Unchanging...

Zachary is comfortable where he is. Unfortunately, his mommy is not so comfortable anymore, but he does not seem to be in a hurry to leave his cozy, watery home...

So, we're waiting, waiting, waiting...

39 Weeks!

You know you're 39 weeks pregnant when...

...applying mascara before leaving the house constitutes getting gussied up.

...daily wardrobe choices are based solely on what actually covers your belly.

...your toddler asks you in disbelief "Does baby brother want to stay in your belly even longer???"

...your belly button enters the room a full 3 seconds before the rest of you.

...your maternity pillow has been in use for so long that it is mushed as flat as a pancake, despite repeated washing and fluffing.

...the nice woman at the grocery store asks you when your baby is due, and then barely contains a look of horror when you say next week, obviously afraid that there will be a major clean-up in aisle 5.

...you have completely forgotten what your feet actually look like.

...you have finished your "nesting" stage and now just want to sit around and do nothing.

...even when you feel really hungry, your stomach only has enough room for about 4 bites of food before you feel stuffed.

...you walk around constantly anxious that your water will break in a public place.

...you try to guess which of your baby's body parts is making you so uncomfortable.

...your husband starts to complain that if you use any more of his boxer shorts as pajamas that he is going to run out of clean underwear.

...you have moved beyond the pregnancy waddle to a place where your movements more closely resemble Quasimodo.

...your toddler asks to sit on your lap, and then practically falls off because your gigantic belly doesn't really leave her very much "lap" to sit on.

...your days are spent pondering life's really important questions, like what makes Gatorade "Fierce Grape" so fierce and what is the shortest route to take if you have to visit the bathroom, get something to eat, and grab the mail?

...you love folding teeny tiny shirts, but are wondering if the being inside your uterus ever plans to exit said uterus and actually wear them?

And finally, you know you're 39 weeks pregnant when you look like this:

At our check-up on Monday, the doctor said that everything looks great with me and with Zachary, but that there really wasn't any change in my progress. I'm still about 60% effaced and 1 centimeter dilated. I would have loved for those numbers to have changed, but, as I told Carey, I knew what I signed on for. While I had hoped that Zachary would make his appearance a bit earlier than his due date, I also knew that he could decide to stay in there for the full 40 weeks (or beyond). Abigail was well worth the 40 weeks and 2 days wait, and I'm absolutely sure that little Zachary will also be worth the wait, regardless of how long that may be.

I'll keep you updated on any new Zachary developments, but for now, I'm just trying to tackle a few final tasks around the house and resting up before the little guy arrives. Your prayers for a safe, speedy delivery would be much appreciated!

Waiting, Waiting, Waiting...

As they say in football, right now the Ngs are in a "holding pattern." We're ready (well, as ready as we'll ever be...) and eagerly awaiting the arrival of our Little Man.

Last Friday was my last day of work. It has definitely been funny not riding the train this week, but I am keeping busy at home. Carey and I made the decision to keep Abby in daycare through the end of this month. (Not knowing when Zachary will arrive, we thought it would be less disruptive for her to maintain her routine and it would be less stressful for me if I didn't have to worry about what I'd do if my water broke at 10 am with Carey at work in Manhattan and Abby at home with me...) So, I'm doing everything I can (energy levels permitting) around the house to get things in order before the upheaval of bringing home a newborn.

I had a check-up with my doctor on Monday, just shy of 38 weeks (which I hit today!). I gained 1 pound (total weight gain: 38 pounds), and Zachary is still head down, butt up. :-) Dr. Siegel was back in the office this week, so he reviewed all the procedures with us again, just to make sure Carey and I knew when to call the office and when to go directly to the hospital. My internal exam revealed that I am 60% effaced and 1 centimeter dilated. Just like Dr. Kramer last week, Dr. Siegel didn't want to hazard a guess as to when I might go into labor. But, he was able to calm one of my biggest fears/concerns. You may remember that my delivery with Abigail was induced. (As the doctor explained to us then, low amniotic fluid levels toward the end of pregnancy can indicate that the placenta is breaking down, so it is best to get the baby out sooner rather than later, lest any complications arise.) I was afraid that due to the fact that my labor didn't progress on it's own last time that I might be at a greater risk for going through the same thing again. Obviously, I wanted to do whatever was best for Abigail, and I feel exactly the same way about Zachary. If there is anything putting him in danger, I will do whatever is necessary to ensure that he is brought into this world and into my arms safely. But, I would love for my labor to progress on it's own this time... Dr. Siegel said that there is nothing he has seen with this pregnancy that would make him think that I would need to be induced again. We have another appointment scheduled for next Monday, so we'll see how Little Man is doing and how I'm progressing. Hopefully, the news will be good!

What else have I been up to? After an amazing sale on lean ground beef, I've been stocking our freezer with mini-meatloaves (a BIG family favorite around here - I'll share my super-easy recipe soon), lasagna, Shepard's Pie, and taco meat. I've also been doing A LOT of cleaning/sorting/organizing. It's true what they say: when your home is organized, you just feel calmer. Yesterday, I tackled our bedroom, sorting through all the piles that had, well, piled up over the past few weeks. I also sorted through our closet and drawers, refolding practically everything. I love the look of neatly folded clothes! I've been prepping Zachary's room, getting everything washed and folded. I'd forgotten how tiny baby clothes are. :-) I'm also trying to get a jump start on Abby's birthday party. Carey and I have decided it will be a small family affair this year, but we want to make sure that she feels special on her 3rd birthday, especially since Baby Brother will probably be getting a lot of mommy and daddy's attention right after we bring him home. After a chat at dinner last night, it looks like this year's theme will be Dora the Explorer. :-)

Speaking of Abby, she just keeps getting cuter. That little munchkin makes me smile each and every day. She is funny and smart and helpful and beautiful - I am so blessed to have this little girl in my life and my heart. Abby deserves her own update post, which I will do very soon, but I just had to mention her for all the joy she brings to my life these days of big bellies, sore backs, and uncomfortable humidity.

So, that's the Ng household these days. Please keep those prayers coming for a safe delivery of our little guy!

37 Weeks!

Yesterday, my little man and I hit the 37 week mark. Zachary has technically reached full term, which is such a blessing, especially after everything that Carey and I went through last year. I truly appreciate how fragile this little life is, and I am so incredibly thankful that he is still growing healthy and strong inside me. Although, I do admit to being ready to have him growing healthy and strong on the outside of me, too!

I had an appointment on Monday, just shy of the official 37 week mark. My doctor was on-call at the hospital, so I saw one of the other doctors in the practice - Dr. Kramer. He was very nice and had nothing but good news for me!

My weight went up again - total weight gain is now 37 pounds. Because of the high heat that we've been having recently, the doctor said that some of this recent weight gain is probably water weight. My blood pressure was good, as was my urine sample - two things that are tested weekly now as they may indicate preeclampsia. The results of my Group B strep test also came back negative, which means that I will not need antibiotics during Zachary's birth.

Dr. Kramer also gave me an internal exam. While I have not begun to dilate, my cervix is "softening" and Dr. Kramer could feel Zachary's head in my birth canal. That's right - when performing the internal exam, the doctor could actually feel my little boy's head! I couldn't believe it! Dr. Kramer didn't want to venture a guess as to when I would go into labor, but he went over the possible scenarios to make sure I knew when to call the office and when to go directly to the hospital. I have been having Braxton-Hicks contractions for the last month or so, and I've noticed that, occasionally, they're becoming a bit painful, but they are definitely not "real" contractions, so I'm hoping that Zachary is content to stay where he is so I can finish out my week at work and we can get together with family this weekend to celebrate some of the Ng family summer birthdays. Anytime after next Tuesday is just fine with me, Zachary sweetheart!

A few photos to document this important milestone:

Mommy and Zachary at 37 weeks
July 28, 2011

Mommy's ankles at 37 weeks (yes, they're still there!!!)
{Pardon the mess under my desk at work!}
July 28, 2011

So, 37 weeks. 37 weeks of carrying this little life around. 37 weeks of preparing, both mentally and physically, to be mommy to a newborn all over again. 37 weeks for my heart to grow with love for this little boy. What an amazing 37 weeks it has been!

And It Keeps Getting Bigger...

Just when I think it can't get any bigger, it does...

July 7, 2011 - 34 weeks pregnant

But, I pray this means that our little boy is also getting bigger and staying healthy and strong. :-)

Things seem to be going well so far. I had a check-up with my doctor on July 11th (just shy of 35 weeks). I'm up to 33 pounds of weight gain, which is similar to where I was with Abby. I had my test for Group B strep, which I'm hoping will come back negative. Dr. Seigel said that everything looks fine, so I'm hoping that will continue!

The one big difference between this pregnancy and my pregnancy with Abby is that Zachary's movements tend to be painful. If I am in a position that he doesn't like, he lets me know it, and he continues to let me know it, in increasing degrees, until I move. If I haven't eaten recently, it's the same story. With Abby, I remember being anxious for her birth because I wanted to meet her and hold her and love on her. To be honest, with Zachary, I'm ready for his birth for all those same reasons, but I'm also looking forward to an end to the abdominal pain... However, I am ready to take whatever comes my way for as long as necessary to ensure that my little man is as healthy and strong as possible when it comes time to deliver him.

Zachary Update

You've seen a sneak peek of his room. Now, I'm happy to present a sneak peek of Zachary! :-)

Our Little Man, looking right at the camera!

On Thursday, June 23rd, we had our 32 week ultrasound. My doctor just wanted to check on the size and position of the baby - plus, he wanted to give Carey and I one more look while the little guy is still on the inside. Thankfully, everything went well. Zachary was a very cooperative little boy, giving the technician all the measurements that she needed. Then, we got to see his adorable face and watch as his lungs practiced breathing in and out and he moved all his little limbs around. (And, just in case we weren't sure if Zachary was a boy, he, ahem, had no shame about showing us. At 20 weeks, we took the technician's word for it - this time, we saw it for ourselves!) I am convinced that Zachary will come out looking just like Carey - while the photo that we got is good, what we saw on the screen looked just like a mini version of Carey, right down to the nose!

Zachary is currently head down - and we're praying that he'll stay that way! The technician estimates that he weighs 4 pounds, 5 ounces, which is around the 47th percentile for weight. He is definitely an active little boy - he was fidgeting throughout most of the ultrasound! I found it hilarious that the place where I'm feeling Zachary's movement the most is actually the spot where his little tush is! I think my son is hip checking me!

And, since we have a photo of Zach on the inside, I figured I'd include a photo of Zach from the outside, too. Here I am, in all my "32 weeks pregnant" glory!

32.5 weeks pregnant (June 26, 2011)

Thankfully, I am still feeling good. I find myself getting a bit more tired than usual, a bit quicker than usual, but I'm feeling well otherwise. While I'm still getting the occasional bout of heartburn, they're not as frequent, for which I'm very thankful. At my doctor's appointment on Thursday, my blood pressure and weight were fine (gain since last appointment: 3 pounds; total weight gain: 27 pounds). Dr. Seigel gave us the go-ahead for one last road trip upstate, so the Ngs are looking forward to seeing my family one last time before we become a group of four!

Three Quarters...

No, not that kind of "three quarters"!

This kind of three quarters!

June 15, 2011 - 31 weeks

Someone else wanted to be in the photo, too, but she was blocked by the belly... :-P

That's right, we are three-quarters of the way through this pregnancy. (Technically, a bit beyond - I hit the 30 week mark last Wednesday...) I cannot believe it. I cannot believe that Zachary (oh, how I love saying his name!) has been baking in my oven for 31 weeks. I cannot believe that the being who is playing Twister inside my stomach will soon be outside of my stomach, in my arms. I cannot believe that we are two short months away from our due date, with the possibility that he might show up even earlier than that. I cannot believe it.

I also cannot believe how blessed I am by this little boy's life. I am dealing with hot weather and heartburn and a back that aches by the end of the day. I am having a hard time getting up from chairs and am getting more and more annoyed by how many items supposedly termed "maternity" clothing no longer fit - and me with two more months of being pregnant. But I would not change a thing. I love looking at my growing belly. I love that Abigail hugs my belly and tells Zachary that she loves him, and will talk to him about toys and his newly-painted bedroom. I love that Carey will tell me how beautiful I am, even when I'm feeling huge and my face is breaking out and my belly itches.

I am so totally, utterly and completely blessed by the people who are in my family, and by this little boy who is making his presence known more every day, that there are times that I can do nothing but smile. Smile through the discomfort, pains, and aches. Smile as I waddle down the street or hoist myself up from a sitting position. Smile because I know that, as full as my heart is with love at this very moment, there will be another moment in August when my heart will grow even more to welcome this little boy.

Sweet Zachary, mommy loves you.

The Post Where Carey Makes Me Cry...

While the countdown to Little Man's arrival is well underway, there is another countdown taking place in the Ng household. The countdown to July 29, 2011.

What's the big deal with July 29th, you might ask. Did Little Man's due date change? Nope. Is that someone's birthday? Nope. (Well, I'm sure it's someone's birthday, but not Carey, myself or Abby...) July 29th is the day of my BIG MOVE.

The BIG MOVE entails clearing out my desk at the New York Institute of Finance and changing my daytime phone number to my home phone number. July 29, 2011 will be my last day as a Courses Manager at NYIF. I am so, so excited to announce that I will be quitting my job and becoming a full-time, stay-at-home mom!

This is something that I have wanted to do since we found out that we were pregnant with Abigail. Unfortunately, our financial situation, especially the purchase of our house, forced my hand and necessitated that I go back to work.

And now comes the part of the post where I get misty-eyed, because this is when I start talking about Carey. I really cannot put into words how blessed I am that God brought this amazing man into my life. Carey loves me. Carey loves his daughter. Carey loves his unborn son. Carey works very hard at his job. Carey researches ways to save money in our home. Carey took control of our savings and investments to ensure that we were getting the maximum "bang for our buck." Carey has taken such a burden on his shoulders so that our family could live comfortably and securely. And, over the past three years, Carey has kicked all of his money-saving know-how into overdrive. We have refinanced our house and lowered our monthly mortgage payment significantly. We have re-evaluated all of our savings and investments accounts so that our money is working for us. And, most importantly, we have saved up enough money that I will be able to stay home with our children.

So, while I am over-the-moon excited about my BIG MOVE, I am also humbled and thankful for the man in my life who has made this possible. Carey, I cannot put into words all of the feelings in my heart, so I will simply say: I love you, and thank you so much for everything that you have done to make my heart's desire a reality.

Long Answer, Short Answer

Question: So, how are you feeling?

Long Answer: Well, I alternate between being hungry all the time and not being hungry at all. Some days my back hurts, other days my legs cramp up. I have heartburn almost 24 hours a day, which is only exacerbated by my allergy medication, for some reason. I can no longer find a comfortable sleep position, but by the Grace of God, my husband is a sound sleeper and hasn't been bothered by my tossing and turning.

Short Answer: I'm doing okay for 27 weeks pregnant, thanks.

Question: Do you feel the baby moving?

Long Answer: Little Man makes himself known. If I sit too long, he starts tap dancing on my bladder. If I lay down, he starts punching my belly. Depending on what I eat, he is moving and grooving in his watery home. While I am so happy and reassured to feel his movements, sometimes he gets in a good kick/punch/headbutt that is, shall we say, less than comfortable.

Short Answer: Yes, pretty much every day.

Question: How does Abby feel about getting a baby brother?

Long Answer: Abby understands that she needs to be careful around mommy's belly, because Baby Brother is growing inside mommy's tummy. She'll often hug my belly and say "I love you, Baby Brother," and she tries to offer him drinks and treats through my belly button. At other times, she's frustrated that I can't pick her up as much as I used to, and she tries to jump around and rough-house with me (normal toddler stuff), and I have to remind her to be careful. Thankfully, daddy is always willing to give piggy back rides and do all the physical stuff that I'm finding difficult.

Short Answer: She seems pretty excited.

Question: Do you have a name picked out yet?

Long Answer: We are having more luck ruling out names than we are picking out names. I even resorted to borrowing a baby names book from the library to help us along, but with suggestions like Daedalus, Capricorn, and (my personal favorite) Barwolf, we're not coming across anything that moves us both. Abby's suggestion of "Silly" is sounding better and better.

Short Answer: Not yet.

Question: Are you excited?

There's only one answer to this question: ABSOLUTELY. Carey and I both feel so blessed by this little life that is growing inside of me. Any discomforts or struggles that we're facing are nothing compared to the gift that we are being given. We pray daily for a safe, uneventful pregnancy and a healthy baby boy in our arms in August!

Way Back Wednesday!

Kristen - 24.5 weeks pregnant with Little Man

(April 29, 2011)

Kristen - 24 weeks pregnant with Abigail

(May 20, 2008)

In both photos, completely blessed.

Pregnancy Update - 24 Weeks

No, I have not fallen off the face of the earth. Although, looking at how neglected my poor little blog has been, you might have thought so... Things have just been very busy around the Ng house, but busy in a wonderful way. I'll have more posts in the coming days, but we've been blessed with visits from family and lots of projects around the house in preparation for Little Man's arrival this summer.

I thought it was about time to post another pregnancy update. I love looking back on my weekly updates when I was pregnant with Abby. Since weekly updates aren't happening, I'd at least like to post when I have time, so I can look back on my pregnancy with Little Man, too.

So, we're 24 weeks pregnant. Yay! At our ultrasound on April 1st, in addition to finding out that our little baby is a little fella, we found out that he weighed 12 ounces, and we saw two hands, two feet, his little stomach, his spine, and his handsome profile. Be still my heart - another handsome Ng man for me to love. ;-) We also saw and heard a strong heartbeat, which is always music to my ears! On April 7th, I had an appointment with my doctor, and things checked out well there, too. I gained 6 pounds since March, but my doctor said that was fine since my total weight gain for the first trimester was about 2 pounds. My blood pressure was good, and I got to listen to that beautiful heartbeat again. So, all is seemingly well with mommy and Little Man!

Sunday, April 11th marked another milestone - Carey felt the baby move for the first time! I've been feeling the little guy on and off for weeks, but his kicks were getting more pronounced, so I grabbed Carey's hand and sure enough, Little Man gave daddy two strong kicks. "That's my son. That's our son." Tears filled my eyes when I heard Carey speak those words. I admit that I am pretty nervous about having a little boy, but I am also excited to see how the bond between our little boy and each of his parents will be unique and special.

We're still having trouble finding a name that we both love. Abby continues to suggest "Silly," which is honestly sounding better and better after reading some of the suggestions in a baby book that I borrowed from the library. Capricorn? Daedalus? Barwolf? Really?!?! This is definitely a work-in-progress.

We're well overdue for an updated belly shot, so I'll try to get a photo this weekend to post next week. The belly is definitely getting bigger, though. In fact, just this week, I rode up the elevator with someone who works on my floor, but not in my company, and had my first "Not long now, huh? Oh, really, August? Hmm, are you sure there's just one baby in there?" conversation. I'm carrying pretty much all of my weight in the front - it kinda looks like I have a basketball under my shirt. I am noticing that my maternity pants aren't fitting well anymore - some fall down because they won't stay up over the belly, and others are tight around the waist, which I think squishes Little Man sometimes. I'm looking forward to warmer weather so I can wear more dresses. It will also be nice to wear sandals so I don't have to bend over to put on shoes!

Thank you so much for your continued prayers for our baby boy. We feel truly blessed that God has entrusted us with this little life and we are amazed and humbled by the love being shown for this little guy already!

Pregnancy Update - Gender Announcement!

Oh Baby Ng! You are giving mommy heartburn. You are kicking mommy's belly. You are growing healthy and strong. And, according to the doctor, you are a BOY! Oh my goodness - my little man! I keep looking at your handsome profile, wondering if you will look just like your daddy (your sister sure does!), or if you will have a bit of your mommy mixed in. I'm excited to have a little boy on the way and nervous because I know how to handle little girl babies, not little boy babies. Well, just like we did with your big sister, your daddy and I will just have to read up as much as we can to prepare for this wonderful new world that you will open up for us: a world of little boys. My sweet little man, mommy loves you and wouldn't trade you for anything (although, I wouldn't mind if we could get this heartburn under control...).

Here's a photo of our little guy from Friday's ultrasound appointment:

Baby Boy Ng - April 1, 2011 (20 weeks, 2 days)

Just look at that precious profile!

And it seems that someone likes to keep his hand next to his head, just like his big sister...

Baby Abby - April 28, 2008 (approximately 21 weeks)

Must be a family trait. ;-)

The other parts of pregnancy are going well, too. The belly is continuing to grow - I have an appointment with my doctor on Thursday, so I'm hoping that I gained more than 1 pound like last time! I'm sleeping much better (thank heavens for my maternity pillow!), and while I am still pretty tired, I think that might have more to do with another cute little person...

I'm noticing that certain foods, while maybe not at the level of "cravings" yet, are definitely things that often look appetizing. I could eat eggs for three meals a day - scrambled, omelets, hard-boiled, whatever. I'm also loving milk. (I did have to switch to lactose-free milk. I can tolerate dairy in general, but drinking straight milk was wreaking havoc on my poor pregnant self.) I will drink a huge glass of Lactaid every night, plus eat anything that I can pour milk on. I have yogurt every day. Carey, cute husband that he is, has been buying me different brands of Greek yogurt, so I can try them all to figure out which one I like best. On the not-so-great side of the nutrition scale, I'm also eating Pop-Tarts like they're going out of style, and I give in to the occasional bag of potato chips. But, for the most part, I think I'm doing pretty well with my eating.

Here is a recent picture of the belly, taken at 19.5 weeks.
We are grateful for all your prayers and good wishes for Baby Ng, and we thank God every day for this big blessing in this very small (for the moment!) package.

Being Busy and a Poll!

Things have been super busy around the Ng house lately. I have some posts in the early stages and hope to have some great photos of Abby to share this week. For now, why not vote in the new poll in the right hand column of the blog. I'd love to hear your thoughts: Baby Ng - Girl or Boy??? We find out on April 1st, but we're having fun guessing until then! :-)

Grateful and Humbled

Yesterday, I was troubled. Worried. Afraid of receiving bad news.

Carey met me at the doctor's office. Thankfully, Abby was with us as well. I was reading books and singing songs and watching two people in my life who make me so incredibly happy. The doctor came in and asked me how I was doing. When I told him how worried I was, he told me to lay back so he could "put me out of my misery." I laid back, he put the Doppler Heart Monitor (similar to this one) against my stomach, and immediately, that sweet, sweet sound filled the air. The heartbeat of our little baby. A heartbeat, which the doctor described as "steady and strong." Music to my ears.

The appointment continued with the doctor telling me that my uterus was of a good size for how far along I am and is in a good position, my recent first trimester ultrascreen test came back with normal results, and I had gained one pound since my last appointment. Needless to say, I walked out of that office with a smile on my face and had a wonderful night's sleep.

I cannot thank everyone enough for their prayers. We were blessed by your thoughts, prayers, and kind telephone calls, and Carey and I both are so incredibly grateful to be surrounded by people who not only put up with my craziness, but support us through it all. We are blessed by you, and I know that Baby Ng is feeling those blessings already. The love that surrounds this child is truly amazing!

And, because I haven't posted one in a while, here's a recent photo of the baby belly. This was taken last week, just shy of 16 weeks. Hopefully, "big belly" will continue to mean "healthy baby"!

Terrified...

I am sitting here at my computer, tired and anxious and completely terrified. The past few weeks, I have felt little Baby Ng moving around in the ole belly. Not a constant movement, but the occasional "poke, poke." On Friday night, I realized that I hadn't really noticed any baby movement all day. I chalked it up to the fact that Friday was a super busy day at work and at home, and that I probably just didn't feel that little poke that tells me that everything is okay with Baby Ng. I was a bit worried, but I thought that I was overreacting and that everything was okay.

Until Saturday passed and I hadn't felt anything.

And then Sunday passed and I hadn't felt anything again.

So I laid in bed last night, unable to sleep. I crept into Abby's room, only to find her asleep at the foot of her bed. I picked her up to move her to the head of the bed, but couldn't resist snuggling with her for a few minutes. My sweet, warm, cuddly little girl, who looks just like an angel when she sleeps. After brushing the hair away from her face and kissing those precious checks, I had to put her down and leave the room because I lost it. While I have once again had absolutely no signs or symptoms that something is wrong, I feel like I've lost this baby. I feel like I'm walking in a cloud that I've walked through before. I have a doctor's appointment this afternoon, and I am absolutely terrified that the doctor will be unable to find the baby's heartbeat and will be forced to tell me that we've lost our baby. Again.

May I ask for your prayers today, please? Prayers for the health and safety of our little baby... Prayers for the sanity of his/her mommy...

Pregnancy Update - February

Who doesn't love a good pregnancy update? I mean, really, doesn't everyone want to read about how my insides have finally stopped turning inside out, how I fall asleep everywhere, and how ordinary things like blowing my nose and brushing my teeth have become ordeals that oftentimes bring tears to my eyes? Seriously, from that little teaser, aren't you interested???


The good:

I have finally stopped throwing up. Finally. I have even stopped constantly feeling like I was going to throw up. I wouldn't quite say that my appetite has returned, but I am able to eat and keep down my prenatal vitamins. So, victory. The morning sickness/nausea was definitely worse with this pregnancy than with Abby, resulting in a big fat, er, skinny little, zero pounds of weight gain in my first trimester. The doctor told me to eat what I can when I can, so I'm doing my best to eat whenever I'm feeling even the slightest bit hungry.

I'm pretty sure that I've felt the baby move. I know the difference between baby movement and gas, and this is definitely baby movement. I'm hoping that the movements become more pronounced over the coming days and weeks.

The belly is getting bigger. Just yesterday, I had a co-worker tell me that my belly looked "so cute." I love looking at my expanding, rounded belly, knowing that there is a little person in there, growing and developing and depending upon me. As I often tell Carey: "Making people is hard work, but I love it." I obviously love the end result (Hello, adorable little Abigail!), but I also love being pregnant. Even in the midst of "the bad" and "the ugly" (see below), I love it.

I cannot wait for Abigail to be a big sister. She vacillates between wanting a baby sister or a baby brother, but she seems excited to know that Mommy has a baby in her belly. I'm certain, after almost 3 years of being the only show in town, that Abby will have some adjusting to do, but I am excited to see her interact with a sibling. She knows that Mommy and Daddy are going to make the office into the baby's room, and that babies are very little and sleep a lot. She even burps her baby dolls and "wraps them up toasty" in blankets to keep them warm at night. She is such a sweet girl, and I pray that she will also be a sweet big sister!


The bad:

I am tired. All the time. Still. Most evenings, I fall asleep on the couch or on Abby's bed, and often wake up with a little face, very close to mine, telling me "It's not time to go sleep, Mommy. Wake up!" Thankfully, Carey has been my hero and takes amazing care of Abby when these sleeping spells hit me. I am definitely hoping that I become less tired as the weeks go on - I'm waiting for that burst of second trimester energy!

I don't know if my muscles are all stretched out or what, but sudden movements often give me pains in my stomach. These go away pretty quickly, but a mistimed bend at the waist or an accidental toddler knee to the hip can be pretty painful...

My head is a mess. My gums are so tender when I brush my teeth that I often notice them bleeding, despite my best efforts at being very, very careful. I've also noticed my nose bleeding - never a lot, but usually when I blow my nose. I'm using saline nasal spray and a humidifier, and it seems to be helping a little. I'm hoping that my nose will stop giving me so much trouble once we can turn the heat off.


The ugly:

I am afraid. There are days when I am absolutely terrified that something will happen to this baby. With our last pregnancy, we lost the baby with no outward signs or symptoms, and I am fearful that it could happen again. I find myself ecstatic when we see our little one moving on the ultrasound or hear his/her heartbeat at the doctor's office. But there is always that nagging feeling in the back of my mind: we saw a healthy baby last time, too, and look at what happened... Instead of allowing myself the joy of seeing an active baby with a strong heartbeat, I find myself worrying about what will happen at our next appointment four weeks down the road. This is not where I want to be in this pregnancy, but I'm having a very difficult time moving past fear...


So, there you go - February's pregnancy update. The good, the bad, and the ugly. And yet, through it all, I am so thankful that the Lord has blessed us with this little life. The chance to be a mommy again is such a blessing, and I am trying to not take a single moment for granted. Your prayers for Baby Ng are definitely appreciated!

Really?

I had an appointment with my OB/GYN on Monday. Abby came with me and was the darling of the office. (I was asked to bring her back again next month!) My doctor said that everything looks good: my blood pressure is fine, he poked around on my belly and said that felt fine, and I got to hear the baby's heartbeat. Yay! Even Abby seemed pretty excited with I told her that was the baby's heart that she heard. :-)

What did shock me was that I haven't gained a single pound since I got pregnant. I had gotten down to a really good weight before we got pregnant, and my belly is definitely expanding, so I thought for sure that I must have gained something.

After all, how do you go from this...

(December 4, 2010 - barely pregnant; about 4 weeks)

to this...

(January 2, 2011 - 8 weeks pregnant)

to this...

(February 7, 2011 - 13 weeks pregnant)

all without gaining a single pound??? I guess my body is just a master at redistributing what it already has...

BIG

There is BIG joy...



over some BIG news...



involving a BIG sister...



and a BIG belly...



all caused by one little baby...

Please say hello to Baby Ng, a very BIG blessing granted to us by God. Carey and I offer up thanks and praise to Him, who has given us this precious gift, and we anxiously await the arrival of our newest little one, due to join us on August 17th.