Vivienne - take II

It was a cool spring morning- the dew on the grass still visible as we walked to our car.

I hope there has been progress, I thought.

I wrapped my coat around me a little closer, and held onto Carl's arm even tighter. And then I did some jumping jacks and out came Vivienne.

birth announcement - message me or leave me a comment if you want one :)

Ok, I'm sorry, I could not continue my dramatic story of Vivienne's birthday. I know so many of you have been asking and asking about my side of the story- how was it really? Did you seriously not use an epidural this time?! Is this hypnosis stuff legit???

Side note: So yes, I utilized a birthing program called Hypnobabies this time. I started the course and practicing self-hypnosis at about 26 weeks- this basically entailed trying to totally relax all my muscles by "turning my light switch off" and then psychologically feeling anything as pain as pressure and stretching instead. I could switch my mental "light switch" to the "center position" which would allow me to be deep in hypnosis as well as creating mental "anesthesia" where needed but also able to move around still. Carl was a big part of keeping me fully relaxed (remember his title of Hypno-guardian? It's really a title the program gives to the birth partner haha) by reading my scripts and cues that helped deepened my hypnosis.

Warning: details include my cervix, pushing a baby out you-know-where, and pictures of a cheesy baby. I'm somewhat modest in the pictures, but if bare shoulders are upsetting, then stop reading now. It is also a long story, so read when you have time.

Here's my account how March 26th went:

I woke up in the morning feeling very pregnant and normal (normal as 38 weeks pregnant goes at least). Maybe even slightly disappointed at being pregnant still. I had two episodes of false labor, once a week and was dilated to 4 cm at my 37 week appointment. My doctor was leaving for a trip to Germany for three weeks in two days and we had both really hoped (and believed) that this baby would come over the weekend. I mean, I had the tell-tale signs of impending labor (bloody show, mucus plug, etc. - yuck, I know), but alas, 4 days of nothing. So, I had my last appointment with my amazing doctor that Monday. She was shocked to tell me I was dilated to almost 5 cm and seemed "so ready" to go into labor. We said goodbye and joked that we would see her once more before she went on vacation.

Carl, Ezra, and I went to Whole Foods to go eat some samples and buy coconut water (mmmmm what an indulgence) and then headed to another grocery store to do some last minute grocery shopping just in case. While at the second store, I accidentally knocked down a step ladder, which caused a loud noise and many stares in my general direction. Carl nicely laughed at me while I picked it up (haha) and that's when I first felt a contraction (this is about 10 or 10:30 am). I figured it was the weekly false labor starting up again, but was thankful it was my day off from work (I had just worked a 5 day stretch and was about to work another 4 days starting Tuesday!). Anyway, while roaming around the store, I told Carl that we should cut our trip short since this could possibly be the real deal. We headed home and the contractions definitely started picking up! But then we got home and they literally seemed to disappear. Boo.

After taking a walk around the apartment complex, they seemed to be regular again so when I got back inside, I tried to time them. They were every 3 to 10 minutes... isn't the usual diagnosis of labor "consistent contractions every 5 minutes, lasting about 1 minute in length and growing with intensity??" They seemed to be happening more frequently every 10 minutes, so I held off calling my doctor. After bouncing on my yoga ball for a good hour, I thought it would be a good idea to bake bread pudding with all our leftover stale french bread, so I went to town doing that (weird last minute pregnant thoughts maybe?). I put the pans in the oven and decided that I should probably take a nap if this was indeed real labor.

While laying down, my contractions finally seemed to be intensifying, but still about every 3-10 minutes. I thought I probably ought to call my doctor now. My doctor's medical assistant didn't really think I was in labor since I was chatting so nicely with her, but she decided to have me talk to my doctor anyway- my doctor said I needed to go to the hospital right away because she was sure it was going to be a quick labor- she was even going to meet me there! Carl quickly made arrangements for Ezra to stay at our friends' house (thank goodness for friends!) and off we went to the hospital. I also called my doula, Michelle, at this time (Another side note: I had the opportunity to have a doula without cost due to our low income. My chiropractor, of all people, hooked me up. Michelle was so helpful and understanding- she took all the pictures and applied counter pressure on my back so that Carl could be right by my side- I will definitely hire a doula for my following births!)


Just in case anyone was wondering, we did pull the bread pudding out of the oven and one of them was conveniently baked in a mini loaf pan, so I snagged that along for the 20 minute drive to the hospital. I scarfed down almost the entire pan outside of the hospital because I was pretty sure I would not have an appetite during labor, though my doctor (who, did I mention, is fabulous?!) encouraged me to eat and drink during labor.


My contractions (or pressure waves as I imagined them to be through the Hypnobabies instruction) were stronger now, but moving around helped so much, so when I got to the birth center, they offered me a wheelchair, but walking was much more effective in getting through each contraction. I did a lot of hip swaying during the initial toco reading (yay i got to skip out on triage and went straight to a room!) and since the staff was great, they had already read my birth plan and had the tub filling before we even got there. My admit time was just after 3:30 pm.

The tub was magnificent for the first hour! I was kneeling first, then switched to floating on my back while Carl made sure I didn't drown haha. He got to climb into the tub too. Like I said, that first hour was great- lots of joking and laughing in between contractions, chatting, etc. My doctor checked me and said I was only 5 cm, close to 6 cm and 90% effaced (that was the only and last cervical check thankfully). After that hour was up, I was beginning to sorely regret the pan of bread pudding I rabidly inhaled and was feeling pretty nauseous. Bread pudding + hot water + labor = blech.

So I climbed out and instantly had jittery jello legs and much more intense contractions. I got dressed in my gown- I highly recommend bringing your own stretchy gown. Blood surprisingly washes out nicely with a spray 'n wash cleaner- and then tried bouncing on a yoga ball. Then leaning on the yoga ball. Then leaning on the bed. Then hands and knees on the bed. Then finally lying down on my left side side with the head of the bed up 30 degrees. I was having trouble resting in between contractions with all the first positions, so side lying was the best, allowing me to rest enough to recollect myself and make sure I was still in "center." I did a lot of "breathing the baby down" by "ahhh-ing" and used the hypnosis cue "peace" (i would say "peeeeaaaaace" a LOT) to maintain my anesthesia in my lower abdomen, where I felt most of the pressure. My doctor and doula were so great at maintaining counter pressure on my lower back too! There were two moments when I felt panicked and gave Carl a frightening look, which apparently combined with my sweaty locks and face made me look like a crazy person escaping from the asylum. Aside from those expressed moments, I had a lot of internal conflict- mostly thinking how nice an epidural would be so that I could just sleep through all this intensity. I was SO tired and I was feeling the intensity of labor both mentally and physically. We had the hypnobabies tracks playing in the background and Carl was so supportive and continued to say the hypnosis cues and have me repeat them as needed.

I started to feel more intense pressure, so I listened to my body and switched to kneeling. We moved the head of the bed to almost 90 degrees and I mostly burrowed my face into the bed, hung onto Carl, or hugged a pillow. My doctor told me to go ahead and start pushing (which surprised me since she didn't check me at all and I didn't have that overwhelming urge to push like many natural birthers report), but I just went ahead pushed when I felt like it- this is called mother-directed pushing according to Hypnobabies. It was really relieving to finally not try and relax every muscle and to focus on pushing! I was afraid of feeling the dreaded "ring of fire" but you know what? The moment I was supposed to feel it and didn't feel it made me realize that this hypnosis stuff really isn't a bunch of lies! Having my water break on its own was weird. I guess there was so much pressure my doula and doctor jumped back in surprise! So after 25 minutes of pushing (barely 3.5 hours at the hospital!), Carl reported that we had a baby girl and she had dark brown hair- remember I was on my knees so I didn't actually see her right away haha. Like Carl said in his post, my doctor let him "catch" Vivienne. They placed her on my back for a moment while they cleared her airway (my doctor said, "skin to skin right away!"), and then I turned around and held onto her. What a precious (and waxy/cheesy) baby! She just snuggled right up to me. We waited until the cord stopped pulsating (didn't do this with Ezra but decided why not? with Viv) and then Carl sawed through the cord. I had a second degree tear and the lidocaine shot was really the first "painful" poke downstairs.

contraction in the tub

"not bad!"

awesome doctor applying counter pressure

trying to relax

"hold me, pillow" and Carl saying a cue to me

The loyal husband and Hypno-guardian (hahaha)

EWWW! but kind of awwww if you're the parents :)

"Hi little girl, I'm your mama"

And I really didn't want to include any of my immediate post-birth photos, but oh well:

My excellent birth team! Dr. Koch, Me and Viv, Carlo, and Michelle

I know this is hard to believe, especially when I've reported my birth experience with Ezra, but I really felt like I was able to psychologically feel my pain as pressure and stretching. It was such an intense feeling though- much of the intensity had to do with how quick I progressed, I'm sure. My doctor said I "breathed the baby down" very well and was glad I could start her off to good vacation haha.

The main reason I wanted to go unmedicated this time was for the recovery- I really felt like moving around would help me have a quicker birth and boy, was it quick. And the recovery has been amazing! An hour after Vivienne was born, they finally weighed her and I got up and showered. Wha-what?! I was bed-bound with Ez for a day. It was nice to not be worried about hemorrhaging (I was pumped with 6 liters of fluids with Ez and given pitocin afterwards) or feeling like I broke my pelvis this time (forceps, anyone?). We wanted to leave the next day, but since Viv was born in the evening, I had to wait 24 hours for the newborn screening to be done and being discharged at Ezra's bedtime didn't sound convenient, so I stayed an extra night haha.

In conclusion to this novel of a blog post, here are my last thoughts regarding birth:

1) Birth the way you want to birth. Visualize your birth frequently and don't be afraid to let your doctor know what you want out of the experience. If they want to do something more convenient for themselves, it's time to find someone else. This is your birth, therefore your terms. I highly recommend a written birth plan.

2) There is absolutely NO SHAME in getting an epidural. Seriously. Though I never asked this time, I frequently thought about how wonderful it would be to sleep and then have a baby. Epidurals are not evil in any way and don't ever let those high and mighty natural birthers tell you otherwise.

3) Unless baby is distressed, I really recommend let your membranes rupture naturally. I really believe that the fluids provided an extra cushion of comfort during labor.

4) If you want to give birth unmedicated, it is truly possible. Some women can do it without practice, while others need some kind of preparation. I fell in the latter category and I'm so glad I practiced! I really didn't think I could do it until I did haha.

5) Self-hypnosis is real and effective. I practiced and practiced, and thought to myself many times that I was too logical and medically minded for this crap. Nonetheless, I tried hard and focused during my daily practice (which was mostly listening to the scripts on my iPhone) and like a soldier training for combat, all my technique and skills kicked in when it was time for war... errr labor. I don't think it was necessarily "painless and comfortable" like many Hypnobabies moms report, but the way I perceived the contractions (and I've said this a few different times) was indescribably intense and strong pressure. Had I not prepared, I would definitely call it pain I'm sure.


I'm glad I could share this experience with you all. This post has been such a good time reflecting on my experience. I know several of my dear readers are pregnant, so feel free to call me any time if you have questions.

Vivienne has been such a dolly. We love her so much and are so grateful for this newborn phase of sleeping all the time haha- it makes the transition to two kids easier than expected! She is such a good eater, smiles ALL the time (very gassy baby), and of course has beautiful brown hair. She has such a gentle girly cry too! Ezra loves to hold her and give her kisses, so I am very grateful with how well he's dealing with our newest addition. Thank you all for your love and support!


PS- about the contest... nobody guessed I'd go at 38 weeks! so no official winner... I'm still trying to determine who guessed closest to Vivienne's birthday... :)

Hey.

Alright, it's true, I have been putting off blogging. My only excuse is I'm very lazy after work every day. Sorry.

First item of business, the weather.

It has been amazing. The snow is completely gone. And it's the middle of March! We have seriously had sunny, 60 degree weather for a week. I'm sure there will be a dreary day soon to ruin this beautiful glimmer of spring, but I don't care. I worked Monday through Friday. Every day I parked my car on the roof of the garage and had my lunch there. Absolutely fantastic. Carl has been going on a bike ride almost everyday too! We have a bike trailer, so he's been able to get around town with Ezra too. He's like an ox. Seriously. He'll go downhill to the grocery store and then tote Ezra, 3 gallons of milk and 8 bags of produce and other grocery items back up the hill! I always thought marrying a man with big muscles was a smart idea :)

Second, my 36 week appointment.

WARNING: IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO READ ABOUT MY CERVIX, STOP NOW AND PROCEED TO THE THIRD ITEM OF BUSINESS.

***

Ok, so on last Sunday night and through the early morning of Monday, I had consistent contractions that were 5-7 minutes apart lasting about 1 minute each. They weren't very strong and never did intesify, but I called my OB anyway because with Ezra, the first time I felt contractions was when I went into labor. I just ended up staying home and waiting to see if they every got stronger per her direction. I slept a few hours total that night, but while I wasn't sleeping, I finally packed my hospital bag, took a bath or two, bounced on my yoga ball, had carl paint my toes (can't have plain ugly toes for everyone to see :), and read a few encouraging birth stories.

I ended up just going to work that day anyway because my contractions weren't consistent anymore by morning. The rest of the week was full of braxton hicks and uncomfortable pressure with the widening of my hips. At my OB appoint, we talked about all the contractions and pressure, so my doctor offered to check to see if I was dilated at all even though normally OBs don't check until 37 or 38 weeks (dilation and effacement aren't good predictions of the onset of active labor since you could be 0 cm one day and completely dilated and ready to push the next day or be at 4 cm for 3 weeks, etc...). I was curious if the contractions were productive at all, so I agreed- I was surprised to find out I was already 3 cm! Yes. Almost a third of the way done!

***

and Third item, St. Patricks Day.

What a wonderful day! I can't remember a St. Patrick's Day that did not include eating corned beef, red potatoes, carrots, and cabbage- kind of a funny holiday my mom chose to stick to since you know, she's Chinese, but I'm so glad she made a traditional St. Patty's dinner every year as far as I can remember. I continued on the tradition and even made traditional Irish soda bread (whoopdeedoo really. it was tasty, but seemed like a giant glorified biscuit in my opinion).

Forgot the carrots. Oops. And the cabbage looks like a glob of slime. It was all tasty at least :)

It was so nice out yesterday, that we drove to the local outdoor mall and strolled around the sidewalks, had frozen yogurt, checked out the apple store to see the iPad 3, which didn't seem that much more amazing than the iPad 2 (no offense, Drew, we still think you are great), and then headed home. Such a relaxing day.



As usual, if you haven't made a prediction yet and want to participate in the contest, leave me a comment or let me know on facebook. Game closes tomorrow, 37 weeks! Details here: http://teamleder.blogspot.com/2012/02/prediction.html

A Prediction

title: self portrait. voila.

I know you are all so anxious to participate in this prediction challenge/wager/guess, especially since it's even more enticing with the potential of winning a delectable treat that will tickle you inside and out and change your life. Ok maybe it won't be that amazing of a treat, but I promise it will be tasty.



So here is the challenge:

Guess the gender (boy or girl?) and birthday (mm/dd/2012 - you can choose another year, but I guarantee you'll lose).


That's it. No time of day necessary (unless you want to), just the gender and day. I'm not going to be particular. You can choose the same day as someone else if that's your day that you're confident in. Let me know via this blog, email, or facebook. We'll keep track of the predictions :)



Prediction challenge closes at 37 weeks, which is 3/19/2012. Good luck, you have 4 weeks to decide.

        

Don't mind me, just being goofy.

Here are some extra tid-bits to help you choose a day and gender:
- My due date (40 weeks) is 4/9/2012, which is also my nephew's birthday!
- I'm just about 33 weeks now and have gained about 25 lbs.
- Ezra was due 7/14/2011 but came on 7/11/2011 at around 4 am after 14 hours of real labor
- This babe has been SO active. I definitely first felt it move at 14-15 weeks and it's been a wiggle worm since.
- My belly is really pointy. With Ezra, it was round.
- My belly button also popped out this time.
- I had a linea negra (dark line on my belly) with Ezra. This time I don't.
- My sacrum and hips have been aching for weeks. maybe months.
- I didn't have acne in my first trimester
- Tums are some of my closest friends
- Nausea lasted for the first two trimesters, but I never did throw up
- I don't wake up in the middle of the night to pee. Ok I didn't have to include that, but now you know.

"Look, hon! My belly button is inside out!" Carl and I were having too much fun...

8 weeks 'til D-Day.

Scary to think that I only have 8 weeks (I'm 32 weeks tomorrow) until my official due date! We don't have anything ready this time. I mean anything. Names, outfits, bassinet, who will watch Ezra if I go into labor before 4/4/2012 (when my mama comes!), newborn diapers... yeah, nothing. I actually don't feel worried, but at the same time, we really need to pull things together haha. It's also amazing how little time we spend planning for something this life changing when we have a little guy already- last pregnancy, I went to school, gradutated, and then studied for the NCLEX... but any "down time" Carl and I had, we would talk about plans for Ezra's arrival. Oh well. It'll all work out- it always does :)

I'll be preparing a blog post soon with a contest regarding Babe #2's d-day and gender... exciting stuff!

look closely. he has a waterfall under his nose.

This poor guy has been battling a cold, possible ear infection (again), and possible teething (also again). I stayed home with him today instead of going to church because he was so miserable this morning. Poor babe. Doesn't he look so pitiful?

So out of it...

My first week of work was highly uneventful for the most part since it was all classroom lectures. However, I did get to go into the ER one day to shadow a tech. In that time, I saw a person come in after overdosing by swallowing a transdermal narcotic patch, a few chest pain complaints, lots of UTIs and bowel issues, and a few colds. Fairly eventful and I'm excited to actually do more nurse-related things this week!

Carl is doing well- he has been working hard on his hardcore juicing cleanse/diet. His hardwork is showing too! He has lost 7 lbs since he started about 15 days ago! Here are the posts if you're interested in reading about his progress: http://harmonizedlaughter.blogspot.com/search?q=juicing


Hope everyone is doing well and avoiding the illness monster!

Seriously 10 weeks to go?

As many of you readers are also loyal facebook friends, you will probably have noticed I posted a very pregnant-looking picture of myself this week. Take a moment and notice the difference between 30 weeks with Ezra and 30 weeks with this babe:

 I am carrying out much more this time and my back and pelvis feel every bit of it. However, thanks to my maternity belt purchase, it hasn't been too bad as long as I get adequate rest each night (which Carl has allowed me to get by letting me sleep in almost everyday :)

We had fun taking pictures on Sunday after dinner. I love my little [growing] family!

he's like an asian carl, right?!

love love love that we are making the same face

just needed to showcase the brown eyes he inherited from me :)

YARG!!! We tend to say this at dinner time with forks, but he's happy to say it with blocks too

Being "soft" to the baby

he surprised me by giving the baby a kiss too!

Yay!

And the who's the goober now?

happy day!


ps- i'll be reporting on Carl's juicing halfway mark tomorrow on our other blog. woot.

It's Good To Be a Mom

In the last two days, there have been two articles floating around facebook and I could not resist helping them float.

The first article was funny. I'll admit that the author's use of "Carpe Diem" is a little off- I mean, really? Don't Seize the Day? But I really loved the general message and that she was willing to be blatantly honest (something I've always been and dinged for haha :) and admit that motherhood is a challenge and it is completely normal to be frustrated some days. Sometimes we need 10 minutes to recompose ourselves, other times it's a date night. It was a breath of fresh air, and one I thoroughly enjoyed. I think it tickled me more because I used to always have all these people who would tell me to not cook, clean, wash dishes, etc and just hold Ezra all. day. long. Riiiiiiiight. On many occasions, I choose playing over chores, but isn't a clean house and cooking a decent dinner for the whole family refreshing?

The second article was just plain sweet. I thought it was just an extra sweet version of the first article and so kind to new moms. She says it plain and clear- being a mom (or parent really) is hard work, especially for the first child. Being a new mom is a whole new reality that you can never imagine and it is so normal to be tired, confused, and even frustrated with the unknown and new. It helps me to appreciate even more all the stages of life I will encounter in the near future.

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, former member of the quorum of 12 shared a general conference address that I think hits home with everyone. The title, Come What May, and Love It. The title says it all and is something Carl and I have adopted into our family. Sometimes things just happen and you can be mad about them or you can just choose to let it go, maybe even roll your eyes, laugh, and move on. It's good to remember that saying. We don't have cherish every single moment that ever was, but just take them for what they are, learn from them, and love the growth that comes from the outcome.


Being a parent has been a blessing and another trial that has brought Carl and I even closer :)


Have a fantastic day, everyone :) I started my day off preparing for my Sunday School lesson and drinking hot chocolate. I think water should have followed breakfast because I've been feeling mighty dry. Carl and I plan to have a nice relaxing day with Ezra and babe #2 (who seems very dissatisfied with the cramped quarters of the uterus hotel).

Pregs and Stats

I know many of you have been craving a good plump picture of my belly. Don't mind the messy couch. It always looks like that.

EZRA! is 18 months old + a few days! He is one smarty and he knows it. Like I was saying last post, I would update you all on Mr. Mischievious:

Numbers:

• Weight: 23 lbs, 14 oz (40%)
• Height: 30 in (2%) - yes, that is the number two only. He's short and mighty- like his parents :)
• Head Circ.: 49.5 cm (95%) - to hold his all-knowing, powerful, and brilliant brain of course!

No surprises on our side- we're happy to see consistent growth since his last appointment.

Ezra is such fun to have around. I'll never get over how smart he is. Not only are we, as parents, full of amazement, but strangers and acquaintances alike come up to us to point out his intelligence. It does make my head feel like it's in the 95th percentile or more often. He communicates with us so well despite having consistent small vocabulary of 6 words or so. A few notable developments:

• He says "night-night" at bed time, still sleeping 11-12 hours a night (woot)
• Loves to throw and kick all the toy balls we have here (he's been doing this for awhile, but I thought I should report it to his fans
• LOVES the movie Tangled- Rapunzel is his girl friend
• Eats with a spoon and fork at meals. Still working on the cup thing- he's been drinking from a cup forever it seems, just not very well on his own.
• Has become the pickiest little eater that ever was. We frequently joke that Ezra has a hollow leg just for cheese.
• Only takes one nap a day, usually for 2-3 hours (woot again)
• Folds his hands/arms during prayer (usually only for the first 30 seconds only haha)
• Still a music lover- this kid has got rhythm! I think he dances everyday at least.

He still has no idea who will be a permanent resident in April, but that's ok, I think he'll adjust well to having a little brother or sister :) I've been teaching him to be "gentle" and "soft" to my belly and saying "baby" when pointing to it, but he's also pet Carl's belly softly when Carl has mention "baby..." Kinda cute :)

On a bum note, we think he has food allergies to egg and peanut butter. He's broken out in mini hives in the past, so today, I painfully watched (and scolded a nurse for digging for a vein. whoops. mama bear escaped) Ezra get his blood drawn for a egg and tree nut allergy panel. He's also allergic to amoxycillin (which resulted in a systemic bright red rash in December). Boo! I guess even if you don't have a family history of food allergies, it still happens, especially if you do have a family history of asthma and eczema (weird) (carl and I both have family history of the latter- does anyone recall my condemned finger(s)?! haha).

After the pediatrician appointment, we went and toured the hospital I have now decided to deliver at. It's amazing. I love it. If you're ever delivering a baby in Milwaukee, go to the Columbia Center at Mequon. I promise you will not be disappointed. And I haven't even delivered there yet. I wish they would give me a dang job there! haha


Ok, that is all. The End.

Holo.

I purposely spelled "hola" as "holo." I have been saying "holo" to Carl since we first watched MegaMind. So holo, guys :)

Wisconsin has been great! I am so excited that we are comfortable here. We have slowly, but surely, been making friends who are wonderful, wonderul people and most happen to have young kidlets who don't mind the company of Ezra. Our apartment is comfortable and becoming more "homey" everyday (especially since we hung up our pictures finally and have a candied caramel prailines scent swirling around the kitchen and living room everyday). We also got a bookshelf, which has been nice to sort through clutter. I won't comment much on the random tub of pencils, pens, paper, and random hiding in our closet still... but aside from that, we are settled! Our home sweet home for at least the next 15 months :)

(I know it would be fitting to post pictures of our apartment, but that would require me to actually take some... so maybe this weekend?)

This pregnancy has been fairly easy so far. I can't believe I'm already 18 weeks! Here is my latest ultrasound at 17 weeks, 4 days:

do you see the litle open mouth? awwww

We had the opportunity to find out the gender and... we didn't. Ah! It was such a challenge to turn away from the screen. I asked the tech if she knew what the gender was and I think to save me from the temptation, she said she tried not to look and pay attention :) Eek! But after the appointment, I was over the anxiety and feel stoked again  about a delivery room surprise baby.

Speaking of babies, my niece was born this past Saturday! We are thrilled to be an aunt and uncle again to miss Rylee Michelle! Mom and baby are well (and mom looked fantastic after birth!)

courtesy of facebook :)

April seems so far and close. It's so hard to imagine having two babies! Fortunately Ezra will be a little older by then and my due date is landing on the Monday of Carl's spring break. How convenient, yes?

Have a great day, everyone!

No more secrets

Well, I told my family and and facebook the news, so who is there left to tell?

11 weeks, 3 days

I'm pregnant!

So, here is a Q&A session I had with myself for the purpose of this entry:

Was it planned (since this is the most common question)?
Ok, not really anybody's business, but yes. Did I think I would get pregnant as quickly as we did? Nope. A little TMI, but I haven't had a period since I was pregnant with Ezra (yay breastfeeding!) and I figured I would get pregnant as soon as my regular cycle returned after I weaned Ezra, so ya know a few months... but no, I weaned Ezra and got pregnant the next day. So planned in a backwards way :)

How far along are you and what is your due date?
Today, I am 13 weeks, 2 days along. I am due on April 9th, 2012 (my nephew's birthday!). I was two or three weeks further along than I estimated when I went in for my first ultrasound (the above picture)

Any morning sickness?
 I still haven't thrown up! But I have been waaaaaaay more nauseous than when I was pregnant with Ezra. Appetite has not been amazing, but I have gained 2 pounds, which I am deeming a success.

Are you hoping for a boy or girl?
I guess the safe answer is I'm happy with either, but suppose I'll be honest and say that it would be fun to have a girl since we already have a cute little guy. I keep feeling like we might have a boy again, but it's probably because we already had one haha. I think Ezra would have so much fun with a little brother! A girl would be SO FREAKING FUN... for me :) Dresses, hair accessories, cute fashionista outfits, painted toenails, frilly pink stuff... ahhhh so fun...

Oh and we're going for a delivery room surprise this time around. Woo hoo!

Are you nervous about having two babies?
Everyday. I'm so lucky to have Carl. He is so supportive and reassuring, helping me to slowly let go of my fears of caring for two under two (Ezra will be almost 21 months when this little one is born). I keep trying to only focus on the exciting parts of having a growing family, but instead, I find myself stressing about going to the grocery store and Ezra getting lost in our parking garage while I buckle in our tiny newborn into his/her carseat... slow. deep. breaths.

What's different now compared to your first pregnancy?
Besides the increase in nausea, I am showing a lot earlier. Probably because I didn't have a good exercise regime after having Ezra, so my abdominal walls are much thinner this time around. It's kind of fun sporting a bump already though :)


Carl and I are stoked. Ezra doesn't really know what's going on, but that's ok. I think he will be a great older brother! It will be a hard transition for all of us, especially with Carl being so busy, but I am nonetheless excited!