We're Growing!

We are happy to announce we are expecting baby #2 in mid-August!

 Though just finishing up the first trimester, my belly popped out early.  From the front, you can't tell I'm pregnant but catch my profile and it's hard to hide.  Currently the baby is the size of a lime or just a little bit bigger.  Elena is ecstatic about getting a sibling (or 2 if you ask her).  She has been asking me for at least the past 12 months if there was a baby growing in my belly.  Always sad when I say no.  So when we told her there was a baby growing in my belly, she sang a song "Yeah, yeah, yeah" and did a happy booty dance.  Whether the baby is a girl or boy, Elena would like the baby's name to be Elena.  If there is a girl and a boy, they can be named Elena and Ethan, according to Elena.  Now that my belly has popped out, Elena loves to compare belly sizes...she has a baby growing in her belly too; it's the size of a small red bead :)  The picture above was just taken yesterday.

 I felt crummy most of December, beginning December 2nd.  I tested positive soon after and was happy that it wasn't the flu.  Happy because we've wanted and wished for baby #2 to come along for quiet some time.  Maybe even a little shocked :)  The above picture was taken in mid-December.  Not much to see, it was too early to see baby, well to even identify if I was pregnant with a baby.

 On December 26th, I had another appointment to see if the previous ultrasound was too early or...well, let's not think of the other outcome.  On the drive to the appointment, Elena saw a double rainbow.  It was beautiful and surely a good sign sent our way, for the past few weeks had been an emotional roller coaster on top of nausea, fatigue, pregnancy complications and a belly that wanted to pooch out a little too soon.

On December 26th, I saw the baby's heart beat flutter on the screen.  I cannot describe the emotions that came along that afternoon.  The above ultrasound picture is from January 14th.  The baby is facing down, head to your left with little arms sticking out and legs curled in.  While looking at the baby with the ultrasound, the baby waved its arm and then gave us a booty dance.  Evidently, the booty dance is genetic.  In a couple of years, we'll have two kids running around the house doing their booty dances!  Can't wait!  :)

At the end of the first trimester, the nausea and fatigue are starting to get better.  I only had a food aversion for a few weeks and to Carl's disappointment it was all breakfast meat and sausage.  The smell was awful and it lingers so I would be sick all day.  It still doesn't sound good to eat but I can endure the smell without feeling sick.  So far, this pregnancy is nothing like it was when I was pregnant with Elena, except I'm tired.  With Elena I was ravenously hungry even before I knew I was pregnant, I only had a couple food cravings, no aversions.  So far with this baby I crave cheese and apples, difficult for being lactose intolerant!  Chocolate doesn't taste good, too much water makes me nauseous.  My appetite comes and goes but loving carbs and steak right now.  Sometimes I look at veggies and see them as too healthy :)  But don't worry I still eat them, even if I have to plug my nose to get them down!  Nah, it isn't that bad, I just don't enjoy them as much.

Our official estimated due date is August 16, 2013, though it has moved a little.  You can see from the early scan August 9th was the initial estimated due date.  Elena came 3 weeks early, so I guess we should expect this arrival sometime between the last week of July and the last week of August :)

I am trying to update on a regular basis...so stay tuned or subscribe to the blog to have updates delivered to your email in box.