On being pregnant a second time

It's different.  Soooo different.  I noticed every.single symptom the first time.  The world revolved around my pregnancy; the morning sickness, the back pain, the exhaustion...it was all so crippling.  I had this (completely ridiculous and uncalled for) sense of entitlement.  No cooking or cleaning for this girl!  My energy level was the equivalent to that of a carrot.  Oh, I just went grocery shopping?  Better take a nap, or I might just collapse from exhaustion! 

I'm sure being a single mom has something to do with it, but the main reason why I don't get caught up in all things pregnancy:  Child #1.  It may seem like I have boat loads of energy this time, because I'm exercising and actually being productive in the evenings, but I'm still tired.  I just don't have a choice.  We've got toys to play with, food to throw on the floor eat, baths to take, walks to go on...  I can't say to Lucy, "Hey sweetie, Momma is having contractions, so I can't pick you up right now".  Now it's more like, Oh crap, I just fainted?  How inconvenient.  Still have tons of stuff to do today... 

I don't want it to come off as though I'm not excited for Babe's arrival, because I'm very excited; it's just a different kind of excitement from the first time I was pregnant.

I know the glamorous (and not-so-glamorous) symptoms of pregnancy.
I know how tired I'll be once he's born.
I know how to change a cloth diaper.
I know which bottles to use.
I know how frequently (and loudly) he'll poop. 
I know what to expect.

What I'm more excited for, what I like to think about as I drift to sleep each night, is introducing him to his Big Sister, seeing his first smile, falling asleep next to his tiny little body, eating those chubby, chubby cheeks and legs!!!  And all of the other small, but amazing moments that come with being a parent.

Would love to hear from other moms of two or more.  Did you feel similarly?

My Pregnancy Checklist

You may not know this about me, but I am a die-hard Nestie and Bumpie.  Both The Nest and The Bump have been hugely helpful during many of my life's milestones (marriage, home ownership, pregnancy and parenting - just to name a few).  These websites offer an abundance of articles, apps, photo galleries, and, my favorite, discussion forums.  The support, the sarcasm, the insanity is unlike anything I've ever experienced, and I am so glad that I stumbled upon these websites 3+ years ago.

One of my favorite tools that The Bump has to offer is the Pregnancy Checklist; I review it at least once a day.  So I thought it'd be fun to share my personal list, to look back on someday, and to maybe help another momma-to-be who didn't know such awesomeness existed.

Plan a Babymoon
Research Hypnobirthing
Paint and decorate the nursery
Achieve household organization
Name ze bebe
Schedule maternity photography session
Write a will
Pre-register with the hospital
Prepare birth plan  ::eye roll::
Research circumcision
Freezer Meals 2.0
Buy various baby supplies, gear and furniture
Make flannel burp cloths
DIY hooded towels
DIY crib skirts
DIY hanging wet bag 
Buy (another) new camera
Buy a Mom Mobile
Install second car seat
Pack hospital bag and cooler
Wash baby boy clothes

Thankfully the to-do list and shopping list are significantly shorter for Baby #2, because, as you can see, I haven't done a whole lot of anything yet.  Although, the ONE item I have managed to check off was rather significant......that's right, I bought a Mom Mobile on Monday morning. 

(Ok, so, the V6 engine and four-wheel drive don't necessarily scream Mom, but all the extra space sure comes in handy with two car seats and a double stroller!)  No more bright yellow coupes or compact hamster cars for this girl!

Toddler in a cabinet

Totally casual.

(Nevermind the fact that she poops at the end of the video.)

20 Weeks

How far along?  20w2d and officially half-baked.

How big is baby?  Cantaloupe!  Dude, that just seems huge...  The average fetus is approximately 6.5 inches long and 10.2 ounces; he's developing taste buds and gulping down a whole lotta amniotic fluid. 

Physical differences from last week?  I weighed 118 pounds at the doctor's office on Thursday; which is a 0.4 pound gain from two weeks ago, and an overall gain of 9 pounds.  No new stretch marks and the belly button is in.  Still wearing regular pants and shorts with the belly band, maternity shirts, maternity skirts and maxi dresses (LOVE).

How I'm feeling?  Shaving my legs is officially a challenge.  Bah!  Sleep has been great, with reasonable bedtimes and no trips to the bathroom.  We walked 3 or 4 nights this week, and I followed my diet for the most part, with the exception of Easter brunch.  I craved pretzels and those orange circus peanuts, and ate both.  BH contractions are raging in the evenings (after chasing Lucy around), but, overall, I feel great, and I'm thankful!

What's been on my mind?  Dr. O offered to prescribe me an anti-depressant at my visit on Thursday...  I said no, of course, but I'm embarrassed that she thinks I need it.  She said that she only prescribes in "extreme cases".  I'm doing everything I can to keep my baby from feeling my depression and stress (therapy, walking, yoga, deep breathing, prayer and meditation), but it might not be enough.          

What I'm looking forward to?  Having a finished nursery, a project that I haven't even started.

Best moment this week?  Seeing Baby Boy at the growth ultrasound and ECHO and hearing that his results were perfectly normal and healthy.

Lucy's Easter Wagon

Easter baskets are sooo last year.  This year Lucy got a wagon full of goodies, complete with a bubble machine, from the Easter Bunny!

Growth Ultrasound and ECHO

We had our appointment at 8:45 on Monday morning, and it was great to see Baby Boy again!  (Who, by the way, is still very much a boy!!!)  This was a special appointment, because Daddy Shelton was able to join us and see his little guy in action.  The scan started out similarly to the anatomy scan, measuring the head, belly, and every other inch of the little guy, and then came the ECHO. 

All of his measurements were normal or slightly ahead (which is good, as DS babies tend to be on the smaller side).  He was in the 76th percentile, at 8 inches long and 11 ounces.  And we even got a few 3D pictures of his little face and chicken legs. 

The ECHO was very interesting; we listened to every valve, artery and vessel, watched blood flow and heart rhythm, and took tons of pictures.  The entire procedure lasted approximately one hour, and then I actually fell asleep while waiting for the Fetal Abnormality Specialist to come in and review the results.  He clicked through the images as the Tech shared her findings against my past results.  He said everything looked normal, no soft markers, all four chambers of the heart were visible with no noticeable defects, and that my overall risk was around 1 in 300.  He offered to do an amnio, if I was uncomfortable with that risk, but I said no. 

I arrived at and left the appointment feeling indifferent.  The results of the growth ultrasound and ECHO are a slight improvement from the previous scan and blood screen, but not enough to bring me any extra relief or worry.  And I'm grateful for that, extremely grateful.  We are incredibly blessed to not have to worry about heart defects or other life threatening conditions.  I stopped obsessing over the 0.3% chance that my baby has Down Syndrome after the sequential blood screen.  I pray for Babe every night, but I don't spend every waking minute stressing.  I love you, Kiddo, and you're going to be just fine.

Five little fingers

19 Weeks

How far along?  19w3d

How big is baby?  Mango!  6 inches long and 8.5 ounces (although yesterday's growth ultrasound showed Babe measuring 1 week ahead, in the 76th percentile, at 8 inches long and 11 ounces).  His little body is developing vernix caseosa, a protective coating over the skin, and the five senses.

Physical differences from last week?  I did not get a chance to weigh in this week (the scale is at my parents'), but I'm sure I'm up another pound or two - despite my dieting efforts.  No new stretch marks and the belly button is still in.  I'm wearing my regular pants with the belly band and maternity shirts.  And I'm sad to report that my boobs are starting to grow.  I'm probably the only woman that doesn't enjoy that side effect of pregnancy...

How I'm feeling?  Braxton Hicks contractions have officially started, as has sciatic nerve pain.  Two of my favorite things!  Haha.  Dizziness is still an occasional problem as well.  Lucy and I walked four times this week, and I followed my diet most of the time - pizza night and the Sweet Tomatoes brunch were so not within my carb allowance!  No specific cravings to report.  And sleep has been wonderful now that I've shifted the position of my Snoogle.

What's been on my mind?  How to arrange the furniture in the nursery. 

What I'm looking forward to?  The variety of annoying and inappropriate comments to come.  I've already gotten a few "You're huge" or "You're going to be really big again" comments; and I've gotten just as many, "You're so tiny!" comments.

Best moment this week?  Feeling outside baby kicks for the first time.