Number 2 Belly Pics for weeks 30 and 31

30 week belly:

31 week belly:

31 week belly, when seated:

baby 2 at 27 weeks (belly pic)

27 weeks belly pic:

Sydney poses (sort of)... with Mommy:

Number 2's eyes should have opened this past week or so. His hearing is fine-tuned. He has sleep patterns, like we do. He should weigh 2 pounds or so. He has been VERY ACTIVE!

I can't wait to meet him!

Baby 2 at 25 and 26 weeks (belly pics)

Here's a peek at 25 weeks with a soccer ball-sized uterus:

Here's a peek at 26 weeks:

Here's a peek at 26 weeks, where Sydney was NOT super cooperative because he had just been busy signing the word POOP and was TRYING to push when Mommy picked him up to be in a photo. (I feel as if I am almost NEVER in any pictures so, thought it would be good to get myself in one here & there.)

Number Two's EARS and hearing are developing; we're told he can hear our conversations now. This week, his testicles are descending down from his abdominal cavity into his scrotum - taking 2-3 days to complete their journey to the desired location. My uterus is the size of a soccer ball, but by 27 weeks will be the size of a basketball. 

My pregnancy email update, earlier today, indicated that I can expect swelling in my feet and legs, but not to worry because SOON, my belly will be SO BIG that I wont be able to SEE my feet. :) The update encouraged keeping my feet elevated, not sitting or standing for long periods of time and making sure that I drink plenty of fluids. (I have already had significant swelling in my left leg/ankle for a few months already - due to my bad varicose veins; hence, the recommendation to wear support hose daily.)

Number 2 remains QUITE ACTIVE. On the drive to Monticello the other day, I was being kicked by BOTH KIDS at once! Sydney was busy kicking the back of my seat and Number 2 was kicking my insides. It was kind of funny.

26 weeks, 2 days down... 96 more days to go until due date! The end of the second trimester is in sight! Starting at our next OB appointment, we will be undergoing a Glucose Test and then, will start coming in every 3 weeks for appointments. (Yep, that means we're getting closer....)

Baby 2 at 23 weeks (belly pic)

Today, we're celebrating our pregnancy for Number 2:

161 days down. (23 weeks)

119 days to go. (17 weeks)

Seriously, the time has passed SO QUICKY, but that probably has a lot to do with the fact that we live busy lives.

Number 2 has been QUITE ACTIVE and Mike has enjoyed feeling his kicks & punches as we lie in bed at night. This week, I did notice that I could visually WATCH my stomach move as Number 2 threw punches near my belly button. It was kind of funny.

Sydney has taken a new liking to poking at my belly button. Perhaps, it is because he has noticed that it is starting to poke out a little bit.

One thing is for sure... "the girls" have grown - especially the right one! The sports bra that I had been wearing for belly photos is starting to be ill-fitting. Will most likely have to move back into my old nursing bras - for comfort moreso than style.

Baby 2 at 22 weeks (belly pic)

Number 2 was VERY ACTIVE last night while I was sleeping! (He woke me up with some MAJOR ACROBATICS!)

I'm pretty sure that he did a somersault because most of my movement had been felt on my lower abdomen - near my left hip, but NOW... I feel a lot of movement near my right ribcage. Late this morning, as Mike was getting ready for work, I was sitting on the couch and was able to watch my belly move (popping out with kicks or punches) in a few different locations. I found it entertaining to watch.

My latest pregnancy email updates indicate that Number 2 will DOUBLE HIS WEIGHT within the next few weeks so, I am anticipating another upcoming round of extreme hunger. Our next doctor's appointment is scheduled for January 19th (and I am secretly fearing the weight-gain from the holidays).

Here is the most recent belly pic, taken at 22 weeks. (Perhaps, we should have taken it BEFORE I ate dinner, but either way, it is a GROWING BELLY and I think it has FINALLY started to look like a baby belly and not a beer belly. I also think that I need Mike to stand up when taking pics because by him sitting in a chair, below me, gives a slightly awkward angle.)

Baby 2 is 20 weeks already?! Belly and Naming

I find this SO HARD TO BELIEVE that TODAY, I hit the halfway mark of this pregnancy. Seriously, I can hardly fathom the fact that THIS is 20-weeks already (as it seems to have gone by SO FAST and I still feel like I am "not that big")

I still have not given up sleeping on my stomach; although, I am thinking that I will have to quit that pretty soon (as baby and belly continue to grow rapidly.) I just read an email update that said that I should have gained about 10 pounds now and that soon, I can expect to gain a pound a week.

Today, at Sam's Club, we had stopped at the photo counter to ask about a particular camera model that now said "ON ORDER". One of the women in that department came over to join in our conversation and said "I just have to ask... is that a baby bump or bulky winter clothes under your jacket?"

Mike replied "She tells me that it is a baby; otherwise, she'll have to explain that beer belly."

Afterwards, I asked Mike "Is it REALLY getting THAT OBVIOUS? I still feel like it is pretty small actually." 

Mike clarified "Well, your jacket is definitely tighter across there. It's starting to look like a baby now, but isn't horribly obvious." (I unzipped my jacket and kept it open for the rest of our shopping trip - as not to draw attention to my ill-fitting jacket.)

NAMING

Although we are growing quite excited for the arrival of Baby 2, he/she remains nameless. (Good thing we have time on our hands...) We have a VERY SHORT LIST right now: there is ONE potential girl's name on it AND a potential middle name for a boy.

We wanted to pick a name that is NOT overly common. We didn't want Baby 2 to go to school with a name where there are 5 of them in a classroom of 24. 

I had liked an uncommon boy's name because the meaning of the English name is: From the Eagle Valley, which I thought was fitting since we can SEE the Mighty Mississippi River from our bedroom/office window. Although, we're starting to lean AWAY from the name now because it sounds a little too "like-like" with our last name. (Example: Pete Peterson having an overload of "Pete" or Jason Olson having a little too much "son-son" going on.) We are considering a middle name off of a family tree.

Mike suggested our (only) girl's name.

It was SO MUCH EASIER last time - when Sydney was going to be the name, regardless of gender. Although, if Sydney had been a girl instead... SHE would have had a name off of the most popular list (for girls).

Perhaps, naming rights will be easier after Tuesday's ultrasound; we hope to learn the sex of the baby and can focus our attention better at that point. Time will tell....

* * * * *

(NOTE: I really should start wearing the same bra when taking the belly pics because THAT seems to change from week to week as much as the baby bump does.) This was actually an odd angle, too, which isn't helping my cause any... Mike took it with the camera laying (propped slightly) on the table - shooting UP at me. (I did request that he NOT photograph my head though; thank you, honey! Perhaps it'll be easier when we get a new camera.)

Baby 2 at 19 weeks (belly pic)

Baby belly is getting bigger. Mike pointed out to me that it sticks out as far as my boobs, if not a little farther. (Those, by the way, feel like they are getting fuller and heavier again so, they must have gotten the memo to get out of post-breastfeeding mode and back into start-up mode again.)

My hips have been bothering me; technically, I think the chiropractor would argue that it is my LOW BACK and NOT really my hip at all. I'm sure that all of the bending and lifting I do with Sydney, as well as standing and jumping over baby gates doesn't really help. That, and the fact that I am carrying Sydney's weigh PLUS my own a lot of the time. (Thankfully, I started this pregnancy 20 pounds lighter than the last one.) Perhaps, shoveling snow is not the recommended thing to do either....

My varicose veins have been BULGING out of my left leg for the entire month. I wear support hose during the day and sometimes add an extra ankle support for that sore and swollen left ankle. I wonder: WHY my legs are so much worse this time around? (At Kerri's wedding, I talked to a chiropractor (that I went to high school with) about my back. Instantly, he assumed "Let me guess, you're wearing high heels under that dress" to which I proudly lifted the bottom to show him my ultra flat shoes. (I almost wish I would have been wearing tennis shoes.) I also announced "AND I am even wearing TWO PAIRS of support hose... thigh high (hospital white gauze) and knee high (that look like nylons in case anyone saw my feet and lower legs). 

Yesterday, I laughed at my INBOX when I saw the email "HUNGRY AS AN OX?"

That is EXACTLY how I have been feeling for much of this past week!!! I have been STARVING AGAIN, have been eating large meals AND have felt the need for snacking or else I feel sick to my stomach. (I secretly fear how much weight I will have gained over the past month when I go in for my next appointment. Hopefully, it is still within an acceptable range. I believe I have gained about 9 pounds as of last check.)

Baby development status at 19 weeks

Baby's sensory development is exploding! The brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that he/she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to him/her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom . His/her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of his/her body now. His/her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on the scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on the skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.

(We were just looking at Sydney's ELMO doll the other day and calculated that the baby would be about as big as Elmo is, with the exception that it's arms and legs would be more proportional to a human than a stuffed animal, most likely within this next week. Looks like our guess was almost dead-on. When holding Elmo up to my belly, it is AMAZING to think that there is a baby that size crammed into my tiny belly. It's no wonder that I've been feeling it move a lot this past week; it keeps me up at night when I am trying to fall asleep, but is too faint for Mike to feel it yet.)

How your life's changing:

 

Think you're big now? You'll start growing even faster in the weeks to come. 

(My thought when reading this was: I really didn't think I was big yet; still consider it to look just slightly larger than a beer belly. At least Mike confirmed that it does NOT look like a beer belly because it is starting to look like a baby belly now. Given my recent hunger though, I am not surprised at all to read that I'll be growing even faster in the weeks to come.)

You may be noticing some skin changes, too. That darkened line running from your belly button to your pubic bone is called the linea nigra, or "dark line."

(I have not really noticed any skin changes - other than the fact that I finally seem to be getting out of the acne phase that has struck me so far. I kept waiting for that "pregnant, healthy glow". I do NOT have the "dark line" yet, but remember it from last time - as it stayed with me WELL AFTER BIRTH!!!)

I am anxious for when baby's movements are strong enough to be felt from the outside world. (I know that Mike misses out on all of this excitement that I get to experience early-on. If only I could have shared my morning sickness with HIM instead...)

Baby 2 at 11 weeks

Baby 2 is busy, busy... GROWING!

    Your baby, just over 1 1/2 inches long and about thesize of a fig, is now almost fully formed. His/her hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under the gums, and some of his/her bones are beginning to harden. Baby's already busy kicking and stretching, and those tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as the body grows and becomes more developed and functional. You won't feel your baby's acrobatics for another month or two -- nor will you notice the hiccupping that may be happening now that the diaphragm is forming.

Gosh, it is SO HARD TO BELIEVE that Baby 2 was the size of a blueberry a few weeks ago. It is INCREDIBLE to watch how quickly they grow. This week, I was able to schedule my 16 week and 20 week appointments. WOW, those really AREN'T "that far away." Gulp. 20 weeks is HALF-way already! We'll be seeing our doctor (for the 12-week appointment) on Thursday for (my yearly) pelvic/pap and will get to hear heart tones, as well as getting the lab results from last week's blood draw. I believe my uterus is now the size of a grapefruit, if I remember correctly from what I read recently.

Speaking of growing, I read somewhere that I can (soon) expect to put on ONE POUND PER WEEK. Hmmmm, 29 weeks to go... means 29 pounds added to my recently thinned frame. (If I am lucky, I will be able to weigh less than Mike for this entire pregnancy!!!)

The majority of morning sickness seems to (thankfully) be gone now; although, snacks are still good to keep on hand for sudden outburst of starvation. My head cold appears to have cleared to that point that I have next-to-nothing for stuffiness left; Sadly, I am stuck with a horrible tickle and cough. (Perhaps Kegal exercises should have been stressed as more important since the coughing spells are challenging my bladder control - or lack thereof. I'm told by a few of my neighbors that each pregnancy gets a little worse in that department. It's a good thing that children bring SO MUCH JOY to our lives - that it makes it all worth it!)

Sydney continues to lay his head down on my bare belly when I lay on the floor. (Mike likes to think that he is giving his brother/sister a hug, but he does it to Mike's belly, too. Still, it is cute to see.'') I did tell Sydney that there is a baby inside mommy's belly and how mommy is going to get a GREAT BIG BELLY. He smiled. I think he will be a GREAT big brother; he is such a little helper already!

Took Mike dinner at work tonight. While there, saw a very pregnant mom and her little girl shopping in the Christmas section. I asked the mother how old the little girl was. (Answer: 2)

Come April/May, I will look A LOT like that.

• • •

NOTE: Will TRY to add an 11-week belly pic to this post tomorrow.

• • •

Happy Birthday to Auntie Nicki!

Belly Pics resume with Number 2 (10 weeks)

Mike just recently questioned me "Have you taken a Belly Pic yet?"

Honestly, it was much more fun to take photos of my belly when it had started out (reasonably) TONE. (That, and the fact that my chest USED TO BE perkier, but now looks sad and droopy after 15 months of 'wear & tear'.) 

The discouraging news is that everywhere I read indicates that subsequent pregnancies tend to SHOW SOONER because the pregnancy hormones automatically relax your muscles. (And let's keep it real here, people... I haven't actually made the time for myself to work out over the past 1 year, 4 months, 1 week and 2 days that Sydney has been breathing air with us on this place we call Earth.)

Keeping it real... over the past 16 months, I felt like it was a good day if I brushed my teeth or managed to squeeze in a shower.  

At the breastfeeding support group, it was a common concern among mothers that they wanted "to regain their body back" before getting pregnant again so that their breasts once again belonged TO THEM and no one else. (That sounded like a good theory BEFORE I was encouraged NOT to have more children so that I could return onto my MS medication.) I had worked VERY HARD to stop breastfeeding in a hurry - only to (later) find out that I was ALREADY PREGNANT. 

As it turns out, the theory of "getting my body back" was foiled slightly since it now appears that I had been tag-teamed by my children for half of the month of August before I stopped breastfeeding Sydney. (And that chilled bottle of Belgian Lambic raspberry beer that I had been saving in the fridge for a day when I was done breastfeeding.... well, it looks like it will sit - CHILLED - for another year.)

We're getting EXCITED at the thought of doing this parenthood thing all over again. (And we're thankful that we can now give up the ROOKIE status. We've got 211 more days to go...)

Documenting 38 weeks of pregnancy with belly pic

Today marks 38 WEEKS of pregnancy.

Weight gain: 

x+30.5 pounds

Current waist size: 

Yikes, a whopping 44 1/2" around!

Stretch marks: 

Sadly reported on upper thighs and breasts. No signs on stomach.

Belly button: 

Has been poked out like a turkey popper for a long time! (Doesn't help that I had squeezed that new part out early this year so, now, I have 2 mini-bumps poking out.)

Pregnancy cravings:

Had a short phase where I oddly craved LEMON. (Yum! Lemon pudding makes my mouth water just thinking about it.) Otherwise, I have had a desire from time to time to eat a good, juicy burger or some pizza... guess this baby is a BOY, right?

Swelling:

Had to take off my wedding ring last Friday night (37 weeks) because my fingers were swelling and the ring actually HURT my finger. Could probably still wear it during the day, but fingers seem to swell a little more at night so, best to keep it off instead of cut it off. Noticed signs of swelling in my legs within the past week. Doctor recommends resting/elevating and wearing support hose.

Fetal movement:

Hiccups are an almost daily occurrence, sometimes more than once per day. Also, still appears to be remodeling in there to make more space. It is not uncommon for an appendage to poke the surface of my belly. If I touch it, he tends to move it. Sometimes, he seems to be stretching and will move it back and forth in a triangular pattern across the side of my belly (near where the edge of my ribcage USED to be.) Baby Sydney still seems to be most active when there are loud noises present: loud trucks, neighbors motorcycle(s), cell phone alarm ringing and waking us from a sound sleep, or when Mike was hammering earlier in the week. Sometimes, the chirping from the cats will make him move around.

Starting each day off with a perky "Good morning" tends to wake the baby. (The shift from side-lying to standing probably helps as well.) He also tends to move around when I sing to him or when my stomach growls loudly.

Signs of labor:

Some Braxton Hicks practice contractions. Need to remember to drink plenty of fluids... as dehydration can cause them to come on.

Sleep:

Interrupted by Charlie Horse cramps (a few each week for the past month or so) as well as frequent trips to the bathroom.

What do I miss...

• I miss being able to sleep through the night without having to get up to go to the bathroom.
  
• I miss being able to get up off of a chair or off of the floor without having to calculate my every movement, hoping that the sciatic pinch wont be too bad to walk. 
  
• I miss being able to walk normally. 
  
• I miss over-easy fried eggs, bleu cheese or roquefort dressing and medium rare steaks & burgers. 
  
• I miss weighing less than Mike.

What do I look forward to...

I am THRILLED with the thought of holding Baby Sydney! I can't wait to see him! (What he looks like, how big/little he is, what color eyes, if he has hair, etc.) I am SO EXCITED to become a mom! 

I look forward to a wider selection of clothing in the reasonably near future. 

I look forward to Mike's pure excitement when he gets to "catch" the baby and becomes a father at age 38. I look forward to becoming "a family". I look forward to nursing Baby Sydney from one of the rocking chairs on the sunporch while drinking ice cold lemonade.

What do I fear...

• I fear not knowing that I am "in labor".
  
• I fear going into labor while our doctor is out on vacation, hoping that if it DOES happen, that the "on call" doctor will honor Mike's agreement to "catch" upon delivery.
• I fear that Mike will struggle with diaper changing duties (gagging, etc.) and hope that I am wrong about that feeling.
• I fear struggling with breastfeeding, hoping that it all works the way nature has intended. 
• I'm afraid that once Sydney is born, I will miss the Billy Bank Tae Bo classes and all of the home remodeling projects that have been going on inside my belly FOR MONTHS!
  
• I fear the unknown factors associated with my multiple sclerosis, hoping that it will remain in a nonactive state following the birth of Baby Sydney, as well as for many, many years to come. (Still waiting for a cure...)
  
• I fear sleep deprivation.
• I fear loving Baby Sydney more than I love my wonderful husband. (Mike tells me already that I "will love the baby more than him" because the baby is a part of me and one that grew inside of me.)
  

An accomplishment this week:

I had been proud that I was able to paint my toenails yesterday, stating that I am now ready to throw these pretty feet into stirrups whenever Sydney is ready to arrive. 

A goal for the upcoming week:

I would like to do a better job of keeping the kitchen clean and dishes done. I feel badly when I disappoint Mike with my poor housekeeping, especially since he works 55-60 hours while I am home "growing this baby".

• • • • • • • • • •

This morning, I got this email from my best friend:

I was pretty surprised to see that even though it's difficult you can still PAINT YOUR TOES!  That means the baby has a little more growing to do....You're not supposed to be able to do that at 9 months pregnant!  :-)

I'm thinking that I am still able to do it because I have 33" of leg to work with so, I was able to sit and prop them (one foot at a time, obviously) on the seat of my chair to paint. Granted, I can't get close enough to see the quality of work, but from this far away – they don't look too terribly bad. With all of the hormones working their magic on my joints and ligaments as well, I seem to have a lot more flexibility working in my favor, too. It'll do.... better than nothing.

I'm not sure if it is true or not, but Mom always used to say that hiccups were a sign of growing. If that is the case, then Baby has been busy growing a lot lately since hiccups seem to be a daily occurrence as of late. (I, personally, tend to get hiccups from eating mashed potatoes; it is almost always guaranteed for me.)

Mom was just here visiting earlier this week. She's thinking that it appears that Sydney has started to drop a little. (I tried to compare this week's photo with last week's photo, but I am not standing at the same angle and wasn't getting the results I wanted to see if there was an obvious drop or not.)

At 38 weeks, the tape measure reports a waist size of (Yikes!) 44 1/2" around, which is 1 1/2" larger than the 36-week measurement. So, looks like Baby is continuing to grow. (I'm kind of wishing I would have kept track of those measurements all along, as well as doing a better job of documenting a weekly belly pic.)

37 week belly... it ISN'T SMALL at all!

This afternoon, I posed for my 37 week belly shot.

HOLY COW! It's not small at all!!!

For a brief moment, I wondered if it were the camera angle.... or if it's like they say – that the camera adds 10 pounds. But then, back to reality – Mike reminded me that Baby Sydney is getting QUITE BIG in there and that I really am... well, THAT BIG!!!

Therefore, I rest my case little man... that means you can come out WHENEVER YOU WANT NOW! We're ready for you... and it appears that you are running out of free space in there.

Still no stretch marks on my belly... at least from what I can see. (My thighs are another story, sadly.)

We're thinking we want to pose with a basketball in an attempt to put it all into perspective.