Time shift

This pregnancy has gone by crazy fast - much faster than when I was pregnant with Kate. Most of that is because you just can't focus as much on a pregnancy when you have a two year old demanding attention. But that changed mid-week and now it's crawling along. Mid-week marked the point in my first pregnancy that I gave birth. I am now more pregnant than I ever was that time. And having a first baby early moves the due date in your head, or at least it does in mine. Now every day seems slow and the weeks are set to crawl by. The due date is still three weeks away, but every morning I wonder 'Maybe today?'. I've had irregular but frequent contractions but nothing ever comes of it. I know that eventually something will come of it, but until then I've become a horribly impatient pregnant woman. I was very zen about my due date with Kate - fully expecting and prepared to go late. Then she came 3.5 weeks early. I don't know how to get into that mental state this time. Any suggestions?

Cleared for landing

Today marks 36 weeks in this pregnancy, which means now if labour starts, we can go to the birth center. Midwives aren't allowed to deliver before 36 weeks since the chance of respiratory issues are high before that point. I have become increasingly uncomfortable the last few days and tonight I can't find any way to sit that doesn't hurt. My upper and lower back, my ribs, my liver are all complaining. I know there are four weeks until the due date, but I'm really hoping it isn't that long. He's less work in than out, but I'm starting to feel ready for his arrival.

Enough complaining. Here is a belly shot.

Yikes, stuff to do!

I suddenly had the realization today that there is some stuff to do to get ready for this baby's arrival. It is so different than when we were waiting on Kate when things were done well in advance. Not this time. I do have clothes (thanks, Sheryl!) but no where to put them. And no diapers (or sense of how big my cloth diaper stash is for a wee one) or a change table set up in our room. Kate and I might be making a trip to IKEA tomorrow.

It's so boring, but I need to see the list, so just ignore it if you don't care.

What some of what needs to be done:
- set up changing area in our room
- get a dresser for the closet in Kate's room and organize both kid's clothes
- buy small diapers and wash/organize cloth diapers
- find a bag to use as a diaper bag for two kids
- finalize plan for Kate's care during labour/delivery
- fill freezer with meals

33 weeks

I'm now 33 weeks pregnant, which is kind of crazy. It seems to be going so much faster this time. I feel really good - especially since I started taking medicine for the heartburn a few weeks ago. It changed my whole world. I was suffering a lot from it, which I also did when I was pregnant with Kate. I decided that I was unwilling to suffer for ten weeks this time and asked the midwife for a solution. She suggested an over the counter acid reducer. It's great - two pills a day and I feel so much better. I wish I'd done this the first time.

I was reading over the blog from that pregnancy, and by this point I was already really swollen. This time, no swelling at all (so far). But that was also summer, which makes a lot of difference. Now that the heartburn is handled, I really have no complaints at all. I feel really good. Let's hope it continues for another 7-9 weeks.

(Belly shot, coming soon)

Third trimester, round two

Pregnancy two seems to go much, much faster than pregnancy one ever did. I'm sure it's because my attention is mostly taken up by the two year old who is always around demanding something or someone or something else. But, whatever the reason, this weekend marks the beginning of the third trimester.

I feel totally fine. The usual complaints are beginning - occasional sciatic pain, heartburn, trouble sleeping - but really, I feel great. And the next six weeks should go super fast, since the holidays are upon us and between (US) thanksgiving and Christmas, Kate and I are heading to Ontario to visit family. Before I know it, January will be here and the pregnancy will be nearly done.

To commemorate the start of trimester three, a picture:

Half way

This weekend marked week 20 of this pregnancy. That's the half way mark of a full 40 week pregnancy. I'm kind of hoping that number two decides to come a few weeks early, but I know that's unlikely.

This pregnancy has been great - no complaints at all. He's an active one, and I feel him moving around all the time. This pregnancy is different because while with Kate I was thinking about getting a baby, now I think about getting another person. I wonder what he'll be like. Kate has such a strong personality, so we wonder what he'll be like. One thing I do know: Kate will be a bossy big sister, but will love him completely. I can't wait.

A Boy!

Yep, we're having a boy. We had our mid-term ultrasound this morning and everything is perfect. The right number of fingers and toes, a properly developed and function heart, kidneys, etc. And boy parts. Distinct, obvious boy parts. Of course, I knew I might have a boy, but I guess I never believed I would. I only have a sister and my mom only had a sister and my sister has two daughters. See, girls. Just girls. And now a boy. Either his sister and cousins will pick on him, or spoil him rotten. Probably both.

Even though it's pretty surreal, we're of course, very excited.

Ah, right, the pregnancy

I started this blog way back almost three years ago when I was pregnant with Kate. I took weekly belly photos and reported on how things were going. Reading the blog now, you would never know that I'm 18 weeks pregnant. But, here we are. If this baby comes early like Kate did (unlikely, I know) then this would be half way. But, since it won't, I'm a few weeks from the half way mark.

This pregnancy seems to be going much faster, likely because I am distracted by a two year old who demands my attention most of the time. But, I am definitely showing now and next week we get a pronoun for the baby, which will be very nice. Calling it 'it' just never feels right. See, how that didn't feel right?

I'm feeling great. No complaints at all. They will come though, don't you worry.

Details

For those not satisfied with just a picture announcement and who want more details, Baby Texan #2 (or Double Trouble as Howard is calling it) is due Feb 21, which puts me at 14 weeks, the start of the second trimester. I feel great. Better than I did when pregnant with Kate, but that might be partly because I'm not riding 30 miles a day to a full time job. I am definitely showing earlier. Looking back at the weekly belly shots, I'd say I'm looking like I did at 19 or 20 weeks, which kind of freaks me out. I'm planning to go get some maternity clothes today because nothing is very comfortable anymore.

I think I felt the baby move yesterday, which would be freakishly early but not unheard of. I felt Kate at 17 weeks which is very early for a first pregnancy. I won't be totally sure until I feel it again, but it is a rather distinctive thing.

We are having our anatomical ultrasound on Sept 30 and will find out boy or girl then. Names haven't even been thought of yet, we'll start talking about it when we know which gender we're getting.

Did I forget anything people want to know?