Something happened...

My very first "bumpie"! I slapped myself
for using that term, so you don't have to.

The Atkinson Enterprise is expanding!  Baby #2 is due March 24, 2015!

Minus the 2 months of expected nausea and distaste for all things delicious, it's been smooth sailing!  We did have a twist to the plot, when the results of our first trimester scan prompted my midwife to order a MaterniT21 advanced screening to verify our true risk for Down Syndrome.  Processing the idea of potentially having a baby with special needs was quite a rollercoaster, but one that left me feeling empowered.  I felt like if we were being trusted with such a great challenge, we could do it. And though it would be hard/really hard/really freaking hard, isn't that what makes a life story so great? Science is so incredibly sophisticated these days that we would also learn the gender of our baby through this advanced screening, a whole 6 weeks early!  So, I focused on that during the week it took to get our results.

This baby, my friends, is a sweet little boy, and we are 99.4% sure his chromosomes are a-ok.  I say this like it guarantees him clemency from a childhood of bumps and bruises and broken bones (what I really want to say is cancer/car accident but I feel like that is too scary so I'll put the scary words in parentheses). I guess what I continue to learn is that we can never be free from tragedy so, (cue camp song) Trust in the Lord and he will direct your path!

Through my incessant blog reading, I'm well aware that second pregnancies are much different than the first (no doy!) For instance, at this time in my pregnancy with Max, I hadn't told my co-workers, and was interviewing for jobs while wearing very dark, loose clothes.  This time around, I can't even zip one of the skirts I would wear for job interviews and co-workers are already helping us brainstorm potential names.

I'm also already experiencing some ligament pain and if I try to roll out of bed the wrong way, I'll get what can only be described as a charlie horse in my stomach.  It's much too early for this kind of nonsense!!

But on the flipside, I hear recovery from 2nd birth is a breeze(ish) compared to the 1st time around. Please oh please let that be true.  If I'm dealing with a newborn, a mischievous toddler, AND the aftermath of a forcep birth all at once, I will have a real bone to pick with God.

Much to my dismay, I am not one of those people who is good at being pregnant. I feel good right now, but I know my good days are numbered.  I get side cramps from leisurely walks with Max, so I can't understand those gals who are doing Tae Bo the day before they deliver!!  I did buy a Groupon for prenatal yoga, in hopes that it will help keep my body loose and limber and turn me into a glowing goddess by week 40.  Stay tuned!

But, no matter how itchy my skin gets, and how hard it is for me to get in and out of bed, I know what's waiting for us come March.  A new laugh to add to the mix as we chase each other around the house. A best buddy and karaoke partner for Max.

18 weeks and counting!
xo