Tuesday Tummy Time!

It's the Final Countdown!

(I hope you all read that the way I heard it in my head- a la Europe 1986... not that I know ANY other part of that song)

Aaaaanyway... we are down to single digits in our week countdown! 9 weeks to go!

Courtesy of BabyCenter.com

"This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy."

This baby is so loved already!  I can't wait to see him.  Since the 3D ultrasound I feel like we've been introduced.  I feel like I know his personality already- easy going and cuddly.  And he's strong.  Did I mention cute?

It's time to break out the free and clear detergent.  I fished through Oliver's old clothes and I am super excited to dress Owen in them.  AND last OB visit went great.  Got an ultrasound... baby measures 50th percentile and placenta moved up so it's not too close to my cervix at all (aways a good thing).  Also...passed my GTT! Yippeeee!  (FYI- I celebrated that news with lunch from Wendys.)

Peek-a-Boo Baby!

So today was the big day we've been counting down to!!!

As soon as we arrived for our appointment we were brought in to the room for our ultasound. No wait is a great start! I mentioned to the tech (not the one I was expecting but she was great!) that we wanted a picture if she got a good shot of baby's special parts so she waited to give us the news until she could show us (she knew from the beginning after a quick glimpse).

Everything about this baby is perfect! Baby measures at 19 weeks 2 days which is exactly where I am. Baby was lying on it's back so the tech couldn't get a good shot of the spine, soooo we are going back for another U/S in three weeks. Darn (I hope you can read he sarcasm in my voice. As far as I'm concerned the more the better...I love every chance to see this little stinker!)

Thumb heading toward the mouth...

...thumb in the mouth!

Hands up on each side of face.

Hands framing the face.  Tech said like Home Alone. I say like Edvard Munch's The Scream. lol.

Perfect litte profile.  I see a nose like Oliver's.  I love that little nose soooo much!

We are anouncing the sex on Saturday so I will be sure to update then!

The GTT results came back normal!!!! woohoooo! For now anyway.  I'll be doing another test around 26 weeks.

19 weeks today!!!

Somehow I've made it to 19 weeks already!  I can't believe how fast the second pregnancy flies by!  Oliver does a great job keeping me busy I guess.  He is a go!go!go! type of kid.  I can't wait for our new home which will make getting out and doing things with him so much easier.

Back to my belly-baby.  According to Babycenter.com my little stinker is the size of an heirloom tomato and may be able to hear us already.  Craaaazy!  The man I so lovingly refer to as Baby-Daddy-Natey-Poo can just about feel this little one flip and flutter.  A lot of times I get all excited for a movement he has to have felt...but no, he was busy chatting and missed it.

Courtesy of BabyCenter.com

On Saturday I did my 2hr glucose tolerance test.  When I was pregnant with Oliver I didn't mind the taste of the orange crap too much.  This time, however, I wasn't able to get it down quite as fast and the last bit of it was especially hard to swallow.  Yech.

I got to the lab at 6:11am and had one of those lovely "I could use more sleep" headaches.  So the drink didn't make me feel so hot.  One thing I learned and did not do when I tested during my first pregnancy was that walking for 20 min after eating will help keep your blood sugar numbers low, so after finishing the crap juice I went for a stroll around the lab before returning to the waiting room for the remaining hour and a half.  Was it effective? We'll find out Thursday.  No matter what I just know I'll have to repeat the test in a few weeks.

And for anyone who has been following... we are two days from ultrasound day!!! Yahooooo!!!  My practice has two techs and with Oliver the woman who did the gender reveal kind of killed the excitement.  I guess she caught a glimpse without trying and nonchalantly said "well it's a boy." And my response was- "Oh?"  I so wanted an emotional reaction to my baby's gender.  But nope.  The moment had come and gone withoutceremony.  I was pretty bummed. 

This time the tech I like is doing the U/S so I'm hoping it's a little more special.  And this may sound wierd...but I really want a print out of baby's "stuff".  Is that edging on pervy?  I've always loved seeing other people's U/S pictures and seeing different anatomical shots- a foot, an arm... some testicles.  I am so amazed by the ability to sneak a peek at the little one growing into a real human that I love seeing these pictures.  With Oliver all I got printed out for me was the standard profile shot.  I got some extra U/Ss with Oliver because of the GD (up side I guess) and at one time we got the funniest quick glimpse at his balls.  It was so funny.  My mom had been saying "What if they're wrong? Make them double check," and I mentioned this to the tech.  Well after this little glimpse it was very obvious there was no mistake.  It was such a funny image I would have liked a copy of it (I guess that's just my sense of humor) but he moved to quick.

I also want a picture to torment my family with.  They won't be able to tell (I think) so it will be fun to show them before we announce the baby's gender to everyone in person on Saturday.  I don't know how I am going to keep my mouth shut from Thursday to Saturday!!!!

9 More Days!!!

Can you tell by the THREE exclamation points that I am super happy to find out Baby #2's gender in just 9 days?  At first I wanted another boy.  With the age difference being only 20 months, I'd say Oliver could use (and would enjoy) a brother more.  Plus, they will be sharing rooms regardless of #2's gender.  But with the different symptoms I've felt, I very quickly started to think this could be a girl.  The first OB visit we got to hear the heartbeat at, the midwife said it sounded like a girl...fast heartbeat.  So now I have my heart set on girl.  But as all us parents know- whatever it is I am MORE than happy to welcome him or her!

But along with that excitement and happiness is the very sobering realization that: I am ALREADY far enough along to find out?  I am 18 weeks today and I can't believe it! It's gone by so fast!  I guess that is the case with second pregnancies, isn't it?  At least when the first is still a toddler.  I am so busy with him that the days just fly by, and so the weeks seem to fly by also.

My baby a 18 weeks.  Courtesy of BabyCenter.com

One thing I am definitely not excited about is doing my glucose tolerence test.  I'm thinking I will be doing it on Saturday.  You may find it surprising, but I do not think it sounds fun to bring Oliver with me for a 2 hour blood sugar test.  Not that being up early to get to the lab when it opens at 6 sounds like much more fun, but at least it will be quiet. 

With Oliver I was tested for gestational diabetes early because of my weight and previous diagnosis of PCOS (still not convinced I have that.  I never got a concrete answer from my previous GYN, and if I'm not mistaken getting pregnant would have been much harder than simply losing the condoms for a week.  Seriously, both pregnancies happened so easily we are now aware of how careful we are going to need to be!).  My first test around 18 weeks came back borderline, and the second test around 24 weeks was still pretty borderline but they had me see the specialist anyway.  Since I was high risk and tested early I had to deal with the weekly visits to the GD specialist even longer than most women.  (Sarcastic) YAY me!  It was terrible.  At least a 2 hour wait every week for a visit that went like this:

"Let's have a look at your numbers.

Very good.

See you next week."

Doesn't that sound like it would be fun with a 15 month old in tow?  A two our wait for a two minute visit.

I was able to manage my GD without the use of insulin.  By the end of the pregnancy I was pretty fed up and cheated a bit with the diet.  I even used insulin twice to keep my numbers low (without the insulin I just "forgot" to check and didn't have numbers for that occasion to show them) and pacify the doctor and his nurse/dietician.  So when people congratulate me for doing such a great job, I honestly don't know that I did.  I remember lots of Friendly's sundaes which sure as heck were a no-no.

I gained 14 pounds throughout the pregnancy, L&D was ridiculously easy (and enjoyable!), and Oliver was born at a perfect 7lbs 10.5oz with normal blood sugar.  So the fact that I was referred for being borderline makes me almost as sceptical about the GD as I am about the PCOS. 

Still, I am soooooo not looking forward to it.  When we decided we were ready for another offspring I was determined to get myself in the habit of eating for GD before becoming pregnant...but that didn't happen, nor have I since becoming pregnant.  Oliver has me much more active during this pregnancy and I have lost about 5lbs so far in my 18weeks, but I'm pretty sure I will end up classified as GD again.  Yippee. 

Well we'll cross that bridge when we get there.  Soon enough.