Three Things I Like – and Don’t – at 26 Weeks

Three things I like about pregnancy right now:

1.  Feeling the little one kick – several times in the day and night!  She likes to move a lot after I eat   

2.  The kindness of others – all those “how are you feeling?” questions and smiles and congrats

3.  Eating more of what I want because it’s okay to gain weight right now

Three things I don’t like about pregnancy:

1.  Feeling tired and having a hard time keeping up with my 4 & 2 year old sometimes

2.  Swollen ankles (my husband said they look like Costco chicken bakes)

3.  Heartburn

Watch Arlene on The 700 Club on Wednesday!

I’m honored to be a guest on The 700 Club this coming Wednesday, July 8th!  Each week, they have a “Skinny Wednesday” segment which features health tips from experts from various fields.  I’m thrilled to be talking about losing weight after baby!

What you won’t see on Wednesday is all the angst I’ve experienced shopping for what to wear on my 26-week-along pregnant body.  I have to look “sporty” for TV – ha!  You’ll know that I visited the dressing rooms at Target, Walmart, Pea in a Pod, Old Navy, Gap, Nordstrom Rack, Macy’s and a few more before finding something that looked sporty but didn’t highlight all the rolls that come with pregnancy!   

I hope you’ll be able to tune in and tell your friends!  After the interview is done, I’ll post a link so you can watch online at your convenience also.  If you think of it, say a prayer for me on Wednesday, July 8th…the show is LIVE! 

Thank You Erma Bombeck

“Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I’d have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.” – Erma Bombeck

I’m so glad I read this quote from bestselling author Erma Bombeck about her reflections on life.  Some days of my pregnancy, when the heartburn is kicking in and the lower back starts to ache, I can’t wait til my baby inside is outside!  But I love these words which remind me that pregnancy is a sacred and special time.  It’s to be savored and enjoyed as much as possible! 

I’m sure when in my 60s and my kids are all grown, I will look back on these days with much fondness.  So, since tomorrow’s not promised to me, I might as well look at these days with fondness now! 

Don’t forget to cherish the stages with your kids…whether pregnancy or the first year or the second…each year is a wonderful gift!

19 Weeks and Counting

Here I am at 19 weeks with baby girl Pellicane!  I thank God that the pregnancy is going well.  I’ve been feeling good.  I am a little discouraged when I walk up a (small, all right, teeny) hill and am completely out of breath.  But I figure that all comes with the territory!

Having a 4 and 2 year old makes for busy and fun days, so many times I’m not even thinking about the little one growing inside of me.  Remember how it was with your first child?  Every movement was celebrated and your mind was filled with anticipation and wonder for this little life inside.  I have felt the baby moving a lot, usually after I eat, which has been a highlight for me.  We plan for this baby to be our last so I am trying to remember to ENJOY my pregnancy!

It’s a Girl!

We had our ultrasound at 18weeks today.  As we were driving there, our hearts full of excitement, I said to my hubby, “This will probably be the last time we do something like this!” since this will probably be our last baby. 

Thankfully, the baby was very cooperative and moved around a LOT!  We saw her arms and legs flailing and kicking.  She even yawned!  The technician was POSITIVE that the baby is a girl!  Baby looks totally healthy from the ultrasound – thank God!

So that was definitely the highlight of my day…seeing that there really is someone inside of me, flipping and kicking, and that she looks healthy.  Wahoo!

Pregnancy Pounds!

So how much weight have I gained in 17 weeks? 

I stepped on the digital scale in the doc’s office and the numbers went wild.  They flashed 158, 153, 156, and then settled at 155. 

So I’ve gained about 15 pounds in 17 weeks.  And I’m just getting started! 

My goal is to gain about 40 pounds overall, so God willing, I won’t accelerate in my last trimester by gaining more than 1 pound a week.  I’m 5’10’’ so I can “hide” the weight pretty well.  But I do keep in mind that the pounds I gain now, I’ll have to lose after baby is born so “pack with care!”