17 weeks

I actually had to stop and think, "What week am I on?" I guess I have too many distractions going on with this exam (CAS #7). It will be over in 2 weeks though (until the next sitting).

So, pregnancy news? I'm not quite sure what to say. I have experienced some round ligament pains, maybe once or twice. My baby bump is obvious. I feel the baby quite a lot. Chris has felt him or her too. No good kicks or punches yet.

My appetite is slowly increasing. I'm making a list of new dish ideas to cook that will hopefully be healthier (and tastier)! Today I made "chickenish nuggets", a recipe given to me by a friend. It's basically chopped up leftovers - chicken, veggies, and couscous, rolled in breadcrumbs and milled flax seed. While I wasn't able to make them quite like they were supposed to be made, they still tasted okay- and were healthy! (Hadley loved them).

Sleeping is going okay. My energy level is good, but my exercise level is nonexistent until this exam is over :( Fortunately, I haven't had much weight gain!

Coming up: 20 week ultrasound, 28 week gestational diabetes test, 28 week rhogam shot... not sure what else! Just trying to stay virus free with all the stuff going around (swine flu, strep, etc...). Bring on May!

16 weeks!

Chris, Hadley, and I arrived to my doctor's appointment 10 minutes late! I have decided that 8:15 is not a good time for an appointment. We hit every school zone and stoplight...

Other than having to wait a bit for the doc, everything went well. My blood pressure must be fine because they never say anything about it. I gained 2 pounds, which I find unbelievable. My body feels so much bigger lately!

I mentioned to the doc about the occasional headaches I've been having. Not sure if it's due to studying, allergies, or the increased blood flow from the pregnancy. I've had drainage too. This is a common pregnancy symptom in the second and third trimesters.

We did get to hear the baby's heartbeat, however, we didn't get to hear it long. The baby was on the move. Hadley didn't like the doppler, so her little brother or sister must not either! The doc tried to get a heart rate. IF she was able to get it, she said it was about 130 bpm. Hadley's was between 150 and 160 at 16 weeks. At 12 weeks the baby's heartbeat was higher... so, this little one isn't giving us any good guesses at the gender based on the heart rate!

The ultrasound has been scheduled for my 20 week visit! I'm very excited! I can't wait to see our baby move around, count his or her fingers and toes, and find out if we are having a "Lathen Christopher" or "??(insert girl name here)??"! Great times are coming :D

Forgetting things

With the first pregnancy, you know all the lingo and don't forget one milestone because it's all you have to think about and research. With pregnancy #2, I haven't researched as much because now I feel like I know what to expect (not to mention my time is taken up with Hadley and studying for my next actuarial exam). So, while reading a blog today, I just realized I had not been watching for when I "popped". I don't know when it happened, but I do know it's happened! My belly looks and feels much bigger than it did with Hadley at this stage. One big reason is it's common to get bigger sooner with the second pregnancy because you're body is ready to go back into that position. Another reason, I think, is I've been having some minor digestive/bloating issues that I did not have with Hadley. Sometimes I feel and look bigger than I am because my belly is just temporarily "swollen", lol.

As far as I can tell, the baby is doing fine. I think I felt a kick this week. We go back to the doctor for my 16 week check up on Tuesday. Praying for continued good news!

14 weeks!

14 weeks! I'm so excited! I can't wait to get this darn exam behind me so I can fully enjoy my husband, my Hadley, and my pregnancy! Last night I was having trouble getting to sleep (and sleeping). For a while I was lying on my back with my hand on my lower belly. All of the sudden I felt this lump! I had felt it a few times during the night. It wasn't until that specific moment that I realized, "This is the baby!!" I would have immediately told Chris so he could feel too, but he was sound asleep. Feeling your growing baby is so... awesome and heart warming! I just kept my hand there, lightly rubbing around the "bump". Chris used to play with Hadley when she was a little bigger than 14 weeks. He would feel the bump, give her a little push, and I would feel her either push back or scramble to another spot. You really can bond with your baby before you ever get to hold him or her. This is just one of many reasons that I cannot understand how anyone could do anything to harm a growing baby. A pregnancy, and as a result a child, is a gift from God, no matter the circumstance. Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you..."