Signs of the Times

So, just in case you missed the announcement on Facebook or from us personally, the big news in our family right now is that -- surprise! -- we're pregnant again! "Three-peat," as this baby has been officially nicknamed, is due at the end of August. I am 19 weeks right now, so just about halfway there. We have spent the last couple of weeks trying to get registered with the public health system here in Portugal and after getting a bit of a run-around, finally succeeded. I have my first appointment next month, and hopefully the ultrasound, you know the one where they tell you if you're having a boy or a girl. Not that I'm all that anxious to find out, I just want to be able to have an answer other than, "Ainda, não sei," ("I still don't know.") for the 500 people that ask me at church every Sunday if it's a menino or a menina.

I feel fine for the most part. The nausea has mostly passed, to be replaced by heartburn. I struggled with being very tired all the time in the first few weeks, but I feel like I have a little more energy now. My belly is growing, and as it does, I'm finding it more difficult to sleep comfortably. Since I'm not even halfway through at this point, I feel a little desperate when I contemplate what it's going to be like in the hot, hot summer when I'm as big as a whale. Also, the painful varicose veins in my left leg that emerged when I was pregnant with Stephen are back, along with a bunch of other pregnancy aches and pains that I don't remember feeling this early with either of my other two. Chalk that up to age or this being my third baby, or whatever, but I'm certainly enjoying the whole "pregnancy experience" less this time. I really shouldn't complain, though. In comparison to some, my list of concerns is very small, and I am thankful for (so far) another healthy and uneventful pregnancy.

I have more thoughts to share about all this -- this is one of those things I alluded to when I said a few posts back that I was struggling to work through some things. But I'm tired and I don't feel like my brain is really functioning at the level I want it to be to write that stuff. So, I'll leave you with a few pictures for now. I have ultrasound pictures, too -- I went to see my OB in Michigan three times while we were back in the States, but I still have to dig them out and scan them, and I'm too lazy to do that right now, so it'll have to wait for another post as well.

Our team welcomed us back from the States with a beautiful welcome home banner decorated by all the kids. They also made this one especially for Three-peat. This baby is already loved by so many!

First baby gifts, given to us in the States by Grandma and Grandpa "B." Every one of my babies so far has received one of Grandma "B's" hand-hemmed baby blankets! They are so special to me and to them -- Alex still sleeps with his every night.

I was 15 weeks in this photo. My belly sure popped out a lot quicker with this third pregnancy!