A Little Nugget

It's funny how you learn, over time, to trust to your intuition. It's even funnier how accurate it becomes. 

One day a few weeks ago, I spent the day on the couch with a massive migraine. Nausea came in waves along with the pain in my head. Thankfully, it barely lasted 18 hours and I was back to normal again. Over the next few days I noticed other things: dips in my blood sugar, trouble with my asthma. It was weird. My metabolism can be wonky while I'm nursing, so I dismissed that. But the asthma flare up? That was one thing I couldn't explain. I wasn't having trouble with allergies. We did just move into a new house, but it had been almost a month. And then it hit me.

I have trouble with my asthma when I'm pregnant. Every. Time. Without fail.

I tried to make the thoughts go away... We'd been trying not to get pregnant; we'd been careful. I was still a few days away from my period. So maybe it was just that? But I couldn't put the thought out of my head. Lying in bed one night, I just knew. 

2 of the most clear pregnancy tests I've ever had later....

Hello, Baby!!!

It's crazy. And it's going to continue to be crazy....for a while! I'm not quite as worried about having babies close together this time, though I know it will not be easy. It's definitely not what we planned, but I'm in no way upset about it either. 

I've felt pretty awful this time around, which is making things more difficult. I'm no stranger to pregnancy nausea, but this takes the cake! Not eating makes me sick, eating makes me sick, I get random heartburn, sometimes have to run to the bathroom... It was not like this with the girls! After sticking it out for 3 weeks (because my nausea always kicks in right at 6 weeks), I called the OB's office and begged for drugs. I tried everything I'd done before with the girls, and it barely even touched it. Even with meds, there are days I can barely stand to look at food. 

On the bright side? I haven't gained anything! ;-) 

I don't know if it's because this is my 4th pregnancy, or I just know what it feels like (maybe both?) but I have already been feeling this little nugget! At first I thought I was crazy. Then it kept happening. When I had an ultrasound, the midwife said "what an acrobat!" and then I knew that I had absolutely been feeling this little one for over a week. The girls were crazy, crazy kickers in the womb so having another one is no surprise! And for now I'm enjoying the itty bitty kicks. I know that I'll blink and have feet in my ribs!

So, there's my little nugget. He or she (probably 'she' given our track record, LOL!) will be here on/around October 18th! Please wish me many nights of amazing sleep until then. Lord knows I'm gonna need it....and may never sleep well again! ;-)

Finally Ready!

It should seem obvious by now that I'm more than ready to have this little girl who's been growing in my belly for almost 39 weeks. Her lovely little room, however, hasn't been ready until this week. It's been a serious work-in-progress. While I took my time with Charlotte's nursery, it was finished a couple weeks before she was born. I've been burning the midnight oil around here lately, trying to get everything done before Millie arrives! I know it could be another week, but I've felt all along that she'll be early. How early isn't exactly up to me, though!

Her room was more work than Charlotte's was mainly because I was already pregnant when we moved into this house. Not only was I pregnant, I was still in the first trimester and feeling sick most of the time. Oh, and I had another baby to take care of! So, pregnant, sicky, and mama to big sister....kind of throws a kink in things! Because we obviously wouldn't need her room to be ready for a while, it became the catch-all room. Which basically means if I didn't want to deal with certain boxes or pieces of furniture, that's where they ended up. So when it came right down to it, we had a lot of boxes to go through and furniture to move or get rid of. 

Just to give you an idea...

There was a lot more in here  (top pic) when we started clearing things out!

Pretty sure it took 2 months for this kind of progress. LOL

And then I had to actually make her bedding. I really procrastinated on this one way too long. I didn't order fabric until November. I had honestly planned on doing it earlier, but money has seriously been tight around here lately. I don't really even know what happened... It was just like all of a sudden - no extra moneys! Anyway, ordering fabric took forever. Then it took me a while to work up the nerve to start. Cutting fabric is seriously nerve-racking because once you cut, you can't take it back!

Bumper fabric

Quilt fabric (this was pre-cut for me! ;))

Also, I've never made crib bedding before. I've done a few quilts and other small projects, but nothing like this. Suffice it to say I was really nervous about it. Thankfully, I have a seamstress for a best friend and she walked me through it. Pretty sure there were a few times she wanted to come through the phone and smack me. ;-) I freaked out a lot and bugged her with a ton of questions. My brain doesn't work the way hers does, first of all. Second, I'm pregnant and my brain just does not work the way it used to! 

Long story, short: I have an awesome best friend who sent me instructions, texted more instructions, and Skyped/FaceTimed for even more instructions. Oh, and she also let me borrow a foot for the sewing machine that ruffles things. If not for her....well, I might have thrown in the towel before I even got started.

And now, after weeks of hard work and late nights, here is the final product! I did the quilt first, because I had fabric for it first. =) Though not perfect, I'm really happy with the way it turned out. 

The bumpers took the most time to cut out, but were probably the easiest part to sew. I wish I'd known that going in, because I probably wouldn't have put it off for so long!

And finally.... The crib skirt!! Putting this thing together was a huge pain. Cutting it, and even hemming it, wasn't so bad. But getting it just the right way onto the fabric that goes under the mattress? Ridiculous. 

I have to say that, even with help, I'm pretty darn proud of myself. ;-) It's definitely not perfect, and there are some things I would love to change, but I did it. It's done. 

                        I'm ready to see her in this bed!

Very Pregnant

That's my response to everyone who keeps asking "how are you?" Because seriously...that's how I feel. =P

Taken at 38 weeks, 1 day. Officially the most pregnant I've ever been.

And quite possibly the most tired I've ever been.

How far along? 38 weeks. And feeling it.

Size of baby: At my ultrasound last week, they estimated her to be 6lbs 9oz. I'm not totally sold on that, but suffice it to say she's full term and out of room! 

Maternity clothes? Absolutely.

Best moment this week: Getting that much closer to having all of her bedding done and nursery 100% ready. I should have it all done by the end of the day today. THAT is a great feeling!

Miss anything? Yep. But I really don't like complaining. I'm definitely ready to not be pregnant anymore, but I'm thankful that she's healthy and growing!

Movement: Oh, yes. She's a mover, even this big.

Food cravings: All the sweet things! You know, as usual. 

Food aversions: None, really....

Gender: It's a GIRL! 

Labor signs: Sadly, no. Like I said, I'm ready for this. 

Sleep: Sleep is frustrating. I'm so uncomfortable...I wake up throughout the night to turn over, which hurts. Then I wake up for potty breaks. *sigh* Have I mentioned I'm ready? Although, I know I'll just be trading these wake-ups for middle-of-the-night feedings...but at least I'll have a cute reason for waking up. ;-)

Symptoms: Basically, I just ache all over - feet, back, hips, pelvis...you name it.

Belly button in or out? Out. Definitely out.

Looking forward to: Having this baby girl! But first, getting her room (and the house) as ready as possible for her arrival. =) Hopefully a birth story will be on the blog next week! A mama can hope, right?

My Little Family + 37

While we were in NC for Thanksgiving, I had one of my SILs snap some quick (and I do mean quick) family photos of us. Thankfully, we managed to get a few good ones! I was kind of surprised considering how spur-of-the-moment it was. Good surprise, though, since these are doubling as Christmas and maternity photos. :)

Charlotte loves doing this! I can still hear her say, "one, two, free!" Haha! :)

Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

This one is my favorite.

And this one is a really close second. Because seriously, look at her face!!

I just love it. 

And since she reads my blog, thanks for taking the pics, Anna! And for Charlotte's dress. LOVE!

❉❉❉

Holy geez, you guys. This girl has dropped low!

How far along? 37 weeks, you guys. Thirty. Seven.

Size of baby: Big? =P Big enough, anyway. Full term!

Maternity clothes? Um, yes. Oddly enough, I have a tshirt or two that 'fits', but all maternity...and some of hubby's tshirts. Haha!

Best moment this week: Seeing her cute little face on the ultrasound, and getting her nursery a little more organized. (Big thanks to hubby for that one!)

Miss anything? At this point, I pretty much miss not being pregnant. But I want this girl to grow as much as possible, so I'm trying not to complain too much. 

Movement: Girl is a crazy mover. Feet in and under my ribs all throughout the day!

Food cravings: All the sweet things! What's new, right?

Food aversions: I think we are kinda past those. I pretty much want to eat everything, haha!

Gender: It's a GIRL!

Labor signs: Actually, I haven't had any in a couple weeks. I'm okay with that...as long as she comes on her own!

Sleep: Meh. Sleep is getting stinky. I want sleep. I enjoy sleep. It's just not easy these days.

Symptoms: Back, hip, and pelvic pain....heartburn... You know, pregnancy things. ;)

Belly button in or out? Oh, it is so out. It was only a matter of time!

Looking forward to: Finishing her bedding (my goal is to have it done this week), getting her nursery exactly the way I want it...those types of things. 

34 Weeks...Say What?!

How far along? 34 weeks! And holy moly, look at that bump! {Now that I'm almost 35 weeks, it seemed like a good time to do a post. Haha!}

Size of baby: Well, I haven't looked it up, but at the last ultrasound, little missy was estimated to be about 5 lbs. And the rest of her was right on target for her gestational age. Wahoo!

Maternity clothes? Oooooh, yes.

Best moment this week: Finding out she was back in her head-down position! At my appointment last week, she was breech which totally freaked me out. I am totally on board with delivering a breech baby, but most hospitals and doctors are not. Anyway, I'm just glad she turned back around. That I can handle. :)

Miss anything? Yes and no. I miss being able to turn over in bed, get out of bed easily, not having heartburn or back pain....but that's just all part of it.

Movement: This girl is crazy active. Not all day, but she moves a ton. Of course, now that she's bigger I feel every little movement, so there's that too.

Food cravings: All the sweet things!! Doubly frustrating thanks to GD. *sigh*

Food aversions: None, really. Other than the usual list of things I don't eat. ;-)

Gender: It's a GIRL!

Labor signs: Yep, had some of those this past weekend! Sunday I had contractions for an hour. About 30 minutes in, I started to freak out (because OMG it's too early for that!) and decided I should drink some water and lay down for a bit. That did the trick, though not immediately, and they slowed down right at the hour mark and then just went away! It was so crazy because I never had anything like that happen when I was pregnant with Charlotte. I had the normal, run-of-the-mill Braxton Hicks, but nothing like this! Even better - when I mentioned it to my doctor, she was totally happy about it. LOL! She is with me on not inducing this time (at least not before my due date), and she said this is a good indication I won't need to be induced. Hooray!

Sleep: Getting worse. :( I wake up all the time, either because I'm uncomfortable, need to use the bathroom, or I wake up sweating. Ugh. A few nights ago, I didn't get to sleep until 1am because miss Millie was having a dance party. *sigh*

Symptoms: Everything. Well, except nausea. 

Belly button in or out? Almost out! Depending on her position, sometimes it is out. 

Looking forward to: Finishing her quilt, starting her bumpers, and going to NC for Thanksgiving next week! It'll be our first Thanksgiving with family in 4 years, and the first time in 3 years that I won't be cooking or hosting. Slightly weird, but also great! 

What are you doing for Thanksgiving this year? Hosting? Visiting family?

32 Weeks, Baby

First things first, don't forget to sign up for the Christmas mug swap I'm hosting this year if you're interested. Deadline is the 10th!

How far along? 32 weeks! Duh. ;)

Size of baby: BIG. =P I didn't look up "standard" size at this point, but we had an appointment yesterday. According to the ultrasound, she weighs 4lbs 14 oz. Charlotte was 5lbs 5.4oz at birth. Also, her little leggies measured at 34 weeks. Haha! I wonder if I'll have a bigger baby this time around....? I know those measurements aren't 100% accurate.

Maternity clothes? Um, yes. Still needing some more fall/winter shirts. 

Best moment this week: Definitely seeing her on the ultrasound. And since I had an NST, I got to listen to her heartbeat and movements for a good while, too. And, as always, having nurses/doctors exclaim I have quite a mover on my hands is funny. ;) My girls are nothing if not active!

She's head down (hooray!) and all smooshed, 

but that's her little face with her hand right in front.

Also? The thing above her head is the placenta. Poor kiddo is super smooshed!

Charlotte was pointing at her pictures, saying "Millie! Millie!"

It was basically the cutest thing ever. 

(Especially after her complete meltdown during my ultrasound yesterday.)

Miss anything? Sleeping on my stomach, and generally not being uncomfortable.... But those aren't really big things.

Movement: See above comment. =P She moves like crazy! Just like her big sister. Although she definitely hurts me more. Haha

Food cravings: Last night I really wanted a donut. That's about as outlandish as my cravings get. 

Food aversions: None that I can really think of.

Gender: It's a GIRL! :)

Labor signs: I mentioned to my OB yesterday that I've had some weird pains in my stomach, and um...she thinks they're probably contractions. Soooo, yeah. They feel a lot different than any I ever had with Charlotte, so I guess I just haven't recognized it. Further proof that every pregnancy is different.

Sleep: Sleep is meh. I rest fairly well (most of the time), but I'm definitely getting up for potty breaks. I've been waking up in a sweat a lot lately, too. Comfort isn't always an issue, but I think I'm just getting used to hurting. Back and hip pain are just part of it!

Symptoms: Some heartburn, back and hip pain, and 3rd trimester exhaustion has definitely kicked in. Hence yesterday's almost 2hr nap. I even surprised myself on that one!

Belly button in or out? Both? It depends on how Millie is positioned and how I'm sitting. If I'm standing up, it's more like half in, half out. I give it 2 more weeks before it's an outie all the time.

Looking forward to: Getting her quilt done, working on the rest of her bedding, and getting her room all set up! One step at a time.

30 Down, 10 to Go!

How far along? 30 weeks...seriously can not believe it! (Somehow this pic makes my baby belly look smaller than it is. Or maybe I just feel big? Haha:))

Size of baby: About 16 inches? Considering her big sister was 18.5 at birth, somehow I doubt little miss Millie is quite that big. We'll see! :)

Maternity clothes? Oh, absolutely. I have a few tshirts I can wear around the house (and a few of Joe's tshirts ;)), but other than that it's maternity all the way! I have got to go shopping for some fall maternity clothes, too. It's starting to get chilly out! =D

Best moment this week: Charlotte pointing at my tummy during breakfast and saying, "Millie!" =) She doesn't quite understand what's going on, but it's still cute and sweet.

Miss anything? I miss being able to eat what I want, and when, but other than that I don't miss much. 

Movement: Holy cannoli. This girl has been so active lately! I guess she's starting to run out of room, because it seems like I can feel everything. I feel pretty certain she's head-down now (woohoo!) because I've had feet in my ribs for the last day or so. Getting closer!

Food cravings: Nothing, really...which seems kind of weird, I guess. I just want all the sweet things that I really shouldn't have. Although I'll be the first to admit that I definitely do indulge sometimes. It's tough being a preggo with GD!

Food aversions: I think we're past that, but I definitely haven't had any yogurt since the beginning of this pregnancy. Better safe than sorry, I guess. Haha!

Gender: It's a GIRL! =)

Labor signs: None! Even the few Braxton Hicks I had a few weeks back have gone away. Totally fine by me.

Sleep: Sleep is meh. I sleep pretty well, for the most part, but I'm still getting up for bathroom breaks...and sometimes just because my hip/back hurts. 

Symptoms: The usual - never-ending heartburn, back, and hip pain, and generally just feeling uncomfortable. Having someone else's teensy little feet in your ribs really isn't all that fun. Cute as they may be! ;-)

Belly button in or out? I think it's about half out. It just hasn't "popped" yet because little missy isn't quite that big. Soon, though, I will have an outie. It's just a matter of when at this point!

Looking forward to: Working on her bedding and room some more! Seeing her at my OB appointment in a couple weeks... And definitely looking forward to more of these fantastic fall temperatures!! 

Me & GD

It's officially official [again]:

       I have Gestational Diabetes. {GD, for short.}

At my last OB appointment, I had to take the 1 hr glucose test. Something every pregnant woman looks forward to, right? Hahaha! It's not really the worst thing in the world, but it's definitely no picnic either. Fortunately my experience this time around wasn't so bad. When the lab tech took my blood, I was told that the results would be in the next day and no phone call would basically mean all is well.

Naturally, when 5PM rolled around the following day, I was ecstatic! No GD this time! I can eat ALL THE CARBS without feeling guilty! Woohoo! Thursday rolled around, which meant so many yummy snacks at PWOC. I celebrated by sampling, um...a lot...of the options. (Come on. You know you'd do the same!)

Later that day as I was cooking dinner, the phone rang. It was a number I didn't recognize, but it was local so I answered. It was my OB's nurse, and the news wasn't good. I failed the 1 hr test. It wasn't exactly a surprise, but I was still taken aback. I think it's only normal considering it took them 48 hours to let me know. You'd think that having a history of GD would prompt them to call me a little quicker with the results. Anyway, I did get upset about it. I had thought I was fine - that I wouldn't have to prick myself 4 times a day from here to Millie's birth day. I wouldn't have to count every carb, or try to find something I could eat if we went out to dinner. Pregnancy hormones being what they are - and doing what they do - I broke down and cried.

After talking with my bestie and my MIL, I decided to give my OB a call the next day and beg out of the 3 hr glucose test. If you've taken it before, you know that this test is far worse than the 1 hr. You have to fast after midnight, go in early and drink that sickeningly sweet drink, and then endure 3 blood draws - each 1 hour apart. When I did this with Charlotte I almost passed out twice. The lab techs had problems drawing my blood, and I really just felt awful the entire time. I really didn't want to repeat this experience....and with my husband out in the field. Thankfully, my OB is awesome and allowed me to test my sugar at home this week. 

After finding out I failed the 1 hr test, I decided to get back on the low carb train. As a result, my blood sugar has been nearly perfect. So this is me....accepting that I have GD once again. It's not exactly fun (my fingers are already killing me!), but it's not the end of the world either. I've also noticed that I have quite a bit more energy than I did before. I know that this is due in large part to my blood sugar levels...and all those stinkin' carbs I had been eating. Now, I do still feel tired throughout the day - that's just pregnancy for you. (Not to mention wrangling a toddler!) But I can tell that I feel able to do more and that's a big deal. I honestly kind of hate that I didn't realize this before. I mean, you'd think that someone who had been down this road once before would recognize the signs/symptoms. I hate to think what it did to my little baby's pancreas, too. (Theirs will produce more insulin to keep their sugar where it should be...which isn't a good thing!) 

This is my life: giving myself "ouchies" 4x a day. Le sigh.

There's nothing I can do to change it now, though, so I try not to worry. As long as I can keep my sugar under control with diet, I will be happy! That was my goal once I was diagnosed with it last time, and that's my goal this time as well. I'm not a fan of carb-counting, but I know it's for the best and it's definitely a healthy way of eating and living. 

So, here's to having GD for a second time...and kicking its butt! ;-)

26 Week Bump

How far along? 26 weeks! 1 more week till 3rd trimester. I can't even believe it.

Size of baby: The size of a leek... OR about 13.75 inches. (Or smaller, considering this is my baby we're talking about. ;))

Maternity clothes? Yes, indeedy! I've pretty much given up on most of my regular clothes, except for a few shirts that really just get worn around the house. Plus, I really don't want to stretch out any of my pre-preg shirts. I did that with Charlotte and totally regret it. (Now if only I had the budget to buy more maternity tops... Le sigh.)

Best moment this week: Joe coming home from the field a day early! And knowing that we totally rocked a week without Daddy. It wasn't all fun and games (and I was SO TIRED), but we made it! Now to figure out how to do it solo with two babies. Yikes.

Miss anything? SUGAR. Hello, round 2 of gestational diabetes.... (More on that later.)

Movement: Oh, yeah! I still say she's not quite as active as Charlotte was, but she's still doing plenty of moving. =)

Food cravings: Nothing really specific lately... Just all the sweets that I shouldn't have. No surprise there.

Food aversions: None, really.

Gender: It's a GIRL!

Labor signs: None! I have only had one bout of Braxton Hicks in the last week or so. More water helps. 

Sleep: Not so bad, but not wonderful either. I keep having weirdo dreams, and/or waking up sweating. Thanks, hormones.

Symptoms: Heartburn. Back and hip pain, although those are alleviated with a little bit of prenatal yoga. Thank you, Jesus.

Belly button in or out? Still in...for now.

Looking forward to: Ordering fabric for Millie's bedding (finally made a decision on the design and fabric, with a little help from the bestie!), and starting on her quilt. And I'm definitely looking forward to cooler temps this week!! It's my first fall in...4 years and I am EXCITED! :)

25 Weeks!

How far along? 25 weeks! Cuh-razy. {Note to self: you should probably start working on baby stuff. Soon.}

Size of baby: About 13 inches...or the size of a celery stalk.

Maternity clothes? Oh, yeah. I can still get away with some non-maternity things, but not many! Besides, maternity clothes (or yoga pants) or way more comfortable anyway. ;-)

Best moment this week: Seeing her on the ultrasound at my doctor's appointment last week!

Miss anything? Not having heartburn all the time ranks pretty high on the list of things being missed. Haha!

Movement: Oh, my, yes! I take back everything I said about Millie being more calm than Charlotte. She's very much a moving, grooving baby! I love it. :) {Well, when she's not hurting me.}

Food cravings: Everything sweet. =P Which is not a good thing because I failed my 1 hr glucose test (surprise, surprise) and I'm pretty sure my OB is gonna slap the GD diagnosis on me again. *SIGH*

Food aversions: I think I'm pretty much past all that, but there are a few things I'm still cautious around.

Gender: It's a GIRL! 

Labor signs: I've had a few Braxton Hicks lately (which are strong enough to make me want to sit!), but nothing other than that.

Sleep: Pretty good...as long as I stay up late. Getting comfortable is difficult sometimes, and I usually have to get up for a potty break, but it's not terrible.

Symptoms: Heartburn. Oh, the heartburn! Minor back and hip pain. You know, the usual.

Belly button in or out? Still in, but slowly working its way out. It's starting to look weird!

Looking forward to: Charlotte getting over her cold, and this week being over. (Probably a bad thing to say on a Monday, huh?) Joe will be in the field all week, so I'm preparing for a very long, tiring week. Yay, me. I also have a project or two planned, so hopefully I'll get to it and post it! 

I'd definitely appreciate your prayers this week while Joe is gone. We will obviously survive, but my hormones may not. ;-)

Because We Matter

You may remember that, in late July/early August, I made a decision to swap OBs. Even before that, I had decided to take the "civilian" healthcare route. I'd had the military experience once, and while it was good for the most part, I wanted something different this time. After today, I have no doubt that I made the best decision in choosing to see a doctor off post...and then switching doctors halfway through my pregnancy.

Truthfully, my pregnancy in Hawaii was fine (other than the GD, of course). I was taken care of. Medically, anyway. I was seen by at least half a dozen doctors, none of whom I remember. I was mostly prepared for that, because that's just part of it, right? I had ultrasounds, blood work, urine samples, check-ups... All of it. But the whole time - especially once I was being seen at Tripler - I felt like a number. In fact, when you check in to the OB clinic at Tripler, you have to take a number. No kidding. It's all very rushed. Very military. Hurry up and wait. Do this. Do that. See ya next time. Sure, most of the doctors I saw were friendly. But now I wonder how much they truly cared about me.

At my first appointment off post (with the first doctor), I felt at ease. I had to wait a while, but that's normal with any doctor. The staff was kind. My doctor was very nice and friendly. Obviously busy, but friendly. I really never had any issues with her, and enjoyed seeing her. It was the hospital policies I was really concerned about.

Everything changed when I saw this new doctor, Dr. P, we'll call her. At my first visit with her, she asked me questions. She encouraged me to ask questions about her, about her practice. She floored me when she said that she felt it was her place to be my advocate - to help me have the kind of birth *I* wanted. Yeah, she said that. No agenda. No "my way, or the highway."

And then there was today. The dreaded glucose test. Oh, how I hate that thing!! The sickeningly sweet drink, the fasting, the waiting, the icky feeling....it's all awful. And yet....today it wasn't all that terrible. 

The drink was still mostly gross. I still feel icky afterward. But I also got taken care of. After a nurse took my vitals, I waited in the lobby a while and read. I watched as the receptionist handed a daddy in the lobby a bottle of apple juice, and offered it to others in the room. Then, I was taken back to a room, where I could, like...relax.

When it was time for my blood to be drawn, the lab tech came to me. Not only that, she asked me if I had good veins, and where. I'm a hard stick, so I tell every lab tech I see the same thing (whether they ask or not): I have good veins in my forearms, and sometimes in the creases, but they're hard to get to. Most of the time, they go ahead and try for the one I've just said is a hard stick...and then they hurt me, and end up getting from my forearm. This lady? She listened to me. One stick, 2 vials, and done. And then she asked me if I wanted some chips. I about fell out of the chair, ya'll. Obviously I was shocked, but I managed to utter a "yes, that would be fantastic." She left with my 2 vials of blood and came back minutes later with my precious snack. (Which I proceeded to devour while watching TV with my feet up.)

When Dr. P came in, I made sure to mention how much I appreciated the snack. Her response just kind of shocked me. "...My best training to be an OB came from being a mom [from having babies]. I always dug in my purse for snacks after the glucose test. So when I opened my own practice, I make sure we keep snacks on hand for all my patients. Because I've been there." That right there is what I love most about this doctor. She isn't all about the medicine, although that is important. She focuses on the person. 

When I look back on Charlotte's pregnancy, and how much those doctors shoved me around, it makes me so frustrated. By the time they were done with me during my OB appointments and NSTs, I could hardly tell my head from my hand. I was rushed in and out of the OB clinic, antepartum clinic, and lab. I barely got answers to my questions, and I only half-knew any of the doctors I saw. Not to mention the fact that none of the nurses even attempted to get my [last] name right. Nor did they ever call me by name, or pretend to know my due date from my chart. I was a number. Just another pregnant military wife. 

It may have cost us a bit of money for me to be seen off post here, but it is 100% worth it. I'm not a number; I'm a person. I'm a person who is growing - and will birth - another person. I matter. My baby matters. We deserve to be cared for.

23 Weeks

How far along? 23 Weeks! So crazy.

Size of baby: 12 inches - about the size of a head of romaine lettuce. I have a lettuce baby. =P

Maternity clothes? You betcha! I'm mostly in maternity clothes, but I can still wear some of my normal shirts. For now, anyway!

Best moment this week: Best and worst - getting my hair cut over the weekend. Going to the zoo in Atlanta was pretty fun, too, though. {Don't worry, post with pictures to come!}

This is the best you get until I upload photos. =P

Miss anything? Other than the aches and pains I have now, not really.

Movement: Ooooh yeah. Though she rolls and squirms more than her big sister ever did, she still gives me plenty of good kicks and punches. My girls are movers! I'm okay with it, though. It lets me know she's doing well. =)

Food cravings: Just Mexican food and sweets! Nothing too unusual. I find it funny and interesting that I'm craving a lot of the same things this time around.

Food aversions: None really, but I'm still cautious around PB, some cheeses, and yogurt. You can never be too safe. Haha!

Gender: IT'S A GIRL! {Amelia Mae}

Labor signs: Nope! Although, I think I may have had some Braxton Hicks a couple days ago. 

Sleep: Meh. It's getting difficult. My hips and back start to ache at some point in the night, making it hard to be comfortable. I have yet to find the perfect pillow situation. *sigh*

Symptoms: Heartburn. Oh, the heartburn. Hip and back pain. Nothing out of the ordinary!

Belly button in or out? Still in, but it's stretching out! Joe and I figure it will only be a few more weeks until its on it's way out. =P

Looking forward to: PWOC this week, my next OB appointment (next week), getting her room set up (eventually)... Nothing big going on for us right now, but that is fine with me! 

19 Weeks + Gender Reveal!

How far along? 19 weeks!

Size of baby: About the size of an eggplant...or around 9 inches.

Maternity clothes? You betcha! I still have plenty of shirts that fit, but I definitely need the pants. Or super comfy yoga pants. ;-)

Best moment this week: Seeing the baby in the ultrasound!!!

Miss anything? Eh, not really.

Movement: Yes! Not a ton, but I definitely feel punches and kicks. And rolling. I found out during the ultrasound that I don't feel this one as much because of where my placenta is. *sigh*

Food cravings: Sweets. This week it's been Butterfingers. Who knows. =P

Food aversions: Nothing really comes to mind right now. I can eat PB again, but it still just doesn't sound good. 

Gender: Eeeek! I've been dying to share!!! Of course, if you follow me on IG, Twitter, or Facebook you already know...but for the rest of you....

Aaaaah! I can't even begin to say how excited I am to have another girl! I was seriously a little shocked that the ultrasound tech said, "It looks like you're having a girl!" I had been feeling that all along, but I never really trusted those feelings. Because, really? You don't truly know. And I felt like I was kind of....biased, for lack of a better word, because I didn't really want to need to buy everything all over again. Anyway, it doesn't matter now! 

Rainbow Baby is a girl! And her name is Amelia Mae. =) I know Amelia is a pretty popular name these days, but we really just love it. And since we have an extremely hard time agreeing on girls' names, I figured we should probably stick with it. Not to mention it's really stinkin' cute. Also, I really kind of want to call her Millie. {Sorry, Erika! The name-stealing was/is totally not intentional. LOL! ;-)} I mean, really. Because how cute does "Millie Mae" sound?! Eeeek! 

I also can't wait to see my baby girls together. =) I just know they're going to be so adorable! And I really hope they'll be close since they're so close in age. A mama can dream, right? Oh, and? Both of their 19 week ultrasounds look almost identical. I have this feeling that Amelia is going to look quite a bit like Charlotte. I am totally okay with this, in case you were wondering. Poor Joe is going to have a rough time with these adorable little girls running around the house. Hehe. 

Labor signs: Nope! Let's keep it that way for about 20 more weeks, please!

Sleep: I've been tossing and turning a lot lately. It's definitely getting more uncomfortable, but adding pillows only makes the tossing worse. *sigh*

Symptoms: Some heartburn, back pain, round ligament pain....the usual. 

Belly button in or out? Still in!

Looking forward to: Starting on Amelia's room! Hopefully that will happen soon....that room is a disaster area right now. Ah, the joys of moving.

P.S. Have you checked out the giveaway on our Wednesday Walkabout linkup? If not, you definitely should!

18 Weeks - Getting Closer!

How far along? 18 weeks - almost 19 now. My middle name should be Procrastinator.

Size of baby: Sweet potato! Or about 8 inches.

Maternity clothes? Yep! Most of my shirts still fit just fine, but I definitely need the pants!

Best moment this week: Hearing baby's heartbeat at the doctor, and finally entering the nesting phase! Woo!

Miss anything? Eh, not really.

Movement: Yes! Lots more movement lately. I may have to take back anything I said about this baby being more laid back than Charlotte. Haha! It's like one day I was barely feeling anything, and the next this kiddo is moving and kicking like crazy! The only kicks I mind are the ones to the bladder. Why do my babies do this to me?! LOL

Food cravings: Mostly just sweets, although I did have a craving for a burger last week.... I'm guessing it was a hint that I needed some more protein.

Food aversions: Yogurt and string/stick cheese still sound gross to me.

Gender: Still unknown, but we find out on the 7th!!! =D What's your guess?

Labor signs: NOPE.

Sleep: I'm starting to having a little trouble getting - and staying - comfortable, but it's not affecting me that much. I'm thinking I'm going to need more pillows soon, though. *sigh*

Symptoms: Round ligament pain and cramping like. crazy. Occasional heartburn and back pain. Wahoo.

Belly button in or out? Still in!

Looking forward to: Our little mini-trip to NC this coming weekend, and then finding out the gender next week! 

I Feel Kinda Crazy

I swear, almost everything irritates me lately. Something someone said in passing. Something I saw on FB. Something Joe did, but isn't unusual for him to do. Jasper's mere presence can send me into a frenzy if I let it. (I'm still not sure why.) I've even gotten slightly irritated at my bestie....which is just.....weird, and really sucky. 

My conclusion?

Pregnancy hormones make me crazy.

Unless you either lived close to me - or happened to be my bestie - while I was pregnant with Charlotte, you probably wouldn't know that Joe and I fought like crazy for at least the first trimester. At least. It was bizarre, to say the least. We pretty much always get along, even if we happen to disagree. So the fact that there were times when we actually yelled at each other was kinda scary. And because I was pregnant, there were also many, many tears involved. 

Fast forward to this pregnancy, and it's basically the same thing all over again. Although I think we were somewhat prepared for the crazy this time. It hasn't been nearly as bad. We've definitely argued - a couple times about some really ridiculous things - but not like it was with Charlotte. Thank goodness for that.

I've also come to the conclusion that I don't tolerate my mother well when I'm pregnant. She's a fairly irritating person when I'm not pregnant, so the hormones are not helping me there. She calls? I ignore it half the time. I respond to her texts an hour or more later. I just. can't. handle. it. Of course, when my phone log looks like this, I'm sure I'm not the only one who would ignore calls or delay responding:

My parents are planning on coming to visit in October, {who wants to take bets on whether or not they'll actually come?} and I am slightly terrified worried about what might happen. My grandparents want to come, too, which just adds to the stress. I mean....yeah, everyone come visit the girl who's 7-8 months pregnant and forget that it might actually stress her out! Good idea. I just can't believe my grandparents would even think about coming. They can't fly, and it's at least a 12 hour drive. Papa is on all kinds of meds, and oxygen. Nana fell and broke her pelvis in June. Yep, a 12 hour ride sounds like a fantastic idea! Ya'll better be saying some prayers for me if everyone comes to visit me this fall. {With the exception of my brother, who has no vacay time.}

Thankfully, the only one who hasn't irritated me {outside of anything normal} so far this pregnancy is Charlotte. Focusing on her is usually how I handle the crazy, so that's nice. LOL! And since I have officially entered the nesting phase of pregnancy, {woohoo!!!!} maybe I can start channeling the crazy into cleaning, organizing, and decorating. Lord knows this house needs it after me being a bum for most of the last 2 months. {The 1st trimester really kicks my butt. We're all lucky we survived, and had clean clothes.}

Anyone else feel like a lunatic during pregnancy? Please tell me I'm not alone!

Making the Switch

A while back I decided I'd write up a post about why I chose to go off-post for OB care this time around. Well, I never got around to it, and then all this stuff with the doctor/hospital I chose came up, and now I feel like I need to talk about it. :)

To start things off, the Army hospital here is more like a clinic than an actual hospital. What I've heard is that they only do procedures/surgeries if it's a life-or-death kind of thing. {The dental clinic won't even do wisdom teeth removals unless they have to.} They also don't have a L&D ward. So, um....okay. They do have an OB/GYN clinic, but they use a local hospital for deliveries. There are a couple reasons I didn't use their clinic, but I also figured that if I can't even deliver there (making the chances of knowing the doctor who will deliver the baby even more slim), what's the point?

I did a minute amount of research on a local spouses page, and found some recommendations for OBs. Slightly more research and decided on one. Her main office (and the hospital) are both downtown, which is a good 30 minute drive from our house. Not terrible - and definitely better than Hawaii - but if there were any amount of traffic, it wouldn't be a fun ride in labor. But, I liked the doctor. She's fairly young (probably mid-30s), kind, and attentive. Her nurse, and the rest of the staff are pretty nice as well. (Except for one idiot who had the audacity to ask me "where's the other kid?" when I told her this was my 3rd pregnancy, but I only have 1 baby. GRRRRRR.)

And then I started asking questions about hospital policy regarding birth/newborns.... 

I shared this in my bumpdate this week, but it turns out that the hospital has pretty rigid standards about babies going to the nursery. Not just for a bath, weight checks, etc., but every day for the pediatrician to do rounds. Depending on how many babies there are, this could take a few hours. And there's a minimum 2 hour requirement for the baby to be observed after birth. Um, what?! Maybe it's just because I had Charlotte in a "baby-friendly" hospital that didn't have a nursery, but this is just not okay with me! As I was talking with other people, apparently this is a common practice...especially in the South. I feel sort of silly about it because, hi, I grew up in the South. Shouldn't I be somewhat aware of this?

I did talk to my OB about these things, and she confirmed the nursery nightmare. {Well, it's a nightmare for me, anyway.} Even though she did say they are starting to make changes to become "baby-friendly," I just don't know that I can risk it and end up with a fight on my hands come baby day. There are some things I can compromise on, but I just can't on this. I really want a similar experience to what I had with Charlotte, and I think I should get that. And if I can't find it at one place, it's okay to go somewhere that I can. I should probably also say that Joe and I have discussed it quite a bit recently. From cord-clamping to rooming-in, he's heard it all. And when I told him about the nursery stuff, he was on the verge of tears. {Totally not even kidding, and I love this about him.} So even if I could have compromised on it, his reaction sealed the deal for me. 

I called a different OB - very highly recommended for a more natural approach - this afternoon and left a message to make an appointment. The girls who suggested her to me (one currently pregnant) said that she's 100% on-board with delaying cord clamping, and skin-to-skin right after birth to promote breastfeeding. The hospital she delivers at is totally baby friendly, and they do all exams in the room. *insert happy sigh of relief here* Also, this hospital is 15, 20 mins tops, from our house. SCORE!

As much as I hate to swap doctors "mid-stream," I feel like we need a doctor (and a hospital) that will allow us to have the kind of birth experience and postpartum/newborn care that we want. I know that not everyone thinks that having their baby sent off to the nursery for a while is a big deal, and that's okay for them. We're just not those people, and I don't feel like we're really asking for a whole lot. :)

17 - Almost Halfway!

How far along? 17 weeks, plus a few days.

Size of baby: Almost 8 inches...or an asparagus pear. {What is that, anyway? Too lazy to Google.}

Maternity clothes? You betcha! Pants for sure, but still fitting into some of my normal shirts. 

Best moment this week: Doing a little birthday celebrating/eating/shopping!

Miss anything? Not so much. =)

Movement: Yeah! It's still not super frequent, but I'm feeling a lot more. Rainbow Baby actually kept me up Saturday night... Hadn't felt much that day (busy day), but as soon as I laid down in bed I got kicked and punched like crazy! Silly baby.

Food cravings: Ummm, still mostly sweets. Nothing crazy....yet.

Food aversions: None currently. Yippee!

Gender: Don't know yet... Hopefully just a couple more weeks! I'm dying to find out! 

Labor signs: Nope! Although I think I've been having occasional Braxton Hicks... Anyone else have them this early?

Sleep: Still pretty good for the most part... Except that sleeping on my stomach isn't as comfy as it used to be. Part of it, though.

Symptoms: Heartburn, round ligament pain, possible BH, and some fatigue. 

Belly button in or out? In. For now.

Looking forward to: My appointment this week! And also figuring out if I want to stay with this OB and hospital. Apparently, the hospital isn't "baby friendly." What I've heard from other moms in the area (and one who used to work there) is that they require the baby to stay in the nursery for a mandatory 2 hr observation. :-/ I don't like that it's mandatory. I'm also not sure if they'll let me do delayed cord clamping (waiting until it stops pulsing ensures that baby gets ALL the blood from the placenta), and skin-to-skin right after birth (instead of whisking her away to the nursery to bathe, measure, observe). Both of these things are things that I really want. With Charlotte, I compromised on the cord clamping. I got to do everything else - skin-to-skin, delayed bath, and rooming-in - so I wasn't too upset. But the whole "you must give us your baby" thing doesn't sit well with me. Maybe it's because Tripler spoiled me (seems odd to say about a military hospital, LOL!), but I don't want to compromise on that. Especially since this is Rainbow Baby we're talking about here. It's extra sensitive for me this time around. Anyway, I'll be asking my {current} OB about this at my appointment. I'm hoping I won't have to swap doctors - just hospitals - but I have a feeling that's not going to happen. I hate to swap midstream, so to speak, but I figure if I'm the one giving birth {not the doctors} and it's my baby, I should get the things that I feel are right for us. So...prayers would be appreciated!