Travel Often

“I see my path, but I don’t know where it leads. Not knowing where I’m going is what inspires me to travel it.” — Rosalia de Castro

Love Deeply, but Laugh Along the Way

"Happiness is only real when shared." - Jon Krakauer, Into the Wild

View Marriage as an Adventure

"Love is a flower which turns into fruit at marriage." ~Finnish Proverb

Fuel your body with GOOD (It's the only one you get)

He who has health has hope; and he who has hope has everything. - Arabian Proverb

Open your Soul to Motherhood

A Grand Adventure is About to Begin - Winnie the Pooh

A New Kind of Love is Born

Mothers hold their children's hands for a short while, but their hearts forever.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

A Little Consistency Please - Month 2

written September 8, 2011
8 weeks (baby is the same size as a kidney bean right now)

New this week: Webbed fingers and toes are poking out from your baby's hands and feet, his eyelids practically cover his eyes, breathing tubes extend from his throat to the branches of his developing lungs, and his "tail" is just about gone. In his brain, nerve cells are branching out to connect with one another, forming primitive neural pathways. You may be daydreaming about your baby as one sex or the other, but the external genitals still haven't developed enough to reveal whether you're having a boy or a girl. Either way, your baby — about the size of a kidney bean — is constantly moving and shifting, though you still can't feel it. (info from www.babycenter.com)

Three days on (feeling good), one day off (feeling bad). That's how I've been feeling lately. Sunday, Monday and Tuesday were three really good days. So good that I even did a nice long walk/run. I almost felt like myself again! Plus, the weather has been gorgeous. This weather makes me so happy - well, when I get to be enjoying it. Drives me crazy that the window I look out of at the office is old, completely fogged up, home to a zillion box elder bugs...oh, and it won't open.

Then Wednesday came and I wanted to crawl into bed forever. These darn hormones are killer.

I've been eating my peanuts a couple times throughout the early morning (usually around 3:30/4:00 a.m. and again at 6:00 when I wake) so I can feel better as I'm getting ready, but yesterday nothing worked. Traffic sucked and then a crazed hawk was loose at work. Things kept getting worse and it takes a lot for me not to speak my mind. So I just smile or keep my head down.

I'm also freakin a little lot about my changing body. I haven't stepped on a scale since I was 154 pounds and I think I'm okay with that. You have to understand I've had a flat stomach for 32 years. I'm departing with something I've always had and know I might not ever have again. I've been playing volleyball since the 7th grade. I've always worked out and lifted and have taken such good care of my body - this butt sagging business is really throwing me off. And where are these veins coming from?!? Ewww! And it's only going to get worse. I know on Monday I'll be finding out my latest weight. My problem is as soon as I feel any bit of hunger pains, I become nauseous. Ugh! So then I eat because who wants to feel like they're going to throw up...especially at work?
When I do eat, I try to eat healthy - like I ate a bunch of edamame beans and blueberries and strawberries...in one sitting. And last night I grilled chicken and had tons of veggies. It's not like I'm totally going mad about fast food or grease. Ice cream....maybe. And think of the calories I'm saving without drinking alcohol or having that fatty cream in my coffee every morning! I did make Karl meet me at Olive Garden last Friday after work where I ordered even before he got there and devoured a bowl of soup and a salad. So good! And then I had some more when he got there. Yikes. I'm out of control.

I know I need to get over myself and all these stupid worries and focus on baby's health. Like I said, I don't feel like myself these days. Bad hormones! I seriously am not myself!!!! Who is this person???
Karl and I plan to talk about all our options this weekend. When I should tell work, how long I plan to take off work, will I be treated fairly once I share the news, time off, daycare - money, money, money. All that fun stuff. Rumor has it daycare providers fill up so quickly some mom's reserve their spots even before they become pregnant. Yikes. Sounds brutal out there. That's why I would love if one of us could stay at home or I had one of our parents watch our lil kidney bean. Just trying not to worry about that.

But I am super pumped about Monday. Hoping to see the heartbeat!!! Can't wait to tell my grandparents on Wednesday....and then see my parents. Hopefully we'll have some pictures to show!!!!!!! Oh, and we will be going to Edwards Apple Orchard in Illinois for apple cider donuts and hot apple cider. Mmmmmm. Life is good!

The joy that you give to others is the joy that comes back to you.
- John Greenleaf Whittier