9 days to go ...

I am absolutely miserable.  I thought I would have this baby early, but I am afraid I'm going to be eating my words.  I've had a terrible hacking cough for a week now and I'm convinced that I've cracked a rib on my right side.  I can't sleep - everything feels smushed when I lay on either side and sleeping on the back is definitely impossible.  The other night I tried to sleep upright in our chair in the den and that didn't even work out.  I've been up the last two nights for hours, just watching tv in the den while Mungee and DH sleep peacefully.  I know I shouldn't complain, but it's hard not to when I'm feeling this bad.

Here are some cute pictures to compensate for my misery.

At the zoo

New Year's Eve

Gymnastics

 35 Week Belly

I'm linking up with Shell at Things I Can't Say to Pour My Heart Out

29-30 Week Update

How far along: 29 weeks, 6 days

Total weight gain: 22.9 pounds.  I weigh more numerically than I did at this point with Mungee, but I started this pregnancy about 15 pounds heavier than I was when I got pregnant the first time.  By this time in my pregnancy with Mungee, I had gained 30 pounds.  I gained 45+ with her.  I hope to stay below a 35 pound gain with this one ... 10 more weeks to go, gaining an "average" of a pound a week would keep me on track.  (But who am I kidding, I gained 5 pounds in two weeks as of my appointment yesterday!)

Sleep habits: I don't feel like I'm getting restful sleep at all.  I can't lay on my back and I'm not that comfortable on either side.  I have a maternity pillow, but it's all smushed and usually falls off the bed in the middle of the night.

Maternity clothes: I have plenty of cute tops, but I'm limited with the pants right now.  This past Monday, I was positively uncomfortable at work in the pants I was wearing.  So much to the point that I was getting hot flashes and couldn't concentrate.  When I did laundry yesterday I realized why they were so uncomfortable - they're a size small ...

Best moment of the week: Yesterday I found out that I passed the three hour glucose tolerance test.  Now I don't have to overload on carbohydrates since I won't be restricted in eating them.  I blame my 5 pound weight gain on anticipatory carbohydrate overcompensation.

Food cravings: KitKats.  I bought one at work on Monday and Wednesday.  Today I took one from my dad's sandwich shop. 

Symptoms: I've had Braxton Hicks contractions for weeks.  They usually occur after I do something strenuous, like laundry or any chores or picking up Mungee, which she insists I still do despite the large round globe on the front of my body.

Movement: Constant.  I can feel elbows and knees and shoulders rolling around.  The OB felt for baby's position yesterday and said she thinks it is head down.  Sometimes I feel like it's sideways based on the painful rib expansion.

The Nursery: We moved the crib into the nursery when Mungee switched to her toddler bed.  Right now the crib is a catchall for the Boppy pillows, swaddles, extra blankets, as well as some totally non-baby related stuff.  I've got big plans to add a larger closet to the room.  We also need to get rid of a desk, miscellaneous junk, paint, decorate, pretty much everything to make the room look like it will house a baby and not a rummage sale.

Still to do: See above

What I'm looking forward to: Attempting to have a natural birth.  I tried and was unsuccessful with Mungee, but we are taking childbirth classes this time around so I *think* I'll be more prepared.

What I miss: Sleeping on my back, physical capability to do things without getting winded.

Next appointment: 31 weeks, 5 days.

Choices and Ice Cream

Earlier today, I asked Mungee if she thought the baby in mommy's belly is a boy or a girl.  She said "We have choices!"

As I was getting her into her pajamas this evening, she exclaimed "I want some ice cream".  I told her we didn't have any ice cream and she explained to me that "we have to order the food".

So, what's that about a baby in my belly?  Well, I'm almost halfway through my pregnancy with our second child.  This Saturday, I will be 19 weeks.  I am due March 24, 2012.  Mungee was born six days past her due date and if this baby is just as "late" we could be meeting him or her on our 4th wedding anniversary!

I had an anatomy scan last Friday and Mungee's Pa and I held out on finding out if this baby is a boy or a girl.  I began the pregnancy with the thought in mind that I wanted to be surprised, but Mungee's Pa wasn't always on board.  A couple weeks before the ultrasound, he decided he was okay with not finding out.  It was definitely difficult during the ultrasound not to peek when the wand was potentially passing over identifying parts, but we managed.  I almost gave in and blurted out "Okay, tell us!"  I did feel weird leaving the office not knowing, but I am getting used to it.  I definitely don't think it's necessary to know the baby's sex in order to get things ready for his/her arrival.  It would make things easier for figuring out a name - for instance, if I knew it was a boy, I could stop trying to think of girl names - I'm having the most difficult time coming up with a name that I love.  We kind of think Mungee already has the best girl name ever.

This pregnancy has been much harder on me physically than my first.  With the first pregnancy, I could take it easy whenever I needed to - rest, climb into bed, take a nice bath, etc.  This time around, I don't have the luxury of sitting down to relax at will - I have a very busy, needy, curious 2-year-old to keep up with!  Emotionally it has been a bit trying as well since this pregnancy follows my miscarriage earlier this year.  I've been much more nervous and was using a home doppler to check the baby's heartbeat nearly every day until I started to feel consistent movement.  As the baby continues to move around more and more, my mind is eased a little, but there are days when I don't feel much movement, so the doppler comes in handy.

I've been working part-time, inside and outside the home.  I go into my office two days a week and I am able to work at home sporadically - when Mungee is at school in the morning and during her short afternoon nap.  It's a temporary short-term position, which should end in January.  Once the new baby arrives, I will be staying home again.  I'm not going to lie, I'm quite nervous about how I will be able to handle having a toddler and a newborn at home.  I have a great support system available, so I just need to be sure that I call on them if I think I'm getting in over my head.

If you have more than one child, how far apart are they?  What was the easiest thing about going from one to two?  The hardest?  I'd love some advice for staying sane!

One Year Ago

Want to see me on my due date last year?  It was August 11, 2009.  Is it weird that I can't remember how my body felt carrying around 8 pounds of baby, and another ??? pounds of the other stuff that comes along with carrying a baby?

I'm still not grasping the reality that my baby will be one next week.  She's babbling all the time, pulling up on EVERYTHING, even attempting to brush the little tuft of hair that she has.

Mungee was 6 days overdue.  Can we delay her birthday by 6 days?  Or more.  Please and thank you to the birthday gods.

This made me giggle

I'm transferring some old blog posts over here and the pregnancy ticker I had on my first blog was still counting down ... imagine how huge/uncomfortable/scary I would be if I was really this far along!

Telling our families on Christmas Day

We're going to have family over for a casual meal on Christmas Day. I hope I can actually stomach eating, especially since I requested that my mom make stuffed cabbage.

If all goes well, we will make our announcement at 7W2D. I bought a picture frame for DH's dad that says "I Love My Grandpa". I am still on the lookout for a frame for my parents. I will put  Mungee's first picture in the frame and give them to my parents and DH's dad at the same time to open. I hope they don't look at it and say, "What's this?"

I am a little disappointed that all the family won't be present for our announcement. Nanny will still be in rehab for her hip and my bro and his GF will be house-hopping, spending Christmas with her family. DH said there's no way we can get them all together to tell them at once. I hope everyone who does hear our big announcement will be as excited as we are!

Morning sickness, constipation and food aversions

I thought I was going to be lucky and avoid morning sickness, but it struck at 6 weeks exactly. I also am pooping less frequently and I don't like a lot of the foods that normally bring me great joy and pleasure. Actually writing about food is making me nauseous so I'm going to stop.

Kind of funny, but tonight we went out to dinner and I got Arroz con Pollo (and didn't eat the pollo). On top of the rice was a bed of peas. Being that this week little Mungee is the size of a sweet pea, I gently picked off every single one of the peas and would not eat them. DH thinks I am crazy, but he thought I was crazy before I was pregnant so not much has changed there :)

Trying again at the Dollar Tree

I made it to the bank with 5 minutes to spare to deposit a check and get some cash back so I could go to the Dollar Tree and buy more pregnancy tests. As I was paying, the clerk asked me if I had come in last week and with shifty side eyes, I said "Um, no that was not me". But then I immediately admitted it was me. I must have made an impression last time I was there.

I got home and took a test and :::crossing fingers::: I'm still pregnant! Woohoo!

POAS - Take Two!

Yesterday I decided that if my temperature went up this morning, I would take the one other HPT that was lurking in the bathroom. Well, I had a huge temperature jump! I got up and peed in a cup, then dipped the internet cheapie stick in the pee. The light in the bathroom was dim, so I couldn't tell if anything showed up at first, then I thought I saw the faintest hint of a line! I moved the test into better lighting and sure enough, there were TWO LINES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I started shaking, I just could not believe it. 

DH was still asleep. I got the digital camera and took way too many pictures of my pee-stick. Then I went back to the bedroom and got in bed. I couldn't stay in bed, so I got up again and took more pee-stick pictures. Then I went back in the bedroom and DH eventually got up. I got back in bed with him and was very happy and he said, "What are you so happy about?" And I said "Nothing ... I don't know ..." Then he asked if I fed the cats and cleaned the litter. I said "I fed the cats, but I won't be able to clean the litter." DH said "Why not?" I said "I don't know ..." and he said "Are you pregnant?" And I said "I don't know ..." (singsong voice)

Next I asked DH to get up and come into the office where I had the HPT sitting on his desk. I asked him to close his eyes and then I showed it to him and he said "What's that?", "What's that mean?" And I said, "There's two lines there - You did it!"

I am going to go to the Dollar Tree again tonight (with cash that I need to scrounge up, because we don't have any in the house) and buy more tests. I'll need to call the doctor to schedule an appointment to confirm.

I just cannot believe this is happening. It is so surreal.

I am 4 weeks according to my LMP, but technically 2 weeks according to my ovulation date. My due date based on LMP is 8/12/09, but based on ovulation, it's 8/11/09.

Cycle #2 Chart