26 Weeeeeeeks!

How far along? 26 weeks!

Total Weight Gain: 19 lbs. (Two visits ago I hadn't gained ANY weight, and that kind of freaked me out, so this visit I put on 8 lbs! Yikes. I guess I overreacted) BUT this time last pregnancy I was 15 lbs heavier so I'm almost certain all of my weight gain with Harrison was from bean burritos, which is the only thing I've cut out of my diet!)

Symptoms: Fatigue is still looming. And LOTS of pain in my groin and lots of pulling sensations. I don't remember this with Harrison but doc said it's common with subsequent pregnancies. No nausea, no heartburn, no nothing! Just some pain so I'm not complaining.

Stretch Marks: None yet.

Sleep: Great! Harrison is sleeping very well (so long as he is sleeping with us!) and so am I. But I do have to have a pillow between my legs or my back and hips cramp up.

Highlight This Week: Doctor's appointment with my new doctor at CWH! Well, I say new because he wasn't my regular doctor with Harrison and he hasn't been my doctor with Jack, but he was the doctor on call when Harrison was born so technically he's not new. He did such an awesome job with my previous c-section and was so nice and easy to talk to that I just wanted to have him. I had originally left CWH because I wasn't pleased with my doctor, and also because I wanted to attempt a VBAC and wanted a midwife. But after doing further research and talking with this midwife, I just had a funny feeling. I didn't feel comfortable going through TOLAC (trial of labor after cesarean) knowing there was a chance my uterus would rupture, and both of the doctors I was seeing at this new office resigned! I took that as a sign and remembered how much I loved Dr. H, who delivered Harry, so I transferred care right back to CWH and boy am I glad! I told him my reasons for wanting a repeat C-section and he said he completely agreed with me and said it would be better for Jack and better for my own health in the long run. He said I will recover even quicker than I did the first time which is hard to believe since I was home after two days and doing just fine. He ALSO said he would give me a new, less noticeable scar which is even better! I had no complaints about my scar but I guess it can be made even smaller. Coolio. Anyway, I am looking forward to delivery now and am very relaxed and excited when I think about it instead of feeling scared to death and sick to my stomach. Now when I arrive at the hospital the words "ruptured uterus" and "emergency c-section" won't be running through my head! It's planned, it's simple, and Jack will be perfectly safe. If I had umbilical cord complications all over again, or if something happened to Jack because of previous C-section complications all because I just HAD to deliver vaginally, I would die. That was very scary knowing your baby isn't getting oxygen and a ruptured uterus just isn't worth it to me. So today was one big WHEW! I CAN'T WAIT!

Movement: Tons! Jack is getting stronger every day and my sweet little sister-in-law can make him move every time. She screams "I love you Jack!" into my belly and he kicks in response every time. It's so sweet! He is kicking right now, or maybe that was a somersault?!

Cravings: None!

What I Miss: Not being able to lay on my stomach. I've had to give up my favorite pilates exercise routine because of it! But I found a fun one at popsugar fitnesss on youtube instead so it's okay. :) I also miss not having flooring in my kitchen.... :(

What am I looking forward to: Family visiting! Tomorrow my aunt and uncle will be here all the way from Texas and we are going to visit, color Easter eggs, do some crafts, and just have fun together. Then NEXT weekend my grandma is coming all the way from ILLINOIS! Can't wait! The last time she saw Harrison he wasn't even a month old. Now he is walking, talking, coloring and everything else! 

Milestones: Teaching Harrison a few more signs which he has latched onto very quickly (like "diaper change" and "come here").

How is Daddy? Good! He is working hard as usual! I had a lonely week and really missed him so he came home from work early and we got to hang out and spend time together before dark. It was nice. And today Harry and I met him for lunch! Even better :) Can't wait until he walks through that door. :D He is also enjoying my pregnant self and constantly tries to get me to eat junk food lol! He says he doesn't care about weight gain and wants me to be happy and well fed. Ha! I still resist though. Well, sometimes ;)

How is Harry? AMAZING! Aside from the basics like mama and dada he has started saying "no" and "more". I haven't been teaching sign language but just started again a few days ago and now he's already signing "diaper change" "help" and "up", in addition to "milk" which he has always used. There are other signs like "all done" and "eat" that he refuses to use for some reason, and uses his own signs and his own words instead. he is quite the character! He is still walking like a champ and is about to start running any minute now! Eating from a fork is a work in progress but he pretty much uses a fork as a spoon so eats with it pretty well. We are just working on "stabbing" the food instead of scooping but he just loves to scoop. :D He's also getting close to mastering the phrase "come here please" which makes him smile and come running! Sometimes, though, he says no and goes the other way, laughing the whole time lol. I have to turn my head and laugh or laugh in secret so he doesn't think it's okay but it's just hilarious! Man. He's a little boy already!