growing baby and belly part 2

^^^25 week bump^^^

How is it already the first of July?? I feel like I can barely keep up with how fast time is flying by! I know I say that in every single post, but I mean seriously... we're already halfway through 2014. That's crazy! 

So, all this talk about the second trimester being such a breeze, as actually turned out to be pretty true... most days.  Weeks 16-21 were the BEST.  My energy was back, I was comfortable at night, wasn't getting up to go to the bathroom constantly, I actually ate a few meals and felt full afterwards. Then came week 22. I don't know what happened, but EVERYTHING changed.  I haven't slept through an entire night in three weeks, it feels as though Maverick is literally dancing on my bladder when he moves-- which is all the time-- making for frequent trips to the bathroom, my back hurts so bad just about all day long, and this whole new thing of crazy intense heartburn as soon as I go to bed is for the birds.  I tell myself daily, "only 15 more weeks... I can do this!" 

Maverick has discovered my ribs now, and that is one strange feeling! I can usually massage/push him back down-- which Jeremy finds so rude for me to do to him--- and he will move back down at least for a little while.  His kicks are getting stronger and stronger everyday! They are visible now from the outside, even with my shirt down. It's the strangest and most amazing thing watching your stomach move all on its own, and knowing that little baby inside there is letting his presence be known.  I've also noticed that he is responding to certain voices and my touch. A few times I'll put my hand on my tummy, and he will find it and start kicking so hard against it. Maybe I'm annoying him, but I like to think its his way of saying "hi mom! Thanks for carrying me around. I'll see you soon!"  

I feel like we found out I was pregnant, I blinked, and here we are at just over 6 months! We are so ready to meet our little guy, we just can't hardly wait! I know Jeremy will be glad to get his bed back to normal... my four, sometimes five, pillows needed to get a decent night's sleep totally defies the laws of sleeping in a queen size bed with another person. But he sure is a trooper, and so helpful, and does whatever he has to do to make me comfortable (including a few nights of moving to the couch--which I'm not sure are entirely for my comfort or for his ha!)  I'm trying hard to enjoy these last few weeks of it being just Jeremy and I.  Life is about to change so much, and while I'm so excited for all of those changes, it is a bittersweet feeling knowing that our newly wed stage, late night food or movie runs, spur of the moment trips or date nights are coming to an end.  These have been such fun times, and I want to savor the rest of the time we have left to just be us.  

But in the meantime, I hope Maverick can hear his Pa talking to him each night before we go to bed. I hope he can hear us talking about how excited we are to be his parents.  I hope he likes hearing about all the ideas I come up with for his room.  I hope he hears it when so many people tell me that they can't wait to meet him. I hope he likes hearing his name said over and over again because we just love saying it so much. And I hope he can feel how happy we are that he is coming into our family.  

Because one more blink, and that day will be here. And I just can't hardly stand the waiting. 

first trimester don'ts

This picture was taken the week I found out I was pregnant.  I was 6 week along, and had no idea the following week all of the typical first trimester symptoms would hit all at once.  There were many days (okay, everyday) where I wondered how I would survive those first 12-13 weeks. As if the reality that I now had a child growing inside of me isn't enough to take in, people's constant advice, questions, and assumptions just about did me in.  I appreciate the thought, but there are some things you just should NEVER say to a woman in her first trimester.  So, based on my own experiences, here's my list of 

The Top 10 Things to Never Say to a Woman During the First Trimester: 

1. "How are you feeling?" --- well, to be honest, this is probably the worst I've ever felt in my entire life, I'm beyond exhausted, hungry all the time, yet nauseated at the thought of food, have the worst headaches every. single. day. that tylenol doesn't even begin to touch, and feel like a completely different person than I was a few short weeks ago.  So yeah, I feel great! 

2. "Don't you just LOVE being pregnant??"--- refer to number 1, and ask me that later down the road. Like maybe after the baby is here, and I actually have something to show for all this sickness. 

3. "When I had morning sickness, I ate...." --- fill in the blank with ALL of the thousands of "cures" for morning sickness. I truly do appreciate advice on how to curb morning sickness, but when you tell me you ate beef jerky, pickles, and sausage biscuits from Mcdonalds, I'm more sick now than I was when we started this conversation.  In fact, let's just keep food out of the conversation at all times. 

4. "Can you feel the baby moving??" --- Sometimes, I just want to look at this person and ask if they remember being pregnant at all.  My baby is currently the size of a blueberry.  Of course I can't feel it moving.  And asking me that every time you see me does, in fact, get old. 

5. "When I was pregnant, I knew 100% that I was having a boy/girl" --- Oh great. I'm already a bad mom because I don't know if my baby is a boy or girl. (I secretly think that no one really knows, they just like to say that.) 

6. "What sounds good for dinner next week?" --- I can promise you that what sounds good for dinner today will not be what sounds good for dinner next week... much less what sounds good within the next hour. I'll have to get back with you probably 30 minutes before the planned dinner to tell you what truly sounds good. Sorry for the inconvenience... blame the baby. 

7. "Here smell this candle, perfume, or any other heavily scented item" --- I cannot describe to you how sensitive my sense of smell is these days.  I also had no idea how closely related my sense of smell and my gag reflexes were until I became pregnant.  I'll refrain from smelling anything, until further notice. 

8. "Just wait" --- "just wait until you're 38 weeks pregnant", "just wait until you're baby isn't sleeping through the night", "just wait until you're baby is 2", "just wait until you're potty training", etc.  All of the above statements with negative connotations attached.  I'm sorry, but if parenting for you has really been that horrible, then keep it to yourself please.  I am actually excited about the adventures to come, and if I'm being naive then just let me live and learn.  I don't want to hear about all the horror that is to come.  I would rather be clueless and have my dreams crushed, or who knows.. maybe I'll actually enjoy being a parent. 

9. "Get all your sleep now, when you can still sleep good!" --- Okay, I can't remember the last time I slept good.  I believe God makes pregnancy sleep so horrible to have women slowly adjust to life with no sleep before the baby gets here.  Sleeping while pregnant, since about week 10, has been anything but comfortable.  I wake up at least twice to use the bathroom, about three times to get a drink of water suffering from the worst cotton mouth I've ever experienced, and more time than I can count to try a different position to get comfortable.  Good sleep, i'm afraid, is a thing of the past. 

And to save the best for last...

10. "I was sick ALL NINE MONTHS when I was pregnant." --- this is probably the most dis-heartening news you could tell a person who already feels like they won't make through the day, let alone the next nine months. All negative comments should be left unsaid.  At this point, I need encouragement, and lots of it.  

So there you have it.  I wanted to write this list so that I can remember things to never say to a first trimester mommy.  I am so happy to announce that right around week 11, these symptoms slowly started to vanish, and I finally began feeling somewhat normal again. I know this little baby is totally worth all of this discomfort, but sometimes it is hard to remember that in the moment.  Pregnancy hasn't been super enjoyable for me, but my family and my husband have been the best supporters and walked with me through that first trimester.  I couldn't have done it without them! 

The best advice out there is to listen to your body, and do what your body tells you to do.  Sleep when you're tired, eat when you're hungry, cry when you want to cry, and so forth and so on.  You are growing a little human being, and that is no small task! 

Here is my 12 week baby bump.

I love you Baby Davis! Can't wait to meet you, kiss those sweet cheeks, and forget all about those sickly 12 weeks! :)