It's so weird to think that in four weeks from today, I'll be half-way through this pregnancy (and we'll hopefully know the sex of the baby)! There isn't a whole lot to report in this post, because not much has changed from last week. I did start registering for baby things at Target and BabiesRUs, though. My friends and family have offered very helpful ideas on what to register for. Honestly, G and I are minimalists, and I don't believe half of the stuff out there is actually needed for babies. So whether we get much of what we register for at baby showers or not, I think we'll be okay.
It could be my imagination (or wishful thinking), but my belly seems noticably bigger every day. I'm not even that large yet, and I have already caught myself sitting and standing more slowly, and holding my stomach when I move from one place to another. I looked down at my toes yesterday, and noticed a very obvious bump sticking out. Before long, I won't be able to see my toes at all! Hubby even notices that my stomach is growing, though he doesn't mind at all. He actually thinks it's cute (hurray for me)! The skin around my lower abdomen has started feeling a little uncomfortable. To borrow a line from Bilbo Baggins, it feels "like butter scraped over too much bread." Okay, maybe that's an exaggeration. My stomach does feel tight sometimes, though!
I still haven't gained back the five or so pounds that I lost because of food aversions in the first trimester, but I'm hoping to see some improvement soon. My appetite has definitely picked up, and I'm able to eat larger portions at most meals. Last week, I discovered Annie's Organic Gummy Bunnies at Kroger. They are really good. Although I've probably eaten more of them than is necessary, I think I've done pretty well considering that gummies were my favorite junk food as a teenager. Seriously, I used to down a massive family size box of Welch's Fruit Snacks in a week or so. I won't embarrass myself by revealing how many packs come in that particular box (I know. You're going to have to look it up, aren't you?).
My water intake wasn't great last week, so I'm going to try and drink more this week. I did drink a lot, just not much water. It just didn't taste good to me, so I drank almond milk, apple juice, or hot pregnancy tea most of the time. As far as exercise goes, I still haven't established a regular routine. G and I have been walking around our neighborhood several times a week, and the midwife said I only need about 120 minutes of activity a week (which is very easy to get in), but I want to do as much as I can to get oxygen to the baby. A sweet friend from my small group brought me a devotional and a pregnancy workout DVD, and I'm looking forward to trying that out.
BabyCenter sends me email updates every week about what this next week of pregnancy could hold for me, and how my baby is developing. This week, the email mentioned that I could start feeling movements from the baby this week - although it's likely I won't feel anything until week 20 since this is my first pregnancy. I've actually felt something a couple of times that seemed different than normal gas or stomach gurgling, and it's actually broken my focus on whatever I was doing at that moment. The fact that they drew my attention so suddenly makes me think it could be the baby, but I can't be certain. It felt like one fairly strong little tap, and it's only happened twice. It will be so cool when I start feeling regular movement for sure! I'm pretty sure most of the movement I feel is just gas, though. Lots and lots of gas.
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Pregnancy Update: 15 Weeks
Anyway, I'm feeling really great at this point. My energy is completely back now, and I've started getting up at 6:30 in the morning with Hubby every day. In the past, I have tried - and failed - many times to get into a regular early-morning routine. My expectations this time around were that it would be really hard for me (just like all the other times). To my surprise, it's been so easy! Thank you, Lord. The first couple of days left me feeling a little tired later, but it has never been so easy to get up in the mornings as it has been over the last few weeks. When we first got married, I would get up with G every morning. But between sicknesses, late nights spent remodeling, and then the pregnancy fatigue, I somehow got out of that habit. Because I want to put the baby on a schedule right away when he or she gets here, I knew that it would be crucial for me to get in the habit of rising early before he or she makes their grand entrance into the world. Honestly, I feel even better now that I'm getting up early and getting in bed before 11pm! It still takes me fifteen or twenty minutes to really wake up after I get out of bed, but afterward I feel cheerful and energetic until the evening rolls around.
I haven't had any aversions to smells at all, though I did cook a meal recently that was on the spicy side, and I suddenly did not like the way it tasted and couldn't bring myself to eat it. My Honey was sweet enough to make a quick Chick-fil-A run for some chicken noodle soup, which I promptly scarfed down. What's up with that, by the way? I couldn't stand Chick-fil-A for the longest time (probably because I used to eat there every week for a while before marriage), and now I am always in the mood for a large bowl of their soup, or a chargrilled chicken wrap with ranch dressing! Pregnancy is weird. In other food-related news, I have really wanted mashed potatoes and gravy. Not just occasionally. No. All the time. It always sounds good! I don't have to have them, though, so I only get them when we eat at a restaurant. I had a sudden and unusual craving for chili cheese fries from Sonic (not recommended, since every time I've ever eaten them has left me feeling horrible), but I've managed to avoid getting any. Also, every time we pass a Taco Bell when we're driving, I start tasting their food. Yes, I am aspiring organic/whole food junkie. Yes, I grew up on Taco Bell and I love it (and yes, I know how horrible it is for you). So far, I haven't caved to the demands of my cravings, though I sense there is a Taco Bell run in my future. Probably with my mom or brother. G can't stand their food, so his disgust helps keep me focused!
For a bookaholic like myself, I haven't read a lot of books since I've been pregnant. I have been reading a few, though, which are really good. I've also done a lot of reading on Pinterest about pregnancy, labor, postpartum (something I'm not as excited about), parenting, and homeschooling. So I guess I have been reading a lot, just not tons of books. Here are some that I'm either currently reading, or read just before getting pregnant (and plan to reread before Baby gets here):
- What to Expect When You're Expecting, by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel
Okay, it seems like EVERY pregnant woman has read this book. It's pretty good, and has a lot of helpful advice on what you may be experiencing during each month of pregnancy and how to deal with pregnancy symptoms, but given all the hype, I really thought the book would be better than it is. - Great Expectations, by Marcie Jones and Sandy Jones
This book is very similar to What to Expect When You're Expecting, but it's broken down into weeks instead of just months, so I like it a lot better. It reads a little more casually, too, as if you were sitting down on the authors' couch and talking to them in person. - Every Child Should Have A Chance, by Dr. Leila Denmark
This is, by far, my favorite book on child training and parenting (and I actually read a lot of them when I was in high school and after I graduated). I had the privilege of going to see Dr. Denmark several times as a little girl (she figured out I had scarlet fever when none of the regular doctors could find out what was wrong with me), and I've always been impressed with her common sense and wisdom. She was very direct, and some of the things she says in her book can sound a little harsh, but I love her advice on caring for newborns and toddlers. If I could, I would give this book to every expecting mother! This is one I read just before I got pregnant, and I will definitely be reading it again now. - Dr. Denmark Said It! by Madia Bowman
This book was written by a mother who took her children to Dr. Denmark, and experienced great success when she followed her advice. She goes over the basics of Dr. Denmark's schedules, and includes several recipes (which I have used before, and really enjoyed). While Dr. Denmark goes into detail about the why's behind her parenting philosophies in her own book, Madia Bowman gives a less detailed list of the what's. It's a great companion book to Every Child Should Have A Chance. - The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, by Diane Wiessinger, Diana West, and Teresa Pitman
I haven't read much of this book yet, but I'm looking forward to learning the information it has to offer. In my mind, breastfeeding (which is the path I hope to take) seems natural - and therefore no big deal. Yet considering how many women find it challenging makes me want to learn as much as possible so that I'll be prepared for whatever difficulties may come my way.
That's everything on my reading list so far. I'm sure I'll add more titles as I finish each of these, especially as the countdown to Baby's birth begins in December.
Did you have any cravings during your pregnancy? If so, what were they, and how did you handle them? Are there any books you read on pregnancy or parenting that you found helpful?
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