I’ve finally hit the halfway mark in my pregnancy. Well, a week ago. Because of our recent mini vacay to California this past weekend, this post is being shared at my 21 week mark. We took these photos on Wednesday, May 16th, right at golden hour. I’m not all that comfortable in front of the camera, but having Chase be the “photographer” definitely helps with that. We ventured out to the opposite end of my parent’s seven acres – where we plan to build our home in a few years *fingers crossed*. Chase likes to go out to those two acres and picture exactly where our home and his shop will go, as well as mow it down every once in a while. Being the photographer, I am always asking him not to mow too often because: 1. We aren’t building yet and 2. I think overgrown grass makes for pretty pictures. Thankfully, he listens…

As so many women already know, there are countless changes that happen once pregnancy hits. Your body, mind, and life flip upside down. I’ve had a few consistent questions thrown my way that I wanted to answer on here. I figured it would be a fun way to give y’all a glimpse into our lives.

Before I start with the questions here are a few fun moments/experiences:

1. Baby kicks! I felt the first kick on May 11th while my nephew Owen was sitting on my lap. I thought he was pooping in his diaper, but once I moved him onto my knees, the “flutters” kept coming and I have felt them frequently everyday since then. The 20 week ultrasound confirmed those feelings as well. Connecting baby boy’s movements on the screen and feelings in my belly was the coolest, but weirdest, experience.
2. Throughout the pregnancy I have been using a few items, and one of those is Burt’s Bees Mama Bee belly butter. At first it was over the concern of stretch marks, but I quickly lost the capacity in my brain to even care because if they come, they come. It’s part of the process. Honestly, we do it as a nightly bedtime ritual a few times a week, and I maintain that mostly for Chase. So many physical and emotional changes are happening to me, things that Chase can’t fully understand the way I do. His belly isn’t growing, and he just doesn’t have the same daily experience that I am having. So, how do I make sure he’s involved? I let him put the belly butter on my belly before bed. It’s small, but important. If anyone knows Chase, he is a hands-on type of guy – constantly working with his hands, whether its a car, wood work, and now, my belly. It’s a bonding experience for us every time, and it always produces some laughs. We’ve been doing this since the start of my pregnancy.
3. Sunday, May 20th at 6:30 am, Chase felt the baby kick for the first time. We were still on Texas time, but as soon as I woke up I started feeling the little guy move and they were more distinct than usual so I put my hand on my belly to see if it was noticeable and it was – if you were focused. So I woke Chase up and held his hand under mine and we waited a few seconds and he felt a few kicks. Seeing his excitement was endearing…like a kid in a candy shop. Just another thing that keeps him involved.

Now, here are the three most asked questions I’ve received since finding out I was pregnant…

Question #1: Are you going to continue to live with your parents?

This question came as a surprise because I didn’t think it would get asked so much. The answer is an easy yes. Short version: we have been living with them since June 2017 (but moved in to occupy the house starting in June of 2016). We have lofty goals to be completely debt free by Fall 2019, meaning no student loans, car payments or debt payments of any kind. When we reach that goal we can begin to build not too long after…I’ll do an entire series on that when the time gets closer. But a baby doesn’t change that mindset for us – it just makes us more disciplined than we already are.

These photos were taken on the acreage that we plan to buy from my parents and build on, so it gives them a special quality. I’m sure one day we will have more photos taken in these spots, only there could be a house in some and hopefully our developing family. What a cool thing to look back on and compare as life changes…

Question #2: How are you feeling?

This question happens weekly. I’ve been lucky to have a mild pregnancy thus far. My repeated answer during the first trimester was that I couldn’t even tell I was pregnant. No sickness, food aversions, or sensitivity to smell. I endured a few weeks of headaches that happened to come at the same time of day, but that has subsided at this point (Tylenol was the key!). The only major difference between the first and second trimesters so far is the expansion of my belly. I can physically see the changes and growth happening and sometimes if I sit for long periods of time, my lower back/tailbone starts to ache. Honestly, I am enjoying this pregnancy right now, and I do not take that for granted because I know that isn’t the case for others.

Doing yoga/light lifting, running, or brisk 3 mile walks have helped me maintain a feeling of normalcy. For those who are wondering, when I say run I’m really saying I run for 2 minutes, walk for 1 minute, and repeat this for 2 miles – it takes me about 20 minutes. so, I “run”/walk 3 miles in 45 minutes, do 15-20 minutes of lifting, or 30 minutes of yoga. I try to do one of these four activities 4-6 days a week and maintain a good diet, while letting myself indulge when I want, keeping my focus on portions rather than the fact that I am eating “junk.” At my 20 week appointment baby was measuring 2 weeks ahead. The first thing my doctor said when she walked in: “You’ve got a big baby in there!” I’ve gained 12 pounds…she said I was right on track.

Question #3: Do you have a name picked out?

No, we have three names picked out. You can imagine my frustration. When we found out we were having a boy at the 17 week appointment on Chase’s birthday (a scheduling mistake on the office, so we got to have a “fun” ultrasound where we found out the gender), we both were honestly shocked…for a few minutes. Chase more so than me. He was anticipating – more like wanting – a girl and once we got in the car after the appointment he had gotten over it and was over the moon about no-name baby boy. Unfortunately for me, I already had two girl names picked out that I was set on, and a plethora of boy names that were “fine.” About a month ago, Chase came up with three first/middle name combinations from my name list that I ended up loving and we’ve been stuck on them since. Saying them out loud and writing them down has not helped. Lord, help us.

Summer in Texas = bugs everywhere. The things I do to take photos in wildflowers. But, I love having locations like this right outside the back door.