16 Weeks

How Far Along: 16 weeks

Baby Size: Blackberry Phone

Current Symptoms: Lots of baby kicks! Definitely feeling things all the time, especially after eating chili! I have some pretty intense acid reflux when I am NOT pregnant, due to post gallbladder removal symptoms…and it was pretty bad during my first trimester when I had some morning sickness however; I am feeling great right now, best I have felt in the last few years in the reflux department! I am guessing that is not going to last forever as my belly continues to grow…also still battling some nasty migraines, about twice a week. My doc says that some women often find relief after the 16^th week…maybe there is light at the end of the tunnel!

What's Different: Our pregnancy sensitivity and empathy is definitely different this time around J It was all exciting and new when I was pregnant with Carson, but this time around it is very much “been there, done that, now get over it!” All of my other second time mom friends concur that pregnancy the second time around is not as glamorous as the first, particularly in the husband department! I sometimes have to remind Ryan that I need a break once in a while. I think my growing stomach is serving as an excellent reminder as well! To be fair, Ryan has really stepped it up and become Mr. Mom these days as he is in charge of daycare pick up and starting dinner due to my later work schedule. Regardless, I wouldn’t trade him for the world, and am grateful to have him as my parenting partner!

Carson Comments: Carson is usually asleep by the time I take my bump pictures. This week before our last beach trip of the summer we squeezed in a quick photo op, and Carson was very intrigued! He insisted on taking his own set of bump pics before the shoot was over! See pic below, adorable! We were doing some back to school shopping this week, and Carson found a shirt that he liked and I told him that we could buy it. Carson’s response was “Well if I get a new shirt, then Wader should get a new shirt too!” He picked out a fire truck pj set which Ryan insists will be OK for a boy or a girl J

Daddy Updates: Ryan has been doing a lot of bonding with 3 month old Audrey, our friend’s Stephanie and Slade’s baby girl. Ryan secretly thinks we are having a girl, so I think he feels a special connection! (For the record, I think Wader is a boy!) He loves to hold her and rock her and cuddle with her, and boy does she flirt right back at him! He constantly says things like “I don’t remember babies being this small!” or “She’s so fragile!” I think we are so used to having a toddler these days that an infant may throw us for a loop after all!

Baby Prep: I haven’t done much baby prep for Wader this week because I am super excited to co-host a baby shower for my friend Anna this upcoming weekend! Most of my focus has been preparing to celebrate her little girl that is due in November! Can’t wait!

Looking Forward To: Attending Anna’s shower with at least 4 of my college friends (or spouses) who are also pregnant! We definitely will have to take a group picture! Ryan and I were the first of our group of college friends to have kids, so we are excited that other people are joining us in parenthood! (Much to our friend Eric’s dismay!) J