and then there were four…

UPDATE: We’ve had to disable comments due to the LARGE amount of spam I was receiving. Most of you know how to get in touch with me if you need to, and I apologize for any comment-related inconvenience this may cause. Maybe we can reinstate them sometime.

I went to visit the family and had a great time. I wish we could have stayed longer, but you can’t have it all. The baby decided to be a little shy with his/her grandma—she felt the baby kick a few times, but it wasn’t quite as active as normal. Little stinker :) Seriously though, it was so nice to see everyone and see how excited they all were that I was pregnant. My mom has already spoiled the baby. Apparently after she purchased everything in town that she liked, she started shopping online, which is a new experience for her, and one she says is “so easy, you just click…” This, we have all concluded is very dangerous for her, but she is trying to show some restraint. At least until the baby is born. Because then she can get gender-specific, and that’s what has really been holding her back, I’m sure.

My mom also threw a baby shower for me while I was there. I was a bit worried, seeing as how the mother throwing the shower is a bit of etiquette faux pas, but seeing as how I am not living in the area and there aren’t that many people who I am still very close with that could do it, we thought people might let it slide. (They did). I just decided to be super-diligent about my thank-you notes. I checked and double-checked to make sure I had everyone’s exact gifts cataloged. I know I’m a bit of a nerd. But I was truly overwhelmed with everyone’s kindness and generosity. And I’m not just saying that. It was seriously so sweet how everyone went above and beyond to buy the baby the sweetest gifts. My sister was especially adorable. She said “your registry was too confusing, so I just kind of threw one of everything I could find in the bag” Which was closer to the truth than exaggeration. There were a few women from my mom’s work who don’t even know me, but they asked if they could come because they know my mom, and wanted to support me because they thought so much of her. How sweet is that? There were also people who couldn’t make it, but they sent gifts anyway. So sweet, I can’t believe how loved this baby already is by everyone else. I was so calm and composed during the shower, didn’t get emotional, until after everyone had left and my sister was getting ready to leave. I said “well, the next time I see you, I’ll have the baby” and I just kind of lost it. It was a little overwhelming. And the reality is starting to sink in. I’m afraid, however, that I’ve just hit the tip of that reality iceberg.

We went to the Doctor yesterday for our check-up. I wasn’t feeling so hot, a little tired and a bit emotional, so when the doctor checked my blood pressure (which is normally very good) and it was elevated, I just started crying. They were a little concerned about my BP, so they made me lie on my side for 15 minutes or so, I calmed down a bit, then they re-checked me—it was normal, but they want me to come in next week just to keep an eye on me. I want to assume that because I was a bit on-edge anyway, that probably attributed to the blood pressure being high. The doctor told me to watch my sodium intake, so I’ll just keep my eye on it and hope for the best. The baby was fine, growing “beautifully” according to the doctor and the heartbeat was still really strong. This made me feel much better. They then gave me paperwork to have my blood taken to check for gestational diabetes (which is a typical test for all pregnant women around the end of the second trimester). They wanted me to have the test done this week so they would have the results by my next visit. So, I went this morning (and didn’t eat anything beforehand!) to find out it is a one-hour test. They have you drink this drink, which was called DexaCola or something—it tasted like flat, really syrupy soda. Then I waited an hour and they took two vials of blood. It was pretty painless, but the drink made me a bit wired.

They also pre-admitted me to the hospital so when I go into labor we don’t have to fill out paperwork, they can just admit me. This is an awesome service for hospitals to provide. I then called and signed up for Childbirth/Lamaze classes. If all goes as planned, we will be starting those on August 17^th. I think another big reality check will be when we go buy and set up the crib. I know it sounds really silly, but I can’t go out and buy a bunch of stuff at one time, it is really overwhelming, so I’ve decided to go and buy stuff every week or every other week. Granted, seeing everything pile up in the spot we have reserved for the crib is a bit of a reality check, but for some reason the actual purchasing of things in bulk quantities seems to be a bit harder on me. I tried to go in and buy a bunch of stuff, but I couldn’t decide on what I wanted, or which one would work best, etc. I’ll get there, eventually.

About two weeks ago my baby starting something new: kicking. It’s great. Well, it isn’t always the best feeling in the world, but it is wonderful to feel the baby moving around and being active. It helps me know everything is okay in there. I will admit, however, it was (and still is) really bizarre to see my tummy bump up when a really ferocious kick (or punch or elbow) is thrown. Sometimes it takes my breath away. Not because it is painful, but because you just don’t expect something so small to pack such a wallop. And I know, it is only the beginning.

My husband finally felt the kicking a week after it started. The look on his face was so adorable. Now he sits with his hands on my tummy every evening, just in case baby wants to play. Sometimes it is hard to distinguish, because you can feel my pulse really strongly in my tummy now, so if you keep your hand on too long, it can blend in with the little flutter-kicks.

I’m not sure how much babies usually kick (obviously) but ours is really active and likes to wiggle and move. So, it’s a fun experience.

We went to the doctor almost 2 weeks ago, and all is still well. We’re both pretty much on track, and I’m not too much of a cow…I’m just a little outside of average (about 5 pounds out–not too shabby). However, I still haven’t rounded out, which bugs me, but you can totally tell I’m pregnant, I just have a bit of a wedge cut out of the middle of the belly (haha). I asked my doctor if I would always look like a snowman, and he said “no, the Michelin Man look shall pass” I thought it was funny, because obviously, he has seen it before, and I’m not abnormal. Apparently, my uterus has just pushed out stuff above and below my belly button area—that area is the last to be pushed, I’m assuming.

But, all in all, it really doesn’t matter, does it? The baby is healthy, and in 15 weeks (give or take) we’ll have a baby. Who cares how cute I look while pregnant? The vainness in me does rear its ugly head, and yes, I want to be the cute pregnant lady, but ultimately, that’s not what this is all about. And no, deep down I don’t forget that, but—it can be hard to see those perfectly shaped bellies that scream “pregnant”. I guess I’m looking that way in my own right (with the right clothes—I’ve learned some tricks). And I’ve only started my 6^th month; most 1^st time pregnancies don’t start shaping up until that time (or later) anyway.

Okay—Okay, I’ll try to stop obsessing, and try to start remembering how much fun this whole experience has been, albeit a bit tiring.

I started walking during my lunch breaks at work. My mom has been on me to walk because she says it will help with labor and delivery. I thought I should exercise anyway, so I decided to start. I bring a pair of walking shoes and after I finish eating, I take a walk for about 30 minutes. It is hot as hell in my general working area, but luckily my route has lots of shady trees.

But, I do need to take it slow, I realized that I’m forgetting just how pregnant I really am, I’m still trying to do the things I did before pregnancy, with as much energy, and last week, it really took it out of me—so much I had to leave work and stay home a day to recuperate. I mean, despite how pregnant I may look, ultimately I’m 15 weeks away from birth, so that is pretty significant on how my body is working and trying to keep things going. It was actually good for me to realize how much my body is doing. I vow that I will be in MUCH better shape my second pregnancy. You just don’t realize how out-of-shape you are until you are in the thick of it—and you really can’t do high-impact stuff or go all out because your body wouldn’t be able to handle it, so you have to go slow and hope it is enough.

I’m going to visit the family this week, via airplane, so this should be fun. I hope they don’t try to make a big stink at the airport. All of their documentation states that they have no restrictions on pregnant passengers. My doctor said I am fine to fly up until 30 weeks, so I’m well within that range also. But, I am really looking forward to seeing everyone, hopefully we can relax and forget about the normal stuff and be spoiled just a little bit.