Dear Baby Pacheco,

Hello little olive! That’s this week’s fruit/veggie comparison, at just over 9 weeks along now. Not much has changed, really, since my last letter. I still feel pretty tired and occasionally nauseous, but it seems to be getting better as we near the end of the first trimester. I had my monthly checkup yesterday, and everything went as well as it could have. It’s still too early to hear your heartbeat without an ultrasound, so this visit consisted basically of a blood test, a urine test, and a brief chat with the midwife.

Mostly we discussed how I’d like things to go for this pregnancy, and a couple things to expect over the next few months. One thing I’m really excited about is that this time around we’ll be able to find out if you’re a boy or a girl MUCH sooner… in just a few weeks actually! 🙂 Dad & I have been talking fervently about names. To be honest, for some reason I have a feeling that you’re a girl… but I really will be happy one way or the other, for various reasons.

The other big topic of conversation was the method with which you will enter the world. Because I ended up having a c-section with Alex, things are a little less straight-forward this time around. Although I do have the option to try again for a vaginal birth, it comes with a lot of risks. The other option is to have a scheduled c-section. The one thing I DO know is that I don’t want to go through another induction of labor, if it comes to that. So although I have some thinking to do, should you need to come early for some reason I will most definitely opt for the c-section again.

Besides the checkup, not much else has been going on really. We’re taking a few subtle steps to prepare your big brother for the change, like teaching him about babies (& how to handle them!) as well as gradually moving him out of the crib & into a “big boy” bed. Of course he doesn’t understand yet what’s happening… and I doubt he truly will until you’re born. But I think he’ll be a great big brother to you. 🙂

Anyway, that’s about all for now! Until next time, little one.

All my love,
Mom

Dear Baby Pacheco,

We’re at just over 7 weeks along now! I’m sure as you’re reading this, you’ll note that I wrote an update every week with Alex… well, as a fellow younger sibling I’m here to tell you that you might as well get used to the fact that the experience of being a second (or more) child is much different from being the first. Parents have been there, done that… & now they’re even busier with multiple kids on their hands. Hence, there will probably be fewer letters for you as weekly is just too much for me these days. My apologies! It’s not that I’m thinking about you any less or love you any less. I’m just SO. FREAKING. EXHAUSTED. I don’t remember feeling quite this tired all the time during my first pregnancy. A little fatigued, sure, but these days I’d stay in bed and sleep pretty much 24/7 if I could. :-X I suppose having to care for a very active toddler doesn’t help the situation!

Anyway, I do wish I’d taken a belly picture sooner because I feel like I’m already starting to show. With Alex you couldn’t tell a difference until about 14 weeks or so & even then it was fairly tame… but they say your body “remembers” the second+ time around, and the muscles are quicker to pop out. I suppose that is true, at least for me so far. Not to mention I still (most unfortunately) have some of the “baby weight” from my first pregnancy… although as I’ve said to my friends, at this point it’s no longer “baby weight,” just plain old “weight.” LOL. Sigh.

The good news is that all those things are signs that you’re doing really well in there! Right now you’re about the size of a blueberry. 🙂 Last week we had your first ultrasound, and I got to see your little fluttering heartbeat. The doctor said everything looked wonderful so far, and you’re measuring right on target for your due date of January 27.

It was so great to finally get a glimpse of you! Up until then I was honestly still in a state of shock & doubt. Now it feels much more real. It’s hard to see much in the ultrasound pictures, but I could see your limbs starting to grow and even where your eyelids are on the actual screen during the ultrasound. Technology is truly amazing! Can’t wait to see more of you, little blueberry. 😉

All my love,
Mom