Happy Wednesday, friends! It’s hard to believe this pregnancy is already more than halfway over. I haven’t done a pregnancy update on the blog yet, but I loved doing regular updates during each of my previous pregnancies. So I plan to try to do something similar this time around, starting with this 5-month pregnancy update!
How far along: 23 weeks, 3 days
Due Date: November 26th, but I’ve never gone past 39 weeks, so we are counting on this baby arriving sometime before the 20th. Really hoping we’re home and soaking up all the newborn snuggles come Thanksgiving!
Gender: A boy!
Weight gain: 12ish lbs. Probably 13 after the cinnamon sugar bagel I scarfed for breakfast this morning. Right on track with my pregnancy with Conrad.
Maternity clothes: Wearing everything stretchy in my closet and trying to get the absolute most out of my pre-pregnancy summer dresses (even if it means popping a few buttons). My favorite leggings are a lifesaver right now, stretching right alongside me and they are so freaking soft. I love them.
Sleep: I have started having some middle-of-the-night insomnia that wakes me up around 2am and sometimes I can’t go back to sleep for several hours. It’s bizarre. But I’m mostly sleeping great. I can’t believe how little sleep I need to feel energetic during this pregnancy. I think I’ve only napped three times since I found out I was pregnant. As long as I get a solid 8 hours at night, I feel awesome which is such a blessing because a tired mom of three is not really an option.
Best moment this week: Quiet family time in Maui. We stay at a condo in Wailea, which gives us all more room to roam than a hotel room. Ryne and I get up in the morning, make coffee for ourselves, and chocolate milk or dry cereal for the kids (a pre-breakfast snack). We all hang out on the lanai until Daddy makes breakfast for everyone. We eventually head to the pool, swim & snack for a few hours, then head up to the condo to shower before heading to dinner (or making dinner in). Some nights we go for a walk. On other nights we’ll watch a movie as a family. It’s dreamy and life-giving.
Worst moment this week: Pulling on compression hose every day to keep the ache from varicose veins at bay. Varicose veins are easily underrated as one of the worst things on the planet. It’s the only aspect of pregnancy that is hard for me.
Miss anything: Cocktails. Wearing all the cute summer things. Fitting into bras. Having energy in the evenings for date nights. I am *this* close to only being available for breakfast dates.
Movement: Yes! I started feeling him move around week 17 or 18. Now at 23 weeks, he consistently moves throughout the day, but especially so after food and in the 10 o’clock hour. Already a classic boy- active and hungry.
Cravings: In my first twenty weeks I craved sushi, brie cheese on bread, iced passion tea, and a margarita with salt on the rim. As of late though, it’s been everything sweet! But definitely still craving the margarita 😉
Nausea: Not since week 9! My nausea literally stopped overnight in my 9th week. I actually thought I may be miscarrying, but it turns out I’m just one of the lucky ones.
Looking forward to: Fall! Can’t wait to swap out my summer flowers for mums and pumpkins. Already shopping for a few fall things here. That and holding this sweet baby! Dying to see who he looks like and praying this last babe of ours inherits his daddy’s bright blue eyes.
Name considerations: Traditionally we have kept our baby names secret until birth, but I thought it’d be fun to share our name list this go around! Ryne likes Arthur, Charles, and Ezra (can’t do this one because my sister used it first, but he loves it). I like Peter, Henry, James, Theo, and Walt. We want something distinct, but still classic and familiar. Preferably something easy to spell and say and will flow well with our other kiddos’ names. So if you have any suggestions that fit that bill, send them my way! For middle names, we are considering Paul, Edward, Ryne, and James.
We are all very excited for another baby but really we’re in no rush. There is so much fun to be had this fall before the baby arrives!
