The second half!

21 weeks and all's well!  Mama's been enjoying the best things about pregnancy: baby kicks, looking fierce in an elastic waistband, and being able to eat whatever she wants.  I started feeling The Bean at around 18 weeks and feel him fairly consistently now.  His kicks are low and fluttery, and seem to get stronger if my posture gets ugly.  He doesn't like being scrunched up down there.  Our little guy is a little bigger than a canteloupe but my belly is slightly larger.  And by slightly, I mean I have arrived at freak show status about 20 weeks early.  I am already getting the "You're due WHEN?!" comments from strangers that are great self esteem boosters.  What's different about this pregnancy is I've gained a lot less weight so far, and seem to only be growing in the belly region.  This makes me look like I'm smuggling a basketball and gets a lot of sympathetic looks when people realize I still have 4 months to go before this show is over.  Another fun happening involves the belly button.  It popped out last week and is equally gross and adorable all at the same time.  Funny because it never happened in 38 weeks of gestating Ben, but here it is, sticking out for the whole world to see.  Ben caught a glimpse of it the other night and became obsessed - pressing it over and over again like something was supposed to happen.  He recently figured out the function of buttons - on the dishwasher, TV, etc, so I'm guessing he expected something magical to happen. It never did.  I encourage him to pet his brother and talk to him, but he still doesn't get it and pretty much thinks I'm insane for suggesting it.  He'll know soon enough.

Health is still in good shape.  No swelling, blood pressure issues or any of the other stuff that began to rear its ugly head around this time last go-around.  That's been a relief and will hopefully continue another 18 weeks or so.  The doctor told us that unless I go into labor early, The Bean will be delivered in Week 39, which puts us anywhere between September 28th and October 4th.  It's kinda cool to pinpoint a specific window.  We may even get to decide his birthday if it jives with the doctor's golf schedule.  That is, if The Bean doesn't make a surprise attempt at entering the world.

Preparing for our second son has been maintenance free so far.  This is a great perk to having two kids of the same gender, two years apart, in the same season.  We are thankful we resisted the urge to sell off all of Ben's adorable onesies and hats with animal ears, as well as his toys, blankets and anything else we ever got for him.  These things are slowly making their way out of containers and diaper boxes, being dusted off, and found a new place in the nursery.  This is a lot easier than painting shapes on the wall and building furniture with confusing directions.  I was hesitant about it at first, but am really warming up to the idea of the boys in one room.  He definitely has a name (yet to be announced) so that process is out of the way.  Because he's leaving my body through the emergency exit like his brother, I get to bypass the ridiculousness that is child birthing class, so the only thing left to do is wait for his arrival!  I love this pregnancy! 

Summer is around the corner and lots of fun can be anticipated.  The Turners are traveling to High Point next month to see Auntie Lauren and Uncle Bear get married.  We travel to the beach a little over a month after that and will likely be spending a lot of time at the pool in between.  Not looking forward to wearing a bathing suit, but totally looking forward to floating in the water!  We're also hoping to make a few trips to the mountains here and there, and will likely go up for the 4th of July because after doing it for 3 straight years, I'm pretty sure it's tradition.  Mama and The Bean have lots to look forward to before we meet face to face.

Halfway already?!

18 weeks, 6 days: The obligatory (and super cute) profile shot:

Jazzercise in the womb: You'd think I could feel it!

Hey y'all!: face forward shot with his little heart beating away

Showing off my nasal cavity and waving hello:

Yep, it's official: girls don't have those :)

Making up for my lack of photos in the last post, here are all of the ultrasound photos we got at our anatomy scan today.  The tech took about 30 more, but they were all filed in my chart for reference.  Those pictures show a very healthy, unremarkable (yet quite remarkable!) baby boy.  Everything measured on target, looked healthy and couldn't be better.  Officially a singleton, The Bean is getting quite comfy in there.  The doctor met with me for about 5 minutes after the scan to confirm that everything looks good, and scheduled me to come back in 3 more weeks.

Last week, Week 18, I started feeling little baby kicks.  They are very slight and only happen when I'm sitting very still, but unmistakable to a veteran mama.  I felt Ben much earlier than The Bean, but today confirmed that this is because his placenta is front and center, cushioning most of his movements.  When I can feel him, it's because he is working on his jazzercise routine and really getting busy.  The combination of the kicks and seeing my little human on the screen this afternoon helped me understand that THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING!  I am not reliving my pregnancy with Ben, and I am not talking about someone else, I am having another baby!  Holy cow!  I have to be honest, it's been harder for me to bond with The Bean.  I'm chalking it up to being super busy chasing a toddler around and not sitting around, dreaming about nursery colors and newborn onesies.  But this week has changed all of that.  My little guy is half cooked and will be here in as much time as it took to get this far!  He is super cute, too.  I fell in love all over again watching him squirm around while the nice ultrasound tech tried to measure his head and leg bones.

The Bean probably has a name.  This was a long conversation (19 weeks long) that became quite boring at the end.  We kept landing on the same 10 or so names, and by we, I mean me.  Jacob agreed with one or two, but we couldn't quite work out a name combo.  Until THE name.  I threw it out over chicken fingers at our friendly neighborhood restaurant and Jacob didn't say "that sucks".  A few minutes later, he said "I could live with that" and I slept on it to see if I could too.  Sure enough, I still love it.  The first name is his top choice, and the middle name is mine.  Backwards from Ben's naming ceremony, where I chose the first, and he the second.  In true Turner fashion, we'll probably keep it a surprise because 1. it's the only surprise left, and 2. we'd like to avoid the "You're naming him WHAT?!" conversation with friends and family.  It's not completely outrageous, but there's always that insensitive guy who proceeds to share a story about how he knew someone by that name who picked his nose, or remind you what embarrassing word the name can rhyme with.  Anyone who has named a child can relate to this.  Because I am pregnant and emotional over things like Alltel commercials, I want to avoid this situation.

I have finally arrived in the glorious "honeymoon trimester".  The morning sickness is gone except for the occasional "I think I just threw up in my mouth" situation (sorry, it happens).  I LOVE my new curves and believe myself to be rocking pregnancy, but am savoring it because I am approaching "Your baby is due WHEN?!" status, followed by "Are you carrying twins?" to end with "I didn't know bellies could stretch that much!".  I'm carrying The Bean front and center, just like Ben.  I'd like to think you can't tell I'm pregnant if you're behind me at the checkout line because he's all out front.  I feel pretty wonderful and am still a manageable enough size to work in the yard (my favorite spring/summer past time).  Oh yeah, and my health is stellar.  Like I said, the honeymoon trimester.  I did finally put my regular jeans away this weekend (RIP regular jeans: 0 weeks - 18 weeks gestation).  Wearing pants to my ribcage and feeling good.

10 weeks:

18 weeks: Less snow, more baby!

7 short of a baseball team!

"The Bean" is not a Bernice, it's a Bernard!  We're having a baby BOY!  Had our gender scan this morning where our wiggly little man showed off his goods with no problem, just like his big brother.  The doctor commented on how squirmy our little hamster is when she said, "HE'S a wiggly one!"  and showed us the evidence.  Jacob and I exchanged "told you so" looks again, followed with complete excitement for our family and especially for Ben.  Two little boys, two years apart!  We're either completely blessed, or in a lot of trouble.  Or both!

The exam went very well.  Mama is up 1 pound from last month and has a squeaky clean bill of health.  The Bean's twin is completely gone with no traces left, which is amazing and a relief for his sake.  He seems to be measuring on target, and will get the complete work-up in 3 weeks when we return for the "anatomy ultrasound".  Mama is feeling well, and still has the occasional battle with nausea, but it is getting better.  Just like last time, all I can think about is caesar salads.  I dream about them.  I taste them in the middle of the day.  I would continue eating them if I had an endless supply. You know when you go to your friendly neighborhood restaurant and order the salad and they bring you a mountain of lettuce you couldn't possibly ever finish?  Yeah, I can finish those now.  And eat what's on Jacob's plate too.  Especially if it's more salad.  It's just a shame that I'm not addicted to something like, fat-free raspberry vinagrette - caesar dressing might be worse for you than ice cream.  But I'm loving it!

The name debate is quickly turning into another battle.  We're still clueless on what The Bean will be called.  I'm not sure The Bean Turner will work, so hopefully we'll get more creative here shortly.  It's pretty much a replay of last time - I throw out several (really good) names, and Jacob destroys every one of them.  When I ask what his suggestions are, he throws out something ridiculous and mythological, and the conversation ends.  We have about 24 more weeks to play this game before we need to get serious, otherwise we'll be leaving the hospital with "Baby Boy Turner".  Or The Bean. 

We've been preparing Ben for the arrival of his baby brother, but not surprisingly, he doesn't get it.  He loves babies though.  When I'm home and watching "A Baby Story" or some other equally horrific birthing show on TLC, Ben hears the babies cry and becomes very concerned and interested.  He loves hearing babies when we're out and about.  Not sure how crazy he'll be about it when a screaming infant wakes up at 3 am in his room while he's trying to count sheep, but time will tell.  The boys will share a room.  And secrets.  And mischievous plots.  Lucky for us, the blue paint is already on the wall and we have endless storage bins of blue sleepers and onesies.  We are just so thrilled we can't even stand it!

So Team Turner is completely outnumbering me, and I couldn't be happier!  Nothing better than a little boy, except two little boys!  7 more, and we can play ball!

Healthy Bean

March 22nd: 11 weeks, 6 days gestation:

Little Bean is taking over the womb!  We didn't get an exact measurement this time, but everything appears to be developing on schedule.  The best news of the day is that the empty sac is getting smaller as Baby's sac gets larger.  It's beginning to compress, which is exactly what we were hoping for!  The ultrasound pictures only show Little Bean, wiggling around and being healthy.  Our doctor is so pleased with the progress that we won't return for another month, and by then we'll be able to positively identify whether this one is pink or blue!  And if everything looks good then, we'll go back to being monitored on a regular schedule, instead of every two weeks!

Being nearly 12 weeks pregnant is fantastic.  We are almost out of the 1st trimester and on our way to the "honeymoon" trimester.  That was the best part of my pregnancy with Ben.  No sickness, little fatigue, looking round enough to be pregnant, but not freak-show huge, and developing that fabulous pregnancy glow everyone talks about.  I am still experiencing waves of nausea, extreme fatigue, and the pregnancy glow is still greasy acne as my body tries to regulate all the excess hormones.  But soon all that will change.  My mindset at this stage of pregnancy changes as anxiety lessens and excitement sets in.  I am still miraculously fitting into my pre-pregnancy jeans and discovered happily (and by accident) last week that they aren't even my fat jeans collection!  I could have sworn I had dug up the fat pants, but I must have dreamed it.  Anyway, I know my days in them are numbered.  And like last time, I am going to fight wearing my maternity clothes as long as possible.  As comfortable as they are, they are the same amount of ugly.  Hard to feel cute with an elastic waistband up to your bra and a puffy, oversized shirt that makes you look like a heavyweight champion before you're weighing in as one.  But I did drag some of that stuff out and it's sitting in my dryer, waiting to be folded and mixed in with my other clothes in the closet.  You know, just in case my pants don't button tomorrow.

We're completely blocked on names right now, but it's still early.  Auntie M text messaged us from a Cracker Barrel somewhere in the midwest to inform that if the baby is a boy, he will be named Bernard, and if it's a girl, Bernice.  She feels strongly that this baby should be called "Bernie Turner" and thinks Bernie and Benny would be a great team.  We've lovingly started referring to our Little Bean as "Bernice" as a result.  Not because he/she is a girl necessarily, but because the name is hilarious.  I'm hoping that once we can determine which team we're on (pink or blue), we'll be able to generate names more efficiently. 

So things continue to look really good.  Still not much to talk about because it's so early, but things are progressing as perfectly as they can at this stage.  Our Little Bean is officially a fetus and the size of a plum.  We've got little fingers, toes, and even toenails and all the major organs are formed and beginning to function.  Next time we check, there will be a little more anatomy visible, and we'll be sure to keep everyone updated on that!