21 Weeks

Holy smokes, I'm over halfway through this pregnancy!  Symptom-wise, I'm definitely starting to feel it.  This baby is riding higher than Gavin did, so I'm dealing with heartburn and breathing issues when I'm sitting in certain positions...but honestly, this pregnancy has still been WORLDS easier than it was with Gavin.  The only truly difficult part is that I'm getting a little big to be lifting Gavin -- and with him getting ready to bust some bottom molars, he's wanting to be held a lot.  (Sigh, he's so sweet.  These temper tantrums he's throwing are a bit much...but he's just so darn cute.)

We had our big ultrasound -- the anatomy scan -- last week, to check that everything was healthy with the baby's organs.  This was the ultrasound with Gavin where I found out I had previa, and though it later resolved on its own, the whole ultrasound experience was marred by the fact that I had all sorts of restrictions placed on me as a result of the previa.  This time -- ALL CLEAR!  I'm healthy, Baylor is healthy, and everything is generally looking perfect.  

Isn't she beautiful?  I know it's weird to say since she's still inside...but I swear, I think she looks just like Gavin.  He was always curled up with his hands around his face, and she already looks like she's developing Gavin's marshmallow cheeks.  I'm so in love with her already.  If all goes according to plan, the anatomy scan was my last doctor-mandated ultrasound, but I think Stephen and I will do a 3D/4D scan (like we did with G) to see our little princess again when she gets chubbier.

  

Anyway, once we received repeat confirmation that this baby was a girl, we went ahead and ordered her bedding!  We've been stockpiling Amazon gift cards since our birthdays last year, so we ended up paying next to nothing for the bedding and accessories!  The bedding arrived today and we LOVE it.

Her nursery is small, so the neutral colors will be perfect.  We'll have to repaint the room for the third time in four years (haha), but I think the whole thing will be so beautiful when it comes together.  It's super exciting to see Baylor's stuff piling up in the guest room, just waiting to be organized!  I started feeling her kick last weekend (!!!), so it's all starting to feel very, very real. 

We leave for WALT DISNEY WORLD in just over a week, so this will probably be the last post before we get back -- but say a little prayer that all goes well for us!  Something tells me that traveling with a 15-month old will be substantially different that traveling with a 10-month old.  On our flights to and from Mexico, Gavin slept in our arms the whole time.  I don't believe that will be the case this time around.  Our squirmy monkey is becoming more independent, and has also dropped his morning nap...so we'll see.  He keeps us on our toes at home, so I have no doubt he will similarly test his boundaries in Orlando.  And we have TWO strikes against us -- a toddler and a pregnant mama!  We're planning on being flexible, taking it easy, and realizing that no matter how much of Disney World we actually get to see, it's not going to go anywhere.  Anything we miss, we can go back and see in a few years.  I wouldn't mind just lounging around the hotel pool, to be honest!  So we'll be game for anything and are hoping to just enjoy a week away from the stresses of everyday life.  

I'm looking forward to updating this blog with TONS OF PICTURES of Gavin's first magical trip to Mickey's World in a few weeks!  Until then...!  

My Favorite Little Model

I'll be honest - I think I did a great job taking photos of Gavin throughout his first year.  I got a nice DSLR camera and editing software...took monthly portraits...attempted to capture every milestone and holiday on film.  I created beautiful Shutterfly books for 0-3 months, 4-6 months, 7-9 months, 10-12 months, and Gavin's first birthday.  I seriously treasure those books and love looking back at special moments from my darling baby's life.

And then he turned one, and for some reason, I've had a harder time remembering to take photos.  Maybe it's because it's winter and we're not going out as much (trips to the zoo, football games, etc).  Maybe it's because, beyond the first year, changes aren't happening at the same rapid pace.  Maybe it's because life just feels busier with a second baby on the way (and let's face it, it's not going to slow down anytime soon).

That being said, I am still working on a Shutterfly book to capture Gavin's second year, and occasionally I'll remember to get my camera out and document cute moments like using utensils at mealtime or being silly in the bath.  When Baylor comes, I'll have to make even more of an effort to make sure I capture her important moments too, and that I don't just lump them together with Gavin's.  (I plan on creating a book to capture my pregnancy and the first few weeks following her birth, a 0-6 month book, and a first birthday book...beyond that, starting in January 2014, I'll start doing one family yearbook rather than individual books for each child.)  

Here are some recent photos of Gavin, since I realize it's been awhile since I've posted any!  I may be biased, but he gets cuter by the day.

It doesn't matter how many loveys we buy for this baby -- he only wants Old Ratty!

It's a...GIRL!

Two weeks ago, Stephen and I found out that our next little nugget will be of the ruffles-and-bows variety!  We are very excited, particularly since my brother and sister-in-law will also be welcoming a little girl.  We chose to find out the gender early -- we found out at 16 weeks with Gavin, 17 weeks with this baby -- so I always remain a BIT nervous and always hang onto receipts until my OB/GYN confirms the health and gender at my anatomy scan (in a few weeks).  The ultrasound tech was 100% confident it was a girl, and the picture below definitely verifies the lack of "boy parts" -- but still, you hear stories all the time about people finding out they're having one gender only to pop out the other.  I suppose, then, that it's a good thing we actually had chosen the same name for a girl OR a boy!  Our little princess will be named Baylor Kate Dowd -- Baylor Isaac was our choice for a boy -- and we think it's just perfect.  We wanted something unique but not weird.  Something easy to spell and pronounce.  Something that could morph into whatever type of person our little girl becomes -- ultra-feminine, tomboyish, etc.  She'll most likely go by Baylee as a nickname, but Stephen and I just loved the name Baylor from the moment we thought of it and knew well before we got pregnant with this baby that Baylor would be the name.

So there you have it!  I can't believe I'm already 19 weeks along -- I have an appointment this afternoon to hear the heartbeat again, and then we'll schedule our anatomy scan.  It is FLYING the second time around!