Baby Girl

I haven't talked much about this little babe and I am feeling a little guilty about it.

This pregnancy really has gone by pretty quickly (minus the weeks of nausea and vomiting). When I was pregnant with Scarlett, it was all I could think about. By 22 weeks I had been shopping 3 dozen times, had bought tons of baby items, had posted about my pregnancy at least a dozen times, and was all about baby. This time around, I am 2 days shy of 22 weeks, and I haven't really even had time to think about this baby. Scarlett is such an active, hyper, busy little bee that I don't ever have time to just sit down for a minute. This pregnancy has been different in a lot of ways; one, I threw up every morning from week 8 to week 16, but the nausea wasn't that bad. With Scarlett I only threw up 3 times but felt so nauseous all day that I lived on the couch most of the day during weeks 6-12. Two, my hips don't seem to have spread as much (yet!) as they did with Scar; I am still able to fit in to a few of my pants and shorts. I haven't bought any new maternity clothes, but I am going to need them soon, I'm sure. I feel this one move much less than Scarlett, which I am hoping means she will be calm and easy going.

Rob and I decided we wanted to have our kids about 2 years apart, and since it took 6 months to get pregnant with Scarlett, we decided to stop "avoiding" pregnancy on Scar's first birthday. That first month I was nauseous, dry heaving every morning, and "late". The pregnancy test was negative and eventually I got my period. The same thing happened the next two months, December and January. I finally went to the doctor in February to make sure things were OK, and my blood work came back with my prolactin level being more than twice the highest level it should be (22 is the highest your prolactin should be when you are breastfeeding, and closer to 11-15 when not); mine was 44, and I was not breastfeeding. My OB sent me to the endocrinologist in March and she tested me again and miraculously my prolactin level had normalized. My thyroid was a bit off but not enough to cause problems.  My OB wanted to start me on infertility meds, but I didn't feel like I needed to do that quite yet.  After my April period, I had a very strong impression that I needed to live my life as though I would get pregnant this time around (really meaning, don't take any meds you shouldn't take when pregnant, things of that nature). Low and behold, I found out in May I was pregnant.  I was very hesitant and nervous to take the test because I had been disappointed so many times; I didn't want to see another negative test.  I waited one morning until Rob left for work and then I jumped out of bed and took the test.  As I waited for the results I said a little prayer, and cried a little, begging for it to be positive.  I was so excited when it was, I called Rob right away, didn't bother with a cute way of telling him- and then I called my parents.  I couldn't hide it.  I was thrilled.

We had our 21 1/2 week ultrasound yesterday and baby girl looks just beautiful. She changed positions 3 times while the doctor was checking her out and when we were trying to look at her face she covered it with both her hands. Adorable.  When we finally saw her sweet face she was opening and closing her mouth- the doctor said she was saying "Hi Mom!". She looks perfectly healthy and she is measuring a little small. I'm hoping that means she will come out easier since I am planning to try a VBAC.

We are so excited about this little addition, and know Scarlett will be the best big sister.  She talks to my tummy all the time and gives her sister big kisses.  My favorite thing that Scarlett picked up early in my pregnancy was my morning sickness- I threw up so often that periodically throughout the day Scarlett would cough, and then she would cover her mouth and tell me she would be right back.  She would go to the bathroom and "throw up" (totally dry heaving), flush the toilet, and then come tell me she was better.  How cute is she?

Here is our little babe, 21 1/2 weeks.

Little girl, we can't wait for you to join our family.  We love you to pieces, already.