Hey y’all!
It’s been a few weeks since I’ve updated my blog so I’m due. Due to have this baby also. Hee hee! It’s crazy to think I’m 8 months pregnant!
I don’t want to sugar coat my pregnancy and seem like a “pregnancy unicorn.” I’ll be honest, my pregnancy with Brinkley was great! Very few aches and pains. Other than the morning/evening sickness for 20 weeks, it was great. I worked out until 41 weeks pregnant.
This pregnancy with baby boy is quite different, especially toward the end. I was about 12-15 pounds heavier when I got pregnant with baby #2. Life is just different now. I had just competed when I got pregnant with Brinkley and was actually 3 weeks pregnant at a photo shoot and didn’t know it.
This time around, Kent and I were just enjoying life as parents, having lots of balance with food and working out. But still, I was a little heavier than I wanted to be starting a pregnancy. I have heard from many of you and clearly, many people can relate.
As of 35 weeks, I have officially gained 38 pounds, which is great! BUT – starting it out 10 pounds heavier than I would have liked, I’ll have about 45-50 pounds I want to lose once he arrives. The great news is, I KNOW HOW. What a wonderful thought! There’s nothing worse knowing you have a BIG goal but aren’t sure what works or how to get there. I have had weeks where I have been really consistent with food and workouts – and others I just feel BLAH and crave Chick-fil-A. Just being honest. For the most part, I have stuck with about three workouts per week, following my “Staying Fit for Two” program.
I also won’t be putting this huge pressure on myself like I did following my first pregnancy. Being in the fitness industry does have a sense of pressure to get your body back and I had shoots/events back then that I wanted to be part of. True story- I was actually scheduled to go to an event when my daughter was 6-months old. I showed up for a meeting about the event and then was told I wasn’t chosen to work the event. I had already confirmed I was going and had booked my flight. It was very disappointing. I believe it’s because I wasn’t in “fitness competition shape,” even though I felt great. That kinda shows you how the “fitness industry” can be. It was discouraging but also made me realize I didn’t want to constantly be judged. Especially based on looks.
This time around, I’m just going to focus on soaking up every moment of my baby boy being little, eating well, breast feeding (if I’m able after breast implant removal surgery) and just being the BEST version of Kelsey.
Okay, so here we go for the 35-week preggo update. Now, keep in mind, I am not whining or complaining. I am fully aware that there are many people out there that would give anything to trade places with me and would love to carry a child (but can’t). I am simply sharing my journey so that other mamas feel like they’re not alone if they’re going through something similar. I believe we are meant to connect and support each other through happy and challenging times and I LOVE my online community.
It would be easy for me to snap the smiling photo and post on Instagram saying, “I feel amazing and love every moment of this” but it just wouldn’t be the complete truth. I am grateful because I didn’t know if I would carry another baby after being diagnosed with PCOS last year. I cannot wait to meet this little busy-body boy who has been kicking away. I cannot wait to see if he looks more like me or Kent. Maybe he’ll be the perfect blend of us like Brinkley is. I can’t wait to see how much he looks or acts like Brinkley! So many joys ahead make the temporary pain feel bearable. It’s just a SEASON.
The latest:
My joints (mainly my knees) are really giving me problems. Just a sideways step at a funny angle can throw my knee out all week. My feet are super sore every day. My ankles stay swollen but are pretty puffy at the end of each day. Yesterday I cleaned out Brinkley’s closet (she’s outgrowing a size) and after an hour of standing, my feet were killing me. I know it’s the extra weight on my body that’s making my knees and feet ache.
I also seemed to have grown a shoe size, taking me from a 10 to 11. I am not sure if it’s due to swelling or what, but I’ve heard of women’s feet growing during pregnancy. I have a select few pair of shoes that I’m wearing right now. As well as just a few pair of pajamas that still fit….and just clothes in general for that matter.
This pregnancy I have experienced crazy indigestion/heart burn, which I’ve never had in my life. It makes me wonder if the saying about “babies having hair causes heartburn” is true? Ladies, let me know! As long as I eat healthy food (and nothing very spicy) I seem to keep it under control for the most part. This is probably a good thing for me (hello, pregnancy cravings!)
This time around, I have gotten stretch marks on my hips and glutes. Funny thing- I weighed this much in college but never had any of that. I guess age and skin elasticity plays a role. If they stick around after he’s born, I suppose I’ll just view them as a reminder of growing my sweet boy. Our bodies are pretty incredible! We can create life!
Lately sleep hasn’t been the greatest. I can’t seem to get comfortable. Turning from side to side feels “heavy” and I am one of those people – once I wake up, it takes a while to fall back asleep. Most days I feel like I am dragging around a ton of bricks, while others I feel like I’m rocking this 2nd pregnancy thing and go to the gym at night. It’s so weird!
This past week was probably the toughest for me. My ribs started really hurting, specifically my LEFT side. I had this a little with Brinkley but it seemed to subside once I walked around (versus sitting). The rib paid was in full force this week and nothing seemed to alleviate it. Another weird thing, round ligament pain. I had never even heard of it until a friend told me she has it. It hit me on Monday and felt like a sharp tear/burning in my right leg (groin area). Basically it hurt every time I took a step and it made me not want to walk. That becomes complicated when you have to pee every 20 minutes and be with a 5-year old. Haha! But really, it hurt. And I’m no wimp with pain tolerance.
Luckily, by Friday, it had subsided. All that’s left at this point is the heavy pelvic pressure of this 6 pound (or so) baby in my tummy (totally normal). That pressure has been there for a while so I am just getting around a little more slowly than usual.
At the end of the day, every pregnancy is different and you have to know that it’s only a SEASON and enjoy the happy things…like be grateful that you are able to carry a child and have your health. Brinkley is SO excited to meet her brother and talks about him every day. She says she’s going to help change diapers and feed him (we’ll see).
I bought her a little baby to unwrap “from brother” once he arrives. My mom did that with me when my sister was born and she said it helped so much because we both took care of our babies. So sweet! Brinkley says she wants to get a bunk bed so baby brother can sleep at the bottom. Haha! Love her so much!
Anyway, my doctor says baby boy Byers is measuring big – about 2 weeks ahead. That doesn’t necessarily push up my due date though. I will really be surprised if he doesn’t weigh at least what Brinkley did (8 lbs 7 oz). He just feels bigger/heavier and seems to be running out of room. I think that’s why my ribs are killing me. His daddy was a 9-pound baby….so……
I am just going to put this out in the universe. If he wants to come on my birthday, March 15th, I won’t be disappointed. Actually, March 20th sounds like a great birthday. My mom has the farmer’s almanac and it says 3/20 is a full moon, so who knows?
Please send positive vibes my way for a smooth & quick delivery and I will keep you all posted. I appreciate you all and have really enjoyed your messages on Instagram and Facebook throughout my pregnancy. It’s always nice to hear from other mamas (and dads) who are rockin’ it with 2+ kiddos. A sweet friend of mine (with 2 girls) said, “your life is about to be the most beautiful sh%t storm!” I laughed out loud and love that so much.
Kent and I love Brinkley so much it hurts and I can’t imagine how much love we’ll feel for this little boy. We still don’t even know what to do with a boy. LOL. Brinkley is ALL girl. And, my family is full of girls so he will definitely be outnumbered!
Knowing that this is probably my last pregnancy makes me soak up the little girly moments with Brinkley a little bit more. I am really happy I will get to experience the joy of a boy in our house though. A friend of mine gave me a lot of boy onesies because we didn’t have anything “boy.” I am so thankful for that.
Love you all and I’ll try and do another bump-date closer to 40 weeks if I make it that long. XOXO- Kelsey
Dress details: Mybump maternity dress (click)
Felt letter board: check it out here! I love this thing
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