Pregnant with Baby # 2 !!!

Ryan & I are expecting another family member! The baby due date is April 17th 2012.Just a few days after tax season deadline day.  So today I am about 11 weeks - 2 months along. Elijah's birthday is April 21st, so I'm really hoping the next baby comes early or maybe a week or two late would be okay too. I'm super excited we are going to have another little one, I just hope the next one is born on their own Birthday, so they don't have to share their special day with anyone else. Also everyone keeps asking if I'd rather a boy or girl. Healthy is my knee jerk response. But really it would be kinda nice and convenient to have another boy since we're already prepared clothing-wise... which of course probably means it's a girl ! LOL.

We had our first ultrasound and doctor appointment in August. We brought Elijah with us and had a super early morning appointment so he was still a bit tired and very snuggley. We pointed to the monitor and said, "Look, see ? There's a baby in mommy's tummy!" and he just stared at my tummy and then stared at the monitor. Then he looked over at the technician and exclaimed, "See it!? Baby in mommy's tummy!" it was super sweet. The technician said the baby has a really good strong heartbeat already, and that I was 7 weeks along at the time (giving us a more accurate due date).

Heartbeats recorded are the little lines at the bottom of this pic

Another question I keep getting asked is, "how are you doing?" Horrible is usually my answer. I know I was sick with Elijah, but I don't remember it being this bad. I feel nausea and light-headed every day for most of the day. It's also been a challenge to find foods I can keep down. I mostly stick to fruit, juice, and pre-natals vitamins. Grocery store shopping sucks because the smells are so disgusting, blended, and yucky! It takes longer to grocery shop because I will go down a few food isles then RUSH over to the laundry detergent isle to escape the horrid food smells. Oh! And I dream crazy dreams every night. Last night we were in a movie theater where we had to pick up our feet because there were Alligators that lived there too so if you didn't want to get bit you had to sit on your feet or something. And then I got up to pee. The next dream I lost Elijah when we went for a walk down the street - I was panicked and couldn't find him anywhere - it was awful. Like I said: CRAZY DREAMS! Ah the joys of pregnancy!

Our next ultra sound is scheduled for October 4th & where we should be able to find out if the baby will have any early detectable problems or issues. I'm excited to see that little baby and how much it's grown / developed by then. I decided to go with a female doctor this time because I've heard male and female doctors treat their patients differently, and I'm kind of curious to know if that's really true or not. So far our new doctor is great - Dr. Brodsky (http://www.whallc.com/find-a-provider/provider-details/Trina_A_Brodsky_MD.aspx). Our last doctor, Anthony Taitano was great too, I'm just curious to see how similar / different the experience is male vs. female.

In other news, Ryan started school this week so our schedules are back to Super-sucky, instead of just sucky. LOL. He seems to like his classes so far, and I'm glad my work schedule works well with his schedule and Ryan's mom is able to watch Elijah a few days a week when we are both at work/school.

We are looking forward to the month of October because we have lots of fun stuff planned. Beginning with General Conference this weekend (check it out at: http://lds.org/general-conference/watch?lang=eng). SO THRILLED! I try to make it a party when we watch / listen. Saturday sessions I usually pull out all my Halloween decorations & decorate while I listen. Sunday sessions Ryan & I like to make it a breakfast-in-bed kind of party with yummy breakfast & snacks for the afternoon as we watch on the internet in our pajamas. Then later in the month Ryan & I have a SPA weekend planned where we will get to have a day off together to relax & get pampered. We will be visiting the pumpkin patch, picking & carving pumpkins, eating corn on the cob & carmel corn - YAY ! Then I have another Relief Society activity to prep for, followed by Halloween parties and Trick or treating! Looking forward to the next few weeks, and of course the next 9 months & beyond ! I'm excited - Can you tell?