23 weeks - almost halfway there…well, actually more than half.  Yet, I don’t even FEEL pregnant.  I mean, you know, besides the acrobats going on inside and the fact that I only have one bra that fits because I got tired of having to replace one after the other due to the boobage.  Not that I’m complaining, except I am because all of this major FAST growth (2 cup sizes in ONE month?) makes for itchy stretched skin that will most definitely not be cool even post baby once it takes the form of stretch marks and…extra skin…*gag*.  Or, maybe I’ll be lucky like the people who actually had a boob job claim that they kept the boob growth AND went back to their skinny selves after pregnancy.  Mmhmm.

Yesterday was actually the day that marked the end of my 23 weeks, but the internet hated me and won so I’m a bit late on posting the thrilling updates.  I knew you guys were holding onto your seats, just waiting to read all about them, and who am I to deprive you?  Right.

I’m pretty sure the universe has this mark on my head right now - from the entire cup of my own sample pee I almost completely (by accident, I’m not into that sort of stuff, yo) splashed all down the front of me to the car I was riding in almost completely stopping in front of oncoming traffic to kill us all.  Yes, I most definitely have a mark on my head.

In the very good news department, I totally have my bladder trained.  Seriously.  I walk into the doctor office and suddenly have to pee - which is perfect, actually for all of those pee samples.  And, wouldn’t you know, it’s just enough to fill the cup.  Dang, I’m good.  I’m still a bit curious as to why they won’t let me go pee and THEN get my weight, though.  But, as it is - pee and all- I weighed in at 103.8 lbs.  So, I’ve gained like 12 lbs already?  Or something.  My doctor is thrilled with the numbers though since I was actually VERY underweight in a not-on-purpose sort of way when I conceived Aurora, and 105 is actually what I’m supposed to be sans baby, so the experts say.  I was pretty excited to know that in the past month I only gained one pound!  I’ve been eating as I get hungry and am a bit reluctant to say that my sweet tooth remains intact so I was really surprised by the gain of only one pound.  This kiddo is SOOO coming out with brownies for hair or something, I just don’t know how else she’s metabolizing all of that sugar!

I’m still itchy, like REALLY itchy - but not the OMG GETMYSKINOFFOFME! sort of way anymore.  And, now it’s mostly my scalp, face (outer edges and eyebrows), tummy and chest.  Mostly.  And, then I have these two little circles that have popped up.  They’re red and really weird.  One is on my knee and the other on my tummy…the one on my tummy seriously almost looks like ringworm (the inside redness went away and left a ring) but it goes from being distinct to not at all…yet my doctor isn’t convinced it’s much of anything so we wait.  It doesn’t really do any tricks and it doesn’t hurt or itch or make my head spin, so I guess it’s okay.  I’m FINALLY getting over this respiratory junk I had - I really don’t think it was pregnancy related though as Lorelei and …oh, my entire family had it…but thought I’d mention it anyhow since I had some resp. issues when pregnant with Lorelei around this time frame.  I was hoping to be able to check that off the list of things to look forward to with this baby, but I probably am not that lucky.

I’ve been eating really well and have been able to take and remember to take prenatal vitamins - 4 a freakin day according to the label (NewChapter Prenatal Vitamins - they’re actually great).  Oh, yay.  It’s nice to be able to eat as much as I need to and not trying to conform to portion sizes or 3 meals a day has REALLY helped my body compared to a month ago when I couldn’t even function past 3 pm when my sugar would get WAY too low and land me back in bed.  Things are pretty much great with this pregnancy right now, but it’s so so different.  There’s just not this big excitement this time like there was last time -  no shopping for baby things, no planning for nursery decor, and no planning for parties since it’s our second baby.   It’s almost got me looking forward to the light non-hurting contractions just so I’ll FEEL pregnant again, this inability to PLAN anything has really got me - it’s like my calling…or maybe just a symptom of my crazy.  Bygones.

Welcome back!