Pregnancy FAQS

Hello!  I thought today I would post some FAQs/nitty-gritty details of my pregnancy! We are very excited and it’s been hard for me to not share every moment by moment thing that was happening. So here goes…

How far along are you? 11 1/2 weeks

So the baby is due when? February 18th is my current due date. Our baby is the size of a lime.

How have you been feeling?  I’ve been feeling very tired since before I found out I was pregnant and that has continued steadily.  I take a nap almost every day and I love it!  I also wear out pretty quickly. One activity, like grocery shopping, can leave me pooped for the day.  I have also been feeling nauseous. Weeks 7-10 it was a steady all-day-long feeling, during the past two weeks that has abated somewhat so I’m only occasionally nauseous. But now I am struggling with having no appetite and nothing tasting good. Hence my lunch yesterday of Only 8 ice cream (hey—it has calcium!).

Was it a surprise? Not really, but sort of. Let me explain, I went off the pill in mid-May, but since I have been on it so long (4+ years) and we weren’t really trying (as far as chart cycles, etc.) we were a little surprised when I got pregnant right away. But it’s totally awesome and clear that we got pregnant right when God wanted us to!

Have you been working out still? Uh, not a whole lot. My workouts have been sporadic at best. For a few weeks I made big plans and then kind of mentally beat myself up when I was too exhausted or sick feeling to follow through with them.  Then I stopped worrying about it. I try to walk or be active 30 minutes a day.   Once I’m feeling a bit “peppier” next trimester I will try more, but I’m okay with where I’m at.

Have you gained any weight?  I gained a little in the beginning, but now I am actually 3 pounds down from my starting weight which is pretty normal for a lot of people in their first trimester. I’m sure I’ll make up for it. (Photo below taken at 8 weeks—I look slightly lumpier in the midsection, but you can’t really tell.)

Do you think it’s a boy or girl?  I’m not really sure. Nate is convinced it is a boy. I sometimes feel like it’s a boy too, but I have been leaning more towards girl the last week or so—who knows why. We are happy with whatever God gives us.

Any food cravings? I’m basically obsessed with Subway turkey and ham sandwiches with southwest sauce. I probably eat two a week because they always sound good. I’m not sure if that’s a craving or just something that always sounds appetizing. I think I am actually truly craving cheese. Grilled cheese, mozzarella sticks, queso, Doritos covered in fake cheese dust, pizza with cheese. If you know me you know this is a problem due to the fact that I’m lactose intolerant. And let me tell you nausea combined with intense stomach cramping due to stupidly eating a grilled cheese sandwich is NO BUENO. So I bought some lactaid pills yesterday and I’m really hoping they work! Due to my lactose intolerance I am keeping good track of my calcium intake and supplementing when I need it.

Selfie at 10 weeks—a tiny bump sprouting?

How exciting was the ultrasound? Ah, it was super-exciting! I’m a worrier by nature and it was so calming to see our little one kicking and waving to us on the screen. Completely healthy—just growing like a weed inside me. An amazing feeling. Also, during that appointment by midwife told me I was extremely healthy and all my levels were better than they should have been.  She said, “it shows that you take care of yourself.” I almost cried. It was just nice to have that affirmation that intentionality and hard work in your health pays off.

Anything else?  It has been amazing to me how much of a spiritual journey parenthood already is. The night after we found out I was pregnant I remember lying awake worry that something would happen to our baby—that I would miscarry or it would have some birth defect or we would emotionally scar it and it would hate us.  As I stared at my ceiling I realized why my mother always makes me call and tell her I’ve gotten where I’m going. I guess at some level the concern never goes away.

I laid there and I knew if I was ever going to sleep the rest of my life this baby couldn’t be about me. I prayed, surrendering my poppyseed size child to God.  Asking that no matter what happened with this child, if I was a mother for just another day, a few years, or until the day I died, that this baby would bring me closer to God.  Through every panic-stricken moment, I would learn to trust; through every scrape, tear, and cuddle I would better understand the depth of His love for me; through every sacrifice, I would learn selflessness. Parenthood is going to be quite the journey!

So there is all the excitement so far with the baby!  The first trimester hasn’t been a walk in the park, but it’s totally worth it!  I’m not sure if I’ll do weekly bump updates or not; I guess we’ll see as we go!

What was the best parenting advice you ever received?

Have you seen any good parenting in action this week? Since we work at a vacation spot, I’m sure parents are looser on rules than when at home, but I saw a great mom stick to her boundaries this week and tell her kid “You don’t get everything you want. You did lots of fun things today and you need to be thankful not whiney.” Discussion over. Could of high-fived her on the spot.