I can't believe two-thirds of my pregnancy has already flown by! I have overall really enjoyed the second trimester. Now I'm looking forward to making final preparations for Baby J's arrival!
Highlights: I definitely understand why I've heard so many people call the 2nd tri the "honeymoon period!" It was almost as soon as I hit 13 weeks that all my first trimester symptoms went away. That was a bit unsettling at first but I certainly didn't mind the return of my energy and appetite. We got to see our little babe twice at our anatomy scans. I think I had a little too much sugar before the first one because baby was moving all over the place! The ultrasound tech couldn't get a good look at a few organs. We went for a second one and everything looked good!
Feeling kicks is amazing! I felt movement for the first time sitting in the waiting room at my regular doctor's office. They were a bit inconsistent at first, but have gotten stronger and more routine over time. I loved seeing Harrison feel a kick for the first time, as well as the rest of my family at Thanksgiving.
Lowlights: Things have gotten a bit more difficult towards the end of this trimester! My regular clothes definitely don't fit anymore, rolling over in bed is a struggle, as well as bending over and putting on my socks, ha! Heartburn has picked up towards the end of 2nd tri, too. Overall, though, it has been much easier and enjoyable than the first!
Checked off the list: We have a few major things purchased! We have a crib, mattress, bassinet, and car seat. I've started going through everything and organizing it a bit better. I have all of the clothes we have so far in a laundry basket to be washed in the upcoming weeks.
Left to do: Lots! We have a nursery theme picked, but need to move around some furniture, get a rug, hang curtains, pick a color for the changing table and paint it, and do a bunch of other stuff.
Things I'm excited for: I booked both maternity and newborn photos! My baby shower is in late January. I scheduled a 3D ultrasound for the morning of my baby shower so that our moms and sisters could come along.
Maternity clothes: Some of my favorite items lately have been...
- Old Navy Elevate Powersoft 7/8 Maternity Leggings
- Kancan Kelly Maternity Flare Jeans
- Ingrid & Isabel Maternity Skinny Jeans
- A New Day Slouchy Mockneck Sweater
On my mind:
- How much baby has grown and how much growing he or she has left to do! The skin on my upper belly is starting to get pretty tight, so I'm being really consistent with moisturizing and trying to prevent dryness and stretch marks as much as I can.
- That we are in the homestretch! We are planning on doing quite a bit the week after Christmas to get the nursery ready which will make me feel more at ease.
- How this baby has to get out of my body somehow, ha! I have listened to a ton of birth story podcasts and have started thinking about creating a list of birth preferences. I hesitate to call it a plan because I don't want to set myself up for expectations that might not happen.
- What life is going to be like after Baby J is here. It will be different in so many ways, so I want to prepare as best as I can now for what it will be like, but you can just never know!
12.18.2021
I'm actually closing in on the end of the second trimester, but just realized I never posted a first tri recap! Thankfully it wasn't too difficult to reflect back on what all happened because I was keeping pretty good notes in my bump book!
How I found out:
I actually took a test after only a day late because I knew there was a possibility. It must have been still too early because my cheap dollar store test came back negative! After a few more days of waiting, I took another the morning of July 5th and that was a very clear positive!
How I told Harrison:
I had a few things purchased ahead of time because I knew we were going to try to start a family soon. I'm glad that I did because I couldn't wait at all to tell him! I set up the little display below in one of the kitchen cabinets and acted as if I was cooking breakfast. I asked him to get a bowl and when he opened the cabinet, he said, "Are you pregnant!?" I was shaking and he was in shock! I have it on video but did a horrible job positioning the camera... we are out of the frame for 99% of it. Plus, he's in his underwear 🤣 I, in fact, did not cook breakfast and we went through the Hardee's drive through to celebrate, ha!
Happenings:
We had to hide it from a lot of people!
- I went to the NC State 4-H Horse Show at 4 weeks and cried at the National Anthem, which made several people suspicious. I actually told Lori because I couldn't hold it in!
- We went to Connor & Hunter's wedding, which was easier than I thought! That was the very beginning of my symptoms, so I tried my best to take it easy. The bartender fixed me gin & tonics, minus the gin, all night.
- We went to the beach with my family. I drank seltzer waters in a koozie, which my cousins caught on to.
- We went on a trip to the mountains with college friends. They tried to peer pressure me into a keg stand, but I managed to get out of it. We told a few friends we don't get to see often after that incident!
12.02.2021
Baby J is growing like a weed! I am currently 18 weeks, soon to be 19 weeks this coming Thursday. He or she is the size of an artichoke according to one app, or a sugar glider, according to another, and my clothes are officially starting to not fit. I moved up to maternity jeans a few weeks ago, which was the best decision ever. I need to invest in a few flowy pieces that I can wear to nicer events, though. I found out I have one fall dress that fits me... discovered as I was getting dressed for a friend's wedding this past Saturday.  |
| 18 weeks |
10.12.2021
This is my third planting season on the farm. I took some time to reflect on the past 3 springs I've spent in Stony Point, and I reflected on it briefly in my Instagram post yesterday. I also wanted to publish those thoughts here.
My first planting season was really half of one. We got married on May 4th and I officially moved into our house on May 12th, the day after we got back from our honeymoon. Harrison got back to work immediately after getting back home. I rode in the tractor with him and visited fields, but I was kept busy putting together our house and getting ready to start my job. Plant '19 was over before I knew it!
Last year was the best. I was around a lot more and had so much flexibility thanks to COVID. I know it was horrible for so many people, but it really gave me some irreplaceable time with Harrison on the farm. I acted as Harrison's personal seed tender, I rode, I took meals to the farm. I basically did anything and everything I could to be part of the activity, and I loved every second of it.
This year has been different and harder in a lot of ways. Work has picked back up for me and I've had at least a handful of evening meetings every month since February. We started planting in March and it was slow going for a while. It was too wet, then too dry. Harrison was in the field sporadically. It picked back up a few weeks ago and they've been going pretty strong ever since. I haven't had as many opportunities to ride or to take supper to them. The loneliness of planting season has really set in this year. I tend to get discouraged and bored when I'm home alone. Instead of putting that boredom to good use, it's really easy for me to hole up on the couch and scroll through TikTok instead of doing something productive. I've really worked to change that over the past week or so. I've put more of my energy into the house and I've managed to get my garden planted and the yard straightened up somewhat. Being alone until 9pm or later many evenings out of the week can really wear down on you, but I've tried to focus on the positives. If I need to get out of the house, I can go stroll the aisles of Dollar General (the rural girl's Target, truly) or take a drive with the windows down (that has been so nice here lately with the perfect temperature in the evenings and beautiful sunsets!). Sometimes I'll take a ride out to the field they're working in and wave or say hi. Sometimes I'll ride for a bit, but Harrison has been working with the John Deere 4440 most of this season, and the buddy seat situation is lacking, to put it nicely! My booty falls asleep before we finish one pass... which isn't too far in some of our fields!
I truly am so grateful for this life, though. I'm reminded every day of just how blessed we are to work the land and to spend our days outside. I'm thankful for my role on the farm in this season, which is mostly keeping Harrison's and my person affairs in order, and helping out when I'm needed. I want to do my best to be joyful and appreciative of what each day brings me!
5.19.2021
It seems like January took forever and flew by all at the same time. I have so far really enjoyed the first month of 2021, even though I feel like I'm kind of trying to keep my head above water. I have so many thoughts and ideas and to-do's running around my head and many times when I get like that, I tend to become paralyzed and not do anything. I hope my February goals help me to pare down and get to the heart of the things I want to achieve.
On my calendar in February:
— A fun weekend in Pigeon Forge with some of our close friends
— Our first processing appointment for Westward Farms lamb
— Celebrating Harrison's 26th birthday
— Hopefully another ski trip
What I'm loving right now:
— The Office Ladies podcast is entertaining Harrison and I on long drives and in the kitchen while we're cooking or cleaning. We're both huge fans of The Office, so hearing the behind the scenes stories and reliving the hilarious moments with two people who were in it is making me want to purchase NBC's streaming service so we can watch it again!
— My Heart of the Farm planner is keeping me organized. I have the weekly version and it has so many useful extras, like meal planning sheets, priorities and goal setting, and more.
— NYX Filler Instinct Plumping Lip Color in Sugar Pie. I've been looking for a plumping lip balm for a while and really really wanted to love the Buxom Power-full Plumping Lip Balm in Dolly Fever, but the color didn't last quite long enough to justify the price. At under half of what the Buxom costs, the NYX lasts longer and is a little bit bolder. I just wish it wasn't quite so tingly, but it's not drying either.
What I read in January:
—Things You Save in a Fire: This was a really sweet book, if not a little predictable. It was a great quick read, though, if you're looking for a romantic book with an easy-to-like main character.
— Firefly Lane: What the first book may have lacked in substance, this one made up for plus some! This was a very touching book that I couldn't put down. I would highly recommend this one!
February goals:
— No spending this month! I really like that February is an exact 4 weeks, which makes it appealing to me to start this goal. I'm aiming to not purchase anything personal or unnecessary this month. I've already bought Harrison's birthday gifts and have everything I need to complete a few projects, so I should be set! The only thing I can foresee myself needing is perhaps some mascara, which I consider a necessity 😉
— Complete 3 Peloton workouts each week
— Jump back into my Bible reading plan
— Journal each day
— Focus on establishing a morning routine and making the most of the time before work
— Sort through and organize 2020 photos
2.01.2021
JANUARY
True Colors by Kristin Hannah
FEBRUARY
Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane
MARCH
One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid
APRIL
Evidence of the Affair by Taylor Jenkins Reid
MAY
Under the Southern Sky by Kristy Woodson Harvey
JUNE
The Winemaker's Wife by Kristin Harmel
JULY
Summer Sisters by Judy Blume
AUGUST
Just Between Us by Rebecca Drake
SEPTEMBER
Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center
OCTOBER
Unspeakable Things by Jess Lourey
NOVEMBER
Virgin River by Robyn Carr
DECEMBER
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren