We have big news — we’re expecting another baby! I shared the announcement on Instagram and Facebook last week and meant to post it here as well. Consider this my first-trimester update and the official blog announcement: we’re due in May 2020 and are overjoyed to grow our family.
How far along are you? 13 weeks and a few days.
Generally feeling: Slowly improving. This first trimester has been harder for me than my previous pregnancies. With my first two, I experienced only mild nausea at times, but this time I had persistent all-day queasiness between weeks 6–11. Mornings were the worst — I’d wake up feeling sick, eat a small breakfast like half a muffin or a smoothie, and stay queasy for hours. Around late morning I’d get ravenous, have a regular lunch, then feel nauseous again until dinner. Dinner was often the best part of the day; some nights I felt fine after eating, and others I didn’t. I also battled intense exhaustion and often needed to rest by early afternoon. Napping with two little ones is rare, but I snuck in a few when Lars had extra screen time — desperate times call for desperate measures. The last two weeks have been better overall, though I still have morning nausea and occasional post-lunch queasiness. I’m hopeful I’ll be back to normal soon.
Cravings: When the nausea was at its worst, junk food and carbs were surprisingly the only appealing options. I found myself craving things I haven’t eaten in years — Orange Julius, Stove Top stuffing, and Chick-fil-A. The Chick-fil-A craving has stuck around, and I’ve come to love fried chicken and waffle fries more than I expected. Sweets haven’t sounded great, which is unusual for me; perhaps by dessert time I was just too exhausted to bother.
Food aversions: Nothing major, but fruits and vegetables haven’t been especially appealing these past couple of months, so my intake wasn’t the best.
Weight gain: At my last doctor’s visit I hadn’t gained weight — I’d actually lost a couple of pounds, likely because of the nausea. I expect the scale to move upward as I feel better.
Looking forward to: Getting my energy back and enjoying a steady appetite throughout the day.
Miss anything: Feeling normal — having the energy to keep up with housework, workouts, and active play with the kids.
Movement: Not yet.
What I’ve been loving: Sharing the pregnancy news with our children. Lars was so excited to learn he’s getting another sibling and did an amazing job keeping the secret — we told him the day we found out and he didn’t spill the beans to anyone. Soren reacts the way many toddlers do: he points to my belly and says “baby,” though I’m not sure he fully understands what it means yet.
Maternity clothes: Not yet. My belly is starting to show, especially by the end of the day, but I still fit into my regular jeans and clothes for now. With Lars I started wearing maternity pants around 16 weeks, so I suspect I’ll need them soon.
Boy or girl: It’s a girl! We did early genetic testing to check everything and chose to find out the sex. After two boys, we would have been thrilled to have another son, so learning we’re having a daughter was a wonderful surprise.
