Second trimester reflection.

i really enjoyed this trimester.  i felt good.  my energy level sky rocketed compared to the first trimester. and all my horrid GI symptoms magically disappeared.  except maybe the gassiness.  sorry hun!  i still haven't had any "cravings", except for the occasional bear claw danish here and there.  but overall, i think i ate pretty healthy and continued to exercise, all the while listening to my body and not pushing it too much.  as i think back on the last 29 weeks here is what i would say to another newly preggo mama and/or remind myself for next time.

1. watch what you eat.  you only need an extra 200-300 calories during pregnancy.  keeping your weight down really, really helps with feeling comfortable in your growing body.  plus, i think it helps with minimizing stretch marks.  
2. stay active.  ideally, it would be great if you were in the best shape of your life right before you get pregnant.  but if you were like me, and wishing you were just 5 lbs lighter before this journey began, at least stay active.  i think that exercising, stretching, and strengthening my core has helped me move despite a big belly, keep the aches and pains at bay, and keep my energy level up.  sometimes john even forgets i'm pregnant!
3. buy maternity clothes early.  but only the necessities.  i bought 3 pairs of full panel maternity pants by the end of the 1st trimester and have worn them consistently since then. i feel i really got my money's worth.  even though they were a little too big back then, i can't tell you enough how comfortable they were/are.
4. listen to your body.  if you're tired, take a nap.  but if you feel great, then go for it!  i jogged, albeit slowly throughout my 2nd trimester and i'm glad i did.  nowadays, i walk fast on an incline on a treadmill.  but i know that after i deliver baby gabriella, my endurance isn't going to be shot.
5. try not to obsess over your weight.  i am still struggling with this one.  i weigh myself every few days.  but i think once a week, or even every 2 weeks to keep track of it would be sufficient enough.
6. drink lots and lots and lots of water.  it sounds counter intuitive, but when you feel bloated, you actually need to drink more water.  plus, being dehydrated can cause contractions.  so drink lots of fluids.
7. support wear.  i posted about this topic here
8. don't over use dr. google.  this is a hard one for me.  but the info on the internet can make you go crazy.  

i think that's it.  if i think f anything else i'll be sure to let you know.  it'll be interesting to see what the next few months have in store for me.  we shall see!!

PS

I apologize there are no photos in this post.  i know...baaaad blogger!

**addition**
     9.  panty liners.  good ones at that.  i like the poise brand.  just trust me on this.

Something extra.

i completely forgot to post this picture in the previous post.  as i was practically skipping to the elevators because i was ecstatic from the awesomely awesome news the radiologist gave me (you know, that baby gabriella was healthy), i walked past this window and did a double take.  please excuse the lovely window pane decor, the hospital is old.  however, if you look past the diamond shaped pattern, you can catch a glimpse of the beauty of san francisco.  gosh, i love this city.

Update on fundal height.

remember when i posted about a higher than "normal" (i put normal in quotation marks, because...really...what and who is exactly "normal") fundal height at 28 weeks? because i am who i am, i completely rearranged my schedule so that i can get an ultrasound sooner than thursday.  i got one on tuesday.  and yes, 2 days makes a difference for me.  i ideally wanted it to be on monday, but the clinic could not accommodate me.  sorry, let me cut to the chase.  everything is "normal".  i'm actually kinda glad i got another detailed ultrasound at 28 weeks.  gabriella is much bigger now and doesn't look so much like an alien anymore.  wanna see some cool ultrasound photos?  wait, lets recap, because you know i like doing that ;-)

4 weeks: it all started with a simple, faint, blue
+ sign.

6 weeks: no blighted ovum here!
we have a yolk sac people!!

8 weeks: is that a fetal pole i see?!
aaaaaaaand we have a heart beat!!

14 weeks: finally, we have a baby =)

28 weeks: and now we have a bigger baby.  estimated weight
is 3 lbs.

and here is a video in 4D of her smiling.  we both think she looks like me.  she has my filipino nose and big lips, lol.

we are so over the moon and grateful that baby gabriella is healthy.  the sonographer not only measured her size and amniotic fluid levels, but she also took images of all her major organs.  and when the radiologist came in and told me everything looked great i must have had the biggest smile on my face.  third trimester...bring it on ;-)

A manly, yet stylish diaper bag.

remember when i posted about my diaper bag conundrum?  well, john had a diaper bag conundrum himself, lol.  like i mentioned before, i had registered for the black diaper dude messenger bag from babies r us as seen here.

when i was on gilt and looking at the baby & kids section, i came across this grey faux suede diaper dude bag.

husband was immediately drawn to its aesthetics and stylishness.  i swear, he's way more hip than me.  plus it was only $50.  this bag is usually ~$100.  so we bought it and removed the other diaper bag from our registry.  you know i'm going to ask...did your husbands want their own diaper bag?  or did you share???

2012 Christmas card outtakes.

with john working 6 days a week, mondays being his only day off, i was pressed for time to take some photos for a christmas card this year.  i usually don't send holiday cards out, but since we are "expecting" i thought it would be a nice way to let our family and friends in on the great news.

i still have all my christmas decorations in a box in the garage.  i am hoping to whip them out soon, but with work, and all the things on my to-do list for december i'm not holding my breath for a very festive house this year.  BUT (and that's a capital B-U-T), i ran over to michael's today and bought some stencils, twine, and red ribbons and conjured up my very own homemade merry christmas sign to use as our backdrop for our christmas card.  my brother's gf graciously obliged to be our photographer.  let's just say, taking pictures with our fur babies was an "experience".  here are some outtakes.  enjoy!