Let the swelling begin!  My legs and feet feel/look like saugsages right now.  Actually, they're not that bad (I had cankles at the end of my pregnancy with Jacob, so really this is incredibly mild) but they feel tight, thick and icky.  I overdid it today/tonight - big surprise, huh?  It's hot again too, nearly 90 today and humid (yuck!).  I was loving the crisp coolness that was around last week, but the "Indian Summer" is back in full force in Michigan.  Oh well, such is life.  Kudos to you girls who can deliver in the months of July, August, and September ---  I give you so much credit for being so pregnant in the HEAT! 

I am loving feeling this baby move!  I can now be entertained at almost any time by jabs, pokes, and rolls - all visible from the outside.  Yesterday I was almost giggling aloud by the movement during a staff meeting while this kid was going crazy!  It was like a private little party between my baby and me.  How awesome is that?!  This is definitely my favorite part of pregnancy, and I will miss it very much when it is over. 

I have been walking 30-45 minutes (I think it's almost 2 miles total) with Sidney, Jacob, and Tim accompanying me most times almost every night.  It's a nice way to wind down from the day and relax, plus it helps me sleep better at night, and feel better over all.  I am hoping that the exercise will curb my crazy weight gain, and prepare me further for an attempt at VBAC and L & D overall. 

I plan on discussing VBAC at length with my Dr. at the next appointment (October 3rd).  I want to know her medical opinion on VBAC, and if she thinks my body is capable of handling a VBAC.  I want to do what is best for both me and my child; I trust her & value her opinion. 

Other than that......we have to get a move on in regard to ordering furniture (a crib & possibly a dresser) and decide what to do about rooms.  Time is of the essence, and with the holidays fast approaching, D-Day will be here before we know it.  Haven't I said that before?! 

13 weeks until Christmas.....

...wow, is that right?!  6 months of pregnancy is almost completely gone?  Suddenly I'm starting to get a bit overwhelmed with the urge to make decisions, prepare, and finalize a few things before this baby arrives.  In reality though, I know that there is not much that needs to be completed -- with the exception of buying and assembling a crib, washing some clothing & bottles, and painting the 3rd bedroom.  I supposed we also need to decide who will be in the 3rd bedroom....but all of this is non-essential *stuff* that could wait, if needed. 

 I guess all I can really do is sit back and enjoy this pregnancy!

Dear Baby:

I love you so much!  I have very much enjoyed these last 6 months together.  You being in my belly is such a special time, and I am treasuring every single moment.  I have been feeling you move for a couple of months now, and last night Daddy actually saw you move from the outside.  (He has yet to feel you kick though...partly because you are a Little Stinker and stop when he tries to feel you, partly because he doesn't have enough patience to wait to feel you!)  I love feeling you move - I know it is the one thing I will miss the most when you are in my arms come December. 

Your Big Brother has been really sick this week.  We had to take him to Urgent Care a few nights ago b/c his cold symptoms were making him wheeze so badly.  He has a little tiny voice and his energy is pretty much zapped.  It has been difficult to watch him be so sick; Daddy and I feel so badly for him!  Sometimes being a parent is truly heartbreaking.....but the wonderful definitely outweighs the hard stuff. 

We look forward with great anticipation to your arrival in a few months.  We cannot wait to see if you are a boy or a girl, who you look like, and to watch yout little personality unfold before our eyes.  It will be so wonderful to see Jacob as a big brother, and for our arms to be full of our babies!  BABY, WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!

Always,

Mommy & Daddy  

It's hard to believe my husband and I have been married for FIVE YEARS - today!  He is the best husband and most wonderful man I could have ever hoped and prayed for.  He is an amazing father, a great provider, and my very best friend.  I am thankful for him every single moment of my life. 

I woke to the most wonderful surprise: 5 vases of roses, a card and a Raspberry Entenmann's coffee cake.  I have been craving the coffee cake for the last several days (it started around 10:30 PM three nights ago, and I almost made him go out and pick one up from Meijer), and was SO THRILLED to have a slice (okay, let's be real...two slices) with my coffee this morning!  YUMMY!  What a treat!  My husband definitely knows the way to my heart...through my belly :)

We have no definite anniversary plans, and that's perfectly fine with me.  It's really the little things that I appreciate the most -- I brought Jacob into bed with us this morning when he woke, and we all giggled together for a few minutes before getting up for the day.  Then we all had breakfast together, and Tim stayed around a few extra minutes so we could have coffee before he left for work.  What a great start to the day!

Jacob and I will head over to my folks in a lttle while to see Dan & Anna who arrived home from Germany last night.  YEAH! 

On the Baby S #2 front, no major updates.  I am feeling pretty good still, most days, and thoroughly enjoy feeling Baby move.  The movements are getting stronger with each day, and I am hoping one of these days Baby will not be so "stubborn" and share the kicks and punches with Daddy.  I find myself getting more and more out of breath, and have a continuously stuff nose....and oh, the heartburn.  But it can't (and doesn't) last forever! 

Jacob is SO CLOSE to walking!  For the last several days, he has been standing alone for a few seconds, and he is much more "controlled" when going from the coffee table to the ground to crawl.  You'd think at 14.5 months he'd be running, but NO, he's taking his time and still enjoying the mobility and freedom that crawling gives.  He is a little stinker too -- whenever he gets into something he isn't supposed to (i.e. pushing the TV buttons, playing with the VCR, the bay window, the spider plants, the pantry...I could go on and on....HAHA) he turns and looks at us, and gives us this goofy face, with his eyes squished and funny toothy grin.  Some of the time, this face works for a laugh from the disciplinarian....but we are working on that too!  It's SO HARD sometimes, when the kid is SO DARN CUTE!!!! 

I absolutely love being a wife and a mother.  My cup runneth over with blessings! 

Enjoy the day

We had our 20-week appoitment yesterday, and it was short and sweet.   Dr. Lacoste says everything looks great, including: BP, urine, weight (yeah!), Baby's heartbeat, and u/s results.  She was running like crazy, so the appointment was all of about 5 minutes. 

I've been having a little bit of numbness & on and off tingling in my legs and feet at times, mostly at night, and Dr. L said this is normal due to nerve pressure.  I figured as much, but it never hurts to ask. 

Believe it or not, I'm leaning more toward a VBAC.  So far, this pregnancy has been *normal* and there are absolutely no concerns.  I am young & healthy, and I know my body is capable of birthing a child.  I want to be given the chance.  It's a decision that scares the crap out of me, but then again so would a scheduled c-section.  And, obviously, this decision is nowhere near set in stone; it will depend on a number of things as we get further into the pregnancy (position of the baby, size, no complications, if I go into labor before XX weeks, or if I'm close to or am overdue...all subject to discussion and opinion of Dr. Lacoste).  IF we do choose a VBAC, I will strongly consider getting an epidural or at least leaving the option open (I wanted to try to go natural with Jacob) so that if a c-section were necessary, I'd be able to get a spinal and be aware and present for this one's birth.  At this point in time, I am comfortable with this choice.  But like all things in pregnancy, plans are subject to change....so we remain flexible! 

Other than that, things are par for the course here!  We are hemming and hawing about where to put the new baby - in the current nursery (Jacob's room) or keep Jacob in the nursery and set the new baby up in the 3rd bedroom.  Either way, the 3rd bedroom will need to be painted, and furniture rearranged.  That is definitely a BLUE job.  Have at it, Daddy!

My high school girlfriends and their moms will be getting together this weekend to celebrate the upcoming birth of Baby Z.  My good friend Faye is due with a baby boy on October 1st, and we could not be more excited for her and Casey!  Parenthood is the most amazing gift, and we are so glad that our friends are able to share in it!

My brother Dan & my SIL Anna fly home from Germany next week.  We are so excited to have them back "home", or at least on the same continent!  They are due with their first baby (my first nephew!!) on September 26.  Babies, Babies, and more Babies!  I LOVE IT!

Have a happy weekend! 

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