Round 2: 22 weeks

How far along:   22 weeks

Baby Size:  Papaya or a box of mac n cheese.

Weight:  Up a pound from last week; About 12 pounds total.

Symptoms:  

• Gas pains
• Sciatic nerve pain
• Wild wild dreams
• Lack of patience with Rob.

Maternity Clothes:  Mostly maternity tops, and almost all bottoms.  I just got some lularoe leggings in and I am loving them!

Sleep:  Up every hour and a half to two hours

Cravings/Food Aversions:  Trying to cut back on the sweets.  I've had a few days this week where what sounds good at the time no longer is appealing once it's made.

Belly Button:  Still in

Rings on or off: On

Gender:  Lately I lean more towards girl, but there are some days I am convinced it's a boy.  I did have a dream last night it was a girl though.  

If I ask Eleanor she will almost always say girl.

Name:  Yes to boy, maybe to girl?

Movement: Yep!  No kicks but lots of thumping and bumping.  The other day Eleanor was in bed with us after she woke up and she was giggling so loud and the baby was giving me some strong movements. 

Stretch Marks: The ones on my belly are darkening already. 

Best moment:  Feeling more movement.

Looking forward to:  Viability in 2 weeks!

Nervous about: Being off of work and having no income (other than Rob's)

What I miss:  Holding Eleanor without being uncomfortable.


Labor signs:  Nope

Appointments:   Next week, on the 7th which is also Eleanor's birthday!

Misc. 

Round 2: 21 weeks

How far along:  21 weeks

Baby Size:  Pomegranate or a beer bottle

Weight:  3 1/2 pounds this last week, which puts me up about 12 lbs so far. 

Symptoms:   

• Wild dreams
• Sciatic Nerve
• I'm probably going to need to start sleeping with a bra on
• My bowels are still very active.  
• I feel like I eat all the time.  I thought that maybe I was eating out of boredom (and I'm sure that's part of it) so I tried to not do that but I was still hungry.  
  

Maternity Clothes:  Mostly tops, pretty much all bottoms.  I'm getting a bit of a bump which is helping hold up the full panel pants.

Sleep:  I am still up often but when I am sleeping it is a deeper sleep

Cravings/Food Aversions:   I told Rob that I think this baby is going to be born with diabetes because of the junk and sugar I've been consuming.  Why can't I want fruit?

Belly Button:  In but it's getting shallower

Rings on or off: On

Gender:  Girl.   I kind of have been feeling girl vibes lately, but really I say girl because I think every single person (except one or two) thinks this baby is a boy.  I just have to be difficult

Name:  Girl, probably.  Boy, yes.

Movement:  Yep.  And I'm starting to get some movement from the outside. 

Stretch Marks:  No new ones, but I think they are becoming darker

Best moment:  Not baby related. Last Thursday was my birthday and then we went to Shipshewana on Friday for the night.  It was a nice change of pace.

Looking forward to:  Rob feeling the baby. 

Nervous about:  Eleanor being jealous.  Sometimes with the baby I watch she will get jealous.  Usually she loves her friend and is so sweet and helpful but she has the moments where as soon as the baby cries she will whine to be held because she knows that it means I will pick the baby up. 

What I miss:  Holding Eleanor comfortably.  It's hard to hold her and she wants to be held at times also.  I feel so bad telling her no.


Labor signs:  Nope

Appointments:  October 7 for a prenatal checkup

Misc.  I had a dream on Friday night it was a girl.  I went to the hospital at 38 weeks expecting to be sent home, but then the doctor said it was okay and I could have the baby then.   Next thing I know Rob was holding our baby girl and she had dark hair and was wearing a green onesie and pants.   She was 5 lbs 16 oz (which I am aware is actually 6 lbs; side note- I was 5 lbs 15 oz) Apparently the doctor just pushed on my stomach and out popped the baby (vaginally).  No c-section and recovery was amazing.

Then Sunday night I had a dream I was pregnant but we adopted a girl.  We went to this agency and the lady was like you can have this baby.  She was three months old and had a ton of hair.  I tried to nurse her but was scared to because she already had 2 teeth on the bottom.

On Sunday we had this get together with people who were really important in Rob's mom's life when she was a teenager and who they haven't seen in years.  I've never met them and while they were all so sweet and kind I did get my first random belly rub.  I met this woman 30 seconds before and she's rubbing my belly already.  I don't get as weird about it as some people, and my best friend rubbed my belly when it was just bloat (talking to you Christina, lol), but I was still like um hi nice to meet you.  I gathered through she's just a very touchy feely person and it's her personality (and really she was very sweet)

Round 2: 20 weeks

Then 10 weeks to 20 weeks (bloat to baby bump)

And 20 weeks with Eleanor and 20 weeks with this baby. 

How far along:   20 weeks so halfway...

Baby Size:  A banana,


Weight:  Up 8lbs overall.  Sometimes it's more, sometimes less.  The weight is really creeping up there now.  I know it happens, but it's hard not to get a little anxious seeing it.

Symptoms:   

• Lots of abdominal achiness
• Hungry all the time.  
• Sciatic nerve pain.  After sitting on the floor for even short periods of time it hurts when I stand up.  It's generally not horrible, although today was/is worse, but it is there and has been for a week or so. 

Maternity Clothes:  Yes

Sleep:  3 hours a night good?

Cravings/Food Aversions:   I want the oreo's, ice cream, and junk food.  I buy fruit with grand ambitions of eating better but the oreo's tempt me so they win.

Belly Button:  In

Rings on or off: On

Gender:   At the anatomy scan when the tech was by the waist I thought I saw the three lines that would indicate girl, and my heart sank a little.  Not because I wasn't thrilled with a girl, but I didn't want to know.   
But then I thought I saw them again when she was by the heart.  She did tell us to look away when she was by the legs though if we didn't want to know.  
Then I saw the thumbnail image she saved and what looked like the legs and nothing was in between them that I could see, but it was a small image and maybe it was an arm.  I didn't know what I was looking at most of the time anyway so I guess I still don't know.

Name:  Yes to boy, maybe to girl. 

Movement:  Lots now.   

Stretch Marks: I haven't seen any new ones. 

Best moment: Seeing the baby again and having everything look good at the anatomy scan.  I wish we had gotten better pictures; these are it really.

It's arm wrapped around it's leg

Looking forward to:  Not baby related, but it's my birthday tomorrow (Um I'll be 30?) and we are going away (with Eleanor) for the night on Friday (although I'm nervous about this because she is a terrible sleeper when we aren't home) I'm still really hoping for a night away from Eleanor at some point (I've never been away from her for more than 10 hours) before the baby comes.  I'll will miss her, but I don't want the birth of the baby to be the first time I am away from her.  

Nervous about:  Seeing the baby again and feeling movement gave me this oh my word I'm really going to have a baby moment!


What I miss:  Not much this week.


Labor signs: Nope

Appointments:  October 7 (Eleanor's birthday; I made it this day because I was taking the day off work and it was easier than trying to leave work early a different day).

Misc.  I forgot to mention this last week, but we got our newborn photographer.  I messaged the girl I wanted and of course she was already booked.  Ugh!  So she gave me some recommendations and I found someone who was priced within my budget and who's work I liked. 

Boy or Girl?

Although we are going team green and not finding out the sex of this baby it's still fun to guess.  I went through some of the myths and old wives tales out there to see what they would say.  I just took ten, and tested them out. 

1) Ring test:  Dangle a ring over your belly and if it swings in a circle it's a girl.  If it swings back and forth baby is a boy.  

Result: Boy

2) Chinese Gender Chart:   There is more than one version for this, but I used the same one I used with Eleanor (which was right for her).  It is based off your age at conception and the month the baby was conceived.

Result: Girl

3) Heart rate:  If it's over 140 baby is a girl; under baby is a boy

This baby has been in the 140's and 150's (Eleanor's was also above 140 the entire pregnancy; or at least that I can remember)

Result: Girl

4) Linea Niagra:  This is the line that forms on your belly. An old wive's tale states that if the line goes past your belly button it is a boy. If it doesn't you are having a girl.   With Eleanor it went all they way up to my breasts so wrong for her.   It hasn't really shown up this time around so no guess with that. 
Result:  Unkown

5) Cravings:  Sweet cravings equal girl (true with Eleanor) and savory cravings mean a boy baby.   I haven't really had a lot of cravings but have craved more savory things.
Result: Boy

6) Morning Sickness:  An easy pregnancy means a boy, a difficult one means a girl.  I was pretty nauseous at the start and still feel it randomly.
Result: Girl

7)  Mayan tale:  Take the mother's age at conception and the year and add them together.  Even number means girl and odd means boy.
Result: Girl

8) History of parents kids:  You can find out the sex by going off of your parent’s kids and the order.  If you are the first born, you will have what your mother had but starting with her second child.  If you are the middle child, you will have what she said, but starting with the third child.  If you are the last child, you will have what your mother had in the exact order.  I think this tale only works when the parent’s had three kids.  

(Lucky for me my mom had three kids (boy, girl, girl).  And my brother did have a girl first, I had a girl first and my sister had a boy first so it was all true there, but then my sister had a boy for her second.
Result: Boy

9) Aggression in bed: The person that is most aggressive in bed at the time of conception is the opposite of what the baby will be.  I was probably more aggressive, but only because I knew I was really close to ovulation and this was our only shot that month because of Rob's surgery that week.
Result: Boy

10) Side you lay on:  If a pregnant woman prefers to lay on her left side, she’s having a boy.  If she prefers resting on her right side, she’s having a girl. (I'm more comfortable on my right side, but I've always been that way)
Result: Girl

Boy = 4
Girl = 5
Unkown =1

So it's pretty much an even toss up, as it is anyway.  21ish more weeks! 

Any guesses on what this baby is?

Round 2: 19 weeks

How far along:  19 weeks

Baby Size:  Sunglasses, a softball, a hot dog, or a mango. 

Weight:  Apparently I gained 2lbs this last week.   I'm blaming it on being limited on what I can eat because of  my tooth issues so I ate whatever I could, and also feeling nauseous afterwards and not exercising plus the holiday weekend.  So not my fault...lol.   That puts me up about 8 lbs total.

Symptoms:  

• I don't know if this is pregnancy related or not, but I have no patience with Rob.  His jokes aren't funny and I'm so sensitive to everything he does or says it seems like.
• Also, my bowels, have been uh more active lately

Maternity Clothes: Yes.  Some of my regular shirts still fit but I'm wearing maternity ones because I got bored of the clothes I had.

Sleep:  It is better, but still not great really.  I don't wake up every hour anymore.  It's every 2 hours.

Cravings/Food Aversions:    I really wanted onion rings (the deep fried greasy kind) the other day.  Problem was that I had my wisdom teeth out so eating them with my front teeth was tough, but they were worth it. 

Not my picture, but just like these. 

Belly Button:  In

Rings on or off: On

Gender:  Maybe a boy?  I don't know.  Sometimes I see boy when  I picture it and sometimes girl.

Name:  Boy yes, Girl maybe?


Movement:  Yes.  At least I think so.  It feels twitchy at times, but it was right around the time I did with Eleanor.  So I'm pretty confident it's movement.   None of this happening yet. 

Stretch Marks:  None that I didn't already have

Best moment: Feeling real movement.  Getting the results from the screening and finding out it was normal.  The chance of down syndrome is 1/1,100, Trisomy 18 is less than 1/10,000 as is a neural tube defect.   I know that the blood work doesn't test for everything so there could still be problems, but I feel a little better.  

Looking forward to:  The anatomy scan Friday

Nervous about:  Appointment tomorrow and the anatomy scan Friday.  

What I miss:   Not worrying about everything, and being anxiety free.


Labor signs:  Nope

Appointments:   Tomorrow for a prenatal appointment (It's been 5 weeks) and the Anatomy Scan Friday.

Misc.  I got my wisdom teeth out and I'm so glad.  The pain was actually pretty minimal and I only took a Tylenol once and a norco once and that was it.  I still have some sensitivity on the side where they took out the bottom and the top but it's better.  I wish I would have done it years ago, but I was nervous about it and the cost.  

Last night I had a dream that we found out at the anatomy scan that it was twins.  We still stayed team green and it ended up being two girls.  I'm not really worried about a surprise baby showing up at this point (3 ultrasounds with just one little baby already), but I was still like uh, what if....?

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Round 2: 18 weeks

How far along: 18 weeks

Baby Size:  Sweet potato  

Weight:   Up about 6lbs

Symptoms:   Peeing all the time at night.  It's pee, lay down, get up, pee lay down and sometimes this repeats for an hour and a  half. 

Maternity Clothes:  Yes, mostly bottoms are maternity because I can't button jeans.

Sleep:  Terrible, but that's in part due to tooth pain (see below)

Cravings/Food Aversions:  Nothing really that I have to have, lots of things that don't sound good at all.

Belly Button:  In

Rings on or off: On

Gender:  I'm leaning toward a boy this week.   We found out at 18 weeks that Eleanor was a girl, but going team green this time is making me anxious and excited.

Name:  I am probably going to let Rob have the girl name he wants, even though I don't love the meaning, boy we have already

Movement: I think so.  I felt Eleanor at 18 weeks 2 days for the first time.  I am thinking I feel her but sometimes I feel movement by where the waistband of my pants are so I wondered if it was just that adjusting. I know that sounds so ridiculous. 

Stretch Marks: Yes, from Eleanor

Best moment:  My sister gave me a ton of boy clothes, maternity clothes and baby things.  I have to store all the boy clothes, and I don't have room really, but couldn't say no in case this is a boy. 

Looking forward to:  Seeing baby next week. 

Nervous about: Appointments next week, getting my teeth removed (see misc.)

What I miss:  Feeling like I got enough sleep


Labor signs:  Nope

Appointments:  September 10 for prenatal checkup and September 11 for anatomy scan

Misc. Honestly I'm miserable.  I'm having pain from my wisdom teeth and they need to come out.  I wanted them out earlier this year.  I did the panoramic x-rays and paid $120 for them, waited well over a month for a consult with an oral surgeon in March and then paid $70 for that.  Then waited four more months to find out it would cost me $750 to get all 3 out.   And at some point in that time frame I got pregnant which set me back more.    I really am nervous about this because of the pregnancy.  

But I'm getting them out tomorrow.   And because of the pregnancy they can't use sedation.  This means that I don't need someone to bring me making logistics easier,  it also means that it's actually going to cost significantly less (like half the cost), but I'm not sure if they are doing all 3 or just the 2 that bug me now.  The downside is that I will hear all the noises. 

18 weeks with Eleanor