Good morning! Liana is eating a snack so I thought I throw together another blog post before she's up running around again.

I am twenty weeks pregnant today, and already half way to labor and delivery! My pregnancy seems to be flying by because we've only recently gone public, but it also seems like such a long time until we get to meet our new little one. I am both scared and excited. Will I enjoy being a mother of two (under two)? It will be hard, but I know I will get the hang of it. Liana was a pretty chill newborn, so maybe this baby will be too. And eventually they will play together and I will watch as Liana teaches her new sibling everything she knows. I'll watch them play, laugh, fight, and cry together. And I will love the heck out of them along the way. Will I be able to focus my attention equally among them? Realistically, probably not. I can try my hardest, but it might not be necessary. Newborns sleep quite a bit so I imagine I'll have plenty of time to spend with Liana at that stage. I also imagine Liana pulling her rank as diva and demanding the attention be on her at times. I'm not exactly looking forward to that stage, but I won't fight the inevitable.
I have had such an odd array of cravings this time around. Last time my first craving was [bread and butter] pickles and lots of cake and ice cream. This time it's been completely random. And when a craving comes on, I desperately want the taste in my mouth as soon as possible. I went through a 'no chocolate' phase, and didn't want a single thing that had chocolate in it. Right now it is the complete opposite. I wake up every morning wishing I can a chocolate bar to munch on for breakfast! I've made chocolate muffins, a 'brownie in a mug', hot chocolate in the morning to bring to work, chocolate milk, and dark chocolate chip waffles. As I type this I'm remembering that I've used all of the cocoa powder and am contemplating a trip to the supermarket later. Besides chocolate, I've also craved homefries, cake, starbursts, french fries, cake, hummus, berries, peanut butter, cake..... well you get the picture.


When I was pregnant with Liana, I had gained 8 1/2 pounds by 20 weeks. As of today, I've gained about 3 pounds. However, after having Liana, I never returned to my pre-pregnancy weight; I kept about 10 pounds on me. And just because I've only gained 3 pounds, that doesn't mean I don't have the roundest little belly already. It is much bigger than it was at 20 weeks last time, and the baby is already measuring bigger as well. I'm expecting to gain about the same amount as last time (I'm really trying to to go overboard with the cake!).

I've had a few other pesky symptoms, my first being food aversions. I had been having a grilled veggie wrap almost daily for lunch at work for over a week straight. Then one day I just couldn't eat it. I took a bite and had to force myself to swallow it. It was the exact same wrap I had been enjoying all along, but suddenly the smell made me want to vomit.

Next, some sneaky acne decided to pop up in clusters around my chin and jaw line. That was lovely.

I've also had fairly awful round ligament pains. There was a week where I couldn't walk without limping, and I couldn't carry Liana without wincing in pain. I had to sit down to put on pants and shoes. I felt like something underneath my belly was tearing a part. I talked to my doctor about it and eventually (and thankfully) it subsided. Now I only get little twinges once in a while.

I never had allergies until I was pregnant with Liana. I never realized how good I had it. And they're ten times worse during pregnancy. I've been taking allergy pills almost every single day since I became pregnant. And I still have a terrible stuffy nose, sneezing fits, and itchy and watery eyes. Gross!

And a good night's sleep... what's that? I wake almost nightly to move my belly every time I want to roll over. I tend to fall asleep while Ashton is watching tv or playing a video game, and if I happen to wake up in the night and the tv is off I usually have a difficult time falling back asleep.

Yes, we did find out the sex of the baby... or should I say, Ashton found out. He really wanted to know (he says he has 'planning' to do), but I wasn't sure I wanted to know just yet. This will probably be my last child, and the last time I find out the sex of a baby I am carrying. I'm just not ready to give that moment up so easily.

However, I will admit that with only one of us knowing the baby's sex, it really throws off our name game. I am constantly searching for names and making lists, but Ashton doesn't quite like many (or any) of the names that I have chosen. He is also having a hard time coming up with and suggesting names because he knows whether to look for only boy or only girl names, and doesn't want to reveal the secret (although I do have my suspicions!).


Stay tuned for my 5 month pregnancy update in two weeks!

You can read my 20 week update from my pregnancy with Liana by clicking [here].

I'm pregnant!

Nineteen weeks and three days and my baby is already a bouncy little bean. Our second little sprout is due on February 29th, 2016.

I've been well this pregnancy and trying not to let my allergies get the best of me. This time around the baby is consistently measuring a little bigger than average, so I'm sure this one won't be a tiny, less than 6 pounder again. I've only gained three to four pounds, but my weight has shifted on my body so I already have quite the round little belly!

We've had the down syndrome screening (all clear!) and the anatomy scan (perfect results!). During the latter, the technician asked if I wanted to know the sex of the baby. I said yes, but didn't want to find out before Ashton, so he gave me a sealed envelope after the scan. Ashton wanted to know right away and opened the envelope as soon as he got his hands on it, but I wouldn't mind waiting until the baby is born so I still haven't looked. Of course I am curious, and it would make choosing a name a little easier, but I am enjoying that there is one aspect that is still a surprise.

I can't wait to meet my leap year baby!

I decided to do two posts in one here, my OB appointment on Monday and my weekly update that should have been done on Tuesday, oops! (Thanksgiving kinda took my attention away from my blog!)

+++ OB APPOINTMENT +++
After our anatomy scan on Wednesday, I was super super happy and thought nothing could ruin my mood or bring me down, even the slightest. That changed, however, when I stopped feeling the baby move on Friday. I usually feel her move at least once a day. Saturday and Sunday came and went and still no movement. I told Ashton Saturday night that I hadn't felt her and I went to bed with a sinking feeling in my stomach. Sunday morning getting ready for work was terrible. I laid in bed pushing on my tummy and it felt like there was nothing in there. I was so sad that I couldn't help but cry and work was the last place I felt like going. I really tried taking my mind off of it at work, but I just couldn't lift myself up. I cried again in the bathroom before I left work and just couldn't wait to go home and lay down and be alone. I was glad to have an OB appt on Monday so I could hopefully hear her heartbeat.

I was so ready to go into my OB appointment crying and telling her the baby wasn't moving anymore, but to my surprise, baby starting tumbling around on the car ride to the appointment! I should have known, since she is always moving around on our way to appointments. I still told my midwife of my concern and she was surprised that no one told me that the placenta is actually at the front of my abdomen where movement is usually felt, so it won't be uncommon for me to not feel movement every day, at least for a few more weeks until the baby is bigger and stronger. I was so relieved! I think she wanted to reassure me, because she let us listen to baby's heartbeat for extra long this time. It was also really neat that we could hear both of our hearts beating at the same time. Hers was so loud and fast and mine was slower and faded in the background. I really liked hearing them together and was so glad that she is perfectly healthy. My midwife also briefly went over numbers from the anatomy scan and told us again that everything is in perfect ranges and she is growing and developing at a healthy rate. Once again, I couldn't have been happier! They can't officially change the expected due date this late, but I noticed on the paperwork that the anatomy scan suggested a due date of April 19th instead of April 22nd. It's not really important since the baby can be born plus or minus two weeks of a due date anyway and still be considered "on time", but it is interesting to take note of!

I was also asked for the sixth time, I think, if I wanted a flu shot. The nurse that takes my vitals before each appointment and my midwife and doctor all ask at every appointment. I know they are just doing their jobs, but it has to be in my file that I have declined so many times already! This prompted Ashton to voice his dislike for our OB doctor because of how she treated us in the appointment we had with her, and Elizabeth said it was totally fine to switch doctors or schedule more appointments with her, rather than the doctor. So we set up our next two appointments, one in December with Elizabeth again and one in January with a new OB doctor. :)



How far along? 19 weeks
Total weight gain? 7 pounds
Stretch marks? None!
Maternity clothes? Still in my regular jeans, but I have noticed a few shirts are getting too short to cover my tummy!
Best moment this week? Getting through the weekend and finally feeling baby move on Monday. I don't think I was terribly worried that something was wrong, I was sad more than anything. I actually cried about it twice. :(    --- Aww, she is trying to make me feel better by rolling around right now, hehehe. I love her.

The tech went a little crazy during our anatomy scan yesterday, giving us ELEVEN pictures this time! These are the best angles we got! So adorable. :)

You can click on them to make them bigger too!

















Enjoy! ♥

I truly am in love with the Ultrasound Diagnostics Center in Brookline. Once again, it was so much fun, brightened up my day, provided wonderful (and surprising!) news about our little one, and we got another ELEVEN ultrasound pictures to take home!!!

Baby got all measured up, including leg bones, arm bones, spinal cord, and head measurements. We got to see the heart, kidneys, stomach, brain... am I forgetting something?! The 3D part was amazing too, being able to see the detail on the face and even peeking in on the brain on accident! lol The cutest part was seeing the bottoms of little feet kicking around in there. And my gosh, we had a little squirmer today! That made the leg measurements a little more difficult, but everything checked out normal and the tech kept saying how beautiful our baby is. :) We didn't get to hear the heartbeat, but we got to see it in action. I remember when it used to be a little flickering spot on the screen, but today it was definitely a little heart pumping in there! She checked out the valves and ventricles and other things that I couldn't really tell what they were, but baby has quite a healthy heart! The doctor came in next to look over the pictures and she peeked around a little herself. I was so happy just to watch baby moving around in there, I didn't care how many people had to come in and look. She also checked out my cervix, ovaries, and everything else around the baby. She could even tell that it was most likely my right ovary that carried the fertilized egg?! They are sending all the info over to my OB office in time for my appointment with my midwife on Monday. Even though I'm sure that it will be a non-eventful 15 minute appointment, I'm still excited about that one too (did I mention I love seeing my midwife?!).

Oh, and don't think the tech forgot to ask if we wanted to know whether we are having a girl or boy! To my delight, baby was in perfect position for us to peek between those little legs and reveal what lots of people keep asking about and what Grandma has been waiting 6 weeks to find out. Well, I'm sorry to rain on everyone's parade (lol), but we're not revealing just yet!! Thanksgiving is too close to not tell my family in person. (Don't be mad Grandma, it's only 8 days away and I'm sure that is something to be thankful for!!!) Everyone else will find out right after the reveal to my family, I promise!

One more week with a secret all to myself. I'm such a sneaky pregger. =P

So I've come across about a million old wives' tales, all trying to tell me if my bump is a girl or a boy. I thought it would be fun to put some of these to the test. Here are my results!

Old Wives’ Tale #1 – Key to Pregnancy If you pick up a key by the round end, you're having a boy. If it's by the long end? A girl.
>>> Always the round end. My result: Boy

Old Wives’ Tale #2 – Carrying High or Low?
If you are carrying low, it’s a boy, or if you’re carrying high it’s a girl.
>>> My belly isn't that big yet, but has definitely grown. It seems to be growing over my pants though, so maybe I will carry high? My result: Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #3 – Is Your Skin Dry or Soft?
If your skin is dry, you’re said to be having a boy – and if it’s soft, then a girl is on the way.
>>> Soft as a baby's bottom! (lol) My result: Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #4 – What’s Baby’s Heart rate?
First, to set the record straight, until it’s born, your baby’s heart rate will not be affected by it’s sex. But so they say, if you’re carrying a girl, then baby’s heart rate will be above 140bpm (beats per minute). A boy is said to have a heart rate under 140bpm
>>> Last I remember the heart rate was 167 I think? My result: Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #5 – Mood changes.
If you're experiencing pregnant mood-swings, expect a baby girl to arrive soon.
>>> I've had mood swings since the very beginning. First I was being bratty, but now I'm more apt to burst out crying... My result: Girl 

Old Wives’ Tale #6 – Where Are You Carrying Extra Weight?
Even those extra pregnancy kilos are said to give us an insight into your baby’s sex! If you are carrying extra weight at the front, then you’re having a boy… but if you are carrying extra weight on your bum and hips, then you have been carrying a girl. What about dad-to-be? If he’s gaining weight with you, apparently you’re having a girl. If he’s put on no weight, a boy for you!
>>> Oh, shoot! I don't think my bum's gotten bigger.. But my boobs definitely have! My result: Boy

Old Wives’ Tale #7 – Numbers…
Because if you combine your age at the time of conception with the number of the month you conceived and the resulting number is odd – then it’s a girl on the way. If the resulting number is even, then it’s a boy for you.
>>> 24 + 7 = 31. My result: Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #8 – Sweet, Salty or Sour?
Are you craving sweet foods like juice, fruits and chocolate? If so, old wives say that you could be having a girl. But if you’re craving sour or salty foods, then you could be having a boy.
>>> My first cravings were fruit and berries (strawberries, mostly!) but I didn't want chocolate at all. Then I really wanted hot chocolate, but also needed to add salt to my mashed potatoes? Haha, also, I recently snagged some free sour candies from the breakroom. However, my most prominent cravings have definitely been cake and ice cream. I have been saying for weeks that all I want is to mash vanilla ice cream into chocolate cake. My result: Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #9 – Wedding Ring Test
Get your wedding ring (or other ring/needle/pin) and attach it with a strand of your hair or some string. Lie down and dangle the ring over your belly. If it starts moving in circles, you are having a boy, or if it moves like a pendulum from side to side, then you are having a girl.
>>> Pendulum, no matter how many times.... My result: Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #10 – Got Morning Sickness?
Did you experience morning sickness in early pregnancy? If you did, then you’re said to be carrying a girl, but if you didn’t have morning sickness, then it’s a boy.
>>> No sickness or nausea at all!! My result: Boy

Old Wives’ Tale #11 – How About Those Cold Feet?
If your feet get colder than they used to pre-pregnancy, it’s a sign you have a boy on the way. If your feet are the same, then it’s a girl!
>>> Same. My result: Girl
 
Old Wives’ Tale #12 – How Do You Look?
Do you look better than ever while pregnant? Or has the pregnancy done your looks no favors? As it goes, if you look great during pregnancy, then you are carrying a boy. If you don’t look too flash, you’re having a girl, because she’s stolen all your good looks!
>>> My acne has been acting up, but I don't think I look terrible.... My result: Boy

Old Wives’ Tale #13 – The Breast Test!
If you look in the mirror at your breasts, which one is larger? If it’s the right one, you’re carrying a boy and for a larger left breast, then it’s a girl.
>>> Left. My result: Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #14 – Pimples, Schimiples…
If you get acne during pregnancy, apparently you’re having a girl, and if you don’t, then you’re carrying a boy.
>>> Oh! :( Yes to acne. My result: Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #15 – Are You A Lefty or a Righty?
When you sleep, do you sleep on your left? Because if you do, then it’s a boy for you! On your right, a girl is in sight.
>>> Both? I like to fall asleep on my left. I usually wake up on my back. Then I roll over to my right. I will go with left since I choose that side first! My result: Boy

Old Wives’ Tale #16 – Check Out Your Wee!
Okay…. now apparently if you have bright yellow urine, then you’re carrying a boy, but if it’s dull / clear, then you’re carrying a girl.
>>> Lol, I guess dull. My result: Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #17 -What Does Your Belly Look Like?
A basketball or a watermelon? Because if it looks more like a basketball, then old wives say boy, but if it more resembles a watermelon then it’s a girl.
>>> So far, basketball. Definitely very round right now lol. My result: Boy

Old Wives’ Tale #18 – Hairy Legs?
Has the hair on your legs grown faster than normal? Or has it grown just like normal? Because if it’s growing faster than it did pre-pregnancy, then you’re said to be having a boy.
>>> Not really. My result: Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #19 – Show Me Your Hands!
Palms up, it's a girl. Palms down, it's a boy.
>>> Palms up! My result: Girl

Old Wives’ Tale #20 – Graceful or Clumsy?
If you feel as though you're gliding through the day, you'll have a girl. Stumbling? It's a boy.
>>> I don't know about gliding, but like I've said, I've barely felt pregnant for a couple of weeks now and I'm just merrily strolling along, haha. My result: Girl

Overall Results:
Boy: 6  
Girl: 14

There you have it! 70% chance of having a girl!!

Since the day I found out I was pregnant, I have wanted a girl and was expecting a girl. I still would really love a baby girl, but I have been getting weird feelings that it is a boy, and when I imagine telling people, I imagine saying "It's a boy!"

Our anatomy scan is on Wednesday so I hope we can peek at the goods if she is behaving. My next OB appointment is the following Monday so if baby doesn't behave for the anatomy scan, I may just ask my midwife to try on Monday! I'm very hopeful for Wednesday though because baby has been extremely well behaved for our last two ultrasounds. :) We'll see in just a few short days! Then I get to have cake to celebrate. OMG I can't wait!!