I'm kinda sad that this is my last (hopefully!!) pregnancy update post for Alli. It will most likely be several more years before we attempt another baby, so this last month is bittersweet for me. I really love being pregnant and am sad to see it go, but I am so excited to meet my second baby girl! I can't wait to see how she and Lila interact with one another and grow together since they will be so close in age! Our lives are about to change (again), for the better...once we get our minds back after we lose them for the first few months! :)
How far along: 36 weeks today *last month!!!*
Size of baby: she weighs about 6 pounds and is about 18 inches long (from babycenter.com)
Total weight gain/loss: +25 pounds (that's getting harder and harder for me to comprehend! Good thing it's about to go down when she's born!)
Maternity clothes: mainly maternity clothes, but thanks to maxi dresses, I am able to wear many of the clothes that I've worn every other summer. There are also a few flowy tops that still I'm able to wear, but other than that, it's all maternity clothes from here on out.
My focus during shopping trips has definitely changed from "will I be able to wear this during pregnancy?" to "will this be comfortable after the baby/will this be easy to nurse in?"
Gender: a GIRL! Allison Neal Gentry
Movement: Yes!! She definitely has more of a pattern than Lila did. I can always feel her moving around 9am and 9pm no matter what I'm doing. She is CRAZY ACTIVE at night right around 9-10pm and feels like she is literally going to fall out (sorry if that's tmi!). Here lately, I feel her more squirming around rather than strong kicks, which is exactly what Lila did. I think I'm due to have two squirmy babies, which will be sure to make airplane rides fun :)
Contractions: I started having Braxton-Hicks contractions at around 18 weeks, which is MUCH earlier than last time, which I hear is completely normal for your second pregnancy. Although they are annoying, it's good that my body is already starting to get ready for labor.
I get them A LOT when I'm walking on the treadmill or outside for exercise, which makes it harder and harder each day to get in a full workout! Plus, when she moves around during my walks it sometimes blocks some nerve to my leg and it goes halfway numb...fun stuff!
Sleep: I'm still sleeping really well (and taking advantage of my beloved sleep), although every now and then my hip will start hurting and I need to switch to the other side.
What I miss: everything!! I have wanted wine and champagne much more this pregnancy. I had a mimosa at my baby shower and it was heavenly! I've got a bottle of Cakebread Chardonnay reserve waiting for me in the refrigerator for when we come home from the hospital!
I've also wanted sushi (the good, raw kind!) more than last time. I can't wait to go back to Masa (our favorite local sushi restaurant) soon! I'm sure they've missed our business!!
Cravings: Cheetos, anything sweet (mainly chocolate and cake), and deli sandwiches (yeah I know they're supposed to be a no-no, but I just try to not have them everyday!). Also, Chick-fil-A chicken biscuits and McDonald's sausage and cheese biscuits (I'm getting hungry just typing this).
Here lately I've been really craving anything with ground beef, and I've been eating a ton of tacos. Maybe I need more iron??
Best moment this month: My playgroup through me a baby shower in early June which was so nice and thoughtful. Those ladies have been such a blessing to me and Lila since we first moved here last year!
Josh, Lila, and I also took maternity portraits this month which were so much fun (I just love pictures)! We went down to Beachtown in Galveston where there are so many pretty areas to take pictures, so I can't wait to see how they turn out!