15 weeks!

I know, I know...it seems SO unfair that Haddy got a post almost every week in-utero from 4 weeks on through her birth...I feel like I'm short-changing this baby. I HAVE been writing down notes, etc, but I just honestly don't have the time during the day (or the energy at night!) to type them up! I'm going to try and do a re-cap (complete with all the pics that I've taken of the belly progression & our ultrasounds when G scans them in) of the 1st trimester - I can't believe we're quickly approaching the halfway mark...we will know the gender in just over 5 weeks! HOLY MOLY!

On September 7th, Gregg was home from school (on what would have been his 2nd day back for the year) due to flooding. I was on my online infertility board while Haddy was sleeping, asking my friends about how long it took for their cycles to regulate after giving birth, since it had been about 8 weeks since I had last seen mine! They all told me that I needed to go out and "take a test" to which I laughed - I mean seriously? We tried for 5 years before we finally got our miracle baby & they were trying to tell me that I was pg now? When we weren't even trying? When the chances were less than they had ever been in all of the 5 years prior to this? I didn't want to spend the money on the test, but I had heard of using an ovulation predictor test strip as a pg test. I went upstairs and peed on the stick, only for two lines to pop up immediately. That meant one of two things...either I was pg or ovulating. I was still in disbelief & I told the girls that it would have to wait until Friday (this was a Wednesday) when I could get to the dollar store to buy a test. Well...they were having none of that and told me that if I didn't go march myself out to the drug store and buy a test, they were going to start a pg test fund for me! LOL! Ok, ok, twist my arm! So I went out and bought a test & came home and took it. Well...the test line used so much of the dye that there was barely anything left for the control line! We were pregnant!

After several days of major freaking out on my part (worrying about how I could possibly handle two babies when Haddy still wasn't sleeping through the night, etc), I got used to the idea and definitely started getting very excited.

On September 9th, they squeezed me in to the doctor's office for the initial consultation & bloodwork. I had them run a few extra checks for my thyroid & progesterone levels, since those are things I've had issues with in the past, once I've gotten pregnant...but everything came back fine!

On September 15th, we went for our initial ultrasound. We didn't really know what to expect since we didn't know for sure how far along I was (we thought 8 weeks), but the dr's office was great. They had me listed as "high risk" until we got that first appointment and could see/hear the heartbeat. I ended up measuring about 6.5 weeks & we could see & hear a strong little heartbeat inside! It was all so surreal - how could this be happening? to us? and so soon?

At the end of September (the 18th & 30th respectively, I believe), we shared the good news with Gregg's family and then with mine! Everyone was as shocked as we were! We shared the news by putting Hadley in a bib that said, "I'm the BIG sister!" I think we confused everyone a little bit, but once they caught on, they were overjoyed for us!

The day before leaving for Disney, on October 19th, we went to the Maternal Fetal Medicine Unit for our Level I ultrasound. We got some great pics of the baby & once again it hit us how surreal this whole experience was!

As for how I'm feeling, things are going well. The first few weeks were really rough. I don't think they were any worse than the last time around, but to be dealing with nausea & extreme fatigue while simultaneously chasing around a VERY active little one - well let's just say it was tough. I slept during all of Hadley's naps from about 8-12 weeks - I was seriously wiped out (which could have also had something to do with the fact that I was still nursing until just two days ago!). I definitely don't remember feeling so tired last time. I still do take a nap during at least one of Haddy's naps now, but the EXTREME fatigue (like seriously wanting to fall asleep while playing with Haddy) has passed for now.

The nausea was really bad during that same time period (8-12 weeks). I not-so-fondly recall gagging over changing dirty diapers & the smell of Hadley's baby food. I am SO glad that phase is behind me!

Now that I'm in the second trimester, I'm starting to feel better & a bit more like my old self again! Hadley has been a sweetheart & will kiss Mommy's belly anytime we ask her to! I don't think she gets it at all, but it's still so darn cute!

We've got exactly 5 weeks to go until we find out if BS#2 is a boy or a girl! We can't wait!

Pics to be added later!

26 weeks!

I'll try to update with more info later! :)

24-25 weeks

I've been such a bad blogger for the past 2 weeks (but really all summer), so I've gotta squeak this post in before I turn 26w tomorrow! Things have been going well & I've been feeling great! We had our first educational class at the hospital two weekends ago (Childbirth) and it went really well. G is going to be an amazing labor partner, which I'm so thankful for! I'll admit that I'm still very anxious/nervous about the whole birthing process, but I just keep telling myself that we'll take it one contraction at a time and go from there. G (and our friend Jeff) even got to wear the pregnancy suit at class (I'll have to put the pic in!!!). Tonight, we've got breastfeeding class (which I have to admit I'm somewhat nervous about because that's one thing that I really, REALLY want to be able to do successfully), and this weekend we have Baby Care 101.

We've also been making a ton of headway with the nursery. We had picked up the changing table, which G & our BIL carried upstairs (HEAVY!) & then last weekend, G & my dad went to pick up the crib and dresser, which they set up. My mom ordered the glider and the crib mattress, which both came yesterday & I have an order in for wall letters for above the crib! The nursery is really almost done! Everyone thinks I'm just obsessed with getting it done, but in reality, once school starts, we know that it's nearly impossible to get things accomplished, so it was really our goal to have most of it finished by the time the school year started!

I had my glucose test on Monday & I haven't heard anything back, which I'm assuming is good news! It wasn't half as bad as I had heard it could be & they even let me leave to go shopping (Kohl's is right next door, so I could walk)! I bought H six new summer outfits for next year for just $15 out-of pocket (one cute little sundress was seriously only $2.40!)! It was great & they are so adorable! I love buying clothes for her!

We also got an unexpected check in the mail for a supposed over-payment at my RE's office from more than two years ago, so we called right away to schedule our 3D ultrasound! We had been wanting to get one done, but had been having a bit of a struggle justifying the cost. The check in the mail made us feel like we had hit the lottery! So the 3D ultrasound is coming up in just two weeks, Sept. 9th & we're so excited to be able to see her again!

And now for some pictures...

23 weeks!

Another week, another update! Things have been going great & I still have no reason for complaints! I had developed some back pain while camping, which I was hoping and praying was just related to sitting in camp chairs, picnic table benches & sleeping in a camper. Lucky for me, it seems that's all it was (whew!). We had a lot of fun camping, but I was bummed that I had to miss the one hike that Gregg & Jenna went on. I went on it last time (in June) & I knew it would just be too strenuous for me this time around (climbing over fallen trees, etc), so they took some good pics for me & told me that they talked about me while I was gone because I'm always the line leader & apparently I'm braver than either of them because they're both afraid of walking into spider webs....haha

When we came back from camping, Mom and I did some shopping to get supplies for my shower, which is now in the works (WOW!!). As luck would have it, we found plates, napkins & tablecloths at Big Lots! - they only had them in two colors & wouldn't you know it, they were MY colors - magenta & bright green! It was meant to be! We also bought some invitations at the dollar store, but then found ones later that we both liked better - they looked like onesies with little ducks on them, but we thought they needed a little dressing up. We went to the craft section & found these adorable little daisies on a strip of ribbon - in magenta and bright green! - so we got those to hot glue onto the bottom! Too stinkin' cute! And my mom's neighbor is going to make us little footprint cookies for favors & a pink and green cake! Wow - everything is actually starting to materialize...

We had a great appt. yesterday. Little Hadley's heartbeat sounded good & I reached a new milestone: belly measurements! I'm carrying small, which the CRNP said is to be expected with my stature. I got orders for bloodwork & the fated glucose test in a couple of weeks. After the appointment, we headed over to BRU & Target & started those registries. All I can say is that I'm SO glad I was prepared. I had never been inside a BRU before and if I hadn't done my research & known exactly what I wanted to register for there & what I wanted to register for elsewhere, I would have been completely overwhelmed...G was kind of in shock at all of it, but he too was SO glad that I was prepared! They're running a special on the furniture that we want (buy all 3 pieces, save 20% on the crib) through next week, so we're going tomorrow to purchase all of those pieces. G's parents are getting us the crib & changing table & we're getting the dresser. My parents are getting the rocker & then we'll have to see what we still need from there! We can't wait to get the room all set up for our little princess!

22 weeks!

Today was an exciting day! We got to see little Hadley again! My cousin (studying to be an ultrasound tech) gave us an ultrasound so she could get some practice. Hadley was all over the place again, but Michelle's teacher did confirm that Hadley is a Hadley and not a Gracin, despite the fact that she wouldn't be still long enough for us to get a pic to prove it.

I'm feeling great & the little one is moving around like crazy every night. I have been having a little more back pain than before & I've been getting a weird, tingly feeling at one area on my skin, at the bottom of my ribcage on the left. Very strange - I'll have to ask the dr. about that one next week. I've also been having some of what I think are Braxton Hicks contractions, just every once in a while. Otherwise, I've got no complaints and everything has been going smoothly!!

21 weeks!

Nothing really new to report these days, which I suppose is a good thing. I have been feeling a TON of movement, mostly at night. Sometimes it is really strong that it makes me stop what I'm doing...I can't even imagine how it will feel four months from now! WOW! I haven't had any real cravings, per se, but I have been eating a ton of fresh tomatoes and cucumbers from our garden, so I sure hope little Hadley likes those down the road when she can eat (not via me!).

We spent part of last week at the shore & that was a lot of fun, though I spent a great deal inside due to the heat. I did get out to the beach a couple of times, so we got a few pics...

I just put a call in to my OB's office to get a permission slip (of sorts) that would allow my cousin (who is studying to be an ultrasound tech) to do an educational ultrasound on me sometime next week. It would be really cool for her, I'm sure, and I really want my parents and my other cousin to be able to be in on that since they're usually so far away and don't get to experience any of that first-hand. We'll be up that way for our 2nd camping trip of the summer, so I figured we might as well squeeze everything in that we can!

Finally, the GTG with my IF friends last weekend was AWESOME! We had such a great time shopping in the city, sightseeing, talking, eating, you name it! It was so great to meet them, but truth be told, it really didn't feel like we were all meeting for the first time...it was like catching up with old friends! What a great time! (I updated the post below w/ my 20w belly pic since it was taken at the GTG)!

It's a....

GIRL! I was SHOCKED as I told Gregg that I was 90% sure we were having a boy! We both shed some tears & were so incredibly happy!

Little Hadley was adorable (we even got a yawn) and the doctor said she looked perfect (we thought so, too! Her heartbeat was 157 bpm and we're pretty sure she's going to be a little gymnast...just look at these legs up over her head!

I'll admit that I was a little disappointed that the u/s tech didn't give us a "girl" ultrasound shot, but I'm working on getting one elsewhere.

I've been feeling tons of movement in there lately which is SO exciting, and Gregg gets in at least one good kick a night!

I had an amazing time over the weekend and got all sorts of wonderful baby gifts for our little girl from my IF friends at our GTG. What amazing women - I had an awesome time & can't wait until we can do it again!

20 week belly

19 (almost 20) weeks!

Wow! There are times, like now, when I feel like this pregnancy is just flying by! Tomorrow, at 19w6days, we have our BIG ultrasound to check for the gender & more importantly check on the vital organs, count fingers & toes, etc. I'm going to be like those kids on the Disney World commercial..."we're too excited to sleep!" The good news is that our appointment is bright and early at 8AM, so I won't have to wait around all day long! And I might go out to Kohl's while G is at his class and buy our very first (official) baby purchase! I promise to post pics if we do!

I've been feeling more movement, which is so cool! G got to feel it once, but it's so irregular at this point that I'll say "oh I just felt it HERE" and then he'll put his hand there and wait a few minutes, but baby's gone back to sleep. Oh well, all in good time.

Here's a pic from last week when I was just turning 19 weeks! I love the pregnant belly! And for my friends that were wondering, I'm still wearing my normal non-maternity clothes, but I couldn't do it if not for my Bella Band - it's my life-saver & I hope I can wear it for at least another month because it really makes my wardrobe SO much more versatile. Hey, Bella Band, can I do a commercial for you?? :)

18 weeks!

Uh WOW is all I can say! 18 weeks seems like forever in pregnancy terms. I've definitely been feeling more in the way of baby movement in there, but nothing with any regularity yet. It's also pretty obvious that I'm pregnant in basically anything that I wear, other than sweats, but I'm ok with that! I go tomorrow for another OB appt, so at least we'll get to hear the HB & then I'm not sure what else they'll do. Urine test? Bloodwork? Your guess is as good as mine, but either way, I can't wait to hear the little washing-machine sound in there! :)

I had a strange dream last night that we had our BIG ultrasound and found out that the baby was a girl & then immediately after that, I went into labor and had our baby & she got to come home with us right away, weighing in at 5 pounds...except when my friend called to check in on me, I couldn't remember the baby's name and I had to ask G to remind me. LOL :)

Otherwise, I'm feeling great & attempting to get walks in here and there whenever I'm able, though this week we're having a heat wave with temps over 100 degrees everyday, so I've been cooped up inside in the air conditioning, drinking my fluids like a good pregnant girl. We're headed up to central PA for a wedding this weekend. I'm excited to see some of my former co-workers & show off my belly!

Pic to come soon!

17 weeks

So far, so good! Not much to report, which I guess is a good thing. I have felt what I *think* has been the baby moving, although it feels nothing like "flutters" as it is so often described, but more like gas bubbles popping. And they're almost always on my left side so I have a feeling that is where we'll find Beanie's feet in 2 weeks (unless s/he surprises us and does some acrobatics in there between now and then)!

I've been doing pretty well about getting my liquids in & I've been out walking for 1/2 hour every morning (nice and early before it gets too hot) for the past 3 days. Otherwise, I feel like a bum. G hasn't been home this week (basketball clinic) and I've really had nothing to do, aside from a couple of little household tasks here and there. It will be SO much better once G isn't gone all day (after this week)...plus then I'll have 2 appointments & my IF GTG to look forward to! :)

Here's my 17w pic...

16 weeks!

I'm still feeling great, which of course has me freaking out...I did have another bout of gagging sickness this morning, but if sickness = healthy baby, then of course I'll take it! I definitely think this time off of work is the hardest time to be pregnant in that I am enjoying the summer so much, but at the same time I find myself living for the next appointment, inadvertently wishing my summer away! We've got tons to keep us busy, which will (fortunately or unfortunately) make the time go super-fast!

We're camping this week, then next Thursday, we'll leave for 6 days at the shore to spend the 4th of July there (ugh! I can't believe G is still in school and the 4th of July is not far away!). The week we come back, I have another OB appointment & the following week is our BIG ULTRASOUND and then my east coast infertility-girls GTG! Things will settle down slightly after that, then we're going camping the first week of August & then to the shore again the week after that!

A highlight of the week was the "Dinner with the Phillies" last night to benefit the Jamie Moyer (pitcher for the Phillies) Foundation. Before the dinner, I went over and met the Philly Phanatic (mascot). He gave me a huge hug & then G told him to be careful because there was a baby in there! He got all dramatic, compared belly sizes with me, blew his party-blower nose on my belly & then gave it a big kiss! It was great! The baby is destined to be a Phillies fan now! I also got my picture taken with Cole Hamels! For you baseball fans, we also had Shane Victorino, Kyle Kendrick, Chase Utley, Wilson Valdez & a few others at our table! It was a ton of fun! My only disappointment was that my favorite, Ryan Howard, never made it to our table! I have pics posted on FB, but I'll try to post a couple of pics here when I can :)

Until then, here's my 16 week "ghetto-mama" pic! :) And what's that old wives tale about gender prediction based on the mama's butt? I think that just might apply here (though I've always had a booty for my stature).

15 weeks!

15 weeks and not much new to report around here. Morning sickness reared its ugly head again this morning, which was rather strange since I hadn't been sick (outside of tooth-brushing incidents) in a month! I was nauseous all morning & finally decided to force myself to eat (read: BAD IDEA) and then promptly lost my lunch! I felt better afterwards, however & have been back to my normal eating habits.

Otherwise, I can't complain! I feel pretty good & seem to be OK energy-wise (nothing different from my usual midday tiredness).

In other news, I got together with some real-life IF girls (2 whom I knew & 2 whom I just met) who are all Christians. We all came together because we're attempting to organize a couples IF retreat sometime in early 2012. It will be set up like a conference w/ meals, break-out sessions & a keynote speaker, focusing on how God speaks to us through IF. It's overwhelming but exciting at the same time...

Finally, since a few of you asked, the get-together w/ my online IF girls that I referenced in my last post is coming up in mid-July. 7-8 girls from all over the place (mostly the east coast: NY, CT, PA & OH, but also one from WY!). I'm so excited to finally meet these women whom I feel like I've known forever! We're going to spend the weekend doing girly things like shopping & talking & lots of eating, I'm sure! I CAN NOT WAIT! :)

14 (and a half) weeks!

SECOND TRIMESTER!!! Um WOW!

So far, things continue to be good...and honestly, I had to ask Gregg the other day if this was really happening or if it was just some crazy dream that I was going to eventually wake up from. I honestly still don't believe we're here and that this is happening to us!

I had an appointment yesterday & all is well. They did a urine sample & listened to the heartbeat with the doppler...of course I was silently freaking out because it took her (the NP) more than 5 seconds to find it, but all was well. I got nicely reprimanded for not drinking enough water, so I've been trying to be better about upping my intake (though most of it hasn't been water, but juice or milk since I hate water).

Otherwise, things are going well. I have the 2nd half of my sequential scheduled for the 26th of June, my next OB appt. on the 8th of July & the "BIG" ultrasound on the 19th of July (which the online girls are begging me to get bumped up so that I can know the gender before our big get-together on the 16th-18th)...I also called today to schedule 3 classes in August: childbirth, baby care & breast feeding. G & I are taking them with friends of ours (a coworker/friend/co-coach of G's and his wife). We're really excited to take that next big step...and knowing how quickly our summers always go by, those ultrasounds, appointments & classes will be here before we know it!

I'm still feeling great, only sick a few mornings a week (and it's all tooth-brushing related or drinking water on an empty stomach), though still pretty tired in the afternoons. Work is almost finished, though (2 more days), so I think once I get the chance to actually sleep in every morning, that will go away, too!