31 Weeks - Meet Leo!

I have nothing more to share this week than the fabulous 3D pictures of our baby boy. I now know that he is head down with his head looking at my left hip, his butt is positioned right below my right rib-cage, and his legs and arms are just about everywhere.

He's got his Daddy's nose

 Cute, chubby cheeks

Legs and arms everywhere!

 Looks like he is smelling his foot!

He's got his mommy, daddy, and sister's plump lips.

 Look at that cute little ear and those precious wrinkles!

Sweet Little Pineapple

Leo, it was so amazing to see you last night. You were very active an hour  before our appointment, but then decided to take a snooze right before it was showtime. You had your hand in front of your face for most of the ultrasound, but the technician was able to poke you enough to get you to move for a couple of quick shots. I know one thing for sure - you sure are a handsome baby boy!

Apparently, you are now between 2 1/2 and 4 pounds. As big as mommy's belly is, I'm guessing that you are closer to the 4 pound mark.Your brain and nervous system are continuing to grow rapidly at this point and all of your 5 senses are fully formed.

Well, my sweet Leo, I can't believe that the next time we will see you we will actually be holding you in our arms. We love you so much! Keep growing healthy and we will keep praying for you:)

30 Weeks - Our Glass is 3/4 Full!

We have only a quarter of the way to go until we get to see our precious baby boy. I can't believe that we are at this point already! This is where the action phase kicks in. This is where we take out our to-do list and begin checking everything off. Clothes - check. Furniture - check. Name - check. 3D/4D ultrasound - uh oh!

It has been no surprise that through this pregnancy, I have wanted to replicate and reproduce activities that happened with Lidia's pregnancy. The blog, the belly pictures, the Big Reveal - they are all important parts that I didn't want baby Leo to miss out on just because he was baby number two. Naturally, I also want to have a 3D/4D ultrasound with him, like we did with Lidia. I have scheduled one for next week and could not be more excited. We had the fortunate luck of seeing Leo cozy in the womb 4 times before week 20. But, sadly, we haven't gotten to see him since then. I understand why some people would not want to spend the extra money or time on getting one of these ultrasounds done. I, however, would not miss the chance to see our baby boy. We've got 10 weeks left to wait patiently, and seeing his face and body would help these next 10 weeks go by so quickly. Jason isn't so keen on doing the 3D/4D ultrasound this time - he says he wants to be surprised. While I want to respect my husband's opinion, I am taking the opportunity to be selfish. I am with Leo everyday. With every move he makes, I try to envision his face, his eyes, his mouth, his nose. Having the amazing pictures that a 3D/4D ultrasound can produce will make me feel so much closer to our baby. Finally, I want to because I can. Every pain and every contraction that I have can be wiped away by seeing his face. And I can't wait to share his handsome face with you next blog!

Cool as a Cucumber

Leo, don't get me wrong, we are excited for you to enter this world, but not quite yet! Mama has been having some consistent contractions these past couple days. The doctor said that it's just second baby "stuff," so I am not too worried about them...just yet. Mama had to tell you sternly last night that you better stay put for at least another 9 weeks!

Son, we are so excited to see you (in ultrasound form) in less than a week! I'll be sure to drink some fruit juice beforehand so you'll be sure to be active - hopefully you'll put on a nice show for us. You are continuing to gain weight this week. In fact, each week from this point on you'll be gaining close to a half of a pound. We couldn't be more ready for you to enter this world and become part of our family. Your brain is growing rapidly, as usual. I have no doubt that you will be just as smart as your older sister.

It's time for this contracting mama to get some sleep now (and maybe some ice cream as a night-cap). Good night my love!

29 Weeks - Hey Mr. D.J. Put a Record On, I Want to Dance with My Baby

The closer we get to Leo's due date, the more we discuss our labor and delivery plans. There are many factors that go into planning for labor and delivery, especially if you are a planner like myself. Even more planning takes place if you intend on hitting the labor and delivery scene sans drugs. One of the "musts" I kept hearing when planning for an unmedicated birth was to make a soothing labor and delivery soundtrack. When I was close to the big day with Lidia, I remember searching the Internet high and low for the perfect soothing mix. I was having a hard time finding a mix that was already made, so I pretty much had to make my own. Below is a list of songs that ended up being our soundtrack:

Only Time - Enya
Return to Innocence - Enigma
The Maiden Whose Voice Made the Animals Sing - Anael
Once Upon a Dream - Anael
Servant Song - Angelina
Here I am Lord - Angelina
Rain Down - Angelina
Be Not Afraid - Angelina
You Are Mine - Angelina
A Mother's Prayer - Celine Dion
Dreams Are More Precious - Enya
Godspeed - Dixie Chicks
I Wish For You - Jessica Andrews
I Hope You Dance - Lee Ann Womack
Sunrise - Norah Jones
Lullabye - Billy Joel
Watermark - Enya

I'm hoping that by providing this list, someone, somewhere, might stumble upon it and use it as their own. We had it playing on repeat from 11 pm until 4 pm the next day. Will I use this mix again for Leo? Most likely not. We all know how my labor and delivery went last time, which makes me think I need to switch it up. Like I have said previously, music has the power to motivate me. When I train for my races, my music mix has to be upbeat and inspirational. I could honestly run for hours if I had the perfect mix playing on my iPod. I get sick of songs, too, so another important factor is being able to switch up the mix with new, upbeat tracks. Which makes me think that this time around, I might try a different genre of music. My Leo labor and delivery mix is below. Let's hope I can dance him right out of me with this soundtrack:)

Party Rock Anthem - LMFAO
International Love - Pitbull
We Are Young - Fun
Glad You Came - The Wanted
Marry the Night - Lady Gaga
Stereo Hearts - Gym Class  Heroes
So Good - B.o.B.
Wild Ones - Flo Rida
Survivor/I Will Survive - Glee Cast
Turn Me On - David Guetta & Nicki Manaj
Ass Back Home - Gym Class Heroes
Domino - Jessie J
Sexy and I Know It - LMFAO
Without You - David Guetta & Usher
Good Feeling - Flo Rida
Super Bass - Nicki Manaj
It Girl - Jason Derulo

Acorn Squishy Squash

Well hello there, son! Mama got to hear the sweet sound of your heartbeat at an unscheduled doctor's visit today. You see, mama has been having a lot of pain in her pelvic area. I knew that you were OK, but the pain has been so bad that I have trouble walking to my car after work. I originally thought it was your head resting on my bladder, but apparently mama has what is called pubic symphysis separation. Nothing to worry about, it just means I may have to be a bit sedentary the next 10 weeks.

You are active as ever, Leo. This makes mommy, daddy, and even Lidia happy! We get to see you moving quite a bit. My favorite is when I feel you hiccuping. I can tell this disturbs you because as soon as those hiccups start, you begin to move all around.

It is a fact that in the next 11 weeks, you will double - and even come close to tripling - your current weight.  You're also getting pretty close to your actual length at birth. Speaking of your birthday - we are now counting down the days! 71, 70, 69, 68, 67... every day that passes means we are one more day closer to holding you in our arms. We love you little Leo!

28 Weeks - Sliding Into Home

Ladies and gentlemen, we have started our descent. In preparation for landing, please make sure your seat backs and tray tables are in their full upright position...

We're here at the third trimester and we're all doing perfect. I apologize for being a day late on the blog. Lidia and Leo's Mamaw and Nonno have been visiting and I wanted to soak up every moment that I had to spend time with them. We had a wonderful visit with one of our doctor's today. She told us that Leo was doing great and, even more importantly, he is head-down like a good little boy. She also revealed to us that I would most likely be in labor for only half of the time that I was with Lidia and that instead of pushing for 3 hours, I would only have to muster out about 3 pushes. This gave us much encouragement - perhaps we will be able to make it through without medication after all. She also let us know that they will not let me go past my due date like  they did with Lidia. Little Leo will for sure be here by May 25th and we could not be more happy!

A Rutabaga?

I have no idea what a rutabaga is, but your size is comparable to one this week. You have been moving like crazy, as always. Its very easy for mama to do your kick counts. I can honestly feel you at just about any time of the day.

You are dreaming now - could you be dreaming of how wonderful your life will be when you arrive? We dream about you every second of everyday! You are also perfecting some of tricks that you will be performing outside of the womb - like coughing, sucking, blinking and breathing.

We have had a very busy, but good, week, little one. It's time to get some rest now. Sleep tight and sweet dreams! We love you little Leo.

27 Weeks - Sick and Pregnant

Forgive me, audience, if my blog post tonight is rather short. I'm suffering from a fabulous sinus infection tonight. I went to the store to grab the one medicine that brings me relief - Mucinex D - and stood speechless when I realized that it cost $23 for 18 pills. $23 can buy me almost 8 tall Chai Tea Lattes. $23 is a box of Dora Easy-Ups for Lidia. Jason could hold $23 in cash in his wallet for weeks without spending it. And here I was considering plucking down $23 for something that would bring me some relief for a couple of days. I let Lidia be my deciding factor - I asked her if I should get it or if I could manage without it. She looked away, thought about it, and then looked back at me and said confidently, "Mommy, you can manage without it."
I feel more confident being sick pregnant the second time around. Yes, I do think twice about taking any medicine, even if it is on my handy-dandy approved medicine list that I got from my doctors. I know where my breaking point is and once I reach it, I may dish out $23 for some Mucinex. But until I get there, I'm going to try to manage without it. Here's to hoping Tylenol will at least take the edge off!

Little Cabbage Head

Congratulations Leo! We are closing out the second trimester this week. We're ready to head for the homestretch. I am so over-the-moon happy that in three months, I will be holding and loving on you.

I would be surprised if you have slept for more than a 1 hour stretch in the past 24 hours. Either that, or you like to move while you are asleep. You have been moving so much. Right now I'm just watching you move one of your appendages from one side of my belly to the other. If your movement in the womb is any indication of what you will be like in this world, then we have another Lidia on our hands!

It's time for both you and mommy to get some sleep now. I love you my sweet baby boy!