Hi, my name is Leah and I just turned 24 and I am expecting my second child with my husband, Steve. We have been married since August of 2004 and had our son, Steven on September 3, 2005. We are expecting a girl this time, and plan to name her Gabby (actually Gabrielle, but we'll call her Gabby). I am not good at being pregnant at all. I absolutely HATE being pregnant and the countdown till the due date began the day I found out we were expecting. I want another child very much and I love being a Mom, so pregnancy is just what we have to put up with to get to the good stuff, right?

JustMommies.com labor prediction:

Just about the time you think you can't handle hearing one more "when is that baby going to pop?", your baby will decide to make it's appearance. We predict your baby will be born 3-7 days before its due date. Your baby will most likely be born in the morning. Justmommies predicts that your baby will weigh approximately 7.5 pounds and that your labor will be about 11 hours long.

August 29: I just found out yesterday that my church is throwing me a baby shower on September 15. I will be 36 weeks. I know it's late but I already have everything I need for her, so it's really going to be just a bunch of "extras" and fun stuff and I am really looking foward to it. I think it's so nice they are having one for me when it is my second baby.

I have Gabby's "nursery" all set up and ready to go for her. She will be sleeping in our bedroom closet. We are going to be moving to a bigger house when she is about three months old and she will have her own room then, but until then it will be nice to have her close for all those night-time feedings and everything. But her "closet nursery" turned out pretty cute. I'm not a big fan of pink and frills so her decor is green with a few pink accents. I will post some pictures of it later today.

I am feeling more than ready for this baby. I am praying that the next few weeks fly by and I will be holding my little girl before I know it...and sleeping on my stomach again!! We're almost there! These last few weeks are the worst. I have so many pains. It feels like she is actually kicking my bladder. I think her knee might break through my skin, she pushes so hard on my side! My pelvis is killing me and I cannot kneel down to pick up my sons toys without feeling like her head is coming out - ouch! The pressure is killing me, let alone the gas. My gas pains were so intense yesterday that I thought I was having a contraction at first.

We are going to tour the hospital this weekend. Every little thing that makes me feel like labor is sooner helps. I may be the only person who will get that first painful contraction and cheer and smile all the way through it. I will be so happy to be in labor. (although I know the smiling won't last long...until the epidural - then it will come back!)

Pregnancy Survey: August 16
About You
Name?: Leah
Age?: 24
Height?: 5'3"
Pre-pregnancy weight?: 133 - still carrying 10 extra pounds from 1st pregnancy :-(
About The Father
Name?: Steve
Age?: 26
Height?: 5'9"
Are you still together?: Happily Married, 3 years
About Your Pregnancy
Is this your first pregnancy?: No, second
When did you find out you were pregnant?: February 1st
Was it planned?: We had been trying for 4 months
What was your first reaction?: I got choked up
Who was with you when you found out?: No one
Who was the first person you told?: My hubby
How did your parents react?: They were very excited
How far along are you? 32 weeks today
What was your first symptom?: very emotional and feeling like I was having a milk letdown
What is your due date?: October 11th
Do you know the sex of the baby?: Yes - I could not wait to find out!
If so, what is it?: It's a girl!
Have you picked out names?: Of course
If so, what are they?: Gabrielle Anne (Gabby)
How much weight have you gained?: 28.5 pounds
Do you have stretch marks?: Yes, no new ones - just filling out the ones from the first pregnancy
Have you felt the baby move?: Like crazy!
Have you heard the heartbeat?: Every two weeks
About the birth
Will you keep the baby?: What a silly question, would I be filling this out if I weren't?
Home or hospital birth?: Hospital....because they have the drugs!
Natural or medicated birth? The epidural is my best friend!
Who will be in the delivery room with you?: My Husband
Will you breastfeed?: Yes
Do you think you'll need a c-section?: I Hope not
Will you cry when you hold the baby for the first time?: I don't know - I thought I would with my son, but I was too tired to cry.
What's the first thing you might say to him/her?: You're finally here, sweet girl!
Would you let someone videotape the birth?: No way!
Are you excited about the birth, or scared?: Excited, I just hope it goes as smoothly as my first.