Just sittin', and hopin', and waitin', and lovin'...

In a week in a half, I can finally stop saying "he, she, it" in reference to the baby! The big u/s is scheduled for July 2 (again, right near a big day- this kid is going to have some flair, I tell you!) and I can't wait to find out what it is! I have an inkling (or maybe just a hope, who knows) that it is a girl, but obviously, we won't know a thing until next Thursday! Want to know why I think it might be a girl? At the 13w u/s, there was nothing "dangling" that the u/s tech could see. I took that silly Intelligender test, and even though I have PCOS and it said it would most likely read boy, it read girl! This pregnancy has been completely different from Aiden's- I've had much more morning sickness (still hasn't fully gone away, and I'm almost 1/2 through this pregnancy!), my face has broken out (and I hardly ever have breakouts, and had none with DS), and I've lost more weight this time and am not gaining it back very easily. I know that none of these things definitely mean it's a girl, but, one can hope and dream, right?



I even went so far as to buy this awesome lampshade I found at IKEA, which would make a perfect little girl's room (and I might have to figure out a way to make it work for a boy's room, if it's a boy- we'll see!) and have started searching for fabrics that I could use to create bedding and decor. I'm probably tempting fate to give me a boy by doing this, I am aware, but I couldn't help myself! If all else fails, I can always return it!



In other news, I got a phone call from my assistant principal at school today, telling me that I'm being switched from the high school to the middle school. I have mixed emotions about this. I'll be teaching 8th grade Language Arts (one regular ed class, one intervention). I enjoy LA, it being one of my favorite subjects myself in school, but am a bit overwhelmed knowing the amount of information I need to cover, and how it overlaps instead of being nice and sequential like the Social Studies curriculum is! I'm also not too excited about the knowledge that I'll be spending 2 bells in a row with my students- It's a lot of time to cover what we need to accomplish, but it also presents some interesting challenges in maintaining student interest and in classroom management. I was also looking forward to the fact that I had much of what I would need for my social studies classes already prepped, and now, I'll pretty much have to start from scratch- not exactly a fun task when you're tired and pregnant. Too, I'll have to do quite a bit of advanced prep and planning so that when I go on maternity leave, the sub will have enough material to cover that time. So much for a relaxing summer... I have this feeling you'll be seeing me pouring over curriculum maps and textbooks, trying to figure out what I'm going to be doing next fall! I'm also really going to miss my high school kids on my caseload- I've developed a close bond with them, and, with some of them, I'm slightly concerned about the teacher who is moving from middle school to my old post in the high school. I know one student in particular, who's had a great year with me, had a really rough time with her in the middle school, and she'll be both his case manager and his teacher. Poor kid. I'm going to try not to be one of those teachers who get all pissy about change- it happens, they obviously see me as a better fit in the middle school for some reason, and I'll take that as a compliment to my talents and abilities (though I think it's more the fact that they don't like the above mentioned teacher!). I just have to readjust my vision of what next year was going to be like, and suck it up and deal!



Well, here's my "update" and most recent belly picture- I'm finally starting to look pregnant instead of fat!

18 weeks!
How far along: Technically 17w6d, so 18 weeks.
Total weight gain: Am still at 196. Short of eating sticks of butter, I don't know what else I can do to start gaining weight. Oh well, if my Dr's aren't worried, I won't be either. We'll see what they say at my next appt if I still haven't gained anything.
How much does baby weigh: According to the Bump, I have a sweet potato growing in me. Aw, how cute!
Maternity clothes: Are heavenly!
Stretch marks: Getting tired of this question- just going to leave up this standard answer- had 'em for years.
Sleep: It's been hard to sleep the past few nights, partly because I got really sunburned this weekend. But sleeping in general is still not great. Guess my body's trying to get me ready for when this kid will be outside keeping me awake!
Best moment this week: Feeling a very subtle little kick on the outside while lying in bed last night- I was kind of pressing on my tummy, but I could feel a couple of kicks!
Movement: much more noticeable, but still not as often as I know it will be in a few weeks!
Food cravings: Spaghetti with butter and parmasean cheese. It wasn't nearly as yummy as it sounded once I actually made it and tried it.
Belly button in or out: Still an innie- never popped out with DS, so probably won't this time either!
What I miss: Getting an uninterrupted night's sleep. Good luck with that, I guess!
What I'm looking forward to: July 2nd! Can't wait to figure out what this little one is!
Milestone: No big ones as of yet!

Grow, belly (and baby), Grow!

So, in honor of the fact that I can now actually feel an actual baby bump in my tummy, I figured it's high time I did some belly pics. I'm not the littlest of girls, so I generally always look a little on the pregnant side, to be honest, but that's only if I'm not standing with good posture. I can no longer just suck in my pregnant gut, so I figure it is actually considered a bump now. So, here it is, my 15w belly!

How far along: 15w 3days


Total weight gain: Uh, so yeah, was at 198 last time... am back at 196. I'm eating, I'm doing all I can, but just don't seem to be gaining much weight yet. Oh well, still plenty of time!


How much does baby weigh: Dunno. Bump.com says it's an avocado this week. Mmmm, guacamole baby!


Maternity clothes: Bought some cute new ones last week- still don't look pregnant in them though!


Stretch marks: Getting tired of this question- just going to leave up this standard answer- had 'em for years.


Sleep: Still pretty tired, but not nearly as much as a few weeks ago. Just this week it's been getting uncomfortable to sleep on the belly- bought me a Snoogle, so I'm hoping that helps me sleep better!


Best moment this week: Noticing that I had an actual, true "bump" when lying down- baby has taken up residence just under my belly button!


Movement: Very, very subtle- subtle enough to make me think I'm just imagining it (but the doppler confirmed it, b/c I felt baby move same time as I heard it kick the doppler!)


Food cravings: Uhh... strawberries. Easy Cheese. Ice cream. And I saw the word pickles the other day, and just about opened the jar in the store, but by the time I got home, I didn't want a pickle anymore. Very random!


Belly button in or out: Still an innie- never popped out with DS, so probably won't this time either!


What I miss: Alcoholic beverages... It's going to suck not being able to drink this summer!


What I'm looking forward to: 20w ultrasound- can't wait to figure out what this little one is!


Milestone: Uh.. I'm over 1/3 of the way there? Nothing exciting at this moment!