After the storm...

I am now 16 weeks pregnant...4 months! I know that there has been somewhat of a blog drought, but the past 10 weeks have been seriously trying.  Alright scratch that they were horrible.  As much as I would love to fill you all in on the nitty gritty details of my recent ordeal, I feel it would be in everyone's best interest to spare ya'll that image.  Plus it's not a part of the pregnancy I want to dwell on.  

As you can see in the picture there is a small pouch/bump that has made itself a little home in my belly.  Honestly I'm not totally sure yet whether this appearance is a much awaited baby bump or a dreaded fat pouch.  Sometimes it definitely feels like the latter.  I am already wearing my mommy jeans; that has been fun. Either way, though, it is still very exciting!  I'm extremely jealous of those who seemingly experience those wonderful and easy pregnancies.  From my experience so far there is absolutely nothing glamorous about it.  But 2nd trimester here I come with open arms!

The baby is a little bigger than a fist now.  It's crazy to think that a little creature is taking up that much room inside of me...but it's only the beginning.  I have had two ultrasounds.  The 2nd one was just supposed to be listening for the heartbeat, but the doc couldn't hear it so we had to do an ultrasound.  Turns out baby was just in the middle of its daily exercise routine.  It was a scary moment, but when we found baby it was moving around and it had little arms and feet.  It also had a very healthy looking brain forming!  It was one of the coolest things I have ever seen.  I'm in the process of trying to get a scanner so that I can share those ultrasound pics with ya.  I'm hardly carrying around much extra weight, but I'm finding it harder to maneuver myself around especially when it comes to bending and sitting and standing and tossing and turning in bed.  I've also developed a pinched nerve in my lower back which makes it even harder to do things.  I'm getting a massage on Sunday so hopefully that will help.

I have a very strict routine that I keep to these days.  I eat breakfast between 8 and 9 followed by a one to two hour something I like to call "digestion period" where I lay down and read or sleep.  Then I get ready for the day and find some lunch before noon.  The rest of the day goes pretty smoothly though.

I have a 3D ultrasound scheduled for Sept. 29th where they will do a "fetal survey" whatever that is and also reveal whether "it" is a boy or a girl!!  SOOOO, we have been hard at work coming up with a list of names for either gender, but I am going to request that whoever reads this also leaves a few suggestions of their own.  Don't go too crazy now....I mean I already have names like vanessica, jaquese, and abdul covered thanks to my trusty name books.  DON'T LET ME DOWN!!!  haha:)

Henyways, I am hoping that I will get to see some of you sooner than later because I am missing my friends.  In the meantime, I will be here cooking...not food.  Love you all! 

Oh the hormones!

It has only been a couple of days since my last post, but I can already feel a difference!  I have basically been sleeping every single afternoon all afternoon...well either the afternoon or the morning post-breakfast.  At first I could not believe how tired I was, but then I was reading my book and it said that my body is basically using more energy lying on the couch than a bodybuilder's would be working out at the gym!!  My first thought was SWEET, but then my second thought was why so much energy??!  You might think duh, you are making a baby!  And you would be correct, but there's something else!  Apparently it is really hard work to make the placenta.  Yes that ooowy goowy sack uses up a huge portion of your energy in the first four months....let's be honest though...it is pretty important.  

Emotionally, the hormones have returned me to freshman year in high school when a mere 2 points off my biology test could send me into an emotional meltdown or to sophomore year when one look at the hideous dress I wore for my freshman picture could cause anyone to run around in a frantic panicky rage!  Yes, I guess you could say I am "STUCK IN A GLASS CAGE OF EMOTIONS!!!".   Movie?  Actually for the most part I'm still holding up pretty well.  I am still really happy, just sometimes easily irked or offended.  

         On another note, on Wednesday I decided to forego my usual power yoga class and try prenatal yoga.  I felt really uncomfortable when I walked in and every other woman there was ready to pop.  They were all seriously almost due and then there was me...I felt so out of place and awkward, especially when all the exercises were tailored to accommodate a huge infant-filled belly.  I only went to find out what stretches and positions I could still do safely in my power yoga class, but I definitely do not plan on returning to that class again any time soon.

          I've had a lot of time to sit around and think, but mostly I find myself thinking about what my baby is going to look like.  I wish I knew which features would combine...even boy or girl?  Oh well those times will come.  In the meantime, I will compare pictures and imagine! 

Well there it is...I know really silly picture, but we were going swimming, I was completely exposed, and Garrett and I thought it would be a perfect time to start documenting my "growth".  I am now four weeks pregnant, and we just found out via the fabulous pee-stick that I am one fertile myrtle:)  The baby right now is smaller than the size of a poppy seed and probably resembles a mushed up sea monkey.  I have been reading this great pregnancy book called What to Expect When You Are Expecting, and just incase you would like to know the embryo inside my uterus at this stage supposedly has the three germ layers that will eventually differentiate into everything my baby needs to function (i.e. nervous system, eyes, skin, lungs, heart, etc.)  Let's just all pray that everything pans out right and baby doesn't come out picasso-style.  Of course I will love baby just the way it is:)  All that said, obviously the only bump I'm showing right now is the one I've never been able to get rid of.  Whatever, I think I look good...

I think you guys should understand how you calculate the weeks of pregnancy.  I won't go into too much detail.  As I mentioned I am 4 weeks preggo, but the great thing is that I actually get two free-bee weeks.  What I mean is, they count the two weeks before ovulation....so before sperm even meets egg.  Technically, then, you would think I would only be two weeks preggo, but you would be wrong! Haha.

So far my symptoms have been quite mild.  I've had a little nausea here and there but nothing that can't be fixed by some delicious grub.  Seriously I am always hungry!  For the last week almost I've had to get up at 2 in the morning to stuff my face!  But I've been trying to eat healthy, so hopefully that will minimize what I like to call my "impending whaleness".  I have also been exceptionally tired lately.  Garrett has been really sweet about encouraging me to relax and even put up my feet every once in a while.  I think I have adjusted to the first wave of hormone changes, so hopefully the next wave won't throw me out of whack too much.  Supposedly morning sickness generally kicks in high gear around 6 weeks; I'm not thrilled for that.  I'll let you know how it goes though.  Lastly, I would like to address my growing girls...Ahem...OUCH!! :)

Garrett and I are anxiously awaiting our first prenatal appointment where hopefully we will have our first ultrasound!  Don't worry I will post that picture when the time comes.  In the meantime I am just trying to take things easy, not stress or worry, eat healthy, and keep up a good exercise routine.  At the moment that routine consists of yoga, walking, and some light jogging.  Hopefully I will be consistent with that so I only gain my alloted 2-5 pounds for the first trimester.  In the second and third trimesters I hear it is healthy to gain 1 pound a week. I have completely accepted the fact that I am going to be one happy, plump, curvaceous, bodaceous mamasita!!  Haha:)  

Well, that is it for now.  I will update soon.  For now I am just looking forward to the journey God has laid out for us.  Garrett and I feel so blessed to have been given this gift in our lives, and we are so thankful for all of the support from our friends and family.  

YAY!!!   WE'RE HAVING A BABY!!!!