Pregnancy + Me ≠ Pure Joy

I mean the end result does BUT I must say, this whole long process of getting there does not work well with me.
First of all, this time around, I was sick until 20 weeks. I've had heartburn from the beginning and I pee like every ten minutes (also from day one).
Second- My right leg is blue and purple all over and nasty looking. It hurts to bend my right knee (feels like a rubber band about to snap) Dr said this will get worse with each pregnancy. Yes, I have noticed. When I get up from laying or sitting with my legs propped up, my right leg HURTS. I feel all of the blood rushing down.
Third- I have SPD (Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction) AKA- separated pelvic bone. Sounds exciting, huh? I will also get this each pregnancy. It's great. Luckily this time the pain started later because I haven't been working out/walking/YOGA(!) like I was last time. You know, all those things you *think* are good for pregnancy. NOT me. Actually one of the doctors misdiagnosed me last time and told me to keep working out and doing YOGA(!) because that would make it better. HA! I ended up in Physical Therapy once a week because yoga makes it worse (and it gave me a sprained ligament). Thanks. You see, when you are in labor, your pelvic bones separate and the baby comes out and your bones go back together and that's normal. Mine just separate EARLY so I have all kind of pain when walking, going up/down stairs etc which I am supposed to avoid. Getting out of bed is really hard. A couple of days ago, it took 10-15 min to stand up due to pain.
Next time, I'm getting a surrogate. My sister told me she loves being pregnant, so I think she would be PERFECT!
A lot of people are scared to tell the name they picked out for fear of someone else stealing it. Really?! I mean I'm thinking if I don't know you, how would I know what you name your child, and if I do know you and see you on a regular basis are you really going to say Oh, I like that name let's name our child that too! Doubt it. That being said, we are most likely naming this little boy after my hockey stick =). Now, lets see if anyone can guess. Ashley, you can't comment =)

This was me (please forgive the nudity ;) ) at 24wks with Arden. I took a belly picture each week for her really cute belly book.



This time around, not so much. Actually this was the first 'belly pic' I took. I should go bare for better comparison and do it at least every 5 weeks. I only have 15 weeks left. geez.

Arden

That girl....I just don't know what I'm going to do with her.
On New Year's Day, we went to the Checkers game and during the first intermission, the cheerleaders go on the ice and perform one song.
Arden was standing on my lap, watching for about 30 seconds, then she ripped off her jacket, lifted up her shirt and started dancing (because the cheerleaders are basically wearing a sports bra, so she was trying to be like them). It was pretty funny.

Last Friday, we went on a date with daddy to dinner and the mall. Arden even got to wear a necklace. She saw me putting one on and had to have it. She just looked so darling with it on and it made her so happy. Here she is waiting for daddy to come home and singing the 'Popcorn Popping' song.

Sunday night, we ate dinner at Ashley's. Aren't they so cute in their pj's?!
Monday morning we woke up to lots of snow! I asked Arden if she wanted to go outside and play in it and she started dancing, saying, "no! (snow) outside! no! yaaaay!!!!" We finally get ready and go outside and she starts crying. She asked for her bucket, so I went back in to get that and then she decided she didn't want it. I asked if she wanted to play 'no.' I asked if she wanted to go back in...'no.' Take a walk?...'no.' Then she asked for her stroller. I said, "how about your wagon?" She said yes, so I find the buried wagon in the garage and she wants nothing to do with it.
{not happy}
I had to drag her back inside because apparently all she wanted to do was cry on the porch. Someone got an early nap that day.
After her nap, I was ready to collect my snow for snow cream and of course she wanted to go out too. She still wasn't thrilled, but enjoyed eating the snow.




Sitting on the couch with a huge bowl of snow cream sure made her smile! It was soooo good!


Things Arden has been saying:
(she loves to point out churches when we pass them. Not sure what made her start that)
Church! Church! Not our church.
Yesterday, I was telling her that her baby brother is in my belly. She said, "Nooo, not Auden's brudder. Dat's mommy's brudder."
Today I bought her a $70 walking, talking baby doll for $15, and she loves it. The doll says 'I love you, mama.' Every time, Arden would say, No, I not mama!
On rare occasions, Arden will say 'I lub you' and it's the sweetest thing ever.
She says 'thank you' for pretty much everything and says 'I'm sorry' for every little thing too. Last weekend, we were at Target and I bumped a man's cart with ours and she said, "Oh! Sorry!.....sorry!....sorry! until the man responded. It took him a while to realize this baby was telling him sorry, then he giggled and told her it was OK and she laughed. She will say 'thank you mommy/daddy/whoever' over and over until you respond. Same with 'I'm sorry'.
I help! is another one she says a lot.
She also tells me good girl, mommy! when I've picked something up or put my shoes or jacket on. Derek changed her diaper a couple of weeks ago and she said, "good girl, Daddy! hehe!
She knows the names of all of her close relatives (grandparents, aunts, and lone cousin) and asks about each one of them daily. She talks most about Boppy and his car. Every. Single. Day. I hear (multiple times) Is dat Boppy's car? Noooo dat's not Boppy's car! That goes with every car we pass when driving, and every neighbor's car she sees out of the window.
Peanut Butter (which she calls jelly) and Jelly (she calls butter)is her favorite food and she eats at least one whole sandwich a day. She really prefers just jelly (peanut butter).
She calls goldfish 'horshies' and her lovey is "wubby"
She calls a paci 'happy' (and luckily she doesn't care about those anymore).
She says a ton of other things that I have no clue about, and will end a lot of her long stories with "OHay mommy?! Ohay?"
She just recently started saying her name(Auden) and likes to point out everything that is hers. Auden's shoes, Auden's car, Auden's book etc.
Arden loves driving over railroad tracks and speed bumps. She will not sit in a regular shopping cart to save her life. It has to be one of the cars or the big tanks that hold two kids and are hard to steer.
Ok, I think that's enough for tonight. I'm tired =).