20 Weeks Pregnant: Baby #2!

Hey!  I kind of dropped off the blog for a few weeks (months?), I know!  So sorry about that.  Several of you have asked me where I have been and why I haven't updated.  There are a few reasons for that, and most are technological issues.  Blah.  Many long stories short, I am working with a replacement cell phone that is out of memory (no more pictures can be taken unless I delete another), and I am working with Windows 8 which apparently has a problem with letting you import pictures (and have access to them on your computer) from a camera.  So yeah.  Please...please...please....do not EVER get Windows 8.  It is nothing like Windows 7.  They have completely butchered it.  You might disagree with me if you only use Windows for the internet and things like that, but if you have ever tried to import anything, it is a bear.  Sure, you might be able to import stuff, but once you do, you can't open any of it or do anything with it.  Nothing works- my pictures, my documents, my videos, it all says they can't be opened.  So frustrating.  I have been freaking out because my phone is full, the video camera is full, and the computer won't let me import anything.  Meanwhile, August is doing all sorts of things (almost walking on his own!!!), and I am not able to capture any of it because of this stupid computer.  Also, I have barely documented any of this pregnancy, so Baby #2 is already getting the second child treatment.  Grrrrr.  Ok, I'm all worked up now.  You probably read this to see a pregnancy update, not my rant on Windows 8.  So sorry!  Let me calm down a second.


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Ok, I'm still not calm, but maybe I will be if I talk about something else. 

Pregnancy lately has been bliss!  Seriously, it really has been.  My PUPPPS rash is completely GONE!!!!  What?!  Gone!!!!  I'm so so so thankful.  You have no idea how much that rash can literally drive you out of your mind.  I am going to do a separate post on how I got rid of it, in case someone like me ever googles like crazy about what to do with this rash.  I need to title the post with PUPPPS in the title so that my blog will come up when they are searching.  Look for that soon!

20 weeks and 2 days pregnant with Baby #2.  Excuse the poor quality.  And if you have a recommendation for mirror cleaner, apparently I could use it.  My homemade mirror cleaner is looking streaky.

In the past week, the baby's movement has REALLY picked up.  I am so thankful.  I was starting to get worried, because this baby moves so much less than August did.  It could also be because I stay very busy, and I just don't notice the movement as much, but this baby really seems more calm than August.  I can even sleep on my stomach sometimes.  I obviously don't do that on purpose, but I have always been a stomach sleeper, so sometimes I end up on my stomach.  August used to freak out when I would do that, but this baby doesn't seem to mind as much.  I need to get a pregnancy pillow though.  I think I would toss and turn a lot less.  Right now I'm just using a regular pillow and a Boppy in between my knees, but it's not enough support for me.  I need a full body pillow.  Adam said I could get one as long as he can use it after the pregnancy.  LOL.  They are really comfortable.  I borrowed the Boppy Prenatal Body Pillow from a friend last pregnancy, and it was wonderful.  I will probably be getting one of those soon hopefully.

I have also had a decent amount of energy lately.  I'm not in the too big to move stage, and I'm not in the first trimester zombie stage either, so I'm in a really great place right now.  I feel really good.  Last Saturday, we had a family outing at the park.  We walked 4 and 1/2 miles!  I didn't even realize we had walked that far.  It felt soooo good.  I haven't walked again since, so I need to start again.  It really felt great.  I am only up 5 pounds so far, but I am afraid this slow weight gain won't last forever.  I know the pounds can pack on fast toward the end (and I know I'm not close to the end yet!).  At this point in pregnancy with August, I had gained 11 pounds.  (If you would like to read my 20 weeks pregnant post with August, click HERE.)  I am hoping if I can keep the weight gain slow enough, my pregnancy weight with August will pass my pregnancy weight with this baby, if that makes sense.  I am starting 10 pounds heavier this pregnancy than I started with August, so I am trying to make up for that.  I gained 50 pounds with August, so I am trying to keep this weight gain much lower.  I think the 50 pounds may have been partially due to the Preeclampsia (lots of retained water and swelling), but I know most of it was due to my diet and lack of exercise. 

Strangers have started to comment on my pregnancy which always surprises me.  I know it's obvious that I am pregnant, but I guess if I were going to comment on someone being pregnant, I wouldn't do it unless I could tell they were for sure about to pop....with a baby.  Haha.  Adam keeps telling me that I need to mess with people and be like, "Pregnant?  What are you talking about?  You think I look pregnant?"  LOL.  I guess I'm not that mean though.  I would feel so bad if I made someone embarrassed.  Haha.  Maybe I will do it one day, just to say I did. :) 

Soooo.....we will find out on Tuesday of next week whether we are having a BOY or a GIRL!  Ahhh, crazy!  Several people have asked me if we are having a gender reveal.  Well.....yes and no.  Adam and I are going to find out at the appointment what we are having.  So, we won't be finding out at the party like we did last time.  I guess that doesn't sound as fun, but I have my reasons, and I will let you know about them next week.  :)  So, as for the gender party.  Here is the dilemma.  My appointment is on a Tuesday.  Tuesday night Adam (and several family members) have a Bible class they attend at church.  Wednesday night is church, so that leaves Thursday night.  So we will have to keep the gender a secret for a couple days if we are going to have a gender reveal party for the rest of the family.  I guess that's ok though.  I just hope I don't slip and spill the beans! :)  If you would like to read how I planned for our last gender reveal, click HERE.  If you would like to read about our gender reveal party with August, click HERE for Part 1 and click HERE for Part 2. 

Well, I think that's about all for now.  I have several posts coming up, so don't forget about me!  Haha.  I'm going to try to get back into blogging, despite my technological issues.  We will see if I can figure this Windows 8 thing out.  I will be posting soon how to get rid of PUPPPS rash, our new cloth diapering adventure (yep, that's what I said!), a MUCH needed update on August (he will be 1 year old on May 3rd....what??!  I'm gonna go cry now), and some other posts I have wanted to write for a long time.  I appreciate y'all sticking with me!  Thanks for following along!  Enjoy the rest of your Saturday! :)