17 weeks

Another week has passed!

Movement has really picked up this week and I'm feeling the baby almost every day, sometimes several times a day. This is more than a month before I really felt Liam. I hope that the thumps get stronger soon and that Rob will be able feel this little one kicking in the coming weeks.

Still thrilled to say that I haven't gained any weight yet. And, I'm starting to enjoy the belly. In previous weeks, even though I'm much bigger, much earlier this time, it's always been a mix of bloat and baby. I finally feel like everything is rounding out into a baby belly and that things are starting to even out a bit. I loved my big round belly while I was pregnant with Liam-- I've never felt more beautiful... Well, up until the last few weeks when I became miserably uncomfortable.

I hate shorts. I never wear them, but I broke down and bought a pair of black maternity bermuda shorts this weekend-- I may live in them this summer. My mom surprised me with another pair of khaki bermudas and I'm thankful to have them. I can't believe I managed to end up pregnant two hot summers in a row... I bought a second maternity bathing suit this weekend, too. We have two beach trips planned this summer, plus, I plan on taking Liam to the pool often, so I really needed a second.

I'm feeling ok-- those pesky migraines have still come a few times in the past week. The Fioricet helps, I just hate constantly taking pain meds. I feel like I'm putting the baby in danger, even though they were approved by my doc.

I'm still having quite a bit of anxiety about our upcoming anatomy scan (one week from today). I'm not completely obsessing over the "soft markers" issue that I wrote about last week... more just a vague worry that something might be wrong, even though I have no reason to think that there is. I've used my doppler several times in the past week and while the heartbeat is whooshing away in there, but I'm still having a hard time sleeping at night.

I miss my Ativan.

I took Ativan for years to help cope with anxiety, but had to stop taking it (along with Wellbutrin) when we started TTC. It's been hard that over the past two years, the time when I've probably needed it most, I've been unable to take it. With two littles, 14 months apart, I think I'm going to need to start taking it again after the baby is born. Unfortunately, that will mean that Baby #2 may not be breastfed for very long. I hate that. It's very important to me, but I also know that a relaxed mother is a better mother. I'm just going to see how things go in November, and if I feel like I really need it, please remind me not to torture myself over the decision.

The plan is to stay busy this week. I took Liam swimming yesterday (always a great day!), I'm meeting up with my mom today, I work Tues & Thurs and we're leaving on Friday morning for a weekend trip to Nashville which should be fun. Since my brother wasn't able to get off of work on Sunday to come here and spend Father's Day weekend with us, we're all heading up there.

Friday afternoon, we're going to the venue where my brother and his fiancee will get married next May and my mom and I are going to help her settle on some design stuff for the wedding. (Can't wait to get started! I've already designed the Save the Dates!) We may also have a chance to go with her to try on wedding dresses-- I'm so happy that she wants my mom & I so involved in the wedding planning. It will be a great opportunity for us to get to know her even better & I hope that we can make her special day beautiful!

Happy Monday, everyone!