Week 9 
(Sept. 24 to Sept. 30) 

Symptoms: Nauseous. Cold. Headache-y. Loads of fun, generally.

Body changes: I will be glad when I’m in the second trimester and it won’t be so pathetic that I’m wearing maternity clothes (and have been since like the fifth week).

Cravings: Fast food. I know, I know. Bad, etc. Also cheese and Triscuits.

Aversions: Meat. Still.

High point: Finding our House of Dreams! Third time’s the charm — now I hope it all actually works out!

Low point: Forcing myself to get my work done when I feel so awful. Blah.

How does this week compare to Week 9 during pregnancy #1? Just like last time, I’ve feel noticing an increase in my hunger. It’s easier to deal with this time around, because I’m home and can make myself something whenever I need to — unlike being stuck at work with minimal options.

Week 8 
(Sept. 17 to Sept. 23) 

Symptoms: Still nauseous. Getting up once in the night to pee — boo. And I’m really, really cold all the time. Even when no one else is. Very weird.

Body changes: Still look mega-pregnant. Still planning on lying about how far along I am if a stranger asks.

Cravings: Fast food. Chicken nuggets, fries, cheeseburgers. Apparently I can tolerate meat when it’s incredibly bad for you.

Aversions: Healthy meats. Raw vegetables. Salad. Deviled eggs.

High point: Finding out TWO of my friends are pregnant, too — for a total of four good friends, all pregnant RIGHT NOW. So happy for everyone! Babies! Yay!

Low point: Sick and tired of feeling so sick and tired.

How does this week compare to Week 8 during pregnancy #1? According to last time around, my boobs were so big that I couldn’t fit into certain bras and outfits. UM, DAMN. Not this time around. I blame breastfeeding. It giveth you an amazing rack, and then it taketh away. Also, I was hot all the time last time, and now I’m cold all the time. Figure that one out.

Week 7 
(Sept. 10 to Sept. 16) 

Symptoms: So very, very, very, very nauseous. And tired. And weak.

Body changes: I live in fear that people will see me and ask how far along I am, and I’ll have to admit I’m only six weeks along lie and pretend I’m 14 weeks along. I look very pregnant, thanks to my Incredible Super Bloat.

Cravings: Still eating the inoffensive “C” diet — cold apple slices, citrus fruits, cold strawberries, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, clear cold drinks, comforting carbs. White rice is my friend.

Aversions: Everything else in the world.

High point: A long-overdue playdate with lovely friend L and her toddler at the park.

Low point: Tired of feeling so tired. And my toddler has boundless energy. Sigh.

How does this week compare to Week 7 during pregnancy #1? I existed on smoothies last time around, and haven’t had any yet. Possibly because my blender is sitting in a storage locker across town (still living with my mom, remember?), and I don’t live my super-glamorous downtown 9-5 working-girl lifestyle anymore. There are no smoothie shops in the living room.

Week 6 
(Sept. 3 to Sept. 9) 

Symptoms: Nausea. Dog nose. Exhaustion. Airheadedness. I am basically just sick and tired and DUMB all the live-long day.

Body changes: It is depressing to look so pregnant when you’re only five weeks along.

Cravings: Most things that start with a “C” — cold apple slices, citrus fruits, cold strawberries, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, clear cold drinks, comforting carbs.

Aversions: Take all the meat in the world and get it AWAY FROM ME! Also cat food — the smell makes me want to die. Or kill my mom’s cats. One or the other.

High point: I’m happy that I’m pregnant again … Not happy about much else at the moment.

Low point: Dealing with an incredibly cranky and difficult toddler, and kind of freaking the eff out about WHAT HAVE WE DONE OMGGGGG!?!?

Paranoid moment of the week: Sometimes I’ll feel better for a few minutes, and wonder if I’m still pregnant. And then I feel like I want to die again, and feel confident that YES, STILL PREGGO.

How does this week compare to Week 6 during pregnancy #1? Pretty similar, actually. Hate meat. Love carbs and citrusy things. Feel sick. Feel fat. Right on schedule.