18 Week Bumpdate: Baby K 2020

I remember thinking that pregnancy went fast the first time around, but wow- it has gone even faster with Baby K number two!! I think some of that is a result of having another little one to chase around. To be honest, I'm sort of in that stage of pregnancy where I forget that I'm pregnant sometimes: I'm not sick anymore and I'm just now starting to feel our little nugget move around more in there. But then I look in a mirror and I'm quickly reminded that I am in fact growing a human!

 This is my first "bumpdate" since I announced my pregnancy back in Mid-July. This time around, I have been snapping photos outside of church each Sunday, right after I take Eli's weekly "cheesing after church" photos. I like doing it this way because I'm typically actually wearing makeup and am in some sort of a cute outfit, so I feel like I'm presentable for a photo, but don't have to make the effort to go get ready again like I did for my first pregnancy bump photos. We have a consistent background each week, so I think it's been perfect so far. We'll see what it's like in the colder months, since these photos have been outside so far ha.

14 Weeks 

So far I've only included the photos on my Instagram stories, so if you're someone who loves peeking around behind the scenes, be sure to follow me on Instagram for some fun photos, videos, and extra goodies (including more than just pregnancy updates). It was fun for me to hit 15 weeks pregnant on my 30th birthday- so that bump photo is especially meaningful! Now that you've seen the bump, here are some answers to some questions I'm getting a lot, or things you may be curious about!

15 Weeks

How I'm Feeling

Compared to my first pregnancy, the nausea and pukiness weren't as bad this time around- thank goodness. I did get sick a good amount, but not multiple times a day like previously. Those days are over now, and I'm feeling pretty great! I'm also over the fatigue that comes along with the first trimester, which is especially nice considering that I'm back into teaching full-time. Thankfully, both of my first trimester experiences have happened largely in the summer, which means that I haven't had to worry as much about fatigue or vomiting while at school. I'm so thankful for the goodness of God's timing in that way.

What's New This Month

I've had a few headaches here and there, along with a few nights where I woke up in the middle of the night to the baby in a weird position that was fairly uncomfortable for me. I've also seriously "popped" within the last week or two, and I still do a bit of a double take sometimes when I'm heading to the shower or when I am unable to put on a single pair of my regular pants for "jeans day". They say it happens quicker with the second baby, and I feel like that has definitely been the case. Baby K is also moving and grooving around in there more lately, which is a welcome change because I was starting to get a little anxious about that.

16 Weeks 

What I'm Craving

At this point, I'm not really craving anything, but earlier in the pregnancy that was not the case. Last time around I just loved all of my normal favorites, but this time around there were a few times I told Aaron that I HAD to have Jimmy John's or KFC, or something weirdly specific. I also absolutely could not have certain things or stomach certain smells for a while, including bacon and other random foods that I actually do like. Bathroom smells were horrific for a while there, and I was always feeling like I had to use the restroom and also get sick at the same time- which wasn't so fun! But that's in the past now, and I just have one healthy appetite!

What I'm Wearing

I was pretty much unable to button my shorts or pants almost from the get go this time around. Because I'm not fully or formally "announcing" my pregnancy to my students just yet, I've been cautious about wearing things that don't quite accentuate the bump. I'm mainly hanging out in cute dresses that still fit me thus far, as well as some sized up shorts and lots of Nike shorts for hanging out and working out. I'm due about six weeks earlier than my March 5th due date with Eli, so I've found that I'm more pregnant in the warmer end of summer than I was last time. I've got plenty of maternity stuff, but I'm not quite big enough to commit to it so I'm just in that weird middle ground. I'm actually looking forward to cooler weather and my maternity leggings!

17 Weeks

How I'm Sleeping

I've been battling staying hydrated all summer, but I typically do wake up about once a night to use the restroom. There are days I know I haven't had enough water, because I can make it until 5 am or so without going. I haven't gotten my body pillows or pregnancy wedge back out yet, but I'm going to look for them this week because sleeping is starting to get less comfortable as my belly starts to pull to the side.

What I'm Looking Forward To

I'm really excited to keep feeling Baby K move more and more, as it is truly such an amazing feeling that I honestly kind of missed once Eli was on the "outside". It has been so fun to talk with Eli more about his baby brother or baby sister (he's still convinced it's a sister), and he is very sweet and likes to put his hand on my bump and tell Baby K that he loves them. I'm also looking forward to our ultrasound in a couple of weeks. Even though we aren't planning to find out this baby's gender (Eli was also a surprise and it was the BEST), I'm excited to see Baby K and am praying for healthy results and good news for mama and baby alike. We had some follow up ultrasounds with Eli last time that were very stressful and emotional, so I'm hopeful that I can enjoy this experience and not be worried because of past experiences. I appreciate your prayers!!

I'm also planning to keep this baby in the same Gender Neutral Nursery that Eli had and is still currently in, so Eli will be getting a "big boy" room overhaul in the bedroom next door and we will be transitioning him over and to a big boy bed before the baby comes. I've got some painting and redecorating to do in there, which I'm excited about and will be sharing on the blog in the coming months! I'm really still in love with our nursery, and I'm excited to have another sweet baby to love on in it. What a blessing this little one is- I'm already so in love! More to come later. Thanks for following along!

Be sure to like the Currently, Kelsie page on Facebook to stay up to date on recent posts! 

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Kelsie

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The Parent-In-Law Proposal

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When a man asks his girlfriend to marry him, he may assume it’s all about the two of you. This is your special moment, after all, and the time when you’re finally able to commit to each other. For me, this moment with Aaron was one I would never ever forget, and I still love thinking back to it.

In reality, though, as much as your wedding is about your guests, you may soon find that your engagement isn’t just for the two of you, either. Getting engaged also means (sort of) getting engaged to your future in-laws. Even if your future groom has always gotten along with the in-laws as a boyfriend, things stand to change the moment you bring a ring into things. In fact, if he goes about this wrong, you may find that those inter-parent relationships go a little pear-shaped. The role of future husband comes with a whole new load of criteria, after all, and he’ll need that parental seal of approval all over again.

The trouble is that he might not have any idea how to sweeten the engagement deal with his future in-laws. And you also may have never talked through it with him. You’ve never done this before, after all. When it comes down to it, though, most in-laws look for the same basic courtesies. To help you stay on top and achieve the husband seal of approval, talk through these steps and consider letting them be a part of the engagement process.

Always Ask the Dad

It may seem unnecessary and perhaps even outdated, but I believe that any future groom should ask a father for his daughter’s hand in marriage. I knew that I really wanted Aaron to do it this way, but I also love surprises- so I didn't want to know anything about where or when it was going down. We’re lucky in that we no longer live in an age where fathers dictate their daughter’s marriages. BUT, this is still a tradition in our culture. Of course, a future bride is free to choose who she wishes, but that’s not really what this is about. Instead, this is one of those special moments every father looks forward to. It’s a sign of respect if nothing else, and a way for you to prove you’re facing your decision head and with the responsibility any father-in-law would like to see. One thing’s sure; depriving a dad of this moment will sour relationships like you wouldn’t believe.

Include the In-Laws in Proposal Prep

By this, I don’t mean that you have to hide them behind a bush when the big moment comes. You don’t even need to let them know precisely when you’re going to pop the question. But personally, I loved that my parents were involved and that my mom was was even THERE. (Read more about our proposal here.) Still, it pays to let the in-laws take some part in the proposal prep. Their daughter’s engagement is a huge life event, after all, and leaving them out in the cold could lead to some struggling to settle into the family quite as fast. That being said, your guy should consider letting your in-laws take some small part in the engagement preparation. Have them appear on a video he's making for his future bride. Let your mom make sandwiches for your engagement picnic. Have the entire family there (along with friends) for a celebratory dinner afterwards, like Aaron did for our proposal! These measures will take some pressure off and help to show future in-laws how much this whole thing means to you. 

Be Practical, But Romantic

At this stage, the time for fun and games is over. Your guy's in-laws (and his future bride, for that matter) will want to see that he is practical. Sweeping his girlfriend away on some excessive engagement vacation may seem like a good idea, but it could be a mistake. You’ll have a wedding coming up if all goes well, and grand gestures like these can drain that marriage budget in a hurry. Instead, aim to be both practical and romantic with the proposal. When it comes down to it, a more subtle, down-to-earth, meaningful option often works best anyway. Choose somewhere that means a lot and is easy to get to rather than some expensive place you’ve never been. For example, Aaron proposed in our church sanctuary, which was incredibly meaningful because church is where we met! Don’t make the mistake, either, of blowing a fortune on your engagement ring. Instead, show off your financial savvy side with Tacori rings which are affordable yet custom-made with beautiful brides in mind. These are all steps which show that you’re in this for life, not just for Christmas. They also show that you’re going for romance rather than big gestures which simply can’t stand the test of a marriage. Because believe me, marriage isn't all grand gestures.

Of course, when it comes down to it, you should also let your love for each other shine through. No matter your proposal choices, parents will mostly just want to see that your future husband loves their daughter as much as they do. Let that be evident, and you should all be one happy family in no time.

Currently,

Kelsie

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