A letter from Daddy (2nd trimester letter)

Hello Son, it is your father again.  It seems like these months are flying by and I am getting closer and closer to being blessed by your presence.  We have been getting everything ready for you to come.  We got all kind of clothes for you.  You are going to be looking fresh for sure.  Your mommy, grandmothers, grandfather and I got your bedroom all together for you.  Everybody cannot wait to see you, but I do not think anyone is more excited than I am.  I remember when Mommy first told me to touch her stomach because you were moving.  I could not believe it!  You were poking and kicking in there.  Then I took my hand off and watched Mommy’s stomach just move.  Watching you move was just pure joy for me.  Kaelin Giovanni Alexander.  Yes son, that is your name!  Do you like it? I hope you do, mommy and I love it!  “Kaelin” means powerful warrior and “Giovanni” means God is gracious.  It is the perfect name for you, our first-born son.. God’s gracious warrior. I just cannot wait for you to get here.  I think you and I are going to be twins.  Mommy and I got to see you on a 3D ultrasound where we could see you.  Like really SEE what you look like.  When we first got there and started the ultrasound, you were covering yourself up with your feet.  I hope you are not as shy as you were that day.  Finally, after awhile we got to see you.  We got to see you smile, frown and everything! It was such a joy to see.  It made me anticipate your arrival that much more.  It looks like you have my lips and nose.  Even the nurse helping us was talking about how you look like me.  Lets just pray that you get Mommy’s hair.  I cannot wait to hold you.  I cannot wait to look into your eyes.  I cannot wait to hear your first cry.  I just can’t wait Kaelin, I really can’t.  I pray every night for you and mommy that God keeps y’all safe and you develop with no complications.  We are going to classes to help us for when it is time for you to come.  Mommy is going to be a “Kaelin” herself when she delivers you.  Meaning she will be a  powerful warrior in the delivery room.  The classes are teaching her about the delivery and what to do and it is teaching me how I can help Mommy.  I have been reading stories to you before bedtime. I hope you enjoy them because I am going to be doing that for a number of years when you get here.  Just know daddy loves you and is doing everything he can for you.  I love you Kaelin.

A letter to my unborn child (2nd trimester letter)

Three months have passed since I last wrote you.  Within those months, changes have occurred.  Each day I still seem to find myself in disbelief that I am seven months pregnant.  You have been such a great baby in mommy’s stomach.  I have heard other people’s stories, and my story is that I bypassed the sickness.  Thank You.  Since you are bigger, I feel every movement.  Even with all the movement, you have not yet hurt mommy.

When I first felt you move, I was midway into my 20th week.  Before this week, people would question if I felt you move yet.  At the very start of my pregnancy, I longed-for the day I would feel you move.  I had finally felt you move late at night while I slept.  While I was asleep, I was awakened to you moving in my tummy.  It was 1:30 a.m. and the movements lasted about 30 minutes.  It was not painful, but different.  I was in shock at what was happening, and did not want to move.  Once the movements settled, I smiled, and thanked God for this awesome blessing.  The reason I had been anxious to feel you move, was because that was the one way I could know you were all right, for I could not see you.  As the weeks went on, you grew more and more, and I could feel you move more as well.  When I first felt you move, you felt like air bubbles inside.  Now the movements feel like movements.  When you poke me, kick me, or just move, I feel just that.  There are certain days you are extremely active.  The days you are, I love to look down at my stomach and watch you move.  It is crazy that I am not actually watching you move, but in a way I am, for I can see my tummy lifting up and down.

I get more eager to meet you as time progresses.  Your father and I finally have named you.  We made it official this past week after our first 3-d ultra sound where it revealed how right I was months ago!  As of now, you look just like your father!  We decided to name you Kaelin Giovanni.  Kaelin means powerful warrior, and Giovanni means God is gracious.  With a name like that you can never go wrong in life, for God gives us favor.  When you forget that you can do all things through Christ, just remember what your name means.  Warriors do not give up, they are strong, and God is gracious.

You are moving right now, as I write you this letter! Awwwww I love you son! December needs to hurry! 

Love You Forever & Always, Your Mommy  

God is Gracious to our Powerful lil' Warrior

Yesterday Gerald and I went in for a 3d ultra sound.  3d ultra sounds are the coolest!!  I have seen other’s 3d photos, but to lie in the room and see the 3d in real life, I was stunned! Back when I had seen a regular ultra sound photo of my baby around 13 weeks, I had seen that he had his father’s features.  After yesterday, the 3d ultra sound confirmed it!  He is his father’s twin!  The technician performing the ultra sound said, “ Oh my God, he looks just like his father!”  She stated how he was so adorable, and she loved his lips.  She even asked if she could keep a photo for her wall.  The tech’s name was Sheryl, and Sheryl kept telling the baby to make sure his momma brings him in once he is born, so aunt Sheryl could see him.  HA! Sheryl cracked me up.  She was a nice lady.  As we were leaving the office, we heard Sheryl telling the receptionist, “ You should have seen that baby! He was the cutest and looked exactly like his father!”  Gerald and I laughed as we walked out the door.  I become more and more anxious to meet my son as time progresses each day.

When we went in for the 3d Ultra sound, he would not cooperate.  His legs were in-front of his face, so we could only get a side a view.  It took almost 20 minutes to get him to turn.

He finally showed us part of his face.  His leg was still in the way but at least we got a side view.

For the longest I have been asked what name have Gerald and I decided on.  We would respond we have not decided.  I personally did not want to decide on a name for I have heard about people naming their child, and losing them while  they were carrying them.  I knew I could not deal with that so Gerald and I agreed to wait until we were further along.  Do not get me wrong, we would discuss names, just did not want to name our son until we was ready.  Once we saw him in 3d, we could not wait any longer.

When it came to naming my children.  I always wanted my girl’s names to start with a K, and my son’s names with a G.  However, the only problem is that when we started thinking of G names, we were extremely limited.  Gerald has expressed always, he would never want his son to be junior.  So we agreed to just go with K names.  While deciding, we also wanted to make sure our children’s names are meaningful to them.

We have decided to name our son..KAELIN GIOVANNI Alexander.

Kaelin is Irish and means powerful warrior.

Giovanni is Hebrew and means God is gracious.

Look at Gerald's twin!

Gerald and I will always remind our son how God is gracious to his powerful lil’ warrior!

7months-28 weeks

The last 2weeks of my 2nd Trimester

Tomorrow I will be 28 weeks (seven months), and starting my third trimester.  During this second trimester, I have learned, and experienced such new and amazing things.

Last week I had to go in for my glucose testing.  I honestly had been dreading taking this test, from the first time I heard about what it was.  For those that really know me, know that I love for my food and drinks to be sweet.  I was one of those children that would come home from school and make sugar milk.  Yes! You read correctly..lol. I would put sugar in my milk, and drink it.  My friends would look at me as if I was crazy.  Ahhh I am such a mess for that!  Anyways, the point of that story is to show how I probably intake too much sugar. The glucose test is to help detect those that have become pre-diabetic or a diabetic while  pregnant.  I am extremely proud of myself with the changed sugar intake I have made.  I cut back on sugar totally, I even use splenda, that I used to believe was totally gross. 

On the day of the glucose testing, I found that I was in for a surprise.  I was told before hand, that the testing was two hours long, and they would draw blood each hour.  Let me fill you in about how I was unable eat anything the night before after 12.  So yes, I made my appointment as early as possible, for momma has to eat!  When I got to my appointment, I found out that the test is actually three hours long, and they draw blood three times.  As soon as I arrived they drew blood and soon after I was instructed to drink this yummy sweet drink.  Once the drink was gone, is when I had to wait an hour to get blood drawn two more times an hour apart.  By the time I left, I was hungry as hell, drained, and my arms looked as if I had been shooting myself up, because of the three tiny holes that were in my poor arms.

26 weeks

Throughout the second trimester, each day became more exciting then the next.  I have been able to watch my son grow, while not literally watching him because I cannot see him in person yet.  I am watching him grow by seeing how my belly keeps growing, and by his movements.  I remember at the beginning of this trimester, I could not even feel him move yet.  Now I can feel were his fingers are poking me, were his feet are kicking, or just any type of movement he does.  I am positive this last trimester will probably be the most interesting as he continues to grow, but I am ready! 

                                                          Second Trimester Notes

           Weight gain- 17 lbs                           Baby’s heart rate- usually around 155

                   Gender- Boy                                     Stretch Marks-  No           

Still wearing heels- yes!                                        Belly button-   is flat but also sticks out a tad

   Maternity clothes- yes, just so my waist can be comfortable while sitting

The Good, the Bad, the Ugly

I always knew and heard people speak about how a woman’s body changes while pregnant.  I just never heard about ALL the changes.  The most I heard, which is usually the usual is people speaking about all the stretching, stretch marks, and sickness that occur.  Now that I am pregnant, I am learning about the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Everyone knows about the good side of pregnancy.  You know.. The enlarged breast, the glow, and the joy of knowing you have a blessing in your tummy.  Well.. Let me fill you in about some of the bad, and the ugly.  In one and every three pregnancies someone experiences separated abs.  I just so happened to be that one.  Separated abs is also known as Diastasis Recti.  Many women’s whose abs split, it is from either rapid growth, weak abs, being overweight, etc.  My core was never the strongest, but I would not consider them the weakest, either.  My doctor insists that I will be just fine after pregnancy, due to how fit I am.  He also stated that my abs probably wont go all the way back normal, but that I will be better off then most.  I will have to be the judge about that because as of now, I AM SCARED!

Not only have I experienced split abs, but also, I have experienced major swelling from time to time in an area I never thought would be like this, and I am not talking about my feet.  However, the worst pain I have endured is this sharp pain that comes and goes right below my buttock, from time to time called Sciatica.  I have no clue how to even describe this horrible pain that comes when it wants to.  I was told some people also endure this during pregnancy due to the added weight they are carrying.  When the pain decides to come, sometimes I cannot move.  If I move it only hurts more.  I am not even going to lie; this type of pain sometimes brings tears to my eyes.

Although I have separated abs, swelling from time to time, and Sciatica, I have heard many pregnancy stories of people having it harder than me from beginning to end.  I have been blessed to bypass any type of sickness.  So I will not complain about my few bads, and uglies.

My abs two months before being pregnant. Like I said, it was not the greatest abs in the world,
 but I would not say my abs were weak.