19 weeks!

I really feel pregnant now! What I mean by that is, when I bend over or lay on my tummy (which I won't be able to do much longer) I can feel that there's something in there. Baby is very active at night and when I'm eating. I've gained about 5 pounds, but I've grown a ton. Can't wear regular pants anymore and I feel huge. Luckily I'm not having the horrible edema in my legs that I had the first time, knock on wood, and the heartburn has only bothered me a few times so far. I am however, having that bad pregnancy skin that I've only read about, sigh, oh well. Baby's health and that's what matters.

Overall, things are going pretty well. My vitamin D and iron levels are low, no surprise since I live in the Pac. NW and don't eat much meat. Getting enough of those two elements is somewhat challenging, but I'm doing my best. I discussed my constant craving for anything sweet with the midwife and she suggested that craving sweets usually means that your body needs protein. This make total sense, so now I have to really focus on adding things like nuts and beans to my diet and cut way back on the juice and fruit, this will be HARD!

I am 1000% more satisfied with having a midwife than I was with the OB! My OB was always in such a rush to get through our appointments, I didn't really feel listened to and she even brushed off some of my concerns and discounted my feelings, thought and ideas about my own body! It's so nice to have a prenatal care giver who is actually concerned about my mental, emotional and nutritional well being. Those topics were NEVER even brought up with my OB, and they are soooooo important. I feel listened to, cared for, respected and involved, things I never really felt the first time around. Gosh, if I'd only known then what I know now.......I just kick myself sometimes!

We're finding out the sex of the baby on Tuesday and I can't wait. I really, really, really want another girl, but of course it's not up to me.