Five months or nine months?

Since learning the sex of our child at the last visit, things seem to have been moving lightening quick. And yet - super slow. It's strange how that goes.

Most noticeably, I've ballooned. I'm about 23 weeks along, but look like I'm nine months big. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, I was no skinny minny to start with! I don't mind looking so big, but the problem is that I feel big. I feel huge and clumsy, like getting up from the couch is a major undertaking. I'm sure if I'm not waddling already, it's coming soon!

With Scarlett's pregnancy, I felt like I was made for it! After the first three months, I felt so good! I loved being pregnant - every single minute of it! This time around, it's not going as well. Besides being tent-like, I also ache; have heartburn and unceasingly bad headaches. My body has been out of shape and I can feel it in every bone and muscle. Nights are incredibly hard, as I wake every hour or so to toss and turn from one side to the other. It isn't long before my hips start to ache, so I flip again. Maybe it's just my body preparing me for getting up every couple of hours to feed the baby. I don't know, but I'm not enjoying it!

Despite all of my aches and pains; complaints and grumbles, I feel incredibly blessed. This baby is so loved already and I feel so lucky to be able to have another one. For every complaint I have, I silently give thanks and my belly a quick rub. Baby Bacon (as Scarlett proposed for a name) will be well received!

It's a pointer!

Looks like the doctor was right all along... it's a boy!

The rest of the anatomy scan went well, as planned. Measurements were taken, organs were inspected, giant head was wowwed over. Looks a little on the big side, but the ultrasound tech said it could just be a recent growth spurt. Based on the size of my tummy, that's entirely possible.

We took Scarlett with us and she was a little less than thrilled with the announcement of the sex. So we've been spending a lot of time listing all of the big sister/little brother people she knows. We're also coming up with every benefit we can think of to why having a little brother might be just as good or even better than a little sister! If you can think of any, feel free to post! Ben should know best, being a little brother to a big sister! She'll be happy once the baby comes, I guarantee it!

Things are moving now!

Last night I hit a big milestone... I felt the baby move for the first time! Lying unsuspectingly on the couch, having just eaten some of Scarlett's Halloween candy (don't tell!), I felt a little flutter. I've been definitely feelings things way deep in my belly, but it's been mostly gas, stretching, tightening... things like that. This was my first definite feeling of quickening. Yay! I can't wait until its strong enough for Ben and Scarlett to feel too!

Next week (I'll be 20 weeks along); I have my actual anatomy scan ultrasound. After all of the crap I dealt with in my last two appointments, I'm expecting this one to be fabulous. If it isn't, I'll have some deep thinking to do. I don't really want to, but I may change doctors' offices or even just doctors within my office. I may also try out this company in Omaha called Storkvision, recommended by my friend Shana. They do supplemental ultrasounds and guarantee to find out the sex. Even though they are a little expensive and aren't covered by insurance, the idea of a guarantee, as well as a DVD of the entire event, is really appealing. I guess we'll see how it goes next week.