The Second Trimester

The 2nd Trimester was VERY busy! Let me go back to the beginning:

On January 10th I had my 3rd ultrasound to check and make sure I wasn't dilating prematurely, etc.. Everything looked good and the doctor said he thought he could tell what gender my baby was, but he wouldn't share anything more than that. (Picture: 27 Weeks Pregnant- end of 2nd trimester)

On January 20th we started the drive to Huntsville. I had my first appointment with Dr. Tallent (in Huntsville) on Feb 2nd. John got to come with me and hear the heartbeat again! They scheduled another ultrasound for Feb 4th!!!

Unfortunately our little stinker didn't cooperate at that ultrasound. The baby's legs were crossed as well as the umbilical cord and hands were all between the legs. I was so upset, and I think John was disappointed as well. We had hoped to learn the gender of our baby TOGETHER before he left for Korea. Later that night, we were driving down the Parkway (I remember we were passing Joe Davis Stadium) and I felt a strange new sensation in my belly and I abruptly said, "I just felt the baby kick!" It felt like three kernels of popcorn popping in my belly. I wasn't 100% convinced it was the baby yet, but it felt different. I paid more attention to my belly for the next few weeks and I continued to get those same sensations.

A few days later, we went to Babies R Us and started our registry. Around the same time I noticed my belly button wasn't a complete "innie" anymore! I looked like someone had stuffed a puffy marshmallow in my belly button. By the end of the 2nd trimester it was ALL the way out!

John left for Korea on Feb 11th. I cried for the first day, and then adjusted. It will be July before I know it and he'll be home again!

On Feb 26th I was on the phone with John (while he was in Korea). Before he left John and I started a "tradition" I suppose of praying for the baby together every night before we went to bed. John started this the night we found out we were expecting. I remember if felt so funny for him to place his hand on my belly then because I didn't feel any different yet! On the 26th, I was on the phone with John and he asked to pray for the baby. I placed my hand on my belly while he prayed and I felt those all too familiar little bubbles in my belly again as the baby kicked. But this time, I also felt it on the OUTSIDE! I couldn't believe that I got to share that moment with John! I thought if he had been here with me though, it would have been HIM who felt the baby kick... Later that day I also preregistered with the hospital and signed up for Child Birth Classes!

On March 5th I went in for my 20 week (I was actually 21 weeks) ultrasound. It's a BOY! We were kind of thinking it would be a boy, and almost hoping it would be because we couldn't decide on a name for a little girl! The boy name we had chosen was Caden. We haven't decided on a middle name yet. If he had been a girl it would have been Madeline (Maddie) or Abigail (Abby). We liked the middle name Grace (well, at least I liked it and it grew on John I think). John knew about the appointment and made plans to call me after it was over. When he called I was at the mall buying Caden his first boy outfit from Gymboree (blue jean overalls with a turtle and a matching yellow polo shirt!)- It wasn't the ideal setting for telling your spouse he is going to be the father of a little boy, but that is how it turned out! While handing over my credit card I said, "Well, it's a boy!"- John replied, "I knew it! Little Caden is on the way!" At that ultrasound I was diagnosed with marginal placenta previa. If it doesn't correct itself over the next few weeks I will have to have a C-Section. Chances are it will end up correcting itself though. I will have another ultrasound at 32 weeks to check it out.

On March 10th Mom and I drove to Florence and ordered the nursery furniture! We got busy over the next few weeks picking out paint to match the crib bedding I ordered. Mom and I each drew a design for the nursery and what we each had "envisioned." Turned out our visions were almost identical! Mom LOVES projects and put so much time and energy in to painting the nursery. It is perfect! The furniture arrived on April 7th! I couldn't wait any longer for either my dad or brother to assemble it all so I took that task upon myself! After Easter Lunch at Nana and Tom's I opened the boxes and put together the crib by myself. I got to the last 3 steps and needed an extra set of hands to hold the ends up so "Uncle" Carl came and helped and Mom snapped a few pictures! (Picture: Mom and I working on the nursery)

My allergies subsided for the most part sometime during the middle of the 2nd trimester. Dr. Tallent saw that the Claratin wasn't working and put me on NasalCrom and Mucinex. Those helped tremendously and I haven't had issues with allergies like that again! I can't say I have had any strong cravings during this trimester either. I wouldn't call it a craving, but for several weeks I had a bowl of ice cream EVERY night! I really started to pack on the pounds this trimester too! At 22 week I had only gained 6 pounds! By 28 weeks I had put on around 10 more pounds! Yikes!!