what week am I at again?

With this pregnancy, I find myself constantly forgetting how far I am without actually thinking about it first.  I guess that's what happens when you are working a full time job, taking care of a toddler, trying to still be a decent wife AND deal with extra, outside things.  Man, it was so much easier the first time around.

I'm 30 weeks, 5 days.  More than 3/4 way there.  Tomorrow I have a doctor appointment and then I go every 2 weeks.  At 35/36 weeks I start going every week.  When I think about it in those terms, I realize how close I am to the end.  I find myself somewhere between excited and anxious.  Excited to meet my little boy and be a mom to a newborn again.  Anxious because we aren't ready for him to arrive at the moment.  I still have nothing to report on the progress of his room other than the fact that I ordered some super adorable crib sheets and a matching blanket. 

I know I talked about it last time but I am growing increasingly uncomfortable.  I'm sitting for many hours a day at a desk and typically end up with a sore back.  Seth just gave me the go ahead on a mother to be massage so I'm looking forward to scheduling that.  I'm thinking sometime the first or second week of October.  The acid reflux really picked up too.  It was getting so bad that it was keeping me awake in the middle of the night.  I called my doctor and they gave me several over the counter things to try as well as raw cauliflower (?) and papaya.  I bought the zantac and started taking one before bed.  It's made a huge difference and allows me to get several hours of sleep in a row.  He is just as active as ever.  He tends to prefer my right side and occasionally will curl (what feels like) his whole body up on that side.  It does not feel good at all.  I also know he's getting bigger in there because I've had moments where I'm unable to breathe properly because of how he's situated.  These are the wonderful aspects of the 3rd trimester.  :)   

I also had to go buy two new pairs of jeans.  I needed the ever so attractive full panel this time since I am carrying more in front and lower.  Most of the pants I had from Delia were under belly and they were very, very uncomfortable.  I wasn't thrilled to have to spend money but it seemed necessary to get me through to the end.  

And of course a picture recap...29 weeks

30 weeks.

weeks 26-28.

Did I mention that all of a sudden my pregnancy seems to be in fast forward?  Going back to work full time leaves less time to actually bask in the moments that are left.  This makes me sad as we will go from a family of 3 to a family of 4 in less than 3 months.  I know I'm not the first mother ever to be concerned about how their firstborn (and currently only) child will react to a sibling.  I'm glad that Delia is young enough not to have been an only child for too long yet worried enough that she will feel pushed to the side.  While she can't possibly understand how special of a place she holds in my heart, I hope that she will always feel my love.  She MADE me a mother.  Any additional child will just add on to this wonderful experience.  Thoughts on this topic come and go, but I'll just leave them there for now. 

As far as the pregnant part, it's beginning to get pretty tough.  I feel large (which I sort of am since I have gained 30 lbs), I tire easily, and most movements are difficult.  Sitting in a computer chair 8-10 hours a day is not comfortable.  Walking for long periods is not comfortable.  Sleeping is not comfortable.  This little guy is quite the mover and his little jabs and kicks are sometimes painful.  As I type this he's been kickboxing right behind my belly button which is the WORST spot to do that.  I don't know why but it really hurts.  I try to push back at him in hopes he will move positions but it doesn't seem to be working.  He is much more active than Delia ever was and I never considered her to be a lazy baby.

We still have a ways to go with being prepared for his arrival.  At the moment he doesn't have a place to sleep.  I'm starting to feel anxious about this, but I should know from previous experiences that it will all be worked out before it needs to be.  I just like to feel ready and I don't yet.  Knowing I have less time to do things does not help the cause.  I really need Seth to get motivated though because he has to do most of the work.  I guess I'll just keep on nagging, haha.  Hopefully by next update I will have something to report.

Picture recap:

26 weeks.

27 weeks.

28 weeks - 3rd trimester!

weeks 24, 25... things are getting harder.

I'm not sleeping well at all.  I feel huge.  Little boy likes to get in weird positions and force terrible pressure on my sides which in turn makes my back hurt.  These are the (not so) wonderful parts of pregnancy that I fully expected.  I did not expect them to happen this early on though.  I still tell people I feel good and in all honesty, I do most of the time.  But when I compare this pregnancy to my first, it's definitely not as easy.  For one, I'm mom of a toddler.  I've also started working again and our life is very hectic. 

Good news is that my glucose test came back normal.  I met with the doctor again this past Monday and I had no weight gain in 2 weeks.  She would like me to "watch" my carb and fruit intake.  Two of my favorite things, unfortunately,  I'm trying to be a little more mindful of it, but it IS hard when I know that I don't have gestational diabetes and am just trying to slow down the weight gain.  I am still measuring ahead by 2 weeks right now.  This could explain why I feel so big.  It's beginning to look like I may have a very big baby.  Yikes.  Delia was only 7 lbs at birth.

Picture updates:

24 weeks

25 weeks

weeks 22, 23.

Guess I'll have to settle for an update every 2 weeks if it's all I can manage.  Real life is getting a little hectic over here so while I do remember to snap a quick photo on my weekly day change, that's about it. 

My transverse little boy has definitely not moved.  I feel his feet kicking me waaaaay over on my right side.  Punches happen towards the left side, down low and up high.  I really hope he doesn't decide to become too comfortable in this position and that he moves before he gets much bigger.  Some nights I'm very uncomfortable with pressure out both sides.  This in turn ends up making my back hurt.  First babies tend to not move as much because there isn't enough room to.  Second, third and so on babies have more room because the ligaments and such are already stretched out and "broken" says my OB.  Thanks.  Thanks for letting me know I'm broken. Really, I appreciate that. 

My monthly check was on Monday and I saw the OB.  Our office rotates you between the OB, midwife and nurse practitioner during pregnancy.  I've mentioned it before, but at this appointment just a day shy of 23 weeks, I have gained 25 lbs.  This is a much quicker gain than I had with Delia and the doctor was just a bit concerned that it's happening.  She sent me early for my glucose test just to make sure there isn't anything wrong.  The original script they gave me said to go between weeks 26-28 but she told me to go right away.  So yesterday morning I went for the 1 hour test. For those who don't know what this is, basically you have to drink a super sugary flat soda like liquid, sit for an hour and then have a blood draw.  If the results are above a certain number, they send you for a 3 hour test.  If you don't pass that test, you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes and put on a specific diet to help control your sugars.  In some cases diet alone doesn't help and meds or insulin may be needed.  I'm not jumping ahead that far but it all has crossed my mind.  If I'm lucky, just a diet will be needed.  I have a follow up appointment with the doctor in 2 weeks and we'll go from there. 

22 weeks.

23 weeks.

time for camo, trucks, trains and sports....

Yup, it's a boy!   I feel a little sense of pride knowing my mother's intuition was right a second time (despite only having two choices).  Our family of four will be rounded out with a new baby boy and I am thrilled.  As exciting as it would have been to have a second little girl, I don't have an ounce of disappointment.  Our baby is healthy and active and that's what truly matters to me.  I am still measuring ahead (22 weeks, 1 day) when I am only 21 weeks today.  That seems to be the trend though.  Delia was 6 days early and I have a feeling I won't go the full 40 weeks with this one, but we'll see.  I'll do my best to avoid an induction because honestly, pitocin scares me.

So now we move on to actually talking about names.  I had a handful of girl names in mind that I really liked which of course I won't need now.  Boy names always seem to be harder for me though.  Seth and I looked at a few lists last night and we both kind of liked one or two, surprisingly.  We will be keeping the name a secret until the birth as we did with Delia so no revealing here, but I'm wondering if this will be easier than I thought!  

Here are a few u/s pictures from last night....

Profile and hand.

Itty bitty feet.

Baby's first little onesie bought by me.   :)

weeks 19 & 20...halfway there.

I made it to 20 weeks.  For whatever reason, making it halfway always seems like a huge milestone.  I still don't feel like my pregnancy is flying by or dragging.....it's just floating along.  Baby Artie is moving a lot more these days and it's comforting.  It's something I know I'll miss when I'm not pregnant anymore.  I'm also really thinking of him as a "he".  I'm gaining weight steadily and I feel like it's all going to my belly (and maybe a bit to my butt and thighs;).  I've been comparing some pictures of this far along with Delia to now, and I am carrying differently too.  Fortunately, I only have 4 more days until we hopefully find out the gender!  My ultrasound is Monday evening.  Honestly, I'm not very anxious at all.  I think I've come to terms with waiting so it will just be a nice surprise.  I will be very happy with boy or girl, despite thinking having two daughters would be fun.  Delia is going to be a big sister regardless! 

At this point, I've said goodbye to all forms of regular pants/jeans/shorts.  I can still pull off some non maternity shirts since they make them so long now but I'm limited even there.  It's been hot (very hot) so tank tops, skirts and shorts are my friends.  Thank goodness I won't be in my 3rd trimester until September. 

And now for a photo update....

19 weeks

20 weeks...taking advantage of the suit I bought!  The pool has been our friend this summer.  :)

And now here's the comparison that makes me think boy.  On the left is 21 weeks along with Delia.  On the right is 19 weeks with this baby.  I'm so much more belly this time around. 

weeks 17 and 18. baby kicks!

Last week we were in Cape Cod so I didn't try too hard to update.  Unfortunately, vacation doesn't seem to have done good things for my weight (that I think was better this month up until that point). 

I feel Artie move at least a few times a day now but he's really kicked it into gear in the last 24 hours.  I felt kicks for the first time on the outside and Seth was able to feel it last night as well.  Delia used to go crazy when I laid on my side in bed and this one seems to be following suit.  I love feeling a baby.  Such an amazing miracle. 

Here's a picture catch up:

about 17 weeks and being brave enough to wear a bikini:

picture taken by my friend when I wasn't looking:

18 weeks preparing for an interview: