My ankles are gone :(

Well, I knew it was just a matter of time since I'm prone to swelling (happened a lot while I was on all my infertility meds)...I've been swollen all along but now it's really kicked in. Even my hands have started. I don't think I'll be wearing my engagement ring for a while now...

I had a bit of a scare yesterday because it had gotten REALLY bad, much worse than the previous days. I called my OB office and they ordered me off my feet for the day, and to drink a ton of water and stay away from salt. I'm looking better this morning, but that's usually par for the course after being asleep for 8 hours. Still, I don't think there's reason to be alarmed...I'll call their office in a little while and hopefully this can be dealt with next week at my next appointment.

As long as they give me the go-ahead, I'll be leaving later this morning for a little getaway with my mom, sister and nieces. We'll be down at our shore house for a few days. It'll be nice to relax in a different atmosphere...I'm starting to get bored with my house.

Other than that, everything is great, aside from being a little uncomfortable. We bought new front porch furniture this weekend and it's perfect for relaxing outside with my morning cup of decaf or later in the day/night. I'm looking forward to using it more as the weather gets warmer. I love our porch!

More great news!

We had our Level II ultrasound today, and everything looks GREAT!! A is measuring right on target...and all of the parts seem to be where they should be :)

We were a little bummed that we couldn't video tape it, and the pics we got are pretty blurry, but it didn't matter...it was still really exciting and more importantly, a relief that all is well.

It truly amazes me how they can see so much, and be able to identify what everything is! I see the tech typing in the word "diaphragm" and I'm like, REALLY? How can you tell...it just looks like a big blob! LOL

She had her legs crossed the whole time, which Daddy was very happy about...already this poor guy is worried about A and her teenage years. MEN!

A nice, restful week

Frank got some time off so we did a "Jersey Shore" tour of sorts...Cape May, AC, and a few stops inbetween. Our plans changed a little since the weather didn't cooperate :( Still, we had a nice time, had some amazing spa treatments, good meals, and most of all, RELAXED.

Here's a pic of me and Annabella at the Borgata...it was her fourth trip there already. Think she'll like to gamble like Mommy and Daddy? LOL

More creamed spinach, please...

I still can't get over how ravenous I am at certain times. I think back to the first trimester, when I could barely STEP INTO the kitchen, let alone eat...and now it's quite the opposite. I'll take it :)

A bunch of us went out to dinner for a friend's 40th last night. We went to a great steakhouse, which is perfect for my diet, and between 16 of us probably ordered about half the menu. Yeah, it was hard to pass on the mashed potatoes and many, many desserts (forget about the 30 bottles of wine, dirty martinis WITH BLEU CHEESE OLIVES!! and other liqueurs being enjoyed by everyone else) but I certainly had my fair share of the rest of what was there.

I swear, if my diet weren't restricted, I probably would've gained 25 pounds by now, as opposed to losing 15.

A few people last night who I haven't seen in a while asked what my cravings have been...I said, "Pretty much anything I'm not allowed to eat! See that chocolate lava cake I just passed over? That creme brulee over there? Yeah, that would be it...". So much for being unlike just about every other pregnant woman, who has the urge for an ice cream sundae and sends the hubby out at midnight :(

The miracle inside me is well worth all the sacrifices. Just remember, for those of you visiting me in the hospital when A comes...pizza and DQ blizzards...LOL

It was a fun night out with the crew...we got home around 2am and I was EXHAUSTED...so much so that I slept until 10am today! Talk about paradise! I haven't done that in ages :)

I can't resist!

This kid's already got a better wardrobe than me! It's so hard to step away from the adorable baby girl clothes and accessories...am I going to go broke before she even gets here?

And I'm not the only one. I was with Grandma today and she was doing a pretty bang-up job herself with her credit card :)

I went to visit a friend yesterday who just had her baby girl last week. OMG, I couldn't stop saying how beautiful she was. Long eyelashes, perfect skin, beautiful eyes...she is gorgeous! I held her for a while and at one point thought to myself, WOW, this is the way it will be in about 5 months...with MY baby.

And I can't wait :)

2 great doctor appointments!

Everything's looking good, as per my endocrinologist and my OB. I'm now off the metformin and although my insulin has increased, it's better than being on both. My fasting number has been a little higher than usual the past few days though...we'll see what happens by the end of the week.

I got to hear Annabella's heartbeat again today, after a 15 minute struggle with the doppler (she was moving a LOT!)...152. She's an active one! It still brings me to tears when I hear it...how can it not...she is truly a miracle.

I also got a note from my OB to 'do the spa' next week while we're on vacation. I'm looking forward to a much-needed facial...and just relaxing in general. Frank needs it a lot more than I do, that's for sure...the poor guy's been working like a dog.

Oh, we picked up the glider yesterday (the rest of the furniture will be delivered whenever we want it)...so our first piece of baby furniture is in the house. It's in the living room right now, since we still have to clear out the nursery...I think if it were up to Frank it would stay in the living room, LOL...that's how much he likes it! :)

Getting bigger...

It's getting obvious. People who see me say right away, "you have a belly"! And when I'm in bed, it's becoming quite clear that stomach sleeping ain't happening anymore.

Then I see someone who's further along than me with barely anything going on. Ugh. I can't even be the cute pregnant girl. Oh well...my excuse is that I'm having a girl and she's draining all my beauty out of me. It's true, right? Please tell me it's true.

I haven't taken pics yet because we (correction: Frank) lost the camera battery charger so we haven't been able to use the camera. The new one should be coming soon...I promise I'll take a few (with my shirt ON) then.

Furniture shopping was a success!

Who knew it would be so easy to find something I loved? The fact that everything looks pretty much the same (to me, anyway) made it easier...but regardless, we are SO glad that it's picked out and paid for. All we have to do is schedule delivery when we're ready...we'll probably have it delivered shortly before my shower.

And, Frank is THRILLED that he doesn't have to put anything together. LOL.

Here's a link to the furniture (we ordered it in cherry):
Munire Furniture - Essex collection

And the glider/ottoman (also ordered in cherry):
Dutailier Extra-Large Sleigh glider/ottoman

It's all coming together...my goal is to have it all done before July so I can do NOTHING the last two months of my pregnancy except relax down the shore :) Here's hoping!

Guess I should've mentioned earlier...

So, many of you have asked if we have a name picked out, especially since I referenced our little girl in an earlier post as Baby A...well, yes, we do. We were TTC for over 2 years...one would guess that the topic of choosing names had to come up at some point :)

Truth is, we agreed on two names (one girl, one boy) pretty quickly and had them picked out before we were even married. Who knew it would take SO LONG to actually put one to use?

Soooo, her name will be Annabella Josephine. Josephine was my grandma's name, and also my middle name. Annabella has no significance...we just like it

There it is...the big reveal! ;)

Need....sleep....

How is it possible to be so tired yet have major difficulty falling asleep? What's going to happen when I'm even bigger than I am now? Ugh. The snoogle helps but it's not doing the trick...

Yeah, I know, this is my body's way of 'preparing me' for when the baby comes. If one more person tells me that, I may have to deck them. How about, my body should be giving me all the sleep I need NOW since it's not happening in my future?

Fortunately, I'm feeling GREAT otherwise. I'm loving the second trimester!

Meanwhile, I STILL haven't bought a single thing for her. How long has it been now since we found out she's a girl...at least 3 weeks, right? This is so unlike me. I'm thinking this rainy Sunday afternoon, in addition to getting a few necessary things done around the house, will involve some online shopping :) Let's see if I can find some good sales...anyone know of any?

Wait a sec...I'm pregnant?

Yeah, this is all still a little surreal to me...so couple that with the 'ease' of the second trimester, and there have definitely been moments when I have to remind myself there's a pea cooking in there!

It's usually in the middle of the day...when I'm not taking any drugs or injecting myself with a needle, and when I'm not as tired. I have been getting headaches (common in the 2nd tri, so 'they' say) but they come and go and aren't too bad.

Yesterday I started cleaning out the room that will be A's nursery, and got SO tired SO fast...it wiped me out for the rest of the day! Crazy.

I always remember in the middle of the night though...when I'm up and down for bathroom breaks and when my boobs decide to become hard as rocks. Tough to forget during those times. LOL.