10.01.04

I thought it might be time for a State of the Baby Address.

Lately I’ve been feeling really cramped and trapped in my own body and it’s a bit unsettling. I realize, of course, that this feeling is only just barely beginning and I will be feeling it 10 times worse before the end, but I’m still a little grumpy about it.

I’m only 14 weeks along. Aaaaahhh! I don’t think I’m going to make it. I prefer to think of it in terms of “I am in my 15th week of pregnancy,” kind of like even though I am 28 I am technically in my 29th year…although, that example kind of sucks so I won’t be using it again.

The upside is that my “bump” is getting more pronounced and when I catch myself rubbing it or resting on it during the day, it always makes me smile. I’ve got a baby in there! Crazy. (I know I say that a lot, but I really don’t know if I’ll ever get over being amazed by this whole process.)

I broke down and rented a fetal heart monitor off the internet. Because I can! It is nice to “check on the baby” whenever I want. I’m not paranoid anymore, and feel pretty secure that this is really going to happen, but it is still nice to hear that whoosh-woosh-woosh. And I’m sure everyone who has been forced to listen as well is equally thrilled about it.

I’m sleeping horribly. I’m an incurable stomach sleeper, and so far have been able to still sleep on my stomach, but it is starting to get uncomfortable. I do have one of those body pillows, but I must have the jumbo size with the cheap filling because when I try to use it I feel like there is a mountain of fluff trying to take over the bed. I think J is jealous. BUT! I only woke up once last night to go to the bathroom. Halle-freakin-lujah!

Also, pregnancy has apparently awakened my inner slug. (It’s Lump! She’s back! Inside joke, old college nickname, sorry.) My house is so messy and I have zero motivation to clean. But then I get cranky because of the mess. It is a vicious cycle. But I have a saint of a husband who is actually willing to help out without being asked and I don’t even get annoyed that he doesn’t do it right and wish that I had just done it myself. Progress, people, progress.

The slugfest has extended to all aspects of my life in that I don’t want to go anywhere, ever. This also might be a good thing because if I do ever leave the house (other than work), it invariably involves spending money on maternity clothes that I can’t wear yet and, of course, on food.

I do manage to make it to the gym 3 or 4 times a week on my lunchbreak. I can get in about ½ an hour of the elliptical and a quick shower. I don’t even try to pretend that I will go after work if I don’t make it at lunch. The Slug is like a homing pigeon that only knows one destination, and it gets very active right around 4 in the afternoon. On Saturdays, I have a yoga class at my gym that I LOVE, although I have to modify a few of the poses here and there. I need to get a prenatal yoga DVD for home. But then again, if I’m in the house there is that whole “slug” issue to overcome.

This exercise is in no way keeping me from packing on the pounds (8 so far since I got pregnant), but it makes me feel better about eating whatever I want whenever I want it. Fortunately, I have had an actual zero craving for sweets so far, which for me is unheard of. (I mean an entire bag of Oreo’s sat in my kitchen for TWO WEEKS! Are you kidding?!) But it’s full-fat version of everything else, so that probably makes up for it.

And, yes, I’m still feeling nauseous and still kind of hating food in general. It is beyond old at this point.

So all in all, things are going good. I’m trying to enjoy it as it comes and not just feel like my life is on hiatus for the next 6 months, but it’s tough sometimes. I also try to show interest in anything that doesn’t have the words “baby” or “pregnant” in it. I’m trying, I promise. Just wave a pink bow in front of me to get my attention.

The scary thing is I might even try and vote (gasp) in my addled condition. You though Florida’s problem was the ballots? Turns out there was an unusually high percentage of pregnant voters that year.

before ~ after