Starting week 24, and feeling things start to DRAG...my nesting started very early this time and I don’t have much left to do in preparation for this baby. So, I guess I could just sit back and enjoy, maybe even put my feet up and watch some TLC Baby Stories, but is that something I can do? NO! I wish my personality allowed me to get beyond the constant urges to be doing something, but I just can’t.

Since I last wrote, our kiddos decided to open our baby gender envelope. Addison did a great job debating as to why she should know if the baby is a boy or girl, so she won out. However, with this being the first time knowing the gender of our bundle, as we did not find out with Addison or Brooks, I just don’t trust it. We will be re-confirming baby’s gender today at the perinatologist office.

I’m sure for those of you enduring pregnancy with me right now, no matter where you are, you are feeling quite toasty. I wish I could go back to my food service days and lock myself into a walk in freezer. But since that’s not an option, I am so thankful to work in the pool! While the water is heating up too, it still does provide a welcome relief from the 90+ degree temps of sunny South Florida.

Not too much has happened since my last post, other than the ever growing belly, and oh yeah, I was allergic to my weekly progesterone shots, causing me to have incessant itching in an area you just should not scratch and golf ball sized swelling. That was awesome! Since then, I have switched injections and received a reprieve in those symptoms. Note to any of you ladies getting progesterone injections, severe itching is not normal and should be dealt with right away!

I am happy to still have my energy, although I am in bed most nights still be 9 pm, I hope that you all in your second trimester still have energy too! I’m hoping to hold on to the energy the remainder of the pregnancy by staying active, doing my aquaBelly classes and keeping up with my socially and physically active 7 and 3 year olds. I think the many fruits and veggies I have been eating should help too. I am even more drawn to these healthy foods now which is good to balance out my gluttonous moments I do have (2 cinnabons for breakfast on Sunday and my Asian Nachos for lunch today, yummo, and dear goodness, freaking Chipotle salads which are a weekly go-to).

...Wow, guess I should get used to this, so fast forward almost 7 weeks, as this is the first I’ve had time to return to this entry and we are at 31 weeks. Tick tock tick tock...while I cannot wait to meet this baby, its crazy to think that SHE will already be here in 7.5 weeks as my c-section is scheduled for 11/9. With two other kids and countless activities, they keep me so busy (and two jobs of course!) that time just flies.

Good news is that I am feeling very well prepared as my nesting started right away but scary is I’ve had yet to get that “break” I was hoping for before she arrives. I’m hoping that will start in the next 2 weeks. I’ll continue to teach aquaBelly on Saturday mornings because it feels great but will be taking a rest from lessons for a little bit. I have so enjoyed sharing my experience with this pregnancy with all of the aquaBelly moms and hearing all about their journey as well. I feel that not only have I been the instructor, I’ve made many new friends. Looking forward to play dates in our future! I will admit that I am a bit more apprehensive about my 3rd c-section upcoming but with the help of friends and refocusing the nervous energy, I’ve learned to deal. Hoping this follows me to the OR! If you feel this way or ever do, I’m very happy to chat with you.

Wherever you are: trying, pregnant, postnatal, anticipating an adoption, or someone in your life is; we all have a story and we all need to be supportive of one another. If you have a special someone in your life that falls into one of these categories, maybe take a moment to check in and see how they are doing. Knowing you are not going at it alone can really help the journey into Motherhood an easier one.

With love, Kristy

Wow!  It sure felt like time was dragging when I couldn’t tell anyone about it, but now time is flying!  Expecting baby number 3 has already been an interesting journey!  At now 18 weeks, I’ll give you the highlights of where I’ve been so far.  

So, 6 days before missing the “time of the month”, peeing on a stick proved a great way to put a damper on St. Patty’s Day activities.  This baby, yes planned, was still a surprisingly quick one to attach to the uterine wall!  I am so very thankful that fertility was not a challenge this time, but still surprised how fast these things can sometimes happen.

Totally unreal for the first few weeks until the signs of morning sickness came to visit and stay until 14 weeks.  Fun times!!  I was lucky, I suppose to not actually “get sick” but I don’t know if it’s better to feel you could get sick at any moment from when you awaken to when you go to bed or just to “get sick”.  Again, thankful, for my job that allows for me to be in the pool for much of the day which always proves helpful with those waves of nausea.  Not sure if it’s the cool water water moving around me or just how busy I keep in the pool, or the wonderful combination of both, but truly, the pool is my savior (and was with my pregnancy with my son Brooks too!).

With my 2 kiddos before, I had a small amount of nausea and good amount of fatigue, but this little bugger has a mind of it’s own (as they all do, which is why all pregnancies are different).  This pregnancy also comes with a few other challenges that are new to me.  First, apparently “hiding” the bump was a bit more difficult than I thought as I was told that a planned intervention was being called by friends if I didn’t come out of the preggo closet soon.  The second, and this was totally unexpected, is armpit boob.  Perhaps you don’t what armpit boob is, and if so, that’s great!  But I’ll explain in case you ever experience it...well, your breast tissue extends into your underarm, which can also swell and get uncomfortable just as your non-armpit boob does.  Yeah, it hurts, and hopefully it starts to become less painful as pregnancy progresses.  Can I get a woot-woot for pregnancy symptoms??

The great news is that I now have all of my energy back.   Yes I was suffering to get to the gym and teach my aquaBelly classes at first, but I’m happy I was able to drag myself out to get some exercise.  Aside from being in the pool, this is the time I felt the best.  I had renewed energy for a few hours after, and had less belly issues (TMI- you know what I mean with all of this excess iron!).  Now at 18 weeks, it’s no longer a struggle to work out (although I did it!), my weight gain is in a good range, and I feel like a human again!

Now for the new struggle, for our first 2 babes, we kept the gender a surprise until birth.  This time around, Paul and I figured that the kids were old enough to make the decision.  Well, they too started with wanting a surprise, that is until after my appointment where I could have found out the sex.  So, now, the questioning from our 7 year old has begun as to when Mommy’s next appointment is.  I, personally, would rather not know, with the exception of purging all of the opposite gender clothes I’ve been saving, but we chose to leave it to the kids and now they are split down the middle.  Not sure our 3.5 year old quite understands the decision he has in front of him, nonetheless, we now need to decide if we have the gender written in a sealed envelope at the next appointment.  Stay tuned!  

For those of you enjoying the trials and tribulations of pregnancy with me or for those hoping to become pregnant, let’s share our experiences!  Feel good! xo~ Kristy

Need help choosing a swimsuit that flatters your changing body during your pregnancy and afterwards?  We're here to help!  We've compiled some helpful tips as well as great designs and styles that will look great on you during all stages of your pregnancy and beyond!

Seeing the first signs of your belly bump is a milestone in your pregnancy.  I personally think pregnant moms in bikinis are super hot , but let's face it we don't all look like Heidi Klum did when she was expecting.  Wait, no one looks like Heidi Klum in a bikini, expect Klum herself.  So for the rest of us here are a few bathing suit tips to make you feel and look good while working out and relaxing by the water.

Have you recently had a baby but haven't yet been able to lose your belly?  aquaBelly water fitness classes are the best way to have fun, cool off and get back to your pre-pregnancy body, if not better!  The workouts are safe, effective and a great way to interact with other moms going through the same things as you.  In the meantime, here are a few suggestions and tips for looking and feeling great in a suit while getting your body back.  Check out these style solutions for concealing less-than-perfect abs.