A FEW THOUGHTS ON THE FIRST 20 WEEKS

Okay, I'm officially half-way there, and ya know, this is going to be more than a few thoughts!!! But really, I got to thinking about how great this pregnancy thing is (minus a few downsides) and I want to write it all down. Don’t feel like you have to read it all, it’s long! It’s probably just going in my journal, but most my girlfriends already have kids, so you’ve felt these feelings… First of all,

Yes, we are having a girl, which means cute girly outfits (yay!) and also, Samuel and I were right (that gut feeling). Oh yeah, so was the Chinese calendar, haha. If you’re pregnant and want to get a “prediction” of what you’re having, click here. It’s 50% accurate.

Anyway, I am 20 weeks along this week, (due date is August 25). We actually got our ultrasound two weeks ago. My baby was/is measuring “big” for her age (GREAT!) just kidding, big is good, and although it took an hour to get her to uncross her legs, we finally confirmed that it is a girl.

So, thanks to everyone who said I didn’t look very pregnant in our sealing pictures, but it was like after that event, subconsciously I gave myself permission to show and POP, I’m huge now! I can’t believe I changed so much in 3 ½ weeks! And in the spirit of pink, here's a picture.

And we're talking huge all over...as you can see from the picture (and you know I didn't choose the one where I look the fattest), I’m more round…everywhere! My bum is at least an inch bigger, that's gonna take some good exercise to get off! I’m not complaining about the “big jugs” though, as someone anonymously calls them (guess who) but too bad about the junk in the trunk, what purpose is that serving?

Speaking of big jugs, isn't it a nice treat for us smaller women? Not to mention the "bonus" for our husbands! Maybe that's their reward for putting up with us while we are hormonal WRECKS! For about five weeks (month 4?) Samuel was kind of scared to say or do anything that might set me off. Sorry hon! So, his consolation prize is the big jugs, but then again, they hurt so much the first trimester, they were off limits. Eye candy only! (Pardon my bluntness). I found this picture on the web, I had to throw it in, not that I would ever let my husband wear a T-shirt like this.Hahaha, okay, so back to my reflections, I will never forget the day I decided just to “check” and see if I happened to be pregnant- I wouldn’t be “late” for a few more days. I had some little pregnancy test/strips, so no big deal to waste them! It was the day before my birthday, and I was meeting Samuel at a big Christmas choir rehearsal. Right before I left, I took the test, and when I saw the second faint line start to appear, I could hardly contain the excitement. I must have smiled the whole morning, with my little secret, my best birthday present ever. I kept it from Samuel for 3 whole hours, then I just showed him the test and he was like, so…what does this mean? And I was like, WHAT DO YOU THINK? WOOHOO!!

The nausea started at six weeks, at first bearable, but not for long. Everyone said I was lucky I wasn’t throwing up, but I was unlucky in that I was walking around sick to my stomach and gagging from the time I got out of bed in the morning until I fell asleep at night. Eating was miserable, but it was the only thing that barely eased it for me. One Saturday morning I slept in late and hadn’t eaten, but I wasn’t feeling well. Sam, trying to be helpful, started offering ideas, do you want toast? Do you want eggs? Do you want soup? Just the thought of food set me off, and that’s when I really got hit- cold sweats, trembling, and I ran to the toilet…Samuel, with lightning speed, heated up a can of soup and came racing into the bathroom where he spoon-fed as I sat on the bathroom floor. I’ll never forget that morning! He saved the day. But I still had to work full-time, which didn’t help, and I will never forget the day I prayed (in desperation) for help dealing with the nausea, or I was never having another child. That help came within a few hours, and a few days later, I had Sea-Bands to wear on my wrists, which took the edge off for the next 4 weeks. But wow, I was sooo tired all the time! I fell asleep in a movie theater, that was a first.

At 9 weeks we got to have our first ultrasound, and hear the heartbeat, and see a little baby shape. It was thrilling and amazing, and I couldn’t believe it was really happening. I cried.

Of course, ironically, at 12 weeks, feeling much better, I randomly threw up, which happened once a week for four weeks. It wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought, and I would take that any day over all-day nausea.

At 16 weeks I felt something like a big bubble bursting in my belly, and wasn’t sure…but at 17 weeks after a big helping of dark chocolate M & M’s, our baby started really kicking. This has to be one of the most amazing phenomenon’s I’ve ever experienced, in fact, it is the highlight of every day now, when I feel her moving and trying to get comfortable.

I think this is what she was doing last night, I honestly wondered if she was doing somersaults in there. Oh yeah, but I probably feed her too much sugar, since my cravings have been...sweet. Well, there was the week of chips and salsa, then the week of Turkey/avocado/tomato on wheat (thanks Crystal, that was your contribution to my pregnancy!) but now it's licorice and fruit snacks and chewy candy. I'm trying to throw some fruit and veggies in there though, I don't want my baby to reject my breastmilk because it's not sugary enough! Haha.

Well, my final topic: the Daddy-factor. I didn’t expect to fall more in love with Samuel during all this, but it can’t be helped. It almost makes me burst with happiness when he starts rubbing and kissing my belly and saying, “Hi Baby! This is your daddy! We’re excited you’re coming!” I thought I couldn’t love him any more, then he does something like that!!

Anyway, I know a lot of women don't enjoy pregnancy much, and I've heard it gets pretty uncomfortable at the end, but all I can say for now is this pregnancy bit is amazing, and I almost feel bad for all the men who don't get to experience it. Good luck to all my friends and relatives that are pregnant. My sister Krystal is due in May and my sister-in-law Erin is due in July, both having girls, Katie, due in July, me in August, Genis in September, Amy J. in October, and Melody in November. Isn't that fun. Anyway, that's been my experience so far, I can't believe it's going so fast. I'll just enjoy it while it lasts, til it's replaced with something even better.