6 months along now and time is going pretty quickly!! I'm starting to feel uncomfortable at nights (same as Adlee's pregnancy, my nose gets swollen during pregnancy and I have difficulty breathing when I lay down) and the amount of times I have to pee is INSANE. I've tried to consume more water this round as I swell to high heaven and I'm hoping that helps to flush the fluids out, but I swear I get a good 5 hours of sleep a night, and it's all broken up. Le sigh. Just getting me prepared for the feeds every 3 hours I suppose!
Speaking of, "how much does it suck to go back to the infant stage?", I wonder. I don't want to sound ungrateful, because I very much am. However, when you have a toddler who sleeps 730p-7a every night and doesn't bother you whilst latching on to your nips every 3 hours like an infant, I wonder to myself how I'm going to go back there!? I assume the bond is instant, and the sacrifices come natural again. However, what I've found this pregnancy the second time around is that there is NO level of naivety. I am fully aware of the blast that is about to occur and the exhaustion that's ahead and I have to admit that's a bit scary now that we're in such a great place with a 2.5 year old. It is nice to cherish every step this second pregnancy however, as I know that it will more than likely be my last. Putting an end of a chapter to something is always a little difficult and makes you cherish exactly were you're at, so when I get a little anxious, I just try to focus on the fact that I've been there, done this before, and know that it's all a stage. Some hard, some lovely, but all passing. Embracing this stage while I have it.
Other doubts and concerns: Will she be as cool and fun as Adlee? Will she have a joyous, easy going personality? Will she be more cuddly/needy and not as independent? Will she be anywhere as social? Will she nurse as easily? Please God don't let her be colicky like Adlee was as an infant. Will she set her own schedule, be as set and timed as Adlee was about everything? Will she just go along with the flow like they say most second children do? I'm a second child, so I sure hope to connect and love her as much as the first. I know these are silly thoughts and one shouldn't compare, but my MO is typically full throttle, and then when the end of the journey arrives or it's "go time" I completely FREAK internally. As they were wheeling me down to the OR with Adlee, I was asking Blair if we would be good parents, would we love her as much as we think we will/do now, what if we didn't like being parents?!! I'm ridiculous, I realize that. But the struggle is real, and this is what I think about. I look forward to the day I can say, like most parents do, "it's as if she was a part of our family all along".
At 24 weeks, I've gained 18 lbs, and overall feel pretty energetic. I've been able to keep up with YOGA workouts and such, light lifting and doing enough to keep my endorphins up. However, it's been in the negative degrees so my walks have been cut short. This pregnancy I've craved bananas and rice cakes + peanut butter. I cut out most dairy post pregnancy with Adlee, but this round I've definitely craved milk and more calcium rich foods. Overall, I haven't had many/any aversions and next to the swelling, nose sitch again, haven't had many other side effects that are discerning. I passed the 20w scan with flying colors and currently no issues or placenta concerns, so that's most important. Hopefully these are all signs that baby girl is going to be easy going and not the opposite of how her pregnancy as been, HA!!
Adlee has transitioned over to her toddler room/bed with ease and the nursery is all unpacked and ready for the arrival of baby girl #2! Now, if we could only get her potty trained (eye roll) we'll have checked the boxes of all of our pre-baby to do's, but that's not going over quite as easily as I expected. She totally understands the concept, and wants to rock her Princess Panties, but has 0 desire to actually go on the potty. Gf is stubborn, per usual, and will sit there for HOURS, then get up and pee on the floor. With it being basketball season and PLENTY on our plates currently, we've decided to wait until Spring Break in March to focus on it whole heartedly, unless she seems ready beforehand. Crossing fingers I'm not buying toddler AND newborn diapers, sweet Lord!
That's all the updates for now. I've been slacking on blog time, but wanted to check in briefly to document what's up as being a second child myself with very little documentations and pictures to see from then vs. my older sisters; I just cant go doing that to babygirl! We can't wait to see her in April and witness all the big sister love that's coming her way. Adlee is THRILLED and loves oiling my belly, talking to her sister, and often shouts out of nowhere, "I'm going to be a big sister!! I LOVE YOU SISSY!!" It just melts my heart.....
Until next time,
Andi
