Week 23

23 Weeks and look who joined me for the photos! I was a day late, and Josh was off today, so it was a nice treat =). Gabriel is talking up a storm, and even points to my belly and says "baby!" I'm not sure he totally understands it, but I guess he will soon enough. When a new little girl comes into his life, and steals a lot of attention from mommy, he will notice.

The room is going much slower than I wanted, but I'm sure it won't take long to put together. I am just dreading the desk going into our room. I'm considering purchasing a black leaning desk and selling the blue metal/glass one. This would make me feel better because at least then it would match. Anyway, so hopefully more to come on that soon.

This week has been fairly uneventful (other than a stretching belly). Next week I have a check up for me and another shot decision to make.

22 Weeks!

I'm 22 weeks today and can feel Lizzy Kay moving and shaking. She still doesn't move much, but when she does I can feel it pretty good. She even makes my tummy move a bit ;). She likes to sit/move on my bladder, so I have to use the bathroom a lot! With Gabriel this urge went away during the 2nd trimester. With her I still have the urge often, especially when she starts jabbing my bladder with her bony self! Here are pics of me at 22 weeks:





I wrote earlier that I got the bedding. Mom and I met at Lowes this week and got paint! I was anxious to get home and paint at least one wall to see what it looked like. Only because it was TOTALLY not what I was looking for when I first went in the store. I was looking for a soft/muted color. I came out with PURPLE:



The other colors were just drowned away by the bright PINK in the bedding. I am still yearning for toned down colors though, so a white crib and light green dresser sound super nice. I am happy with how it is coming together though.

In other news, Gabriel is chatting away and throwing little tantrums here and there. If he does not get his way he is NOT happy! I had to purchase a switch at Lowes because my hand is not cutting it. He just looks at me and starts pointing to his butt after I pop him, HA! He is a tough nut, that is for sure. How did I get a strong willed child when I was so obedient growing up?! I blame Joshua... ;). I have yet to cut the switch, but we will see if it works soon enough. I have also considered purchasing books on how to understand/communicate with your toddler. I just have not had a whole love of time (and I'm busy reading birth books before I run out of time on that). Gabriel demands all of my attention! I am hoping when Elizabeth Kate gets here (and is old enough to play) they will be buds. He just wants me to play with him, or watch a movie with him, every waking hour. If I'm not totally in tuned with him he gets bored and comes to attach on my leg. Literally.. I was thinking it was allergies at first, but now I'm thinking it is just a phase. Here are a few pics of the lil' cutie:

Bedding Here!

Bedding is here! I guess I should now purchase a crib?! I have been checking out Craigslist daily, but have not decided on white or cherry. I love white cribs, but not white dressers. Only because I plan to keep the dresser for a long time and white gets severely dirty (I had white furniture growing up). If I could find a white crib and like a green or purple dresser I think that may be super cute ;0). Gabriel's dresser is red and I love the color in his room.

Here is a picture of the bedding. You can tell it is a brighter pink/salmon color more in this picture than on the Target site:



Found this just quickly browsing, but possibility? Probably a brighter periwinkle/lilac or even green:



I don't want a "baby" color but a lot of "cottage" looks have colored furniture. I would say mostly green:



That is a super small picture of a green dresser in a pink room. I like it!

21 Weeks!

Elizabeth is flipping around today and it feels so good =). She is still not as strong as Gabriel, but she is gaining strength steadily. Gabriel was the hulk at birth (a skinny one at that!) holding his head up and rolling over. I am not expecting that of this lil' one ;0). The doula and I are actually hoping for a small babe. I met with Doris on Wednesday and she has restored my hope in VBAC. She did say, however, if we get into the 8.5 lb or 9 lb baby situation she will recommend another c-section. With a 4th degree perineal tear under her belt, she warns me that I would rather have the c-section scar. Not because some women can't push out a 9lb baby (without 4th degree tearing), but because she looked at my hips (and that I had one doc. already tell me no vaginal) and said better safe than sorry. I say the same thing. Fourth degree tear does NOT sound fun for the rest of my life. Just the thought of it makes me cringe...

At the doula appointment we went down a scale of pain. I am looking at -6 being I strongly wish to hold off on medicine, would love for her to assist me in coping methods, would like for her not to mention pain medication being an option, and would like for her to possibly even deny pain meds even when I ask the first time. I am not at -7 or -8, however, that would mean she denied me pain meds even when I was BEGGING for them because I had told her previously I wanted to go natural! I have no issue with epidural as long as I'm progressed enough. I do have thoughts right now, though, that without the epidural I would be able to labor in positions women have labored in for centuries (hands and knees, squatting, etc.). With the epidural I would be pretty confined to being on my back which actually minimizes the pelvic opening and increases the risk of perineal tears. SO, it will be a decision to make for sure! One I will need to have set in my mind before getting into all that pain...

I can't believe I'm at 21 weeks already. I have purchased a bedding set for her room, but no crib yet. I would like to get the office furniture out,and the room painted, before making that purchase. Here is the crib bedding:. I had to link it because I can't grab the pic. from the Target site. I am thinking of a periwinkle for the walls or light pink. I don't want the room to look like an Easter Egg, so I will decide on wall color when the bedding actually gets here. I originally wanted really light colors, but I could not find a bedding, under $400.00, that I liked. So if this room is "Shabby Chic" I guess it will be "Modern Shabby" if there is such a thing ;). I just don't have as much disposable income this go around (because Gabriel also needs a lot), so I'm rolling with the changes.

Until next week...

20 weeks, One Day Early!

Nineteen was late, so it is only fitting for twenty to be one day early ;). I wanted to post today because I had an OB appointment this morning. I got to hear Miss Elizabeth's heart beat, which is always amazing! It is still hard to believe that my body is carrying another life. I don't know why this is so hard for me to grasp, but I honestly don't want to let it go. Although, all I have been talking about lately is "letting it go!" Birth that is! I am reading up, watching documentaries, and studying up. I have one more chance to have a vaginal birth, and I want to give it my best shot. I know it seems crazy, but I honestly did not feel like a mom after my c-section. I realize that other women have different experiences, but I didn't. I saw my baby for like 3 pictures worth of time (like 2 minutes), and then he was rushed to the nursery for 4 hours. I get that he was having breathing problems, but most of that was fluid that would have been dispelled had he made it through my birth canal... I watch home births and these women reach down, pull their babies out the rest of the way, and snuggle them immediately. I cry each time. I want that! I want to watch Josh's face in awe of his baby being born, and to cry with him as soon as we hear her cry. This is what will push me through. I know I can do it. Women have had natural births for centuries, and I won't go into it this time getting the epidural immediately. Nope, not this time!

I realize that I have a perfect baby boy and that is the goal. I don't begrudge the experience because I still have an angel to love on, but I want it to be a little different this time. This is why I was a bit disappointed after speaking with a Doula who laid out some of my risks and basically told me I would need to be at the hospital as early as possible. I don't want that for several reasons. 1. Cape Fear is like a prison. Once you get it in you follow their rules, 2. I realize that they will hook me up on monitors immediately and my movements will be confined, and 3. I can't handle labor on my back. My coping method for pain was standing up and walking. If I can't do that I will probably need an epidural and boom I'm on my back in the worst position possible for delivering a baby. So, I was upset until I spoke with my midwife today who told me to stay home! Stay home as long as possible, because I'm just as much of a risk as anyone else at that point. YES, now THAT is what I wanted to hear! So, I'm meeting with one Doula next week and possibly another. If they don't support me I'll do it myself (with Josh of course!).

I am weighing in at 127, so 9 lbs. heavier. I am eating a lot though. More snacking throughout the day. I guess little gal is growing again! Growth is always a great thing ;).

19 Weeks... a bit late

I forgot to post 19 weeks because life has been so busy! Keeping up with changes/marketing at work, reading natural birth books in every spare moment, and keeping lil' one occupied takes its toll on my time. I find it super hard to believe I'll be half way there this Thursday! I have an appointment with my OB on Wednesday, so I look forward to hearing her heartbeat again. I had gone back last week for a 2nd ultrasound. They needed pictures of her heart that they were unable to capture during the first ultrasound. Hopefully I will not be paying for this! The price is $150 which would have gotten me a "specialty" ultrasound at Little Miracles Imaging here in Fayetteville; not a medical one to get heart pics that the tech didn't get the first time. I try not to complain, because I was so thankful to see my little miracle again, but I don't think I should pay for it. I just got a bill for $1400.00 from LabCorp. They say my medical insurance denied me on the pretense of me having other coverage. I believe Josh straightened this out,but it was a shocker to me that lab work is so dang expensive (and this is the routine stuff!). I can't imagine being self pay completely!

During the second ultrasound Elizabeth was rolled up once again. The tech says she is a little gymnast =). According to Babycenter.com she is a gymnast that weighs 10.5 ounces. Mommy has gained 9 lbs. SOO I'm tracking right along for that 25 mark again. By 21 weeks with Gabriel I had gained 12 lbs. I'm happy with this although I feel more out of shape this go around. I have decided to walk once a day again, like I did with Gabriel, and hopefully that will help.

Here is a picture comparison of me with the two babes:





Miss Lizzy was kicking her brother the other day while I read him a book, but he was not aware of it just yet. Soon he will be able to touch my belly and feel her. I think he will be most intrigued! Daddy and I are as we watch my tummy bounce up and down at night =). She isn't much of a mover, but we will catch her every now and again. I haven't been as "happy" with this pregnancy as I was with Gabriel (I guess changes in hormones), but I am still loving every minute up. There is no way I want this time to speed by. For two reasons 1. I will only be pregnant a FEW times in my life and 2. My little man is also growing up before my eyes.

Gabriel is talking away these days. Every once and a while when he is jabbering we will make out a word, but he just goes on and on with this "talk." It is super funny! Obviously he will say distinct words (horse, bird, mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, Josh, Mena, etc.), but this trying to jabber in like complete sentences is pretty new. It's like blah..blah blah...blah blah.. horse...blah, blah. So cute! Speaking of Gabriel, he is now yelling at me from his crib. Time to go. Until 20 weeks (Thursday).