First Half & Second Trimester Bumpdate (14 to 18 weeks)

It still makes me emotional each and every day knowing how much of a gracious gift this baby is. It feels like just yesterday we found out we were having our third baby. Meanwhile, we’re praising Jesus today because we are officially halfway there, y’all!! And… I know what you’re thinking. 18 weeks isn’t halfway just yet for a typical pregnancy. However, due to the condition I had with Layne and how invasive my emergency c-section was, we’ll be welcoming our rainbow baby a little early at 36/37 weeks.

It has been such a humbling and awesome experience to watch God show up in big ways through this pregnancy and to see His hand at every single step and appointment. God has completely blown us and our doctors away. While it shouldn’t surprise me how big my God is, it’s been an awe-inspiring thing to witness for myself. I truly can’t wait to watch the miracle that will be this baby — because I really believe that we’re about to witness one.

Today on the blog I wanted to share with y’all a little bumpdate of where we’re at as we head into the second half of this pregnancy. If you missed it, you can read our first trimester bumpdate, here.

READ ALSO: Life Lately | No. 19 – Baby #3: Our First Trimester ‘Bumpdate’

Week 14

How far along?: 14 Weeks
Baby is the size of a: Peach
The Bump: I seriously love my little bump. It makes me want to cry every time I look at it. (Yeah, add emotional to my symptom list…)
Symptoms: I feel so much better ever since getting off the hormone medication that my doctor had me on. It was seriously like a night and day difference. Maybe I’ll be able to get out of the bed and be active now!
Food Cravings: I’ve been thinking about Chick-Fil-A lemonade a lot. But, I still really just want Chipotle and lots of hot sauce!
Anything Making Me Queasy or Sick: While it still comes and goes, I am so excited that my morning sickness seems to be coming around less and less. I’m finally starting to feel like a human again.
What I miss: Being outside! Even though we had to cancel our Yellowstone trip last week, I’m hoping I’ll be able to spend some time outside this summer. (This girl needs a tan, too!)
Best Moment of the Week: I had an emotional roller coaster of a doctor’s appointment this week. The nurse struggled to find John’s heartbeat with the doppler, and it threw me into a panic. My sweet doctor immediately ordered an ultrasound so I could see him and calm my nerves. As soon as the ultrasound tech put the thing to my stomach, John was waving at me and I just melted at how God used a baby wave to wave at me in that moment of panic to bring my eyes back to Him. It’s been hard enough going to the doctor and not being allowed to have Rob with me, and I’m so thankful I have such an amazing team of doctors who really care and are walking this rainbow baby journey with me.
What I’m excited about/looking forward to: I go to the high risk doctor in a couple weeks for John’s first round of anatomy scans. We’re lifting up big prayers for that appointment.

Week 15

How far along?: 15 Weeks
Baby is the size of a: Navel Orange
The Bump: I’m pretty sure that I’ve started feeling John moving already. I’m pretty sure that’s what it was a couple weeks ago, and it’s just happening harder and more frequent now.
Symptoms: I’m starting to feel so much better, and I can tell that I have so much more energy than I did a couple weeks ago.
Food Cravings: I don’t think I’ve really been craving anything specific or weird this week.
Anything Making Me Queasy or Sick: Not that I can really notice…
What I miss: I miss my family! I don’t think that we have seen our families since Christmas.
Best Moment of the Week: This week was pretty uneventful, but everyday with this baby is a gift that I am so incredibly thankful for.
What I’m excited about/looking forward to: We have our first anatomy scan with my high risk doctor next week. While I’m a little nervous, I am excited to see my sweet boy.

Week 16

How far along?: 16 Weeks
Baby is the size of a: Avocado
The Bump: It’s crazy how much it’s popped out since my last photo 3 weeks ago. I’m starting to look (and feel!) really pregnant. While the bump is growing fast, I still am not dealing with all the swelling and weight gain that I had with Layne. I’m praying that it’s a really good sign — and maybe a sign that I won’t develop the same life-threatening condition again.
Symptoms: I just want to go to bed at 8:30 every night. I don’t know why!
Food Cravings: I’ve been really craving this hibachi restaurant we have here locally. We picked it up for takeout one night, and I couldn’t get enough of the chicken, veggies, and the ginger salad.
Anything Making Me Queasy or Sick: I haven’t really noticed anything particular making me queasy this week.
What I miss: This week I’m really missing my family and friends! We’ve been social distancing since March, and Rob has been forcing me to stay home while he does all the shopping. I’m just ready for a little bit of normalcy again.
Best Moment of the Week: I went to my high risk doctor’s appointment this week for John’s first round of anatomy scans. Everything with John looked absolutely perfect, and he’s growing like a weed! The doctor did find a possible issue with the position of my placenta, and we are praying for God to correct that for us before our next anatomy scan in the upcoming weeks.
What I’m excited about/looking forward to: We are almost halfway through our pregnancy! Can you believe it?

Week 17

How far along?: 17 Weeks
Baby is the size of a: Pomegranate
The Bump: Seriously bumpin’. I can’t help but touch it and rub it constantly.
Symptoms: I feel like such an old lady who goes to bed at 8:30 every night! While I have spurts of energy, I am worn out by the end of the day.
Food Cravings: I think all I thought about this week was pizza. I indulged a little… but I then forced myself to eat a salad. This baby sure loves pizza though!
Anything Making Me Queasy or Sick: I’m starting to notice that I get car sick easily — especially if I haven’t eaten enough before getting in the car.
What I miss: I miss being able to travel! Due to the virus (and not wanting to be too far away from my doctors because of my history), we had to cancel our trip to Yellowstone with Rob’s family. We were supposed to be leaving this week.
Maternity Clothes: Being behind on laundry, I found out that I can still fit into my pre-pregnancy leggings. (You don’t know how proud of myself that makes me!) However, I definitely love my maternity leggings SO much more right now.
Best Moment of the Week: Things I’ve ordered for John’s nursery have started coming in the mail! I am beyond excited to start putting his room together. You can see the design inspiration / plans I have for his nursery in this blog post.
What I’m excited about/looking forward to: Getting John’s nursery all set up!

Week 18

How far along?: 18 Weeks
Baby is the size of a: Artichoke
The Bump: I don’t feel like it’s gotten much bigger the past couple weeks, but I am starting to feel a lot more pregnant!
Symptoms: I’ve been having trouble getting comfortable while sleeping this week, but this old lady still likes to be in bed and asleep by 9 PM now.
Food Cravings: I had a craving for chips and dip this week… like the kind I had at my grandma’s house growing up. I’m going to have to watch myself of that. I’ve been trying to not indulge in too much junk.
Anything Making Me Queasy or Sick: Nothing particular that I can think of. I am feeling great this week!
What I miss: I really miss going to the gym and exercising with my trainer! I haven’t gotten to see her since March. I’ve been told to take it easier right now, so I’m just trying to walk as much as I can.
Maternity Clothes: Anyone else have day pajamas and nighttime pajamas?
Best Moment of the Week: We celebrated the halfway point with another doctor’s appointment this week where John Robert was wiggly with a strong heartbeat!
What I’m excited about/looking forward to: We’re officially halfway through this pregnancy, and we get to meet John in 18 (ish) weeks! We’re praying that the second half of this pregnancy is as smooth sailing as the first half was.

Prayer Requests

With the history I have, my pregnancy is considered very high risk — not only for the baby’s health, but my own. We hope you’ll continue joining us in prayer for the second half of this pregnancy and pray that it’s as smooth sailing as the first half was. If you’d like to pray with us in the upcoming weeks, here are a few things we are specifically praying for right now.

1 | Continued Good Health

I haven’t talked about it publicly much. At the time of Layne’s birth, we never realized in the moment how possibly deadly my situation was last year. It is scary to think about how close I was to losing my own life. Based on the extensive testing and medical evaluations I went through last year, my team of high risk doctors believe that there is a 25 to 50% chance that history can repeat itself through this pregnancy. While this pregnancy has been smooth sailing thus far and has been blowing everyone away, there is still that lingering chance of it taking a turn.

But, God. He has shown up for us in a big and mighty way this pregnancy, and it’s been absolutely amazing to see His hand every step of the way to give us the peace and comfort we need — and remind us that He is in control regardless of earthly diagnoses. We truly trust Him and believe we’ll get to bring this baby home. We just ask you to continue praying with us that our health continues to stay perfect — and that God would continue to blow our doctors (and us) away!

2 | Blood Pressure

My blood pressure never fully went back to normal before I got pregnant due to how much the pre-eclampsia took a toll on my body. However, during this pregnancy so far, my blood pressure has been the best it’s been since I had Layne. My doctors have been really happy with where it’s been at right now despite it having its spikes (especially due to stress and fear when I walk into the doctor’s office…) We are praying that my blood pressure stays at a healthy level the remainder of this pregnancy — because high blood pressure can be a sign / trigger of the severe pre-eclampsia that put me in the hospital with Layne.

3 | Placenta Position

At John’s first anatomy scan at our high risk doctor at 16 weeks, he looked absolutely perfect and was growing like a weed. (PRAISE!) However, the doctor did note a possible issue with the position of my placenta. We are praying that God will move it where it needs to be in the upcoming weeks to avoid any bleeding or possible issues down the road.

Walking through a pregnancy after such a traumatic loss is a leap of faith. Y’all, it’s scary. Trusting God with the loss of your child doesn’t compare to the level of trust you must have to trust Him to walk through it again. It truly is walking in faith over fear — and making the decision daily to keep your eyes on Him as you take each step.

God has been truly amazing to me through this pregnancy, and I’ve been able to see His hand each and every step of the way. In times when I want to hold my breath until we pass that dreaded 26 week mark, He reminds me that it’s okay to breathe. I truly can’t wait to watch the miracle that will be this baby — because I really believe that we’re about to witness one.

Baby #3: First Half & Second Trimester ‘Bumpdate’ (14 to 18 weeks)