Weekly re-cap

(Jan. 24 to Jan. 30)

Symptoms: Some round ligament pain, from getting bigger by the day. Severe pregnancy brain. Sinus weirdness seems to be getting better, while the C-word seems to get worse every week. Moaning and groaning when I get up/roll over is still in full swing. It’s also much harder to bend down and scoop up Little Dog’s poo during her walks — but I am not resorting to a lame shovel!

Body changes: Belly getting bigger (duh). I have given up looking at my boobs in the mirror, as I do not really like what I see — in clothes, they’re awesome, though!

Belly button: Still creeping towards the surface. It’s like a bowl that gets more and more shallow every day!
Energy level: Still high. Getting a lot done, but slowly. Seem to be going to bed earlier (although nothing like the 8 p.m. bedtimes of the first trimester).
Baby preparations: Dreaming about nursery design possibilities. Also emptied out the entire nursery, vacummed it, and then put the baby-related stuff back in the center of the room. It’s all set for Darling Husband to patch holes on his next day off, and then we can actually paint it on Saturday!!! Eek!!!
Cravings: Still fruit, especially grapes and orange juice. Got back on a smoothie kick this week, too. The experts say your body craves the foods it needs — does mine really need sugar and vitamin C or something?

High point: Trying to feel Little Baby’s kicks from the outside. I have not yet felt an actual POW! to my hand, but I think I can feel movement in general. Am I spooking him/her with my hand? I try to do it slowly when I feel kicking, but the kicking always stops once my hand is there. Kick me, dammit — and then kick your daddy, so he really believes you’re in there!

Low point: General weepiness a few times, over nothing important. Like literally nothing important. On Tuesday because the chicken wrap I’d made was disgusting, and I cried while I ate it because I felt like such a bad cook.

Paranoid moment of the week: Nothing major, but sometimes I wonder if Little Baby is kicking regularly enough. You don’t need to start doing “kick counts” until Week 28, but I think it’s natural to wonder if your baby is “behind” … and then start fearing horrible things, like maybe-the-cord-is-wrapped-around-its-neck-already-and-it-can’t-move-and-those-weak-little-kicks-are-signs-that-its-struggling!

Back away from the belly

Friday, January 29, 2010

21 weeks, 5 days preggo
Mother-in-law (rubbing my belly): Aww, look at the baby.
Me: Yeah, it’s getting bigger!
Mother-in-law: You know, by the end, you’re going to be out to here! (Gestures waaaaay out in front of me)

Me: Um … yeah!
Mother-in-law: When I was pregnant with my first, I was six months along before I needed a maternity dress.
Me: Oh …
Mother-in-law: Yes, I cried — I felt so huge!
Me: Yeah …
Mother-in-law: Of course, I was only 112 lbs. when I gave birth.
Me: Good-bye.

Thanks for the "advice"

Friday, January 29, 2010

21 weeks, 5 days pregnant
I am considering sending my “What to Expect” daily e-mail updates straight to the spam folder. Today’s “helpful” hints on healthy eating made me want to slap someone.
Some fat is necessary, but too much just makes you, well, fat.
  • Eat your bread unbuttered
  • Skip the gravy
  • Run when something fried comes your way
Yeah? Really? And while I’m at it, Oh Wise and Powerful Newsletter Editor, I think I will empty my salt shaker into my eyes.
‘Cause that’s all totally going to happen.

It’s getting closer …

Thursday, January 28, 2010

21 weeks, 4 days pregnant
My belly button is creeping towards the surface.
What was once a total “innie” now has every bit totally visible. It is a weird sensation to see so much of your belly button, especially when you never saw inside it before.
I’m fine with it stretching out completely, and reaching the surface. But I’m not as cool with it popping outward. I have only ever seen one “outie” in my life, and it was on the stomach of a very, very overweight family friend. It horrified me.
To make matters more frightening, my mom told me when she was pregnant, she used to tape a penny over her “popped” belly button to keep it from showing through her shirt.
Is it wrong that the idea of doing that totally freaks me out???

Can’t. Stop. Quizzing.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010
21 weeks, 3 days preggo
6 days until the gender is revealed!
Can’t stop doing these stupid gender quizzes. Seriously. It’s a problem. But it’s my nosy nature. And I do have to say that they are consistent.
One thing is for sure: if Little Baby really is a girl, I will wholeheartedly admit there is some truth to these old wives’ tales!