Fourteen Weeks

So here we are. I've thought myself in the second trimester for a while now, but a lot of pregnancy books etc., don't consider you there until the end of the 13th week. I've never really understood that, but whatever! I'm here and you're here and all is well. I slept terribly last night - just couldn't get comfortable and felt kind of crampy. The cramps are gone today, but I feel terrible from the lack of sleep. And I'm really starting to feel "fat" the last 2 or 3 days. Clothes are uncomfortable but technically still fit, so I'm really not into maternity clothes. I just have been wearing what I have and by the end of the day I'm miserable and anxious to change into pajama pants at home. But if the fat days are any inclination, I expect to need those maternity clothes fairly soon. They are all washed and hanging in the closet so I'm ready to go when the time comes. I shouldn't need to buy many additional clothes, thank goodness. I do need a pair or two of shorts, though I'm happy to live in capris most of the time. I have a handful of nicer work clothes, and generally a lot of stuff overall so I think I'm okay there.

I haven't really been feeling you. I still truly believe I did feel you a few times back in the 12th week, but not much since. Would be nice to connect with you that way, but I know we have plenty of time for that. Anyway - stay cozy and safe in there. I'll try not to drink so much juice - I have been craving it like crazy and I imagine it's giving you quite the sugar high. Sorry about that.

Sneak Peeks

Hi baby!

Hi there little one. We did get to see you on Tuesday. That was such a great visit. Daddy did come with me, Ceili did not. It actually worked out perfectly. We got to see you for a good long time and we took home a dozen pictures. I saw my favorite nurse - Mary, who helped me conceive Ceili and I've been seeing her for years. She was so excited for us. She is extremely experienced and took a wild stab at your gender even though it's really early. She said GIRL and she seemed pretty confident about it. We won't know for absolute sure until 8/5 when the official gender scan u/s will take place. But it kind of goes along with my instinct, so I believe it. Plus your heartbeat has consistently been between 165 and 168 every single time, which tends to point to girl as well.

So that was really fun. I'm still not really showing and my clothes are still mostly fitting okay. I was down another pound at the appointment, so down about 3 or 4 overall now. I went back to look at my journal with Ceili and I think I was still down 2 pounds by 16 weeks. I'm oddly not worried about it, but it is still admittedly puzzling.

I asked the nurse about some of my more annoying symptoms right now. I still get dizzy a LOT which she was able to explain well. I also have been getting almost daily splitting headaches, which she also was able to explain well. And even this weird heart/breathing problem I randomly get - she was able to explain in detail and give me things to do about it. I was really pleased with how it all went. Next appointment is 7/22. Hurrah!

Summer fun

Actually so far this summer hasn't been much fun, for me anyway. Ceili is having fun with swimming lessons and ballet, and daddy is making much progress on projects around the house, including your room (a/k/a the Office). But for me it's just hot and exhausting! I spent about 4 hours on Sunday trying to get a loaner laptop computer from Fry's electronics and it completely wore me out.

Interestingly, I'm comparing how I feel to how I felt when I was pregnant with Ceili and I do see a lot of similarities. I remember feeling really faint at church with Ceili, and I feel really faint a lot of the time with you. Especially when I stand quickly. I have to be really careful with that, and in the shower where the heat makes me really dizzy.

I should get to see you tomorrow, I HOPE! I have a Dr.'s appointment and I still haven't decided if I'm bringing Daddy and Ceili. I suppose we should decide soon. Hang tight in there.

Friday

Thank goodness for Fridays. This has been a really difficult week. It's a lot different at work being pregnant this time than it was with Ceili. With her, I was in a different job position and a little more able to slide by on the rough days. With you, I've had two promotions and now 16 people report directly to me. I don't get to have easy days, and I don't get to slide by on any of them. Too bad, because I could really use it - especially today. I've been feeling pretty good, but today I'm not feeling well at all. I seem to be kind of on the cusp of things. I'm 12w2d, and some days I feel great, and I'm starting to see a flash of energy creeping back in. But then other days, like the last 3 days, I've been tired, moody and just generally icky-feeling. I've gone to bed before 8:30 for the last 3 nights!

Oh well. All of that does nothing to temper my happiness about you. I'm pretty sure I've been feeling you in there, but I'm afraid to say that to too many people because it really seems too early. But I've seen you on ultrasound 4 times now, and I can say you are categorically a wiggly baby!!! So it certainly seems possible. But I've also been a little gassy (sorry TMI) so who knows which it is? Either way, I'm happy that you're in there and doing well.

I did get the results of the first trimester scan and the NT scan on Wednesday, and everything looks good. Your numbers were all within the normal range, and you had the right number of everything (i.e. legs, arms, etc.). So that is all very reassuring. The ultrasound I got in conjunction with all that testing was really cool, and very extensive. I even got in a short 4D scan which was my first one of those. I couldn't see you that well on that, but it was still interesting. I have another appointment next Tuesday and I'm not sure if I will get an u/s at that or not. We really can't wait to find out your gender, and I'm still trying to decide if I should bring Ceili and your daddy to this appointment just in case, or if it's more likely to be the next one in July. We shall see!