I've felt a few changes over the past 24 hours...and not good ones. I remember last pregnancy, right before morning sickness started to rear it's ugly head, that I got all "gaggy". When I was brushing my teeth before bed last night, the foam from the toothpaste made me gag a little. And then this morning when I was walking the dog (hate not having a fence anymore!) I gagged a little when I picked up her poop (it's just polite to do so people). The smell hit me weird or something. Not that it smells like petunias under normal circumstances...

I'm still eating tons of veggies, so that is a good sign. It's all about the ranch seasoning right now. Can't get enough of it. I'm in the mood for some broccoli, rice and chicken casserole for tonight. Just sounds so yummy to me! I think I will make it a cheesy dish too instead of just adding mushroom soup. Cheese!! Love it!

I'm getting really curious about what this baby is now. It seems this pregnancy is pretty much mimicking my last one...just that things are happening sooner. I'm looking forward to the doctor's visit on Tuesday too. I think I'll be a little too early to actually hear a heart beat with a doppler, but here's hoping anyway. Last pregnancy Ian went with me to almost every visit, but probably won't this time around with the need for someone to stay with William while we are still here and his starting a new job once we get back to GA. I'm definitely going to do the 3-D ultrasound again too. I'll have to see which one my brother went to in Atlanta.

Well, that's it. No sickness or nausea even really. Just a few bouts of blah and some gagging. We'll see if the morning sickness comes soon. It's a double edge sword with that. It reassures that things are going well, but you don't feel your best. Oh well, it lasts a very short time (at least last time) and not all day long...so I'll just weather through with a smile. And hold my nose when I change William's diapers too!

Last time I was pregnant, all I wanted or craved was meat and potatoes. I didn't care how those potatoes were made -mashed, baked, fried or hashed...just potatoes hold the extra butter and sour cream. I couldn't stand the site of vegetables in general. Didn't want ANYTHING to do with them until about 10 weeks. I have another week and a half before last time's food aversions started up and I'm making the most of it! I am eating vegetables three times a day. I'll eat glazed carrots from the night before for breakfast, share William's veggie medley at lunch and have a salad as a nighttime snack all because I still can. I love my veggies! I hope the same thing doesn't happen...but I'm preparing for it just in case.

Last pregnancy, whenever I was feeling queasy...I'd make a run for the border. Nothing like Nachos Bell Grande to settle a pregnancy stomach! Weird but it worked! I also craved a lot of Arby's (which I seem to be doing this time around too - ate a wonderfully yummy Beef and Cheddar last night). But something I have noticed that is different, even being this early on, is my cravings are more intense. Maybe my body knows exactly what I need since it's done it before...but last time if I didn't have something, I could easily find something else to satisfy me until I could get to the desired food later on in the week or whenever. But now...when I want it...I got to have it! Nothing sounds appealing to me afterwards either...just need that particular item!

Another small difference is that this time around I don't want the simple, plain foods. Like last time, I didn't really want seasoning and sauces. Just steak with a touch of A-1 and  baked potato, very little butter and sour cream...lots of salt! This time around whenever I make a vegetable medley, I'm throwing in butter, garlic and Mrs Dash orginal all at the same time. I cook my carrots with butter, honey and almonds now. I make chicken salad with ranch dressing instead of mayo even! I want LOTS of different flavors in the foods I eat and different  ways to eat the flavors I already like. For example - I've been putting swiss cheese and cucumbers on top of Triscuits. It is SO good! That would have grossed me out last time. I eat pretty unusual things to begin with...cottage cheese with Catalina dressing and bacon bits (told you!). But that was all before I was pregnant with William, during his pregnancy...I "normalized" and only wanted "normal" things. It seems with this one my adventurous streak is returning...YAY!

Last pregnancy I had trouble gaining enough weight too. Even with eating ice cream EVERY night, I had to force the last few pounds to make my midwife happy. Thank goodness I was pregnant during Thanksgiving and Christmas...I was able to stock pile in the last trimester! But this time around (even though I'm going in with about 7 extra pounds on me ( I'm about 114 - 115) I'm  going to eat like I did last time. I know it's much harder to gain weight the first pregnancy than it is the following ones...but I just want to enjoy it and not be so by the book this time around. I of course won't do anything to harm my baby, but a Big Mac won't hurt him. I only gained 2 pounds the entire 12 weeks of the 1st trimester last time, so I'm hoping to gain about 5 this time around so I can gain more gradually later on instead of piling it in. Can't wait until Christmas! YUM!

I just can't shake that "jump up and down and do a little dance" feeling. I'm not really going to do that because with my bladder control this past week...well...let's just say I'd have to do a load of laundry afterwards probably! Anyway, things are still going well here. I went to a baby shower for a friend of mine yesterday afternoon. Another friend of ours had her baby on Wednesday and brought him out to play! Her labor was pretty fast you could say, she almost delivered in the elevator on the way up to L&D, but they managed to keep him in until she was in a bed...though still in the clothes she came in. Hope my second one isn't THAT fast!

I can actually feel a little firm ball in my lower abdomen when I press it...guess it helps to know where to press huh? Ian told me he could see a small pouch right there from the side too. I can't really see it from my view, but I feel it. Sort of the size of pear almost. So cool. Another friend, that is due in January, was also at the shower. (yes...bunch of pregos here...don't drink the water if you are not ready for one!) I got to feel her baby move around and pushed on his little rump too. And remember ladies...only do this with the distinct approval of the mom to be. No touchy feely with out a yes and a smile. It's just common baby belly manners.  But that one minute of touching her little boy in there...I just can't wait to feel mine again. Feeling a baby move...there's just nothing like it!

I have my appointment!! My doctor's office called Tricare and the OB office I was interested in and got me all set up and approved! The nurse called me this morning to let me know she had my confirmation number from Tricare and to see what time I wanted to come in. My appointment is going to be with Dr Erica Cunill (I think I'm spelling that right) at 10:30am! I'm so excited to officially get this pregnancy on the way. It will probably be too early for a good ultrasound...I think I was 10 weeks when I got my first one of William, so I won't have that before Christmas unfortunately. But my mind will be at ease knowing how things are progressing before I travel there!

No new symptoms to report, but I am going to have to go get some of my mini-canned cokes (the little 4 oz sizes). My blood pressure at my previous doctor's appointment had already dipped to 98/67, so I have been getting a little light headed off and on. Especially if I've been chasing after William or Downey...which is often. I don't realize how exhausted I am until the end of the day. That is kind of nice in a way. I get in the GO, GO, GO and when we tuck William in...I just crash on the couch.

It's hard to compare the pregnancies so far since I am still so "new" to this one. Last pregnancy, the only early symptoms I had were peeing all the time and my sense of smell being off the chart. It's that way again...if you are cooking burgers 10 miles away, I bet I can smell the grill! They say that makes morning sickness worse. I guess it does.  Smells would make me queasier than anything last time around. I'm glad it only lasted three weeks though. This one could be shorter or longer...hoping for shorter so I don't have a miserable car ride. Sea Bands...here I come!