Week 16 - Oh Baby

Ellie and I took a sibling class last Tuesday.  I was surprised by the depth of fetal development they went into.  I guess I took for granted that Ellie was just too young to explain this stuff to.  But she was genuinely interested and curious.  She sat right in front of the teacher and wanted to touch and "See" everything that was presented.  And then we toured a hospital room...she didn't really seem to care.  But maybe the experience will come back to her when she comes to visit us at the hospital. 

Every day since she asks if the baby is still in my tummy.  I answer yes.  She asks why.  I say because the baby is still growing.  It's going to be a long wait until November.

And I can stop obsessing over the hair thing...I guess it just takes awhile.  So happy to finally report that the lush hair is coming ;)  Funny how this was a "big" thing for me but I guess I was just looking for all the same, positive pregnancy things from the first time.

Lastly, Friday we received good news from the bloodwork we did over the last couple of months.  The tests were screen negative for a couple of the key chromosomal defects.  And the odds have dramatically dropped.  Feeling very blessed as this week rolls over to week 17.

Baby #2 - week 12 update

Went in for genetic counseling and neural tube ultrasound today.  it was absolutely fascinating.  it's my second time around but the I don't always count the first time because I was in such a state of shock that I didn't always think clearly.

Baby Bean was giving the tech a run for her money.  She needed very specific profile pictures.  Ever time she thought she had the baby in the right place, the baby would do a complete flip.  It was fun to see the baby interacting with the outside world.  I took it as a sign of things going well on the development side of things.

Also good news, the nuchal tube measured in the normal range.  A good indicator of health for Baby Bean at this point.

Baby #2 Week 12 - Monday 4/22

More baby updates.  We've had the opportunity to hear baby bean's heartbeat twice in the last month.  The first was in Utah with Braden's family.  We used Cort and Amber's doppler heart monitor.  And then again at the second OB appt last week (the midwife said it was a nice, steady 170 bpm).  It never gets old.  It's special each and every time.  It's such wonderful reassurance that everything is "ok in there".

My skin is nice and pretty.  We're past the acne!  Fatigue is still getting me.  Today I took about 4 hours of naps.  Sigh.  Who has time for that kind of sleeping?

Hair is still the same.  No thick mane yet :)

Baby #2 Week 8 - Tuesday March 26

I came down with a cold last week and was miserable.  But feeling much better this week.  Actually, the nausea is significantly diminished and my energy seems to be better.  I'm still wondering when the hair goes lush...cause it's still the same ol' hair (Post note:  I'm starting to see how obsessed I am with the hair going lush  :)).  Although another positive has been a less acne and increasingly better skin.

I had the ob intake last week.  Bloodwork yesterday.  And first midwife appt this Friday, Good Friday.  I'm hoping that we can hear the heartbeat or get some indication of how things are going from the bloodwork.

Baby #2 Week 6 - Friday March 7

Well it's hit...the nausea and fatigue.  I spent most of the day in bed sleeping and fighting off yucky tummy feelings.  Thank goodness it was a day Braden was home and he was able to help out with Ellie.

Hair is still "normal"...no signs of the lush, thick hair yet.  Skin is still acne prone.

Other than that, all's well.  I did take another pregnancy test this week.  It's just so strange that you go so long before seeing a doctor and getting any kind of confirmation that there's someone hanging out.  I have no idea how people did before all the technologies of the day...ultrasounds, on the fly pregnancy tests, etc.

Baby #2 Week 4 - March 4th

Monday - My hair is still falling out.  My skin is oilier than normal and makes makeup look silly by the end of the day so less is more these days.  I think I had a bout of nausea yesterday (or else I'm fighting off the norovirus that went through our house last week). 

Baby #2 - Starting at the beginning Feb 23

After Ellie turned 2 and was a fully walking, talking and an amazing being, we finally felt ready to consider a second person.  And here we are 6 months later with a positive pregnancy test.  It's early...like really early thanks to Clear Blue's "6 days before your missed period" testing capabilities.  We found out on Tues Feb 19 and it's been a very different and strange experience from Ellie.  I think with Ellie we were surprised, apprehensive, and clueless (many of the feelings first time parents have).  With this baby, it's a very calm excitement.

I want to be able to document all my feelings for both Baby #2 and Ellie's sake.  I just wasn't in a place to do it the first time.  I just didn't settle into things until we found Ellie was Ellie at 20 weeks and even then, I was still completely focused on surviving labor. :)

According to the Chinese Gender Predictor, it's a Girl Month.  While the "Ring Test" predicted a boy.  So we shall see.

week 14 - the belly has popped

No more hiding it...the baby's officially making it's presence known!  I have a baby belly.  It seemed to appear relatively quickly.  I knew it was coming because the muscles located just below the sternum started to firm up.  (I've seen all sorts of videos and pictures of babies growing from their fetal selves.  But it makes me curious to know how the uterus grows and the surrounding body accommodates...I'm sure the internet contains this info somewhere.)

Now that we are in week 14, I think it's safe to start sharing/spreading the news that Baby #2 will be joining us later this year (the official date is Nov 3 but I think it'll be October).  We are super excited to see the family grow to 4.  We love having siblings to share life with and are excited to give that to Ellie and our new little person.

I've been writing notes the last 3 months so you'll be seeing those get posted next.

We just had our third ob visit today and it was so nice and assuring to hear a solid heartbeat in the right developmental location.  We also took Ellie with us which was a first.  Thank goodness it was Dr Davidson taking care of us.  He was so kind to include her throughout the appt and even wrote a prescription for a sucker.  I think she's finally starting to process that there's someone else, a baby, coming.

Skin is still very clear (very little acne) but no changes in hair to report.  I keep waiting for the thick, lushness hair to come.  Not yet I guess.  But on the excited side, I seem to be past the first trimester blahs.  I feel pretty normal and am even finding my groove with the new sleeping positions.  (Once the belly pops, it makes tummy and back sleeping pretty impossible for me.)