The Belly Report: Different the Second Time Around

I LOVE this shirt, but it's not going to fit much longer, so I wanted a front shot of it too :)

(written Tuesday, March 13th)

We are just over 27 weeks through this pregnancy!  I cannot believe that at yesterday's appointment the nurse told me we are going to start coming every TWO WEEKS!  I actually asked her if she was sure!  HA!  I had my regular check-up yesterday along with my glucose test.  Josh was super-excited for Jackson to hang out with him at work while I sat at our OB's office for the hour-long test.  The orange stuff seemed to taste a bit better than four years ago, and the whole thing went smoothly.  Sammy's heartbeat was about 154--super active!  The doctor was pleased with everything, so that part of the visit went really quickly.  I am measuring right on track for how far along we are, and everything seems good :)  I'm not expecting any surprises in the glucose test, but I will feel better once I know for sure everything looks good!

I already know that the biggest challenge I will face with Sammy is remembering he is a completely different child than Jackson.  I just know myself, and I know that this is the lesson I will be working on learning while getting to know him.  That being said, I suppose I'm practicing by learning that each pregnancy is different.  I KNEW that going in, but it's not until different things happen that you really "get it!"  Of course one big difference with this pregnancy is already having an almost 3 1/2 year old!  I do not generally enjoy extra attention focused on me--I didn't even want Josh and me to be formally introduced at our wedding!  Yeah, it's that bad...  But, I did really enjoy the attention on this little person I was growing while I was pregnant with Jackson.  I learned pretty early on that it wasn't going to be quite like that this time around since there is a lot of focus on Jackson becoming a Big Brother--and rightfully so!  But, Josh and I tried taking Jackson to the doctor with us early on, and I realized that if possible I REALLY wanted that time to be just Josh and me.  It might sound silly, but I needed to know that at those appointments, I would have his complete attention.  Thankfully, we are surrounded by wonderful friends who don't mind hanging out with Jackson while we get Sammy checked out :)

So, that all being said, I know some of my increased crankiness is due to not being able to just stop whenever I want and rest for me.  I need to try to rest when Jackson is in a restful mood (and really he's pretty good!).  I am definitely bigger at this point than I was at Jackson, so bending down has been harder for longer.  I also notice my feet and legs hurting, which I don't really remember from last time at all.  I was standing and ironing Josh's work shirts the other night and my feet were killing me afterwards!  On the bright side, I am sleeping really well still!  I was definitely expecting to be more uncomfortable by now!  I am using a pillow more frequently between my knees or under my belly, but that's an easy fix!

Sammy is about the size of a head of cauliflower this week (about 2 pounds in weight and 14 1/2 inches long)!  Sammy's brain is very active now and he is opening and closing his eyes, sucking his fingers, and sleeping and waking at regular intervals.  He continues to move ALL the time :)

(written Sunday, March 18th)
We are now 28 weeks along!  Josh and I never got a chance to check out our weekly update together (my fault), so I didn't have those details to add in to the first part of this post!  (But, I added them after we caught up on two weeks at once!)  So, now it's a two-parter :)  Jackson and I flew to Chicago on Thursday morning, and my feet and ankles were so swollen by that night!  It has gotten better, but they are still pretty puffy :(  I am hoping this is residual from the flight and not the new norm...  I made it all the way through the summer when I was pregnant with Jackson without much swelling at all!  My heartburn has gotten more severe when it happens :(  And, even thought I hadn't posted the first part of this update yet, I seemed to jinx myself in the sleeping department :(  That might be due to the crazy hot/humid temperatures we had last week...  The last couple nights at Mom and Dad's have been better.  The temps here are more moderate, and perfect for sleeping with the windows open :)

Sammy is now about the size of a Chinese cabbage (about 2.25 pounds and almost 15 inches in length)!  Sammy's eyesight is continuing to develop, and he might be able to see some light filtering in through the womb--crazy!  His brain is developing billions of neurons, and he is continuing to fatten up for life on the other side!  The 27 week update did mention that Sammy's lungs still have a ways to go until they are finished developing, but he would have a good chance of surviving outside of the womb at this point (with tons of medical attention, of course).  That is a slight relief...

Flashbacks: Cauliflower Head
Chinese Cabbage Anyone???

The Belly Report: Cardio Check-ups All Around

We are currently 26 weeks pregnant!  Last week, Sammy was about the size of a rutabaga (13.5 inches long and about a pound and a half in weight).  A lot is going on cosmetically for Sammy: he is starting to get a bit chubbier and not so wrinkly and he is growing hair :)  This week, Sammy is about the size of an English hothouse cucumber!  (I remember this comparison cracking us up last time too!)  Sammy is well on his weigh to weighing two pounds and measures about 14 inches long.  I'm loving thinking about how Sammy can probably hear us all talking around him.  Jackson thinks it's neat when we remind him that his baby brother can hear the stories we read during the day :)  Most importantly, Sammy's body is working on preparing his lungs for life outside the womb.

Two Thursdays ago, my OB's office called to let me know my Vitamin D levels were still low, so now I'm taking 300 micrograms of Vitamin D instead of the original 100.  The nurse also asked if I had made an appointment to see my cardiologist to have a check-up yet.  I hadn't because Dr. Hibshman said scheduling the fetal echo was the most important order of business (and the clinic at the hospital could do that for us this time).  Plus, my cardiologist was on family medical leave for a couple of months.  Apparently the doctors decided they wanted me to go ahead and make an appointment for my own check-up.  I called my cardiologist's office, and not only was she back in the office, but they had an appointment for this past Monday!  That worked out well since Josh had the day off, so he stayed home with Jackson.  My appointment was at 8:30, but it was in Fairfax, so I left at 7:00 to give myself enough time.  I got there on time, but Dr. Lindsey was late due to a flat tire.  Part of me was happy to have time to sit and read my book ;)  I realized once they set me up in a room, however, that they had just scheduled me for a fetal echo since they knew I was pregnant!  Dr. Lindsey was great when she got there and explained she wanted to do her own fetal echo anyways, and she would see what she could do to squeeze me in to check me out too!  That was awesome because I would have hated to have driven out to the office and had Josh home with Jackson only to have to do it all again a different day to get my own check-up!  Sammy looks GREAT!  It was also confirmed, for the third time, that he is indeed a HE :)  His heart looks beautiful, but we will take him back for a check-up when he is a couple of weeks old just to make sure.  My echo looked great as well--that was especially good to hear since my body is pumping so much more blood while pregnant.  I think I finally got home around 12:30...  It was worth it to get two appointments knocked out and get such good reports :)

Sammy loves to hang out on my right side--pretty much has since I could feel him in there!  He still is moving ALL THE TIME--particularly at night when Josh and I relax and play Tetris Attack on Super Nintendo :)  Josh got to feel him go crazy the other night, and it was so fun!  I think I have felt Sammy's first set of hiccups, but I did forget a little bit what those felt like...

Josh has taken over bathtime and I'm counting down the days until I can wear flip-flops for good so I don't have to try to bend over to tie my shoes...

Flashback: Week 25
"A Trip"

The Belly Report: Busy Boy!

Over the last two weeks, I have felt Sammy moving ALL the time! I LOVE feeling all of his movements, but it's hard to remember that at this point it's not really punches and kicks, but full-body flips!  He's still pretty small, and it's hard to not jump ahead to thinking I feel his big head, bum, or knees!

We are now in our 24th week of pregnancy, and I'm really feeling pretty good.  I am definitely bigger than I was at this point with Jackson, but that's ok!  Tying my shoes is getting trickier, as is zipping my winter coat...  Jackson still fits on my lap, and I absolutely LOVE when he snuggles up to me while we read stories and puts his hand on my belly :)  This past weekend Brodie Bascom was over with the rest of his fam, and Jackson was SO sweet with him!  I cannot wait to watch Jackson be a big brother to his very own baby brother!  I am quite nervous the cuteness will keep me in hormonal tears most of the time... :/

Last week, when Sammy was 22 weeks along, he was about the size of a spaghetti squash!  Sammy's features are continuing to develop and be more distinct.  At 23 weeks along, Sammy was the size of a mango.  Blood vessels are developing in his lungs to help him prepare for breathing.  Sammy also can hear a lot more sounds--I hope he enjoys his big brother's conversations during the day as much as I do ;)

Last week, pre-Super Bowl, we got the nursery all decorated!  There will certainly be pictures coming soon, but I LOVE walking by it each day and imagining the little boy that will come home to it in a few months :) :) :)

Flashbacks: Never Eaten This One...

Holy Mango!

The Belly Report: 21 Weeks

Last week when we turned 20 weeks along, Sammy was about the size of a banana (10.5 ounces and 6.5 inches long)!  This week, at 21 weeks, Sammy is about the size of a carrot (3/4 of a pound and 10.5 inches long)!  Since Josh was in charge of the first diaper change for Jackson, and will likely be in charge of it again for Sammy since I likely won't be able to feel my legs yet to get out of bed, he is THRILLED to read that Sammy is beginning to produce meconium...what will fill that first diaper!  Yikes!  I am SO close to Josh being able to feel the kicks on the outside of my stomach, but I am sure enjoying them all at this point :)

We went to the perinatologist on Monday and got another full ultrasound with special focus on the heart for a fetal echocardiogram.  We got a GREAT report, and it was SO fun to see Sammy again...a little older!  He was wiggling all around and waving.  The technician took almost 100 pictures of our little guy :)  It's amazing how clearly we can see the different parts of his brain, the four chambers of his heart, his ten fingers and toes, and his eyes, nose, and mouth.  And, this wasn't even a 3-D ultrasound!  We might need to go have another ultrasound so they can get a better look at his spine since he wasn't in the right position for that the first time around.  Our OB is checking to see if there are good enough images from Monday's ultrasound...

We got a good report in general from the perinatologist, Dr. Ghidini!  Unless anything else comes up, we won't be seeing him again, which is a blessing, really.  But, we really like him as a doctor, so it's too bad we won't see him any more.  You know?

Flashback: It's a Race!
Go Banana!
20 Weeks Preggo!
What's Up Doc?

The Belly Report: The Big Day!!!

On Tuesday morning we had our big ultrasound appointment, and we were SO anxious to find out if Jackson would be getting a brother or a sister!!!  We told him after naptime, and then we let him tell Pax:

We could not be more thrilled to be having another baby boy!!!  Neither Josh nor I really cared if Sammy was a boy or a girl, but I had said from the beginning that I would LOVE to add another little boy to our family :)

We got a great report form the ultrasound!  We got to see pretty much all of Sammy, except for his spine and hands.  He was lying face up, so the ultrasound couldn't get a good shot of the spine.  He also had his hands clenched into little fists the whole time!  The technician was really great, and she did give us some time to get him to turn around, but she said based on how he was lying, it would be pretty unlikely for him to just flip all of a sudden.  We might need to go back for another ultrasound in a few weeks to check on the position of my placenta (it's not quite as far from my uterus as they would like), so the technician said she could recheck the spine and hands then.

 Cute little baby pose :)

 It's a boy!  As evidenced by the pointy object on the right-hand side of the picture ;)

 Baby feet!

I was a little nervous to tell Jackson what the ultrasound said since he has been saying he wants a baby SISTER!  We waited until after his nap, and then told him that he was going to have a baby brother!  He didn't say much then, but we spent the next couple hours playing outside and he told all the neighbors I had a baby brother in my tummy :)  Excellent!

This past Sunday, we turned 19 weeks along!  Sammy is now the size of an heirloom tomato (according to Baby Center, about 8 1/2 ounces and 6 inches long, but according to the ultrasound Sammy is about 11 ounces)!  Sammy's brain is working on developing specialized areas in his brain for all of his senses.  There is a good chance Sammy can hear us now, so we are encouraging Jackson to talk to him and letting him know that when we read stories, we are reading to his baby brother too :)

I am feeling pretty good still!  I am finally feeling Sammy kick on a regular basis!  Not surprising since he was quite the wiggler during our ultrasound :)  I remember LOVING this part of pregnancy, but I forgot how little the flutters are in the beginning.  Bending over is getting more challenging, and my back is sore more often.  I am doing my best to make smart snack choices and to drink lots of water--I tell myself that hydration can solve all sorts of problems ;)

We are not wasting any time getting ready to welcome the latest little Smith guy into this house: tonight we ordered nursery decorations, a new stroller, and the first two sets of matching shirts!!!  I also couldn't resist this adorable outfit at Target this morning:

Flashbacks: 147 Beats Per Minute Means Boy, Right???

The Verdict Is...

Sam's First Heirloom

Popcorn Popping and Frog Kicks

The Belly Report: 18 Weeks (and Some Comparisons)

Ah, so many things are different with this pregnancy (yet so many the same)!  The #1 difference, I think, is that last time Josh and I diligently checked Baby Center every Tuesday and I sat down to blog about any new changes right afterwards.  This time around, Josh and I still diligently check Baby Center each week (on Sundays this time), but then I THINK about blogging until I have time to actually write said blog :)

We are 18 weeks along (in the middle of our 19th week), and Sammy is about the size of a bell pepper (5 1/2 inches long and about 7 ounces)!  According to the Baby Center update, Sammy is practicing flexing his/her arm and leg muscles--movements I CANNOT wait to feel!!!  Blood vessels are more visible through the skin and Sammy's ears have reached their final resting place :)  I wrote about how interesting I found the focus on the ears last time around (Red or Green, Part 2).  Still amazes me that they spend so long moving to the correct position...

Pregnancy this time is different simply by the fact that there is a three-year old demanding my time, energy, and movement.  Overall, I feel great!  I do get easily frustrated when I realize I can't bend in certain ways or play in certain positions anymore :(  Jackson has done a great job settling into the role of Big Brother To-Be!  I'm a nester by nature, but I can feel myself kicking into overdrive already (look out, Josh, there might be quite the list of projects headed your way...).  We have our appointment on Tuesday to find out the gender of this baby, and to, more importantly, see how everything is developing so far!  I CANNOT wait to find out if Jackson is getting a baby brother or a baby sister!!! We honestly don't care--but I think I'll burst if I have to wait much longer to start choosing nursery decorations!

I have also been thinking lately about how things will be so different with this baby since he/she will born at a different time of year!  For starters, Jackson's first holiday was Halloween--he was only a few weeks old! Sammy's first holiday will be Father's Day and he/she will be just a couple weeks old.  Jackson was EIGHT months old for his first Father's Day!

Halloween: Jackson (under a month) Sammy (almost 5 months)
Thanksgiving: Jackson (about a month and a half) Sammy (about 5 1/2 months)
Christmas: Jackson (almost 3 months) Sammy (almost 7 months)
Valentine's Day: Jackson (just over 4 months) Sammy (just over 8 months)
St. Patrick's Day/March Madness: Jackson (just over 5 months) Sammy (just over 9 months)
Mother's Day: Jackson (just over 7 months) Sammy (just over 11 months)
Father's Day: Jackson (8 1/2 months) Sammy (a couple weeks?)
Fourth of July: Jackson (almost 9 months) Sammy (about a month)
August 5th (Uncle Larry's wedding): Jackson (a good 3 1/2 years) Sammy (about 2 months?)--I am really excited about this trip--I think Jackson will find the festivities and a special trip WITH Mimi and Bampa (not just a trip to see them or them to see us) really fun and I think Sammy will be portable and snuggly :)

I am pretty much equal parts ecstatic and terrified to become the mom of TWO!  That sounds about right, right?  :)

The Belly Report: A Month's Worth of Updates

 Obviously, I fell behind on my pregnancy updates...

Here is what has been going on for the last four weeks:  At 14 weeks Sammy was about the size of a lemon (3 1/2 inches long and 1 1/2 ounces)!  Sammy can make facial expressions and suck his/her thumb!  Sammy is producing urine and bile.  The soft covering of hair (lanugo) has started to develop at the point. At 15 weeks, Sammy was about the size of an apple (4 inches long and 2 1/2 ounces)!  Sammy is busy moving amniotic fluid through his/her nose and upper respiratory tract which helps his/her lungs to develop further.  This was one of my favorite updates with Jackson because Baby Center suggests if you shine a light on my belly the baby can sense the light and might move away from it--I love the idea of playing tag!  At 16 weeks, Sammy was about the size of an avocado (4 1/2 inches long and 3 1/2 ounces)!  Sammy's legs are more developed, his/her head is more erect, his/her ears have moved closer to their final spot, and his/her eyes are moving closer to the center of his/her face.  Sammy's heart is pumping about 25 quarts of blood a day!  On Sunday Sammy turned 17 weeks :)  Sammy is now about the size of a turnip (5 inches long and 5 ounces)!  The soft cartilige is changing into bone and the umbilical cord is strengthening.

In terms of how I'm feeling, I'm feeling pretty good.  My appetite is pretty much back to normal, and I'm not feeling as tired (although there are still moments).  This pregnancy I feel much more weepy and sensitive.  I'm sure some of it is because we just went through the holiday season and those always seem to be a bit emotional, tiring, and stressful...  Overall, Jackson has been a very good sport, but my patience is thinner and it tires me more the more I have to correct him or try to talk to Josh over him.  

Mom and I did a ton of shopping while we were in Evanston, so I have plenty of clothes that fit :)  Jackson continues to be excited about becoming a big brother!  He is going to be awesome!  He is more consistently saying he wants a Baby Sister, and we will find out of January 17th what he is actually getting!!!  We can't wait!  For a few days he was saying he wanted a Baby Sister AND a Baby Brother.  We corrected him and said, he was getting one or the other, not both.  Today after his nap, he asked me if something was Baby Sister's.  I said that it was going to be for his Baby Sister OR Baby Brother.  I asked him if it would be ok if he got a Baby Brother.  He was sort of convinced, but then said, "But not both.  Baby Sister OR Baby Brother!"  Glad he's listening :)  

Flashbacks: Mmm...Lemon Heads!

An Apple a Day...

Going Back to the Idea of a Margarita...

Weighs as Much as...

Secret Blogging :)

I know I haven't had as many "new" blog posts, but that's because I've been busy writing pregnancy blogs...in secret!  LOL Before we got pregnant with Jackson, I didn't have a blog!  I was able to create this blog, write posts, and not have anyone reading them until we were ready to announce our pregnancy.  This time, I want to archive this pregnancy too, but we just weren't ready to have everyone read along right away.  So, here is a list of the "secret" blogs (they are all links) I wrote for whoever is interested:

The Belly Report: Dr. Confirmation!
The Belly Report!!!
The Belly Report: Big and Mean Part 2
The Belly Report: First Belly Pics...and Some Other Stuff!!!
Up and Coming Big Brother: Jackson Albert Smith!!!
The Belly Report: Ten Weeks!
The Belly Report: Ultrasound #2!
The Belly Report: 1/3 Finished!
The Belly Report: The News is Out!

The Belly Report: The News is Out!

Because everything seems to be happening faster this time around, we have been ready to make our exciting news public for a while now, but we did want to wait until we were into the second trimester.  We are now 13 weeks and SO ready for all of our friends and family to know :D

Nothing huge has changed in how I'm feeling--still pretty darn good!  Sammy now has fingerprints and his/her organs and veins are visible through the very thin skin.  Sammy's head makes up one third of his/her body now!  Sammy is almost three inches long now, about the size of a medium shrimp :)

Flashback: Duh, duh, duh...

The Belly Report: 1/3 Finished!

We are twelve weeks along!!!  I am starting my second trimester this week (the thirteenth week) :)  The baby is now the size of a lime--oh, how I wish I could have a margarita ;)

I'm feeling better in the sense that I have a bit more energy and my appetite is regulating a little...  Greasy food and my original stand-bys still sound the best most of the time.  My symptoms are staying the same mostly.  Heartburn is increasing a bit, and I noticed over the last week that my hips start to hurt if I sit in the same position for a long time.  My arms are also falling asleep during the night when I sleep on my side with my arm bent...  Weird!  I think the mantra of this pregnancy is definitely going to be how fast everything seems to be showing up this time around...

I have gone shopping ON Black Friday before, but never in true Black Friday fashion where I get up early and go when the stores open.  This year stores opened at 9pm and midnight, and that sounded WAY more appealing!  I'd rather stay up late than get up in the middle of the night.  I wanted to head to Kohl's to check out the maternity clothes.  Mom was more than happy to go with me, and Larry offered to be our chauffeur!  He was awesome!  I would highly recommend hiring him for your Black Friday outing next year :)  We had a really fun time, but the two stores we went into at the mall were plenty for us.  As I found out last time, maternity pants are amazingly comfortable--they are not failing to disappoint this time ;)

Our baby has reflexes now!  According to what I've read, if I poke my belly, the baby will squirm in return, but I won't be able to feel it.  Fun!  I CANNOT wait until I can feel him/her kick!!!  Our baby's face looks more like you would expect, and his/her eyes have moved from the sides to the front of his/her face.  Now our baby measures just over two inches long and weight half an ounce!  How can something this small make all of these changes?!?!?!

Last time we were pregnant we referred to the baby as Sam while it was in utero.  We like the name Sam a lot, but Sam Smith doesn't sound like our cup of tea.  We wanted to do something similar this time, so we will go with Sammy.  Still could be male or female, but it seemed weird to "re-use" the same nickname...  So, from now on the baby will be referred to as Sammy :)

Flashbacks: With a Lime, Please!
Prego Pants are Fantastic!