Bump Watch: The Birth Story

When I last reported, I was all set to be induced Sunday morning, and looking forward to welcoming our little girl into the world.

Saturday, I crossed every last thing off of my Pre-Baby To Do list, took Gabe to a birthday party,  double checked our hospital bags, and firmed up plans for the nugget while we were away having the baby.  At the end of the day, utterly exhausted, I took in a warm bath and had a half a glass of wine.  I knew that sleep would be elusive that night, as I was too anxious and excited to meet our little lady, so I was trying to relax as much as possible before bed.

Amazingly, I managed to fall asleep with relative ease.  At 1:30, I got up to use the bathroom, and at that point, realized that my sleep for the night had probably come to an end.  The excitement hit, and I COULD NOT fall back asleep.  So I laid there.  And tried to think sleepy thoughts.  And I laid there some more.  And I tried to get comfortable.  And then around 2:40, I felt what I can only describe as a POP inside my belly.

This was not a kick- no.  This was something I hadn't felt before.  I wondered vaguely to myself if it could possibly be my water breaking.  So I got out of bed and headed to the bathroom.  With a gush it became very obvious, very quickly, that yes, indeed, my water had broken.

When I came out of the bathroom, I informed J that the baby couldn't wait until morning.  It was go time!

We very calmly got ready to go.  Second baby syndrome!  I curled my hair, J showered and shaved.  I made the bed, and gathered the last minute suitcase additions.  Once I felt like I had myself completely together, I called the doctor to let her know the situation, at which point she told us to head on into the hospital.  We called a neighbor to come sleep at our house until J's mom could arrive.  Contractions started up, and quickly settled into a pattern about three minutes apart and a minute long.

Man, does my body know how to contract.

By the time we made it to the hospital, the contractions were pretty painful, but not unbearable.  We got registration and paperwork handled, and got settled in our labor & delivery room.  I answered about a million questions for our nurse, went over my birth plan (get drugs, have a baby), and had my IV placed.  I was still doing okay at this point, and was managing to breathe through increasingly painful contractions.

Once all of this was taken care of, the nurse got around to checking me. I was dilated 4 centimeters.  I was so encouraged by this.  It took hours and hours for me to reach 4 cm with Gabe.  18 hours, to be exact.  Things were obviously moving more quickly with this baby.

It was around this time that contractions kicked it up a notch.  As in, shit just got real.  Less than a minute apart, and INTENSE.  I got a dose of narcotic in my IV to take the edge off while I waited for my epidural. I had to receive a certain amount of IV fluids before they could place the epidural- I remember this excruciating wait with Gabe, too.  All in all, about two hours of the real deal, killmenow kind of  pain.  Then, sweet relief.

By 7 am, I was no longer feeling much pain.  This epidural was much lighter than the one I had with Gabe.  I could feel and move my legs, and could still feel plenty of pressure with each contraction.  But the excruciating pain was no longer.  My blood pressure dropped quite a bit with the drugs, but we soon had that under control, as well, and it became a waiting game.  The next time the nurse checked me, I was A WHOPPING 8 CM and the baby had moved down nicely!

I was absolutely shocked and amazed at the speed with which all of this was happening.  These contractions were doing their job without the help of any pitocin.  Again, so different than with Gabe, whose 25 hour labor was pitocin assisted.

By 9:30, I was past 9 cm and it was pretty clear that we had very little time left before we'd be meeting our baby.  I had told the nurse that I pushed for less than 15 minutes with my first baby, and was hoping to be that lucky again (I'd soon find out that she thought I'd said 45 minutes.)  A few minutes later I felt an enormous pressure and knew that it was time to push.  The nurse had me do a "practice" push to see what kind of progress I could make.  She told me how well I had moved the baby down, and decided to have me really push through the next contraction.

She didn't believe me when I said I was a good pusher.

After that one contraction, she very lightheartedly joked about how haha-isn't-it-the-craziest-thing-when-someone-tells-you-to-stop-pushing-but-yeah-I-really-need-you-to-stop-pushing-because-the-baby-is-coming-but-the-doctor-went-home.  She then stuck her head out the door and yelled at another nurse to call the doctor and tell her to step on the gas because the baby is coming.

So I waited an extremely uncomfortable five minutes for the doctor to arrive- all the while with a baby in the birth canal.

The doctor arrived, and with two more contractions, our sweet girl was here.  Margot was born at 10:10 am.  It had been only 7 1/2 hours since my water had broken.

She was placed immediately on my chest and examined there.  She passed all of her initial assessments with perfect scores.  After a bit, they took her to be weighed and measured.  My little chunk weighed in at 9 pounds even and was 19 3/4" long.  Her head circumference was 14 1/2", which by the nurse's reaction is on the larger side.  I hear all of these stats and I am uber-impressed with my birthing skills.  I rock at pushing out babies.

A couple hours later we moved over into our postpartum room and spent the rest of our two day stay resting  and bonding.  The little lady latched right on and is nursing like a champ.  I was up and about by Sunday afternoon with shockingly little pain.  Recovery thus far has been a breeze.  Gabe has remained largely unaffected by the new addition, and is just loving having both his parents at home with him.  Life is carrying on oh-so-sweetly now that we are a family of four.

Our sweet Margot Claire is just perfection, and we could not possibly be more in love.

Bump Watch: Week 39

Well...this is the end.

Little Miss Margot Claire is coming this weekend.  She has been given 48 hours notice, and if she has not vacated the premises willingly in that time frame, she will be evicted.

I've gotta say, I never thought I'd be so thrilled about an induction.

I'd love to say that I'm a fan of the natural, of letting things happen on their own timetable.  And with Gabe, I was lucky that he came on his own in a timely manner.  But the truth is, I'm am so ready to get this little one out of me that I don't really care how it happens.

And I got lucky.

I've been told for awhile now that they would not let me go past my due date, since there is a chance that this little lady is on the larger side.  Fine by me.  The only condition was that I have a "favorable cervix" prior to induction.  I was a tad worried about this, since I never dilated even a measly centimeter prior to labor with the nugget.  So imagine my delight when I heard the doctor say I was "a good 3" this morning!  HUZZAH!  FAVORABLE!

So she left me to go and check the hospital schedule for next week.

When she returned to the room, she told me that THE ENTIRE WEEK was booked.  As in, not one single open spot for an induction.  And the moment I started bumming hard about this news, she followed up with "so I took the liberty of scheduling you for Sunday."

Bless you, doctor friend.

They don't normally induce on the weekends, but she is a kind soul who took pity on me (and really didn't want me delivering past my due date), so she is coming in on a Sunday to get this kid born.

Will I miss the excitement of the onset of labor?  Sure.  That was definitely a moment I'll always remember.  Am I excited that the end is here, and that I can take a minute to put all of our final plans definitively in place beforehand?  You betcha.

So this is it, friends.  The final Bump Watch.  I'm quite certain that I'll be MIA for awhile (I'm sure you'll understand), but I promise to update and photo bomb as soon as I am able!

Bump Watch: Week 38

Okay, so I didn't get around to posting on time last week.  And then I kept putting it off because I was hoping I'd just have the baby.  But I'm still pregnant, folks.

And I'm ready not to be.  Get this baby outta me.  The end.

Bump Watch: Week 37

THAT'S FULL TERM, PEOPLE.

And NOW I am ready.  At last update, I mentioned how I was ready to hold her and see her sweet face.  Well, I am still ready for those things, however, I am also ready for her to VACATE THE PREMISES.  As in, get out.  I am feeling pretty done being pregnant.

I still don't feel terrible, other than the ohmygodmybodyissplittlinginhalf hip pain.  Mostly, I'm just huge and uncomfortable.  Moving is a serious chore.  And I keep bumping into things with my belly, because I just can't even tell how much space I take up anymore.

The braxton hicks contractions are here, and not infrequent.  I'm hoping this means that my body is gearing up, and that the little lady plans to make her arrival soon.

Oh, yeah...and I've started snoring.  Like a freight train.  If J hears it at night, you know it's bad.  Because that man can sleep.  And what's worse is that I'm even waking myself up.  Like sleeping isn't already hard enough for me these days!  Between the snoring, the drooling, and the up-top leaking...I'm just a hot mess at night.  This is just nature's way of preparing me for the lack of sleep to come.    

Countdown: 19 days.

Bump Watch: Weeks 35 and 36

We're officially down to the last month!  WOOHOO!

It's hard to believe that in just 4 weeks (or less), I will be holding my baby girl.

I.  CANNOT.  WAIT.

I've gotten to that point where I just want meet her.  I want to see her face, and hold her...and, I have to admit, dress her up.  Hey, I'm having a girl.  You other mothers of girls would probably be lying if you said you didn't feel the same way.

I don't have many complaints at the moment, which is shocking considering my size.  At my 35 week appointment, I measured a full-term 40.  Whatayagonnado?  Sure, my hips hurt, and I can't get comfortable in bed.  And yes, moving around in any capacity whatsoever is a chore.  But overall, I'm feeling pretty good. Just anxious.

So it has begun.  The wondering about every twinge- could it be a contraction?  This weekend, a towel goes under my sheets, just in case my water breaks while I'm sleeping.  Once we get past Christmas, I'm packing the bags and installing the car seat.    

In short?  Now we wait.

Bump Watch: Week 34

That leaves us with only six weeks left to gestate here, folks.

Well, my fears have lessened after my last OB appointment.  As of right not, I am not growing a giant.  We had an ultrasound last week that showed the little lady's growth to be in the 66th percentile.  Certainly not small, but not a 12-pounder, either.  Doc says that she looks to be on track to be just about the same size as the nugget.  And if birthing him didn't kill me, birthing her won't, either.

Apparently, though, my uterus IS of the extra large variety.  I measured a whopping SIX weeks ahead following the ultrasound.  Luckily, we had just gotten a peek to know that everything is fine in there, otherwise the doctor would have had some concerns.  But I guess those extra centimeters are just "me," as he said.  What this means is that even though baby is of the appropriate size and fluid is of the appropriate level, they probably won't let me go past my due date.  (THANK YOU, LORD!)

And that's what we learned.

This late ultrasound was not nearly as exciting as the late one we had with Gabe.  But I'm okay with this.  It turns out there was not much we could actually see, since this one is head down and facing my back, like a good little girl.  She has assumed the position.  So we couldn't see her face.  Fingers crossed that she stays this way!

What we could see, however...was hair.  She will not be a baldy like her mama was.  I can't wait to see if she has as much hair as her brother did, and if she will be another ginger to add to the family!

This is the only shot we took away from that appointment- her noggin, covered by fuzzy hair.  We may not be able to see her face, but we'll be seeing it live and in person in just a few weeks!

Bump Watch: Special Edition- The Nursery

I still need a few more odds and ends- a little side table next to the chair, a cute lamp for the dresser- but for the most part, the little lady's room is FINISHED.  J and I spent the weekend assembling, arranging, washing, organizing, and hanging, and we are now ready for her arrival.  And just to ease my crazy pregnant brain, I even bought a pack of diapers.  When I say ready, I mean ready.

Enjoy the girly, ruffly, pretty nursery!  And as an added bonus to this post- I recently realized that I have not yet revealed the little lady's name in this space.  As her name plays a part in her room decor, you, my dear readers, will now be let in on the secret.

Here it is!

Changing table and rocker.  

My favorite feature!  Pinterest inspired, of course.  Big shout out to my MIL for helping put these hoops together, and to J for hanging those letters in a straight, evenly spaced manner on the first try!

Her crib, where I know she will rest peacefully and begin sleeping through the night in no time.  ;)

Her monogrammed quilt.  I kinda love that her monogram reads as MAC.

And laid out on the changing table, her coming home outfit, waiting to be packed.  Baby's first Ralph Lauren!

I can't wait for my sweet Margot Claire to arrive!

Bump Watch: Weeks 32 and 33

Man, am I a slacker blogger.  But the Thanksgiving festivities and a wonderful wedding had me busy busy last week, and this week, I'm busy catching up.  You know, on life.  And catching up takes me a while, because I move at a bit of a snail's pace these days...

Anyway, here's where we're at.

Anyone ever heard of a durian?  It looks downright painful.

If you'll recall, at my last appointment I was measuring a little ahead of schedule.  Since then, I've been back to the OB and, just as I suspected, am still measuring ahead.  I'm not at all concerned about this, as I measured a little big the entire third trimester with the nugget.  The bonus of all of this is that I get a late ultrasound to check everything out.  In other words, the docs want to make sure I'm not growing a giant.  Which would be really weird, since I'm still 4ish pounds down from my starting weight.  I'm so weird!  In any case, next week J and I will get one last peek at the little lady before she makes her arrival.

Speaking of OB appointments- they're every two weeks now.  Well, for the next month, anyway.  Then I move to weekly appointments.  Take the frequency of my appointments and throw in Christmas, and the rest of this pregnancy is going to fly by.

Here's hoping, anyway...especially since my old friends nausea and vomiting have once again reared their ugly heads.  This pregnancy really is SO similar to my last.  (I'll be asking for a triple check for girl parts at next week's scan, because there ain't a whole lot of difference between my boy pregnancy and this girl one...)  Luckily, as of now it's not too bad.  A little nausea here and there, and I've only had to make a run for the bathroom twice.  THIS I can deal with, after the terribleness that was the beginning.  Let's just hope this is as bad as it's going to get.

There has been major nursery progress since my last post.  By the end of this weekend, I hope to have a mostly completed baby girl room.  Nesting is here in full force, and things are getting checked off lists at a rate that makes me happy (and J sad).  Pictures to come soon!

Bump Watch: Week 31

Only nine weeks to go.  That's single digits, baby!

I think that hiccups are are the name of the game this week.  I have felt them so many times!  Not my favorite when they happen in the middle of the night, but it is what it is!  Little lady's other movements are still ever present, but they are changing.  She no longer has the space to stretch out in there, or wind up before she hits.  Her movements now are more like she's pushing out from within.  Definitely uncomfortable, but not as painful as those sharp jabs she used to give me!  The coolest thing lately has been that since she's getting so big, I am sometimes able to distinguish body parts.  I've definitely felt a butt pushing out, and either a hand or foot.

Thankfully, hiccups aside, I am managing to sleep relatively well.  Of course, I have to get up once or twice for bathroom breaks, but that just comes with the territory.  So far, the insomnia has kept itself away.  Thank you!

I am running out of energy (and the ability to move with any hint of grace), and yet feel the need to get a million things done.  Not the best combination.  Painting the nursery is on the weekend agenda.  I will feel much better after that is completed!

Baby appointment next week- the last of the four week visits!  After this, I move to every two weeks for a bit.  This is when time really starts to fly!  Seven months down, two to go!

Bump Watch: Week 30

30 weeks!  That's 75% of the way there, folks.

And is it wrong that I'm SO thankful for that?

This week has actually been a good one.  I haven't been as excruciatingly sore as I was a couple of weeks back.  I've made it through several days without a nap.  And I've been motivated to get things done around here!

I've hit the point where I'm starting to gather things together in preparation for the little lady's arrival.  I haven't yet packed my bags (it's just a titch too early for that still), but I have started lists and ordered a few items that I know I'll want on hand for my recovery after we bring baby home.  I've also crossed all of the must-purchase-for-new-baby items off of my list.  With the exception of clothing, of course.  Because let's be real- I'm having a girl.  I'll never be done buying her clothes.

So what are your thoughts on old wives tales?  My husband, of course, thinks they're utter crap.  You know, because of SCIENCE.  I say science, schmience.  My heartburn is wicked right now.  I had to get up in the middle of the night last night to take something for the fire.  I had heartburn with the nugget, but not like this.  He was born with a very full head of hair.  What are the chances the little lady will leave the hospital with a mane like her brother's?  Keeping my fingers crossed that the old wives tale proves true again...

AND - SURPRISE!  As requested- I have an actual, for real belly pic this week!

J and I on our way to a Prohibition Party.

You think I've got a baby in there, or what?

Bump Watch: Week 29

From thebump: You’re probably already getting a little preview of baby’s personality, the more your feel him move. You might get some playful kicks and jabs, and start to feel little hiccups, too! At 29 weeks, he’s not just moving a lot, he’s also plumping up. And as he continues to put pressure on your digestive system, you’re going to feel the effects: hemorrhoids, heartburn, pelvic pain and frequent urination are all common at this stage in the game.

Yep.  All of this.  Except we're having a she, not a he.

I am feeling HUGE these days.  I was just looking back at pictures from my first pregnancy, and I've gotta tell you, I am almost as big as I was at the end with the nugget.  The body remembers, and it had NO problem stretching out this time.

The good news is, the ligament pain that I was suffering has lightened up.  Not sure if baby went through a growth spurt, and my ligaments just needed a minute to adjust, or if all of the support garments I've been wearing are really helping.  Either way, I think I'll make them a staple of my (ever decreasing) wardrobe.  Seriously, I've already outgrown some of my tops.  What am I going to do for the next 11 weeks??

Bump Watch: Week 28

HELLOOOO THIRD TRIMESTER!  By any doctor, book, or mathematician's calendar, I am officially there.  Thank God.

What a weird week it's been.  The week started off with my hormones going whacko.  I think I tend to stay pretty "normal" during pregnancy, as far as my emotions are concerned.  I don't get too crazy or moody (although there are moments when I feel the rage).  This week, I suddenly got weepy.  I couldn't even necessarily tell you why I was crying, other than I just felt bad.  And cue the waterworks.  Poor J.

Next, my body started to ache.  And when I say ache, I mean I literally cannot pick up my legs high enough to walk up the stairs, and so I crawl up next to Gabe.  I do believe this is simple round ligament pain, which is to be expected.  It's just a seriously nasty case of it.  The ligaments stretching from my groin up to my belly feel like they are just torn in half.  Little lady is heavy to carry around, I guess.  I bought a maternity support belt and started wearing my Mama Spanx (yep, maternity Spanx) under everything, hoping that this extra support will help lighten the load and lessen the pain.

I also had my 28 week OB appointment this week.  Maybe I am feeling the weight of this load because she is particularly large?  I am most. certainly. hoping. that this is NOT the case.  BUT, my measurements were approximately four weeks ahead at this appointment.  Maybe this would explain why I'm feeling so much bigger at this point than I did with Gabe?  If this trend continues at my next appointment, they will schedule an ultrasound somewhere around the 35 week mark to check on baby's size.  If she seems to be of the extra large variety at that point, we will discuss induction at 39 weeks.

If this seems like deja vu, that'e because I had pretty much the same issue with the nugget, and all turned out well.  However, I am not complaining, because I like ultrasounds!  (And I also would enjoy being pregnant 39 weeks instead of 40, but that's just my own dirty little secret.  Truth be told, she can feel free to come at any point past 37 weeks, once she's considered full term.  Yep, I'm already there.)

Took the glucose tolerance test this week, as well.  Fingers crossed that I don't receive any phone calls next week telling me I have the diabeetus!

Bump Watch: Week 27

I just saw a ticker somewhere that said I have 90 days left- 90 days!!

This certainly must signal the beginning of the home stretch.  Who the hell knows when the third trimester actually begins?  Some books and doctors say 27 weeks, some say 28.  Math says that when you divide 40 weeks by 3, then the third trimester begins at 26 2/3 weeks.  Any way you wanna look at it, I am heading towards the end here, folks.  There are officially LESS than three months until my due date.  Phew- saying that feels AH-MAZING.

In doing my (less than) frequent reading about what is going on with baby these days, I have been pretty amazed to read that she is breathing (amniotic fluid, but still, practice makes perfect), dreaming (about what? I mean, really?), and is fully formed.  Her job now is just to hang out in there and fatten up (but not too fat, if you please).  Amazing how six months ago she was just a clump of cells.

As for me, I have no complaints.  Well, that's not true, exactly.  My back hurts 100% of the time, but the good news is my hips only hurt when I'm moving.  What I should say is that I don't have any out-of-the-ordinary complaints.  This is the normal pregnancy stuff.  I don't remember being quite so uncomfortable last time, but I probably was.  Did the boulder settle on top of my bladder this soon with the nugget?  Most likely.  All par for the course.

The other good news of the week is- I've got some belly photos for you!  Not that we were good parents and remembered to take them on our own.  But at our recent family photo shoot with ShugarShots Photography, my dearest Heather took a few shots of me and the bump.

Enjoy!

Bump Watch: Week 24

Geeze, I feel like I'm writing these weekly posts every other day.  Has an entire week really passed since my last update?  Time. Is. Flying.

So, I found ANOTHER skin tag this week.  It's sad when something on my own body gives my the heebie jeebies, but such is life.  With Gabe, I had pimples.  Lots of them.  My poor face looked like a pubescent teenager's.  I hated it.  But I might prefer the pimples over the skin tags.

At my monthly appointment this week, I was shocked to see the doctor get out the tape measure.  This is the first time this pregnancy that they've measured my fundal height.  I guess I wasn't expecting that so soon!  Although, in reality, it's not soon at all.  Again with the flying time.  Anywho, my uterus is already two weeks ahead of schedule.  If you remember with the nugget, this was the case with just about every measurement.  It scored me a late ultrasound, just to make sure that everything was okay, there wasn't too much fluid, and my baby wasn't a giant.  According to the tech at that ultrasound, we were having a little baby.

Folks, last time I checked, 8 pounds 6 ounces does NOT a little baby make.

In any case, we'll see what happens at the next few appointments.  Maybe I'll get one more ultrasound after all...

Everything else at the appointment was great.  I've come up another pound (according to my home scale, holding steady in the -5 or -6 lb range), blood pressure is great, little lady's heart rate perfect in the 130's.  Next appointment, I get to drink the dreaded Glucola for my gestational diabetes screening.  Good times!

Bump Watch: Week 23

Time is passing at an alarming rate, and I seem to be forgetting how far along I am. Now if that's not a sure fire sign of a second pregnancy, I don't know what is.

Oh, that, and also the fact that this is the first belly shot we've taken, and its an iPhone self-portrait. Belly is definitely there now- no denying it.  I'm still down five pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight, however.  Seriously, guys, I'm the only person I know whose weight loss plan is to get pregnant.  Definitely NOT complaining about this, though.  I like knowing that I'm just all baby.  

It's been a week of highs and lows. The high? I've felt GREAT. No nausea whatsoever. I've had some energy.  The nugget and I have been keeping busy, and it's been wonderful.  The low? Sleep has eluded me many nights. I seem to be having trouble getting comfortable. Hmm...wonder why that is? (Hint: see picture above).

Movement has also been CUH-RAZY. I think this must be the period of the hardest kicks. She's small enough in there that she has room to really pull back before she lets into me. But she's big enough that her movements really pack a wallop.  Ouch.

Only 17 more weeks to go.  We're in the teens???  Wow.

Bump Watch: Week 22

I officially had my first dream about labor and delivery last night.  Apparently, I got to the hospital just in time to push, and without any time for an epidural.  In my dream, it was totally fast, easy, and pain free, and I was home nursing baby like a champ the next day.

Pfft.

I have heard that labor is the longest for the first child, and approximately cuts in half with each subsequent child.  I labored for 25 hours with Gabe.  I'd be happy with 15 hours this time.  I also will be sure to get to the hospital in plenty of time for an epidural.  Because, my friends, the epidural is the greatest invention of all time.  Ever.  Period.

The little lady is BUSY.  J has been able to feel many big kicks and punches with ease this week.  I am a little dismayed that the majority of her movement happens overnight.  I don't recall the nugget actually waking me up with his kicks, but this girl wakes me up several nights a week.  I am seriously hoping that this is not an indicator of her sleep schedule at birth!

Until then, this lady is sleeping as much as she can.  I'm pretty sure that once baby girl is here, I'll never sleep again.

Bump Watch: Week 21

Wow, is this harder on the body the second time around.

This is the part of pregnancy where not much is supposed to happen.  The nausea is supposed to be gone, the energy is supposed to be back, and the aches and pains are not meant to have started yet.  Basically, the second trimester is when we bide our time and enjoy being pregnant.

Not sure if it's because it just hasn't been that long since I was last pregnant, or if it's because the body just remembers.  But either way, the aches and pains are present.  Or maybe it's because I find myself literally running after a toddler on a daily basis.  And lifting the 27-pounder frequently.  All the while carrying a pomegranate and all kinds of extra fluid in my abdomen?  

Other than the achiness in the back and hips, I really can't complain too much.  I'll just keep biding my time, waiting on the little lady's arrival!  Seriously, starting to get so excited about having a little girl.  The cuteness- I can't wait for it. 

Bump Watch: Week 20

HALFWAY THERE, BABY!

Although I thought I'd never make my way out of the extreme sickness of the first trimester, (maybe that's because it lasted well into the second?), time seems to be moving by at a pretty quick clip.  It's hard to believe that we've reached the halfway mark.

Of course, the most exciting part of the 20 week milestone is the ultrasound that comes at this time.  And, in case you haven't already heard the news...

We are having a GIRL!  We are truly thrilled about this.  In the beginning, I really, really didn't care if this baby was a boy or a girl.  Of course, I definitely wanted a girl someday, but I also thought it would be great for the nugget to have a brother so close in age.  But this all changed when we had our first trimester ultrasound.  The perinatologist told us at that appointment that we were "probably having a girl this time."  After hearing that, both mine and J's minds were set on a little girl.  Needless to say, we were beyond excited when we got confirmation this week.

The shopping has begun!  I ran out this week and bought some baby girl clothes, and also some of the bedding for the nursery.  When I heard that this was most definitely a little lady, my brain couldn't rest.  I needed to firm up ideas about her room and get a start on her wardrobe.  After making a final decision about her room decor and buying several large bags full of clothing, I slept GREAT last night.

In other exciting news this week, J has finally been able to feel a couple of kicks.  Little lady's movements are getting really strong, and a few I've even been able to see from the outside.  Soon, J won't have to work so hard or be so patient in order to feel kicks and punches.  

A picture of the little lady at 20 weeks.  See her kicking her little legs up?

Bump Watch: Week 19

19 Weeks: Bring on the weird skin stuff. How bizarre is it that pregnancy causes such strange skin issues? I've noticed that some of my moles are looking darker- no big deal. But this week, I found a skin tag. Eewwww. I know these are harmless, but they just gross me out. I was lucky enough not to sprout any of these when I was pregnant with nugget, so I'm not sure what my best course of action is. Anyone have a great way to remove these at home? I suppose I should just be thankful that I haven't been plagued with the horrible acne that adorned my face during my last pregnancy.

In other news, baby is really kicking up a storm now. I've felt a couple of kicks from the outside- so exciting! Unfortunately, baby is stubborn, and seems to cease all movement as soon as J rests a hand on my belly. We're hopeful that in the next week, he'll be able to feel his first movement!

Best news? This was the first week in the past 15 weeks that I've been barf free!

Appointment Monday- fingers crossed that baby's legs aren't crossed. This mama is ready to know for sure wether we are having a boy baby or a girl baby!

Bump Watch: Week 18

18 Weeks: The big news?  I believe I am finally over the worst of it.  I'm down to only barfing once a week.  HUZZAH!

Although I am feeling much better, I still don't have much of an appetite.  (Except for those chips at lunch, that I still can't seem to put down.  BAD mama.)  I am still down 7 pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight, but I am a-okay with that.  I am secretly hoping that when I arrive at the hospital to deliver this peanut, I've only just made my way back to my original weight.  Can one be that lucky twice?  Fingers crossed!

Baby is moving around A LOT these days.  I can feel lots of kicks and rolls, which is wonderful.  I think I may have felt one kick from the outside, but only once.  I'm looking forward to when the kicks get a little stronger, so that J can feel, too!