What is #2?

I TOTALLY thought Grace was going to be a boy. I was convinced! The morning sickness didn't sway me. (Little thinking happens in the midst of endless bouts of nausea.) Court was over-the-moon excited...said he didn't care what the gender was although deep down I think he thought we were having a boy too. My mom - from the moment I told her I was pregnant - declared the baby a girl! She didn't waiver. She was right!

With this pregnancy, I have NO idea what the gender of #2 is. There is no inner voice from within saying I'm a boy or I'm a girl. Court again is just over the moon excited (although he IS a bit concerned about Hop harvest) and the clairvoyant herself, my mom, has been mum in the department of gender predictions. We are all at a loss.

At only 10 weeks in, we still have 10 weeks to go until we can find out the sex. I CAN'T wait to find out! CAN - NOT - WAIT I tell ya! I think what excites me the most is finding out whether Grace will have a baby sister or a baby brother. Either would be amazing! I am glad I don't have to choose!

Do you have any predictions? I've created a little poll. Should we put some money on this?!

For those of you who get the email version, click here to cast your vote!

Details

In my post on Wednesday, I failed to answer a lot of important questions. So here we go.

1. When are you due?
September 21 but I am hoping to keep this kiddo up in there until hop harvest is over. If we could make it until October that would be really great although I am sure by the time September rolls around (and the 100 degree weather) I will be more than ready for #2 to make his/her debut.

2. How are you feeling?
Like crap. Morning sickness rendered me beyond useless when I was pregnant with Grace. This time around hasn't been as bad but it is still awful. It kind of comes in waves. I'll have one good day and then one bad. Regardless, I ALWAYS feel nauseous. No matter what I do, I always feel like I am about to vomit. Having an active, vibrant toddler doesn't help much either.

3. Are you craving anything specific?
No and yes. Salty and savory things. Carbs. It is not so much about craving a certain thing. It's having to eat - all day - every day. I eat something probably every 30 - 60 minutes. If I wait any longer than that to toss something down the gullet, it is BAD news! Just ask Court! Mornings - after waking up - is probably the worst time of the day. Dinner time is bad too. The smells, seeing food cook, being tired - just typing about it is making my stomach do flip flops.

4. So how far along are you exactly?
According to the ultra sound technician I met with on Wednesday, I am 9 weeks and 3 days along.

5. Are you showing yet?
Yes, I am already huge. H-U-G-E I tell you. I can't even believe how fast this is all happening. I can't post a picture. I just can't. It is WAY TOO EMBARRASSING. I plan on busting out my maternity clothes this weekend. Until then, I am wearing sweats and only sweats. I know lots of people rely on the Bella Band but that thing only works for the "freaks of nature" out there who don't start showing until they are four or five months along and are at least 5'7". For those of us on the shorter side, the only way we have to grow is out and when you have big ass babies like I do, you start growing outwards very early on in the pregnancy!

6. Wow! You really are huge! Do you think it could be twins?
The thought did cross my mind - several times. At the ultra sound, the technician thought she saw two sacs and my heart LITERALLY stopped beating. Then she started laughing and said she'd made a mistake. Phew!

7. How is Grace handling the idea of being a big sister?
While we've told her Mommy has a baby in her tummy it isn't registering. However, she is having LOTS of fun looking at and poking my bebo (belly button). She keeps coming up to me and lifting up my shirt to grab another glimpse of my belly button. I apologize to all who have seen my bulging, bloated stomach. I know it isn't pretty.

8. Are you going to find out the sex?
Is the sky blue (most days at least)? OF COURSE! I don't understand you people that wait! There are baby clothes to buy and a nursery to decorate!

9. Do you think it is a boy or a girl? Are you hoping for a particular sex?
In those first few weeks, I wasn't suffering from morning sickness so I was sure this baby was a boy. Then the morning sickness hit so that theory blew up in smoke. Basically, I have no idea. No inkling whatsoever. Either would be fun. Neither of us care at all about the sex. It's cliche but we just want a healthy baby.

10. You got an epidural during your last delivery. Are you going to be "selfish" and "weak" and rely on the advances of medical technology to deliver your next child?

Hellllllllllll yeeeessssssss! 

Maui 2010

As promised...some pictures from our trip. (I went a little overboard with the pictures.) Sorry for the delay. Things have been a bit out of my control for the last few weeks. Damn morning sickness.

Thanks again for all who offered their advice regarding traveling with a toddler on an airplane. I was a bit nervous about how Grace would do but luckily, thanks to you, we were prepared. Grace did fantastic! She even took a 2.5 hour nap ON the plane. Here is a quick list of what we brought with us (some of you have asked me for this) to avoid a meltdown at 30,000 feet.

First and foremost, we bit the bullet and bought Grace her own seat which was the best thing we did. It was worth EVERY SINGLE PENNY of that six hour flight!

Second, we stock piled the diaper bag with all of Grace's favorite foods and a few new fun things for her to try. A friend recommend a lollipop! Grace had never had one before so that kept her busy for a good 20 minutes! Brilliant! Grace also tried Vanilla Wafers for the first time en route to Maui. She loved them!

Third, we packed an entire carry-on bag FULL of books and toys for Grace - some new and some old. She received her very first My Little Pony (thanks to Grandma) and that was a BIG hit! She also LOVED LOVED LOVED crayons!

Here is Grace in her "I'm Going to Hawaii" outfit. Can you see the palm trees and pineapples on her pants?

Nap time on the plane! Unfortunately, I was dry heaving (under one of Grace's blankets for privacy) into the vomit bag the airlines provides. That was a first I care to never repeat!

Upon landing, Daddy surprised us with leis! He really is the greatest! (Can you see Grace's shirt? It says Aloha! Thanks Grandma!!)

Grace woke up EVERY.SINGLE.DAY. between 4:30 and 5:30...A.M!!! Day 1 we hit the beach before 8 am - still in our PJs. Here are Grace's first moments on the beach.

I quickly came to the realization that we needed reinforcements. Bathing suit, sunscreen AND DADDY!!

Back to the beach we went!

Not the biggest fan of swimming in the ocean myself, I was super impressed at how much Grace LOVED the ocean. She liked it way better than the pool. Even after she was rocked by a few "big" waves!

What a trip to Hawaii without appreciating the flora and fauna, right?

The whales were hoppin'! Luckily, I had whale watching "to do" while I was balled up on the couch dealing with ALL DAY morning sickness.

Back to the beach...

or the pool! Just GET ME IN THE WATER!!

Grace loved her new Princess float.

Couldn't keep her out of it....land or sea!

Traveling with a toddler is fun. Don't get me wrong. Giving Grace the experience of flying and the ocean...it was priceless. But vacations are supposed to be relaxing, right!? Well, with Grace's early wake up calls and my morning sickness episodes, Court and I got little time to recoup or recover. Wonderful, amazing Court picked up all my slack. He cooked all our meals. Went to the grocery store. Looked after Grace. Cleaned up. We now clearly understand while some families choose to travel with a nanny.

We only went out to dinner a few times - when I was feeling up to it. We discovered that Grace loves Mahi Mahi and ice cream!

More beach shots!

She loved digging in the sand

and getting really dirty!

Below are some shots of one of the VERY few dinners we attempted eating out. If you can believe it, we were in and out of this restaurant, Joe's, in less than 30 minutes. Grace ended up having a meltdown and I ended up vomitting. That's how fast and deadly a toddler can strike.

I know I sound like a broken record but I hate HATE dealing with morning sickness especially on vacation!

Good bye Maui! See you next year...with two kids in tow! (GULP!!!)

Sometimes...You Just Know!

{Although posted on February 17, I wrote this back on January 11...when I knew!}
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I just knew. There are somethings you just know. Call it a woman's intuition. Call it being psychic. Call it what you want.

I knew.

I knew even when it came back negative. Four times in a row. FOUR TIMES! You are wrong. Thanks for playing but No. You. Are. Not.

But I knew. I had to be...

Last time I was a bundle of nerves. Might as well have called me Columbus because I felt like I was diving off the edge of the earth and falling into an abyss. Sure it happens everyday. But not to me.

I felt full. Bloated. Twinkly. Kind of like last time...but just a little different.

And then there were two...

Let the "games" (aka morning sickness) begin!

Don't worry it has!

Yes God, It's Me Katie

Everybody needs a little time away

I heard {me} say

From {my blo-ooog}

Even {bloggers} need a holiday

Far away

From their {blo-oooggs}

Hold me now ...

Thanks Chicago! I couldn't have said it better myself!

If you didn't notice, I took a little blogging hiatus. I wanted to disconnect while away on vacation. Sorry I didn't give any warning regarding my disappearance. I didn't think announcing my two week absence from my home over the Internet was the best idea. Regardless, we still had a little "trouble" around the house while we were gone.

First and foremost, Grace's tree was destroyed while we were gone! Someone drove into our yard and ran down her little tree. Can you EVEN believe that?!

I was/am heartbroken.

Secondly, upon our return home yesterday, we had no electricity or heat. Strike that. We had no heat and SOME electricity. Yes, you read that correctly...SOME electricity. In some rooms, the lights worked and in others they didn't. In the kitchen, the lights only had about half power and the appliances (stove top, freezer, refrigerator, oven) didn't work.

STRANGE.

It took most of the day calling electricians, the power company, etc. to sort it all out but we were able to get everything back up and running before dinner time. Heaven forbid we miss a meal around here!

While our vacation was great (more on that and pictures to boot in a later posting) it is good to be home. There's just no where like Home Sweet Home Place!