Just in case you needed to know how much shopping time you have left....

...OR know when Baby S #2 will be gracing us with his or her presence!  We are still being given a EDD of December 24, 2007.

We are 20 weeks and 1 day, according to the BIG ultrasound we had this morning.  Everything with Baby looks "perfect" according to the ultrasound tech.  We resisted temptation, and did not find out if Baby is going to be wearing pink or blue.  Tim thinks girl this time, and I am undecided. 

Needless to say, the ultrasound was an awesome experience, once again.  We saw all the essentials in the organs, bones, and structure.  Thank you, God!  I was getting a little nervous before the appointment, letting my imagination run wild.   I suppose that's normal.  But I submitted my fears, and low and behold, all is just right! 

The tech said "oh, you have an active Baby".  Ha, Ha.  You know what they say about second children....eeeekkk!  Get your runnin' shoes on, everyone! 

Heartbeat was measured at 167 BPM.  The old wives' tales would say that indicates girl, but who really knows?  (It really doesn't matter to us - it would be great to have 2 boys or 1 of each)  Think of it as a wrapped Christmas gift -- we ALL have to wait and see.  If it means anything at all, the suspense is driving me crazy too! 

We got a great profile shot, and looks like Jake's did.  I cannot help but keep staring at the pictures they gave us, it's making work nearly impossible today! 

My 20 week appt is Thursday, 8/9/07.  More later!

I had my 16 week check up today. 

Everything looks great regarding BP & unrine, but I gained 8 lbs in the last month.  EEEeeeek!  I scrolled through Jacob's pregnancy journal, and I now realize that I did the same thing around this time with him.  Yikes.  I need to watch what I eat, increase my water intake & exercise more - Tim & I agreed to do all of this together!

Baby's heartbeat sounded so amazing!  I absolutely LOVE that sound.  Tim got to hear the heartbeat for the first time today -- one of his favorite parts about pregnancy too :)  It won't be long until he can feel this little one kick!   Yeah!!!

We scheduled our 20-week ultrasound for Monday, August 6th @ 8:30 AM.  And no....we're not going to find out the gender this time around, either!  (call me old-fashioned, I know...but I LOVE the suspense!)  Tim is determined that he is going to somehow find out the gender of this baby too.  Yes, I said too.  Though we opted not to find out the gender of Jacob, Tim actually did by accident.  We had our big ultrasound around 21 weeks, and the u/s tech was typing in all of the information into the computer, which happened to be facing Tim straight on.   At the exact moment that the u/s tech happened to fill in the gender box, Tim saw her click on the option "XY" instead of "XX".  He says he looked away immediately.  After the u/s we were walking out of the office, talking excitedly about the appointment and ooohing and aaaahhhing over the pictures, when I looked at his face, which I can read like a book.  I knew at that second that he saw something, and I called him out on it.  He always makes a funny face when he's trying to hide something, which he was doing in this case, in order to not foil the big surprise.  I knew that he had seen that it was a boy, because of how excited he was -- there were only girls on his family's side.  As the pregnancy progressed, Tim says he became more and more unsure of what he thought he had seen, so we really were still in suspense until delivery day.  Obviously, what he had seen was correct, because we DO have a son!

SO....I have been holding it over his head basically since Jacob was born that we were NOT finding out #2 --- and I'm sticking to my guns!  Besides, I absolutely LOVE surprises and suspense (and we have LOTS of neutral clothing to last us at least the first 3 months)!  Our parents didn't know what we were before we were born, and I think there is something so fun about that little element of surprise.....call me crazy.  Plus, if we DO end up having a scheduled c-section, then I REALLY don't want to know the gender --- then we'd know everything about the baby except the weight and length.  Now where's the fun in that?  (please don't take this wrong if that situation applies to you -- I'm in NO WAY trying to offend anyone!  Obviously, it's my personal opinion & choice) 

Speaking of -- I'm going to wait until after the u/s to make a more informed decision about a VBAC vs. repeat c-section.  If there is any indication that there is a "complication" (I had Placenta Previa w/ Jacob - and an u/s the day prior to the scheduled c-section indicated that the placenta had moved *just enough* for a vaginal delivery.  The placenta needed to be 2 cm away from the cervix, and it measured just that.  To this day, I am not convinced that that was actually the case - I specifically remember the u/s tech jamming the probe around during the internal u/s, making me incredibly uncomfortable....and she was basically trying to talk us out of a c-section, it was kinda weird!  If the placenta hadn't actually moved the needed amount, that might explain the crazy amount of blood loss & tissue when my water broke at home and the need for an emergency c-section just 9 hours later....again, call me crazy)  I have a lot of theories about Jacob's delivery, but what's done is done -- and I HAVE A HEALTHY, HAPPY BABY BOY!  And in the end, I'd do it all again the same way, if I absolutely had to....so here we are.  Bring it on.

Anyway, enough!  I apolgize for the lengthy post...I'm sure your eyes are tired and your mind is numb!

More to come at a later date.......

My belly button is on its way to an outtie....already!!!  I thought that didn't happen 'til later down the road, but apparently not with No. 2.  Hehe.

We had an awesome trip to TN over the 4th to see Tim's brother Chris, SIL Elizabeth, and our nieces Hannah & Sophie.  The cousins truly enjoyed each other, and we all got some much needed time for rest & relaxation.  It was really hard to come home!

Baby No. 2 is a mover - I love & have greatly missed those little taps in my belly.  I feel movement mostly after I eat, and then again in the evening hours.  There is nothing quite like the feeling of a little life inside of you - it is such a special time between mother & child!  Keeping on boppin', Baby!

I love to eat now!  My favorites include, but are certainly not limited to: watermelon, raspberries, waffles (frozen kind you heat in the toaster), PB & J sandwhiches, dill pickles (no, not paired with anything else!), tuna fish, corn on the cobb, pasta, steak, 7-UP & pretzels.  I'm sure there are a handful of other favorites, but none are coming to mind at the moment...

Speaking of PREGNANCY BRAIN -- I have a terrible case of it!  I have to write everything down to the last detail or forget about it, literally!  Unfortunately, I know that this lasts until well after Baby is born.  Oh well, at least now I have an excuse :)

We have an appointment this Friday, and I am assuming that we'll get more info on when we can schedule the big ultrasound - probably the first half of August.  I said that to Tim the other day, and we were both blown away at how fast this is all going.  Maybe it's because of the summer? 

Jacob has recently started saying "Baby baby baby baby..."; it is so cute even though I know he has no idea what it means!  He saw my friends' 6 & 8 week old baby girls recently, and seemed to show a little bit of interest in them.  He desparately wanted to share his tortilla chips with them.  Ha, Ha!  In a few more months, Little Buddy!  I'm so excited that he is going to be a Big Brother, I know he will just flourish in the role.  He loves playing with other kids, and he has definitely been given the gift of a gentle spirit. 

We are so blessed!

15 weeks already?!  Oh my gosh...this Baby will be here before we know it! 

Big news for the week: our child will have a name!  Tim & I discussed and finalized a boy's name and a girl's name a few days ago.  Whew!  I thought for sure this child would be cribless, not to mention nameless.  The names are, of course, going to be kept secret until the Birth Day.  I know, I know...we are no fun!

What I am focusing, agonizing, dreaming (almost nightly), and worrying most about this time around is delivery.  I continue to go over the pros and cons of a repeat c-section vs. a VBAC.  Of course I have received so many opinions ....that it only confuses me more!  Even my OB is "leaving the option up to me".  Huh?  I need a professional medical opinion here!  someone just TELL ME what to do.  Please?

I know this: I cannot keep my sanity and have a similar birth experience to Jacob's (he was born by emergency c-section with me under general anesthesia - I WILL NOT DO THAT AGAIN!).  But in the same respect, I know my body is capable of a vaginal birth and research says a VBAC is safer.  But I don't want to attempt a VBAC and then have to have a c-section - especially of the emergent kind.  Plus, does scheduling a repeat c-section put a "limit" on the number of babies I can safely deliver down the road?  Ugghhhh...it goes on and on and on in my head...

On a happier note, finally, finally, FINALLY all of our friends & family know about #2!  I realize we were really slow in spreading this wonderful news, and I thank you all for your patience & excitement.  We definitely could not do this again without you

I am definitely feeling this Baby move!  Only teeny "kicks", usually at night, and none that I can feel from the outside (sorry, honey!) but they are moves nonetheless.  I look forward to stronger movement, and watching my belly move! 

We are headed to Tennessee tomorrow through Sunday to see Tim's brother, sister-in-law & nieces.  We are so excited --- tomorrow seems so far away still! 

Hope this finds you all well & have a SAFE and HAPPY 4th of July!