Pain in my...

Tomorrow is the day.

I'm not sure how I'm feeling right now about the upcoming events. I'm nervous. I'm scared. I'm anxious. I think Little Man is also starting to feel that the change is coming. Not only did he talk and scream and play and walk around in his bed instead of taking a nap today, he's acting like he just ate a double fudge chocolate cake with M&M's on top and ice cream.

And then on top of everything, I'm sitting here with a sore foot from a wart removal procedure yesterday and a bruised, swollen ring finger from slamming it in the truck door. Fortunately, I caught more of the tip of the finger but it still hurts like a mother f$%^er.

Put that together with a big baby moving around inside trying to get comfortable (don't get too comfortable kid), I'm just not in the mood for anything right now.

So, I'm going to go scrapbook and hopefully get my mind off of everything. Then somehow try and relax before tomorrow.

Wish me luck.

This one will have to do

So, this week has actually gotten away from me faster than I expected. Maybe because hubby has been home and we've been busy with Little Man all week. However, I did promise a pregnancy pic, so I wanted to share. This was taken today at a local pumpkin farm field trip with Little Man's class. It doesn't quite show off the belly. I'll try to get some of those a little later. But for now, this will have to do.


Please keep your fingers crossed over the weekend that the new kid doesn't decide to make his appearance early. It being a full moon and all on Sunday.

Don't worry. They're coming.

Okay, I know some of you were upset that I didn't post any pictures of my big belly with my Waddle post. Sorry about that. I had every intention of taking pics myself (which would have been a big task with the size of this belly), but of course I got distracted with something else.

So next week, with hubby being home for two weeks, I've enlisted his help with taking pics... of me.... and my belly. Although I wish I could afford a professional photographer to come out, I'm a little apprehensive about showing my belly to even my husband, much less a stranger taking pictures it.

I have a few ideas in mind already, so I'm going to show hubby pics I've found online, set up the tripod, and hope for the best. Worst case scenario, they don't turn out very well, but at least I'll have documentation of the "big belly".

So stay tuned. I promise pregnancy pics are coming (with or without the stretch marks I haven't decide yet).

Almost there

It's hard to believe that in 16 days, our family will be completely changed. Our little family of three will become four. It seems like only last week that I was sending out Valentine Day cards that stated Little Man was going to be a big brother. I'm sure the last 9 months have flown by due partly, or maybe mostly, to Little Man A.

I think the nesting phase has definitely hit me. It started last weekend when I went through all our baby clothes, reorganized them by size in their own bin, washed the 0-3 month clothes, and moved the the play yard upstairs. Good thing I received an email from Parents.com about equipment recalls because our play yard was actually part of that recall. Turns out the Simplicity play yards have collapsed on their own, killing and injuring children over the past five months. If you want to know more about this recall and others, check out Product recalls on their website. Thankfully, Burlington Coat Factory gave me no hassles returning and exchanging a recalled product from three years ago.

I do have to admit that I still have doubts/fears/anxieties about having a second child. At least I've taken care of the fact that I won't have to wait until after his due date, but Little Man and I have gotten into such a routine, I hope it's not difficult fitting in another one. I'm sure all or most mothers have the same concerns about having a second child. Why else would they say that when you have three, it's no big deal (although I'm sure some parents would beg to differ).

I think my biggest concern is how Little Man will adjust to our new addition. Will he still be able to sleep through the night and until 8am when there is a screaming baby in the house? Will he lash out at me, his dad, or even the new kid from jealousy/anger? Will his personality change with a little brother around?

The good thing is that I will not have to endure the task of caring for two children alone - at least not right away. I will have plenty of support from my husband (at least for 3 weeks before he has to go to school) and my parents (who will be moving in for the month of October). Thankfully, like I may have stated before, my father is willing to stay until Christmas time. Hopefully, this will turn out to be a very good thing, for both myself (my sanity) and Little Man A. I'm sure - I know - he'll love having Pop-pop around.

Once I get past the first 3 months, then I get to worry about doing it all on my own.

Waddle, waddle, waddle

What do you think of when you read those words? Ducks? Geese? Penguins? Not me. I think of an 8-1/2 month pregnant woman who feels like she's about to bust.

That? Would be me.

It's hard to believe that I am only 29 days away from having a second child. These last couple weeks I've been going back and forth between relief that it's almost over and pure terror for what's to come. I'm sure I would be a little more relaxed about the situation if hubby wasn't abandoning me going to school in November for 7 weeks right after the new one arrives. My parents will be here for three weeks after he arrives and hubby will be on leave, so the first couple weeks should be okay. After everyone leaves in November, I'm lucky enough to have my father stay here and help with part of the load. Hopefully, I won't drive him crazy before he leaves after Christmas time.

And just for your viewing pleasure, he's my buddha belly at 35 weeks.

You should see the stretch marks this kid is making. Actually, he's just making the ones that Little Man created even worse. And let me tell you. The creams that say they "diminish the effects of stretch marks" - don't work one bit.

Final Jeopardy

Answer: October 9th, 2009

Question: What is my new due date??

Yes, after visiting my new doctor on Wednesday, she has agreed and sees no problem with inducing me early. YEAH!! Can I just tell you how relieved I am? I was so nervous to be visiting with this doctor for the first time since changing from my Nurse Practitioner. The Nurse Practitioner that was handling my visits decided, due to family reason and concerns, to go on a medical sabbatical. It was really nice to have someone actually looking out for me during this pregnancy and not just blowing my concerns off as a side effect of pregnancy. It has really made me wonder whether I was having medical problems with LMA's pregnancy or if I really was going crazy (well, we all know I was going crazy, but that's beside the point).

And the top it off, this doctor delivered Little Man A. Hubby and I also know a few other people who have had a great experience with this doctor as well.

So, yes. October 9th is the day. Unless of course he decides on his own to come out early. Watch. He'll come out on his own on October 8th. Damn kids.

A nice day with a great camera

My birthday was extended by another week. My father and hubby did the shopping for my new camera and picked up an extra large camera bag to boot. I already have enough bags to carry and the battery that came with the bag didn't work with my camera. When we went back to return the camera bag, the deal became even sweeter when my camera went on sale as a bundle offer. I was able to snatch a Macro lens (75mm-300mm) and an extra battery with the camera. So not only can I take excellent close up photos, I can take a picture of the lion's ear when visiting the National Zoo.

Not that I really want to join the realm of photojournalists out there, but I had to show off more photos with my new camera. These photos were taken at our local park over the weekend. I love how the colors just pop!


As a side note, wish me luck. Today I have my second glucose test to check for gestational diabetes. This fun blood test takes over three hours since they are drawing blood every hour after I drink a nasty, flat orange drink. I really don't want to be on a special diet for the remainder of this pregnancy.

It's a ....

So did you take the time to vote as to what I'm carrying?? Did you guess that Little Man was going to have a baby sister or brother?

Well, if you voted that I was having a BOY, you would be correct!

This is somewhat of a relief considering we already have all boy items. Buying new girl things I'm sure would not have been a problem with anyone in my family, especially Gramma. However, now hubby is toying with the idea of trying for a girl. Whatever! After this one, the fact that we will have no more children (at least that come out of my body) will be made permanent. Somebody's getting snipped.

Now that the gender of the baby is out of the way, we need to figure out a name. And not just any name. It has to be unique like LMA's and preferably not start with the letter A. We have a few ideas, but the end decision will remain a secret until the "new kid" welcomes us with his presence.

Oh, and to top things off, he's already a week and a half bigger than he should be. At least I know this time we won't go past my due date, but unfortunately that won't change unless he's measured three full weeks ahead of schedule. So I guess I'm having another large baby, like it or not. Apparently, there's also a soccer match going on inside me because he's done nothing by kick and punch like crazy lately.

Anyway, hope everyone has a wonderful AND dry weekend. (We're so sick of the rain.)

Depressed/Stressed pregnancy

I read this in my pregnancy e-newsletter from our local Army Hospital. Depression is one concern that I have already stressed (no pun intended) to my nurse practitioner. Both hubby and I know that I was depressed during and after my pregnancy with LMA, but I never spoke up to anyone about it. Or if I did mention it to my midwife, she dismissed it. Thankfully this time around, I have someone who is more appreciative of my concerns and with a background in psychology. Fortunately and unfortunately, this article did not apply to me. Because if it had, LMA would not have been forced out a week late.


"Depression in pregnancy increases risk of premature delivery

To learn more about how depression might affect a pregnancy, researchers surveyed almost 800 women in the San Francisco Bay area about their emotional state early in their pregnancies. Of these women, 42% reported significant symptoms of depression, and 22% reported having severe symptoms. Researchers found that the women who reported severe depression were twice as likely to deliver prematurely as women who didn't have any symptoms of depression. Premature delivery associated with depression appeared to increase with low educational level, a history of fertility problems, obesity, and stressful events. This research suggests that doctors should screen women for depression early in their pregnancy to help prevent premature delivery.

Source: Human Reproduction 24 (2009): 146-53."

As a side note, I can't believe that I am already halfway through this pregnancy. Compared to last time, the time has flown by. I'm sure it also helps to have a terrible two toddler to take care of to pass the time. 

Take a guess

I thought it would neat to see what everyone (okay, all of four people who read my blog) would guess what I'm having. We find out on Tuesday. I'll let the suspense hold until the end of next week to see how the ruling goes, then I'll tell you.

Just to give you some comparison, with LMA I had sensitivity to smells (nothing in particular) which would make me nauseous from weeks 9 to 12. With this one, it was more nausea all the time (not just from smells) and wicked heartburn from weeks 6 to 9. With LMA I would have different cravings for certain foods/candy every 2 weeks or so. This time, I was hungry non-stop during the first trimester for anything and everything, but no cravings per se since then. With LMA, I could feel the little kicks and rolling at 15 weeks and same with this one. With LMA I gained a total of 25 pounds (maybe 30 because the starting weight was at my 9 week appointment). I've already gained 20 pounds since I found out I was pregnant (at 5 weeks) and I'm only halfway through.

So click on the link to the right and let me know what you think I'm having.

Oh Joy.

For those of you who think that I've been on the ball over the past few weeks, with all the postings and all, you would be mistaken. I just happened to have a couple hours one night a few weeks ago and scheduled all the entries.

It's a good thing I did do those entries because if not, you would not have heard from me.... at all.

If you asked me 3 weeks ago how I was feeling, I would have replied, "I don't even feel pregnant." Oh, how the tables have turned since then. I've officially begun the joys delight (let's not sugar coat this) adventures (to be nice) of pregnancy-hood.

1. Mood swings
Okay, this was more during week 5 and 6. Probably more out of the shock, disbelief, and pure horror hitting that I was pregnant again. So, we were trying, but that doesn't take the shock out of it at first. I'm sure anyone, even those who are absolutely elated about being pregnant, at some point say, "What the hell am I doing?" Lately, the mood swings have been centered around food. If I don't get food when I need it and right then, I turn into Dr. Jeckyll AND Mr. Hyde.

2. Excessive hunger
You can watch the clock on my hunger. Not sure if it's because I really don't have the time to sit down and enjoy a full meal since I have a toddler to entertain, but I'm STARVING ALL THE TIME. If I don't eat at least every hour and a half, I start to shake, feel light-headed, and need something NOW! Last pregnancy, I was lucky if I could eat more than saltine crackers and cinnamon-sugar toast during the first trimester. This time, I'm eating two (yes, two!) platefuls of nachos and feeling hungry again a hour later.

3. Nauseous, nauseous, nauseous
Did I mention I was nauseous? As soon as I hit 6 weeks pregnant, I've been feeling nauseous non stop. Well, except when I'm eating. As soon as I'm done, I feel nauseous. And it doesn't matter how much or how little of something I eat (ie two platefuls of nachos). When I do find something, or should I say crave something, I make sure to get my full share. Because two minutes later, I feel like I'm going to get sick. I did find one thing that works... California navel oranges. Must be the fiber and vitamin C.

4. Sleepless nights
No matter how exhausted I am through the day, whether I take a nap or not, as soon as my head hits my pillow I can't go to sleep. I've tried reading books just to clear my head, but it doesn't work. As soon as the light is out, everything and anything is floating through my head. I know I can take Unisom (actually during pregnancy it has an anti-nausea effect), but I'm even more exhausted the following day, even just taking half a pill. I had taken Melatonin previous to finding out I was pregnant to help me get to sleep, but not sure of side effects. Of course, being exhausted all day makes me want to take a nap during the day. Which of course, starts the endless cycle of sleeplessness.

5. Do you smell that?
This side effect of being pregnant was what really got me my first pregnancy. Of course last time it didn't help that I was working in a vet's office with cat and dog smells. This time, it's just the same. I went grocery shopping the other day and had to practically run through particular aisles with someone wearing excessive perfume. When LMA and I visited the LEGO store while they were cleaning a display, I practically threw up right there in the entryway. I think the only time this has become an advantage is being able to smell LMA's diaper from across the room. Although, LMA has found it fun when I walk into an area with food and say, "Mmmm, do you smell that?" To which he replies, "Mmm, smell that."

6. Glass of Milk anyone?
I went grocery shopping on Monday night. Since then, I alone, have almost finished an entire gallon of milk. I bought three gallons of skim milk to last us two weeks. Thank goodness I'm not lactose intolerant. I'm drinking at least 64 ounces of water per day, sometimes even 96 ounces, but somehow I'll end up drinking more milk. Unfortunately, this leaves a nasty milk after taste in my mouth most of the day, which of course leads back to feeling nauseous.

I just hope all this stops, like it did the first time, after 12 weeks along. I don't know how much more I can take being nauseous, let alone try not to puke while going grocery shopping because I smell something funny. I just hope I can make it through our trip to St. Maarten in three weeks.

A new tool

This pregnancy must be really inspiring me. Either that or it's making me realize that I only have 8 more months to get caught up on Little Man's scrapbooking pages.

In the past couple of weeks, I've managed to complete several different projects including a few pages for Little Man's album. Deadlines usually do that to me. And let me tell you. This is a good thing.

The other thing that has inspired me to get more layouts done are quick collages from Scrapbooks Etc.. Not only can you use these to just drop elements into each square, you could use them as a guide if you need to know what to place a particular element. Rotate it 90 or 180 degrees and you have a completely different look. I've used them as a quick way to make a digital layout. Add a few lines of text for journaling, a title, drop in a transparency squiggle frame, and Voila!


Another layout for Little Man's Little Moments album.

Although I do have to admit, it took me over an hour just to be able to figure out HOW to drop the photos in and delete the portions of the photos that were overlapping, but I still figured it out.

So now you know

Wasn't sure I could keep my big secret any longer. At least from the blogging community (even though some of you who lurk really don't care). We've already told most of our family and friends.

There are those women who tell people as soon as they know. Then there are those who don't like to splurge their news until after the dreaded first trimester is over. AmyBow kept her secret for awhile... at least from the blogging world anyway. A few other friends I know have done the same.

I would have liked to have been one of those people. Just keep things low key until you really start to show. Because when you tell people you're only 7 weeks along, they say you're barely pregnant. Yeah, well. That doesn't change the fact that I am still pregnant. And watch out! Hormones are already starting to rage (especially when you say I'm ONLY 7 weeks pregnant).

And in all honesty, how the hell would I have been able to keep something like that from my mother? I know it would have been easy to keep since I really only talk to her on the phone, but I would have been nervous every time she called.

So, there. Now you know. Now I can complain and whine spread the joy about my pregnancy. Number 2.