22 weeks

Today I had another appointment with my doctor. Tim is on spring break, so he was able to come with me. I told Dr. MacKenzie I still wasn't feeling a lot of fetal movement, so he brought in the ultrasound machine and we spied on the baby for a little bit. We watched her wiggle, spasm, kick (just a little kick), and practice breathing. I love it every time I get to have an ultrasound - it's so reassuring to see the baby wiggling about. Tim was super excited, and said he loved seeing the baby. He hasn't been able to go to the other ultrasound appointments.

I'm still feeling better for the most part - I don't feel great, but I don't expect to feel great until I have the baby. I do have days where I can't stop vomiting, but those days are getting to be fewer and far between (maybe once a week).

Today at the grocery store, the cashier asked when my baby was due. I fibbed and said, "About three months." She said, "Seriously? I thought you were going to say next week!" Thanks a lot, jerk! When we saw the ultrasound, the baby had her legs fully extended. Apparently she likes to stretch out - maybe that's why my belly is so big!

20 weeks

I can’t believe it – I’m halfway done!!! 

Today I woke up with the weirdest feeling.  It was the feeling of feeling… normal!  I haven’t felt sick hardly at all today, and didn’t even take my Zofran this morning.  I ate a huge lunch and then wanted CHINESE food (for the first time since becoming pregnant) for dinner.  It was a miracle.

Also, today I felt the baby kicking for the first time.  I have felt her wiggling around a bit, but tonight I felt her kicking up a storm.  It was awesome.

This afternoon, the cafeteria lady told me that it looked like I was having twins.  Ha – thanks a lot!  I am getting pretty big, I have to admit.  Hopefully that means I have a healthy baby girl inside.  I’m so excited to see and kiss and hold and love her. 

18-week sonogram!

On February 23, at 1:00 pm, I had another sonogram.  My good friend Erin came with me because Tim couldn’t get time off at the hospital.  He really wanted to come, but it just wasn’t possible.  Before he left for work, I asked him if he wanted me to text him with the gender of the baby, and he said, “No, I can wait until I get home from work and you can tell me in person.”

The sonogram technician said everything looked great, which was a huge relief.  I was so worried about spina bifida because I wasn’t able to take prenatal vitamins after about 6 weeks due to severe morning sickness.

The technician at first said she couldn’t tell whether the baby was a boy or girl because its legs were politely crossed.  She gave it a couple gentle nudges and a few minutes later checked again.  This time, even I could see its legs were wide open and I knew what it was before the technician confidently proclaimed, “That’s a girl!”  No hesitation whatsoever.

After the sonogram, I texted Tim the following picture:

He texted back immediately and said, “I can’t wait.  Boy or girl?”  I texted him the first picture, and he said, “Told you.”  Ha ha ha.  It’s true, I was convinced it was a boy, but from the very beginning Tim has thought it was a girl. 

We’re so excited to have two girls – sisters are awesome!

17.5 weeks

Well, time flies and I am getting HUGE.  I already look like I'm about 6 months pregnant - I guess I should have done more crunches before I got pregnant again. :-)

I'm super excited because on Thursday (February 23), I get to have another ultrasound and (hopefully) find out if this baby is a girl or a boy.

I still have morning sickness, but not as bad as during the first trimester.  The doctor prescribed Zofran for me, which helps a ton.  I still feel sick, but I feel okay enough to go throughout my day not feeling like I want to curl up in a ball and be put in a coma for the rest of the pregnancy.

We've been trying to help Squiggles understand that her world is about to change, but she doesn't really understand and seems to think the idea of a baby in Mommy's tummy is patently absurd.  I guess I can't blame her.

13 week ultrasound

Today I had my risk-assessment ultrasound - it was fantastic!   Uncle Lance came with me because he had never seen a live fetal ultrasound.  We got to see the baby's heart beating.  The baby was wiggling around like a champion - seems like this baby might be related to his or her older sister.

Everything looks great so far, and the ultrasound made me so excited to be having a baby!  Tim was super excited about it too - he kept texting me and asking how things were going.  My appointment ended up being an hour late, so he had to wait a long time.  When I finally sent him a text saying everything looked great, he sent a text back requesting (practically demanding) a picture, so I took a picture with my phone of a printout.  When he got home last night and looked at the rest of the pictures, he smiled and beamed and said, "I like the looks of that baby."  We're so excited!

12.5 weeks

Well, they say that morning sickness usually starts to subside around 12 weeks; unfortunately, yesterday was by far the worst of my pregnancy so far, and today hasn't been a whole lot better. Needless to say, I hope this aspect of the pregnancy ends soon.  Last time it never really stopped (got better for a couple weeks, and then returned with a vengeance), so my hopes aren't very high.

On a brighter note, Wednesday we get to have our first big ultrasound.  I'm excited to see the baby, and hoping desperately that everything is okay... I've been so sick that it seems impossible, but I'm sure everything is fine.

11.5 weeks

Well, I'm still feeling very pregnant. I've had a lot of morning sickness lately, and I have days when it's all I can do to get out of bed.  By the time I shower, I'm so exhausted that I'm ready to go back to bed for a few more hours.  Unfortunately, I have go to work. :)

I think I have been feeling the baby move a little - it feels like little tiny flutters in my lower belly.  It might be my imagination, but I think it's the real deal.  

We've been trying to Squiggles that a baby is on the way, but she doesn't understand.  She does like to look at the pictures in my "Week by Week Pregnancy" guide.  When she sees pictures of a developing fetus, she enthusiastically shouts, "Bay-bay!!!" I keep telling her there is a baby in my belly, but she just laughs as though that is a terrific joke.

Tim is excited for the baby to come, too.  He often puts his hand on my belly and strokes it affectionately or gives it a pat and says, "How's my baby?"  I tell him it's doing just fine.

I've been having dreams of banquet tables full of delicious food.  Roasted turkeys, homemade rolls, cakes, cookies, corn on the cob, filet mignon, grapes, cherries... everything delicious food imaginable. In my dreams, I can eat forever without being full or sick... if only that were the case in real life!  Right now I'm eating about a third of what I normally do... I just can't stand the thought (or look or smell) of food, and I have to force myself to eat whatever I think I might be able to keep down.  

Alas... all for a good cause. The best cause on earth, really.

Next week we get to have our risk-assessment ultrasound - that means I get to see the baby again!  I can't wait.