Well so far this pregnancy is going pretty well.  I’m super happy to NOT be pregnant in the summer this time.  In the shuffle of the everyday happenings it seems as if it’s going by very slow, but when I step back and really look at it… it’s actually going by pretty darn fast.  I mean, I’m already ½ there.  During the last two pregnancies the big 18/19 week ultrasound seemed to take forever to get to.  This time it was like bam, 13 week ultrasound, we’re having a BOY, and then bam again, 19 weeks and baby is growing right on schedule and everything is looking on the up and up.  And now all of a sudden I’m 20 weeks!  I feel that my belly is smaller than my last pregnancy, but I feel overall bigger. 

However, I don’t feel 'as' pregnant as I did with the last.  I’m pretty sure it’s because I was in overall better shape when I got pregnant this time.  I’m kind of shocked that the weight gain isn’t taking more of a toll on my body, as it did last time.  I’ve gained a total of…… gasp…. 20 pounds!!!  I don’t know what it is!  I don’t really eat much different when I’m pregnant, so I’m convinced that it’s a hormonal thing, or a water retention issue.  I have no clue!  But, those of you who can go through your whole pregnancy only gaining 20 pounds are my heros!  I’m pretty sure I would be starving!  If I end up around 40 pounds this time, I’ll be happy.  That’s a tad more than what I gained with Aiden.

My digestive system is taking a beating this time around, the baby must be laying on my stomach in some weird way.  I get crampy a lot!  Not contraction crampy, but stomach cramps.  I can’t eat a lot at night otherwise I get to uncomfortable.  So my big meal is always lunch, which means I get pretty hungry at around 9pm (NOT GOOD!).  The first trimester was tough in the sleep department, but now I’m sleeping a ton better!  I’m sure it helps when you have a better sleeping toddler in the house.  Aiden and Liam are loving the baby.  When we first told the boys about the pregnancy, Aiden would ask be everyday about my ‘baby bump’, it was so cute when there was nothing to see, even when I felt like there was a little ‘bump’ Aiden was tell me, “No, no baby bump yet!”  Now he tells me randomly that the baby bump is getting bigger.  Liam wouldn’t even acknowledge my tummy or the baby at first.  After he actually saw that baby at our 19 week ultrasound, he totally changed his mind about it.  Now he’ll point to my tummy when I ask him where mommy’s baby is.  When I ask him where his baby is, he’ll look and point at his tummy and say, no, no baby.  It’s the cutest thing ever.

We’re feeling him kick!!  I will forever miss that feeling once this is done, knowing this is our last.  I felt him at 18 weeks, just like the other two, and Alex felt him just a few days later… unlike the other two where he had to wait a few weeks to feel it.  Right now he has two very active periods, in the morning just before I get up, and then again at night, just before bed.  Those are the only two times that I’m just relaxing taking a moment to myself.  I’m really really really missing my runs.  Missed my first ½ marathon this past weekend.  Enjoyed reading everyone’s posts about it on Facebook… but missed being there.  There’s nothing more rewarding than carrying and nurturing an unborn child… and I know I’m gonna miss it more once he’s here, so I’m trying really hard to just sit back and enjoy my last pregnancy.  Which so far I’ve been better at than my last two.  I’m not a happy glowing pregnant person… but feel like it a little more this time around.

We’re still deciding on names.  We have one name at the top of our list, but I’m not sure I can do it since it’s a little out there.  Although the name that I’m totally fixated on is even more out there.   Both names are not common names for the states.  Well, mine is… but it’s a girl’s name!!  He would have to be one of two things, or both!, to carry a name like Ashely.  (1) A baller at any sport, and/or (2) super super cute!  Or as the teenaged girls his age would say, “Hot”.  HA!  (Yes, I know, I know!  And don’t worry… I would never name my American boy Ashely – he would probably hate me forever if I did such a thing.  I don’t know why… but I still really really like it).

We have another Dr. appointment next week for the normal monthly check up stuff.  The best part… hearing his little hear beat!  It was 147 at his ultrasound.  That will never get old!