Experimenting...

I ordered a new lens for my camera, based on the experience of my friend Kim, so I have been taking random Rachel pictures to see if I can figure it out. However, Rachel rarely looks at me when I have the camera out, so I don't know how impressive they are.

In other news, I am starting to feel Baby Bean moving around in there. I couldn't tell if it was baby or gas at first, but tonight it was definitely Baby Bean. I am excited to feel that connection already! It will be odd going through the pregnancy without knowing the gender this time -- not being able to call Baby by his/her name. But I can't change my mind because I really want to experience that moment of surprise when he/she comes into this world.

12 weeks down, 28 weeks to go!

I think the first trimester might be the worst trimester in pregnancy. Some women will tell you the third trimester is the worst, because of the swelling, the big belly, the discomfort, the contractions....but I have to say that none of that compared to the my first trimesters. The first 5 weeks are pretty much uneventful for me. I find out I am pregnant and then hope that everything is okay as I anxiously await my first appointment with the OB/GYN. Around week 6, the morning sickness kicks in, which for me consists of constant, ravaging hunger. With Rachel, it was a bit of a surprise, but I learned to carry a granola bar with me at all times, and I was good to go. With this child, I found myself waking up at all hours of the night, STARVING. I would go downstairs and eat a piece of toast and drink some milk, only to find myself waking a couple of hours later STARVING again. I also find myself falling asleep at 8 o'clock every night, but I never feel like I have slept well by morning. I also HATE pre-natal vitamins. They make me nauseated beyond belief.
Now that I am almost a third of the way through my pregnancy, the hormones seem to have balanced out, and I am getting back to a better place. I feel queasy first thing in the morning and after I dinner every night, but even those moments are getting easier to handle.
And with all the crazy eating I have had to do to keep this baby happy, I only gained about 3 pounds at the doctor between my first and second appointments, and the doctor didn't give me a hard time about my weight for once. I am really struggling to be healthier with this pregnancy, which is difficult when you have annoying cravings for tacos and french fries! My goal is no more than 30 pounds, but it would be better to stay around 25, if I can. The baby was healthy at the 12-week check, with a heart rate of 154 bpm. The doctor asked Rachel if she wanted to listen to her brother or sister's heartbeat and she flatly replied, "No."
Oh well, we'll get there.
My energy is starting to come back a little bit, and I hope to get to the gym soon. I aim to be one of those crazy women with the huge bellies going nuts on the elliptical machine. =)
I don't have a feeling about the gender one way or another, but I am excited to start thinking of names in the coming months.
I would also like to send out a HUGE congratulations to my friend Carie Adams and her husband, who welcomed their daughter Norah Lane on January 19th. She is absolutely gorgeous, and I am very happy for all of them. I can't wait to hear all about her!
Hopefully next blog I will be feeling perfect again. The second trimester is definitely my favorite!

Big Girl Bedroom

It took us about 4 months of gradual work, but we finally got Rachel moved into her big girl bedroom last week. The transition was pretty seamless. She slept straight through the night the very first night she slept in her new room. She seems to think she isn't supposed to get out of bed without us, which makes me feel better that she won't be wandering around the house in the dark.

All we have left to do is some of the detail work in painting stencils on the wall. My brother designed some flower and bug stencils for us to use on the walls, and I need to get the paint matched against the bedding, and we will paint those on the walls. I also have some of the wall phrases that a friend gave to us when Rachel was born, and I have been saving them for her more permanent room. And obviously some window dressings. But this is the incredible transformation from a blue room with airplanes to a pink room with flowers and butterflies!