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