21 Weeks Pregnant and we know what you are!

Dear Baby Bean,

We had our 3D ultrasound today and it was soooo cool! It really made it sooo real to see you moving so much, the music in the background, cheek bone structure (which I think looks like your daddy's), other detailed features, etc. Seeing you in 3D was so awesome and the technology was so cool to be able to see the blood flow in (red) and out (blue). They gave me a CD w/ all the pics and a video, too. We have a very practical reason for getting a 3D ultrasound this time, that we didn't get for your brother. Insurance wasn't going to cover the ultrasound and the doctor was going to charge us $257. Well, a 3D ultrasound is actually cheaper! Now that we've actually done it, I'd do it again in a heartbeat! It was way cooler than a 2D. ;-)

Everything was measuring a little ahead (consistently) at 22w2d so she said to maybe expect you a little early (1/28 rather than 2/5/2008). She estimated your size at 12 ounces right now, almost a foot long, including legs, and you had long fingers. I think your brother Donovan did too! Everything physically was perfect, she said (fluid, spine, etc.).

So, without further ado, Donovan is going to have a baby BROTHER!!!! I knew it before she said something. It was REALLY obvious! You lucky guy. LOL I got tears in my eyes. I mean I sorta wanted to know what it was like to have a girl (and you will most likely be our last baby), but I'm super happy you are a boy and now you and your brother can play together, be best buds (hopefully) and all that good stuff. And, now I know what to do with a boy. :-D I do hope you sleep a little more than your brother did in the those early months, though. LOL!

Your daddy and I are very excited and will start working on your name. We had a name all picked out from last time for a girl, but the boy name we had a runner up for Donovan, but now it just doesn't sound like you, so we're going to think of a new name. We can't wait to meet you!

Love,
Mommy

Here are some pics:





And, the money shot:



And, mommy:

19 Weeks Pregnant

Dear Baby Bean,

I had a doctor's appointment today. I had gained 5 pounds for a total of 11 so far. The doctor said that was perfect. I am not gaining as much weight this time and I'm sure chasing a toddler around has something to do with it. Donovan loves to go on walks and such and loves to "race" us too, so it gets me up and moving which is a great thing! Your heartbeat was 137 today, which is within normal range. I am wondering whether the old wive's tale is true that a slower heartbeat means you are a boy. Lately I have been having more and more feelings that you are a boy. We find out next Wednesday at 1:45 for sure! :-) I can't wait!! Aside from that, it was a somewhat uneventful appointment, which are good when you are pregnant. I was able to see the top of your head during an ultrasound to check my cervical length (which was in great shape). I gave blood for an AFP blood test to ensure you don't have Spina Ebifida. I'm not worried. We get those results in a week. By then I'm sure I'll forget I even gave blood. :-)

Here are a couple of pics of your growing momma! Still can't wait to meet you and I've been daydreaming about holding you in my arms.

Love,
Mommy




Compare to when I was pregnant with your brother:

Walked a mile in his shoes

Seriously. Last night Donovan must have walked a mile or more! :-O I need to take the car and measure. We went on a walk last night and it was sooo nice out. I let him lead the way and we ended up going much further and longer than I intended. We each pushed a stroller. He walked almost the whole way on his own! I only had to pick him up one place that did not have a sidewalk that was busier and the last 1/4 block he wanted "up" b/c he finally got tired. LOL

But, get this. He still didn't fall asleep til almost 10pm! What do I have to do to tire this kid out?!?!? Hahahahaha!

We had such a nice mommy and me time, though. I cherish these moments and at least he's getting his growing mommy off her butt and walking. ;-)

17 Weeks Pregnant

Dear Baby Bean,

Boy have I popped!! It looks like I'm pooching out a bit sooner this time around, which I read was normal. Comparing my pictures from when I was pregnant with Donovan, it looks like I'm showing about 2-3 weeks earlier this time. I'm sure it will level out. Your grandmother said all her 5 kids were about the same size, so I very much doubt this means anything in terms of your size. :)

Headaches continue to plague me, which is not very fun. I started getting a migraine one morning at 2am, so I took a strong pain med and I still had it when I woke up. Ugh. Then, it got worse again so I took another one right before lunch and it made me feel sooooo weird. I'm never doing that again! It made me feel bad b/c if I was feeling that way, how were YOU feeling? Sorry. Hope you're ok in there. :-) My allergies are also affecting me more than I remember last time, however, it could just be the time of year. It is sooooo hot this summer! I'll be glad when it cools down.

Your big brother still doesn't know what's going on. I don't even think he notices my belly getting bigger yet, although I've noticed sometimes he has trouble getting comfortable while rocking before bed. :-D He is doing well and becoming very social. His nanny, Paula, is so good at taking him out and meeting people and letting him experience a lot. We love her so much and are so glad she's with us!

We get to find out whether you are a boy or girl in the coming weeks. We may get a 3D/4D ultrasound this time because I was having trouble getting an appointment with our doctor when your dad could be there. We'll see.

Well, here are pics of you in my belly in the last week.

Love,
Mommy

Week 17:




Compare to last time:

Week 17:


Week 19:

15 Weeks Pregnant

Dear Baby Bean,

I heard your heartbeat today at my doctor's appointment. It was a strong 150. I gained 6 pounds since my last appointment, but that wasn't too bad considering I haven't gained too much so far. I have been getting a lot of headaches this time around and I'm not sure why. Last week I had a migraine for 3 days and had to get approval for the doctor to take an equivalent to Percoset. I was nervous, but could not take the headache anymore. Finally they seem to be gone for the time being. Does this mean you are a girl since I stopped having headaches with Donovan earlier than this? :-) Or, maybe it's simply because I've been unable to give up caffeine this time around. Being pregnant with a toddler does that to a mommy. Sorry. LOL! My doctor assures me my 1/2 cup of coffee per day is just fine.

I think you're going to be a strong baby. Why? Because I really haven't been able to slow down much and you are right there with me. Yesterday I was running around the backyard with Donovan and some of his cousins at a BBQ at your great Aunt's house. It was so much fun!

I swear I have felt you moving in there in my belly. I think "they" say it's still too early, but I just know I've felt you. I think you like to move a lot, just like your brother. :-)

Let me tell you what your brother is up to right now. He is 22 months old now. He is reaching those terrible two's we have often heard about. He has quite a temper sometimes! It's always worse when he's tired or hungry, of course. He is really talking a lot more now. Some pronunciation is still not there just yet, but I can understand a lot of what he says. Your daddy too. He is, overall, a very well-behaved little boy and very smart. He knows all his colors, how to count to 10 (tho difficult for others to understand his numbers), and even knows what certain letters sound like and can tell me some of his letters. If I point to "H", he'll say "ha ha ha". If I verbally ask him what sound H makes, he says the same thing. He can look at A, B, D, E (sometimes), H, I (points to his eye), M, O, and T (sometimes) and knows what sound they make or what letter it is. We think this is fantastic at his age and are very proud! He ***LOVES*** cars right now, including the movie Cars. He even wants to sleep with them in his bed. :-) We will be working on making his big-boy room soon, so you will have a room when you are born. We think a cars theme would be obvious and hope he loves his new room.

We can't wait to meet you and for you and your big brother to meet. We get to find out if you are a boy or a girl in about 5 weeks. How exciting! Take care in there.

Love,
Mommy

We saw you again today

Dear Baby Bean,

We saw you again today during a procedure called an UltraScreen®. It was a more detailed ultrasound that tests you for any chromosomal abnormalities. Technology is so amazing and by the time you are our age, it will probably be even more detailed! We could have opted for just a blood test like we did for your big brother, Donovan, but we wanted to see you again :-) and didn’t have this option when we were pregnant with him. We loved seeing your heartbeat. We heard it too and that was so awesome!! Your heart rate was a strong 159.

I (your mommy) am feeling pretty well, except for being a bit tired and having some pretty wild and crazy dreams almost nightly. What are you doing in there? According to the ultrasound, you look pretty active in there. It looks like you might have the same amount of energy as your brother. Lucky for us, your daddy and I are energetic people too. I am starting to grow pretty rapidly and am already getting my maternity clothes out. This is common for second pregnancies, though. I haven’t gained that much weight (maybe 2-3 pounds), but definitely getting bigger. Maybe you can see it in the pictures. I really feel like sometimes I can feel you moving in there, but it’s supposed to be too early for that. Your brother, Donovan, is still too young to grasp the concept that you are growing inside me, but he’s looked at your pictures and likes to see you. :-)

I can’t wait to find out if you are a boy or girl, but that has to wait several more weeks until around 20 weeks. Next appointment, we’ll be able to hear your heartbeat again, at least. I can’t wait! Take care in there and if you don’t mind, stop any aerobics in the wee early mornings, so my dreams stop. Thanks! We love you!

Symptoms

Minor cramps
Crazy, detailed dreams
Tired