15 weeks!

Here we are at week 15! Apparently, baby is about the size of a softball now, and may begin moving about, making it possible for me to feel a little "something".

Feeling pretty good. Wearing out the few pairs of pants that are comfortable, and will just have to go shopping for maternity soon. I may be taking a trip to Brainerd this week, and will use the time with my mom to go shopping (I hear it's a sort of pregnancy "right of passage"!).

Looking forward to starting some yoga soon (Michael may have talked me into taking a class - he says I need the social outlet- which I do). And, damn this weather, for being so unpredictable for walking. I feel so anxious to get out and get moving!

Also looking forward to getting into the house. The month of April can't go quickly enough for me. I want to be in there NOW, nesting and gardening and making a home. Speaking of gardening, Michael and I started some seed pods, and are anxiously looking forward to seeing some sprouts. Check out the blog post at my other blog site (if it's not up yet, be patient..this one is going up first). My husband is my hero for making things happen!

I've decided I need to join some groups (for the social aspect mentioned above), and Minneapolis is a hotbed for "groups". One I'm very excited to join is the Minneapolis Attachment Parenting Meet-up Group. I had no idea, before my cousin Kristi mentioned the term, that there was such a thing which would encompass so many things I was interested in. All I knew was that I wanted to go about parenting with as "real" a perspective as possible, and this included breastfeeding, possibly co-sleeping, using cloth diapers, etc. Apparently, these are all aspects of Attachment Parenting. I'm very excited to meet moms with experience, and hopefully other moms-to-be looking for advice and support as I am.

Well, that's all that's fit to print today. Time for some ice cream:)

14 weeks...and a slight tummy

Okay, here we are - something of a tummy, but really just a fuller version of the 4 week picture. I'm convinced that not only because babe/uterus is still low, but also because I have a long torso, I won't fill out for a while yet. And I'm okay with that. I realized, about a week or more ago, that I'll be so "done" with having a belly by my 8th month, that I should be happy it isn't "getting in my way" yet. I'm fine with things the way they are, even if I just feel "chubby" and don't look the way I feel (pregnant and wanting to show it!). All in good time.

Prenatal Checkup

Had my checkup this morning, and everything is good. Well, still waiting to hear back on the urine sample, but since I haven't heard anything yet, it may be safe to say all is well there. Blood pressure was good, and the baby's heartbeat is also good at 150 (apparently 'normal' is between 110 and 180).


We are 13 weeks and 4 days today. Still no tummy, but my midwife says that's more than normal, considering the babe is still low (just above the pelvic bone). She/he will move up soon, into the abdomen, then we'll be seeing pregnant tummy.

Hearing the heart beat was such a reassurance, I can't even explain the relief (for mama's, I don't have to). I'm going to be honest and tell you that I was concerned. Concerned that my baby wasn't alive, or that some how - magically - I had miscarried without bleeding. I know it sounds silly, but as my midwife told me, it is difficult when you don't see it growing (the tummy) and you don't feel it moving around inside of you. This is definitely a time of concern and wondering, and the mind can tell us silly things. I cannot wait until the 18 week ultrasound (May 4th is the scheduled day)!! To actually see this little person, this little miracle, growing inside of me will be such an incredible day.

I'm feeling pretty good these days, by the way. Nausea has all but gone away, and I'm back on track in the regularity department. I'm still, of course, tired a lot, but that's nothing comparatively! I've been experiencing a little heartburn, especially with tomato sauce. Acne seems to be clearing up, though it may just be at that point in my cycle (I believe I still have one, even though I'm not ovulating). We'll see. Other than that, hair and nails are growing like crazy, thanks to the prenatal vitamins, and I'm excited for some consistent Spring weather for walking.

Thanks for checking in!

Overdue post, and not much to post about.

Wow, I can't believe it's been 10 days since my last post! My lack of activity, this week at least, is mostly due to the fact that I've been pretty miserable (physically). That has sort of zapped any inspiration I may have had to write.

There's really nothing to report, except that I'm extremely irregular, and it's making my entire physical well being..well, rubbish. It may very well be just the position of my uterus, as I'm also constantly peeing and evidently not emptying my bladder every time, because I'm right back in the bathroom 5 minutes later at times. One good thing, though: nausea has dissipated, to a degree I can say is tolerable - finally! That's not to say it isn't there, it just doesn't consume my days anymore.

Speaking of physical misery (and, yes, I know it could - and may get - worse), I picked up this wonderful little book yesterday. Now, I will preface this by saying that I absolutely am grateful and appreciative to have this miracle of miracles setting up camp under my heart, but - dammit - it isn't easy. This book, called "Pregnancy Sucks - What to Do When Your Miracle Makes You Miserable" is an honest, ridiculously humorous take on pregnancy! I kind of felt ashamed to be checking out at the bookstore counter: with this book in hand, I'm sure the clerk was thinking, "This poor, unborn baby, that he/she should have to be brought into this world by this ungrateful woman!". Well, all I can say is there's nothing like honesty to get you to laugh at a situation, including pregnancy. This book has lifted my spirits, each time I pick it up, simply because I now have a feeling that not everyone thinks this is the most beautiful time in the world - not all the time, anyways. Beautiful, yes, and bound to be more so in the very near future. But the body is definitely going through some stuff that isn't so beautiful, and I'm not ashamed to say, "It sucks!". And, to know that I'm no less a woman for saying as much..well, that's comforting, even if I and a handful of others are the only ones who believe it.

The author, Joanne Kimes, as quoted on Amazon: "I realize that by looking at the titles of my books (Pregnancy Sucks, Pregnancy Sucks for Men, Dieting Sucks and Dating Sucks), you probably think they're nothing but a long list of complaints. And while it's true that they do focus on the negative, they're more importantly filled with compassion, great advice, and plenty of much needed humor to help get you through this difficult time."

I think I'll be getting the Pregnancy Sucks for Men book for Michael. He finds this book to be humorous. I'm sure he'll get a kick out of that one, especially since the authors husband contributed greatly to it.

A friend of mine suggested I also get Belly Laughs by Jenny McCarthy. It also sounds hilarious!

Where's my tummy?!

I may have a bit of a tummy, but I really can't distinguish whether it's pregnant tummy or just chub. Since it isn't really firm, I'm going with chub. I can't wait to start looking pregnant!! I'm thinking perhaps it's not really showing (not that it's unusual to not show yet at this point) because: a)I do have some Winter insulation around the middle, and b)I have a long torso. These two points may be completely rubbish...

But, it shouldn't be long now...we are in week 11. Apparently, baby is the size of a lime at this point, and he/she is certainly trying to make room in there! I'm peeing pretty much all the time. Though, we got some relief last night..I was only up once before 5:45, so I very nearly got a full night's sleep! However, apparently 6am is still just too darn early to be fully rested. I was up and fully awake when Michael left for work, had some breakfast, and then crashed. Took an hour long nap, quite by accident, and felt much more energetic the second time I woke up.

Other than that, I am feeling quite a bit of relief from the nausea. My sniffer isn't picking up quite so much (though my sense of smell is still quite strong), so that's helping. Not that this is the most beautiful topic of pregnancy, but I've also gotten more "regular". I can't tell you what a relief that is!! I've been on/off constipated since I was a mere 2 weeks along! I may even be a little too regular some days. Oh well, at least that's not a miserable state to be in, unlike the constipation.

Getting set to get into some yoga, and can't wait for the weather to be nicer for walking. I've decided I'm going to order this prenatal yoga package I found online yesterday, as opposed to going to a class. It's just much more affordable, and how much personal attention do you really get in a class anyway? On the walking front, I found it so very liberating to be able to walk outside twice last week, while the weather was nice enough for it. 30-40 degrees is all I need (and a little sunshine to dry up the icy patches, of course). I love finding the right music to walk to, and it turns out Bonobo is quite good (no, not the endangered ape; the musician- check 'em out)!
Namasté.