New Jeans

We spent the holidays with my in-laws - which was a great time. Before we left I thought, hmmmm, should I pack any maternity pants? But thought, why - no reason since I have not gained a pound. Well, low and behold while we were there, I woke up, put on my jeans, and they wouldn't zip. Then I looked at my belly - there was actually a round popped out belly there - overnight it was just there! So we went by Old Navy and i bought a pair of jeans to make it thru the week. MUCH more comfy! Though could the increased belly size be attibuted to baby alone? Or also holiday eating?

I know I know - need to post some pics of my belly - maybe this week!

Announcing...

Baby #2 - due July 4, 2009!

Welcome back to the McCool Baby Blog friends and family! As you can see by the history of my posts, I have been posting here and there since October - so take a walk down history lane if you want to know how things have been!

I am just shy of 12 weeks along in my pregnancy and things are going well, though this pregnancy is 100% different from my first one. The most noticeable difference is weight. With Brennan, I gained weight quickly (about 1 pound a week for the entire pregnancy which yes, put me at 40+ pounds when he arrived!) - my dr was not concerned at all - she told me I would quickly take it off and I did! But this time I have not gained anything. We think it could be a variety of things from the fact that I am still nursing to the fact that I have been battling a virus the past week (I finally got my appetite back though - woo hoo - and I am HUNGRY!). She hopes that I gain between 3-5 lbs by 20 weeks. That sounds totally reasonable!

My appt went really well this morning. PJ was unable to attend with me, but Dr. G and I had a nice convo (yes, I am sticking with the same dr from last time - LOVE HER!). One thing we discussed was including a doula in this birthing experience (are you wondering to yourself, but Kyle, you had a c-section last time - well, welcome to the world of VBACs - and you know me, would you think I would do anything different?!!!) which she is really supportive of. But, Dr. G was trained by midwives, so her approach to L&D is very doula-esque - it was just with B I did not get to experience that side of her b/c of the situation! Anyway, she also suggested I consider taking a hypno-birthing class. Okay, for those of you thinking, I would NEVER do hypnosis, don't turn your nose up yet, it is more about a style of relaxation (http://www.hypnobabies.com/) and meditation, which after last time, I KNOW I need! In fact, it had already crossed my mind to do some research in to this area. Dr. G and I are so on the same page! First off, Dr. G has about an 80% VBAC success rate, so that is already in my favor, but the stats with hypnobirthing/babies is even better - better in every aspect! So we'll see. I am not going to be so closed minded about things like drugs this time, though am very much hoping for a natural drug free vbac (okay, if you haven't figured it out yet, VBAC = Vaginal Birth After Ceserean).

In case you are wondering or follow my other blogs (yes, it is ridiculous, I have three - though one day they will be merged in to one! Probably come July!), I am still nursing Brennan. Dr. G is very open to that as well and supports my decision to continue nursing. In fact, at the conclusion of my appt, the lactation consultant came by and we had a very nice discussion. She assured me that I was not the only person in the world that was nursing a toddler while pregnant (though sometimes it feels like that) and that it was just fine to practice child-led weaning. She also mentioned that my milk composition was going to be changing over the next months, so Brennan may opt out or reduce, which he has already started doing somewhat. Whatever happens is fine - we'll roll with it!

That's all for now - check back for additional postings and hopefully a belly pic soon!

dr tomorrow

Okay - so pending a great visit at the dr tomorrow, I am going to ANNOUNCE the news to the world. I better get B-man dressed in his "Big Brother" shirt tonight so I can post.....crossing my fingers. I was worried earlier this week b/c I was sick for seriously like a week- like could not eat hardly ANYTHING - and felt like I was losing weight - but then yesterday I was famished and ate the world and today I noticed my belly was sticking out and I could not suck it in. Okay - things are probably fine! YA YA YA YA - so excited about baby #2! Can't wait to officially share (though I think a lot of people know already or at least suspect!). Love love

Going well

Things are going well - I need to get my butt in gear and get a belly pic up! Had a good weekend in STL with the family - so much fun! We threw around names for little Baby McCool #2 - loving Campbell for a girl right now - but that's all we've got. Well, a few others as well. No boy names though.....

A July 4th Baby!

So I finally had my first dr appt - was a little nervous b/c of spotting that I had this week, but all was well. When they took all my vitals, I noticed I had lost a pound since I saw the nurse at the beginning of the month, but the nurse told me it was common in the first trimester. When I met with Dr. G, she didn't seem concerned, especially when I told her that I was still nursing Brennan. She did indicate that she wanted to watch my wait and was concerned that too much nursing would not be ideal - which I don't really agree with. I am just going to eat and drink more. I am eating a piece of pizza as we speak and also ate two bagels today. Amazing for me since usually my appetite is poor lately! Ha ha!

We ended up doing an ultrasound today b/c we couldn't find the heartbeat with the doppler - that was a nice surprse to have an ultrasound! They calculated that I am 7 weeks and 5 days along and that I am due July 4th - Happy Birthday America!

Ugghhhh

I feel so sick - all the time. For like the past two weeks. It really is not fun, but totally worth it! I spend all of my waking hours hoping I don't yak - constant nausea and lots of headaches. My belly is starting too pooch out again too! I am 8 weeks this week and go see the dr on Thursday. Can't wait to hear the little heartbeat!

In terms of eating - it is so wierd. Last week I just wanted carbs - Bagels and CC, Cheezits, Cheetos, pasta, etc..... Totally don't want my morning decaf coffee or my daily dose of chocolate - in fact, sweets for most part sound just plain gross. This week I am totally in to fruit - yesterday PJ made us chicken fingers for lunch and I really just wanted my apple! And last night for dinner the only thing I could put my mind around was a fruit smoothie - yummy! Interesting what pregnancy does to teh body!

The proof is in the test!

Belly pics to start soon!

I think I am.......

PREGNANT!

5 weeks as of Friday!

About two weeks ago I told PJ, I think I'm pregnant. He was like, okay, take a test. And I did, and it was negative, but I told him, it's too early to know. And he was like, maybe it is just wishful thinking, but why do you think that? And I explained the slight nausea and headaches that had started, to which he pointed out a cold that I had which could also be the culprint.

But the feeling didn't go away. The headaches continued. I started feeling some pulling in my stomach. I wanted to SLEEP! And started going to bed really early. And when we were in St. Louis, I took a 2 hour nap (and I NEVER nap!).

I just knew.

On Monday I called April and I told her what I thought. Now, keep in mind, I wasn't late yet - my period has been ranging between starting every 32-36 days since June when I start menstrating again. Anyway, Monday was about 30 days - but I just had a feeling. April suggested I wait until Friday to take a test so that if it didn't come back positive initially I didn't continue to worry all week. Good plan. Wed I mentioned my theory to PJ. Then Friday after work, I bought a test and bingo - just as I thought - POSITIVE!

We are keeping it to ourselves right now (oh, and April obviously!) and will tell our friends and families when I am further along - maybe at Thanksgiving. We hope to see the dr and have an ultrasound before then.

So - my hopes are for a VBAC - god, I will be sooo pissed if I have to have another c-section! But obviously, healthy baby is first and foremost! And I wonder, how will I nurse both? I need to research that? As Brennan was having his leisurely morning nursing session, I wondered, does that work? I know it does, but isn't the milk composition different? Oh well, time will tell. But I have a feeling my little boy will still want the boobie.