So, I won’t bore you with the details of me nursing a fever and a sinus infection for most of last week and the weekend (but I will say it was brutal), or the details of packing that I just can’t seem to get into yet (I’m just waiting for that moment when a fire is lit under my butt), so I’ll just get right down to it: Our baby BOY!!!

Yes, those boy bits certainly can not be confused. I saw it before we even got to the peek-a-boo shot, it was just sitting there in all it’s glory. Conner pointed to it and said, “french fry!” which made me die laughing. And his sweet profile, looking very much like his older brother already.

It’s always so surreal at the big u/s - there is a completely formed baby in there, just waiting to grow and fatten up before the birth. And once the doctor gave the thumbs-up on everything, I could really just let it sink in that I’m having another boy. Tim and I were slightly disappointed since we were rooting for the pink team, but I felt an immediate peace about it and just marveled at my youngest son. I do believe pink and ponytails will be in our future, and I trust that the Lord knows what he is doing, so with that I just wait and enjoy being the mom to two boys. I will certainly have my hands full, but it will definitely be fun.

And for more of your viewing pleasure, here is my mondo belly at 19 weeks.

Yes, it’s not really that mondo - someone recently called it a “disappointment”. Could it be that this child will be on the small side and not feel like a semi passing through my va-jay-jay like Conner did? I’ve only gained two pounds so far, so one can certainly hope!

Okay peoples, I have been laid-up for almost a week and my house is in dire need of some TLC. I seriously can’t believe we’re moving in three weeks. I keep making my girlfriends who have recently done this tell me it’s really not that bad, but since I don’t even have the first box packed it seems so daunting. What do I pack first? And what if I need something I’ve already packed? Oi, I need to go lie down.

Don’t you think? It was hard getting a picture since they wouldn’t stop squirming, but the movement slowed just a bit so the doctor could snap this shot. Look - I even labeled the parts for you so you know just what the heck you’re looking at. I’m also farther along than the calendar says (which I knew since I got a positive prego test way early), so s/he is measuring 6 days ahead. So between that, and the fact that Conner came early, this kiddo may make an earlier appearance than expected (which as it stands is July 5th). It’s always so surreal to see them on the screen, whether it’s the first ultrasound or the last, but I couldn’t stop squealing. Waiting to see the doctor for 50 minutes, and having my peesh poked and prodded was made up for when he turned the u/s machine on and there was our lil’ baby. Besides the physical this pregnancy has brought, it was great to finally get a look at who was (happily) causing all of my grievances.

I do have to say that I am eating my words already about when I would start showing. I always thought moms were just using the second-time-around as an excuse to jump back into the incredibly comfortable maternity pants a.s.a.p., but I’m realize how wrong I really was. Up until two weeks ago I was still in my skinny jeans, and I don’t say this to have people throw trash at me, but I had a pretty flat stomach still. I just knew I’d make it to the 13th or 14th week before even I could tell I was pregnant. But then last week I started to notice a bit of a change…and then literally this weekend I swear I woke up Saturday and my belly was so firm, and was making itself known. Some of my friends have contested this, doing the ol’ “Oh, but you look so great!” (which, don’t get me wrong, I EAT IT UP), but you know your body and you know how your body looks and feels, and this my friend is the first evidence that my body is being taken over and I am just the host.

The only complaint that I really have about pregnancy this time around isn’t the exhaustion and it isn’t the unpredictability in nausea, but it’s the acne. Ohmygosh I feel like a 15-year-old again, that started with one little bugger who then invited all his friends and every morning a new one is added to the mix. And, ugh, this morning there was one of those super painful ones that feels like it’s rooted in the bone and you know it packed it’s winter and summer clothes b/c it’s going to hang around for. freaking. ever. So gross. I was going to take a picture of it, but c’mon - who really wants to see that?

Tim has taught Conner how to take his clothes off (mainly in preparation for a bath in the evenings), but as you can see, he does this any chance he gets.

I’m still trying to figure out how he did this one. And he’s so stinking fast at it. One minute you’re reaching for a can of corn at the grocery store, and you turn back around and your toddler has his arm poking out of the neck hole. Or you take your dishes to the kitchen and return to the living room to find your toddler standing with his pants in one hand, diaper in the other, and peeing on the hardwood floor.

That’s all for today, folks. We got our first sprinkling of snow and I got a smidge giddy watching it fall. I would love to have some snow before Christmas - it’s just so festive. But this is Virginia after all, and it doesn’t know what time of year it is half the time, so I just cross my fingers and enjoy what we do get. Hope your staying warm wherever you are!