Monday, 7/21/25: Talking about a first & second trimester recap

Happy Monday!

It’s a new week, which means it’s time for your next Monday motivation newsletter.

Read on below for some steps to a happier Monday and some positive thoughts to get your week started.

Three Steps to a Happier Monday

Each newsletter starts with three prompts to inspire gratitude and simple intention setting. Take a moment and jot down answers to these three questions. To give an example, I share my answers below.  

Step 1: What are three things I appreciated from the weekend? 

Step 2: What is one thing I can be excited about today?

Step 3: What is my intention for this week? 

GRATITUDE: From my weekend, I am thankful for a long walk & phone call with my mom, napping during a summer rainstorm Saturday and this cute coffee shop Matt introduced me to yesterday. 

TODAY: Today, I’m most excited to have a slow start to the morning.

INTENTION: My intention this week is to enjoy the break in routine (traveling at the end of this week for Matt’s brother’s wedding!!).

Okay, your turn! And if you want to share your three steps, I am all ears. 🙂

Meaningful Musings: Reflections at Almost 27 Weeks Pregnant 

Tomorrow I’ll be 27 weeks pregnant – one week away from the third trimester! I can’t believe it. After what felt like an eternity of a first trimester, the second trimester has absolutely flown by. Somehow, next week marks 12 weeks until my due date.

12 weeks feels like a short amount of time when I flip through my calendar or think of all we still need to do. But it also feels like a long amount of time when I imagine 12 more weeks of getting bigger and finding ways to be comfortable. 

One of my favorite parts of writing this newsletter is capturing moments in time, documenting how I’m feeling and what’s on my mind. So with two trimesters of a first pregnancy behind me, I wanted to pause and reflect on what’s been wonderful, what’s been hard, and what I’m thinking about as I look ahead.

I know I’ll love reading this back years from now – and probably laughing at some of my naivety. If it reads a little scattered, that’s likely because that’s how I’m feeling, haha. Thanks for indulging me!

How I’m Feeling

Overall, I’m feeling great, and I’m so thankful for that. We had one scary night that resulted in a trip to the hospital, but everything turned out fine. I’m proud of how Matt and I handled the situation and experiencing that has made me even more grateful for the overall normalcy of my pregnancy.

One of the biggest gifts pregnancy has given me is a deeper appreciation and awe for my body. I’m blown away that it just knows what to do, and I’m learning how to trust and tend to that.

I was fortunate that, despite low energy and general tiredness, I didn’t have any significant symptoms in my first trimester. And even with a relatively easy start, I’ve just loved my second trimester. Getting some of my energy back has been amazing, and I’ve enjoyed feeling and looking more pregnant by the week. 

In the past couple of weeks, people out in public have started noticing I’m pregnant and saying “Congratulations!” or asking if it’s my first (my answer is always yes – can you read the nerves all over my face? Haha). It’s so fun to share in the excitement with strangers at Target, the grocery store, the airport. It always makes me smile.

The other thing I’ve leaned into this trimester is rest. Matt and I hope to have more kids in the future, so I’m trying to soak in how unique it is to be pregnant without any other little ones to chase around. I’ve been sleeping in more, taking weekend naps, and generally moving through my days more slowly than usual.

I’m also glad I’ve been able to rest because sleep has started to become a little more elusive. He seems to love kicking his mama between 1–3 a.m., which I don’t mind too much (I love feeling him), but I do miss being able to consistently count on a full night of sleep. I guess it’s all good training for what’s to come 🙂

What I’m Eating

One of the first changes I noticed in pregnancy was an increase in hunger, and that has definitely continued! Interestingly, I’m not necessarily eating more in any one sitting (I get full so fast!) but I am eating much more frequentlythroughout the day. Lots of little meals and snacks.

I feel my best when I’m getting lots of protein and fiber, and I try to fit in fruits and veggies too. 

A few current favorites:

• Breakfast: A smoothie with Ritual prenatal protein powder (love this stuff!)
• Lunch: Greek yogurt with Trader Joe’s high fiber cereal, peanut butter, berries, and some chocolate chips, of course
• Snacks: Snack plates with fruit, veggies and dip or a baked good (these and these are favorites)
• Dinner: Some kind of protein + veggie combo

And of course, always dessert or a sweet treat at night. That’s just a given 😉 

How I’m Staying Active 

While the intensity and duration of my workouts have definitely changed, I’m proud of myself for consistently prioritizing movement. I find even just 15 minutes makes such a difference in how I feel throughout the day.

Three mornings a week, I do a Sculpt Society prenatal class (I loved Sculpt Society before I got pregnant and I love these classes – can’t recommend them enough). My favorite length is the 20-minute one: just enough to get my heart rate up and stretch my body without depleting my energy for the day.

And almost every day, I get outside for a walk of varying lengths. 

I miss running terribly, but I do not feel called to run at all right now. Nothing about that sounds pleasant to me! I’m looking forward to rebuilding my running stamina next year.

Resources I’ve Loved

I’ve gone in waves of wanting to read about pregnancy. Early on, I had an insatiable appetite for information. I read anything I could get my hands on. But after a few reassuring doctor appointments, I felt more grounded and didn’t need to consume quite as much. That said, a few books have really stood out:

• What to Expect When You’re Expecting. A classic. My mother-in-law sent this to me when we shared the news, and it’s been great to have as a reference. I haven’t read it cover to cover, but I reach for it when I have a specific question. I also love the tips for dads – I’ve dog-eared a few for Matt.
• Emily Oster’s Books – Expecting Better, Crib Sheet, and The Family Firm. Emily’s data-driven approach really clicked with me. I especially appreciated Expecting Better early on – it helped calm some of the noise and gave me a clearer lens through which to make decisions. Like anything you read, I think you take what resonates and leave what doesn’t. I don’t agree with everything Emily proposes, but I love the framework she provides for thinking critically about decisions.
• Bringing Up Bébé – I enjoyed this more from a mindset perspective than anything. It made some interesting points on parenting culture and rhythms. Plus, it was fun and entertaining to read. 

What’s Been Hard

While there’s been so much to love and be grateful for, pregnancy has also come with some challenges and learning curves, especially: 

• Adjusting to different energy levels. It’s been hard to come to terms with the fact that I just don’t have the same stamina I once had. There have been a few times I’ve pushed myself to do activities that used to feel totally normal, only to feel depleted and not-so-great afterward. I’m learning to be more intentional about how I manage my energy throughout the day, but I don’t love having to think about that constantly. I miss being able to just go-go-go.
• Speaking up at the doctor’s office. I’m not sure if this one will make total sense, but here goes: I’ve been lucky that my experience with healthcare up to this point has been very straightforward – annual checkups and not much else. My default response to “How are you feeling?” is usually, “Great!” I haven’t had a ton of experience monitoring symptoms, advocating for myself, or asking follow-up questions, simply because I haven’t needed to. But with pregnancy, there are so many new things happening all the time, and I’ve found myself feeling flustered in appointments, unsure what to ask or share. I sometimes worry there’s something I should be mentioning but haven’t. One thing I’ve started doing – and wish I had done from the beginning – is keeping a running list on my phone of any symptoms or questions that come up between visits. I’ve found it to be helpful and feel more natural to have something concrete to reference.
• Every decision feeling fraught. Oh man, from picking a stroller to choosing a daycare, every decision feels big. And because it’s tied to your baby’s safety and well-being… it is. Let’s just say Matt and I have had a crash course of navigating hard conversations with big emotions during our first year of marriage ;). 

What’s Been the Best

Even with the challenges, there’s been so much good:

• Growing closer to Matt. On the flip side to what I shared above, one of the best parts of this experience has been deepening our partnership. We’re learning and figuring things out together – and while it takes work, each week we get even better at figuring things out as a team.
• Bonding with my mom and mother-in-law. It’s been so special to grow closer with these two moms in my life. They know what I’m going through, and I’ve felt so supported by their unconditional love and encouragement.
• Falling in love with this baby already. This sounds so cheesy, but I can feel my heart expanding every day. I love carrying him and feeling him kick. I talk to him all day long, and while I can’t wait to meet him, I’m cherishing this special time when he’s safe and close within me.

What I’m Worried About

Ending on a vulnerable note: as I get closer to the third trimester, I find myself thinking more and more about what’s ahead, and what’s hard to prepare for.

There’s so much one could worry about: caring for a newborn, navigating a changing identity, balancing work and parenting. But those aren’t the things that keep me up at night. If anything, stepping into the role of “mom” feels like claiming a piece of who I’ve always imagined I’d be. And I’m genuinely excited – and a little daunted – by the responsibility and challenge of learning how to care for a newborn and figuring out how to balance work and family life.

What I’m most worried about is something I’ve already started experiencing in pregnancy: relinquishing control.

When Matt and I moved in together, I realized just how many routines and preferences I’d developed after living alone for six years. I have a certain way of doing things. I like to think through how to be as efficient as possible. I love a good plan, and I really love executing that plan. 

I’d describe myself as adaptable, but not exactly spontaneous. I’m flexible… with some advance notice 😉

It may sound funny, but when I think about motherhood, what I’m most nervous about is being able to embrace all the good despite the mess, the unpredictability and the inevitable deviations from plan. I worry I’ll get too hung up on how things are “supposed to go” and miss out on the joy right in front of me. I know preparation can only take me so far. Especially as a first-time mom, there’s just no way to plan for everything. What I want is to focus on being present and willing to figure it out, adjust, and learn as I go.

But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scared. If you’ve felt the same – or have any advice – I’m all ears.
 

Okay, I think that’s everything! If you’ve made it this far – I’m impressed!!

Thanks for reading. Here’s to soaking in the third trimester, whatever it may bring. 

Picture of the Week

That’s all for today! I hope you found something in today’s newsletter that sparked motivation, made you smile or inspired a positive Monday thought. Don’t underestimate the power of starting small… a fulfilling week starts with just one fulfilling day. You’ve got this! 

Let’s make it a great Monday!
Megan