Nora Kay Love ~ 19 Weeks

And at 19w4d, Baby Girl Layman #2 has a name!  

 

It may sound a bit like Noah when big sis says it...but Nora Kay will be her name.  I'll have an entire post on where the name came from, but we're so excited about actually referring to our second sweet baby girl by her new name! 

 

And so...our Charlie Love updates are now Nora Kay updates...I fall more in love with it everytime I use it! 

How far along: 19 weeks
How big is baby: An heirloom tomato (whatever that is); 8.5 oz

Gender: Another sweet baby girl! Nora Kay, you are going to be so incredibly blessed and loved.  I honestly can't believe that God would put me in charge of two precious girls, and I'm so excited to experience the ups (and downs) of having little girls who are sisters by birth and hopefully best friends one of these days. 

Weight gain/loss: At my appt last week, the weight gain was a little more than I would have liked.  But I'm also trying to remind myself that it came off last time with hardwork, it'll come off this time as well.  July is just an awful month for us as far as travelling and eating out.   I'm trying to be much more careful with my snacking and even though I'm not able to attend Zumba like I'd like, we are getting in several nightly walks a week. 

Sleep: Still great, just those occasional early morning risings.  I should really get out of bed and be productive, but I've been lazy & seem to just enjoy the extra few minutes of relaxing in bed. 

Diet/Cravings/Aversions:  Food.  Just food.  I'm really having to be careful with the snacks I keep around the house because I definitely lean towards the cookies, chips, popcorn, type snacks.  I'm trying to keep almonds and fresh fruit handy along with whole wheat crackers that I can eat with avocado.  The junk food I know doesn't fill me up like a good nutritious snack, so I'm trying to make a conscious effort there.  No aversions at this time...although I wish there were some!  ha! 

Movement: It's there for sure.  And last night I think I felt my first movement on the outside.  It's still so faint that I don't think anyone else would be able to feel it, but she's definitely an active little girl! 

What I'm loving:  Hearing Elyse say Nora's name...it's the most adorable thing ever.  And when we ask Elyse where Baby Nora is, she says..."in momma's belly!"  Melt.  My.  Heart. 

Symptoms: My belly is definitely out there a little earlier this time compared to last.  I'm gonna be at an outlet mall this week and I think I'll definitely need to pick up a few pair of maternity shorts or cotton-jersey skirts to get me through the rest of the summer.  My dress pants with a bella band just aren't going to cut it!  I'm also still having some swelling in my left-ankle, but my nurse & dr both agree it has to do with how Nora is laying. 

What I'm looking forward to: Starting the nursery decorating process.  Thankfully the room was kept fairly clean of junk during the moving process.  I've narrowed down a color-scheme so now we just need to start making a few purchases.  With having two girls, I'm also going to redo the second bathroom to be all girl...I'm excited to have an excuse to add a little more fru-fru in the house!

Best moment of the week:  Sharing our name with my Grandma Kay, Elyse & Nora's Great-Grandma.  Nora's middle name was chosen in honor of her, and I thought I was prepared for my grandma's reaction...but I totally wasn't.  She literally broke down, and kept going on and on about how honored she was.  Of course, we were both in tears...but I couldn't have chosen a more God-centered, loving, encouraging, strong woman to name my baby after.