Thank goodness for visitors

For the past 3 weeks we had 2 separate visitors come to stay with us: Chris Metzger and Laura Emerson. It not only helped because they were playing with Ian and giving me a break, but I didn't vomit as much as I would had they not been there. There's just something about having people over that makes me not want to vomit while they are there.

On August 10 I had a playdate at Beth Lamfers' house and had no intention of telling her or Jessica Fennelly that I was pregnant. I wore a baggy shirt that hid my bump and everything. But at one point they were talking about me having another baby and Jess asks, "are you pregnant?" How can I lie to them? It was almost a relief to tell them since I hadn't been hanging out nearly as much as I used to. I haven't gone to a single Momtourage event in weeks since most events are in the morning which is my worst time of day.

I have been craving nothing but sweets. Going to the grocery store is the worst because I just buy whatever looks good! Today I bought Twinkies for the first time ever. I'm also buying ice cream, cookies, pizza, donuts and any other sweet that catches my eye. I'm hoping that come the second trimester that craving will diminish and I will crave healthier foods! Right now a couple of things cause my stomach to turn: garlic (just the smell alone), lasagna and the smell of Ian's meatballs.

I had my first OBGYN appointment on August 16 (8.5 weeks pregnant) and it was 1.5 hours! Good thing Laura was here so she could watch Ian. Bringing him with would have been very very difficult. I weighed in at 121 pounds which is smaller than I was when I was pregnant with Ian. I met with Megan Bride, NP who will be on my OB team. She was very nice and extremely thorough. We decided that I will do the 'serial sequential test' again like I did with my first pregnancy to find out the likelihood of this baby being born with down syndrome. Unfortunately, I have to go into Boston for any and all ultrasounds and they only do one at 18 weeks. Thankfully, because of this extra test I'm doing, I'll have the 2 ultrasounds. Megan Bride also prescribed me Folic Acid to take in addition to my prenantal vitamins just for the first trimester. I didn't do that with the first pregnancy but every doctor is different. She said everything looks good so that makes me happy!

We finished painting Ian and Baby Due's new room upstairs. I am very excited to get it all ready since I wasn't able to do that when I was pregnant with Ian. We are going to buy a toddler bed for Ian so that the baby will have the crib. I'm looking forward to bringing out the baby blankets, onesies, and the crib mobile. It's going to be fun going through the 'newborn - 3mo' tub downstairs with all the clothes etc. I'm a little overwhelmed knowing I have to do all this all over again since I have already forgotten so much of it. But I know it will come back to me and between me and Nathan I know we will be fine. Will sure be different though having a toddler running around at the same time! I wish Ian understood what was going on but he is just too young. I wish he understood why I am in the bathroom all the time throwing up and why I am always laying on the couch instead of playing with him and why I don't want him sitting on my tummy. But I know he is going to be an amazing big brother!

Morning sickness, told family!!

Unfortunately, morning sickness has started earlier than it did with my first pregnancy. I was 6 weeks, 3 days along when it started before and this time around, it started a little after 5 weeks. I'm already looking forward to the day that is over! It's so much harder dealing with morning sickness while taking care of another child. I thought it was bad having it while at work but this is much harder. Poor Ian just plays in the living room most of the day while I watch tv on the couch. I just want to lay down all the time.

On July 27 Ian and I went to Rochester, MA to visit with Anokhi and Derek Bock since they were in town from Chicago visiting their family. And somehow, yet again, they were the first ones to know I am pregnant! I had no intention of telling them but when Anokhi asked me if we were thinking about having other kids, I told her 'yes.' Then she asked, 'are you pregnant?' How could I say no? It was liberating to tell someone though. And she gave me a hug and congratulated me. I just find it so funny that even though I no longer work for them and don't even live in the same state, they still knew first. 

We decided it would be too hard not to tell family members at my birthday party. So when Angela called on my birthday, I told her and she was ecstatic! She was laughing at the fact that this baby is due only 6 days before Ian's birthday. HA! That night I went out to dinner with Nathan and Ian and was very happy to eat, thank goodness. Evenings are usually the better time of day for me in terms of nausea.

On Saturday, July 30 people came over for my birthday party: Mom, Dad, Grandma, Douglas, Tara, Ella, Owen, Michael Mukai, Kate, Joe and Liam. I put out little mints with baby feet as well as confetti baby feet all over the food table on the deck to give a subtle hint at my pregnancy. 

I originally wanted to have Ian wear a 'big brother' t-shirt but I couldn't find any in his size. Oh well. I couldn't wait for people to figure it out! At first, people were getting food etc and not even noticing the decorations on the table. I finally pointed it out to my Grandma, asked 'do you like my mints?' She said yes. I said 'they have baby feet on them.' She said 'yes, those are cute.' I was like, are you kidding me? You don't get it? So I told her right then, 'I'm having a baby!' She could not believe it and gave me a huge hug. Luckily, Douglas was standing right there and so he found out. Tara was the only one who saw them and asked me, 'what's with the baby feet all over?' I gave her a look and she figured it out. They were the first 3 people at the party to find out. Grandma told me I had to go over and tell my mom who was pushing Ian on the swing. I brought my Mom a baby foot mint and asked if she liked my mints. She looked at me and freaked out asking if I was pregnant. She hugged me for about 5 minutes and cried for about 10! HA! Then my Dad figured it out based on my mom's reaction as did the rest of the people there. Kate and Joe gave me a hug as did Michael. Michael, of course, said that now Kelsey will want a baby even more now! :)

It was great to tell people and have them all understand why I'm in bed by 930pm every night!

Me, Nathan and Ian went to the Stone Zoo July 30 and I was very nervous I was going to be sick the whole time there. But God answered my prayers and I felt fine, thank goodness. I had to walk away from the yak and the farm area because of the smells but other than that, it was a great time and Ian had a blast. I remember going to the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago with Nathan while I was pregnant with Ian so it's nice to know I've brought Baby Due (our new nickname for this baby, Due pronounced doo-ay, Italian for number 2) to the zoo as well.