I know it's been quiet around here and for that, I apologize. We've been busy with work, business travel, a little bit of fun travel, and still settling in to our new home. I had forgotten how much work home ownership is! Spring is always busy for us, and this spring has been no exception. But, I'm here today to catch you all up on a new adventure we have decided to tackle: 2 under 2! That's right, we are expecting our second baby in November. Eek! We are excited, nervous, anxious, but also, happy!

They say that each pregnancy is unique. With Evelyn, my pregnancy was fairly easy. Sure, I was tired in the first trimester, but I never really suffered from morning sickness or nausea. The second trimester was just as easy and the third trimester was only slightly more difficult. Mostly because I started to get some aches and pains that were due to hormonal changes, and the fact that our little lady decided to take her sweet ol' time coming out 9 days after she was due. But all in all, I was able to stay fairly active, I had no food aversions, and aside from dealing with a hot summer in Germany sans AC, it wasn't too bad. This pregnancy though? It's a WHOLE different ball game.

I'm not sure if it's because I know more now - what I'm in for, how my last pregnancy was, or how this one is different - or something else. I'm leaning towards the fact that it's a combination of factors. While I still worked when I was pregnant with Evelyn, this time, I'm also caring for a toddler at home and holy crap are they constant balls of energy! I wish I could sleep when she does, but she naps at daycare (while I'm at work), and on weekends, I need the quiet time to get caught up on house stuff that didn't get done during the week. And don't even get me started on the nausea and food aversions! While I didn't experience much more than just nausea, "just nausea" is still exhausting to deal with. In my first trimester, it was a challenge just to eat dinner some nights. I know so many moms have it so much worse, but this hit me like a brick wall! Another new "experience" this pregnancy has been the random food aversions. Mostly they come and go, but the one that's stuck around is pretty much anything Cajun and fish - which is problematic when you live on the Gulf coast where seafood is it's own food group and a lot of the food is heavily influenced by Louisiana. It's also craw fish boil season, so that's been loads of fun!

I'm not nearly as active this time around and I honestly think that has had a major influence on how I'm feeling this pregnancy. Last time, I still had the freedom to go to the gym a few nights a week, and living in Germany I was inherently more active (the car was often a couple blocks away, I walked to the grocery store, we walked nearly everywhere in town if we could). Here, I do so much more driving instead of walking, and the last thing I want to do is spend time in a gym when I need to catch up on sleep or spend the few hours I have free each day with Evelyn. I know I need to be more active, but I also need more than 24 hours in a day!

Just like last time, we are not planning on finding out if this baby is a boy or girl. It was pretty special to be the one to pick up Evelyn seconds after being born and find out for myself she was a girl. But, you'd be surprised how many people get upset when we tell them we aren't finding out! "How are you going to plan?!" "I would need to know!" "How do you do it?!" We've heard 'em all. But, from the beginning, Aaron has always said that this is one of the few true surprises that we have in life - so let's leave it that way! At the end of the day, I'll be giving birth to a human baby (well, hopefully!) and that is also, hopefully, healthy. And really, that's all that matters. But in reality, another girl would make life easy - we already have all the clothes!

Medical care wise, I'm starting to see the differences between the US and Germany, and I have to say, I miss Germany. I could write a book about the inefficiencies, inadequacies, and costs of the US healthcare system (and I'm not referring only to insurance companies, but to the industry as a whole) as compared to the German one, but I won't. It'd be boring to read anyways. But, suffice it to say, I have suggested to Aaron that when we go to Germany in September for a wedding, I may just stay there....probably not, but a girl can dream! Logistically, it could work -  I could get a long term AirBnB, a Schengen visitors visa is valid for 3 months, I'm already familiar with the hospital, and my insurance covers me when I travel (I called to confirm). Not that I've thought about this at all....

I'm well into my second trimester and feeling pretty good. Some of the same issues I has last time are cropping up again (SPD is rearing it's ugly head), but on the whole, I'm feeling pretty good. My belly has just started to pop and I'm starting to move out of that "I just look fat stage" to "I finally look a little pregnant stage." I'm still tired, but I'm working (unsuccessfully) on getting to bed a little earlier. Last time I kept the pregnancy posts to a minimum - but this time around, I think I may write a bit more about it. I find myself drawn to reading about different experience on other blogs I follow (even travel ones!). Keep an eye here for some more updates on how things are progressing and the occasional gripe about maternity care in the US.

18 weeks down. Only 22, give or take, to go!