{Take Two} 23 weeks

Due Date: October 25th, 2014

Musings on the Weekly Photo: There is definitely a bump.

Marination Time: 23(ish) weeks.

Doctor Update: Baby's heart rate - 157, Cervical Length - 3.7

Weight Gain: +16 pounds (doctor's scale), as of appointment (6/30). Four pounds gained this week! The doctor says she doubts I ate four pounds worth of food in a week so the gain is mostly fluid, but to watch my salt intake. Otherwise the gain itself is fine because I was behind before and am now on track.

Maternity Clothes: Stretch is best.

Fruit of the Week: Baby weighs as much as a small mango.

Name: We haven't really discussed it. 

Gender: It has one. We don't know what it is.

Movement: Lots of kicks and punches to my lower extremities. My bladder is apparently a trampoline.

Cravings: Fruit, salad, and COLD dessert but not chocolate, so popsicles and light ice cream taste good. I still want everything on ice.

Annoyances: Baby is breech, but has plenty of time to flip. Aforementioned trampoline effect is rather obnoxious, but it is what it is.

Highlights of the Week: I've been so stable, the doctor has no problem with me traveling if I feel up to it! We are heading to Butte for the long 4th of July weekend but will probably stick relatively close to home for the rest of the summer. Even if I'm allowed to travel, we don't feel like chancing it. Plus there's no better place to be than the Flathead in the summer!

{Take Two} 22 weeks

Due Date: October 25th, 2014

Musings on the Weekly Photo: It seems bigger to me. A lot of people this week have mentioned that it seems like it's suddenly "there" and obviously a baby bump. I've also ran into a few acquaintances I haven't seen in a couple of months, and they've all said congratulations, so I guess it's becoming more obviously a bump and not fat. Haha.

Marination Time: 22(ish) weeks.

Doctor Update: BP - 104/68, Baby's heart rate - 138, Cervical Length - 3.8

Weight Gain: +11 pounds or so (gym scale), as of appointment (6/24). No gain this week.

Maternity Clothes: Stretch is best.

Fruit of the Week: Baby is the size of a spaghetti squash.

Name: We haven't really discussed it minus a few "I don't really like it" comments from Michael. 

Gender: Still unknown!

Movement: Lots of kicks and punches.

Cravings: Fruit and lemonade. I want everything to be COLD. Popsicles are good, ice cream is hit or miss. Anything over ice is a huge win. Food-wise, a friend of mine made these amazing crustini's last week that had sautéed onions and mushrooms over goat cheese, drizzled with an amazing balsamic reduction. I've been dreaming about them all week! It's the onions. I can't get enough grilled or sautéed onions!

Annoyances: Lots of contractions, but nothing super productive. I forget to sit, then I sit too much. I feel like I'm growing at an exponential rate when in reality, I'm not. But I feel like it! Baby is also now breech, little stinker, but has plenty of time to flip back around. Bonus to being breech? Not putting pressure on my cervix, causing it to shorten.

Highlights of the Week: Our doctor's office got a new ultrasound machine, and we got to be practice for the 3/4D system! Also, we moved Lily into the basement this week, into her "new room" and the baby's room is mostly done. The next step is decorating both rooms and decorating/organizing the new playroom; Mom and Dad are visiting this weekend to help get that wrapped up while Mike is in Portland. I'm feeling more accomplished and ready to enjoy our summer!

{Take Two} 21 weeks

Due Date: October 25th, 2014

Musings on the Weekly Photo: Baby seems to be sitting back toward my spine this week, so my bump appears smaller. I also looked up info from 21 weeks with Lily, and she was transverse around this time - this baby is head down - so that explains the difference in the bump (this one being higher.)

Marination Time: 21(ish) weeks.

Weight Gain: +11 pounds or so, as of appointment (6/16). The gym scale and the doctor's scale differentiate by up to two pounds, so I'll stick with the gym scale's numbers. 

Maternity Clothes: The weather has been rainy and gross, so I broke out the full-panel maternity jeans this week. Why did I wait so long?! So comfortable.

Fruit of the Week: Length of a carrot!

Name: We haven't really discussed it, but we do have a list we've been keeping since Lily was born.

Gender: Still unknown! All ultrasounds will be transvaginal from here on out, so if baby stays head down, we hopefully won't get a sneak.

Movement: TONS more!

Cravings: Fruit and lemonade.

Annoyances: We had a great week! Minus ongoing contractions, I feel pretty good. Pretty much any time the baby rolls, I tend to have a contraction. The big thing is remembering to keep a happy medium between a hydrated and empty bladder. 

Highlights of the Week: TONS of movement! Baby must have had a growth spurt and is getting stronger because I am feeling a ton of punches down low and a few kicks up high, plus Mike can feel him/her easily now. Grow, baby, grow! We also got Lily and baby's rooms all painted, so now I can start decorating - I really want everything done soon so that I don't have to worry about things not being done. I'm in major early nesting mode for sure. Right now I'm planning on bringing in a lot of yellow and white, and then if it's a girl, I'll bring in coral and peaches, if it's a boy - reds and grays. So much fun!

{Take Two} 20 weeks

Due Date: October 25th, 2014

Musings on the Weekly Photo: I seem to be carrying a little higher but smaller with this one, don't you think?

Marination Time: 20(ish) weeks.

Weight Gain: +11 pounds or so, as of appointment (6/9).

Maternity Clothes: Now that we are having a lot of summer weather, I love that I can wear dresses and skirts every day.

Fruit of the Week: Length of a banana!

Name: We haven't really discussed it, but we do have a list we've been keeping since Lily was born.

Gender: Still unknown! Made it through the anatomy scan without an accidental showing of baby bits. 

Movement: TONS more! I feel a lot of punches and kicks, and s/he is making him/herself well-known on the outside too. Babe must have had a little growth spurt this week.

Cravings: Still with the carbs and fruit. I can eat an entire personal watermelon in one sitting. Meat is hit or miss, and I don't know if it'll be okay or not until I eat it. Salad never sounds good, but always ends up sitting really well.

Annoyances: Well... cervical length shortened a fair amount this week. Grr. Last week (6/3), I was at a 4.6 and this week (6/9), I was at a 3.1 - danger zone is considered 2.8. The doctor wasn't too concerned, but checked me anyway and despite having a lot of contractions, I'm not dilating, thank God. Cervical length is dynamic and can change day-to-day, so hopefully next week it lengthens again. I've been in a flurry trying to get things done just in case I get stuck on my keister, so the downstairs kids' rooms are coming together!

Another big thing that's been happening is that I'm having a lot of nightmares about this pregnancy, specifically about losing the baby. I wake up in tears a lot. I hope it's just the extra hormones and little bit of post-traumatic stress from my pregnancy with Lily, but it's worrisome. I get really anxious. What's weird is that with Lily, even after I started having issues, I never had a second thought that things wouldn't be okay. I don't know why I'm so much more concerned this time, but I suppose it's a natural reaction after a dramatic pregnancy.

Highlights of the Week: A friend of ours just had twins, and this week, Lily was so much more interested in them! She wasn't jealous at all, and was very intrigued. I was able to diaper, feed, and burp one of the babies without a smidge of resentment (she usually acts quite jealous when I hold babies.) She kept asking questions about the babies, exclaiming "Look at her tiny feet! She has small hands! She's just about my size!" She also keeps telling me she wants two babies. Sorry, honey. Not happening. ;)

{Take Two} 19 weeks

Due Date: October 25th, 2014

Musings on the Weekly Photo: It's a bump. 

Marination Time: 19(ish) weeks.

Weight Gain: +10 pounds as of this week's appointment (6/3). The doctor's scale and the gym scale say different things, so I'm going with approximately ten.

Maternity Clothes: Sticking with dresses, leggings, maternity jeans/shirts. I have one pair of pants that are relatively comfortable, but they give me a bit of a muffin top.

Fruit of the Week: Heirloom Tomato

Name: We haven't really discussed it, but we do have a list we've been keeping since Lily was born.

Gender: Unknown, and hopefully staying that way.

Movement: A lot more this week, mostly down low. Mike also felt baby move for the first time! So s/he is getting stronger.

Cravings: Fruit and carbs. I cannot get enough lemonade! But most of the time, I have no idea what I want to eat, which is really frustrating.

Annoyances: See above. I hate not knowing what I want to eat!

Highlights of the Week: More movement! It's nice to have the daily reminder that there is actually a baby in there.

A Letter: Two Years

Dear Bug,

Well, here we are. You are two years old, or as you like to tell us, "I'm almost two!" Insert: big, cheesy toddler grin. I keep reminding you that you ARE two, not almost two anymore, and you just laugh and say it again and again. "I'm almost two!" You silly goose.

I have sat down so many times to write your letters, and as we have creeped closer and closer to two, I have found it harder to put our days into words. I feel like listing your accomplishments isn't adequate; it doesn't capture you, the person you are becoming, or your funny little attitude. It doesn't capture the way you roll your eyes and repeat yourself when I ask you to use your manners, "Please in a noooormal voice," or how you beam when you figure out how to do something by yourself. Written words don't capture the way you say "That. Is. Beautiful!" or "Here you go Mommy, that's for you! Need to share!" How you give us a running commentary of your day, not only in summary but as a play-by-play as well. "I'm digging in the dirt! Using my thumb! I'm SO DIRTY!" "Need to garden." "I'm riding my tricycle!" Better yet, words can't capture your insane sense of style. How you insist on matching, even if what you think matches doesn't quite work. "Need a headband, be riiiiiight back!" "This one matches my outfit! Need shoes to match my outfit." I want to remember that every day when your Daddy comes home from work and changes out of his work clothes, you insist on changing too. Not just because he's changing, but because you need to match him. How if I wear purple shoes, you need purple shoes. How if one of your friends has a bow in, you need a bow too. How if you're wearing a tutu, Ellie needs a tutu. "Need to match Dada! Dada has blue sweatshirt, Lily has a blue sweatshirt!"

A letter isn't eloquent enough, exciting enough - thorough enough - to let you know how much joy you bring to our lives each and every day. You can't hear your little voice insisting that your rain boots are not rain boots, they are "reindeer boots." That all bread products are muffins, all babies are Baby Wyatt or Baby Gage, or how you say, "Excuse me, puppies!" when the dogs are in your way. A letter can't truly capture how you screech "Princess ANNA! Princess ELSA!" every time you hear a song from Frozen come onto the radio. It can't recreate the image of you sprinting into the living room when "Let It Go" starts playing, how you stomped your foot and acted out the castle-building scene, complete with slow arm-raises and fake snowflakes bursting out of your hands. How you sing to yourself all of the time, but you only know a verse or two, so you just trill the same lines over and over to a different tune.

Most important to me, a letter isn't going to remind us how every night, we hear you close your door and pitter patter down the hall some time after midnight. How you try to sneak into our room, tiptoe up to the bed, and whisper, "Hi Mama... Snuggle you? Need to snuggle you." It's not going to remind us how you scream and cry when we take you back to your bed, insisting repeatedly, "Need to snuggle yooooouuuu!" How when we crawl in with you, you grab on for dear life and snuggle in, falling almost immediately back into a deep sleep. How you just want company. A letter isn't going to remind us that at the end of every day, all you want is to be near us. To snuggle. To hug. To love on your Mommy and Daddy. A letter just isn't enough. It's not.

I say it every month, every day - every minute it seems like - but the last few months have flown by. Our days are busier yet also more structured. Our weekends are just as crazy as always, but also seem to be a bit more laid-back now that you are older and more flexible. You have turned into a little person overnight. A little talking, running, screaming, laughing, joke-playing person. You are independent yet also still so dependent. You are insanely busy, but also seem to finally enjoy "relaxing" (albeit sporadically.) You still hate to sleep. You know your shapes, colors, and can (sometimes) count to 20. You can count to ten in Spanish! You love to take care of your babies, giving them baths, feeding them, rocking them, or taking them for walks in your doll stroller. You love to cook in your kitchen - your favorite thing is to make me "chocolate broccoli soup." Where you came up with that, I have no idea, but you're a big fan of all sorts of soup, pretend and real. You love princesses and castles, building lego towers, and playing outside. You love to help, you love to eat, and you love to color. You absolutely love going to Tyke Town (the childcare at the gym), and you love your friends. Ellie "Jo Jo" is your "very best friend." You have almost all of your books memorized and your favorite thing to do is "read" by yourself in your bed or teepee. The fact that you have the correct words memorized to the appropriate pages amazes me - I can walk by while you're "reading" and you usually are on the right page for what story you're reciting. You have a crazy attention span when it comes to books - we could read for hours and hours, and you wouldn't get sick of it. In fact, when you don't want to take a nap, you will happily read in bed for over an hour by yourself! It is so nice to be able to give you that break during the day. Mommy's not the only one who needs to recharge, you do too!

Your biggest pre-turning two accomplishment? You are mostly daytime potty-trained! For safety's sake, you still get a diaper overnight, but you have had very few accidents and are so proud to be such a big girl. Interestingly enough, the potty-training actually coincided with you weaning yourself. About a month before your birthday, you started asking Daddy to do bedtime. Sometimes you would ask for "Mommy milk" after books and snuggle time with Dada, but then you just kind of stopped. A few days went by and you stopped asking for me and only wanted Daddy. We have had a few instances where you've randomly asked for it and had a meltdown, but I have reminded you that it's all gone, and you calm down and snuggle with me instead. A part of me is sad to see that part of our relationship end, but I'm not complaining about the extra snuggles. Plus your Daddy is so happy to be wanted more - in fact, you've pretty much rejected me completely for bed time! After almost two years of Mom-or-bust, he is loving being such an important part of your day. Even if he's exhausted, I think he smiles to himself every time you holler, "No! DADDY do bedtime!"

Oh sweet girl, you are a daily lesson in opposites, as any Mom of a toddler can tell you. I know in the next few months, I'm going to learn more about you, about me, and about our relationship. While two is hardly a piece of cake, it's definitely easier in it's own way. You can walk, you can talk, you can communicate. You are full of love and laughter, sharing and giving, obstinacy and determination, caution and bravery; best of all, you are chock full of absolute silliness. I can only hope that you pass some of those wonderful personality traits on to your new brother or sister come fall. I know it'll be our next big adventure, and you'll be an amazing big sister - you're already so excited. You have a Big Sister book and every time we read it, you interrupt whomever is reading to remind them repeatedly, "Daddy! Daddy! I'm going to be a big sister!" Yes, yes you are, little Bug - but you'll always be my first baby.

Love always,
Momma

Two-year stats...
Weight: 28 pounds, 4 ounces (75%)
Height: 35.5 inches (90-95%)
Head Circumference: 19.75 inches (>95-100%)
Clothing Size: 2T and 3T, size 8/9 shoe (depending on the shoe)
New Nicknames: Toots McGee, Little Monkey, Goose
Favorites: Being outside, Tyke Town, "playing with my friends", climbing - especially rock walls, going to the park, singing, dancing, spinning, jumping.
Milestones: Fully potty-trained, pigtails!, being promoted to Big Sister this fall

{Take Two} 18 weeks

First "official" post, so here's the deal. Like last time, I'm going to do a list each week with a photo, that way we can see the progress! This first one will be a bit more involved info-wise then we'll try and to keep it shorter from here on out. 

A little bit of background: I have been labeled high-risk for this pregnancy due to my complications with Lily. The first trimester was already a little bit dramatic - I had low progesterone levels and was put on an oral supplement to help prevent miscarriage. During a trip to Seattle in my 12th week, I had some spotting and ended up in the ER. The spotting was attributed to placenta previa, which has since resolved (thank goodness!) I then met with a perinatologist (specialist in high-risk pregnancies) in Missoula during my 13th week, and he put together a plan for my doctors here in Kalispell. Right now the plan is to have weekly ultrasounds from week 18 until week 26 to check my cervical length. If it were to shorten at all, I will be given an emergency cerclage. I also started intramuscular progesterone shots during week 16, and will continue those until week 36, God-willing we get there. At 26 weeks, we will back off to appointments every two weeks and hope for the best. If I were to deliver before 32ish weeks, or if it appears that delivery is imminent, the baby and I will go to Missoula. At 32 weeks forward, we will be in Kalispell.

It's all a little stressful, to say the least, so we've been relatively quiet on sharing the news. We are hoping for the best situation possible and hope that this wee one wants to stay put longer than his/her sister! Now on to the fun stuff...

Due Date: October 25th, 2014

Musings on the Weekly Photo: The "bump" sure changes a lot between morning and night, and also seems to depend on where baby is hanging out. Like last time, most days I just look like I had too much to eat, although my friends swear it's obvious that it's a baby bump. Mike says I look "lumpy."

Marination Time: 18(ish) weeks.

Weight Gain: +10 pounds as of appointment yesterday (5/27). I weigh the same now as I did at 18 weeks with Lily.

Maternity Clothes: I can wear most of my regular clothes but prefer dresses and leggings. I have two pairs of jeans that still button comfortably, but the rest are too tight through the hip. My shirts are also getting too tight, another reason I gravitate toward dresses.

Fruit of the Week: Grapefruit!

Name: We haven't really discussed it, but we do have a list we've been keeping since Lily was born.

Gender: Unknown, and hopefully staying that way. With weekly ultrasounds, we are hoping this kid isn't an exhibitionist!

Movement: Sometimes. My placenta is now anterior (in the front), so I feel more rolls than kicks or punches. I've had a few nights when I've woken up because the baby has rolled into a ball really far forward and it feels like s/he is trying to escape out the front of my stomach! I also look like I have a softball-sized tumor when s/he does that.

Cravings: Thai food! Fruit in general, but pineapple and watermelon are always delicious. Lemonade. Everything bagels and bread/carbs with a lot of garlic. I can eat a salad any day. The first trimester, nothing sounded good and everything made me sick. I actually was on Zofran up until 14 weeks or so because the only foods that didn't put me in extreme pain were pineapple and crackers.

Annoyances: I am craving protein, but meat is hit or miss. Eggs usually help, but I want a lot of caramelized onions to go with it, and there's only one place in town that makes it right! Haha. This baby also hates tacos. Emotions-wise, I'm much more volatile than I was with Lily. Mike and I both think that's due to a combination of the progesterone (extra hormones are always a good thing to blame) and the fact that I'm more tired, since Lily still only sporadically sleeps all night. I tend to get a little more weepy over things that usually don't bother me, and I also have a shorter temper. I then get frustrated that I don't have any patience, and that compounds the problem. Hopefully I get used to the hormones and it eases up a bit!

Highlights of the Week: Lily is very excited to be a big sister! Yesterday out of nowhere she said, "Do you have a baby in your tummy, Mommy? That's exciting!" She also has a Big Sister book and interrupts you repeatedly when reading it to tell us that she is going to be a big sister. I hope that excitement sticks!