17 weeks, well, almost 18

I had another ultrasound today to check baby #2's growth. Everything seemed to go well, except the tech had a difficult time getting baby's heart measurements because he was being stubborn. (Yes, we made sure that he was still a HE.) It seems as this little one likes to face my spine which makes it difficult to get a look at his heart. (In a previous post I mentioned that at my last appointment my doctor couldn't hear his heartbeat using a Doppler for the same reason.) I am hoping that his little boy isn't going to make stubbornness a habit.

We were able to see his head, brain, kidney's, stomach, "boy parts", hands, feet, spine, face, and some other good stuff. His heart was beating at about 140 beats per minute and weighs in at about 10 ounces. He has a way to go before catching up to his brother's birth weight of 8 lbs., 10 oz. Then again, he still his about 22 weeks to go!

I'm feeling much better although I do go through spats of gagging and feeling queasy. I am no longer taking medication to ease the nausea, but do try to eat more often so that I don't feel sick because of hunger. All of my non-maternity close are no longer able to be worn. I still have some searching to do for clothes in my maternity buckets, but for the most part I have it all out.

It's funny how different I look at pregnancy now that I've been through it before. Yes, it's still amazing and a miracle. I do my best to eat well and take my vitamins everyday, but haven't been as "strict" about it as I was with E. I have yet to read a pregnancy book or birthing book. I have thought about how differently I want my labor and deliver to be. I want a natural birth and may even take a Hypnobirthing class. I'm considering having a doula and delivering at Good Sam where they have birthing tubs available. I know that if I end up needing a c-section again, I want our baby to be placed on my chest if neither of us have any medical complications. We haven't looked or even considered names. I have no idea what I'm going to do with the nursery. I get weekly Baby Center updates and I just skim them.

What I think about now is how (and when) are we going to transition E into a toddler bed, what are we going to do for E's birthday, will E ever stop nursing, is his language developing properly, how will he react to this new little person?

Maybe it's because I've "been through it before" or that I don't have all the time in the world to sit and read and prepare. Whatever it is, I know that this little boy will be cared for and loved, just like his brother.