Baby #2 Makes A Debut

Casey and I are excited to announce that we are expecting our second baby in May 2011! We wanted Cash to have a sibling close in age, so we were shooting for around 2 years apart. They will be 23 months apart, so good job by us. We are thrilled to be expanding our family. I found out I was pregnant around 5 weeks pregnant. This pregnancy couldn't have come at a more special time. The passing away of my Father and the news of a new life joining our family happened within a week of each other. I have two parents up there in Heaven watching over me and I just know they had something to do with this. They are two people who are crazy for babies.

When I told Casey I was pregnant, he said, "Are you joking?" We had just gotten back from a date night and he was already in bed. I randomly decided to do a pregnancy test and I was shocked that it was positive. He was even more shocked that I had done the test and we were pregnant again. We both started laughing and hugging. Then I think we both thought, well here we go again.

I have already been to the doctor two times and everything is looking good. I feel much more prepared this time around. The heartbeat is strong and the baby is measuring for arrival around May 20, 2011.
The biggest difference with this pregnancy so far has been the nausea. I started feeling sick way sooner this time. Around 6 weeks I was  already needing Zofran, my saving grace anti-nausea medication. I started throwing up at 6 weeks and wasn't able to get off the couch until around 15 weeks. Of course that's a slight exaggeration because I'm also caring for a toddler who keeps me busy. But I have seriously felt terrible for a long time. I'm sure it was this bad the first time around, but being in the thick of it right now seems worse. Plus I'm not only taking care of myself, but my sweet little Cash who tests my limits daily.

I have asked Casey many times why we were rushing to get pregnant when I get this sick. We both agreed that we forgot how sick I really get. I just need to remember to never consider expanding my family while I'm in the first trimester. I'll forget how awful I feel eventually because here I am again. I thought it would be better this time because I knew how to handle the nausea. But even knowing the tricks, doesn't help the extreme exhaustion and sickly feeling. I'm seriously considering giving large sums of money to anyone willing to find a cure for the first trimester nausea/exhaustion. How is no one trying to combat this already? Probably because all of the people doing research are either men or women who don't have kids/get sick while pregnant. Ugh. I know it's a small price to pay for creating a new life. I just need to keep positive and remember there is an end in sight. If I want to have a big family, I better have a short-term memory.

There is one thing that keeps me smiling these days. Cash. He is going to be a great older brother. He is so good with little babies and so funny. He is always trying to help my sister Nikki's twins with their binkies, their silkies, or by giving them kisses. He went through a stage for a few months where he liked to bite and hit. It was terrible, but he eventually stopped doing it. Now he's a big sweetheart who occasionally throws tantrums and whines. He's such a big boy now. He'll turn 18 months in a few weeks, and soon he'll be a big brother!

I'm happy to say that I'm now 16 weeks along, in the second trimester, and feeling better. I can go without Zofran most days and I have more energy. Just in time for Christmas. We find out the sex of the baby on December 20th. I'm surprising Casey and his family with the news for Christmas. So you'll just have to wait to hear the news until the New Year.