40 Weeks

Broken record alert.  I swear I never thought I would reach 40 weeks in this pregnancy.

I don't even know what a jackfruit is, but I can tell you this jackfruit sized baby is taking up all sorts of room and making this mommy all sorts of uncomfortable.

These last few weeks have truly drug on like I didn't know possible.  As ready and excited as I am to have this baby, I hope I don't look back on this time and feel regret for wishing it away.  

At my 40 week appointment this morning, I was encouraged to hear that I had made a smidgen more progress in dilation and effacement.  Because I'm now passed my due date, my OB checked fluid levels and they were OK, but not fantastic.  She also expressed some concern over my platelet count so we have a midnight appointment to check into our hospital's labor and delivery for an induction.

While a little nervous about waltzing into the hospital to announce, "Hello, I'm here for my midnight induction..." I'm also ecstatic to know that the end is near and soon (or soon-ish) I will be holding a squishy little ladybug in my arms.  And have two kids.

Feeling all the the feelings.

After my appointment I went to Target to get some essentials (mostly milk and snacks for Camden), treated myself to a trip through the Panera drive-thru, came home and wrapped up work (therefore officially starting my maternity leave), and have been busying myself with cleaning the house and making sure everything is as organized as it can possibly be.

I'll be picking my Cammy up from daycare shortly and you can bet your booty I'll be holding and kissing that little man cub as much as I possibly can until his bedtime.  He'll be having a slumber party with Grammy and Papa (my parents) and has no idea that tomorrow he will get to meet his little sister.

Feeling all the feelings for suuuuuuuure.

Wish me luck.

Take Luck,

LP

Maternity & Family Photos

Several weeks ago, my cousin, Cheryl (or Tricia according to Camden) hopped across the pond to take some maternity and family photos for us.  

You can imagine my elation (as I wait for what seems like forever for this baby to decide she's ready to arrive) when I got an email from her today.

So while I impatiently wait for a squishy baby to swoon over, I'll be swooning over these pictures.

Take Luck,

LP

  

39 Weeks

The Bump ain't joking around when they compare a baby at 39 weeks to a watermelon.  I'm quite certain there isn't any more room left in my body for this child to occupy.  I'm also quite certainly shocked that I have reached 39 weeks.

Knowing I was making dilation and effacement progress the past several weeks is a total blessing and a curse.  It was (and is!) exciting to know that my body is preparing for labor and delivery of this baby, but it's also been super irritating for me to remain in this "anytime" window of pregnancy.  I would have bet money at 36 weeks that there was no way I was making it to the 39 week mark.  Shows just how little I know and just how much this little ladybug is already running the show.

At my 39 week appointment today, I didn't show any noteworthy progress on the dilation and effacement front.  My OB was gracious enough to sweep membranes in hopes to get things going.  There is no guarantee that it will work, but you can bet your booty I'm holding on tightly to the hope that it will.

There really isn't much else to report, other than me sounding like a big broken record and saying for the hundredth time that I'm ready to meet this little lady.  Speaking of feeling ready - I'm feeling very anxious about when things are going to start really happening.  I keep telling myself to calm the eff down but my little pep-talks aren't working so well.  I'm mentally checked out of work and ready to move onto the next (challenging) phase of a newborn and learning the ropes of two babies.

Come on, baby sister.  We are so ready to meet you!

Take Luck,

LP

38 Weeks

Hello, full term.  Hello, pumpkin sized baby.

It's amazing (and amazingly frustrating) to think how quickly my entire pregnancy flew by.  Until now.  It seems like I hit 37 weeks and everything came to a halt.  I really hate this stage of pregnancy where things can start happening "anytime."  Like every other pregnant woman in the world, the Type A planner in me would pay big money for a crystal ball that could tell me when all this false labor is going to turn into the big show.

For now, I'll just keep (impatiently) waiting.

What else has been going on lately?

As ready as I am to have this baby, I'm also having super mixed feelings and emotions about Cam not being my one and only anymore.  Don't get me wrong, I am super excited to welcome this baby girl and to give him a sibling - but another part of me is sad that this chapter in his little life and our life together is closing.  I tried to put my 38 week pregnancy exhaustion and discomfort aside this past weekend and make a point to do fun things with him.  Not that he will remember, of course.

We went to the Armed Forces Day Parade on Saturday morning, swimming at the YCMA in the afternoon, and for fro-yo afterwards.  We played and played on Sunday and went back for a swim at the YMCA in the afternoon.  I would like to note that getting in and out of the pool was no easy task for this giant-bellied-mommy.  My mom met us to watch him swim and the two of them would clap for me after each entrance to/exit from the water.  And to be completely honest, I feel the applause was well deserved.  

I'm quite confident that my co-workers (I'm looking at you, male engineers) believe that I've reached the point in my pregnancy where I'm going to spontaneously erupt and give birth at any second.  In fact, I was sitting in on a division meeting recently and our division head asked me, "So, Lauren, you're due just about any second right?"  I awkwardly laughed, waved my hand, and with a straight face responded, "No, no.  More like any minute."  Co-workers will ask me when my maternity leave begins and my response has remained the same, "I'll be here until she comes."  Some of these men look at me as though I mean that literally - as in I will be at work until she is literally leaving my body.

Speaking of co-workers, I cannot walk down the hallway without receiving comments on my body and/or pregnancy.  More "Woah," and lots of "I thought for sure you'd have had that baby by now."  My personal favorite was when I was wearing a striped maternity dress last week and someone graciously pointed out that "... stripes don't make you look smaller."

When picking up Camden from daycare last week, one little girl said to me, "I love your skirt."  And then her older sister quickly followed that compliment up with, "I love your big belly."  Needless to say, I was much happier to receive body/pregnancy comments from these little girls than insensitive old men.

I'm still having lots of contractions and cramping and thanks to my appointment this morning, I know that they are doing more than just annoy me.  More progress on the dilation and effacement front.  Thank you, Jesus.  The baby is low, my hips and (especially) pelvis are extremely sore and uncomfortable, and there are a lot times when I feel like this baby is going to fall out of me at any moment.

Maybe those insensitive engineers are onto something, after all?

It's hard to believe that whether she comes a little early or right on time - it won't be long now!

Take Luck,

LP

Mother's Day

My third Mother's Day is in the books and I can hardly believe it.

We celebrated my mom on Saturday by taking the ferry to Seattle so we could meet up with my little sister and spend the day celebrating the amazing mother that she is.

We went to the Woodland Park Zoo where he Cam didn't seem too interested in the animals (other than the penguins) but after witnessing his dance moves on the lawn - I was mostly convinced that the wild beast belonged there.

My little sister captured a really sweet moment between my mom and I.  We were standing there, watching a bird you wouldn't expect to see sitting in a tree sit on a tree (I know, super exciting), and my mom was feeling the baby move inside my big 'ol belly.  She loves to feel the baby move and I can't say that I blame her.

After the zoo we went to my sister's place so we could eat lunch, Camden could nap, and we could recharge the batteries a bit before going to an early dinner.  What can I say?  We like to eat.

  

A day shy of 37 weeks pregnant and a full stomach courtesy of lunch and dinner makes for one big and uncomfortable baby belly.  We made it home late and thank goodness Hammy didn't put up a fight about going to bed because we were all exhausted.

Sunday morning we all got up together bright and early and Ryan treated me to doing the grocery shopping, filling my car with gas, and bringing home a delicious Starbucks coffee.  When he got home he made sure to tell me that he considered buying me a Mother's Day card and flowers, but then decided - eh, better not.  I've never met someone who takes the phrase "it's the thought that counts" so literally.

Cammy, my 37 week belly, and I played outside a lot and our time included me being traumatized multiple times by the pesky garter snakes that have taken residence in our yard.  Much like Tiff, I do not do snakes.  Or rodents.  Or anything else that is creepy and/or slithery so you can imagine how thrilled I was.

My parents came over for a BBQ and we continued to celebrate the special day with a yummy dinner and a wild beast child.  I swear he woke up from his nap and insisted on being a grumpy, defiant, little monster.  The afternoon and evening saw lots of timeouts and tears (from the both of us).

With it being a challenging parenting day, I found myself feeling really guilty with my frustration and the losing of patience.  I know there are (and will be many more) challenging days, but I also know that the days of "just us" are really, really, really limited.  Thankfully we ended the night with him giving me some sweet goodnight hugs and kisses, but darn it if I didn't feel sad after I shut his door and he went to sleep.

Last year I did some reflection on Mother's Day and how I felt about my little guy.  Not much has changed really - except the love and pride I feel for Camden has exploded and grown even more as he has left the baby behind and grown into a little boy.  Even on the tough days, he brings so much joy and happiness to my life.  I feel immeasurably blessed and fortunate to be his mommy, and feel so grateful to be living the life I live with my guys and this sweet, growing, little ladybug.  I am so excited to give Cam a little sister and for next year's Mother's Day picture to show me holding two sweet babies.

   

Take Luck,

LP 

36 Weeks

From the looks of this blog, you'd think this pregnancy was consuming my life as that's all I seem to talk about.  Rest assured that while it's a big part of my life, I do not just sit here caressing my ever expanding tummy and daydreaming about this baby girl.  Well, maybe I do a little bit.

Mom and I got to take a peek at my little honeydew this morning via ultrasound.  I am happy, happy, happy (OK, thrilled) to report that she is definitely head down and weighs a very healthy 5 pounds 15 ounces, give or take whatever the margin of error is on the ultrasound.

With all the Braxton Hicks contractions, sporadic real contractions, and cramping I've had the past several weeks - I was very excited to hear that changes are indeed happening on the dilation and effacement front.  My hope is that this little bug will greet us with her presence a little early (emphasis on the little) but I am well aware that I could stay like this without anything truly happening for the next several weeks.  What will be, will be.  

I had my Strep B test and they also drew blood to check my platelet count.  I don't care what my platelet count is so long as I am in the clear for an epidural.  Judge away, but hear me roar that I have nothing to prove.  I'm going in with the mindset that we'll see how labor goes, but I will not hesitate to ask for the juice if I feel so inclined.

What else has been happening recently? 

We finally got the lead out and moved furniture into baby sister's room and I've slowly been hanging things on the wall.  I seriously could enter a contest for the world's most inept interior designer and the 20 texts and pictures I sent to my Tiff asking for her help/opinion would solidify my nomination.  Aside from the prints my college roommate, Becky designed for me - her room is by no means Pinterest worthy, but it'll do.

Baby has had the hiccups several times in the last two weeks.  I swear Camden had them all the time and from very early on when in utero, and she only just recently started.

The comments I mentioned have begun in the form of "Woah," "Isn't it almost time yet?" and "Oh, you still have that many weeks to go?"  Let's just suffice to say that I've perfected the smile, nod, and "watch it" awkward laugh.  I also really enjoy the men that put their arms/hands out to mimic the size of my tummy - as if I'm not aware.  The funniest part to me is that I don't think I'm that big, so what the hell, people?

The reality that Camden's time as my baby boy/only child is really starting to set in.  Most of the time, I keep my composure and concentrate on the positives of this change, but there are definitely times when I burst into tears.  Between working full time and putting him in daycare, and now only weeks away from rocking his world - my mommy guilt is dangerously high.  I'm trying to soak up and be intentional with all the time I have left with just my Hammy Cammy.

My cousin came over from Seattle this past weekend to take some maternity and family photos of us and I am really, really excited to see them.  She is out of town for the next 10 days, so in case you are wondering, I'll be over here practicing patience until she sends me the goods.  I'll be sure to share.

I'm a real spectacle as I hustle to the bathroom 80 times a day.  Last week I was on my way to the bathroom when I felt a sneeze coming on, so I picked up the pace and was silently pleading with myself, "Don't sneeze! Don't sneeze!"  Sneezing and I are not on the best of terms right now and I would imagine our relationship will continue on this course for quite a while.

I officially see my OB every week from here on out.  

Now excuse me while I go sanitize binkies and bottles, and pack my hospital bag.

Take Luck,

LP

34 Weeks

Why is it that so many of the "This week, your baby is the size of a..." compare your baby to a variety of squash?  There has to be other large vegetables out there, right?  At 34 weeks, The Bump compares this little lady to a butternut squash. 

I kinda don't mind that comparison  because "butternut" makes me think of "butterball" and "butterball" makes me think of squishy cheeks.

Onto a super exciting pregnancy status update. 

I haven't been sleeping very well this pregnancy, which is totally different from my experience with Camden.  I don't think I had any sleep issues with him until the very end, and this was evidenced by all the whacky pregnancy dreams I had (and shared).  Recently, I must have been sleeping deeply for once because I dreamt that the baby's hand was coming out through my belly button.  Creepy.

Speaking of sleep, I have to do a three point turn when in bed and switching from my right to left side.  I think I previously described this as feeling like at turtle stuck on its back/shell.  There is some serious rocking going on to get my momentum up to change positions.

Last week I went into Sephora to restock some makeup essentials.  I couldn't find the shade/color of Bare Minerals foundation I was looking for and asked an employee for some help.   She said that of course she could help me, but first asked me to help her pick up some promotional material that had fallen on the floor.  Cue audible snort and eyebrow raise.  Just kidding, but I really wanted to ask her if she was serious.

I feel like my body is really started to "be pregnant."  The water retention is real and my feet get puffy at the end of the day.  Also, my hips and pelvis don’t lie and I can tell my body is starting to prepare for the big day because both are so very sore.  Relaxin hormones are rampant.  I have also noticed in the last two weeks that people at work first make eye contact with me and then their eyes immediately drift south to my belly.  I'm just waiting for someone to say, "Haven't you had that baby yet?" so I can mentally punch them in the mouth.  Also, I officially can't go anywhere in public without a stranger commenting on my pregnancy/belly.  Thankfully it's nothing rude - just lots of questions about my due date and the baby's sex. 

The other night Camden sang, in its entirety, "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" to baby sister and I hard core swooned.  I really hope his "excitement" for baby sister remains once she arrives.  We bought him a little baby doll to help practice how to hold a baby and gentle touches.  Sometimes he is super gentle and other times he carries her around by her feet.  Time will tell.

My 34 week OB appointment went really well, other than I still don’t know for sure if sister's position has changed from breech to head down.  Sometimes I think she has flipped but then other times I feel like she is tap-dancing on my bladder.  We will have an ultrasound at 36 weeks to check/confirm her position, as well as her size/growth.  I'm measuring small for dates and just want to make sure that she is a "healthy small" and not an "unhealthy small."  Plus, I'll accept any chance we get to peek in on the little ladybug.

Until 36 weeks.

Take Luck,

LP

32 Weeks

At 32 weeks, The Bump compares baby's size to that of a squash.  That feels pretty accurate because this baby is certainly squashing my bladder.  Maybe that's why I go pee 72 times a day.

I'm sure you are dying to know what else is going on in my pregnancy, so I'll tell you.

I saw my OB Monday morning and all was measuring and sounding well in there.  I swear, there is nothing like hearing that little heart beat on the doppler.  My doctor assured me that she isn't concerned about the baby's breech position right now, and that I shouldn't be worried about it either.

Speaking of frequent urination, I have started using the inconvenience as an escape tactic for when a particularly long-winded co-worker sits down to talk to me.  Oh, you want to talk to me about your brother-in-law's drinking problem?  Darn, I have to go to the bathroom.  Yes, again.

I normally can exercise some amount of self control when it comes to sweets (let's be honest, exercising self control is about the only exercise I've been getting lately), but one day last week I made a special trip to a candy bowl on my floor.  I picked out a mini M&M and a mini Milky Way.  A crotchety, male co-worker said to me, "Are you sure you need both pieces?"  There were other people around so I laughed and said, "Don't judge me, Bill."  What I really wanted to say was, "Eff you, Bill," and eat the Milky Way in one bite right in front of his face.  And maybe throw the wrapper at him.

As the belly grows (and grows), the awkward belly touching is becoming more and more frequent.  I swear, if I even see one particular co-worker, even across the building/hallway, she will walk to me with her hands outstretched for a feel ski.  She's like a pregnant belly tractor beam and sucks me right in.

In the last few weeks Ryan and I started actually crunching the numbers for putting two kids in child care.  Let's just say I have thrown up in my mouth and had some heart palpitations about it more than once.  It is what it is.

The fact that my gas episodes haven't have killed Ryan is a frigging miracle.  Too much, I know, but honestly people.  

Finally, while I have remained pretty even keeled emotionally throughout the pregnancy thus far, I really lose it when watching television shows or movies that are even remotely sad or emotional.  Watching Grey's Anatomy?  I'm pretty sure I've cried at least once during each and every episode this season.  The Glee series finale?  Total basket case for the final 15 minutes.  And finally, like a complete idiot, I watched the last 30 minutes of Eight Below and ugly cried to the point that Camden was staring at me like, "What the hell, lady?"

This pregnancy is going by so fast.  It's exciting and terrifying all at the same time.  My friend, Alex, just had her baby (a girl!) yesterday, and I'm telling ya - as more of my friends and family have their babies, the more real it all feels.

Feeling all the feels, for sure.

Take Luck,

LP  

The Toddler Bed Transition

As a result of my catching the nesting bug, last Sunday we cleared out the room that will be the nursery and moved furniture from one spare room to the next.  Part of the "furniture moving" process was to assemble Camden's (free, hand-me-down) Thomas the Train Toddler Bed, and move it into his room so he could get used to seeing it and be something for us to talk to him about until it was "time."  

After initially freaking out at the thought of trying to transition him to a toddler bed so baby sister could use his crib, and many talks with my wise mommy friends, I had decided (and vowed) that I wouldn't worry about transitioning him and we would wait and see how we all felt about it once the baby was born.  I was (and still am!) planning to keep her in our room for the first three months so really, he wouldn't have "needed" to be out of the crib until mid-August or so.

Anyway, why in the world I thought he wouldn't be excited over this totally awesome Thomas bed is beyond me.  Clearly, along with having the worst memory (thank you, pregnancy), I've also entered into a state of delusion.  He was over the moon excited and insisted on taking his Sunday nap in his Thomas bed.  Rest assured that normally, we do not let our two year old call the shots, but because he was so excited, we figured it wouldn't hurt to at least give it a try.

We tucked him in, explained that big boys stay in their big boy beds, said goodnight, and closed the door.  What he didn't know was that Ryan and I were standing directly on the other side of the door watching his every move with our video monitor.

He immediately got out of bed, stood in the middle of the floor, and stared at himself in the mirror for 20 seconds.

   

It took a few times going in and out of his room, explaining to him that he needed to stay put (and even threatening to put him in his crib which he made very clear that he didn't want to do), but in a relatively short amount of time - he was out.  And our jaws were on the floor.

  

If I recall, it wasn't the longest nap in the history of Sunday naps, but it wasn't a total disaster either.  I  immediately started worrying about how that night would go and how we would approach the sleeping arrangements.  He seemed adamant that he didn't want to sleep in his crib, but I also didn't want my wild beast child wandering the house at all hours of the night.  Again, contrary to his occasional beliefs - he isn't the boss around here, but I was very curious as to how it would go down if we were willing to give it a shot.  This all had kind of happened organically (yes, I really just said organically) and no where was this transition in my plan.  A Sunday afternoon is the absolute last time I would spring a big change like this.  Needless to say, I was fearing the worst for that Sunday night and rude Monday morning.

Much like the first nap, it took a few times of him getting out of bed, standing in the middle of his room, and getting gentle reminders from us that he needed to stay in bed - but he was able to fall asleep on his own in a pretty impressive (to us) amount of time.  I watched him on the monitor like a hawk, just waiting for him to hop his little self out of bed.  This hawk watching continued all night long while my hubby slept like a rock beside me.  Guess what?  He hardly moved, let alone let himself out of bed.

At 6:15 the next morning (Monday), I was downstairs getting ready for work and I heard his door open.  He was so happy and so proud and said, "Hi, Mommy!"  We praised the heck out of him, and I chalked the successful night up to a fluke.

I'll spare you the daily play-by-play, but every night since has gone incredibly smooth.  We lay in his Thomas bed together and read his stories, I say goodnight and shut his door, go back in a few times to remind him to stay in bed, and then he's asleep.  The one and only issue that we're having is that the little pork chop has been waking up really early and letting himself out of his room - ready to greet the day.  The earliest greeting came at one 5am when he burst through our door asking to go downstairs and "watch baseballs."  Otherwise it's kind of varied from 5:30am - 6:10am.  He's always been an early riser (I get him up at 6:30am to get ready for daycare/work), but I'm not even waking up until 5:30am on the weekdays.  

Some days have been earlier/later than others, and it's taken some commitment and discipline on our part to march him right back into his bed when he wakes up too early.  As easy as it would be to let him climb in our bed or just stay awake - neither Ryan or I want to go down that road.  We like having our bed to ourselves and I certainly do not want Cam thinking that anytime before 6am is a normal or acceptable waking hour.  

I ordered this to try and help him understand that he needs to stay asleep and in bed until the clock says it's ok to wake up, but someone keeps forgetting (hello, pregnancy brain) to buy AA batteries at the store and so it's just siting there on his bookshelf doing nothing.  I'm hopeful that once I get my act together and purchase some batteries, we'll go back to not seeing his little face until 6:30am.

We still have the crib in his room so we can use it as leverage to get him to stay in bed, but we are making progress and it's taking less reminders from us before he's staying put and falling asleep.  The plan is to move it into baby sister's room in the next few weekends so we can start talking to him some more about how his world is about to be rocked. 

I certainly wasn't ready to tackle this transition, but apparently he was. 

Take Luck,

LP

30 Weeks

30 weeks is here and making this whole "we're having another baby" thing feel really real.  And it's funny to me because "30 weeks" sounds so close, yet my due date is still a little over two months away.

Friends who were pregnant before me have started having their babies and I think that's helping with the "reality" factor.  Most importantly, my best friend Tiff welcomed the most perfect Eloise.  My friend Kara welcomed her fourth girl (Nelle) and Ryan's cousin's wife somehow naturally birthed a 12 pound baby boy (Eric).  Next up is Alex, and I cannot wait to see if her baby is a boy or girl.  My sweet sister-in-law is due at the end of April with a boy.  And then it's our turn.

It's feeling really real because all these beautiful babies are being born and things up in here are getting round, wide, and all sorts of super fun.

What sort of super fun, you ask?  Heartburn, indigestion, acid reflux and I have a daily get together.  It's getting to the point where I bend over to pick up Camden's toys and I can literally feel the acid being pushed up my chest.  

My hands will frequently go tingly and/or numb because apparently pregnancy carpal tunnel is totally a thing.  

And last week, when walking down a slightly narrow hallway in my office building, a man walking the other direction as me dramatically pressed himself up against the wall in an effort to let me by.  I know I'm getting bigger, but shit - I'm not wearing a flashing "wide load" sign, buddy. 

I had an ultrasound on Monday to check in on baby sister's growth, because at our anatomy scan in January she was measuring smaller than average.  According to the ultrasound, she's measuring around 2 pounds 15 ounces - which is great!  That puts her in the 29th percentile and my doctor was really pleased with her progress.  The ultrasound also showed that the baby is breech, so I am extremely hopeful that she will flip head down on her own.  We will take another peek at 36 weeks to check her position.  My doctor said there isn't really anything I can do to help her flip, but I am pretty sure there are some yoga-esque poses that might be worth a try.

Her being in the breeched position totally makes sense in retrospect. My ribs (especially the left side) have been really achy and painful this pregnancy and I had no idea why. Well, it's because her little noodle is wedged up in/under there.

Because I have a blood disorder, my doctor frequently checks my platelet counts.  I've never had an issue while pregnant, but it's good to know if I am at a heightened risk for bleeding and if the numbers were below a certain threshold, I wouldn't be able to have an epidural.  Funny how with Camden's pregnancy and birth plan I was hoping for a natural birth, and this time, I'm like, "give me the juice."

I think we are pretty much decided on baby sister's name.  My only worry is if we meet her and the name doesn't feel right?  We don't have a solid backup (or any backup for that matter), so if she comes out and it doesn't fit - we're in trouble.

The nesting bug has kicked in and I'm finally making (slow) progress on getting the nursery put together.  We finally cleared out the room of all the furniture, and my little sister was kind enough to paint for us.  Thanks to my nesting, Cam unintentionally transitioned to a toddler bed.  But that's a whole other post and I'm still trying to wrap my head around my baby sleeping in a big boy toddler bed.

Until 32 weeks.  Think baby flipping thoughts for me.

Take Luck,

LP

27 Weeks

I blinked and suddenly it's March.

27 weeks down, and one week left in the second trimester.  Frightening and exciting all at the same time.

My sense of smell has been on red alert this entire pregnancy and showing no signs of stopping.  Public restrooms are practically public enemy number one.  The dogs come in from outside and I have to shoo them away because I can literally smell "the outside" on them.  I can sniff out practically anything - good and bad.

I have a nightly ritual that I've started to call "doomed dinners."  I can hardly look at or prepare meat, let alone eat it.  So, most nights I am holding my breath while preparing something "meaty" for Ryan and then thinking of something simple (and non-meaty) to make for myself.  More often then not, what I choose to make for myself doesn't smell or taste good either.

I had my first overly-awkward-stranger-pregnancy-conversation last weekend.  While at the grocery store, in the meat section, the meat lady (who we have ordered meat from for several years now but is purely the meat lady) approached me in front of the stew meat and said, "Are you pregnant?!  Is it a girl?!  I can tell." I had no idea what she meant by being able to tell that it's a girl, but whatever.  Meat lady then asked, "Was it planned?"  I wouldn't expect a family member to ask this question, let alone a stranger.  Because I am a chicken shit, I laughed uncomfortably and assured her that yes, it was planned.   Camden then yelled from the shopping cart, "Mommy, wets (let's) go!" and I have never been more thankful that he has the capability of being rude.  

At this time, I would like to retract my previous statement that my belly is growing round and not wide.  While it still is mostly out front and round - I can't help but notice that it's now growing out in both directions.

Last night while getting ready for bed, I pulled up my pajama pant leg and told Ryan, "I haven't shaved my legs in two weeks.  Feel."  He gave me the "I really don't want to do this, but I'm going to do this so you don't start crying irrationally" look and was clearly shocked when there was nary a stubble.

I had the (not) pleasure of drinking my lemon lime glucola drink for my glucose test this morning.  I thought I would break it up into several chugging sessions but after my second-go, I realize that was a terrible idea and I just needed to chug, chug, chug.  I finished the drink and kept it down, but immediately got a monster headache and acid reflux.       

In three weeks I'll go back and have an ultrasound to check baby girl's growth.  She's measuring "smaller than average," so they want to make sure she is growing and that everything is groovy in there.  Given how my belly is growing, I'm confident that she's growing, but know she just may be a small/smaller baby.

Until 30 weeks.

Take Luck,

LP

23 Weeks

23 weeks down and May doesn't feel very far away.  At all.

The belly and the belly button have officially popped, making those people who were previously side-eyeing me, wondering if I was pregnant or letting myself go - now feel confident that it's the former.

Speaking of the belly button - I'm fairly confident that Camden associates the baby with my belly button.  He is always poking it (trying to poke it back in, perhaps?) and I'm wondering if he thinks that's how the baby will make her exit from my body?  That's frightening to think about.

The belly pop apparently gives people the impression that the belly is open for rubbing business.  I don't mind when my parents or siblings do this - but when strangers or work acquaintances reach out to cop a feelski, I really want to reach out and rub their bellies in return.  Just to see what they would do.

This week, a male co-worker (who I don't actually work with but we are within the same division) came to my desk with some chocolate in hand.  He put the chocolate on my desk and with a smile said, "I heard about your situation."  Since when did being pregnant become a "situation"?  I didn't bat an eye and happily ate the chocolate.  Because hello, it's chocolate.

I had my 23 week OB appointment on Monday morning.  While standing on the scale and watching the nurse continue to slide the slider-thing farther and farther to the right - I started to do a little mental math.  I confirmed that I gained seven pounds in four weeks.  The nurse could tell I was a little shocked and she said, "Well, the good news is - you can't tell!"  I laughed and said, "Maybe, but I don't know if that's a good thing."

I am officially the annoying pregnant woman who randomly touches or rubs her own tummy.  I don't remember doing this a lot when pregnant with Cam.  Maybe I did - but I think this time I am more aware of my body and the likelihood that this will be my last pregnancy.

Baby girl is moving/bouncing around in there a lot more - especially at night.  I think she is more active than Camden was at this point, but who knows.

I pee so much during the day that I'm starting to count my 38 daily trips to the bathroom as exercise.  

I will have another OB appt in four weeks (27 weeks) and get to take the dreaded glucose test.  At my appointment on Monday, the nurse asked what flavor glucose drink I wanted - fruit punch, lemon lime, or orange.  After some internal debate, and asking if I could pick none of the above, I settled on lemon lime.  Gross.  

Take Luck,

LP

20 Weeks

I had intentions of writing and posting this post on Sunday, when I actually hit the 20 week mark.  But this week has been incredibly busy and somewhat chaotic, leaving me feeling more exhausted with each passing day.  I'm pretty sure we retrieved the Spawn of Satan (disguised as Camden) from daycare yesterday - so we all had an early bedtime.  Anyway, here we are (as I'm getting closer to 21 weeks) and I'm excited to think that I am halfway to being done with this pregnancy! 

Is Jon Bon Jovi singing in your head, or just mine?

 

So far, this pregnancy has flown by.  I don't know if that's thanks to the craziness of holiday season or if this time around I'm chasing around a toddler-sized tornado?  Maybe it's both.  Life in general just seems to be moving at warp speed these days and I can't imagine it's going to slow down once a little ladybug joins our family.

Other than feeling run down at the end of the day and really run down at the end of a week, I feel pretty darn good.  I feel big (especially when I look down), but then look in the mirror and realize that I don't look as big as I feel.  Not yet, anyway.

 

My boobs feel gigantic already, and for someone who has been small-chested her entire life, this is a big (ha!) deal.  I'm hoping this means that my body is preparing itself for a successful breastfeeding journey.  I think some people would consider the six months I breastfed/pumped to be successful, but it was crazy stressful and I was personally disappointed.  I don't think I had the best approach to feeding him and pumping in the beginning, and once I went back to work - my supply tanked.  I tried eating my weight in oatmeal, drinking insane amounts of water, and taking the supplement fenugreek to try and boost my supply.  I held onto breastfeeding for as long as I possibly could (and longer than I should have for my sanity's sake) - and in the end, the stress won and we switched to formula.  It took a huge weight off my shoulders, but I had wished very much that my journey with breastfeeding would have lasted a little longer.  For the record, I have nothing in the world against formula, and truly believe that it doesn't matter if you choose to feed your baby breastmilk or formula (your child, your choice!).  Anyway, we shall see, and for now I just get to shop for new (ahem, bigger) undergarments.

Stepping into the too much information zone - I have never been a gassy person, until now.  I don't know how, but somehow I am able to keep the gas controlled at work and then once I get home - it's like I don't even want to be in the same room as myself.  Ryan says it was like this with Camden's pregnancy too, but I'm just not sure I believe him.  He must be delusional from the fumes. 

I feel like I get up to go pee at least 38 times a day.  And twice overnight.
 

I'm feeling the baby move around more consistently, which is a feeling I will never get tired of (until later when I'm confident she will start wedging herself up under my ribs like her big brother did).  She is most active after lunch and when I'm laying down reading before bed.  At least this is when I notice it most.  Ryan has been able to feel it a few times, but I'm excited for the movements to get bigger so Camden can feel her too.  Something tells me he's going to freak the eff out.

 

We didn't discuss names too much prior to knowing if the baby was a boy or girl.  I had been keeping a running list in my phone - figuring we would use a boy's name that was leftover from our unused top choices from last time, and I would take note of any girl's name that even remotely peaked my interest.  After hearing that it was a girl and letting that sink in, I started rattling off the list to Ryan, feeling confident that he would at least like a few.  Ha, joke's on me.  (What was the first rule of leadership?  Assume nothing?  I really should learn to grasp this concept.)  He either immediately said "no," or grimaced and said "eh," to every single name I suggested - and my range of styles/types of names was super broad.  Given this, you can imagine my surprise (shock) when on Tuesday night when he randomly said, "I have a favorite name."  I also love the name, so we'll see.  I'm not ordering any monogrammed baby towels just yet. 

I remember having a lot of fears last time, mostly having to do with uncertainties - the what's, when's, and how's of it all.  This time I have fears, but they feel different.  I feel like I have an idea of what to expect with labor, delivery, the dreaded post-birth (all while knowing that things could be completely different!), and taking care of a newborn baby.  But what I fear most is how Camden will feel and react to having a baby sister, and sharing his time with Ryan and me.  Right now, he's as excited as a 2-year old could be and understands about as much as I would expect.  I can just see how upside down his little world will become when his baby sister comes home to his house, is being held by his mommy and daddy, and doesn't leave.

 

Anyway, that's life at the halfway point.  I'm hoping to reflect more every few weeks and regale you with the super exciting details of my pregnancy.

I know you are super excited.

 

Take Luck,

LP 

A Girl

I can't tell you how shocked I was to hear, "It looks like you're having a little girl" this morning.

Shocked, I tell you.  As in I audibly gasped.  I said that my gut told me this baby was another boy, and boy, was I wrong.

All day as I've been sharing our exciting news, I get more and more (and more and more) excited each time I say, "It's a girl!"

Someone seems to have known this little squish was a girl all along.  Anytime we have asked Camden if he wanted a baby brother baby sister - he always responded with, "sister."  I usually chalked his response up to the fact that we said "sister" last, so he was just repeating the last word he heard.  But then if you asked him if he wanted a brother, he would say, "no," and if he wanted a sister, he would say, "yes."  Weird, right?  

Things took a turn for adorable town when his Auntie Rachel got him a big brother book for Christmas and for the past week (without any sort of help or guidance) he's been referring to it as his "sister book."  I guess it really is his sister book now!

We can't wait to meet this little lady.

Take Luck,

LP

Big Brother

On Thanksgiving morning, I made a special announcement on Facebook and Instagram - that come this spring (end of May), our little turkey will be a big brother.

He's thrilled, or at least seems to be when lifts up my shirt, pats my tummy and says, "Hi, baby!"  We'll see how his feelings change when he says hello to a real life baby that doesn't leave his house.

I am 15 weeks along with my feet firmly planted in the second trimester.  Amen, hallelujah.  Much like my pregnancy with Camden, the first trimester was rough and felt never-ending.  I didn't have the textbook "morning" sickness, but more of an all day funky funk that got worse as the day went on.  By 3:00 in the afternoon, I was pretty much done-zo and bordering on miserable.  

I'm very thankful to be feeling much better and to not have my expanding, water retaining ass permanently glued to the couch.

My official due date is May 31st and we will find out whether this little bear is a boy or girl on January 5th.  I think it's another boy, and until recently, Ryan was convinced that it was a girl, but is now thinking it's a boy, too.

We found out I was pregnant right before our trip to Disneyland, so were able to share the exciting (albeit very early) news with Ryan's family face-to-face.  The greatest part was that Ryan's sister had some news to share with us as well - they are expecting another little boy in April!  Squeeeeel!

I am now kicking myself for not blogging more about my pregnancy with Camden or just taking better notes in general about how I felt each week.  The biggest difference is (clearly) that I'm chasing around a wild tornado toddler this time around, and not as able to be a couch potato.  Swim lessons and gymnastics class during weeks 6-12 were really enjoyable.  What super-nauseated pregnant woman doesn't like spinning in circles, tossing their kid in the air, and jumping up and down on the trampoline?

Ready or not, we're on our way to becoming a family of four!

Take Luck,

LP