Life of an Ex Single Girl: 26 Weeks 2 Days

The poor second child...I am so bad at updating this! But, it's mostly because this pregnancy has been so much easier! I'm not sick, my heartburn and back issues are totally manageable thanks to Pepcid AC and my chiropractor and I'm even sleeping well still (when am able to sleep - mostly thanks to Van and his getting up at least once most nights).

I was so miserable in my first pregnancy compared to this one - it's night and day. In fact, I've gained almost 25 pounds to prove it! That's okay - I'll take feeling good even if it means weight gain. I think I was just spoiled having gained basically 0 pounds with Van.

I do have another anterior placenta which means I rarely feel the baby move again. I'm not as worried about it this time, but I bet I'll have to have a lot of non-stress tests near the end. Joy.

We did find out we're having a girl, which might explain how much better I feel. I've heard you feel different based on the extra estrogen or testosterone. I had morning sickness and the exhaustion still, but ever since 14 weeks, it's been mostly smooth sailing.

I feel like I should knock on wood at this point - surely I'm jinxing myself now!

Next week we have our gestational diabetes test and 3D (just for fun) ultrasound. After this appointment, I start going every 2 weeks! Amazing how time flies...

The other big difference is that I'm not really thinking about this pregnancy...I obsessed when I was pregnant with Van. It was new and honestly, I didn't have much else to do. Now I'm so busy with Van and I know what's going on and what to expect that I am able to live my life and not constantly think about it.

I haven't had knee pain so far, which is something I will dread if it happens. I don't think it happened until around week 32 or 34 last time, so I'm hoping to avoid it all together. That was brutal.

It's going to be a long, hot summer, but at least I get to enjoy being outside this time. Last year, Van was a newborn so I didn't really have a summer. But this year, it's full of walks, swinging on the playground, going to the pool, etc. I'm glad to have this summer with just me and Van.

Wait! I do have 2 complaints about this pregnancy - I have a weird pregnancy mask going on - it's on my cheekbones so it could be worse, but it really looks like I was drunk and decided to put on a lot of bronzer. I've had a few people tell me they thought I was experimenting with make-up. The sun makes it worse, but I just rub on some SPF 70 and go about my day. Hopefully it'll fade. If not, it'll look really weird this winter when the rest of my skin gets more pale.

My other complaint is spider veins...I have 3 areas on my legs that have broken capillaries - they are little blue/purple things...the don't stick out and are not a big vein, so they aren't varicose veins...I'm really hoping that when all this is said and done, I can get a few quick injections and have them go away. I should research this. Two of them are on my upper inner thigh, which don't bother me as much since most people don't see that area, but now I have 1 on my lower calf...sad because of running 9 half marathons and having skinny ankles, my lower legs were not bad.

Hopefully both of these issues can be taken care of.

We haven't done a ton yet to get ready for this girl - like pick out a name. We have a few we like: Mazzy, Piper, Adelaide...Steve and I both made a list of 10 names and then shared them and we don't really have the same taste in names. Trying to avoid a popular name but I don't want it to be too different (Mazzy, for that reason, is probably out). I love the name Charlotte but it's way too popular sadly.

We did convert the guest room to the nursery and moved Steve's office to the extra room downstairs (and the former office upstairs is now our guest room). I painted it a really pale/mint green and ordered a white crib (which is sitting in the box in the room) and bought a white dresser/changing table and painted the drawers pink. The accent colors are going to be different shades of pink.

My friend, who has 2 girls, both born in late summer so it's the same timing as me, gave me all her girl clothes, so I need to organize, wash, etc. There is still lots to do and my time is running out.

Looking at my posts with Van, I was exhausted around 35 weeks, so I'm going to try to have everything done by then...that means I have about 8 weeks left. I still need to finish baby proofing the house for Van, I'm going to redo his room (seems only fair) from a nursery to more of a toddler room and I need to do a few other odds and ends.

We did manage to mulch, edge and plants the flowers and vegetables this year (we did next to nothing last year since Van was just born), so at least the outside looks good.

That's really about it. My goal is to be ready to go, bags packed, etc, by 38 weeks just because my mom went 2 weeks early with me (I'm her second) and my first labor and delivery were so much like hers (pretty much to the day and hour - and even how our water broke, etc) that I can see it being the same this time too. Or it could be totally different. Either way, I want to at least be mentally prepared to go and be ready at work, etc.

Van is doing so great - I can't believe he's 13 months old! I'm so in love with him! He's just beginning to really walk and is so fast - he's the reason why I keep moving this pregnancy. I don't have time to sit down until he's asleep, which is 8:30. It's go go go all the time.

I will try to be better at posting a few more times before the new one gets here - it's nice to be able to look back at my pregnancies.

Here are a few pictures from this past year...I'm so happy he'll have a sibling to play with...I hope this new change isn't too hard on him. He has NO idea what's coming: