Guess what?

So I have a "little" announcement to make. And since this might be the last time I get to make this particular announcement, I want to work in all that creative stuff that I've seen around. Scroll down and if you haven't figured it out by the time you get to the bottom, I'll state it plainly.

Got it? Just in case you're my brother or my dad and have no idea what the phrase "a bun in the oven" means, WE'RE PREGNANT!! By the way, I blame Mwende for this one. She's been praying for a baby brother every day and night (sometimes several times a day) for the last two months. I know how much God cares for children, so I'm assuming that this is His response to her prayers.

***Disclaimer, the following information may not be appropriate for men or squeamish women. Continue reading at your own risk.

No we weren't trying. It was definitely a surprise. Patrick did finally agree to trying for a third baby though. Whether that happened before or after the little guy was conceived, I really can't tell you. But we didn't find out until I was 8 weeks along. Since its not unusual for me to skip a cycle, I didn't even notice when that time of month had come and gone. No biggie. Even when I started getting sick to my stomach every day, I didn't really think anything of it since the girls were sick with fevers at the same time. It wasn't until I had to start getting up five times a night to pee and then one day suddenly HAD to have a freshly cooked hard boiled egg that I started to suspect. And I was still shocked when that second line appeared on the pregnancy test. I screamed if I recall correctly. I had my first prenatal appointment on the Thursday before Thanksgiving. The ultrasound showed that the baby was measuring 2 weeks younger than they would have guessed by using my last period as a marker. The doctor ordered a more thorough ultrasound, which I got on Monday, Dec 2nd. That ultrasound gave us the official due date of June 30th, 2012. I've definitely been sick. This pregnancy seems to be on the same track as Mwelu's was, though not nearly as severe. I've already lost some weight (is it wrong for me to be secretly happy about that?). Anyway, we're very excited about the new arrival. I'm planning on going for a VBA2C (vaginal birth after 2 c-sections). I have a midwife picked out (based on a recommendation from my friend, Emily) whom I really hope will be supportive of that. It's a fairly new idea that a VBA2C can be successful, but I'm sure going to try! Anyway, Patrick and I are really excited about the arrival of the our new little one. We haven't told the girls yet. I figure I'll wait either until we know the gender or until Mwende asks me why my stomach is so big. Whichever comes first!

Pregnancy update through 31 weeks

I'm guessing I'm about due to give an update on this pregnancy. It's really not that exciting, which is good! The second trimester treated me well. Other than ALOT of fatigue, it was easy sailing. I attributed the fatigue to being pregnant in combination with chasing a 2 year old around. However it turns out that I had iron deficiency anemia. So the doctor put me on an iron supplement a little over a week ago and the difference in my energy levels is amazing! Suddenly housework is getting done! Which makes my husband happy. ;) Other than that one complication, this pregnancy has been amazingly easy compared to Mwende's. She moves so much that I never have to worry about whether or not she is alive in there. In fact, it is such an easy pregnancy that I find myself forgetting that I am pregnant most of the time! Well, not forgetting, but not really thinking about it all that much. Which I think is creating a problem in the area of preparation. I haven't taken any childbirth classes or really done any preparation other than buying a new carseat. I still need to take a refresher class. (Going to try the Bradley method this time). I need to sort through Mwende's old baby clothes to see what is still usable and what I need to go get. Actually I suspect I will be surprised at how little is usable since Mwende was born in the heat of September and this one will be born in December. Even if we are in California! Oh yeah, I still need to transfer my medical records from Syracuse, NY. Seeing as how its been over a year since we moved here, I guess that is the epitomy of procrastination.

In other news, Patrick possibly has the opportunity to go work with teachers in Kenya at the beginning of the year! I am so excited for him to have this opportunity. I wish with all my heart that we could go with him, but with a newborn that just isn't possible. I also considered sending Mwende with him and having her stay with her Susu while Patrick is working, but I am selfish and want to be there for Mwende's first trip to Kenya. Based on this new information, we decided to go spend Christmas with my parents in New Mexico and I will stay there until Patrick returns from Kenya. So Patrick will fly to Kenya out of Albuquerque and then fly back in to drive us all home. I'm excited about getting to spend Christmas with my family again!

Speaking of driving, there is one more preparation we need to make for the new baby. We need to upgrade to a minivan! Haha. I guess that makes me officially grown up. Seeing as how I'm I mom now, I guess I'm okay with that. We're looking at either a Honda Odyssey or a Dodge Grand Caravan. Obviously we're hoping for the Honda Odyssey, but the trick is finding one we can afford.

I think that is all that's new with us. I'm sure I'm probably forgetting something, but oh well. Happy Autumn everyone!