the dixie cups! And good to know that just peeing on it doesn’t work, because that’s an option I was considering also! Yes, the affordability makes it worth it!
Chase’s insistence on the baby being a boy and naming him Thomas the Train cracks me up. I was VERY clear to my parents that I wanted my second sibling to be a sister (I already had one sister, but for some reason it was critical to me that I get another one), and I remember throwing an absolute temper tantrum after he was born and my grandma told me he was a boy. Fortunately, I have since gotten over it 😉
Congratulations! I appreciate your sensitivity to others and think you’re giving lots of women hope. I would love to hear more about any steps you took to get pregnant- if you are willing and comfortable to share it of course! I know it’s really personal. I’m just beginning that myself and really love reading what other people have done. I’m really excited for you and to continue to read as your little family grows!
absolutely! our pregnancies were all very intentional, so i’ll definitely share what we think helped us in our journey.
So happy for you, Julie! I’ve been reading your blog forever and was so hopeful you’d have happy pregnancy news soon. <3 Looking forward to your updates when you share them. I'm pregnant (my 1st) due about a week before you 🙂
I’m so excited for you and your growing family, Julie 🙂 I have been wondering if an announcement was coming since you posted cinnamon toast awhile back — I lived on cinnamon toast and bagels while pregnant so it made me wonder! 😉 Girl I applaud you; with how sick it sounds like you have been HOW are you able to still create new recipes let alone make them, photograph them, etc?!! haha You’re a trooper! I hope the symptoms – and some of the anxiety – subside soon <3
right?!?! I cannot imagine!
hahaha!! one of my girlfriends texted me to ask if i was pregnant after my cinnamon toast pic, too! that stuff is the best!! 🙂 and honestly, i tried my VERY best to take advantage of the days when i felt better than usual for so many of the recipes/food pics. phew!
Congratulations Julie!!! I love reading your pregnancy updates. I just had a baby girl in January and all of your symptoms were exactly what I experienced in my pregnancy… Rounder face, clear skin, smellier, food aversions to meat… I understand your wanting to wait until birth to find out the sex considering you’re just happy to have a healthy baby, but I’m going to guess girl <3
Hi Julie (and family)
So happy for your news and I wish you the best in the coming second half of pregnancy. Your openness is amazing–to all of us who know you but don’t really know you. I hope you continue to progress and remain healthy. Just curious–did your OB doctor put you on progesterone creme during first trimester?
I didnt find out with our first and only child, until I delivered her and what a complete JOY that was! even the nurses were SO excited because it’s so uncommon now a days for people to wait, on purpose 😉 I also had MAJOR meat aversions, so here’s to hoping it’s a GIRL!
I was wondering why you were doing more plant-based recipes! The meat-aversion explains it! haha
But as a vegetarian, I appreciate them!
Beautiful post! So thankful for this great report!!
Congrats again Julie! Thank you for being so sweet and empathetic towards your readers who may be going through difficult times. I miscarried in August 2017 (a few weeks after your shared your loss) and found such comfort in reading your posts. My heart shattered for you.
I’ll admit it was crazy hard to see announcements on social media for the past few months (it felt like EVERYONE on earth was pregnant). Even though I was happy and excited for those people, I couldn’t help but feel a tinge of bitterness. Thankfully it’s getting easier now. My husband and I are ready to start trying again and your story is a ray of hope and strength.
I am SO happy for your growing family and excited to follow along on as much of your journey as you’re willing to share. It’s obvious that you’re a wonderful mother and woman and so deserving of this new little bundle of love. How fun that this one will be a surprise! Sending lots of hugs your way and thank you again for being a beam of light in dark times!
Congrats! I’ve been reading your blog for years, and I’m excited to follow along with your posts since I’m due on June 21! My pregnancy so far has been really challenging like yours with fears and unrelenting sickness (although no flu, that sounds terrible, so thank you for writing! Hope you feel better with each passing day, physically and mentally.
I had SUCH a hard time seeing so many pregnancy posts and people in my life get pregnant so easily when I struggled with it for a couple of years. So I appreciate and love that you make note of that in your posts these days, Julie, for sure. Also, I ate ALL the citrus for like the first 35 weeks of my 38 week pregnancy ehhehe — my aversions were similar to yours, and now, with a four-month old baby, I’m just not excited to eat chicken again hehhe! Soooo happy you are doing well!
Congratulations! So happy and excited for you and your family! I absolutely loved reading this post and feel so much joy for you!! I am also pregnant and due with my second in May. My first is 3 weeks younger than Chase so love reading all of your updates. I also felt different all first trimester this time around and completely feel the whole “my belly is 3 times the size at night as it is in the morning” and some days think I am crazy for feeling/thinking this! I was also more nauseous this time around and pretty much did the all carb diet too but felt kind of guilty for not eating healthy but my husband kept encouraging me that it was really ok!! Again, thank you for sharing and thoughts for continued healthy pregnancy!
Again, I’m so so happy for you! I’m so looking forward to more updates 🙂 I also have a 2 year old baby boy and would love to read how pregnancy + an active toddler looks like for you.
Hi Julie! I am so beyond happy for you and your family! You are such an inspiration and I love reading your heartfelt posts. I am currently going through infertility treatments, and while my heart usually hurts when I see pregnancy announcements, seeing your announcement the other day gave me butterflies! The good kind! When I become pregnant (it will happen, it will happen) I know I will be a nervous wreck, having gone through all we’ve been through I know I will be so anxious about miscarriage and having to start all over. When the time comes, I will go back and read your posts for inspiration. You are such an incredible gift to all of us!
Time for potty training!!!!!_
Congratulations! I am very happy for your little family!
I have been off the pill since June (and not-not trying) and love to read about your experiences! I was on the pill for about ten + years so my “not-not trying” method is for my sanity. I’m holding off on regularly testing or using ovulation tests or taking my temp, and trying to rely on the Clue App (tracking my cycle) to know my fertile dates. I’d love to know what you did.
I haven’t personally experienced the loss of a pregnancy, but I witnessed my mom miscarry when I was 14 (and had only just started my own period) and it was particularly traumatizing to me and my whole family. Since then I’ve carried the fear of miscarriage and it’s been coming back with the not-not trying.
All this to say, THANK YOU for sharing. It’s actually helped with some of the worrisome thoughts I’ve been having. Congrats again! Please post as many updates as you’re comfortable with.
You’re so kind to share with your readers, Julie. I’m so happy for you and your family! I hope you continue to experience health and peace (as much as you can). I loved following your pregnancy with Chase (my little boy was just a few weeks after Chase). Your blog is a breath of fresh air. I so appreciate your consideration for others who are experiencing difficulties. Happy Friday (almost)!
So unbelievably happy for you and your family. You look amazing and I can’t wait to follow your pregnancy journey again!
I love reading your updates, though I’m fully appreciative how how social media can really knock you down when you’re so hoping for the same outcome! Seems as though just when you want to get pregnant and things aren’t working everyone else is coming up with pregnancy posts! I’m so hoping I can stay as positive as you have ( I know not every day was sunshine and roses) but I’ve been working on focusing on how great Sully is as things take a little longer this time around. You’re an amazing mama and this little baby is already so blessed to be welcomed into your family xo
so happy for all of you