I’m in the final weeks of my second trimester and finally feel time moving faster. I don’t want to rush these months away, but I’m excited and a little anxious about meeting my son. I keep wondering how I’ll feel as I near the end of the third trimester.
This week has been smooth. I had my monthly checkup and everything looked good: blood pressure was normal, Baby Bean’s heartbeat was strong, and my weight was within the expected range.
Out of curiosity I weighed myself at home before the appointment to compare scales. My scale showed a weight about four pounds higher than the doctor’s—so it’s noticeably off. The doctor’s measurement showed I gained two pounds over the last month, bringing my total pregnancy gain to 16 pounds.
I’ve read that my uterus is now about the size of a soccer ball, and it definitely feels that way. Inside is my baby, who likely weighs around one and a half pounds.
The size of my belly affects me every day. On an evening walk after dinner, I felt a constant heaviness pressing on my lower back. Mentally I feel energetic—like I could run—but my body is reminding me to slow down.
My biggest craving lately has been spicy Mexican food. This week I went all in and planned three Mexican-inspired meals in a row: vegan lentil tacos, southwestern chicken with peppers and rice, and a spicy vegetarian tortilla soup.
There are leftovers of the tortilla soup in the fridge, but I’m not excited to finish them. I probably overdid it this week, and the Mexican craving has passed for now.
New cravings are starting to sneak in: sweets, especially chocolate. I find myself wanting a little chocolate every day. Tim pretends to be dismayed—hopefully my sarcasm comes through—but it’s a real shift in what I’m craving.
As the baby grows, my tastes and body shift along with it. Speaking of changes, here’s a look at how my body has transformed so far.
The collage shows photos from 13, 16, 21, and 25 weeks. What a difference—I’m excited to see how things change over the next 15 weeks.
Pssst! Check out my newly organized recipe page—I hope it makes the site easier to navigate and helps you find recipes more quickly.