Over half way...

Thrilled to report that we're officially over half way through this pregnancy, and today I'm 20wks 2 days along. I saw my OB this afternoon and everything continues to progress beautifully. My cervix is measuring perfectly and, according to the ultrasound tech, we had verification of a girl for the third time and she continues to be very active! I've started to feel movement in the past week and a half or so which I love! I'll be seeing the perinatologist next week for our first monthly growth ultrasound and then will go back to the OB again for another cervical check in two weeks. Loving all of these reassuring appointments and feeling a bit excited, but will definitely feel better once we get through the next couple of months! 

I'm starting to think about planning freezer meals and such for after baby girl arrives and just in case bed rest is at all required later in this pregnancy. I've already got a list of some of our favorite dishes, and I'm planning to make doubles whenever I make them in the coming months so we can put one in the deep freeze for later. I cook a lot but am inexperienced when it comes to freezer meals so would love to hear your favorite freezer meals and/or methods!

Also beginning to research double stroller options. For those of you who have a double stroller what do you recommend? We go on a lot of walks and also want to be able to use it for outings around town but don't want to spend a ton of money either! I'm starting to look on swap groups and craigslist for some good used options but would love your input! 

Also just for fun a 20wk bump pic from this weekend...

Reassurance....

I had my 18wk OB appointment yesterday and everything continues to look great. The ultrasound tech did a cervical check and it continues to measure perfectly. Nick & Ian came with for the first time so she also was nice enough to do a brief ultrasound so they could see baby girl. Baby was active and looking great just like last week! 

The OB said she'll have me do monthly growth ultrasounds starting with the one in three weeks at the perinatologists office, and I'll return to her office for another cervical check and appointment in two weeks. 

She also talked to us about making sure that anyone who plans to be around the baby during her first 8wks of life gets a whooping cough (Tdap) vaccine. I'll also get one sometime between 27-36wks of this pregnancy. Otherwise a lovely, reassuring uneventful appointment...the absolute best kind! 

Overall feeling great. Every once in a while I feel the terror and worry about what if something went wrong now before baby reaches viability, but I try not to let it linger. I remind myself I'm doing everything I can at this point and the rest is out of my control and I have to hope that she's going to be okay. Needless to say I'll be so happy to reach the next big milestone which is 24wks! 

It's a....

I’m 17wks 5 days as of today and had my first appointment with the  perinatologist yesterday. I started weekly progesterone injections at 16wks which has been going smoothly and am continuing the daily baby aspirin. There have been recent studies that suggest taking a daily baby aspirin can help in prevention of preeclampsia for women who developed it early on in previous pregnancies, so both my OB and the perinatolgist want me to continue doing this. 

The appointment went fantastic yesterday. I’m always so nervous before these appointments and since it had been almost a month since I’d seen my OB I was especially worried about if everything was still going okay. Thankfully though baby was very active and cooperative! They did my first cervical lining ultrasound check which consists of a transvaginal ultrasound (and here I thought I was done with those!). Everything looked good in that regard and they’ll have me return to their clinic in two weeks for another check and then in a month for a more thorough ultrasound measuring everything. I also go back to my OB next week, I’m loving this month with all the reassuring appointments!

The big news at the appointment was that they were able to see the sex of the baby!!! Since Nick was at home with Ian during my appointment I asked the doctor to write it down and put it in an envelope so Nick & I could look at the results together at home. So glad we did it this way; even if he would have been with me there is something really nice about experiencing that news together on a more intimate level instead of in a clinic with another person present.

So not to leave you in suspense any longer….it’s a GIRL!!! I cried of course, although I was crying before we even read the gender. It’s just such a big moment. We’re thrilled and couldn’t be happier! Ian’s baby arrived today too, perfect timing, and he already loves taking care of it! He insisted on taking it to nap with him today and it’s melting my Momma heart watching him with his baby.

We shared this picture of the baby from the sonogram yesterday and then the one of Ian & I with Lily's quilt on facebook today to announce the news. We're thrilled that Lily's quilt will get to be used in her little sisters room!!! My friend Audra made the quilt out of Lily's baby clothes shortly after her death and it is one of our most treasured possessions. The pic doesn't really do it justice but was the best we could do while including big brother in the picture:)