24 Weeks!

This week we slid into the 24 week mark, or what is known to most as 6 months along. 6 months! Only a few more left to go.

This pregnancy is, for the most part, continuing to zoom by. While I'm definitely bigger than I was last time, my belly isn't in the way too much yet (although this week I definitely started noticing the annoyance of bending over with a bowling ball in front of you). I am having a beyond amazing summer with my only daughter that is here. So far I've been trying to savor every minute with her being the one and only for the last time, and do as much as we can together without passing out from exhaustion. Our days have been filled with visits to the park, zoo, farm, play dates, and walks to just about anywhere. She is so fun right now and such an unbelievable trooper no matter what we do. I don't know what I'd do if she were giving me a dose of that business called the terrible two's. 

While Adly has been amazing, the last month of pregnancy has been filled with annoying aches and pains unfortunately. While I really can't complain much about this pregnancy overall, these new pains suck. Additionally, raising a toddler while pregnant is just not that fun. When you don't have a toddler, you focus all your energy and time on this little beautiful being inside you. This time around, I'm spending most of the day entertaining and running around with my kid that is already here. She's got a lot of energy these days and really needs to be out of the house for at least a few hours daily. This does not coincide with her mom who would much prefer to lay on the couch, relaxing with headphones on her belly talking to her princess all day. Let's just say, every day I am counting the minutes to nap time AND bedtime so I can get a break and/or go to sleep myself. 

As far as the aches and pains go, they are all in my hips. I swear to the heavens above, WHERE ELSE CAN MY HIPS GO?!?

These girls will destroy whatever pre-baby skinny-hipped images you had of yourself. My hips hurt constantly when getting up from sitting, laying down or bending down. It sucks. I went and complained to my doctor hoping she'd subscribe me some awesome drugs. Ha. Ha. Juuust kidding. No, but really, let's be honest, preggos get no kind of fun like that. Instead, she informed me that the second time around, you're more likely to feel the aches and pains of pregnancy, and they usually begin earlier on.  Oh, and I can expect them to continue for the remainder of the pregnancy.

Greeeeaaaat. 

She was kind enough, however, to suggest I take a warm bath and relax, or even a hot shower to help them ease the pain. To which I laughed out loud. Because honestly, baths?!? Who has time for such luxuries? The only way I'd get to experience that gloriousness would be with my toddler who, bless her heart, loves talking non-stop and hasn't yet discovered the bliss of a few minutes of peace and quiet. Thankfully, the other day she was snooping through my things as usual and somehow she dug up a heating pad I forgot I had. See? Those nosey toddlers are good for a lot of things. Although she thought it was something she could use to "shock mama at the doctor" (I don't even want to begin to think about what she was referring to),  it has helped quite a bit to ease some of the pains at nighttime and in the morning. 

Let me tell you something else that's not awesome about the second time around, especially at this point. I'm entering the final hump. The third trimester. And now I know. I know what's coming. I know how big I'm going to get. I know how hard it is going to be to walk. I know how tired I'm going to be.  Let me say it again: I know how big I'm going to get. And this time, I won't be able to be sprawled out on my couch in the heat of the summer like a beached whale awaiting the impending birth. No. This time, I'll be working all day, then coming home to work job number two with my 2 year old and then trying to spend time with my husband without too much complaining until I pass out on the couch like an exhausted beached whale.

I can't even wrap my head around how I will survive?

Ok, I know I'll survive. I'll be fine, because millions of hard working women do this all the time. But seriously, how am I going to do this?!

These are the thoughts that are swirling through my head at this point and time. 24 weeks. Only 16ish more to go.

20 Weeks.

Bad parent alert! Or rather, "sorry baby number 2, you're already getting the shaft" alert!

Either way, here we are at the halfway point and I'm finally getting around to documenting this child's introduction to the world.

I say introduction because it was at some point during this week that my belly started protruding after hiding quite well the last 4 months. Actually, it wasn't at some point. I know exactly when it was. It was Sunday evening around 8pm when the all too familiar growing pains in the groin and stomach region happened. The kind that make first time mommies everywhere panic that something is wrong. But no. It's just your body spreading out in all different ways to make room for the cantaloupe that is growing inside you. This time, it has been quite weird to feel the familiar aches in my joints as my hips realign themselves again to carry a heavy load up front. 

Up until this point, I have to say this has been such an easy pregnancy. Sure, I've definitely had my evenings of being really exhausted, had the bouts of sickness, and ohmygod don't even mention sausage or quinoa to me--they still make me want to hurl. But beyond the weird aversions and normal nausea that ended around 9 weeks, I can't complain.

I am especially grateful for this, as I chase Adly around all day. I cannot imagine doing this while feeling absolutely horrible. In some ways it has been so easy, I've forgotten all about being pregnant. This comes in handy when it comes to the passage of time. It is flying by! Seriously, I blinked and realized I was 20 weeks- half way there!!! 

At 20 weeks, the speculations over the sex of baby #2 continue. I honestly have no idea what we are having. Some days I think strongly boy and other days I strongly think girl. With Adly, I consistently felt "girl" from the start. There have been two major differences in this pregnancy: cravings and sleep. With Adly, I consistently craved sweets. Anything sweet, which was so out of character for me. I ate Sour Patch Kids by the bag. This time, I cannot get enough of everything salty. Chips, pickles, banana peppers (by the jar), spicy sauces, popcorn...anything with salt, I'm down for it. 

I think because of this, I've been slightly saved when it comes to weight gain...so far. By now with Adly, I had already put on about 15 pounds. Mind you, prior to pregnancy with Adly, I was at my best fighting weight having just gotten married. But either way, I was packing on the pounds--and fast. This time, I have been slow to put on weight which is good. That means no scolding by the doctor so far. At 20 weeks, I am around 7 pounds over pre-pregnancy weight.

As far as sleep goes, with Adly, I was exhausted. Maybe it's just a difference of having nothing to focus on but the pregnancy that made me so tired. But I fell asleep constantly around 8:30/9. This time, I'm finding myself having much more trouble sleeping. I'm not nearly as tired at night and now that school is out I've been staying up until 11ish every night. I then wake up between 5:30/6am most days. Ugh. Then there's the insomnia. I've had some terrible bouts of it this pregnancy, sometimes staying up from 3am on, but regularly being awake from 2-4am area. This is exhausting, so I've been regularly napping when Adly does, purely to catch up on sleep.

This week, we finally find out the sex of Baby #2. However we aren't sharing the sex until after Adly's birthday on the 10th. We are having most of our immediate family over to celebrate her 2nd birthday in two weeks and we've chosen to also then share the sex of baby with them then. You know, just to draw out the waiting game a little longer. Because we can.

Of course, we won't be waiting to find out! God no. I'm about to burst inside with the need to know exactly who has been occupying my stomach the last 20 weeks! With Adly, Adam and I went downtown for a little babymoon to find out the sex. We shopped, went out for a really nice dinner, and I was asleep by 9pm. It was a really nice night. This time, however, we have a delightful toddler at home. After going back and forth for a bit, we decided not to do downtown overnight. Adam has to work the whole day still, so our timing would be pretty tight. Instead, after visiting the doctor and getting the best information ever tucked into a card I'm going to stare at all day, I'm taking a mama day.

This calls for a massage with one of my best girlfriends and some shopping. ALONE. This never happens anymore! Maybe I'll go crazy and go to Costco by myself too!?! When Adam gets home, he and I are going to a movie together. To some, this may sound boring. Until I reveal we have not seen a movie together since before Adly was born. Two years it's been! Before you have your baby- GO TO THE MOVIES. You never will again. After that, we're going to dinner at a place we've been wanting to try and then getting a little crazy and doing Tango lessons. Because, why not? We've got a night off from being parents! (All thanks to our dearest and most amazing soon to be officially, sister-in-law Jess).
 

Just to note, with this pregnancy, the overwhelming guesses, intuitions, and feelings from others have gone to boy. As we head into the day of the ultrasound, Adam is still feeling boy and I have switched to girl. My guess has switched only due to the fact that now that it's officially popped, my belly seems high again, a lot like it was with Adly. However, I will note the baby tends to hang out down low. That is where it has been for the ultrasounds and heartbeat listens. I also don't remember feeling her kicks so low last time. I know that boys tend to hang lower. See what I mean!? This baby is already keeping me guessing.

So, here is belly at 20 weeks. It is far bigger at this point than with Adly. She did a great job of stretching out those muscles a few years ago, so baby #2 is having no problem making themselves at home in there. 

Bottom is Adly at 20 weeks. Yipes! Such a difference this time.

Preggo Belly Pics

I had wanted to post this a few weeks ago, but having a baby flipped our world upside down (a little) and it's taken me longer than I thought. But today my little darlin' has been sleeping non-stop, allowing mommy lots of time to get things done. Must've been the partying she did last night? Either way, here is a look at the growth of Adly inside my belly over the 39 weeks she was in there.

What I can't even believe is the explosive growth that took place in the last few weeks. Looking back now I can't even remember how she fit in there. But she did. And all that cooking led to our little sweet pea named Adly Daniele.

38 Weeks

July...we made it!! It is now official that my daughter and I will share at least a birthday month. I haven't yet decided how I really feel about that. I mean, my birthday month has always been my birthday month. I'm not good at sharing.  However I have decided that this year, it's ok to let my birthday slide by, unnoticed. Her birthday can most definitely take precedence over mine this one time. You must also know, my reasoning for this is not selfless. Lets be honest, I want my body back. So any day now works for me!

With the 38th week comes the joy of what I'm referring to as the black hole of pregnancy. There is so much that is unknown about any individual birth that you're given a whole list of "possible" labor indicators and any one of those could mean this is it. To boot, at this time your body also begins experiencing little tidbits of these warning signs on the regular, which every time sends you into a panic of "is this it!?!" But it's not.

Some examples are, lower back pain, menstrual cramps, Braxton Hicks (which are now so regular and strong I can track them), "leakage" from your lady parts (well friends, this has been happening the entire pregnancy), and diarrhea or lots of pooing. I'm telling you- the pregnant life is where its at, ladies!

Another problem with this time is boredom. There's not a whole lot I can do anymore. Taking a walk is great, but it's hard to do with anyone else, being that my "walk" is maybe a mile and a half....not a whole lot to any average lady friend trying to get in shape. I can't go too far from home because "what if!?!" So instead, I sit and attempt to clean and make lists of daily tasks that I can do to keep myself from going stir crazy. Thankfully, this week is the 4th of July week which means a lot of my friends will be off work to entertain me. Yay for me!!

Here's the belly at 38 weeks:

36 Weeks

Here is life, at 36 weeks pregnant:

-I'm stuck in Chicago. Literally. No more traveling for this baby mama.

-I have been told a few times this week I've "dropped". Although, it definitely doesn't feel like it. I expected to feel some serious relief on my ribcage and lungs. That has not happened.

-My cankles are raging in the heat and my legs feel and look like two stumps. So attractive.

-Adly's foot has been making regular appearances out the sides of my belly. My students have even been able to feel it. That always brings on the reaction of, "I can't believe there's actually something in there!!"

-Hiccups are annoying. Hiccups in the belly were cute at first, now they're annoying. It's almost like I have them at the same time. If only I could train her to understand, "Stand on your head and drink 7 sips of amniotic fluid! I swear.....it works!!"

-Sleep is still good...except when I eat fried foods. When...when will I ever learn my lesson!?!?!

-She is the size of a watermelon and around 6 pounds. Seriously. There is a watermelon in my belly that has to come out eventually. How on earth...

-I'm starting to feel pain in my "groin" area. That means things are moving! YAY!

-Braxton Hicks have been in full swing this weekend on the tail end of the 36th week. Keep 'em coming, keep 'em coming. All those practice contractions have to mean something.

-This momma's still got it! I got hit on in the car yesterday heading out to the burbs. The guy wanted me to roll down my window. So I did. And pointed to my belly saying, "I'm 9 months pregnant. You want in on this action!?!" I think all he could do was laugh. On a side note, I don't think I've had anyone hoot and holler at me in a car like that since I was in college--so unfortunately, it's not a regular occurrence in my every day life.

36 Weeks:

Bellies Who Brunch

Last weekend, Laura (soon to be new mom friend from high school) and I met up for brunch. I hadn't seen her in a few weeks so it was great to catch up. Even better, we were quite the sight- two large and in charge preggos stuffing our faces.

While we were there, we were both lamenting how we have nothing going on during the weekends these days. She, especially. You see, her due date is June 11th. In just two days. So she's been spending the final countdown preparing anything and everything she can think of last minute, but yet unable to go anywhere too far. It was there that we came up with plans to brunch again this weekend...albeit if her bundle of joy hadn't arrived yet.

Lo and behold as this Sunday rolled around, there was still no baby for Laura so brunch was on again. This time, another non-preggo friend of ours, Nicole joined us. Coincidentally, all three of us went to high school together and now all live in Chicago. Brunch was fantastic again and while there we once again started talking about planning another brunch for the following weekend. I swear, all there is to look forward at this point is the next meal!

Nicole mentioned chicken and waffles at another brunch place which has been my addiction since getting pregnant. We immediately all decided on that place for next weekend's brunch...once again pending no baby for Laura.

Baby or no baby, at least brunching with another belly has given the both of us something to look forward to and some mutual preggo time (you know how I love my pregnant ladies).

34 Weeks

I'm currently (happily) enjoying somewhat of a "downswing" in this seemingly endless rollercoaster ride. For the moment, despite my size, I've been feeling pretty good.

Here is life at 34 weeks:

-In the last week, my heartburn has disappeared. Shhhhh....don't tell anyone. PSYCH!!! In the two days since I first drafted this post, it has coming raging back. Where was the damn wood when I needed it to knock on!?!

-Swelling has also subsided, but that may have more to do with the cooler temperatures we're having. For the first and only summer, I have been doing happy dances every day it stays under 80 degrees.

-I know I say it almost every time, but Adly moves all the time. I love it. I just want to reach in my belly and grab her. It's almost too much to handle at this point. At times, she heads toward one side of my belly and when she does, the mountainous belly I have leans whichever way she goes. It's quite the sight to see your whole stomach head one way! Different body parts also pop up to say HIIIII!!!! on the regular.

-I have to do the sumo sit. What is this? It's an awesome term I've coined to describe how I have to spread my legs wide in order to allow my belly to sit comfortably between my legs when I sit on the couch. So attractive.

-My belly is starting to grow...outward. Even Adam's t-shirts flap out in the wind as opposed to sitting nicely against my waist/thighs. I guess the constant draft I'm feeling up my shirt isn't bad, considering it's almost summer.

-I ate BBQ and actually enjoyed it for the first time since this pregnancy began. It has been the one thing that has just sounded "ick" to me. This is big news because I love BBQ and I was secretly worried I'd never enjoy it again. Phew!

-I'm now up peeing 2-3 times a night. My mind is boggled by how much pee a bladder can hold.

I keep forgetting to print off a 34 week sign, so instead I'm including a belly picture from our homemade maternity photo shoot Adam and I did the other night. Let me tell you, any passersby may have thought there was a porno shoot going on with the camera flashes going off over and over again. Sadly, at this stage there was no way that was the case. Pregnancy truly is a beautiful thing and despite my complaining of how crappy I feel at times, being pregnant has been an amazing and wonderful experience. I have to admit, seeing my body on film was quite a shock. It's really not that bad!

So here's a photo from 34 weeks. Sorry if it's too much.

32 Weeks

The last two weeks have flown by. And as they've flown by, this belly of mine grew. And grew big time. I can't believe I have 8 more weeks to go. I'm not really sure where she has room to go from here? But alas, in the world of pregnancy, you and I both know she'll find it. And she'll take every last bit of room she can. Probably creating stretch marks as she goes. Sigh. 

32 weeks:

-On the first night of 32 weeks, I experienced my first bout of pregnancy insomnia. After teaching all day with no AC and then visiting my brother in law and his gf in their new place sans AC, I was a overheated to the core. I think that contributed to the restlessness.

-While I haven't been having insomnia every night, I'm definitely sleeping more restlessly. More trips to the bathroom, more tossing and turning.

-Cramp! My left leg has started cramping in my sleep. This is also beginning to contribute to lack of sleep, although for now I've managed to keep dreaming as I try to stretch out the cramp. It's one of those things I wake up thinking, "did my leg really cramp up for a while last night?!"

-My belly button continues to creep out. I'm still convinced it's not going to fully pop out. Wishful thinking.

-Last week, I learned the hard way that drinking water is of utmost importance. Therefore, I'm now a lean, mean, (rather, a large and in charge) peeing machine.

-I've now resorted to fumbling open the Tums bottle that resides next to my bed in the dark, desperately grabbing for relief in the middle of the night. Damn you heartburn! This, I cannot wait for to end.

-For the first time this pregnancy, I am getting full much faster. Smaller, more frequent meals are becoming a necessity. I'm kind of sad to see my now-normal truck stop sized meals coming to an end.

-Adly's body moves all around and you can see it from the outside. This is quite cool. I've tried all week to catch it on video. She is quite sneaky. It appears she lacks her mothers love for the spotlight. But I have faith I can train her in that.

If I had to wrap up 32 weeks in one word, it would be ginormous. So many of my clothes have suddenly refused to fit and with the weather getting hotter I'm getting more and more nervous for the dreaded heat of June. Fingers crossed these cold fronts keep coming through. I know, I'm selfish. But believe me, you all want to spare yourself the moaning, complaining, and swear words that are going to flow when I'm stuck in a building all day with no AC, hot, sticky, sweaty and 9 months pregnant for the entire month of June.

Here's a snapshot of 32 weeks:

30 Weeks

Here's my life at 30 weeks pregnant:

-When I sit, my belly is starting to rest on my thighs. Weird.

-My hips hurt. All. the. time. My doctor explains this as the relaxin coursing through my body to start loosening up my joints to prepare for labor. The pain in my hips results in the crooked, limping walk commonly known as the "pregnancy waddle". I have that now.

-The top of my belly button is trying to make its way outie. Eww. I'm trying to stay in denial of this process. Oh, this hurts as well. Just around the belly button.

-Lower back pain is starting to come and go, but only for short periods so that's ok by me for now.

-Adly still has spastic kicking and punching fits, but her body is getting big enough now to where you can see her moving from one side of her apartment to another. In the process, her bum or her head will also poke out. Rumor has it, extremities are up next to popping out in alien-like form.

-My feet and fingers are starting to swell when there is any relative heat. Nothing too bad just yet, but it's starting.

-I'm feeling the burn. No, not from working out. My heartburn has intensified immensely in the last two weeks. Anything I eat gives me heartburn. Thank goodness for Tums.

-I still have not felt the Braxton Hicks everyone talks about. I think I'm ok with that.

-I DO NOT HAVE GESTATIONAL DIABETES. I am so, so happy to report that news.

-10 more weeks to go!

28 Weeks

In the ever changing world of pregnancy, not much has changed for me in the last 3 weeks, thankfully. Besides my burgeoning belly growing and causing more and more mobility issues, I'm not feeling any different. Please don't strike me down for saying that. I'm trying not to jinx myself...but its true!

I'm still feeling really tired and sleeping through the night. I'm still hungry every waking hour. I'm trying my best to eat healthier, but it doesn't always happen. Still love me some sweets. And anything chewy is still my best friend.

Here's what has changed. Adly's movements have gotten a lot stronger as she has grown and her living space has gotten smaller. These days I can actually see her "crawling" across my belly as she moves from one side to another. If I'm sitting down and bend forward, she clearly doesn't like her even more cramped space so she starts kicking and clawing. At those times, I can actually feel her little limbs! Now THAT is a weird feeling.

Sleeping on my back, something I worried about at 14 weeks but never stopped doing, is rapidly becoming next to impossible. I wake up dizzy or out of breath whenever I end up on my back (although I have no clue how long that takes to happen). For the most part I'm adjusting to being on either side at night. And when I flip from side to side, she wakes up and moves around, readjusting with gravity. Its funny, now I can't imagine not having something living in my belly.

I'm also getting more and more awkward compliments. You know, the "Oh, you look bigger!" or "I'm not sure how to say this but ummm....you look really pregnant now!" I'm not sure there is a polite way to say someone is looking much larger around the middle. But I don't care either way. I've longed to look like I'm knocked up so my feelings can finally match my body. Now people won't think I'm a crazed lunatic when I'm yelling about nonsense or crying over next to nothing. They'll just look away and say, "don't worry. She's just a hormonal psychopathic pregnant lady. She'll be back to normal in a few months."

On that note, I can also see my hormones raging more than they have in a while. I've decided to keep the drama and rants from the last two days of my life off of this blog. I enjoy it as an outlet for happy thoughts and the hilarity of my every day life. But if you want to hear a real pregnant woman rant, talk to me about maternity leave in the U.S. and our lovely mayors' new health plan roll out. That'll really bring out the pregnant woman hormonal psychosis.

Here's the belly, 28 weeks:

Final Stretch...already!?

My little nugget inside me is now the size of an eggplant. An eggplant! So big! It's crazy how fast time is flying. This weekend, I had the pleasure of peeking into a crystal ball and seeing my future. Actually, I got to see my good friend Laura. But a perk of seeing her right now is getting to see what lies ahead of me in the next four weeks. 

Last time I saw her, I learned I had adorable baby kicks in my future, along with the cutest baby belly.

At the time I was so jealous of her baby bump. This time when I saw Laura, her news wasn't as great. At 7 months, her belly bump is still absolutely adorable. But as she's getting bigger, the pain is setting in and so is the uncomfortableness. As she put it, she's getting to the point of no return....where being comfortable is a rare luxury that is all but disappearing. 

Boo. 

I have to say, if being pregnant consisted of stopping where I'm at right now, I'd happily be pregnant over and over again. This is most definitely the "honeymoon" period so many prior preggo's talk about. I've got my little lady bump, my maternity clothes fit perfectly, my angel moves wildly about inside me, and I'm feeling overall just fab. But this is also the point where I'm sure women who have been pregnant before are laughing at my naivety, thinking, just you wait, you naive little one. Just you wait. While my pregnancy has been quite easy so far, there's always "more" looming ahead. More weight, more back pain, more boobs, more sleep issues, more, more, more. 

Whatever lies ahead, I'm ready. I think. 

Actually, I'm not. Let's be honest. I'm a total baby and any changes freak me out. I'm already having moments of "ohmygosh I can barely get myself up from the couch" and every time it happens I want to cry and do nothing but stay laying there on the couch. So prepare yourselves. If the crystal ball rings true for me, there's going to be plenty of whining ahead in the coming months. 

On another note, I  found out at the doctors last week I have just entered the THIRD TRIMESTER. I don't know where the time as gone! I feel like I'm going to blink and then suddenly I will be in labor, pushing out a baby. I just haven't wrapped my mind around all that yet. I guess it helps to have the first trimester fly by as you're traipsing all over town like a newly married drunken lunatic, only to find out at 8 weeks that "What the...! There's a human inside me!" Not that I condone such a thing. But whatever, to each's own, right?

So here I am, entering the final stage. The Final Countdown is playing in my head right now. May have to add that to the Labor and Delivery playlist.

Just for giggles, when I discovered I was wearing the same shirt for the picture I wore a few weeks ago, I thought I'd put them side by side to show the explosive growth that has happened in the last 8 weeks. Hello, basketball that is quickly preventing me from bending over properly.

Week 25 (& 18):

 

kickin' it

Something really cool is happening. Well, I think its really cool at least.

Baby girl is kicking like a mad woman lately. The new thing is, her kicks are so prominent! She wakes me up at night, she distracts me throughout the day, she even plays games with me. (At least thats what I think she's doing).

I got home from school today and she began practicing her soccer kicks again. She's getting to a size where I could fully feel where her head and legs were. So crazy! And every time she kicked, I'd push down on the spot twice. Then she'd kick back! I like to think it was our first communication between each other and I've been beaming ever since.

What started as something so weird inside my body has become something so cool, I'll be sad when it ends. Of course then, she'll be here alive and kicking in person, which will be much better.

In belly news, I'm finding bending over to become more of a burden. Getting out of cars is becoming pure comedy as I grunt and pull my way out. I can only imagine how much fun it will be in a few short months. And my winter coat which fits oh so snugly normally is not happy about the belly trying to invade its space. Lets hope spring comes early so I don't end up busting through another jacket!

22 Weeks & Kicking:

Belly Overload

This week has been a trying one, at best. I could sit and cry and whine and blah, blah, blah about how hard my life is, but I don't feel like doing that. I've had enough stressing and crying and complaining this week to last me a month.

Since I can't down a bottle of vino to cure my "long day blues", when I got home from work last night I suggested to Adam we go out to dinner. We decided to try a new restaurant by our house and get all gussied up for the evening. It was a good change of pace for a weeknight and just the stress reliever I needed.

I realize I'm getting bigger, but it hits me at random times. Yesterday I had stomach pains and cramps all day again like I was having a month ago. It's the growing pains of baby girl growing bigger and moving up in my belly. But because I see my belly every day, I just don't see much of a difference. And then I got dressed and ready for dinner tonight. I threw on my trusty preggo leggings which have become like a second skin to me and a sweater from my pre-preg days. It was a bit of a squeeze, but it stretched. And then I looked in the mirror. Woah.

A belly.

It's true. There is a baby in there. And she's growing.

Another piece of evidence proving her growth? This is a good one. When we got to the restaurant, I went to take off my coat. And as I untied the cute tie on the waist of the coat, the button that goes right where my belly hits when flying off. Like in the movies. Ping. All the way across the restaurant. Thank God it didn't land in someones soup. I live for these moments--anything to get a laugh. And at that moment, it was just what I needed.

Apparently she also really likes mussels, because she was doing barrel rolls in my stomach throughout dinner. I'm not sure I'll ever get used to the feeling of an alien my baby flipping, kicking, moving her way around her apartment in my body. It's such a strange feeling, yet very cool at the same time. I imagine as she gets bigger, it will only get more interesting.

And with this post, my terrible, rotten, no good week comes to a close. On to much bigger and better things, like the weekend and a newly sewn on button.

look at that belly!

This week has been the week filled with many looks of shock in my direction. Sadly, its not because I'm so ridiculously good looking.

Once they get over the shock, they say things like "Oh! You totally look pregnant today!"

So in response, I rub my belly, take another bite of my pizza slice and reply with, "Yes, yes I am. It's actually a baby causing that belly, not me just piling on pounds right before your very eyes!" Or maybe I am...but (taking a line from my favorite trashy reality show) its for the right reasons. I swear!

In all reality, of course it's exciting to have people recognizing I'm pregnant. As I told some of my gf's, pregnancy is like being a part of the cool crowd in high school. You want everyone in it to know you're a part of it. You are one of them.  I've spent the last 5 months crazily winking at other preggo's only to have them pick up their stuff and slowly side step away from me. I've constantly had to resist the urge to run after ladies carrying a heavy front load and yell, "I'm one of you TOO!" and then bombard them with zillions of questions and talk to them about my pregnancy. I've never done that though, because that would be creepy. I didn't look pregnant. But now that I look like one of them, it will totally be acceptable. Right?

Either way, I leave you with a snapshot of week 20:

'Merica's High Five

This weekend A and I packed up the car to head to Michigan for the weekend to see my side of our family. Our trip had two purposes. One was to celebrate the births of my brother and sister. The other was to pick up the Highlander we bought from my dad. Our new car will be the main ride for Baby B when it arrives. We will also now have two sets of wheels, which will be nice for work commuting...ie; A will have a way to get around while I'm at work now.

First on the agenda was dinner for my sister Caitlin's birthday. We had a large group of 14 to celebrate so we headed to the mexican restaurant around the corner for her dinner. It ended up working out perfectly. We had our own party room, the margaritas were flowing (for everyone else) and the food was quite tasty. There was even a birthday sombrero we all got to wear. Arrreeeba!

Every birthday girl needs a sombrero!

 Man vs. Food, Saginaw style. Food won, for one of them.

The hubs and I in between mowing down baskets of chips and salsa.

This weekend also marked the first time I felt little Baby B be-boppin' all around my stomach! Its quite a strange feeling, I have to say. At first I was convinced it was just gas bubbles, as it tends to happen around eating. But the more and more it kept happening, I knew it wasn't just gas. Nope, it's the feeling of my little munchkin punching, kicking, and flipping its way around my belly. We have yet to catch it from the outside, but its a constant feeling inside my belly. 

With that, I leave you with the last two weeks' growth. Not much by some peoples standards, but a lot by "my jeans don't fit anymore-even unbuttoned and rubber banded" standards. Seems to be a lot of my "growth" has been in the hip area. Them's some birthin' hips!

Happy Monday!

Growing Pains

Baby B has been on the move. At least I hope whats going on. That little bugger has been causing me some serious stomach pains since last night. Its kind of a hard to describe pain, but I'll try anyways. Kind of like cramps, kind of like what I imagine contractions to be, kind of like when you try to touch your toes and your muscles in the back of your legs burn- only in your abdomen. Maybe its what it feels like when you get cramps from running- but I wouldn't know such a thing. I don't participate in activities that require a lot of energy and/or sweat.

I imagine my stomach muscles pulling and ripping and stretching all at once. Baby B is making its way out of its comfy little home nestled in my uterus covered by stomach fat and out into the world for all to see. Coincidentally enough, my pregnancy app sent me a notification today that said this:

Thank you, Baby Center! Now I know why it feels like my insides are going to come flying out at any minute. My little babe is on its way to doubling in size. Now I know why I wanted to curl up in a ball and whine my day away. (Have we figured out I'm a total wimp yet??) Note to self: seven year olds don't have much sympathy when you tell them your tummy hurts. So selfish, they are! Anyways, I guess this is all good news as I am FINALLY starting to get the bump I've been wanting. The bump that I am positive, as soon as I have it fully, I will be annoyed with and want it gone. Immediately. The bump that I keep telling myself I've been lucky to make it this far without.

Here is my little avocado's bump at week 16:

K

Its happening!

While I certainly haven't woken up with birds chirping (its too damn cold here) or sun shining on my head (again, its the dead of winter), I've most definitely woken up with a lot more pep in my step the last two days. I think the reason behind this is two-fold. One part my amazing new Snoogle (pregnant ladies...run out and buy one. NOW.) and the second part just might be I'm finally entering the glorious phase everyone talks about in the second trimester.

Of course, this is me we're talking about. And not a day can go by without some sort of uncertainty, wonder, or worry. Perhaps I'm normal, perhaps not. You see, now for the last two days I've felt generally pretty good. My back pain is still creeping in by the evening time, but at least I'm making it through the day now. But feeling good tends to bring worry to my mind. I caught myself again today thinking, "I don't feel pregnant today". 

And then I got home from the grocery store and realized I lost the keys to the storage unit I went in earlier today, much to my husbands dismay. He was hurrying out the door on his way to WI for the next few days and needed something from there. After searching everywhere, including my coat pockets where I could've sworn they were, he was not all that happy with me. Then I decided to check my coat pockets again....and they may or may not have been there the whole time. But the important lesson from this event is: everything's fine. And thats what matters...right?

Happy 14 weeks!!

xo

Waiting, Waiting

Wowie Maui. If today was anything like what the rest of our Dr's visits are going to be like, I'm not excited. In one word I can describe it as: WAITING.

A and I went in at 7:30am to "pre-register". Then went to another office to have my blood drawn. More like, drained. Six vials later the lady was done. Then we went to another office. Signed in and waited. Then did paperwork. Then waited. Then went in to see a doctor. Then waited. Then waited. Then waited. One hour and twenty minutes later, they FINALLY called my name. It took all my might not to do the happy dance and shout, "Its meeee! Its meee! Its really, finally ME!!"

A and I went back into the ultrasound room and finally got to get another peek at our little one. The main purpose of this visit was to get actual dating on our babe and a due date. By now we all know I've been highly undereducated on the process of conception so Baby B's actual age has been somewhat of a mystery to us this whole time. (Side note: ladies, you will HAVE to know your first date of your last period over and over and over again throughout this process. If you do not mark it now and have any chance of getting knocked up, START NOW. It will save you so much trouble in the end!)

Anyways, back to our precious nugget. Oh, how its grown in two weeks!! It is just so mind numbing to think about the changes babies go through while in the womb. It truly is such a miracle. We got to watch it on screen for a while, and it even woke up to move around! We determined that Baby B is as of today 12 weeks and 3 days. Because of my not knowing the actual first day of my last period, our due date is somewhat conflicting. It appears we'll be due sometime between July 10-14th.

Anyways, Baby B was so excited to be woken up, it even put on a show for us. Fists up!! You can take this one of two ways: its putting on a show- fist pump style or our little feisty one was putting up its fists out of frustration from being woken up. Either way, I think its the cutest damn picture I've ever seen! What can I say, I'm biased.

In other news, on New Years Day my belly popped!! A claims it actually popped NYE...when I tried my damndest to squeeeeze into a gold skirt for our friends NYE party. (Mind you, this skirt didn't fit at 9 weeks). But hell hath no fury like a pregnant woman who is not ready to admit some clothes just don't fit anymore. So, A grinned and beared it as he put all his might into zipping the skirt 1/4 of the way up. I then took my nylons (which were beyond suffocating) and rolled them over the skirt to cover up the enormous gap the unzipped zipper was now causing. It was incredibly uncomfortable and I instantly regretted wearing it as soon as we arrived at the party. But of course, by then it was just too late. 

Anyways, NYD morning, I was still wincing from the pain of stuffing myself like sausage into my skirt so I decided to pull out my new maternity leggings. I pulled up the top stretchy part mostly doing it just to "see" what it would look like. Thats when lo and behold- I finally noticed my bump! It really doesn't look like much more than if I were just bloated or had eaten like crap for a week straight (which I have, therefore the reason I probably didn't notice it before). But to me, its something. In combination of seeing our little one on the screen- its all just so crazy to think how much and how fast its growing. 

Week 12:

Morning Sickness: you evil B.

Morning sickness. The term itself is quite deceiving. In fact, one of the most interesting things about pregnancy is no single pregnant woman or pregnancy for that matter is alike. Everyone is different. When it comes to morning sickness, it can mean many things. Nausea, throwing up, gagging, sweats, chills, headaches and I'm sure countless other symptoms. Sounds fun, doesn't it?

In my case, I still feel as though I've been quite lucky. Being that I was 7 weeks along before I even had an inkling I could be pregnant, my symptoms just weren't that strong besides sore boobs. Alright, there may have been other signs but we all know by now I'm clearly not the sharpest pencil when it comes to this stuff. Anyways, morning sickness for me does not come in the mornings. In fact, I feel great every morning. No, my time of desperation and despair comes in the evenings, randomly. It hits me like a ton of bricks and knocks me down square. I'll admit, I'm a sensitive Sally when it comes to being sick. I don't handle it well. At all.

I'll be feeling just fine...then comes the nausea out of nowhere. Everything smells awful, everything looks awful, everything sounds awful. I lay down. Then it feels like I'm going to vomit all over. Only I don't. I lay moaning and groaning with the constant pressure of almost feeling like puking in my throat. Then come the chills and the sweats. Thats when I'm sure its over. Death is upon me. I'm not going to make it. I start saying my goodbyes in my head, preparing for the worst. And then, its all over. Just like that....and I fall asleep. At 8pm.

A has been amazing through all of this. He's begun last second runs for Sprite or saltines, whichever I'm in desperation for at the moment. Although, this is clearly not what he strives for. What A can't wait for are the cravings. Which he's absolutely positive are going to be in line with his cravings. Last night while I was on the brink of a sure morning sickness death, he so sweetly ran out to get Sprite for me. As he came in, he excitedly pulled out a box of Skinny Cow peanut butter and chocolate ice cream sandwiches too. "Look what I got!" A said excitedly. "You probably really have a craving for these, don't you!!?? These will be SO good!"

My insides were churning and "Uggghhh" was all I could muster. After the shadow of death had passed over me, he brought up the sandwiches again. And thats also when we (I) were able to have a good laugh about how excited he is for cravings...and how so far only his cravings have been present. But thats OK, right? Future dad's get to feel some of the pregnancy...and if thats the part he gets to feel, I couldn't be more excited for him.

In other news, here is our first belly pic. Its just barely starting to pop out in the evenings. Just enough to make me unbutton my pants like I do on Thanksgiving...every night of the week. This was taken right before A took us out for a nice Christmas dinner downtown and shopping...all of which was stopped short by another bout of morning sickness. Oh the joys!!

Week 10: