Pregnancy Diary: Week 1 Postpartum

(This was supposed to be posted yesterday, but the day just got away from me!)

I know this is a cliche' thing to say, but I can't believe Sam is one week old already! He has been the perfect baby so far. I am so in love with him! I didn't think it was possible to have another baby as cute as Will, but he has proved me wrong! I've gotta say, we do a pretty good job making us some baby boys. 

I know he is only a week old, but at this point I don't think Sam looks at all like Will did. He even has dimples already! (He gets those from his daddy!)

I am feeling pretty well. Still a bit achy, so I am trying to take it easy. Not easy to do with a 2 year old running around. As hard as it is to make myself just sit all day while the crumbs pile up on the kitchen floor, it really has been a very relaxing week. Dean has been awesome at keeping up on housework in the evenings after working long days, and I am blessed with some wonderful women in my life who have been providing some delicious home cooked meals. I am anxious to get back to normal life though!

Samuel: 1 Week Old

Pregnancy Diary: Week 40

Well, here we are! My due date has come, and if I had to guess it will pass just the same as yesterday did. We are all fighting colds over here. I've had mine for over a week now, and regardless of all the pills and icky tasting supplements I have drank, it is still lingering. I'm all stuffy, have a bit of a cough and sore throat, and I still don't have much of a voice. Other then that I am feeling great! I am still enjoying being pregnant, and don't feel anxious at all. He will come when he is good and ready.

We had our tree delivered to us the other day by a couple of elves; one of which was very hairy. I love being able to decorate my tree however I want! Every year I do something different, and every year it is my new favorite. This year I did white and gold, and it is just perfect!

We are enjoying a relaxing Sunday morning at home, and plan on heading out for some breakfast in this winter wonderland as soon as everyone *coughDEANcough* is up. Although for me and Will it will be second breakfast.

This may very well be the last Pregnancy Diary I post. I wouldn't mind at all if it was. As fine as I am continuing being pregnant, I really am super excited about meeting this new little one!

40 Weeks Pregnant With Samuel

Pregnancy Diary: Week 39

Only one more week until people start freaking out when they find out when I'm due, and look at me like I am crazy for not being induced yet. Ok, so that only happened once before, but still. People expect you to be laid up on the couch all day, and God forbid you actually...lift something. There is no reason to not keep living as normal, if you are able to. Sure, I may waddle instead of walk, and look very silly trying to get up off the floor. But the laundry still needs to be carried down to the basement, groceries need to be brought into the house and my 33lb+ 2 year old occasionally needs to be held by mommy.

I am feeling pretty well still, although I woke up yesterday with a sore throat. I was out late Wednesday night, and only got 6 hours of sleep. I think my body just got run down. Hopefully it won't last too long.

I had an appointment last Wednesday with my midwife. Everything is looking good, but it seems like this boy isn't quite sure where he wants to be. We are both pretty certain the head is down, but he seems to be rotating between Right Occiput Posterior (his back on my right side, which is what Will was), to Posterior (his back is laying on my back, which makes for harder labor). The past couple of days he seemed to be back in the ROC position, but as I write this he feels more posterior to me. I go back this Wednesday (assuming he doesn't come before then) and she will check me to make sure his head is down.

I have really been trying lately to savor every moment as it is. I find myself living for the next day; for the next fun event. Always wishing that nap time would just hurry up and get here, instead of cherishing the moments I have being alone with Will. Thinking that if I just get through these next couple of days, the weekend will be here. I was so excited about being pregnant again (not that I'm not anymore), loving my pregnant belly, and feeling the baby move. Now it's almost over. When Will was born I was constantly, anxiously, looking forward to his next milestone: Rolling over, sitting, crawling, etc. Instead of just completely savoring the sweet newborn stage.

So, for now, I will love, cherish and be grateful to feel my sweet baby move inside my womb. Regardless of where he decides to kick his little legs....

39 Weeks Pregnant With Samuel

Pregnancy Diary: Week 38

It just hit me. I will be having this baby in just about 2 weeks.....maybe even less! He will be here in no time at all! I have been thinking so much about the labor part; Making sure I have everything I need, and trying my best to have everything in its place for Baby Day. Thinking about Christmas and trying to get all the buying/making and wrapping of as many gifts as I can before baby comes. I have had no time to dwell on the fact that after all this planning goes into effect, there will be a baby, My baby, and the whole cycle will start again....

Being up all night with a baby who just won't stop crying, and becoming slightly delirious from lack of sleep. Wearing baby spit up stained clothes for days on end, and smelling like it to. Rushing to take a shower while baby sleeps, only to have him wake up screaming while you still have shampoo in your hair and only one leg is shaved. Lugging around that heavy car seat, and forgetting to pack enough diapers in the diaper bag. Thinking you can get all your errands done before baby wants to eat again, which, of course, always results in having to nurse in the car. But you know what I have to say to that?

Bring it on, Baby. Bring. It. On.

38 Weeks

Pregnancy Diary: Week 37

I take back what I said last week about being fine with going past my due date. Oy. That pretty much describes how I am feeling these days. Tomorrow (the 14th) officially marks my 37th week, and I give my full permission to this babe to come as soon as he wants after that. I am so much more uncomfortable this time around, it's ridiculous! I look, feel and sound like a giant pig when it comes to getting out of bed in the morning. Using only my upper body (because my abs are MIA) to push myself up to a sort of side sitting position, I slowly scootch my way towards the edge of the bed. All the while I am grunting and groaning, and my pelvis is making these popping noises. Now that can't be good.

Once I am up and running waddling it gets a bit easier to maneuver myself around. Although, picking up toys has turned into kicking toys in the general direction of where they belong.

Aside from the achyness, I am feeling pretty well. I really would like to make it past Thanksgiving. That way I can eat all I want, let my stomach hang out, and no one would be of the wiser. Doesn't get much better then that!

37 Weeks Pregnant with Samuel

Pregnancy Diary: Week 36

Getting down to the wire here! One more week I will officially be full term, and will have the go ahead for a home birth. Everything still looking good at my appointment this week. Measuring a little small, but I have been continually growing and gaining weight. That's all that really matters. I had my first little taste of heartburn (for this pregnancy) last week. Almost made it through with none! (We had some friends over, and I was eating yummy food too late. That's what did it!)  By this time with Will my shoes were a bit snug, and my wedding rings were stuck. But so far, I have had no noticeable swelling. My rings still slip right off!

Sam is quite the active little guy! Hopefully he will calm down once he is out here. His head is down, down, down and causing his mama quite the discomfort. These past couple of days have been pretty tough dealing with even more than normal lower abdominal/pelvic pain. My midwife was saying it is typical to be achier earlier the second pregnancy. Praying it subsides soon. Going to take a hot bath, and hopefully that will help!

I got all things baby/birth related finished on time. Now focusing on getting all things Christmas done before baby comes! I have a feeling that this guy is going to surprise us early. Not that I am getting my hopes up or anything. I was 4 days late with Will, and was perfectly fine with it.

I am kind of sad that this pregnancy is almost over. It all went by too fast. I am trying to enjoy every moment he stays safe inside my womb, yet it is sometimes hard when it gets so uncomfortable. I am very much looking forward to meeting this little one though. Wondering if he'll have his daddy's pretty blue eyes or if he will match his brother and mama with big brown ones. Wondering if he will come out looking huge like his big brother did or if he will be a bit tinier. That day will come soon enough though. For now, I will try to savor these last few moments as a family of 3.

36 Weeks Pregnant with Samuel

Pregnancy Diary: Week 34

I am just loving these Autumn days! As much fun as Summer was, I am not missing it. I am having a tougher time with the heat this time around, and this cool, crisp weather is perfect! Usually by this time the furnace would be up and running all day. At bedtime the knee socks would be pulled out along with long pants, and a sweatshirt. Occasionally warming up the sheets with a blow dryer before creeping in. But now? The socks are off. Tank top is on, and pants are an option. I sometimes wake up sweating! I don't remember this being the case while pregnant with Will. But, I am notorious for being cold, so I am enjoying this while it last.

I really have no complaints. Getting a bit more achy these days, but nothing I can't handle. The babe is in good position; Head in my bladder, feet in my ribs. I reached my cringe weight this week :-/ It's been nice getting back to the gym after having 6 weeks of nothing while Will was in his cast. I workout at the YMCA where I used to work (and occasionally still do) in their Childwatch. One lady is adamant that I have "dropped" since she saw me last week.

"Oh no, I was just never up to begin with."

"No, you've dropped."

"Ok, if you say so."

The lady janitor (who knows me) is pretty certain I am much smaller then I was with Will.

"You are much smaller then you were with Will."

"Oh no. I've gained just about the same, and am measuring right on track."

"No, you're definitely smaller."

"Ok, if you say so. I mean, you do know best."

Oy. I need to learn to just smile and nod.

My sister and I had a lot of fun doing a little amateur maternity shoot a couple weeks ago. Here are some of my favorites!

 

Pregnancy Diary: Week 32

Not too much going on over here these days. At an appointment with my midwife this week she asked how I was doing, and I had to stop and really think about it for a second. "Hmm, I'm doing pretty well. I think." Mentally going over the checklist: Achy? No, not right now. Gotta pee? Well, yeah. Hungry? Nope, I'm good. "Yeah. Yeah. I'm doing well." Everything looked great. Belly's growing on right on target. Weight is being gained. Baby's moving. Heart rates were good. Definitely a low risk pregnancy.

The first time being pregnant you are aware of everything!  It's all so new. Scary. Exciting! This time is so different. Time has flown by! It's kind of a going with the flow, been there done that mentality. Not that I am any less excited about this new baby of mine. If anything, I am more excited! Much more relaxed knowing what to expect. Isn't it amazing how you forget about how labor really felt? In the throws of laboring and pushing out Will I was convinced that we would only have one child. But now I am actually looking forward to labor! I look at it like a challenge against myself. Try to do it even better then last time. Maybe not scream as much.....

Slowly, but surely, I am getting my house in order. Really trying to plan ahead, and would like to have all baby/birth related items taken care by then end of this month; leaving November to complete all Christmas related things before baby comes. Google searching "hospital sized sanitary pads" and "waterproof plastic mattress cover" is the extent of excitement around here.  

Thankful to have some sunny weather, so we can take walks and go to the park. Looking forward to getting back to the gym once Will is up and walking. When he was in his cast I got so achy from carrying him around, that the last thing I could do was workout. Don't worry mom. I won't be running marathons or jumping lunges. Just a nice ride on a stationary bike, and some light weight training will do me good.

So here we are at 32 weeks. Ignore my face. I was concentrating.

Pregnancy Diary: Week 30

I am so excited! We have decided to have our sweet baby boy #2 at home! I know it's a bit late to be making this decision. I would have liked for it to have happened sooner. But things had to be finalized, and minds had to be set on the decision. The midwife I am using is great to work with, and I am completely comfortable with her. She was our birthing class (Bradley Method) teacher when I was pregnant with Will. Within the past 1 1/2 years she became a certified midwife, and started her own clinic doing home births! There is only one other home birth midwife in the area, but she lives 1 1/2 hrs away from us. That wasn't something I was very comfortable with. My current midwife lives 10 minutes away!

I am beyond thrilled about having a home birth! Especially since having to spend a couple nights at the hospital just a few weeks ago with Will, I was reminded even more how much I dislike them.

It's not that I had an awful birthing experience having my first at the hospital. Minus a couple things, I was pretty satisfied with the labor and delivery part. Of course, the fact that I waited forever to get to the hospital helped that. There was no time for them to intervene. But who is to say I would be so lucky this time around? We just watched a documentary last night, "Pregnant in America". Not the best documentary I have seen, quality wise, but the facts are there. Over 50% induced labors turn into c-sections. Even with all of our technology we (the USA) are 28th on the list of infant deaths at birth. Out of ALL countries in the world! Only 2% of births in the US are home births!

Having a baby in the comfort of my own home sounds so appealing. Being able to just settle into my own bed with my new baby in my arms, and Will cuddled up next to me. No constant barging in of nurses at all hours of the night. I can't wait!

So, now I must get my butt into gear, and get my house organized. It seems that every day I am adding something new to my to do list. Some may say I am "nesting". There is nothing real crazy on it. It's not like I MUST organize my silverware drawer. (Ha, sorry mom.) Really I am just doing things that have needed to get done for awhile now. Knowing that you will be giving birth in 2 months at home really motivates you, let me tell ya. So far I have organized the boys room and all of their clothes. Next is tackling our room. It has been taken over by clothes. Summer clothes are still lingering, yet the fall/winter stuff has made it's way up from the basement. It's not a pretty site.

I am so glad the cool weather has returned. I had a real tough time for a few days there when it got warm again. I have had a hard time catching my breath. My heart just pounds, and it makes me so tired. I remember the same thing happening just around this time in my pregnancy with Will too. Other then that, I am feeling great! I have been really trying to limit the amount I have to carry Will around, and my achyness has gone away.

Here I am at 30 weeks! This was taken earlier in the day. I feel twice this size by the evening!

Pregnancy Diary: Week 28

I can't believe I am in my last trimester already! This pregnancy has flown by! I was feeling surprisingly well throughout the whole hospital ordeal, but the stressful crazyness of the past week has finally caught up to me. The past couple of days I have been dealing with some bad ligament pains. Due to (1) My belly growing and (2) The stress that carrying Will around has put on my body. I had it with my first pregnancy too. I played tennis when I was 5/6months, and paid for it later.

God is so good! We just found out this week that our insurance application was accepted! All of Will's hospital bills will be taken care of, and if we decide to go with a home birth it covers that also!

Dean has his first ever, all expenses paid, business trip this Sunday - Tuesday at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods Resort & Casino. We get to go pretend to be rich grown ups! We are very excited about it. I wasn't sure after Will broke his leg if I would still be able to go. But he has adjusted just fine, and I sure can use the break! He will be staying with my family, and be utterly and completely spoiled.

Here I am at 28 weeks. I really need to get some pics from a real camera. I am much bigger in real life. My cell camera makes me look a lot smaller. I swear! I've gained 20 lbs for goodness sake.



A Will update: He is doing just great! Naps have been a little iffy, but for the most part he is sleeping through the night. He is starting to move around on his own. He can flip one direction, from his tummy to back, then gets stuck, and is starting to pull himself forward. He is best described as a very whiny, opinionated, 32lb+ 6 month old.

He started off on his tummy, on the middle of the blanket.

His next doctors appointment is Oct. 4th, where we will see if the cast can be taken off entirely or at least part of it can be.

Pregnancy Diary: Week 24

Nothing very exciting has happened since I wrote last, so I suspect this will be a pretty boring post.....

I am feeling great! No complaints other than (then? than? I always forget) the whole peeing when I sneeze suddenly. Which is even more prevalent this time around. Oh, the glamorous life of pregnancy. I have gotten back into a workout routine (I use that word loosely). Getting to the gym at least a couple days a week, and taking walks whenever the heat permits. It feels wonderful. No heartburn to speak of so far....fingers crossed....which is something I had everyday (til the end) by this point with Will.

My eating preferences are pretty much the same as with my first. Lots of fresh fruit, salads, cheese and crackers, peanut butter and whatever sandwiches, milk. Simple, easy stuff. Only trouble with it, is that Will eats what I eat, and now that is all he wants to eat. Breads, crackers, cheese, and most of all...fruit. The kid is obsessed, I tell ya. I have plans to break him of it though. Evil, mean plans. We'll see how that goes.

The baby is moving around tons now. Almost always when I am going to bed or whenever I am nursing Will. Yes, still nursing. Even though my body stopped producing milk a few months ago, he still loves to go at it. I plan to have him weaned by the time he is two. Which will give me about a 1 1/2 month break from nursing. I also plan to have him potty trained by the time the baby comes. Lots of planning going on over here. I like to have things planned. It is easy to plan. It's the whole taking the initiative and actually doing something about it that is the hard part.

So, that is pretty much all that is going on here these days. Here I am at 24 weeks. I swear I look a lot bigger in real life.

Pregnancy Diary: Week 20 - Vacation Edition!

Oh man, where to start! It has been 5 weeks since I last wrote in my "diary", and life has been very busy. I will try to remember it all with this pregnancy brain of mine (which I will talk more about later)!

June 26th my older brother married his beautiful bride, Anna! It was a wonderful ceremony and awesome reception.

~The 4 Amigos and their ladies~

We were able to go to Sea Breeze a couple times this summer, and Will had a blast! He had no reservations going on all the kiddie rides. At the end of every ride, he would make a confused look and put his hands in the air as to say "Uh, what's going on here?"

We have also had fun at the beach, graduations parties, boat rides and hanging out at a lake house, and 4th of July festivities.

I had my 19 week ultrasound, and found out we are expecting another boy! Everything looked great. He measured perfectly, to the day! We have a first name, but no middle yet. Once we have decided on that, we will absolutely share it!



Last, but not least, we just got home from a great week long vacation to Myrtle Beach, SC! A very gracious long time friend of the family opened up his beautiful home to us and my whole family. We had a great time! We (as in we, I mean mostly Dean) drove through the night, there and back. Will did ok, considering. We had safe travels, and made great time even when the GPS would poop out on us, leaving us lost in D.C. for awhile at 4am. The weather was lovely. A few showers here and there, but nothing that threw a wrench into our plans. There was always a nice breeze which made the heat bearable. We managed to not get burned, but still got some nice color. Our days were lazy. We spent them at the beautiful (private community) pool, at the beach playing in the oceans waves, or just hanging out at home playing Pictionary, Chinese Checkers and Euchre. Dean was able to get in some golf, and went out jet skiing with my little sis, Camryn.



Dean and I were able to go out on a date night together. We went to the Market Commons, had a great dinner at Gordon Biersch Brewery, walked around a bit window shopping, and I finally got to go into Anthropologie. I pretty much died and went to wish-I was-rich-heaven. We stopped at Dairy Queen for a quick ice cream cone, and then we went back to the pool for a relaxing night swim. It was a wonderful night!



We had a couple nights just spent at home having yummy cookouts and playing cornhole. We went to Broadway at the Beach one afternoon, and had a couples date night at Barefoot Landing where we had dinner at Wild Wings Cafe. I completely stuffed myself with the most delicious wings.

As fun as it was, we are glad to be back home. We still have so many more fun things planned for the summer; another wedding, annual family party, and Family Camp!

As for the pregnancy, I am feeling pretty well. I get a bit lightheaded sometimes, and just have to take it easy. The heat has been tough. I almost passed out in the checkout line at Goodwill...again. I actually did pass out there when I was pregnant with Will. I was able to sit down in time, this time around. I am feeling the baby move around some, which is always fun. My Braxton Hicks have started already. A few weeks earlier then with my first. My hormones seem to have settled a bit, and I haven't had any over emotional outburst for awhile now. I have had quite the pregnancy brain though, resulting in some moments where I just have to laugh at myself. Here are the ones I have remembered:

~ I pulled into the gas station, and for the life of me I couldn't remember what side my gas tank was on...in the same car I have been driving for almost 4 years now. I sat there for a good 30 seconds before remembering, and that is a long time in gas station time.

~ I was in line at Wegmans, behind another woman. You know how it goes. As the conveyor belt opens up, you fill it with your groceries. Oh, but not me. I'm just standing there, yawning, waiting patiently, taking candy bars out of Will hands, and not putting one thing on there. The other lady leaves, the cashier says "Hi." I say "Hi." A couple seconds go by before "Oh my goodness! I am so sorry." Doih.

~ I was pulled over for having a brake light out. The State Trooper ask for my license. I give him my HSBC Debit card. Enough said.

~ One night, a couple days before we left for vacation (which I clearly needed) I was going over in my head what I needed to do the next day. Public Market, bank, doctors, Wegmans, etc. etc. It was a busy day. The next morning, I even made a list of what I needed to do....blah blah, BANK, blah, blah blah, etc. etc. So, Public Market, check! Doctors, check! I pull into the bank, start to pull up to the ATM, and I stop. I think "what did I need to do at the bank?" No one was behind me so I just sit there. Eyes squinted, forehead wrinkled, thinking. "Withdrawal? No, I did that a few days ago. Deposit? Nope, no checks." Turns out there was absolutely nothing I needed to do at the bank.

~Also, I stubbed my toe at least 10 times within a 2 week period.

20 Weeks

Pregnancy Diary: Week 15

I find myself being excited it's the weekend, but I'm not sure why. Nothing too spectacular is happening. My work doesn't end. Dean is working all day today. Perhaps he'll be home early enough for us to do something fun before my body gives out. We have a vow renewal ceremony to go to tomorrow morning for a short time, which will be nice, but then Dean is back to work all day leaving Sunday as our only full day together as a family. I'll be getting my haircut tomorrow too, which I always have mixed feelings about. I am excited at the prospect of having it turn out how I want, but I have had too many bad haircuts to know that there is always a chance it won't. Fingers crossed I suppose.

Today has been quite lovely. Had breakfast with 4 great girls (and Will), at a local diner..... Ahhh, Diner food: My new love. *Guilty confession: I have eaten at a diner 4 times this week. Twice for dinner. Twice for breakfast. I only sort of feel bad about that. I'll do better next week, I promise.* I had an appointment with the midwife, and that went well. I got to hear the heartbeat again, which always makes my day :) I gained roughly 4 lbs in 4 weeks. Wonder why. Almost back up to my pre-pregnancy-morning-sickness weight, which I suppose is a good thing.

I have been feeling good these past couple of days. Haven't felt the need to take a nap, and have been able to get some stuff done while Will naps. Hoping to get back into a workout routine of some sort now that my energy is coming back. It's tough getting back into it after going so long without it! It's amazing how quickly you can lose your muscle mass too! Right before I got pregnant, I was in the best shape I have ever been. Now I feel fat and blah. I know mom, I know. It's a good thing. Eat, eat, get fat, and eat.

So, you may have heard of pregnancy dreams before (Yes, random change of subject). A normal occurrence of crazy, whacked out dreams during pregnancy. Well, I have crazy, whacked out dreams anyways, so that's nothing new. What I have been doing is talking in my sleep. Now, after my spiel has been said and in my half awakeness, I either a) Try to explain to Dean why what I said makes complete sense or b) Start to defend myself. It has been rather amusing. I of course can't remember anything specific that was said, so I guess you'll just have to take my word for it. Or ask Dean.

I will leave you with a shoddy cell phone shot of my 15 week baby belly. Taken in my messy room.


Oh, and I just downed a peach and about 16 oz of cottage cheese. And I bought dill pickles today.

Pregnancy Diary: Week 14

Hello 2nd trimester, good riddance morning sickness! I can't believe I am already heading into my 2nd trimester. I am feeling close to normal now. Smells still get to me, but no longer make me very nauseas. Still waiting. Hoping. Desperately praying for my energy to come back. I'm pretty much cooked by 9pm, and that's with an afternoon nap. My belly seems to be popping out a bit quicker this time around, which I actually very much enjoy. It took forever with Will! I didn't feel like I looked pregnant until around 20 weeks. I'm at the point now where I don't look big at all in the morning, but by the end of the day, and multiple bowls of cereal later, there's no holding it in.

I have been so hormonally emotional, it's driving me crazy! Not to mention my poor husband! I get all worked up over silly things, and I even tear up/cry at tv shows. TV SHOWS!!! I had yet to cry at even the saddest of movies before now. I wasn't like this at all with my first pregnancy either. Oy.

I thought I may have felt the baby move yesterday. It's so hard to tell the difference this early between baby movement and well....gas, and lets face it, gas happens a lot while pregnant. My pregnancy burps have officially started. I just don't burp un-pregnant, but gee whiz I can't help it now. I don't even realize I'm doing it!

I am so excited for this summer! Even though it was super tough being sick for so long, and hard to see the positive side of things I am thankful that, if it had to happen, it at least happened when it did. We have such a crazy busy and fun summer planned with multiple weddings, graduation parties, bridal showers, family picnics, birthday parties, Seabreeze, VACATION!!!!!, family camp, and that's just what is planned already! I would be so bummed if I were to be dealing with morning sickness during all of that, and I thank the Lord often that I won't be!

Well, I am off to try and take a nap now while Will sleeps, so I am happy by the time my man comes home!

Pregnancy Diary: 11 weeks and 3 days

I can't help but laugh after writing out this blog posts title. Before experiencing pregnancy myself, I never understood why when asking a pregnant woman how far along she was she would always respond "Oh, I'm 27 weeks." Um, ok. So (in my head), take 27......and divide that by 4.5....and you get...??? Instead of just saying "I'm 6 months." But I find myself doing just that! You see, when you're pregnant, every week completed is such a milestone! Whether it is one week closer to the end of morning sickness. One week closer to being able to find out the sex of the baby. One week closer to your due date! It's all so exciting! Plus, you feel so much more...accomplished by saying a big number apposed to a smaller one.

Well, where was I. Oh yes, 11 weeks, 3 days. Woohoo! I had my first appointment with my midwife (group) today. Ya know, the one with the whole kit and kaboodle. Fun stuff. It was all worth it though, because at the end we were able to hear the heartbeat!!!! It has to be one of the best sounds ever! Coming close to a tie with hearing your baby's cry for the 1st time. It's amazing how we are able to hear a strong, clear heartbeat from my 2 inch long, 1 oz baby tucked away in my womb.

I went into the appointment telling myself not to get worried if we couldn't find the heartbeat today. We tried at 11 weeks for the first time with Will, and she wasn't able to find it. She (a different midwife then the lovely one who saw me today) immediately goes into talking about ectopic pregnancies and setting up an ultrasound asap to make sure everything was alright. Needless to say, it being my first pregnancy and all, I freaked out! I couldn't sleep that night. Every little cramp I felt scared the bejeeburrs out of me. We ended up being able to go into Compass Care for an ultrasound, and saw that everything was just fine.

Although every due date calculator I've used online has said Dec 3rd, the official due date given to me from my Doc's was Dec. 5th.

I am feeling very grateful today! I have one healthy and happy son. Another precious life growing safe in my womb. A hardworking husband who loves his family. I am feeling so much better now! Plus, I was able to stop at the store, so now I can have my chocolate milk! Life is good.

Pregnancy Diary: Week 10

The End Is Near. Of morning sickness, that is! After almost 3 weeks of feeling nauseous day and night, throwing up all day, every day, horrible headaches, all my energy gone, and having any smell put me over the edge, I am finally starting to remember how it felt to feel normal. This week has been a recovery week for me. Having lost 10lbs in 2 weeks from not being able to keep anything down, I was so weak and nutrient deficient. I couldn't stand up for 30 seconds without becoming lightheaded, dizzy and have my heart start pounding like crazy. I still get dizzy if I am walking around/standing for too long, but my appetite for food is slowly coming back. I am feeling a little stronger every day.

But then there is my kitchen. I used to love my kitchen. Will and I spent the majority of our day in there. Now, it is my enemy. My constant fear. Smells are a big deal for me when I am pregnant. I still can't go in there and not become sick to my stomach. That's just stepping foot in there, lets not even get into having to open the fridge. Oy.

This whole experience has been so emotionally draining too. I have never felt so useless in my life. It's an awful feeling. From the outside it looks like I have it made. Perhaps I do. Someone always there to watch and care for my kid. Feed him, change diapers, entertain him. My house being cleaned and laundry being done for me while I get to sleep in, lay on the couch all day watch movies, and take naps. My whole purpose in life is to be a wife, a mother, and I couldn't fulfill either of those. I love caring for my son. Getting him dressed, changing diapers, preparing healthy food for him, teaching him right from wrong. All of which I had to put in the hands of other people. Not easy to do at all. Will has hardly been here at all for 3 weeks now. He has been going back and forth between grandparents houses and spending time with daddy at his store. It helps that he has been such a good boy.

Then there is my husband. He has been absolutely wonderful. So far beyond anything words could express. He has been completely selfless. On top of being crazy busy with work and dealing with the stress owning your own business brings, he has also had to step into the role of caregiver, housekeeper, cook and daddy mommy. He gets up extra early to bring Will to his grandparent of the day, changes dirty diapers (big deal!), packs up Will's diaper bag remembering even the little things like the binky and socks. He has been working long days, and comes right home to care for me. Does the laundry, dishes, fends for himself for food. I don't know what I'd do without him. I love you so much baby!


So, here I am. 10 weeks pregnant. The worst is over. I am finally getting excited again about this pregnancy. Happy to have been able to have 2 planned pregnancies, and no early "surprises". I have a thing about planning things out. I have my first midwife appointment in a couple weeks, and I can't wait to hear the heartbeat for the first time! I plan on doing a much better job of documenting my growing belly then I did with my first. Don't worry, I won't bore you with a belly pic every week, especially this early on, but I just wanted a starting "before" picture. I'm really not showing at all yet. That little bump is just the stubborn leftovers from baby #1!

Pregnancy Diary: Week 7

First, thanks to everyone for the words of congratulations and encouragement. I really appreciate it!

I am 7 weeks into my second pregnancy. Unofficial due date is Dec 3rd. To be honest with ya, I have been feeling completely horrible. I was so hopeful going into this pregnancy that the 1st trimester wouldn't be as bad as it was with my first, which was completely horrible. But, unfortunately, that hasn't been the case.

We found out I was pregnant on Deans birthday, so that was fun! It was hard keeping it a secret that whole weekend between a birthday get together for Dean, and then Easter Sunday with the family.

My first week of knowing I was pregnant was quite different then it was for my first. With Will, as soon as I took the test I immediately became very tired, and my desire to eat quickly decreased leading up to complete nausea and disgust for anything to do with food. This one started off with me being very hungry, and completely moody, emotional, and almost bursting into tears at a store because I was 2 days late on their return policy, leading up to complete nausea and disgust for almost anything to do with food.

Although it was super hard dealing with morning sickness 24/7 sickness with my first, it is even harder this time having to take care of my 17 month old. Thank goodness for mothers though! She came and saved Will on Friday morning, and he stayed there for the weekend. It's a hard thing to admit that you aren't the one best fit to care for your child, but I just couldn't do it. The poor kid was pretty much living on crackers and water. I missed him SO MUCH! He is back with us now though, and I pray for the strength to care for him on my own tomorrow!

After a few day of eating almost nothing at all, I have been able to keep some select foods down. This whole thing is just so strange! One day I was able to eat crackers throughout the day and keep them down, and the next I barely get down two crackers only to throw them up 5 minutes later.

We are very excited for this new little one growing in me, and I look forward to documenting this wonderful journey of life!