Pregnancy: Week 31

I really feel like this pregnancy has been much easier than the first. I'm not sure if it's because of the gender difference or simply the fact that my body knows exactly what it needs to do. I'm sure both play huge factors but it's encouraging in that I'm enjoying this second pregnancy so much more. Many people ask us if we are done after two, and while my mind just wants to stay focused on this one for now, I will admit I would love a few more children. I grew up in a large family and I love the differing personalities and quirks each child had. If God chooses to bless me with more kids, who am I to turn down those blessings? Week 31 of pregnancy was extra enjoyable since it was spent with Ethan being home. He was amazed at how much more my stomach has grown and how much more movement he can actually feel.Baby Size & Development:Pineapple. All of Baby's senses are fully functioning! She should weigh between 2.5 to 3. 8 lbs and measure approximately 15-17 inches in length.Signs & Symptoms:Heartburn. And it's begun. There is so much crowding in my belly that my food doesn't have much room. I really have to be careful with what I eat now.Tiredness. Every day I slow down a bit more. I get bursts of energy but then it catches up with me and I find myself just needing to sit. Daily naps are a necessity (as I got away with not napping much the second trimester.)Stronger movement. Sometimes her movement hurts. It feels like she is just pressing on the inside of my belly and holding it there...unlike Kaiden's infamous jabs. Her movement is so different from his which is hopefully letting me know her personality is too haha.Best Moment This Week:There were several great moments this week. The 4D ultrasound was awesome and taking maternity pics was fun but probably my favorite part was the realization that Kaiden is going to make a great big brother. He is just so helpful and does so well with the little baby doll we bought him. Every morning he goes to her crib and likes to feed her with her little baby bottle. He is always trying to share his toys with her too. He also played with a 7-month old the other day and was extremely gentle...petting his little arms and all.Worst Moment This Week:We watched a movie where the mom went into labor. Big mistake. I now have labor on my mind all the time and I don't like thinking about how long that day will be. I know that the end result will be so worth it but I at least want to avoid the anxiety of it all if I possibly can.What I Most Look Forward To:My next naptime. :)

My Maternity Photos at Morningsun Herb Farm

I'm still shocked at how we connected...it is proof that the world we live in is indeed small. My new friend N'tima from We Seek Joy found me through a blog that we both follow and recognized a lot of the places in my pictures. Turns out, we both have husbands stationed at the same base and only live a few streets from each other! How crazy is that? She is pregnant also and wanting maternity pictures, so I thought it would be fun if we just did a swap. She is a talented photographer and I never took maternity pictures with Kaiden so I figured, why not? We decided to take them at 31 weeks just because of Ethan's schedule and I didn't want to wait until I was super huge. Though we are all a camera shy family (believe it or not,) I had  a lot of fun getting our pictures taken and getting to know N'tima in the process.I loved that she suggested we take them at the Morningsun Herb Farm. This place is absolutely adorable and is actually where I picked up all my plants last year when I first got into gardening. When you have a wild child like my son, you need a space that keeps them busy and interacting because he simply won't stand and smile...which is fine with me because I love the result! Enjoy the pics and be sure to stop by her blog and leave some love! I can't wait to take her baby bump pictures in a few weeks!