That’s right guys!!! I’m pregnant! I can’t even tell you how relieved I am just share this news with all of you. I don’t know if you noticed over the past few months, but I kept talking on Instagram story about how I was feeling off and not myself. The truth is, I was super tired and so sick from my first trimester! It was so hard not to talk to you about it and be open about it. So much harder than the first time I was pregnant. I’m not sure why that is. Maybe I’ve just found that through motherhood I’ve become so much more open and connected with all of you. Not just those of you who are mothers, but any female. Probably because I’m the mother to a daughter. And I’ve just been so open with all of you about my life through my pregnancy with Molly and through my first 16 months of motherhood, it was so hard keeping a secret from all of you! I almost felt paralyzed every time I got on Instagram story because I felt like I had this big fat secret that I was lying about. I hated it! Honestly, if I could’ve told you guys I was pregnant the day I took the test I would have! Well, I guess there’s no law that I couldn’t tell you. But let’s face it, it’s not exactly the recommended thing to do. Anyway, here and there throughout my first trimester I jotted down my feelings in the notes section on my iPhone. I found it therapeutic and it helped me get through the days feeling like I was talking to all of you even though I really wasn’t at the time. So I wanted to share some of what I wrote. There’s a lot so I’ll share the rest later. But here’s a start.
And yes, Molly’s face below is a pretty good way to sum up how I’ve been feeling. Pregnancy symptoms are no fun.
- MATERNITY TANK | 2. $19 LEGGINGS | 3. NECKLACE
Oh one more thing, I swear I’ll get to my “journal” in just a second, but I want to say that I am fully aware of how blessed I am to GET to be pregnant. I am in no way suggesting that the discomfort I’m feeling in any way is bad enough that I would rather not be pregnant. I am thrilled to be pregnant and know how fortunate we are. So for those of you who are struggling, know I am here for you if you want to share your story. A couple of my friends are right there with you and I can only imagine the pain you may feel (this also goes for those of you who have experienced loss). This blog is just my outlet to share my story. But know I am here for you to hear YOUR story. xoxo
6 weeks 5 Days (October 8th)
I’ve decided to start journaling about my pregnancy systems. I’m feeling pretty overwhelmed and need some sort of outlet.
I’ve been extremely tired this weekend. Napped on both Saturday and Sunday. We took Molly to a pumpkin patch on Saturday and it got really hot while we were there. I just about passed out in the middle of the patch. I’ve also been very moody. I wasn’t moody at all when I was pregnant with Molly. But this time I feel myself going slightly nutty. But mostly the fatigue is killing me right now. I want more than anything to blog about all this RIGHT NOW! I want the support of my Ali Luvs Family! It almost feels silly to me that it’s a “rule” to wait to tell people. If something ever happened, I would honestly share it with all of you because I would need your support and wouldn’t want to feel alone. I dunno. Maybe it’s crazy that I’m even thinking that way right now. But honestly I feel a little crazy.
7 weeks 4 days (Oct 14th)
Am I seriously already showing?!?! I put on a pair of high waisted pants this morning and can’t believe it, but I’ve totally popped!!! Even my friend Ashley noticed right away (she knows I’m pregnant). I don’t think I started showing until I was at least 13 or 14 weeks with Molly. But I guess from what I’ve been reading that if you have babies close together your uterus immediately pops back out when you get pregnant with your second. And in general even if you wait a while to have another baby, if it’s your second baby you’ll show a month sooner. That’s just what I’ve read. But it seems true for me!
I’m kind of nervous because I don’t know how I’m going to hide it for four more weeks. In my every day life it won’t be too bad but I’m more concerned about when I’m on Home & Family (the show I’m on on Hallmark Channel). No one there knows yet and I want to try to keep it a secret until we officially announce. Maybe we announce at 10 or 11 weeks this go around? Instead of waiting until 12/13 weeks?
8 weeks (October 17th)
I’m really struggling today. I’m just so tired and so nauseous. Many of you have been noticing that I’m not on Insta story much these days. It’s because I feel awful! Everything I post I feel like I have nothing to say other than “I’m sooooo tired” and the few times I have said that, many of you started guessing that I’m pregnant! Ha! So radio silence it is. Kidding. I’m going to try to interact more, I just need to find the energy to do it.
8 weeks 4 days (October 21st)
When I was pregnant with Molly I also had nausea. But it was different than it is this time. With Molly, I remember only being able to eat dry toast and clementines. And while toast and clementines definitely make up some of my diet this time around, I find myself sometimes feeling so sick and feeling like the only thing that will make me feel better is eating more. So, needless to say, I’m eating a lot more this time than last time during my first trimester. I actually lost weight during my first trimester with my first pregnancy. This time I’m going up and down. I initially lost about 7 lbs in the beginning. Probably from cutting out alcohol. But it’s creeping back on pretty quickly. It’s because I can pretty much only eat carbs and fruit. Anything fried or with too much flavor makes me feel sick. So when Kevin and I cook at night we make our food two ways – one version pretty bland and one version with flavor and spices for him.
We were supposed to go to a Halloween event today. But I just can’t even muster the energy to shower never mind do my hair and make up and go to an event outside in the 90° weather in LA. It’s a bummer because I’m sure it would’ve been fun. But I just don’t have it in me these days. I also have a photo shoot with Instyle Magazine tomorrow that I’m super nervous about because not only do I have to hide my pregnancy from them (and I’m totally showing at this point), but I have to be full of energy and “on” all day long. I think it’s a 12-hour photo shoot day. And I know I know, poor me having to go to the photo shoot. But I’ll tell you this, I’ve worked a lot of jobs in my life and doing photo shoots all day long is honestly one of the most tiring things I’ve done.
9 weeks (October 24th)
I’m a living, breathing stereotype. I haven’t bought a jar of pickles from the grocery store in probably two years. Maybe even three years. And today when I was grocery shopping with Kevin, I couldn’t help myself but to pick some up. Since then I’ve just been eating them out of the jar. I didn’t have this craving at all with Molly. Maybe that means I’m having a boy this time? Who knows! But I can’t help but laugh at myself for eating pickles straight out of the jar while pregnant. Our first OB/GYN appointment and ultrasound is tomorrow! I’ll make sure to update this journal/ blog then!
My “new” 9 weeks (October 25th)
So based on my calculations, I was nine weeks and one day today so that’s what I’ve been going by. But since today was our first ultrasound! Yippee! We found out the baby is measuring exactly 9 weeks. So that’s why this is my “new” nine weeks. It was pretty weird to see the baby for the first time at nine weeks since when I was pregnant with Molly, I already had two ultrasounds by 8 1/2 weeks. But our little nugget looks great and has a strong heartbeat! In fact, I’ll go back in about 10 days to get a blood test to screen for chromosome abnormalities and as a bonus, to find out the gender! The test takes about a week to get back so in a little over two weeks we’ll know if we’re having a boy or girl! So crazy!
10 weeks 3 days (Nov 4th)
My sense of smell is out of control! I smell EVERYTHING!!! It’s hard for me to feed Molly because the food I make her smells so strong! And if she poops while across the room from me, I can smell it RIGHT away! It’s bizarre. And don’t even get me started on people’s breath. Ha! It’s so weird because this all just kicked in a couple days ago. Anyone else get super smell powers 10 weeks in?
11 weeks 2 days (November 10th)
We almost announced our pregnancy today. But at the last minute we both decided not to. I don’t know, it’s so weird because this entire first trimester I’ve been dying to tell all of you that I’m pregnant. However, now that it’s getting time to announce, we don’t feel ready. It’s almost like we want to hold onto this little secret for just a little while longer. I’m thinking maybe we will sometime next week. Because even though it doesn’t quite yet feel like it’s time, it’s also really hard to keep it a secret any longer since my belly is so huge! I honestly can’t believe I’ve able to hide it this long. I guess technically it’s still a little early to announce. Most people announce after 12 weeks or even 13 weeks. But I don’t think I’ll make it much longer than 12 weeks. Also, like I just said, I definitely can’t hide it anymore.
12 weeks exactly (November 15th)
We are announcing tomorrow! I’m full of so many different emotions right now. I’m excited and nervous and happy and even sad a little bit. I guess the sadness comes from letting go of this little secret we’ve been holding for the past few months. Well I guess it’s a pretty big secret! But I’m mostly excited. I can’t wait to connect with all of you and talk about this pregnancy.
12 weeks 1 day (November 16th)
We shared our news with all of you today! What a relief! And I feel like I can finally be open and honest with you guys on Insta story and open and honest with you all on my blog. I hope to get this journal I’ve been keeping over the past few weeks up on my blog soon! But with the holidays coming up I feel like it’s going to be kind of crazy. I will say however, my nausea kind of lifted today. Up until now, I felt slightly nauseous all day long every day. But I just don’t feel it anymore! I’m sure most of it was because of my pregnancy, but now I’m wondering if some of it was the anxiety of not sharing my news. It’s almost like as soon as I shared the news I started feeling better. Thank you all so much for all of your love and support today! It means the world to us! 🙂 Molly can’t wait to be a big sister!
13 weeks 2 days (November 24th)
Thanksgiving was yesterday. We didn’t do too much. I made a small meal for Kevin, Molly and I and we mostly just hung at home the whole day. My dad is coming to have a Thanksgiving dinner with us in a few days so we’ll see some family then which will be nice. However, remember how I said in my last entry that my nausea had gone away. Well, not exactly. I don’t feel sick all day long anymore, but I almost always feel sick after a full meal. I think I need to stop eating full meals and instead just snack throughout the day. And I’m still feeling so tired all the time! I’m lucky that Kevin is such an incredible husband to me because he lets me sleep in every single day that he has off of work. He goes to work at 4 AM every day and on the weekends he’ll wake up at 5:30 or six with Molly just so I can sleep in. I feel bad, because I want to let him sleep in since he wakes up so early all week long. But of course he won’t have it and wants me to get as much rest as possible! I’m so lucky to have such a solid partner to do this whole life thing with.
Before I go I want to share some of the things I could not live without this 1st trimester.
I’m A Big Sister Book – I will explain in a future blog post why this book is so important to me. Basically I used it to tell Kevin he was going to be a daddy AGAIN! But it’s a long story and this blog is long enough. Ha. SO I will share that story in a blog post next week!
$19 Leggings – These aren’t maternity leggings. But I just wasn’t ready to wear maternity clothes 8 weeks in. Ha! So I pretty much lived in these leggings.
Fiber Shell Pasta – Ha. It’s true. It’s basically all I ate for a few weeks during my 1st trimester. And I choose to believe the fiber made me more regular. I had HORRIBLE constipation when I was pregnant with Molly and I’ve barely had any this time around. Oh and sorry to talk about food and constipation in the same paragraph. Ha!
Smooth Move Tea – I also credit this tea for keeping me more regular this time around 😉
Anyway, I’m gonna wrap up this little mini journal of my first trimester because I want to get it up on the blog in the next couple days to share with all of you! I’d love to hear your thoughts. For those of you who are pregnant too, are you going through the same things that I am? I was very happy to see on Instagram after we announced that many of you said you’re due around the same time as I am! That makes me feel like I have a little tribe of women to go through this with. And if you’re not pregnant right now, I know many of you can relate to everything I just wrote! So let’s talk, mamas! Why does the first trimester have to be so hard on us? And why is the first trimester, which is the hardest trimester for many, the time where we have to keep it a secret and act like everything’s fine? Did you keep it a secret the first trimester? And if not, who did you tell other than your family? Or did you not even tell your family? There’s so much I want to discuss with all of you!
And don’t forget to enter my $100 gift card giveaway HERE! You have until tomorrow morning to enter because I am announcing the winner on my blog tomorrow 🙂
Please share the Big Sister Book story, Ali! And congratulations again! 🙂
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
I will share the full story on how I told Kevin soon!
Congrats Ali — I am sooooo excited for you! You have such a sweet family, that is one lucky baby! 🙂
Also, please share other ideas you had about telling Kevin!
Congrats on your growing family!! ❤️ BTW I just finished watching your insta-story. The same thing happen to me when I was pregnant with my little girl. My husband and i were out celebrating our friends wedding when all of a sudden I felt really light headed and fell to my knees. My husband and I got really scared. Once I talked to my doctor he confirmed that it was common with pregnant women.
http://thestir.cafemom.com/pregnancy/114917/know_the_sex_of_your?utm_content=likeyourkids_fanpage&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=sm
Can NOT wait!! Oh I watched the live video of you two and it was just the sweetest ever!! 😍😍😍😍
Congratulations. We are due around the same time. I have been soo sick. Did you find out if its a boy or a girl? I have to wait til my 21 weeks scan. Good luck xx
Congratulations! At 9 weeks you said in 10 days you were getting your blood tests done to find out the gender. Did you? And if so will you tell us or keep it a secret?
I am curious to know the gender as well!!!
Yes curious on the gender!!!!💗💙
Congrats ali!!!💓💚
Congrats!!! So happy happy for you guys! ☺️
Can you share the journey of getting prego? I read the article and you soad it took you 5 months.
Thanks so much for always so open and sharing your thoughts.
Katy
Yes I will do that! Thanks for the suggestion!
Thats would be awesome!! Thanks
I would love that too! On cycle 4 of trying to make my first babe, and I wish someone would have told me before I started that it isn’t as easy as it seems! I don’t feel like it’s as open if a subject as it should be.
Hi Nora and Lauren! Hang in there ladies. What helped me in the quest to get pregnant, and I swear by it, was the Clear Blue Digital Ovulation Kit. I would start testing about 3-4 days after the last day of my cycle to see when my fertile days/ovulation day was.
The period phone app and my body were just not lining up because turns out, my ovulation day jumps all around the place (I learned that from the test- whew- sanity saved)! The ovulation kit was a saving grace to me. Hope this helps!! My little one, Cash, is 1 week older than Aly’s little Molly. 🙂
I would love to hear your story as well.
Yes – been trying for a year and a half and any insight on what you did would be amazing – congrats and thank you for acknowledging those of us that are struggling – means a lot
Congratulations Ali, Kevin and Molly!
I can relate to so much of this! I was exhausted all the time during my second pregnancy and for the first three months or so I just grazed all day because if I ate too much too quickly I just felt more nauseous. I was a stereotype too-pickles by the jar (I have 2 boys 🙂 I also craved fruit and nuts all the time with my second boy. I think it’s more exhausting the second time around because you’re also chasing a toddler around. I hope Molly is excited and doing well with all the changes so far. My son Daniel was about the same age when I was pregnant the second time and he would get so excited to kiss my belly and say hi to the baby.
One thing that really helped my nausea were acupressure bracelets. I wore them constantly!
Congrats again!
I had to bracelets for Molly and JUST found them 2 days ago. I wish I had found them much sooner!
What are acupressure bracelets? Is there a particular kind that you recommend? My nausea was HORRIBLE with my baby and nothing seemed to help, but I didn’t try acupressure.. I would like 2 close in age (my first is 7 months now), but am scared of how I will manage the nausea/sickness while taking care of our little one. :-/
The only thing that did help a *little* was ginger. I would eat candied ginger, chop up some ginger root to steep in hot water like tea, and take ginger capsules (I checked with my obgyn and they said it was fine): http://amzn.to/2k3JSBr
Congratulations Ali! So excited for your growing family! My son is 9 months and your blog has been so helpful and relatable.
Awwww thanks Mo. I hope to do lots of Mommy’s blogs now that I’m pregnant again. I’ll have Mommy EVERYTHING on my brain!
Yay love this! I am almost 12 weeks pregnant with my 2nd (my First is the exact same age as Molly) and I’m excited but also terrified! We have no family in town which totally sucks ☹️ Do you kno if you’re having a boy or girl now? Have you heard the Ramzi Theory? Totally accurate for my baby and also ALL of my friends. It’s a scientific study not an old wives tale! 😊
We do know what we are having but we are keeping it to ourselves for now 😉 And you and I are on the same schedule with Kiddos!!! 😉
Ali, what genetic test did you do? Was it called Verify? How quickly did you get your results? I am 10 weeks and am doing the Verify blood test tomorrow! We cant wait to find out what we’re having! Congrats on your pregnancy!
Ali, I was so excited to see your blog post today! I can totally relate- I’m ten weeks along now and more than nausea, I always deal with terrible anxiety over the first trimester. I tell a handful of people so I can get as much emotional support as I can during these challenging weeks but I’m anxiously (no pun intended! Ha!) awaiting hitting 14 weeks so I can share the news with the rest of my family, friends and colleagues at the school I teach in. I’ve also been eating non-stop, embarrassingly it helps me deal with the anxiety I’m struck with but I know as soon as it eases up I’ll have to be extra healthy to make up for all those extra calories I take in over the first trimester!! And the exhaustion!!! Oh my!!! Thankfully my 4 year old daughter has been such a help with my lively 18 month old, and I try and take a cat nap here and there on the couch while they play together. I’m so happy that you’re finally out there with the announcement- it really is such a relief and I can’t wait to get there too! In the mean time, super excited that I can do the pregnancy journey again “with you” – I loved following along while I was pregnant with my second and you were pregnant with Molly and I know I’ll enjoy it again the second time around. Feel good!!
And thank you for recommending the tea!!! That has been a huge issue for me this pregnancy (wasn’t a problem with my last pregnancy). And it’s not fun! Love how honest and forthcoming you are, it’s so awesome!!! Love love love!!!! ❤️
Smooth move tea is magic but my doctor (and the internet) said that you should not drink senna tea during pregnancy (I know – makes me wanna cry) but it works by causing contractions in your intestine – def want to avoid that when you’re preggo! I’d recommend fibre chews instead (and yes, they’re disgusting). If you’re doctor says it’s fine then I’m sure it is btw*
Oh thank you that’s good to know, i did wonder about that.
congrats ali i feel so glad for you make sure to show us more of your pictures
You’re sooo right about the first trimester. It’s so hard! And so nerve wracking too! So funny you mentioned clementines when you were pregnant with Molly! That is literally the only thing I want to eat when I’m pregnant! And just like you I have battled making food for my 16 month old because I’m so grossed out by all food! I worry I’m not eating enough but nothing is appealing to me. Are you going to announce if you’re having a boy or girl?
Oh I’m pregnant with my 2nd and started showing at 9 weeks! Like a lot! I couldn’t believe it!!!
I totally agree with you, I’m pregnant with my 2nd and my oldest is 16 months. My first two pregnanies ended in miscarriage and while i was totally heart broken and completely devastated, I talked about it with everyone! I’m a super open person and miscarriages are something that happen and it was healing for me to talk about it so i never understood why people were so secretive about it bc if more people talked about it other women would realize they’re not alone.
I’m only a few weeks behind you (currently 11 weeks) with my first and I am so excited for your maternity fashion ideas!
I’m so happy for you guys!! Congratulations!!
I am right there with you Ali! I am 21 weeks pregant with my first and all this is new to me. I was so tired in the first trimester and starving all the time. It is much better in the second but I can’t eat full meals either or I get indegestion. I am trying to keep up on my fiber because I have been struggling to stay regular this whole time. I am so glad to know I am not alone in feeling all this. Congrats to you and your family!
Congrats! With my second pregnancy I showed at 7 weeks- like very obvious! So you’re not alone there. And I have 2 boys and was nauseated the entire first and second pregnancies! It’s no joke being pregnant and glad yours is better. When will you announce the gender?
Congratulations to you all!! My little girl is 14 months old and I’m due in April. A wirlwind of emotions huh!? We just found out thanksgiving that we’re having a boy!! Can’t wait to hear what you guys are having❤️
Congrats on the exciting news! Have been following your blog for awhile and love seeing your family grow. Molly is the sweetest. I myself am due end of May with my first child. First trimester has been quite the experience for me as well. So excited for your family on this journey and really appreciate the clothes and tips you post on motherhood.
Thank you for sharing and congratulations!!! I was sick my first pregnancy and am nervous about the second! Sounds like it hit you again although not quite as strong, gives me hope! 🙂
xo, Jenn
http://Www.jennifercyr.com
I’m only 7.5 weeks (early!) but the nausea is kicking my ass. It’s hard! I was pregnant this summer, and we miscarried.. this baby is very loved and wanted and I know it’s all worth it, but I feel miserable! It’s so hard to function normally and get through a work week. I’m also battling some severe anxiety over my loss and this pregnancy, I’m constantly worried something will go wrong!
Congratulations on your pregnancy – I hope you start to feel better soon!! I’m excited to be a few weeks behind you… it’s like a peek into the future!
And how was everything after your hip surgery? You must be so happy you got pregnant very fast! Congrats! Your are such a role model!
Congrats on your up coming little! I have loved following your journey since the Bachelor. I loved how open, honest and really you are. I am curious though why did you blog about contemplating a second and went as far as saying you didn’t even know if you would be able to have another. When I read that I thought “wow, someone who is in the media is sharing a really real fear” One that is always at the back of my mind. Curious as to why you said that when you already knew you were pregnant?
Love following your blog. I’m also pregnant..just right behind you. I’ll be 11wks tomorrow. Completely relate to you, the smells are KILLER right now. Bathrooms make me puke just as much as breath of others does. Can’t. Do. Smells. Also so nauseated. It’s debilitating and I have other kiddos to look after so praying this passes soon for both of us. Congratulations to you!
Ali,
Thank you so much for being so open with all of us! I’m currently 8weeks 2 days and so nervous! My first doctors appointment is on Tuesday! I can’t wait to see my little nugget!
Thanks again for the encouragement!
Anna
Congratulations to your little family. My cousin who is like a sister to me just found out she is pregnant as well. Looking working to watching both of your journeys. Praying that the rest of your pregnancy goes better.
I just took a pregnancy test yesterday and found out I’m pregnant again! (And then I took 4 more tests just to be sure.) My first is also 16 months, just like Molly, so I feel like I’ve been following along on that journey and am happy to follow along with baby #2!! With our first we tried for two years and eventually did IVF. And this time we had just decided we were not ‘not trying’ and I got pregnant immediately. Life is crazy.
I have no idea how far along I am… Guessing only 5 weeks and felt fine up until today and now I’m exhausted. Could it be in my head?? Anyway, congrats to you! Can’t wait to read more!
Thank you for sharing! I am 14 weeks today with our second. Out little girl will be 13 months on December 2nd. It is exciting to follow someone else’s journey and compare experiences, especially with the whole “2 under 2” thing! I have to admit I was so afraid of the first trimester with a toddler. But for me I think it has actually been easier than my first pregnancy! I think because #1, my Maggie didn’t start sleeping until 11 months so I swear I’m just used to be tired 😂 And #2, I am so preoccupied with her that I forget I’m pregnant! During my first pregnancy that is all I ever thought about! I hope your second trimester goes smoothly and gives you a little relief from the exhaustion and nausea! Good luck, Mama!
Congratulations on baby 2 Ali!!!! So happy for you Molly and Kevin! I can’t wait to hear how this pregnancy will be same and different than Molly. Thanks for bringing us along for the journey!
Oh man. I relate SO strongly to this. I’m 10 weeks pregnant with my second baby and everything you’re saying is exactly what I’m experiencing. The nausea and exhaustion, the only thing that makes you feel better is eating more, showing WAY sooner than last time and not knowing how to hide it, the out of control smelling power. My 20 month old gets a sweaty head from all of his running around, and his little stinky head gets me every time. Although this 1st trimester is kicking my butt, it feels good knowing I’m not alone. Thanks for sharing!
Congrats! I also had the sensitive smell thing going on..taking public transportation to the city took on a whole new meaning! I will say almost 10 years later…I am still really sensitive to smells! So I drive to work now ❤️
Congratulations!!
Where you pregnant when you had your hip procedure?
I showed very early in my 2nd pregnancy as well. Looked like I was 6 months at 3 months. Started to measure about 3 weeks larger but sonogram said otherwise. Turned out I had 2 water bags with 1 very large baby for my 5’2″ frame.
Sleep as much as possible!! 2 little ones is exhausting but so rewarding!!
First of all a big fat congratulations!!! So happy for you both!!!!
Secondly, my second pregnancy sounded exactly like yours. I was working a lot of hours but I was soooo tired, had morning sickness from the day I conceived to the day I delivered and pregnancy headaches the first trimester that were awful. Having said that at the same time I also felt great by the 2nd trimester, really powerful if that makes any sense. Lol. What I did learn early on was that I had to eat these small meals like every 11/2 hrs or I’d be nauseous, which was miserable, so I’d make a sandwich and cut it in 1/4 and eat a 1/4 of the sandwich and a couple small apple slices or maybe a small salad. I was eating healthy and so many of these small meals that I only ended up gaining 10 lbs in my pregnancy. My doctor said the baby was gaining but my metabolism was just going so fast I wasn’t. I certainly wasn’t starving myself. I was eating constantly I just wasn’t eating junk, well besides my occasional indulgence of chocolate mint ice cream 😋. I think it is a little tougher with your second because you’re chasing a little one around and working, you can’t just lay down on a whim and rest for how ever long you want or need. You’re such a cute mom. You’re going to be great though. Just try and rest as much as you can and minimize the morning or rather all day sickness by keeping something on your stomach.
Congrats again!!! Much love and many blessings to you Kevin and Molly!❤️
This is amazing news! You guys look like you have so much fun being parents and now a new addition to the family!! Congratulations! My husband and I have been trying over a year now and it’s time to take a break! Lol any tips when we get started again? If I wasn’t in Canada I would totally make you a cute gender reveal cake! They’re my favourite!! Enjoy the pregnancy! Can’t wait to hear more about it 🙂 ❤️
While I’m not in the stage of my life where I’m having babies, I love reading your blog and following your insta page! I was a fan when you were the bachelorette and I love seeing you and your happy, little fam! Congratulations on baby #2! ❤
I can identify with SO much of this! My son is 17 months today, and I’m currently 26 weeks along with our second–a sweet little girl! Overall, I’ve felt so much sicker this time around, and the fatigue is UNREAL (although I’m sure some of that is just the result of parenting a toddler). Food has been really hit or miss…sometimes I’ll take two bites of my meal & immediately have to call it quits. And just about every other day, I panic about the reality of having two under two in just a few short months! It’s so reassuring to see other mamas living the same reality! And just like you, while I’m wholly grateful for this new little life and SO excited to love on another baby, this pregnancy seems so much harder than my last. But we’ll get through this!
Do you feel like Molly has any idea what’s going on? My son has definitely noticed my growing belly & loves to cuddle up on it, but I’m pretty sure the idea of a new baby coming into the family is still completely lost on him 🙂
I hope your nausea & tiredness can lift soon! Once you start feeling those little kicks in your second trimester, everything starts to seem a little easier (I felt the first nudges around 16 weeks this time around!). Wishing you all the best!
Congratulations!! I love seeing you journey through motherhood and now pregnancy with a toddler! I am currently 21 weeks with our second (a baby girl!) and have a 15 month old girl. I definitely agree that second pregnancy is totally different, definitely more aches and the fatigue is more than with my first…I’m sure that’s contributed to chasing a toddler! Excited to hear more ☺️
Also, we told family and close friends around 7 wks and actually just announced it to Facebook/everyone else this past week 😂 partly because I started a new job, partly because I was so busy. A number of people have guessed a long the way because I’ve started showing a lot sooner!
The biggest congrats to you and your little family! I absolutely love following your blog and instgram stories. My daughter is a few weeks younger than Molly and I am pregnant with my second as well. My experience with my pregnancies is so similar to yours it’s so nice to feel I am not alone in this! Thank you so much for sharing your stories!
Congratulations!! I’m pregnant with my 3rd and up until you had your date change, we were due on the same day!! So fun! We took a blood test and found out we are having a baby girl! This is my 3rd and we have two boys already! And I know exactly what you mean about showing very early! I feel like as soon as we found out, my belly popped! Crazy! Can’t wait to hear more about your experiences this time around!
Congrats on baby #2! I have an 11 month old son and am 7 weeks pregnant with my 2nd baby! We are so excited but the exhaustion and nausea are the real deal! Praying for your nausea to subside and can’t wait to find out what you’re having! Enjoy the secret while you can 😊
Hi Ali,
Congrats on baby #2! It’s so hard reading this post as someone who has been trying unsuccessfully to conceive. I had to delete my Facebook this week because of all the announcements. This might sound selfish, and I am genuinely happy for you and everyone else who is expecting. It’s just hard. I literally cry every time I get my period. I don’t have words for my husband, who is so supportive and doesn’t have the words for me either (when my period comes.)
Anyway, I think you’re having a boy.
I’m with you Kim! In the same boat and while I wouldn’t wish difficulties getting pregnant on anyone, it’s like a punch in the gut each time. Especially friends I know started at the same time or after me and are already pregnant and I’m not. It’s SO tough! I’m hoping with both get BFP’s for Christmas! Good luck!
Hi Ali, Kim, and Jenn,
I’ve followed the blog for a while but never commented before. I am sadly in the same boat with my fertility journey. It is SUCH a struggle. I really wrestle with being happy for those who are pregnant while trying not to feel envious and frustrated. My husband and I want to have our family SO badly! We’ve already been trying for almost two years and had a failed IVF cycle. Thank you Ali for acknowledging those of us who are struggling- so many women take pregnancy for granted. Congrats to you and best of luck to all the others who are trying!
Hi Ladies,
I hate that you are both going through this too. I hope you have a supportive group of friends – and husband. We haven’t told many people that we are trying. I work at a school and recently had to ask the school nurse about a medication. I told her we are trying and asked her not to say anything. I know she never would, but it was so nerve wracking when I told her.
Baby dust to both of you!!
I am right behind you, Ali. I am currently 9w3d and this time around I am SO sick. My daughter is almost three and I had no morning sickness at all with her. Reading your blog made me feel a little less upset about being sick all the time. Im thankful to have an awesome husband who is picking up my slack. It will all be worth it in the end. Congrats to you and the family!
Congratulations! First trimester is SO tough! Hang in! I’m currently 11 weeks and just in the last week my nausea started to lift. For a while all I could eat was bagels and English muffins! I also have a (spirited) toddler so keeping up with him while pregnant and working full time has been rough. Just know you’re not alone! And it will get better and be all worth it in the end! 🙂
Thanks for sharing Ali. I’m 11 weeks with my first and reading your weekly updates made me feel better about some of the things I’ve been experiencing.
Congrats on baby number 2 🙂 I have a little boy the same age as molly and love you blog. 🙂 Hard to deside when to have another 🙂
Just read your blog! Congrats! We have almost 17 month old. Our son was born 7/9/16 only couple days after Molly. Now we are expecting a baby girl on 2/23/18. I would love to read a post on how you told Molly and Kevin!!
Congrats!!! I was so excited when you announced because I’m due around the same time. We have a son who is 19 months old and we’re so excited for our 2nd baby to ‘complete’ our family! I totally understand how you been feeling. I’m a nurse and was working full-time night shift when I was pregnant with my son and that was a walk in the park compared to this time around trying to raise a toddler while being pregnant the same time.
My first pregnancy I had no nausea and this one I’ve been miserable. We won’t find out the gender for a couple more months but it’s either a girl or the lack of sleep is taking a toll on me.
I actually haven’t announced ‘publicly’ yet but mostly because I haven’t come up with a cute way to do that. This last week we’ve told extended friends and co-workers about our news. I will say we ended up telling our parents much earlier this time around since I wasn’t feeling very well. We spilled the beans to them around 6 weeks!
Your due date is almost exactly the same as mine. I had an estimated due date of May 30th but with the ultrasound we had last week it was updated to May 29th! Too funny.
I hope your nausea keeps getting better! I always feel the best on the weekends because my husband wakes up with her son and I’m able to get a couple extra hours of sleep!
*my husband wakes up with our son
🙂
Congratulations, Ali! I love that you are so open with all of your followers. I love to see that we as mamas go through many of the same things. I did not wait to announce my pregnancy with my daughter, mostly because I don’t think I could have kept it a secret, and also because I know all of those people would have supported me (and I would have needed their support) if anything happened. I totally understand why most people like to wait, and maybe for our future second baby we will wait a little longer too. My pregnancy was no fun, and my baby was a preemie, but is now a very happy, healthy, vibrant one and a half year old.
Congrats and can’t wait to hear about the rest of your journey!
Congratulations! I was happy to hear the news that you are pregnant too! My due date es May 6th! Exactly the same exhaustion and we too kept the news for ourselves, and everyone was ok with it, except for my mother in law who took it so badly!! An awful moment you do not except but we are happy about the desition of keeping it secret for a while 😉
Congratulations!! I’m so exited to follow along your pregnancy with you! I have a 21-month-old boy and I’m 28 weeks pregnant, so we’re walking similar roads. I am SO dramatically tired. This is actually my fourth pregnancy (I have a six-year-old, and we lost a baby girl three years ago) and I really thought I had this down and had learned how to do it without being too dramatic and just focus on being grateful. HA!! It is super validating to hear other pregnant mamas struggling, too! Thanks for sharing and letting us walk with you! Pregnancy with a one-year-old is NO joke!!
Congratulations to your sweet family!! I am just two weeks behind you, but with our first pregnancy, so all of this is new to me! We announced it to immediate family and a few close friends soon after because if anything were to happen, we would want them to know and support us. We’ll be announcing it to everyone else in a few weeks! You’re right though, it is super hard to keep it a secret, but at the same time, it is kind of fun. 🙂 Oh and yes to all the exhaustion. I teach first grade and by the end of the day my energy is spent! Bedtime by 8:30? Yes, please. #notashamed
Congratulations!! I’m currently 24 weeks pregnant (our first) with a little girl! I was sick all day everyday from about week 7 until week 20, when we found out the gender. I was also so exhausted everyday and still had to go to work even though I felt so horrible. I’m an oncology nurse so I think maybe helping my patients also helped me feel a little better! I still felt nauseous all day at work though, and got sick quite a few times while working 🙁 I wish we didn’t have to hide it so much in the first trimester! I only just now started showing a tiny bit so people still can’t even tell I’m pregnant! Congratulations again! And I hope the rest of your pregnancy goes by smoothly!
My husband and I are pregnant with our second child as well! Our daughter is 9 months old and this baby will be 16 weeks tomorrow! We’re looking at May 14th! Eek! The two will be only 15 months apart! So fun, exciting, and crazy! This pregnancy is so different for me as well. Unlike my first, I have absolutely no symptoms other than being really moody my first trimester. It’s weird but I’m thankful I can keep up w my daughter for the moment.
Congratulations!! We are due about 2 weeks apart! I am pregnant with our first, we had a loss back in June so we are very excited that we were blessed with another baby so soon. And giiiirl, I can totally relate with the morning sickness. Up until about week 13, I was extremely nauseas all day long and was throwing up at least a meal a day. Thankfully it’s starting to lift and get better! But part of me is thankful I had that extreme symptom, it was a constant reminder of the little blessing in my belly! It will be so fun to keep up with you on your journey, it’s pretty cool to go through it with others!
Sending you lots of love and prayers you start to feel better soon 🙂
Congratulations Ali and family! I have loved watching you through parenting your little girl! I am from Australia and am due mid May with our first. Our nausea story sounds similar, all day and night from week 7-8 onwards and then eased a little at 12 weeks only to be the worst at 13-14 weeks. Every smell makes me sick and migraines…who knew they could be caused by pregnancy too! Can’t wait to share the journey 💕
Congratulations to you and your family!!! I was pregnant with my second son a lonnngg time ago but boy – no pun intended lol – do I remember it. Suuuper tired – I already had a very active toddler, also a boy who got up super early every morning. I was also suuuper sick until 16 weeks and lost weight until then. And yes I had cravings too. I lived in Guam at the time and had cravings for bean burritos and Thai tum yum soup and that is pretty much all I ate once I could eat. Smells – omg smells. Chicken and car exhaust lol. The whole time I was reading your blog I thought: she’s having a boy! (Also bc of the “crazy” feelings u were having) I also showed immediately and mine were close together – 30 months. I barely looked pregnant in the end stages with the first and with the second people were suggesting I go immediately to the hospital at 7 months. I am so glad you have the best partner ever to support you and most of all let you sleep in! Both are huge. Motherhood is tiring let’s face it – and you work outside the home. Even when moms don’t – both are tiring. So I love hearing you say you didn’t do much on Thanksgiving. That is great. The biggest problem I see with people in general but especially with families is overcommittment and inability to say no and you are already practicing “no”. It seems you are doing everything so well including finding an outlet for your emotions. As an older mom I enjoy all of this – your blog, your IG – because the parenting game never stops – and I think all of us could use a lot more credit and support than our society tends to give us. So thank you for what you give Ali!
*omg that was sooo long! Apologies – but thanks for letting us (me) share!! I think this very thing is helpful to all of us moms. And before I babble on again, bye!
I want to know why the first trimester is the worst too! I’m 16w2days today, due may 11. I went through a miscarriage in January so this is technically my second time being pregnant.
Trying to hide the bump was so hard! I started showing at about 10 weeks!
I’m still having lots of nausea and morning sickness. But it seems that if I keep food in me I tend to feel better.
So nice to see other people at about the same point in their pregnancy to compare with.
Hi and congratulations!
I have a somewhat personal question. You have been open about your anxiety on the blog. How were you able to put it aside and decide to start trying for a second baby?
When are you going to announce the gender? And we have the “I’m a big Brother” book 😊It was really helpful for my oldest who was 16 months when we found out we were pregnant with #2.
Instagram/Tinkizz410inheels
Thankful that i speak my truths and my beliefs without offending or being careless with my words. Thankful that i know & trust myself enough to make hard decisions. Thankful that I know how to put my family first, thankful for a husband who cooks and loves it! ♡ CAUSE this 41 yr old is EXHAUSTED chasing our 1 & 2 yr old monkeys
Hi Ali!
I am going a first time mom ( due in June) and have been following your blog for a long time, but never comment ! (Fail) You were and always will be my favorite bachelorette! I think you’re the most relatable. I follow your blog because: 1. Your adorable 2. I love your comfy, practical, chic style 3. Your family is the cutest 4. Because your real about your mommy experiences.
I’m excited even more about your blog now because our due dates are somewhat near the same time and it will be nice to have an extra resource. I’ve been paranoid about everything in my first trimester. Definitely don’t have that pregnancy worry free, this is the most beautiful experience glow. Contipation, sleepless nights, breakouts, moody, tired. . Some friends say the second trimester is better. I remember when you and Kevin went on your babymooon in Hawaii and you had this beautiful glow and looked fabulous. Did you feel much better in the second trimester with molly?
-Liz
Instagram: _liz_bee
First of all CONGRATULATIONS!! you all seem like such a well rounded family and I couldn’t be happier to see you will be welcoming another wee one into your lives 🙂
I was actually pregnant when you were with Molly and I was so excited to learn with you as you went but unfortunately things did not work out that way. Long story short, but I went into pre-term labour at 28 weeks and our little man did not survive. buuuuuuut Now I am almost 20 weeks along and you are right behind me so I am looking forward to some tips and tricks from you 🙂 I already appreciate you talking so much about Owen as I am super worried about our dog when a little one comes along. She is my world right now and so spoiled rotten and her life will be flipped.
Thank you for sharing your news with us – it seems to be a fine line of when to tell and I think we all understand why you waited … you have to do it on your own time and when you feel ready. Plus I think you mentioned it with Molly but its always nice to have this thing that only you and Kevin know for a bit. its your excitement. Congrats again!
Congrats Ali! I am pregnant with you! Due the end of April, and first one for me! How come no one ever told me the first trimester is rough?? Haha! I’ve also enjoyed pickles, and smells, omg could get strong for me too! The worst part for me had been dizziness, and my OB just kept suggesting to drink water, which I did…a lot of it! So that was a little frusterating…thankfully my rough symptoms only lasted until about my 12-13th week, when we told everyone, maybe I felt better about getting it out & having the support too 🙂 I enjoy watching your lives and watching Molly & now sharing our pregnancies! ❤️
I am 13 weeks today and just like with my son last time around (he’s 16 months old) at 5 weeks 3 days the nausea kicked it. It’s a crippling kind where I am SO indescribably sick I can hardly function. No vomiting just ill all day every day but starving so same thing, this time instead of losing weight I’m just eating all white food and carbs :/ I’ve tried to exercise a few times but looked back in my sons journal and saw I didn’t get back to exercise with my first till 17 weeks and I was sick for 27 🙁 I did the blood test too and found out I’m having another boy which I wanted! I also started showing early. My pants wouldn’t button at 8 weeks and by 10 there was no way I could get them on. With my first I went 20 weeks still wearing my old pants! Busted out the blanqi post partum leggings which I actually love to wear while pregnant and afterwards. I’m just praying I won’t be as sick as long and the past few days it’s been slightly better so I’m hoping. I’d love to actually enjoy part of my pregnancy this time. It’s hard for me to relate to women who love being pregnant and don’t get such terrible nausea. Can’t wait to go through his journey with you! I’m due 6/6
Congratulations! I have a 9 month old and I honestly can’t imagine doing it again. I give credit to all the woman who can go through pregnancy and labor a second time, on top of another little one to take care of. Wishing you a healthy pregnancy.
How has your hip been? I know it was intense for a while.
We are a few days apart in our pregnancy and this is my second babe also!! My son will be 5 in January as we struggled with infertility.
So excited to watch someone go through this journey with me, this pregnancy was so much harder then my first, I was so tired and sick to my stomach no matter what I tried to eat or avoid!
I lost 17 lbs, gained 10 and my girl was 4.4! I found out that I was pregnant (10 days) on April 30 and 10 days later was in the hospital. Pretty much my whole pregnancy. Could not work! Could not go anywhere but doctors office and hospital! That is why we only have one!! Congratulations and continued blessings!!
Ali! I have loved reading your blog since you got pregnant with Molly! I got married in September this year and my husband and I are going to start trying for a baby in about a month! I love reading your blog to learn/understand what I have to look forward to 😉
Congratulations!
I am almost 10 weeks and omg the whole sense of smell thing-awful. I feel like it’s worse this time. I feel like a lot of things are different this time and can relate to you in a lot of ways. Last time I hardly ate anything in the first trimester because my nausea was so bad. I didn’t gain any weight for several weeks. This time I’m super nauseous again (can’t tell which is worse) and basically eat carbs and crap. I’m finding it harder to contain myself this time and to exercise. I’m SO tired all the time too. You’re lucky to have such an awesome husband!
Hope you’re feeling better in your second trimester 🙂
Thanks for sharing all of this!! I’ve been wondering about your morning sickness. I was SO sick with my son (he’s a week younger than Molly) but am terrified to get pregnant again because of this. Obviously so worth it, but I don’t know how I’ll be able to take care of my son at all when my husband isn’t around. And I’m already sad about all the time I’ll miss with him as I’m laying in bed and can’t play with him. Just hoping it’s better the second time around but it could also be worse 😩
I can totally relate to all of this. I am 12w 3d with my second. I have an 11 month old and this pregnancy is so different. I feel like a big baby or it’s really so much worse. So thankful to be heading out of the first trimester so I can feel human again. It’s all worth it in the end!!!
I am furnish a week before you and having all the same things happening! It’s even harder with another child that needs your attention! Best of luck!
Due*
My son was born a month after Molly and your blogs were fun and helpful to read. I’m now 6 weeks pregnant again so to read you’re pregnant and hear how your first trimester went put a smile on my face. I am finding it hard to keep it to myself but 6 weeks will fly by I’m sure. I’m also very tired already and was definitely moody a week ago. I can’t believe you’re showing already!! I hope I don’t just for the sake of keeping it a secret. Hope your second trimester goes smoothly and I can’t wait to read more of your blogs. Best wishes!
Congrats to you and your family!! I am at 21 weeks with our little girl (and our first baby!!) and I am still getting sick! Is there a specific flavor of the tea that you recommend?? I’m looking for anything to help at this point.
I am due June 1st. We must be due the same week! I also have a daughter that is 16 months old. So excited for you! 🙂
First of all, congrats!! When you shared the news a few weeks ago I was so excited but also so curious because I am also pregnant…and now after reading this latest blog, I’m wondering if we have the same due date?!?! May 30th is mine! We told our families on Thanksgiving and are sharing a cute photo we just took with the rest of the world soon. I am also totally showing so I have no choice! My daughter is turning one on Tuesday so my two will be just 18 months apart! We also should hear about the gender this week from the blood test!! (I am 36 so “advanced maternal age” so had it done about 10 days ago!!!) congrats again and good luck in the 2nd trimester! I am still beat and ready for the tiredness to subside!!!
I am currently in my first trimester with my second little (my first is also 16 months) and we haven’t told anyone. It’s so HARD because I feel just like you, tired and nausea all the time .. and hello 7 week bump !! Time for some big winter sweaters!
I am due June 23rd and having such a hard time keeping it a secret. I lost my first baby at 8 weeks, and while we hadn’t told a lot of people, those who knew helped me get through the miscarriage. I couldn’t have done it without them. And I ended up telling my coworkers because for weeks I was a mess and felt like I had to explain myself.
This time around we told some family because I have been SO sick and that is hard to explain (and I am a terrible liar lol). We just had some pictures taken and after our 12 week appointment we will mail our Christmas Card/ announcement out and then announce it to everyone else on Christmas. It’s killing me to wait!
Congrats to you!
Hi Ali!
I am 6 1/2 weeks pregnant right now with my first and am terrified to be honey! Excited but very scared!!! I go Wednesday for my first ultrasound. I haven’t experienced any nausea yet but am feeling a lot more tired than usual! Any advice for what to expect throughout the next 7-8 months!
I’m about 7 weeks pregnant with my first too!! Very unexpected! I’m scared but excited too. I’ve only had mild nausea, thank God! But I’ve been very gassy, cannot stop burping and dizzy. I knew I was pregnant when I took a sip on a margarita a few weeks ago and thought I was going to throw up. Good luck to you!!!
I am due in May 11! We tried for 5 years, and after many fertility treatments, we finally ended up doing IVF and got pregnant our first try. We are so very excited!
I was also so exhausted the first trimester. I don’t know how you did it with another little one, my bedtime was by 8:00 every night. I also couldn’t eat a lot, very few things sounded good and I wouldn’t eat a lot at one sitting.
Congrats to you!!
Congrats Ali and family!! The first trimester with my second child was sooo much worse than my first. Not only was I throwing up all day long, but I was chasing a toddler to boot! It was more exhausting. And I was hospitalized around week 9 for extreme morning sickness, so we ended up telling our family and close friends via texts and phone calls. We couldn’t really hide it as long as we wanted to! Then we waited until we found out what we were having to announce it on social media. How long until you guys find out?! I’m so excited for you
My daughter in law is 14 weeks pregnant with our first grandchild😊 she has been super nauseous the whole pregnancy. She announced it to us at 3 weeks but waited to announce it on Facebook at 10 weeks. We are so excited! Congrats Ali!
My due date is May 31st and by the looks of it you guys are right around us!
Lulu lemon has a legging called align and they are AMAZING. pretty thin but not see through and comes up high on the belly and are very stretchy. I’ve been super sleepy and nauseous after eating as well so I hope we both get to feeling better soon!! Good luck and can’t wait to continue to read about your journey.
Live the Lululemon leggings!! They were my go to workout pants, but now that I’m pregnant they are comfy for my slightly growing 7 week baby bump! Currently searching for some warm winter leggings
Ali,
I will be 14 weeks tomorrow so I think our due dates are both only a few days apart. This is my first, and I have had so much anxiety the first trimester since I miscarried a year ago. One of the sad parts of getting pregnant after miscarriage is you feel like you can’t be openly excited, or share the news with anyone for fear once the news exists, the baby will be taken away from you again. Waiting to tell family and friends was agony for me because I really needed the emotional support, but didn’t want others to be burdened with sad news if things didn’t work out. My first trimester sounds exactly like yours but I didn’t have any appetite. I felt like I was starving most days because I couldn’t figure out what to eat anymore. I cried many times during dinners especially, like a crazy woman. I do feel things may be easing up now, but my sister had nausea up to 6 months when she was pregnant. Yuck!! I’m craving everything sour or sweet. I can’t stand garlic or any other strong smells. I can smell things my hubby can’t smell which is especially weird. I’m taking everyday one day at a time and journaling everything so my baby can one day read all about their life from the very beginning.
I am so ready for baby #2 but as a first year teacher I’m worried about being sooo tired and nauseous again. I was sick for so much of my first pregnancy. It’s encouraging to see other ladies power through it and remind me that I can do it when we decide we are for sure ready!
Hi Ali. I just now found your blog and have been binge reading. What I especially love is your ability to reach out and connect in such a special way. I too have a blog. It deals with everyday life things with a twist of humour and a huge splash of reality (such as kidney dialysis, aging and negotiating the twisting paths of life.) I’d be honoured if you took a peek.
Best wishes in all of your endeavours. It’s wonderful that you can touch so many lives. Please never stop.
When do You guys find out the gender? Such an exciting, exhausting time ❤️
I gave birth to my son (my only child) almost 13 years ago but for me it doesn’t seem like it was that long ago. My first trimester was very easy, so easy in fact that I was 23 weeks pregnant before I even realized I was pregnant. I didn’t gain much weight and I never had any sickness other then occasional nausea. It wasn’t until 23 weeks that I found out I was indeed pregnant. I eventually developed more serious problems with my pregnancy but I am so thankful that my son was completely healthy when he was born. Now, my boy is almost 13 years old and the light of my life.
Enjoy every moment because it goes by too fast and next thing you know your kids too, will be teenagers.
Congrats! And thank you for acknowedging infertility and loss!
Ali
When you were pregnant with your first baby, you only had to worry about her. But now that you are pregnant with your second you have to worry about the new baby and your daughter. You probably feel overwhelmed because you now know how hard motherhood is and know it takes a lot of energy, patience, and partnership to get through the day. But you can do it. You are such a strong person and have the help of a wonderful husband. Just remember to take a deep breath and know this is all normal and you are not alone. We love you!
Ok I had to laugh about the Big Sister book. Be careful showing that to Molly. We received that as a gift for our daughter while pregnant with my second and she got SUPER attached to it. We’ve had to read it about a million times, conservatively 😂 it’s how she learned to say “big sister now” and “too little” which is how she talks about her baby sister. “Ellie too little to walk, too little to talk…” lol. Cute but SERIOUSLY! I even try to hide it and she ALWAYS finds it again. LOL! Congrats on your pregnancy! Praying for a healthy mama, healthy baby. ❤️
Oh Ali I loved reading this blog post! I’m due May 22nd! I’ve also experienced a loss in April so this is our rainbow baby BOY. I can totally relate to your suffering of the first trimester. I’m 15 weeks on Tuesday and I’ve just recently started to feel “normal” as far as eating although I’m still not able to eat grilled chicken or veggies yet. The nausea all day and vomiting was horrible. I felt so guilty but I ended up taking Diclegis to help since it became so bad I was missing work. The doctor said it is safe but taking anything during
Pregnancy is scary! I’m in my second trimester and while my appetite and nausea are improving, my exhaustion seems to be worsening. I think my sickness took over during the first trimester and now I’m getting the exhaustion! Either way I feel so blessed to be carrying our little guy. It’s so nice to read your blogs and feel the support from one Mama to another! Congrats again and here’s to hoping for more energetic and good feeling days ahead!!
XO
Carli
Congrats again! I can’t wait to find out what you’re having! 🙂
I’m 18 weeks with my first, a girl, and first trimester was brutal! I felt like I had a 3 month hangover! I also had crazy food aversions, I couldn’t touch meat and I will never ever eat yogurt again haha. I also had a new addiction to sour candy and Ice cream as well as fried pickles. On top of everything I was an emotional wreck, I cried pretty much everyday about anything and everything!
2nd trimester has been way better and I’m super lucky to have a husband who is very patient and attentive.
Growing a human is no joke! Haha
Hang in there!
Xo
Katy
Yayayayay!!!!! So excited for you guys!!!
We are due almost the exact same day (this is my third). I have not been nearly as nauseous as my first two but I do feel sick if I eat too much and I feel like I can hardly eat anything at night. I am super exhausted but I think part of that is having 2 young children. It seems first pregnancies are less tiring. I have been super moody and cranky. I hope that changes soon!
Hope your nausea stops soon. I know mine did by 14 weeks with my first two.
Hi Ali!
A big congrats to your adorable, growing family! I have been a big fan of yours for some time, and I especially love your blog. Seeing you transition from a glowing and beautiful pregnancy with Molly, to deftly tackling parenthood with grace was inspiring to me. I was three month behind you at the time with my son, and you gave me courage when I doubted my future abilities as a mom. Fast forward to now, and I am a week ahead of you with my second. I agree, fatigue is brutal when growing a human while taking care of a very active toddler! Besides fatigue, my pregnancy feels very different this time around. I look forward to being able to follow your journey again, as a source of support. Also, I look forward to getting awesome pregnancy and post partum fashion advice (I didn’t wear a single maternity item last time around partly thanks to you)!
Most of all I hope you have a healthy and smooth pregnancy!
Congrats!! I had that same almost passing out thing with my last pregnancy, but never had it with my first so I was really worried and actually called the dr and the nurse reassured me that she hears about it a lot. Apparently it’s some sort of vasovagal response and has to do with circulation ? It seemed to always happen to me when I was at the grocery store or target and had been standing/walking for a while. Definitely not a fun feeling, especially when you have a little one in tow. Hope the rest of your pregnancy goes smoothly!
I found out I was pregnant this time last year, I definitely agree that a lot of the nausea was because of the anxiety of the secret. I was in my senior year of college when I got pregnant and kept it a secret from most of my fellow classmates and teachers and I got sick EVERY morning before class, mornings I didn’t have class I didn’t get sick. After I told my teachers I stopped getting sick. So crazy how our bodies work! Congratulations on the new baby! I love reading your blog!
I love reading your experience with the 2nd pregnancy. My first baby boy is just a few months older than Molly and we’re ready to start trying for #2. It’s interesting to hear how different they can be from one to another!
If you all plan on having a 3rd, I encourage you to wait until you give birth to find out the gender. It’s the most exhilarating feeling and makes labor almost exciting. The OBGYN held the baby down after he was delivered and she let me husband tell me what it was. Most special moment of all time! Everyone says they can’t wait, but if I can (I read the last chapter of a book before staring) than absolutely anyone can.
Thank you for sharing your journey with us!
It sounds like you know the gender from blood test! Are you going to share?
Hi Ali
You may have already mentioned this, but how old was Molly when you conceived number 2? Thinking about number 2 over here and age gaps, etc.
X
Congrats! What an exciting time for your family! I would suggest making sure you always have some kind of snack with you and drink plenty of water. It helped a lot with my lightheadedness during my pregnancies.
I only shared my husband and I were expecting with immediate family at about 8 weeks along. After that, we waited the standard 12-13 weeks to share with co-workers, friends, extended family, etc. I found it easier to deal with the “waiting period” by sharing that I was pregnant with complete strangers who I would never interact with again. Not in a weird way, just with a waiter at a restaurant or a friendly sales person at a shop “well, I want something with a little stretch to help with a growing belly.” This helped me feel like it wasn’t a huge secret I was hiding, but if something did happen during that more dangerous time, I would be able to share with my family on my own terms, when I was ready and could get through it.
Ali,
Thanks for posting your first trimester journal of symptoms! I know a handful of commentators are already pregnant however I have not conceived or have not yet tried yet! I have another medical condition and anxiety and I’m nervous about becoming pregnant. But with anxiety it always helps to plan to know what could happen and for you to be so real and open helps myself to relate of what could be.
Anyway congrats to you! Your ways seem so flawless and I’m intrigued by your parenting your little one with another one on the way! You are so lucky to have a supportive husband to let you sleep and help decide when you announce these milestones!
Anyway I hope your second trimester goes well and you have ample time to parent Molly and work just a bit! Keep blogging! It’s taken a fascinating pregnancy turn and it’s so exciting! I admire you for sharing everything! We all love you more and more each week! Molly is adorable and blossoming so well and her food habits are oh so healthy. She is walking so nicely now and I just love your whole family! Happy Tgiving!
Much love,
Sarah
I am so excited for you Ali!! This is the best news ever!! I totally understand the dilemma with the first trimester. You are supposed to keep it a secret, but that is when you are feeling everything. You are a champ!! So happy for you, Molly and Kevin!!
My baby girl is 8 weeks old and we kept my pregnancy a secret until I was about 12-13 weeks along (except for our parents–I called my mom the second I saw that positive test!) Back then, I was so afraid of miscarriage and having to possibly face telling people about it. I spent 12 weeks being afraid. Looking back, I wish I would have shared it a bit earlier and then I wouldn’t have had to suffer through work!! I work at a veterinary hospital and the smells KILLED me. Plus, I was falling asleep at my desk!! Good luck on baby #2! I am looking forward to keeping up with your journey going from 1 baby to 2 because even though my little one is only about 2 months old, I already am thinking about baby #2!!
I am currently 11 weeks with my first and I totally agree with you on the first trimester! It has been incredibly tough. I didn’t know it was possible to be SO sick. I’m praying that the second trimester is easier! But, at the same time, I am so happy to even be pregnant. It didn’t come easy for us and I am so thankful that it finally happened for us!
Congratulations! Yes, I just had my second baby boy a month ago. The second time around the pregnancy was super tough. I believe it was because I had a toddler to chase around and be up with. I had really bad nausea the whole pregnancy. Diclegis was my life saver. I had many episodes of feeling lightheaded as well. When it happens just get in a cool place and lay down if you can. Drink drink drink your water everyday. Does wonders if you stay hydrated. Having two boys under 2 has rocked my world. My advice to you is rest when Kevin can help! Not going to lie it is tough but I love my little boys so much. And being so close in age will be awesome and they will grow up best friends.
Best of luck!
Thank you for sharing with us, Ali! Memories of my first trimester are still vivid, I was at the end of it exactly one year ago. So funny you mentioned eating clementines, I couldn’t keep much food down either and ate lots of them.. and before being pregnant I couldn’t even stand clementines – haha!
I’m reading this post while I lay in bed, trying not to gag from the smell of my 2.5 year old twins nutrigrain bars. I was ungodly sick with my twins until about 17 weeks, I blame the double dose of hormones. This time around I am exhausted and nauseous 24/7! Today is my first appointment, wish me luck! Thank you for your post, it made me feel a little more human and like I’m not going through this alone.
Congrats, Ali! I had the same thing happen with fainting with one of my pregnancies. Apparently my blood pressure was low when I would feel like that. I never had low blood pressure before! An OB nurse told me to eat soup every day because the salt would help my blood pressure and the liquid would keep me from getting dehydrated. It really did help! Also, I’d layer in the winter and wear light clothes inside so I wouldn’t get overheated. Hope this helps. Blessings to you and your family!
I’m not usually a juice person but I have been obsessed with orange juice since about 6 weeks (I am currently 8w1d today!) and you mentioned your orange juice / soda water mix on your instastories and it has saved me! Now I can sip on it all the time without getting too much sugar haha.
I have found that the only thing that keeps the nausea down is me eating all the time too… But its all carbs and fruit and sometimes protein if I can handle it (in the form of smoothies, or spaghetti meat sauce). I’ve never eaten so much, and so constantly before!
I will be 12 weeks exactly on Christmas eve and I can not wait to tell everyone just so I don’t have to keep avoiding all social situations because I do not have a good poker face!!
When will you tell everyone what the sex of the baby is? So exciting!! I have a boy only a week older than Molly and am pregnant with my second. I’m 26 weeks 4 days so almost in the 3rd trimester. I’m feeling the pain! My back is in constant pain, I work retail so that doesn’t help. I feel you on the exhaustion thing. I am permanently exhuasted, especially with it being Christmas and it being very busy work wise and busy at home. We’re excited though cause this time we’re having a girl. We’re so excited to be having one of each. We’re planning on naming our little girl Molly Rose. Molly after my Nanny and Rose after my husband’s Grandma. I love reading your blog posts and can really connect to you on the whole mother hood thing! Congratulations on your second pregnancy!
Ali,
Congratulations! I am so excited you shared that you are pregnant because Molly and my son are about the same age and you helped me through my first pregnancy and now I’m pregnant again as well so I’m excited to see what you share along this pregnancy. I followed your sleep training that you blogged about with Molly with my son, and it worked like a charm. Also, I saw you post today about passing out. Yes, I passed out twice during my first pregnancy. My doctor told me to make sure my blood sugar stays level by keeping almonds with me and snacking on them between meals. It’s really scary to pass out especially when pregnant. The first time I did, I was in a public bathroom (gross) and the second time I did I was in the airport. I did the same thing as you. I knew I was going to pass out and just dropped to my knees. I hope it doesn’t happen again!!
Also, keep us updated about what your doctor says about passing out! ❤️
I am soooo happy for you guys!! Congratulations!!!!!🎉🎈
Indra: @deedelg7
One thing i am absolutely thankful for (among other things of course), my precious daughter who completely changed my world. I can honestly tell you i am not the same person i was before i had her and I thank a god for her each and every day because she pushes me to be a better version of myself daily.
My insta is: @deedelg7
Keep posting ! I love your little growing family !
Congratulations on the pregnancy! My son is just a few days older than Molly so it has been so fun keeping up with you through your blog and Instagram.
Instragram: @krystalstarbuck
Congratulations! I really think the stigma should be lifted against hiding it until 12 weeks – assuming it was to hide a potential miscarriage. But now women are becoming more open about this since it truly is so common and is giving people a better sense of support knowing it can happen. I fully support you being open and honest – it’s brave and really helps give women a sense of community!
I’m with you Carly. I guess you just never know how you’ll feel about sharing a miscarriage. But I feel like I know myself and I would want to talk about it with people and get support. I hope I never have to experience that. So sad. So heartbreaking.
Hi Ali! Thanks so much for sharing your story! My first was due the same month as Molly and I started following your blog pretty religiously. It must have worked because we ended up choosing the EXACT same dress for our respective showers, haha. We’re due with #2 in February (girl! our first was a boy) and I relate to SO MANY of these struggles. First, of course, it’s so much harder to get sleep when you have a toddler! Gone are the days when you can come home from work and just NAP the first trimester away. Second, I experienced a LOT more nausea and related symptoms this time around. Third, I’m SO MUCH MORE EMOTIONAL! Maybe that’s baby girl, who knows! And finally, I had such a hard time containing the news. I can’t wait to hear about your decision making process and how you got to find out you were pregnant! Thanks for keeping us updated. Looking forward to more pregnancy posts!
Congrats on your little girl! Very exciting! You are due so soon! Do you feel ready? Nervous? Excited?
Congratulations! I am due right about the same time as you! I read your 1st trimester timeline and just kept saying “me too, me too” lol. This is also my second child and I popped so soon! Still hiding for one more week- eek so hard!
Wow! That amazing that you can still hide it! Congrats girl!
Hi Ali. I just now found your blog and have been binge reading. What I especially love is your ability to reach out and connect in such a special way. Best wishes in all of your endeavours. It’s wonderful that you can touch so many lives. Please never stop.
Yay! So happy you found my blog! Welcome! We are family here 🙂
Hi Ali,
I am 8 weeks pregnant with my 2nd baby, my 1st is the same age as Molly. I have never been so tired in all of my life. Also I have that slightly nauseous feeling all day long too, which was different than my first pregnancy where I would just all of a sudden feel sick and throw up. I am happy to hear you started showing early, because my pants are so tight and I thought it was because I am eating whatever I want. I also find that I have more anxiety this time around. I think its because I know the love for a child now, so everything I do, if I stress, eat something bad, don’t sleep enough, I am so worried and anxious I am hurting the baby. Excited to go through our 2nd pregnancies together too! Hope you start feeling energized soon!
What cream do you use to prevent stretch marks ?
Congrats! My first and Molly are 3 months apart and I’m due with #2 in Feb so they’ll be about the same age distance apart!! We aren’t finding out the gender this time tho (eeek!!) One, how do you guys find out gender so soon? I’ve always been told they can’t really tell much before 16 weeks because those body parts haven’t developed yet. Also, was there a particular reason you already had 2 ultrasounds with molly?! I only had the normal 2 with my first at 8 weeks and 20 for gender. And I wanted to see her again so bad. Then with this one at my 20 week ultrasound they said the cord was off center so they’ll want a growth check ultrasoumd at 32 weeks…and I’m freaking out! Dr says it’s really not a big deal they just always recommend to be on the safe side. It’s weird with #1 I wanted to see so bad when I didn’t need to, and now I have to, and I don’t want to! Hit 3rd trimester a couple weeks ago and man the tired phase came back full force. I was off for our thanksgiving break and I took so many naps, like so many!!! Also, I was first trimester pregnant when building our house and moving so just take it nice and slow because that most definitely kicked my butt!!!
I found out I was 4 weeks pregnant when I saw your announcement. This will be our second, our daughter is 15 months old so we will be joining you with the two under two membership. Totally feel you girl. I’m nauseas not like my first, super tired and I already swear I have started to show. I’m refusing my maternity clothes at this point but I def am in comfy leggings as much as possible. I feel you on the secret keeping, I feel like keeping it in is going to make it worse at the same time I’m not ready to tell everyone.
So happy for you and Kevin and of course Molly!! My 2 daughters are almost exactly 2 years apart. Having girls and being a Mama is the best thing in life!!! Wishing you all the best the rest of your pregnancy 💖
My very first pregnancy ended in miscarriage, and we hadn’t told anyone we were pregnant. Going through that miscarriage was one of the most lonely times in my life since it had been a secret. No one knew I had been pregnant, therefore no one knew I had miscarried. After experiencing all of that, we decided that if we were to get pregnant again, we would announce early, because we knew we had people in our life who would love and support us, and most of all pray for us and a healthy baby. We now have 3 precious children. 2 girls and a baby boy, ages 5, 3, and almost 1. We stay quite busy, but we are so blessed. I had a second miscarriage before my son, and yes it was hard, but because others knew we were pregnant but lost the baby, we had so much love and care from our friends and family. We are all about telling early. Honestly it has helped me feel like I’m not alone, especially in the most crucial part of pregnancy. Plus, I did t have to try and hide the fact that I was exhausted and couldn’t eat much! Lol!
Congrats on baby number two!
Congratulations!
We are on the same schedule for kiddos! My son is 17 months today and I am 14w5d with my second. Boy is this pregnancy different from the first! I was nauseous alllll first trimester and so tired this time around. Which is hard when you have a toddler to care for (and chase) all day! Nap time for baby means nap time for momma!
Your blog is so relateable, thank you for sharing!
I can’t help but smile and laugh a little reading all these comments from your excited followers and moms-to-be. The years fly by soooo fast as it seems like just yesterday I was first pregnant with my oldest son who is now 21. Wow!
It’s truly an amazing time in your life and miraculous to bring another life into the world. It’s a huge responsibility to be a parent and its definitely not for the weak!
But I hate to tell you that those pesky pregnancy symptoms like bloating, never-ending fatigue, sleepless nights, being hot all the time, moody, nauseous…..they all come back disguised as menopause! Women never catch a break.
Congrats on your baby #2 !
Congrats Ali! That is so exciting! Sending positive pregnancy vibes! I cannot wait to hear the gender of the baby! Can we start guessing? My guess is a little sister for Molly!
Ali!
Your pregnancy now sounds just like my first which was a boy but i also had super bad migraines! I’m due in July now and this pregnancy has been a lot easier! I had a question about maternity tank… what size did you get? I feel like I’d be xs/s but they don’t offer that! And have you found really good maternity leggings???
Thank you
Haileigh
I know I’m way late to the party but congratulations!!! I saw several people commented this but I also wanted to thank you for mentioning those who are struggling to get pregnant! My husband and I have tried and struggled for 2 full years and finally after our 4th IUI treatment we found out we were pregnant in September and just announced it yesterday at 16 weeks! I honestly had such a hard and emotional time through our struggle I had to unfollow a lot of people with babies on social media because it just hurt so much! Not that I wasn’t happy for others but I was just so sad for our struggles! I’ve prayed and dreamed my whole life about being a mom and I can’t wait! I’m so excited to share this experience with you through your blog and Instagram!! Congrats!!
Ah I am so excited for y’all! We just had a miscarriage at 2 months on 28th November and I could relate sooo much to your notes with symptoms! Love you and your blog all the way across the pond. Cant wait to see what other baby /maternity products are your must haves!