Half way...Horray!!

So I have officially hit the half way point in this pregnancy. I cant believe how fast it is going. I feel so excited to meet this little girl...but at the same time nervous. Can I really handle three kids?!? Guess I better buckle up and get ready for the ride because shes coming...ready or not.

So far I feel pretty darn good all things considered.  My belly has for sure started to pop out and people actually notice Im pregnant wherever I go. 

20 weeks...20 to go :)

 This is good and bad. Good because I get offered help from random people at places like the grocery store and restaurants. Bad because these same random people feel the need to reach out and touch me.  Now seriously...no one reaches out to rub an obese mans belly...so why rub mine??? I know I know...there is a cute little baby growing in there but still...I do not like to be touched by strangers! Co-workers...family...friends...all fine....but strangers need to back off.  There done...whew! Its just a HUGE pet peeve of mine. 

The heartburn has hit and its worse than I can ever remember it being with the other kids. Yesterday I made the mistake of enjoying some Mcdonalds french fries...never again :(  I felt like my chest and throat were on fire and no amount of pepcid or tums was helping.  I literally slept almost sitting straight up last night.  I talked to my doctor today and she said to double the dose of pepcid and if that didnt help shed write me a script for something stronger.  Nothing like feeling like your insides are on fire. Another lovely pain that is new this time around is the feeling like Ive been kicked in the crotch if I stand up for too long or try to do too much at one time.  My doc says this is round ligament pain and stretching and that ice packs help. That sucks...because I cant really walk around with icepacks in my pants. Oh well...

The baby is growing perfectly. She is right on schedule and Im measuring excactly 20 weeks.  This baby girl is a mover. We couldnt catch her heartbeat for more than a second before my doctor would have to move the doppler to find her.  When we did hear it long enough to know how fast it was she was 170bpm. It sounded like a freight train!  Guess this baby is going to live up to the reputation that the second born Pfeffer children live up to...hyper crazy but super fun :)  I feel movement occasionally. Im sure in the next few weeks that will increase especially with how this child bounces around.  Ive gained 5lbs...and my doctor hopes Ill gain some more once the heartburn is under control. 

Now that we know its a girl we have finally narrowed down a name. Jason didnt have any say in naming Jackson or Layla so this time around I left it all up to him....gulp.... But I must say he picked a very pretty name for this little girl.  Ella Rose Pfeffer. I love it!  Oh and we broke the news to Jack...after punching the table and scowling for a while he looked up and said...I miss my brother Jacob. I told him honey...he doesnt really exist because this baby has always been a girl shes just big enough now for us to know.  He then told me as soon as she comes out I need to put a boy in there to grow so he can have his brother. UMMMMM.....sorry buddy...that wont be happening any time soon. It makes me sad for him but he will be a good big brother for his sisters. 

Quick update on everyone else....Jackson is doing great. He came home from his vacation so happy and excited and I cant describe how good it is to have him home.  He had his 4 year old well visit today and has moved from 10% in weight to 30%. Still a skinny minny but for sure growing!  He is the sweetest thing in the world. Today we were getting ready to leave and he yells...Hold on ladies Im on my way! lol I just love him.

Layla has been sick...again. This time allergies have hit my poor baby girl hard.  She was wheezing so much we had to start giving her albuterol treatments as needed.  I feel so bad for her but like usual nothing seems to phase her. She runs and plays like nothing is wrong...coughing sneezing and wheezing and all.  She is one tough little cookie.  Shes talking more and more and is such a social butterfly. She definately did not get my tendancy to be shy.

I feel so lucky to have my little home and family.  My kids make me smile everyday and I couldnt ask for more.  Sure they wear me out and drive me crazy sometimes, but at the end of the day when they kiss each other  goodnight and yell I LOVE YOU at the top of their lungs...it makes all the crazy worth it. 

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice

So today was the big day. We got to find out what this little baby that Ive been growing inside me for the last almost 19 weeks is.  With all all of my pregnancies Ive had strong feelings one way or the other about whether it was a boy or a girl.  This time was no different.  Jason and Jackson were really rooting for a boy. In fact Jackson wouldnt even discuss the possibility of it being a girl. I had strong feelings the whole time that they would both be dissapointed.  This pregnancy was the first one that I cheated and tried to sneak a peak at work.  Both times I did it I honestly couldnt tell what I was looking at but a coworker of mine said she saw girl. So....my suspicions were half way confirmed.  Today at the ultrasound that little baby was moving around like a mexican jumping bean! It took forever to catch all the vital organs...which I was very insistent we take our time on because my job makes me so paranoid.  Thank goodness we saw all four chambers of the heart....no neural tube defects...and baby measured exactly proportionate to her gestational age. I am so very thankful for this!  Finally it was time to check down below to see what we would be having. And I was right! We are going to be blessed with a beautiful baby girl come August! I am so excited that she is healthy and I think it will be so fun for Layla to grow up with a little sister so close in age.  I havent gotten the courage to break the news to Jackson yet.  Hes on vacation with his dad so Ill tell him in person when he comes home. Im sure he will love her...but the poor kid really wanted a little brother. Heres some pics.

Its a girl!

cute profile pic

tiny hand

After the ultrasound we went out to lunch and shopping at Babies R Us for a few cute little things and a new baby monitor...I sat on ours and literally crushed it. Nice self esteem booster there huh? LOL Anyway...we were looking around and I go sit down in one of the rocking chairs by all the bedding and all of a sudden I just start bawling.  Im not even sure why. I am so happy she is healthy...and I feel so blessed to have the children that I have and to be able to add to our little...which I guess will soon be considered big family.  I think it was just an overwhelming mix of gratitude and also a little bit of sadness that Jack wont get a brother like he wanted and I know Jason deep down really wanted a boy too. Dont get me wrong...he is happy too but I know he would have been much more excited had it been a boy. Needless to say...I looked a little nuts. Im sure that place is used to dealing with emotional pregnant ladies though.  I think everyone I saw there was pregnant. 

So...here we go...half way done 20 more weeks to go before my life gets just a bit more crazy.  Im so glad my mind can be at ease knowing she is healthy and growing like she should. Now I just need to try to take care of myself so she makes it to term. We feel so blessed!