Birth Plan and My To- Do List

My Growing Belly

We are roughly at 33 weeks along! I honestly can't believe how fast this pregnancy is going. My midwife and I already know the birth plan, but I though I would share it with you today:) I have definitely been thinking about it a lot lately, since it will be put into action soon enough! As with C.R., I am keeping this plan simple and low on details. I don't want to have this huge list of specifics and expectations, because things could change with a moment's notice, so as long as I keep things simple, I will be flexible. I plan on having a water birth again, which worked great last time. With C.R., after I arrived at the hospital and answered all their admittance questions, they allowed me to labor in my room's tub until I was dilated enough to be moved into the actual water birthing room. Water is a natural "soother" for me, so even though I was still in pain, it was manageable. At one point, I was given a shot of Nubain to somewhat help with the pain. Not that I could tell! So I think this time, I won't even bother asking for it, especially since it made me kind of sleepy. This makes the plan easy- Water birth with no drugs! Now, the day could come, and I might not be able to have the water birth. Anything as simple as having Diarrhea the day before (sorry for the grossness) to any hint of a  sign of possible fetal distress could make me ineligible for a water birth.  If there is any sign of meconium in the fluids when my water breaks, or the baby's heart rate slows with the contractions, my plan is out. In which case, I am not opposed to an epidural! I'd like to think I could tough it out, and still accomplish a drug free birth, but like I said, I'm not set on anything. I refuse to beat myself up if I opt for drugs. The difference between me laboring in or out of water is like night and day, so if I have to have the baby out of water, I might turn into a big baby myself. We will just have to wait and see! I am a pretty private person. so the only person accompanying me in labor will be my hubby. That's it. Well, and the midwife and her nurse. I think I would just feel awkward with an audience. When I was laboring with C.R., my mom came in towards the end (I was exhausted, crabby and in pain!) and asked if she could be in there. "Sorry mom", I said pleasantly, "not at this moment, thank you." HA! I think I was in the middle of a contraction and couldn't even speak, so I quite vigorously shook my head, and I think just gasped out "NO". I love my parents and friends, and hey, even my in-laws! But when I am in labor, it is between me, my husband, and our coming child.
Another thing I remember before C.R. was born, is that I was convinced that I would want her in the room with me all the time (partly so I could bond with her at every chance, and partly because I didn't want to chance having my baby switched with someone else's! Paranoid? Yes.) Yeah, that didn't happen. I was so tired, I asked them to take her to the nursery so I could get some rest. She also had a gagging problem from swallowing too much fluid on the way out (not from the water birth!) so they had to suction her airway a few times, and they wanted to keep an eye on her anyway. I'd like to say I'm Super Mom, and can handle this baby directly after birth, but I have already made the decision that I will cuddle and love this baby, but if the nurses want to change it's diaper and take care of it while I sleep, I am totally fine with that. I'll have plenty of chances to do that after we get home.
I also like to bring a bag of chocolate and a thank you note for the nursing staff. Hey, it doesn't hurt to get on their good side right away! They will be helping me with my child after all.

How your baby's growing:

This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

How your life's changing. 

You may be feeling some achiness and even numbness in your fingers, wrists, and hands. Like many other tissues in your body, those in your wrist can retain fluid, which can increase pressure in the carpal tunnel, a bony canal in your wrist. Nerves that run through this "tunnel" may end up pinched, creating numbness; tingling, shooting or burning pain; or a dull ache. Try wearing a splint to stabilize your wrist or propping your arm up with a pillow when you sleep. If your work requires repetitive hand movements (at a keyboard or on an assembly line, for instance), remember to stretch your hands when you take breaks — which should be frequently.As your baby fills out even more of your belly, lots of things might start to change: Whereas before you were sashaying, you may find yourself waddling. Finding an easy position to sit in — let alone sleep — is becoming more of a challenge. And bumping into chairs and counters is par for the course.

Many women are still feeling sexy at this stage — and their partners often agree. You may need to make some adjustments, but for most women, sex during pregnancy is fine right up until their water breaks or their labor starts.

My To-Do List

Bring Bassinet out of Storage- Check
Bring Neutral Newborn Clothes out of Storage -Check
Wash and Fold Newborn Clothes- Check
Locate Newborn Car Seats- Check
Pick out Boy and Girl Names- Check
Make Birth Plan- Check
Mail in Hospital Admittance Form- Check
Pack Hospital Bag- I plan to do this week 36. Four weeks might seem a tad premature, but hey, the baby could be too. Always be prepared!
Buy Chocolate for Nurses- I will do that when I pack.
Make and Freeze Meals- This week I will begin to incorporate freezer friendly meals into my menu plans. I doubt I will feel like cooking the first 2 weeks of baby being here!
Buy Breast Pump- That is one expensive item. I entered a few giveaways for a Tommee Tippee electric breast pump. If I don't win, we may not even buy one until after the kid comes. You're supposed to solely breastfeed the first 6 weeks anyway. 
Have baby-sitters on standby for C.R.- My mom took off of work the first week of September, so hopefully baby comes in time! Otherwise, schedules may need to be rearranged between my mom and a couple friends.

I'm sure there are things I am forgetting, that I will add later. But I think that covers it for the most part!

So Long, Sleep!

I have officially given up on sleeping through the night. Between an angry little wombie who doesn't appreciate being laid upon (therefore constantly kicking the side of the bed/ my ribs I'm laying on) and an overactive bladder with a big imagination (it just THINKS I have to pee), I am constantly being woken up! I do believe this baby has mistaken my bladder for a trampoline. I tried telling him/her differently, but apparently he/she didn't get the memo.  Not quite sure why this surprises me, since I have been through this before. I know it's just my body preparing me to be woken up even more once the pipsqueak is born, but still. You'd think my body would want to rest up for that big moment. And since I've been gifted with this lack of sleep, I've been a tad more irritable lately. But only a little! HA. Ha. ha.

My Growing Belly
30 WEEKS!!!!!!! And if my math is correct (which is very questionable these days, as my blood flow no longer tries to reach my brain, just focuses on my uterus) there are only 10-ish weeks left to endure. I mean enjoy : - D As I mentioned before, baby loves jumping off the walls. My latest craving has been corn dogs, which I hope doesn't last too long! Why can't I just crave vegetables??  And something I found ironic- I am at the 30 week mark, and have gained 30 pounds! I now weigh a pound more than my husband. But I guess I'm glad that he's not gaining weight along with me! I mean, one of us has to stay sexy, lol. I have now begun having check- ups with my midwife every two weeks, and everything still looks fine. I know it's a little early, but I pulled out all of the gender neutral newborn clothes out of storage and washed them and organized them. The bassinet is already set up in our room, and I'm slowly collecting newborn cloth diapers. I'm so excited!!

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

How your life's changing:

Remember those mood swings you had earlier in pregnancy? The combination of uncomfortable symptoms and hormonal changes can result in a return of those emotional ups and downs. It's normal to worry about what your labor will be like or whether you'll be a good parent. But if you can't shake the blues or feel increasingly irritable or agitated, talk to your doctor or midwife. You may be among the 1 in 10 expectant women who battle depression during pregnancy. Also let your caregiver know if you're frequently nervous or anxious.You may be feeling a little tired these days, especially if you're having trouble sleeping. You might also feelclumsier than normal, which is perfectly understandable. Not only are you heavier, but the concentration of weight in your pregnant belly causes a shift in your center of gravity. Plus, thanks to hormonal changes, your ligaments are more lax, so your joints are looser, which may also contribute to your balance being a bit off. Also, this relaxation of your ligaments can actually cause your feet to spread permanently, so you may have to invest in some new shoes in a bigger size.

My Daughter

Have I already mentioned that CR is part monkey? And also part parrot. She is always climbing and mimic- ing. She ran into the kitchen one day, and a couple minutes later I went to get her and found her in her high chair. You know, the tall pedestal kind that a kid shouldn't be able to climb into themselves? I didn't think it would be possible, especially with the tray sticking out the way it does. She also tries to repeat everything that I or the hubby says. There is this one drawer in our desk that she is not supposed to open, yet insist on getting things out of it. Of course, we constantly tell her no when she does open it. Now she tells herself no as she pulls open the drawer! It would be funny if she wasn't so stubborn and ALWAYS getting into that drawer! 

 

Are We There Yet???

My Growing Belly

I enjoy being pregnant. I really do. But lately, with this HOT (high 90's and humid!) weather, an ever active CR, and little energy, I think I'm just ready for the kid to get here. Although I'm not so sure that will help with the energy part. This baby is constantly dancing and jumping. Especially at four o'clock in the morning! Which I'm sure he/she will still do after birth. At 27 1/2 weeks, it's crazy to think that our little bundle of joy will be here in around 3 months! Just have to get through the summer :/ I haven't had any really intense cravings for a while. Nor have I been extremely hungry all the time, like it seemed I was with CR. Which really makes me question why I've gained so much weight this last month! 12 lbs in the last 5 weeks seems like a lot to me, but my midwife said not to worry about it. I'm not worried. Just really curious as to what it's from. Yes, I know, a baby. I'm just going to call it water retention.  That works for me!
I was babysitting my cousins 3 young kids, and her oldest, 5 year old, loved touching my belly. She just laid on the couch with me, her hands on my tummy, concentrating on feeling baby kick. Her mom is also pregnant and about as far along as I am, and the kids are really looking forward to a younger sister. So of course, they also referred to my baby as a 'she'. This really makes me wonder how CR will react when she's old enough to understand and I'm pregnant again. Right now she kisses my belly, but it could be because she likes round objects ;)

How your baby's growing:

This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.

The second trimester is drawing to a close, but as your body gears up for the final lap, you may start noticing some new symptoms. Along with an aching back, for example, you may find that your leg muscles cramp upnow and then. They're carrying extra weight, after all, and your expanding uterus is putting pressure on the veins that return blood from your legs to your heart as well as on the nerves leading from your trunk to your legs. Unfortunately, the cramps may get worse as your pregnancy progresses. Leg cramps are more common at night but can also happen during the day. When a cramp strikes, stretching the calf muscle should give you some relief. Straighten your leg and then gently flex your toes back toward your shin. Walking for a few minutes or massaging your calf sometimes helps, too.

It may be the furthest thing from your mind right now, but it's not too soon to think about family planning. You'll want to have made some decisions about postpartum birth control before your baby arrives. If you're considering a tubal ligation, be aware that most states require you to sign a consent form at least 30 days beforehand. So if you'd like the option of having the surgery during your postpartum hospital stay, don't wait too much longer to discuss it with your caregiver. (You can still change your mind later.)

That thing about leg cramps? Awful but true! I even get them in my feet. Ugh. I almost prefer labor contractions! And while we're on the subject of painful experiences, let me tell you about something that happened last week! I mentioned in an earlier post that I had swollen lymph nodes under my right arm. Turns out that's not what they were. The lumps came back a couple of weeks ago, and I figured I would just let them work themselves out. Well, more kept coming, and they just got bigger. And painful. I woke up last Tue, and I couldn't take it anymore. I don't think I'm a wimp, but it HURT! I looked at them and noticed the biggest one was turning whit at the top, and was extended maybe a 1/4 of an inch. It was so sensitive my whole arm hurt, and it was all I could do to carry CR to the car, take her to a babysitter so I could go to the Dr. The Dr. took one look at it and said "you're not going to like this but we need to cut into that and squeeze some of that puss out." Gross. So he and his nurse laid me down, shot the lump with Lidocaine to numb it (which it didn't) and lanced it. They then taped my arm with gauze and told me to expect lots of drainage. For pain he said use a heating pad. And here's what makes me laugh. He said if I had all day to just sit on the couch with a heating pad, do that as much as I could. Really? With a 1 1/2 year old to run after and care for? I don't think that's gonna work.  Anyway, after the wound cultures came back, it seemed I had a pretty bad infection that probably just started with shaving under my arm, but once the infection took hold it was very aggressive. Dr, strongly suggested I stop shaving and just let the hair grow. Oh yeah, "sorry Corey,  but I'm an all natural woman from now on!" I then spoke with another Dr. who told me if I just washed with antibacterial soap fist and changed razor blades often, I should be fine. Whew. I admire women who don't care about body hair and let it all grow. I, for one, am not one of them. So there's my insane medical story and excitement of last week!

My Daughter

Is crazy! I would love to borrow some of her energy! She now runs all the time, climbs on everything, and dances and jumps constantly. In fact, I'm pretty sure she broke her crib this morning with all the jumping she did on it. Seriously. I need Corey to look at it. (Excuse me for a second. I gave Charlie some dried pineapple snacks which she is now putting into her shoe.)

Ok, back. A few weeks ago at Charlie's 15 month check up, she measured at 75th percentile for her height and 30th percentile for her weight. Which means she is tall and skinny. Like her mama! Ha. ha. ha...  CR is a little escape artist too. Apparently she escaped from church nursery a couple weeks ago and someone found her climbing the stairs. She's fast when she wants to be! She has also learned how to blow rasberries. On my tummy. She thinks it's hilarious. And if she leaves any drool, she tries to wipe it off. Too cute:) She can now say Mama, Dada, Gramma ('amma') and Ella ('Eya') Ella is my sister in law's dog that is usually at my in-laws when they babysit CR. CR loves dogs. I took her for a walk in the stroller a few nights ago and we passed a yellow lab. CR couldn't take her eyes off of it and looked back at the dog until it was out of sight. 

The other day Corey came home from work, but only for a few minutes as he had to go straight to school. CR was so excited to see him and promptly burst into tears as soon as he headed back out the door, and tried going after him. It made us both realize how terrible it would be for him to be deployed with CR at this age. I'm so glad she doesn't remember him being gone when she was a baby! Later that evening, CR played a game with me. We were in the living room, and she would wave goodbye and go into the kitchen, but a few seconds later, she would run back with arms flung open, and give me a big hug and kiss. She did this over and over.

My Baby is Half Baked!..... OK.... and thoughts on breast- feeding.

MY GROWING BELLY

Things are finally going downhill! Which is a good thing:) This means we have passed the 20 week mark and time should start flying by now. Right? Actually, today marks the 22nd week of my womb- baby, so about 18 weeks to go. Give or take a few days. Maybe the kid'll be a couple weeks early, which would be fine by me! I'm already facing the "uncomfortable stage" which seems to have dawned earlier this time around than it did with CR. I'm turning into a pillow freak. I need a pillow behind my back at all times- have even considered bringing one to church! When I sleep I need one under my stomach to prop it up. And I'm not even huge yet! Also, I have difficulty transitioning from laying to sitting and rolling over. ALREADY:( Oh well, everything else is going pretty darn well, so I won't complain. We had our Baby Debut ultrasound 2 weeks ago. It was amazing! The baby moved the whole time, sucking it's thumb, waving, playing with it's feet, and even smiling for us! Already seems to have a huge personality, which it's gonna need if it's going to live under the same roof as CR. We are still determined to remain clueless about the sex until the baby is born. It's been difficult. It would be so much easier to know what I'm preparing for, and to refer to it by it's name. But I really want that special moment when the baby comes out, and they put her or him into my arms, and I get to see for myself. So we will wait.
Here's 22 weeks:)

How your baby's growing:

At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

On a side note: I've been having the biggest cravings for cheddar ruffle chips. And yes, they MUST have the ruffles!

MY DAUGHTER

CR is.... really there are no words to describe her. She's a character, a ham, a pistol. She does something new every day. She has boundless energy and is constantly chattering (in baby language). She is usually happy, but that can instantly turn to whining. She likes to carry purses around, but she won't let me put bows in her hair. She is obsessed with paper and tissues. She will grab a Kleenex out of the box, then run as fast as she can before I can take it from her. A couple Sundays ago, Corey stayed home with CR since they were both sick. He was letting her run around without a diaper because she had quite a rash. He wasn't watching her closely, but noticed when she stumbled up next to him, grabbed a Kleenex from the box, and scampered off. He looked over to see what she was doing, and she was squatting over a puddle, trying to clean up her "mess" with the Kleenex! She's growing up. *Tear*. Well, looks like she's ready to begin potty training. 


LIFE NOW VS. THEN
About this time a year ago, I had a 3 month old and a deployed husband. And LOTS of stress. CR hadn't quite gotten the hang of sleeping through the night, and it was just about that time that she began losing weight. She was constantly eating though! About every hour and half she would want to nurse, but then just fuss and fuss- I was worried sick. Finally I wondered if maybe I wasn't producing enough so I gave up and began feeding her formula. Miraculously, she became happier and fatter. I felt like such an awful mom! I had every intention of breast- feeding the first year, and here I was almost starving my baby. I talked with the pediatrician at the next appointment, expecting her to criticize me or look down on me for not realizing what was wrong. Instead she told me how common it was for new moms that have a deployed spouse to actually lose milk due to stress. She was so reassuring about it, and just told me to keep feeding CR formula and keep track of her weight. After that. CR was the happiest baby in the world. I still have moments of regret about not being able to bf, but I don't beat myself up over it. It wasn't selfish reasons for formula feeding her, and was outside my control. Also, it was a learning experience. Now I know that this time around I'm going to nurse as much as possible, but I will also pump, as a way to make sure the baby is getting enough. My goal is once again set for at least a year of breast feeding, and with Corey home, I shouldn't have the stress I had last year. In all, I'm super excited to look back on everything I did "wrong" with CR and formulate a plan on how to be better for this baby. Other things I'm changing- 
Cloth diapering! I've now come to realize not only the health benefits of it, but also money saving and earth saving.  I was a year late with CR, but I hope to be fully cloth diapering by the time this baby comes! 
Baby wearing- I used a sling for CR every now and then, but I wasn't very educated about them. I have now purchased and won more slings that, not only are they more comfortable, it'll be a huge bonding benefit with a newborn. Also it'll make my life easier with having two kids:)
And the best change of all (that wasn't in my control)- There will be a dad in the picture for this newborn! Corey had to leave right after CR was born and didn't really see her again until she was 9 months. So this is the first baby he gets to experience all the really new developments with.

Belly Pics Are Here:)

Thanks to my friend, Lacey, we took some last minute pictures of "the belly".  17 weeks folks! I've already been feeling this kid kicking for about a week now, and boy is he/she active! Let's see what all is going on in there...

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop.

I'm not exactly sure how big a turnip is...not sure I've ever even seen one? Wonder if they taste any good...... Anyway, *hehe* My husband actually got to feel the baby move too, which was a surprise.  We decided not to get the ultrasound at the hospital this time since it was pretty expensive, but are going to Baby Debut instead. Probably  around week 20, so coming up! Guess I should make an appointment, huh? 

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I won...What???

So, in my last blog I wrote about how stoked I was to enter all sorts of giveaways. If I knew how lucrative this hobby was, I would have begun years ago! Granted, I've had time on my hands to actually take the time to enter several different giveaway, and the more entries, obviously the bigger chances of winning. Here's just a list of items I've won in the last two weeks. I'm not bragging, I am just still in shock and super excited!

1. Glow Crazy- glow in the dark marker set for the walls. I'm setting it aside to re-gift for one of Charlie's bdays.
2. Chalkboard Tee- A t-shirt with actual chalkboard material so a bored child can doodle on her clothing.
3. Butt Paste- Seriously the only thing that works on CR's chapped bottom.
4. Ribbon Necklace- I wish I had a picture. I set it aside as jewelry for  CR one day.
5. EIO Kids Cup- Kind of like a sippy but without the spout. Supposed to be better for teeth.
6. $25 giftcard to restaurants.com
7. Children's Book- My Name Is Not Alexander
8. Home-sewn potholders- Very pretty with a Scandinavian design.

I realize that when baby #2 comes, I won't have time for this, but for now, it's what I like to do to relax. And as I told my hubby, if we actually use all these things as gifts and such we are saving money:)

My Growing Belly

16 weeks and kicking! Seriously, I can feel him already. Well, I guess you could call it more like "tapping" as they're not hard enough to feel like actual kicks yet. Not mush for craving or food aversions. Still have most of my energy. The only thing that makes me feel kind of queasy isn't even pregnancy related! Last week I discovered a lump under my arm that quickly grew, and another one popped up next to it. My husband told me to get it checked out, and apparently I have swollen lymph nodes due to some sort of infection. So the doc put me on an antibiotics, and I've been nauseated ever since. Well, it's only for a few hours a day, but still! Just when I was feeling better! Oh well.

How your baby's growing:

Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop.

And CR just woke up from her nap, so I will write more next week!

I am Obsessed with Giveaways!

I have recently discovered several bloggers who review products, and then hold a giveaway for previously said reviewed product. Among several products I've entered to win, there is a nursing cover, cloth diaper, baby shoes, etc. You can gain extra points by "liking" their pages on facebook, becoming a follower on twitter or blogger, and also if I blog about that giveaway! So for future reference, I may be randomly blogging about different giveaways, which will also let you know about things you can also enter to receive! I have to admit, after entering several today, I am addicted. Who doesn't love the possibility of winning free products, especially for your kids? I think I first got hooked when we received a coupon a couple days ago for a free single box of Cheerios that Corey and I had entered for a few months back.

My Growing Belly

Finally the second trimester has arrived! 14 weeks, and we had another appointment with Deana to make sure everything is right on track. Which it is. Baby's heartbeat was in the 160's, which is perfect, and he/she seems to be growing just fine! Call me crazy, but every appt. I have this secret wish that all of a sudden we will hear TWO  heartbeats. I'm kind of going through a twin craze faze, and can't seem to get past it! After dealing with one newborn, I think I could handle two, but like I said- call me crazy. Anyway, it probably won't happen.

How your baby's growing:

This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb.

In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon— and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces. His body's growing faster than his head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck. By the end of this week, his arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of his body. (His legs still have some lengthening to do.) He's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his body. Your baby's liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right — and his spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though you can't feel his tiny punches and kicks yet, your little pugilist's hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.

   Babycenter.com

This isn't our ultrasound, but this is how developed our baby is at only 14 weeks!

My Daughter

CR is still in the clingy stage, but I'm just thankful that she still likes to cuddle. She has recently discovered that if she comes up to me and takes me by the hand, she can lead me around the apartment and show me things. At one point she was leading me into her room to show me her beloved box of shoes, and she looked up at me with the biggest grin on her face. She talks a heck of a lot of gibberish, but the only real word she knows is "Dada". And perhaps "Baby, which may or may not actually mean baby. She does eat some grown up food now (she loves eggs and toast), but still refuses to eat "real" vegetables. Hey, as long as she's still content eating the pureed baby veggies, I'm ok with that. I'm also seriously considering cloth diapering her. It's kind of scared me before, but she just gets so many diaper rashes lately- even though I change her diapers every two hours at least. It also helps that the cloth diaper giveaway I signed up for looks like a superb cloth diaper that so far everybody raves about, and they are cheaper than the normal cloth diaper. 

Here's the address for this giveaway if anyone is interested!

http://tnsfamilyvalues.blogspot.com/2011/03/gogreen-pocket-diaper-review-and.html

Catching Up

I am back to the world of blogging! After skipping a few weeks, I decided it was time to return to my online journal.

My Growing Belly

Finally, we have arrived to the last week of the first trimester. ( A few weeks ago I was having a severe case of pregnancy brain and kept referring to them as 'semesters'. Ha.) Week 13, and finally I do not feel as sick! It also helps that I have gotten over three cases of the flu this season and four colds, the last of which turned into a sinus infection. And although I still have a bit of congestion and my voice is still a tad gravelly, I am on the uphill journey towards good health, and I couldn't be happier! I am also extremely thankful for the bout of warmer weather last week, as I was also contracting a serious case of the winter blues.
Alright, my belly has finally 'popped' a little bit more, but it's only really visible if I'm sitting. And maybe pushing it out a little. Hee hee.  Soon I'm hoping to maybe put up some pictures. They say you can't really feel the squirmy little tadpole swimming around til about the 17th week, but with CR, I felt her around the 16th week. This time I swear I can feel something moving around. It's not very noticeable, but when I lay still, I'm sure I can feel a tiny little fluttering sensation. And seeing as he/she's about the size of a shrimp...seriously, how could someone NOT feel that in their innards??

How your baby's growing:

Fingerprints have formed on your baby's tiny fingertips, her veins and organs are clearly visible through her still-thin skin, and her body is starting to catch up with her head — which makes up just a third of her body size now. If you're having a girl, she now has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries. Your baby is almost 3 inches long (the size of a medium shrimp) and weighs nearly an ounce. This is the last week of your first trimester, and your risk of miscarriage is now much lower than earlier in pregnancy. Next week marks the beginning of your second trimester, a time of relative comfort for many women who see early pregnancy symptoms such as morning sickness and fatigue subside.

Babycenter.com

Now Vs. Then
About this time last year, Corey was in California waiting to be deployed, and I had a newborn on my hands. Lately I've been having flashbacks, and it's almost like I feel he has to leave again. It's the oddest sensation, and I can only attribute it to some sort of post traumatic stress disorder. I remember the worst part of it was waiting. Just waiting. It was almost more of a relief when he actually made it to Afghanistan. Now strangely enough, this is the first month he's been back that he has to attend his unit's drill. Which so happens to be today through Sunday. It's the first time since he's been back that we've been apart for longer than a day, and it's freaking me out. You'd think that after spending almost a year apart it would be easier to handle, but it's actually more difficult. In fact, I had a nightmare last night that instead of drill, they were deploying him again, and by the end of the dream I had received a call about his death and I was arranging his funeral. It was so morbid that when I woke up, all I could do was cling to him, and remind myself that he was still alive, and perfectly safe. Now that I'm awake and thinking clearly, I realize how unrealistic that scenario is right now, but it was still quite unsettling.

My Daughter
What can I say? She's still as adorable as ever, gets into as much trouble as usual, and still does quirky little things. One change is that she's become affectionate, almost on the verge of clingy. I will be washing dishes, and she'll run up behind me and hug my legs. Or I'll sit on the couch to watch her play and she come lays her head on my lap. She just gets more endearing every day. Also, every time Corey says "Amen" after praying over a meal, she laughs. She thinks it's the funniest thing.

I Love my Midwife

My Growing Belly

Yesterday was our first prenatal check-up! Of course I was excited to make sure that baby is healthy, and hear the heartbeat, and get my cervix examined (ha), but really, I could not wait to see Deana. My midwife.
Corey and I decided when I got pregnant with CR that we wanted to be in a hospital, but we didn't really want to deal with doctors. In my opinion, I have the best of both worlds: The safety and security of a hospital in case anything goes wrong, and a laid-back, relaxed birthing coach without a god-complex. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not against home-births OR doctors. This is just what fits us best.
Deana is in her mid-thirties, has regular brown hair styled in a cute, short do. Probably so it doesn't hang in her face as she's yanking babies out of their mothers. She's got a slight build at 5'5", and nice soft hands. And she has the most magical voice ever. She knew exactly what to say as each contraction hit, with a combination of authority and comforting words. No, I am not in love with her. I am just in awe that someone can be so comforting during the trial of child-bearing.
Now back to the check-up yesterday. Everything looks and sounds normal. Apparently my uterus is positioned so that I will probably show earlier. Cool. Looking forward to wearing my maternity clothes as soon as possible! It was a tad early to talk about our birth plan, but we agreed that I would try a water-birth again since it worked so well with CR. I go back in another 4 weeks to get everything checked again.

Week:10

Though he's barely the size of a kumquat — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature.

He's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including his kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy.

If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.

In other developments: Your baby's limbs can bend now. His hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart, and his feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. The outline of his spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from his spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with his developing brain and sits very high on his head, which measures half the length of his body. From crown to rump, he's about 1 1/4 inches long. In the coming weeks, your baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches. - babycenter.com

My Daughter

Today is CR's first birthday! But grandparent's were busy today, so we celebrated last night. We had just close family and friends over- simple and small. CR was able to eat pasta salad and black olives for her birthday supper out of the food provided, and actually taught herself how to stick the olives on her fingers like we all loved to do as little kids. I allowed her a few bites of cake (yes, some would call me mean for not letting her eat a whole piece.) After she finished her cake, she wanted down off my lap, but only to go to the g-rents to beg for more! So of course, she really did end up eating a whole piece PLUS ice cream. Sigh. So spoiled. She received several nice gifts, including shoes from Uncle Artie since she has now mastered the art of walking. I think her two favorites though were a train that she can push that makes noise, from great grandma and grandpa, and a wooden rocking horse from Corey's mom. Thankfully CR still went to bed on time, even after all that sugar.

Thoughtful Thursday

Finally I have accomplished something! After being stuck on the couch for days on end due to morning sickness plus the flu, I have attempted to clean the house, wash multiple loads of dirty laundry AND take care of my daughter. How lame I feel. All that used to be simple, but this pregnancy has knocked the wind out of me. Good bye energy :( Now I have time to rest a bit and just think.

NOW VS. THEN

The first couple weeks after I found out I was pregnant with our first baby, my husband of course had to be states away, training with the Marines. We had yet to learn that he was to be deployed soon, so I was all mopey that he had to be gone TWO WHOLE WEEKS!! On top of that I wasn't feeling too well and I was pretty emotional with the changing hormones, much less the havoc the military creates in life. This time around I feel very blessed that Corey is always around (except when he's at his normal job) especially since I'm so much sicker these days. Yesterday as I recuperated from the flu, he not only washed the dishes, picked up the house, but also packed his own lunch for the next day, because lunch meat and food in general perks up my gag reflex.
When I was a day late getting my period, say about 2 months ago, I knew I was pregnant. I told the hubby we needed to buy some tests to make sure, so we went to Walmart! The next morning I got up with him, took the test and gave it to him. He watched the two little lines appear in the strip, told me I was pregnant and that was that! We were happy.
I remember looking at baby # 1's positive test shortly after I had peed on that funny little stick. We hadn't necessarily been trying and I was scared that in nine months we would have the responsibility of a child. As negative thoughts poured into my brain- " we haven't had enough couple time yet! We're not ready!"- a little memory popped in. I had told Corey on several occasions that if he ever got deployed, he better knock me up, or I would be completely lost without him. I knew I needed that distraction, and that memory was a premonition. Three weeks later we found out Corey was to be deployed for a year.

MY GROWING BELLY

Tomorrow we will be 8 weeks along! Goodness, that's not far at all. This last week has taken an odd turn of events craving-wise. Anyone who knows me pretty well can tell you that I am in love with pizza and cheeseburgers. Especially cheeseburgers. That's all I wanted when I was pregnant with CR.  Since I've had the flu? No meat please! The thought of eating a dead animal utterly disgusts me! Who knew being with child could turn someone vegetarian? I'm curious to see how long this lasts. Hopefully not long, cause poor Corey will be starving.

How your baby's growing:

New this week: Webbed fingers and toes are poking out from your baby's hands and feet, his eyelids practically cover his eyes, breathing tubes extend from his throat to the branches of his developing lungs, and his "tail" is just about gone. In his brain, nerve cells are branching out to connect with one another, forming primitive neural pathways. You may be daydreaming about your baby as one sex or the other, but the external genitals still haven't developed enough to reveal whether you're having a boy or a girl. Either way, your baby — about the size of a kidney bean — is constantly moving and shifting, though you still can't feel it. - babycenter.com

MY DAUGHTER

CR fortunately, has not gotten sick yet.  And she's as quirky as ever. Not two minutes ago I caught her trying to climb through the rungs on our bookshelf, where she got caught. Before that she was playing with an unlatched baby gate that fell on top of her (did not hurt her) but she couldn't figure out how to climb out from under it, so she yelled until I came to her rescue. Whenever she sees a picture of herself she has to touch it and smile. Who knew baby's this age are self-centered? Ha ha. Knowing she probably can't understand, I told her she was getting a new brother or sister. What did she do? Climbed on my belly and started bouncing. Right... I tried telling her another instance, and she emphatically shook her head no several times.She has begun refusing baby food since table food is much tastier. And she hates crawling. Only walking for her now- she is a big girl! Instead of falling off the couch head first, she has discovered the new improved way of sliding off feet first. How grown- up of her.

Who I am and Why I'm here.

I am a Marine wife and mother of 1.2 babies. I couldn't decide what to make my blog about, so I decided to write about
a.) my previous experience as a military wife of a deployed husband with our first newborn,
b.) my growing belly,
c.) the funny things my 11 month old does so I don't forget.
Basically a personal journal that I'm willing to share with my family and friends. If anyone cares to read ;)

My Growing Belly
My husband (he's been back for about 2 1/2 months) and I found out that we are pregnant with our second child  roughly 2 weeks ago. I am 6 1/2 weeks along, and am due Sept. 2nd. So far the morning sickness is twice as bad than my pregnancy with our daughter, as are the food cravings and aversions. I've really been wanting KFC fried chicken. Strange. My mood swings have also become fierce- they were barely around the first pregnancy. Here's an amusing example.
My husband and I were relaxing after a long day, talking about random, trivial things, when I suddenly found the topic of discussion funny and began laughing hysterically. I couldn't stop when, in a split second I started sobbing uncontrollably, then back to laughing in about two seconds! And then all over again. That was such a bizarre experience and I honestly felt like a crazy woman.

How your baby's growing:

This week's major developments: The nose, mouth, and ears that you'll spend so much time kissing in eight months are beginning to take shape. If you could 4see into your uterus, you'd find an oversize head and dark spots where your baby's eyes and nostrils are starting to form. His emerging ears are marked by small depressions on the sides of the head, and his arms and legs by protruding buds. His heart is beating about 100 to 160 times a minute — almost twice as fast as yours — and blood is beginning to course through his body. His intestines are developing, and the bud of tissue that will give rise to his lungs has appeared. His pituitary gland is forming, as are the rest of his brain, muscles, and bones. Right now, your baby is a quarter of an inch long, about the size of a lentil.

-babycenter.com

My Daughter
A few days ago I decided to let CR run around diaperless as she had a pretty bad rash, and it's always good to let that air out. My husband was washing dishes while I folded laundry with CR in the laundry room, right next to the kitchen. I peeked into the kitchen to tell the hubby something, and CR came crawling out after me...holding onto something brown. When I realized it was her poo, I started freaking out and dashed for her when her hand started making it's way to her mouth. No. Please no, don't...DON"T!!!!!!! Yes. She actually took a bite.
Ewwwwwwww.
On a good note, she realized her excrement was anything but tasty and she spit it out. That day she got her first taste of mouthwash and I realized you can't leave a naked baby for two seconds.