Lorelei's Announcement

I've had a difficult few weeks (maybe even a couple of months). Last February I took a risk and quit my full time job to work a contract gig, in an attempt to learn more of my role, specially 401(k) plan management (boring I know!).

Well I was maybe a little too confident, and wasn't expecting to get pregnant again so fast, and it has kind of bitten me in the ass.

I've had months of interviews and job hunting with nothing to show for it. Luckily my contract has been extended through December, but that doesn't even bring me up to my maternity leave start date.

Anyway, I am trying to remain calm and have faith that things happen for a reason and everything will work out in the end... possibly just not the way I imagined it.  (VERY difficult for me to swallow being a total control freak)

The point is, because of this situation, we weren't able to announce my pregnancy, mainly because I didn't want someone from work knowing. Finally it is beyond the point where I can hide it, so we decided to go for it.

And here is the photo:

Very happy to be out of the pregnancy closet!

19 Weeks

How far along: 19 weeks! almost half way there!!
Total weight gain: I stopped stepping on the scale ...
Maternity clothes: yes, pants and everything for the last week or so.
Stretch marks: nothing new, but I swear the old ones are more visible to me, and my linea negra is back.
Sleep: vivid dreams a little middle of the night insomnia
Best moment of this week: Anatomy scan, everything is looking good!
Miss anything: not this week!
Movement: Started to feel her quite a bit yesterday, but only when I'm sitting down
Food cravings: salad!
Symptoms: Pimples, some kind of face rash, getting less tired, still on m/s meds tried to go off and was feeling sick.
Have you started to show yet: Yep, impossible to hide, though no one has assumed yet, I could obviously just be fat!
Gender: Baby girl, Lorelei
Labor signs: no
Belly button in or out: In
Wedding rings on or off: Off because it has been really hot and my fingers are fat
Happy or moody most of the time: Happy!
Looking forward to: Just regular OB appointments going forward, no more ultrasounds. But not baby related I'm so happy that yesterday started off Fall and there are SO many fun things coming up I'm looking forward to. The most immediate is this weekend with my Mom, we are going to be making more of our frozen meals for when baby comes! This time I'm starting earlier so I have a couple weekends to do this. And am going to aim for double what I did last time! (Especially while I'm still not huge and uncomfortable!)

17 Weeks

ooops I missed a few weeks!!

How far along: 17 weeks! Man time is flying!
Total weight gain: 8lbs uh oh!
Maternity clothes: Sort of, not really necessary yet, my pants fly is open all the time though, so it is probably time.
Stretch marks: nothing new
Sleep: vivid dreams
Best moment of this week: Went to Cabo San Lucas for a friends birthday/babymoon
Miss anything: I would love to not be so tired all the time
Movement: I feel at least some movement daily at this point!
Food cravings: Greek yogurt with granola! yum!
Symptoms: I think I'm finally into the time of pregnancy where there are less symptoms. I am not really even feeling sick in the evenings anymore. I'm tired but it could be the medication I'm on (I'm still on m/s meds because a happy side effect is lowered anxiety) I only seem to get headaches now when I forget to wear my glasses at work. And I think going to Cabo and being in ultra humidity helped my pimples. They are still there but I don't look nearly as shitty.
Have you started to show yet: Yes, there is a full on bump now. It still looks fatty in the morning but is pretty hard by the end of the day.
Gender: Girl!
Labor signs: no
Belly button in or out: In
Wedding rings on or off: Off because it has been really hot and my fingers are fat
Happy or moody most of the time: Happy!
Looking forward to: Our Anatomy scan is in a just over a week!. (I originally wrote "a few weeks" but damn it is sneaking up on me!!)

14 Weeks - Helllllloooooo second Tri!

How far along: 14 weeks YAY Here I am 2nd Trimester!! Woop!
Total weight gain: 3lbs (though I had a dream that I gained 10!!)
Maternity clothes: Yes, a couple of tops
Stretch marks: Just the remaining ones from Mr. Grey
Sleep: vivid dreams + middle of the night insomnia, if I get woken up I have a hard time going back to sleep again.
Best moment of this week: NT scan, finally! It felt like it took forever to get here, it was awesome seeing my little she baby on the screen bouncing away :)
Miss anything: Would like more energy!
Movement: I think I may have felt a few things, but it is hard, I found out I have an anterior placenta so it makes sense it might be delayed.
Food cravings: Oatmeal and pickles (not together!)
Symptoms: I'm feeling sick still in the evenings, nothing crazy, just light nausea. I have also been getting almost daily headaches. With my pregnancy with Greyson (and a couple of the others) it was nice because I didn't have a headache the entire time (normally I get them frequently)
Have you started to show yet: The bloat has settled down this week but for sure there is something going on there.
Gender: Girl!
Labor signs: no
Belly button in or out: In
Wedding rings on or off: Off because it has been really hot and my fingers are fat
Happy or moody most of the time: Happy! I've had VERY few grumpy days this pregnancy which I'm happy about, and I'm sure everyone around me is thankful for
Looking forward to: babymoon in Cabo San Lucas coming up! (really it is for a friend's birthday but since it is good timing for a babymoon I'm calling it that!)

NT Scan

So we finally got to have another ultrasound yesterday! It had been almost 4 weeks since our last one.

SHE was in there kicking away, jumping off my cervix, and doing some awesome punches.

Everything measured great, she is about a week ahead now, measuring at 14w1d - 14w4d with a heart rate of 151bpm.

I was very happy to learn that I don't have any sign of Placenta Previa (yet!) but was slightly bummed to find out I do have an anterior placenta, which isn't a big deal but means I probably won't be able to feel this little one as much. During my pregnancy with Greyson it was the absolute best thing about the entire pregnancy so I'm hoping it won't be that dramatic of a difference.

Overall I'm really glad everything is still going so well, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the time getting ready for her arrival!

13 Weeks

How far along: 13 weeks (and 1 day to be specific) (2 days until Second Tri!!)
Total weight gain: 3lbs
Maternity clothes: Yes, some shirts that are flowy, my bump started at a 9 weeks this time, as opposed to last time, started at 18+ weeks!
Stretch marks: Just the remaining ones from Mr. Grey
Sleep: Nothing crazy going on, besides vivid dreams
Best moment of this week: I've heard the HB a few times at home this week :)
Miss anything: Nothing really, maybe it would be nice to not feel so tired all the time!
Movement: I thought I felt something a couple days ago, but never felt it again, so I'm going to say no.
Food cravings: It feels like this whole pregnancy all of my cravings are things that used to be in my lunch box in elementary school: Capri Sun, juice boxes, pudding cups, applesauce, cracker cheese snacks, twinkies... so weird....
Anything making you queasy or sick: certain smells <--- because="" br="" changes.="" forward="" going="" i="" it="" ll="" never="" probably="" remove="" this="">
Have you started to show yet: The bloat has settled down this week but for sure there is something going on there.
Gender: Girl!
Labor signs: no
Belly button in or out: In
Wedding rings on or off: Off because I keep forgetting to put it on
Happy or moody most of the time: Happy! I've had VERY few grumpy days this pregnancy which I'm happy about, and I'm sure everyone around me is thankful for
Looking forward to: My NT scan in 2 1/2 days!

What's in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet.

Seriously though.

Why are girl names so damn difficult...?

I'm fairly certain we won't have a name chosen until very near the end of this pregnancy.

For anyone that knows me, they would know that this is a miserable waiting game! I hate her not having a name. I think it makes it feel more real. It feels pretty damn real now that we know she is a SHE. However, I would really love to have a name to call her, and to tell people about.

Speaking of which, only a small group of friends and family even know about this little one now. I am still actively job searching and until I know if I have something secure I don't want to share, for fear of news spreading. My current company doesn't know yet. I'm only 12 weeks so it isn't a huge deal. BUT, I'm already totally showing so it is going to become an elephant in the room very soon. I already have run out of flowy shirts to wear.

Because this girl and Greyson will have to share a nursery I've decided to continue the ocean theme and add a little Coral accent color and mermaids to her side of the room. The room is blue/grey color with lots of whale decor. (I should really post about his nursery sometime).

To give you an idea of the naming progress, I, of course, have a spreadsheet:

The super long list with all the "vetos" were my suggestions. The short one on the right are Cameron's suggestions. The one of the far left are is "maybe" list. Nothing strikes me as just right though. I am beginning to wonder if sometimes you just have to pick the best one you both agree on, maybe it just takes time getting used to?