... I've managed to get myself caught up in the whole guess-the-gender thing. I don't know why I do this. I'm not very good at this game, honestly. I've been 50/50 on my own babies and even worse on guessing other peoples'.

I was determined to go into this ultrasound with no set idea of what i thought it could be. But I have to say, as of the last day or two, I am definitely feeling a STRONG girl vibe. I won't deny that it's partially the influence of the silly pee test I took... but also that, actually, there are big things that differentiate this pregnancy from the other two and I just have a different feel altogether. I have thought of this baby in girl pronouns for quite some time now, which, as I've mentioned before hasn't really ever happened to me. (but you could chalk that up to the fact that almost everyone close to me seems to think girl and refer to the baby as such)

We'll see if I'm right. :) No disappointment either way, I promise. Just excited to know. :) I do hope I can videotape when she tells us though because I have a feeling that either way, the reaction in the room is going to be worth capturing.

Vote now!

Labels: polls

Taken a few days ago, finally got it off my memory card.



And 18 weeks with Simon...

Labels: 18 weeks, belly pics

Since Simon has now moved in with Benjamin, I can start thinking about how to spruce up the nursery to make it special for Baby Three. None of it really depends on the baby's gender, but, for some reason I still always like to wait until we know what we're having to start decorating. Something about having a more accurate mental picture of the baby seems to be inspiring.

We're definitely repainting because after we got rid of the changing table, we had to move some wall shelves to make room for the boookshelf I put in there, so there are holes all over the wall that need to be repaired. Plus, the room has seen its share of bumps and bruises over the past three years and just needs a fresh coat of paint. We'll either just do the same yellow again or switch it out to the light bluish/purple or green that are the other colors in the bedding/curtains for a change of scenery. My other hope is to put some wainscotting and a chairrail up in there.

I'd like to figure out how to absorb our children's book collection into the boys' room somehow so I can put a few decorative baby things and some pictures on the bookshelf. I imagine some of the books are going to have to spend some time in the attic, which is sad... but we're just simply out of room!

And lastly, we need to decide on a new name to hang above the crib, which, at the rate we are going with that, will probably not happen until the baby actually comes HOME.

I have to admit that although I'm excited to see it all finished, I'm not really feeling much of a sense of urgency about it this time. LOL. I guess that's par for the course when it's the third time around. ;)

18 weeks yesterday. Getting there! Belly pic coming sometime today. Of course, I feel enormous, but know in 20 weeks, when I look like the blueberry girl from Willy Wonka, I will look back on my 18-week picture and wonder why I thought that.

I'm starting to feel a little more movement, which is nice. Nothing constant or all that regular, but at least a couple time a day. Last night, I happened to have my hand resting on my belly at just the right time and actually got a nice thump right to the palm, so that was fun. :)

This morning I woke up feel like my right hip has slipped out of its socket (fun!) and so am having to drag my right leg with me wherever I walk. Gotta love it. ;)

I was waiting until it was officially "p.m." to post this... but I did NOT barf this morning. WOOHOO! This doesn't mean the morning barfies are gone for good, unfortunately. My morning sickness usually tapers off rather than ending suddenly... but every day it doesn't make an appearance is a GREAT day :) Yay!

Labels: puking

So, I think Saturday morning's test, accurate or not, jarred something in my brain so that now I actually am considering the possibility, however remote it may be, that I may be having a girl. I'm not sure that had really registered 100% before.

I'm fine with that. In fact, it would be wonderful. (When I say I'm pretty indifferent this time, I really do mean it!) Gosh, I mean, just getting to shop in a whole new department of the baby clothes stores would be amazing! (I maintain though that you really can find plenty of cute boy clothes so I wish people wouldn't complain about that so much)

But it also hit me that IF this is girl, it means it's NOT a boy. Okay, I know that sounds like, "duh!" but hear me out. For probably at least two years now, I have pictured myself with three boys. I adore my boys... I love BABY boys... they are so squishable and sturdy at that heavenly 6-9-month age. I have come to embrace all the craziness in my house, the bikes and sports equipment all over the lawn... and the picture in my head for a long time, has been more of the same.

It's just strange to have that picture change a little, even if it's only a possibility. Again, no complaints. In fact, I'll be thrilled because if this is a girl maybe it means at least one of my children may actually call me on a regular basis when they grow up, or remember my birthday or mother's day without being hit over the head. That would be nice. I'm all for it.. bring it on.

If it's a girl though, I'll also miss the little boy I never got to meet, who I named two years ago (even though that name is up in the air these days) and who will never wear all the little clothes I've been saving that his brothers wore.

It'll just be a small bit of sadness, quickly overtaken, I'm sure by the idea of a baby girl to love, but nevertheless it will be there.

But no, it's definitely not going to be enough to make me want a fourth. LOL.

(whose reliability is HIGHLY questionable, just for the record)

It's a...


This picture actually doesn't do the orange color justice.

I'm amused.

Tom's response? (after he declared I was doing "voodoo" and did I want him to call a witch doctor too) was, "So what? It's not like it means anything!" Boy is he going to have some mental adjusting to do if this test is really accurate.

Ah well. 11 more days and we'll know for sure which it really is!

Another baby girl dream last night. I don't remember many details except it was an ultrasound that I could do myself.

Interesting to note and for what it's worth, the last two times around, the dreams that ended up being accurate involved actual births/babies, NOT ultrasounds. We'll see if that holds true this time too! (most of the actual baby dreams have been about baby boys, I believe)


Tally:
Girls: 7 Boys: 4

Labels: dreams

16 Weeks, 4 Days


With Simon...


With Ben...



And for kicks, with Baby Three in the same ugly blue shirt as the other two...

Labels: 16 weeks, belly pics

Still no internet... but I did want to add this before I forgot. Two nights ago was another boy bdream! In the dream, he was four months premature, but huge. Everyone kept saying how big he would have been if I had gone the whole nine months. Lol.

So that brings us to:
Girls: 6. Boys: 4!

Labels: dreams

Gained three pounds.
Measuring 16 weeks exactly.
Big ultrasound is April 1. DOn't think a good APril FOols joke has not occured to me. ;)

Not much.

Oh, except that I've already reached the point where when I sneeze, I feel like the baby is going to fly out. Good times.

Doctor's appointment on Wednesday...

I accidentally deleted the pic I took this weekend. So here's 14 weeks, 5 days...


And here's 14-1/2 weeks with Simon...


At 16 weeks, I actually will have three comparison pics! I wish I had been better about doing belly pics with Ben... :(

Labels: belly pics

So, I am officially in a groove with this pregnancy and have reached "it's not so bad" territory. I can eat with confidence that it will stay put in the morning (after the initial dry heaving... rock on!), the acid reflux is more under control than with either of my other pregnancies and I'm sleeping well most nights. (hoping the blog curse doesn't bite me now)

Still only occasional "maybe" movement here and there.

Can't quite shake the tired though. Thankfully, Simon naps every day still and so I can put my feet up for a couple hours at least in the middle of the day.

I took a picture a couple of days ago and will eventually release it from my memory card so you can see my hugeness in all its glory.