20 Weeks.

Bad parent alert! Or rather, "sorry baby number 2, you're already getting the shaft" alert!

Either way, here we are at the halfway point and I'm finally getting around to documenting this child's introduction to the world.

I say introduction because it was at some point during this week that my belly started protruding after hiding quite well the last 4 months. Actually, it wasn't at some point. I know exactly when it was. It was Sunday evening around 8pm when the all too familiar growing pains in the groin and stomach region happened. The kind that make first time mommies everywhere panic that something is wrong. But no. It's just your body spreading out in all different ways to make room for the cantaloupe that is growing inside you. This time, it has been quite weird to feel the familiar aches in my joints as my hips realign themselves again to carry a heavy load up front. 

Up until this point, I have to say this has been such an easy pregnancy. Sure, I've definitely had my evenings of being really exhausted, had the bouts of sickness, and ohmygod don't even mention sausage or quinoa to me--they still make me want to hurl. But beyond the weird aversions and normal nausea that ended around 9 weeks, I can't complain.

I am especially grateful for this, as I chase Adly around all day. I cannot imagine doing this while feeling absolutely horrible. In some ways it has been so easy, I've forgotten all about being pregnant. This comes in handy when it comes to the passage of time. It is flying by! Seriously, I blinked and realized I was 20 weeks- half way there!!! 

At 20 weeks, the speculations over the sex of baby #2 continue. I honestly have no idea what we are having. Some days I think strongly boy and other days I strongly think girl. With Adly, I consistently felt "girl" from the start. There have been two major differences in this pregnancy: cravings and sleep. With Adly, I consistently craved sweets. Anything sweet, which was so out of character for me. I ate Sour Patch Kids by the bag. This time, I cannot get enough of everything salty. Chips, pickles, banana peppers (by the jar), spicy sauces, popcorn...anything with salt, I'm down for it. 

I think because of this, I've been slightly saved when it comes to weight gain...so far. By now with Adly, I had already put on about 15 pounds. Mind you, prior to pregnancy with Adly, I was at my best fighting weight having just gotten married. But either way, I was packing on the pounds--and fast. This time, I have been slow to put on weight which is good. That means no scolding by the doctor so far. At 20 weeks, I am around 7 pounds over pre-pregnancy weight.

As far as sleep goes, with Adly, I was exhausted. Maybe it's just a difference of having nothing to focus on but the pregnancy that made me so tired. But I fell asleep constantly around 8:30/9. This time, I'm finding myself having much more trouble sleeping. I'm not nearly as tired at night and now that school is out I've been staying up until 11ish every night. I then wake up between 5:30/6am most days. Ugh. Then there's the insomnia. I've had some terrible bouts of it this pregnancy, sometimes staying up from 3am on, but regularly being awake from 2-4am area. This is exhausting, so I've been regularly napping when Adly does, purely to catch up on sleep.

This week, we finally find out the sex of Baby #2. However we aren't sharing the sex until after Adly's birthday on the 10th. We are having most of our immediate family over to celebrate her 2nd birthday in two weeks and we've chosen to also then share the sex of baby with them then. You know, just to draw out the waiting game a little longer. Because we can.

Of course, we won't be waiting to find out! God no. I'm about to burst inside with the need to know exactly who has been occupying my stomach the last 20 weeks! With Adly, Adam and I went downtown for a little babymoon to find out the sex. We shopped, went out for a really nice dinner, and I was asleep by 9pm. It was a really nice night. This time, however, we have a delightful toddler at home. After going back and forth for a bit, we decided not to do downtown overnight. Adam has to work the whole day still, so our timing would be pretty tight. Instead, after visiting the doctor and getting the best information ever tucked into a card I'm going to stare at all day, I'm taking a mama day.

This calls for a massage with one of my best girlfriends and some shopping. ALONE. This never happens anymore! Maybe I'll go crazy and go to Costco by myself too!?! When Adam gets home, he and I are going to a movie together. To some, this may sound boring. Until I reveal we have not seen a movie together since before Adly was born. Two years it's been! Before you have your baby- GO TO THE MOVIES. You never will again. After that, we're going to dinner at a place we've been wanting to try and then getting a little crazy and doing Tango lessons. Because, why not? We've got a night off from being parents! (All thanks to our dearest and most amazing soon to be officially, sister-in-law Jess).
 

Just to note, with this pregnancy, the overwhelming guesses, intuitions, and feelings from others have gone to boy. As we head into the day of the ultrasound, Adam is still feeling boy and I have switched to girl. My guess has switched only due to the fact that now that it's officially popped, my belly seems high again, a lot like it was with Adly. However, I will note the baby tends to hang out down low. That is where it has been for the ultrasounds and heartbeat listens. I also don't remember feeling her kicks so low last time. I know that boys tend to hang lower. See what I mean!? This baby is already keeping me guessing.

So, here is belly at 20 weeks. It is far bigger at this point than with Adly. She did a great job of stretching out those muscles a few years ago, so baby #2 is having no problem making themselves at home in there. 

Bottom is Adly at 20 weeks. Yipes! Such a difference this time.

Preggo Belly Pics

I had wanted to post this a few weeks ago, but having a baby flipped our world upside down (a little) and it's taken me longer than I thought. But today my little darlin' has been sleeping non-stop, allowing mommy lots of time to get things done. Must've been the partying she did last night? Either way, here is a look at the growth of Adly inside my belly over the 39 weeks she was in there.

What I can't even believe is the explosive growth that took place in the last few weeks. Looking back now I can't even remember how she fit in there. But she did. And all that cooking led to our little sweet pea named Adly Daniele.

Saying Goodbye

Throughout my pregnancy, I globbed on to a few different iPhone apps to help me track the days and to give me a little tidbit of what I should expect to see happening at any given time. They were quite helpful as I navigated my way through the unknown world of pregnancy.

The two main apps I used were: What to Expect and BabyCenter.

Both of these apps give a weekly update that details the growth baby is making and the changes mommy is experiencing. I've found them both to be helpful- hand in hand. One thing I've enjoyed in the What to Expect app is the forum section where you can find a number of different boards. The main one I've been checking in on is the July 2013 board. This is where all the other ladies on the app who are due this month can post. I'll admit, for the first 8 months, I used it just to be amused. There's a lot of young girls on there with what I would consider menial problems, some venting about relationships, annoying moms, bad boyfriends who cheat on them, etc.

But in the last month, it's gotten really exciting to read. This is because one by one, people in my due date month have been jumping ship and announcing their pregnancies. I couldn't believe how many women ended up having their babies in June. It's also been helpful to help me navigate the weird aches and pains that keep happening lately--since every other girl in my shoes is going through the same thing and wondering "is this it!?!?!".

One thing that has struck me as very interesting though, is the number of posts I've seen from women who gave birth early and unexpectedly....and didn't have a chance to mentally part with their pregnant bodies. A handful of them are having difficulty dealing with it. This was something I hadn't thought of, but when I do, it really is a big change. I mean, we spend 10 months cultivating a human being inside of our bodies. That human being causes countless numbers of changes to our bodies, creates a kind of love one could never know without even meeting something, and forges a bond that is indescribable just by the feeling of movement and outward growth. And then within a matter of hours, it's gone.

Yes, you get the reward of having your precious little one join you live and in person and that in itself is life's greatest gift. But there has to be something that is said for the mourning of the change your body goes through. I found myself thinking about this as I woke up this morning. Adly was gleefully kicking around in my stomach when it hit me that I won't be feeling that much longer. No more imagining her dancing moves, laughing when she kicks back at our touch, no more feeling her with me all the time.

Of course there's the benefit of change too. I think the women who go full term and beyond definitely have an easier time parting with their pregnant experience. You're large and in charge, uncomfortable all the time, nothing fits anymore and you're just plain ready to move on. That is where I am most definitely at right now. But at the same time, I can't help but think and wonder if I'll miss the days of watching her little foot kick out the left side of my belly....

Nah. No more belly? No more waddling? A soft, snuggly, cutie patootie in my arms at all times gurgling back at me? Yes please!!

37 wks 3 days Update

Today I had my first "weekly" checkup with the doctor. After 36 weeks, you go from bi-weekly to weekly appointments. And when you make it to this point, the doctor goes in to check the engine and see if there's been any progress. I was so looking forward to this appointment. Has there been any movement? Is she sitting pretty? Is she head down? Is there really a baby in there??

Thankfully, a friend told me beforehand that when they check you at this appointment, they basically fist you. Therefore I wasn't shocked when with my legs spread wide, she leaned in and put all her might into getting her hand up there. 

Her findings were that I am at 2cm dilated and about 50% effaced. What the hell does that mean? Well, she could basically get a finger and a thumb up there and in that process was able to touch Adly's head. My cervix is now 50% thinner than it was throughout the rest of the pregnancy. 

People. This means things are moving. My doctor then gleefully mentioned that knowing how I like to plan, at my next appointment she could "scrape my membrane". WHY have they not come up with more lady friendly terms for such things? Oh yes, could you please go down there and scrape away? Sounds like a day at the spa. 

My understanding is that this process can help "get things started" in the way of labor. My next appointment is July 8th and to be honest, I'm not ready. Additionally, I don't need to mess with nature. Talk to me when I'm a week overdue and can't walk. Then I'll consider some scraping. 

Honestly, the fact that I've started dilating on my own is enough to tide me over for the next few weeks. I can't tell you how big of a reality check it was hearing that this thing you've been preparing months for could realistically happen any day. So for now, I'm stopping complaining about the heartburn, her rump in my ribs, and the never ending swollen feet and legs. I'm perfectly content letting her cook a few weeks more. 

Stay tuned!!

Impatience.

I am not a patient person. I don't think many people are these days, based on the instant gratification world we live in.

I like to get and make things happen quickly and when they don't go quickly it is torture to me. I have to say, this part of pregnancy has not been fun for me. It seems like ages ago that it was November and I was in the bathroom screaming swear words because OMG we were pregnant. 

No, we weren't expecting it. Looking back now, I can't imagine how it could have happened any other way. We were more than ready, although we clearly didn't know it at the time. Day by day, we get closer and closer to meeting our baby girl and her arrival cannot get here fast enough.

Now that she's big enough to move around and see her from the outside, I feel like we're already getting to know her. Sometimes I feel her snuggling up to me in a ball and I want nothing more than for her to be in my arms, all curled up. Sometimes she kicks wildly and it makes me laugh, as I picture her to be older and giggling away, kicking as she lays on her back looking up at me. Then other times she delivers a swift blow to my ribs and I want nothing more to have her out and my body back to myself. And then her little head or foot will pop out, almost as if to say, "Heeellloooooo mom! I'm still here! Look at me!!"

We talk to her all the time. It's bizarre, feeling like she's here with us as we lay on the couch at night. I know she can hear us, but she can't see us and we can't see her. I can't wait to meet her in person and get to know what she's really like. To smell her sweet baby smells and feel her soft baby skin.

All of these thoughts almost, almost make my fears of labor disappear. Maybe that's why so many mom's repeat this process over and over again. The reward at the end of the road is far greater than any of the inconveniences, pain, months of waiting, and sometimes suffering we go through to get the little ones here.

Either way, the final countdown has begun.

LESS THAN 4 WEEKS TO DUE DATE.

And this will test my patience far more than the other 9 months have, as I have no way of knowing exactly when and how she'll be here. So until then, I'll keep daydreaming of what she'll be like, in my arms, trying to wash all of life's stresses away with thoughts of my little girl.

Kapow!

I love my daughter so much and she's not even here yet. One of my most favorite things has been trying to figure out her personality through the womb. While I'm sure she's like every other fetus in many ways, I swear she's got one feisty attitude already. First of all, she's my daughter. How could she not have some feistiness!? Second of all, she's also an offspring of her father. We were definitely not opposites attract in this department. It's a wicked combination.

Today I was at the doctors for my monthly visit...which by the way, go bi-weekly starting now. It's getting closer! Anyways, at this routine visit, they always check her heartbeat. As the doc was lubing up an area of my belly, she was running through her normal checklist of questions on baby's well-being. This time, however, Adly was not about to sit silently through the appointment.

She put the heart sonogram on my belly and starting moving around to find her heartbeat, at which time she got to the question, "and she's moving 3-4 times an hour?"

As if on cue, my little princess channeled her inner Jackie Chan and blasted a kung-fu dropkick right to where the heart sonogram thing was. This created a loud noise on the machine and for it to bounce up off my belly. The doctor actually even jumped back a little, cracking up at the irony.

"Does that answer your question?" was my response.

Give me Space!

I'll tell you what really chaps my ass- pregnant or not. When stupid people park their cars so close to you in a parking lot that you can barely open your car door. What are these people thinking?!? You're just asking to have your car dented my my forceful opening of the door.

But now that I have a giant belly, it's even more annoying to try to squeeze my way in and out of the car in tight spaces. After work today, I found myself at Trader Joe's picking up some dinner items. I can't stand Trader Joe's parking lot as it is. It's always overcrowded and the spaces are too small for even small vehicles. So I parked my SUV in between the lines with plenty of space for the car on my right. There was no car on my left, the drivers side.

I go in, do my shopping and come out with 2 heavy bags of grocery. I could not believe what I saw when I walked out. If I hadn't have been so shocked, I would've snapped a picture. Some jerk parked his car literally 6 inches from my car on the drivers side. So close, that I couldn't even attempt to squeeze my way in to slam the car door into his car. JERK! I have never had this happen to me to this extent. Not even able to squeeze in and open the door?!? WTF?

I stood there, dumbfounded for a minute. Then I realized the only way my pregnant ass was going to be able to get in the car was to climb in through the passenger door. Thats right. Climb across the vehicle. Because I'm so limber these days, why the hell not!?

So, with steam coming out of my ears I climbed in and across. Once I settled in the drivers seat, I noticed some dipshit walking over towards the car with headphones in. I knew it had to be his car, so I sat, watching him. Hell hath no fury like a pregnant woman who's just had to CLIMB across the passenger seat in order to enter her damn car. The rage was sitting, waiting to come out of the cage.

I rolled down my window and yelled, "Nice park job you jackass! I'm 8 months pregnant and just had to climb across my car in order to get in. What the hell were you thinking parking so close to my car!?!?"

Now, I'm never an eloquent speaker in these situations. In fact, there were a few more choice words I screamed, but since this is a public forum, I'm not sure who reads it, so I'm attempting to keep it clean.

The lovely man responded with, "Oh, I'm sorry. I parked in between the lines, didn't I?" And swiftly got in his car.

It took all of my might not to jump out of the damn car and strangle the man. Instead, I peeled off, foaming at the mouth, enraged at the possibility that some human beings are so stupid and ignorant. It's just another case and point why I hate that parking lot. No matter how you park, you're squeezed in far too tight.

That, my friends, will be the last time I ever use a parking space at that place. From now on, it's back to making my own spot, wherever the hell I feel like making one....away from other cars.

And now, on to much bigger and brighter things. IT FEELS LIKE SPRING OUT!!!

Hallelujah!!!

Belly Up

I'm growing. A lot. Only, I have yet to fully accept just how much.

While I'm still requiring the amount of sleep I needed in the first trimester, my body is now suddenly 3x the size of what it used to be. Not to mention there is now a rather heavy bulge in front of me that is quite awkward.

When it comes to sleep, as I've mentioned, I'm now mostly on my sides. My Snoogle has made its debut again and is soooo incredibly comfortable. The only downside is that it too, is awkward. So while most people flip from side to side with ease in their sleep, I'm a bumbling giant trying to unwrap my legs from the Snoogle contraption then hoist myself over to the other side. None of this is an easy feat, let alone when you're comatose from your deep sleep. I've been waking myself up as I grunt and lose my breath trying to get from one side to another. And as I type this I think...there's still 2-1/2 more months to go...it's only going to get worse!

Another new hinderance my belly has been causing is putting on shoes. Who knew? It's nearly impossible to put on my shoes standing up anymore!

The other day I was in the bedroom grunting my way into a pair of boots. Or should I say, grunting as I attempted to even get my leg high enough to get into the boot. Adam finally came in to see what the hell I was doing only to find his lovely wife, just attempting to put on her shoes. Of course he recommended I have a seat and give it a try. But please, who has time for such things!?!

It's amazing how quickly the belly grows and how unaware the rest of your body and mind are of the growth. A big part of me still wants to think I'm still in the glorious second trimester. I swear, if pregnancy ended there, I'd happily be knocked up over and over again. I can fully appreciate now why they call it the honeymoon period of pregnancy.

Then there's my clothes. I was pretty excited for maternity clothes (once I found the cute ones). I'm sorry but jeans with elastic at the top are the most genius invention ever. How they've managed to stay hidden in only the maternity section of stores is beyond me. I've been wearing maternity pants since December, so believe me, I love them. But yet I still find myself trying with all my might to squeeze into my normal clothes...and pants.

The pants are the best. I have two pairs of skinny pants that still fit....in the legs. So I wear them completely unzipped with my trusty belly band to cover up the zipper area. I know, its terrible. But I just can't stop!

Then today I had a student tell me, "I like your shirt."

Only, it's not a shirt. It was a dress (don't worry I had leggings on!) from my pre-preggo days. Only then did I stop to think...maybe it's time to fully make the switch to the dark side of only maternity?

But lets be honest. I'm going to keep squeezing into my normal clothes until the last minute. It's just too hard to kiss your whole closet goodbye for so long. Besides, I can't wait to get compliments on all my v-necks turned baby T's with my exposed burgeoning belly this summer!

Music to her Ears

Our little girl can now hear a lot of what is around her, including our voices. This has made her daddy especially excited when he talks to her in my belly and she kicks back.

If you read, party time? then you know that I have a little dancer living inside me. I know, I realize she's no different than any other baby in the womb, I just like to imagine my child as a wild dancing queen with terrible dance moves. I may have issues, but thats besides the point. Anyways, in the last week she's gotten stronger every day. This also means her kicks have begun packing a punch. In addition, I can now feel her little body squirming its way around her apartment. It is truly the strangest, yet coolest feeling. 

So strong are her moves sometimes that we're starting to see them from the outside. Yesterday, while watching Notting Hill, she was having a blast in there. I was finally able to catch some of her movement on video. (She has a knack for stopping any time theres a camera or hand on her belly). 

The TV was pretty loud (I'm deaf) so I thought maybe it had something to do with the music. Last week I was driving out the the suburbs, blaring the radio and testing out my American Idol voice, when a techno song came on. Immediately, our wild child started kicking like crazy in my belly. 

To test her tastes in music last night, Adam and I played a few different tunes. I know some people like to play only classical music to make sure their child is smart. But I, for one, want to make sure our child is awesome. So we started with the song "Ain't No Sunshine", which was playing when I caught her moving in the video. I would love it if she were into the old stuff. But, no movement. Then we played some Bob Marley. Maybe she's the type to be chill, laid back, and all "heeeeey everybody". Nope. No movement. Then, we put on the techno song "Heaven Has a Plan for You". Its all over the radio right now and I'm pretty sure that's the song that was playing in the car last Sunday. 

What do you know, she went crazy kicking. Both of us looked at each other in fear. What are we in for!?!

party time?

I have a bit of a problem.

Living inside my belly at the moment appears to be a night owl dancing queen. I'm quite positive her moves could give Kirstie Alley a run for her money on DWTS. Her "dance routine" or whatever it is she does, tends to hit its highest levels around midnight. I'm not sure how my little lady does some of the moves she does, but its like a late night dance club inside my body!

She kicks, rolls, twists, jumps, high kicks, flips. Whatever it is six-month-old fetuses are able to do- she does it and more. I swear. This leads to me waking up or being kept up. Sometimes I'm kept up out of amazement she just did such a thing and sometimes out of that, oh I don't know, fantastic feeling of someone beating a drum and kicking you from the inside out.

Then comes the wee morning hours. I'm pretty sure she calms down between 1-4:30am. Catches up on some shut eye and kicks back to enjoy the comfy life she's currently living. She really has no clue how easy she's got it right now. Mom keeps her belly full with lots of ice cream, chocolate, pickles, and bananas. It's always warm in there and she's got the run of the place as she is quickly pushing all of my major organs out of the way to make more room. What a life!

Then, come the early morning, its party time again! Woooo!! (Cue techno music, lasers, fog). Between 5-6:30am, more moves come out. I'm not sure how some of them are even possible. Maybe there's a future contortionist inside me? This morning, I swear, she was doing the worm from one side of her apartment to the other. Her feet were kicking out one side and her arms fist pumping out the other.

While it honestly makes me laugh most of the time, it also makes me want to cry. When she's born, is she going to continue this wild, fast-paced, dancing queen lifestyle? Is she going to run us ragged throughout the night refusing to sleep in the middle of the night?

Who knows. But the the only way I'll truly appreciate it is if she shows me the same moves outside my belly. I want to be the first with a newborn who does the worm. Or, lets be honest, I'd prefer to just be reassured her dance moves are much better than mine, right from birth.