8 weeks/ 2 Months

{apparently this saved as a draft and never fully published. Bummer, now the posts are out of order and that bothers me. But here was what I wrote for 8 weeks}

This pregnancy I decided to just do photo/post updates monthly, instead of weekly like I did with Jackson. Good thing too since I'm 4 posts behind already! 

So this is 8 weeks/ 2 months. My belly was already growing this early on. It looks like I just ate too much lunch, but that is a little baby bump! It made me so happy that belly was growing quickly. I love the pregnant look (even though I am so short it makes me look so roly poly!). Even though I was still in the first trimester, I definitely took advantage of the expectant mother parking spaces wherever I could find them!

During week 5, Jackson and I went to Michigan for Matt's Grandma Dub's ("Dub" for "W" for "Wilhelm") memorial service. This was perfect timing because I was able to tell both our immediate families about the baby in person. Above is a picture of cupcake birthday party invitations I gave to Matt's family to tell them. Where it says "For" I put "Baby Iveson" and for "Date/Time/Place" I put "TBA". When they opened the envelopes it took a second for it to register what it was. Jamie was the first to understand and get excited. 

I had told my parents when they met Jack and I at the airport. I gave my mom an anniversary card and my dad a birthday card (both events had been in August) and signed them from "Matt, Becca, Jackson, and New Baby". They were so happy for us and had been hoping for an announcement soon. I did the same for my sister Christine's birthday card (also in August) and just verbally told my sister Lisa when I saw her. I told all our immediate family right away so we could have prayers from the start. 

This month I had felt incredibly anxious and guilty about the New Baby. I was worried I wouldn't love this baby as much as Jackson because at that point I just couldn't imagine sharing my love between two children (I have heard from other mothers you can't fully comprehend how your love grows, not divides, until you hold your new baby). I was worried I would have post partum depression because I didn't love this baby as much as Jackson. I was worried my worries would cause another miscarriage. I tried to talk to Matt about this but he didn't really understand. I wrote about it in my pregnancy journal and the next day felt so much better. After writing out my fears I was able to move past them. I began to feel fully excited about this pregnancy just in time for our first ultrasound!

Look at our cute little baby gummy bear, bullet, platypus. These were the descriptions we thought of when we first saw the baby. On the ultrasound we could see little baby's heart fluttering. Baby wiggled a little, but not nearly as much as Jackson's first ultrasound. But that was when Jackson was 10 weeks anyways. Everything looked perfect on the ultrasound and there were no worries of another miscarriage. 

Symptoms: 

*extreme exhaustion. Not only is the first trimester a doosy with growing a baby, but keeping up with an active toddler and preparing to move states? Forget about it! I napped every day when Jack napped and couldn't get hardly anything done. The house was untidy and the dishes and laundry just kept piling up. Thankfully, Matt understood and wanted me to rest as much as possible so baby could grow big and strong. 

*overly emotional. I got sad/mad over the silliest things. I knew it was the hormones, but I couldn't help getting worked up. 

*cramping- just normal for first trimester and everything settles, but it did make me nervous. I just tried not to think about it. 

*so hungry! I was still nursing Jackson so I needed 500 extra calories for that and then 300 extra calories just for being pregnant! At least I didn't have to feel guilty about snacking all day and taking seconds at meals. 

*nausea/morning sickness. It was pretty constant and throwing up helped for a moment, but then the nausea would return. This started around week 6, just like with Jackson. 

*preggo brain! I'll forget my keys in the house, or get Jack all strapped in and realize I forgot something I need inside. So forgetful. 

*peeing all the time! 

Cravings: 

*orange juice- which I normally don't like. 

*olga's snackers- oh yum! 

*white cheddar popcorn 

*hawaiian pizza 

*crunch berries cereal

*Vanilla pudding

*McDonald's French fries 

*panera soup- thankfully the commissary sells single servings of this since Lawton didn't have a Panera.

*ice cream sandwiches

Aversions:

*cooking meat- ick. 

*cheese 

*goldfish crackers

*spinach 

*leftovers- something will sound good for dinner one night and the next sound horrible

A "normal" first part of the first trimester.