The woes of Pregnancy

When you're pregnant you are constantly being asked how you feel!   It's a thoughtful gesture and one that I appreciate.  I think it's nice that people appreciate the fact that growing a child can be both physically and emotionally straining.  Everyday when I'm asked this question I usually just smile and say "Feeling Good".  This is my answer regardless of how I really feel.

The truth is, I've had a really easy pregnancy thus far (KNOCK ON WOOD!!).  In the first trimester, I had a few weeks of nausea but only threw up twice.  Then came the 2 weeks when I literally had to eat every hour and a half or else I felt horrible, then came the headaches that wouldn't go away...but that was about it.  I didn't have the extreme tiredness or vomiting that some women get.  In my second trimester I started to have some small aches.  I had to stop my regular walks because I had a pain in my hip/groin area that hurt every time I stepped on my left leg.  Not pleasant but no biggie.  Now as I finish up the second trimester I still have the aches in my left leg, but now there is an ache in my right hip and my back...let's not even get started on my back!  I mean, I knew you were supposed to have low back pain as you got further along but this hurting from top to bottom of my back is a little irritating!  Not to mention that last night was the first night I have slept through the night (minus a couple of potty breaks) where I haven't woken up between 2:30 and 4:30 with an extreme back pain that prevented me from going to sleep.  Oh, and there is the indigestion and heartburn...that pretty much sucks!  No food is safe when it comes to getting that nastiness.

All that to say...it really hasn't been that bad.  I've felt good!  And truth be told...even if I felt horrible, I'd probably still just smile and say "Feeling Good".  I am carrying my precious little one after all...not much to complain about there!

Now I know I still have quite a ways to go - 102 days according to The Bump!  And I know I'm going to get bigger, and hotter, and more tired, and the aches are only going to get worse.  But for now at least, I'm choosing to have a good attitude about it.  At this point in my pregnancy, I'm choosing to enjoy it.  I'm choosing to enjoy this gift of being able to carry my baby.  There are millions of women who would die to have the chance to have the aches and pains and woes of carrying a child...but they're not able to.  So call me naive b/c it will get worse, but for now I have no complaints!  I'm enjoying this time!!

Here is a rarely seen picture of me pregnant!  Yes, I took this in the bathroom at work, and yes I am concentrating entirely too hard! 

Crazy Train to Mommy Town

I'm a little thrown off by the craziness that goes on in Mommy World.  Now don't get me wrong, I completely realize that I could possibly join that Crazy Train at any minute!  But right now, I'm just taking it all in.  I mean, you should read some of these message boards!!  These broads FREAK over the slightest things!!  "I woke up this morning on my back and now I'm freaking out!!"  Oh gosh...I'd call the Dr. immediately to make sure everything is ok (sarcastic voice).  I mean really people...calm down!  I hate to make light of such a serious issue.  I mean, you obviously should take better care of your body while pregnant than you would when you're not...afterall, you have someone else to think about.  But all this stress is unnecessary and most of all UNHEALTHY!

These women are also soooooo passionate about their opinions!  Which I admire, until you become intolerant to others' opinions and ideas.  Can you imagine the responses I get from some women when I tell them that I do not plan to breastfeed?!?!?  The horror!!!  You would think that I just told them that from the moment the child comes out it will be responsible for gathering and hunting her own food.  Geez, I'm going to feed her...and I'm going to make sure she has the nutrients she needs but I'm going to do it in a way that is comfortable to me!  Agree to disagree...what's wrong with that?

And you think that's bad...what about when you tell people you want drugs while in labor!  To these people you might as well stick a dirty syringe in the baby's arm as soon as they come out.  They're apparently going to come out drugged out of their minds with 2 heads!!  PLEASE people...I respect your decisions and your opinions.  In fact, I even admire them!  I think the more natural you can be for you and your baby the better.  But it's not for everyone!

Again, I want to say that I am not making light of a Woman's Intuition to care for her baby and to make sure that she is doing what is best for the baby while it is growing inside her but please, please try to be respectful of other's ideas of healthiness as well!  I think at the end of the day your body is such a complex and AMAZING being that is able to care for a child...I think if you listen to your body and what it is trying to tell you that it will ultimately tell you what is best for you and your baby both!

Disclaimer: I respect people who choose to breastfeed and go through a natural childbirth...they just aren't for me.  And my sarcastic humor at the situations above are only my response to certain situations I have encountered.  I sincerely hope no one takes offense.

You don't know what to expect when you're expecting!

One of the reasons I thought it was about time to start this blog is because the husband and I are expecting our first child!!!  A Baby Girl!!  Right now we are 21 weeks or 5 months (that's half way people) along this new journey to a brand new life.  We are so excited for this new chapter and blessing in our lives!! 

Tenley Caroline is expected to make her debut in mid October!!  Now let me explain something to you people (which is 0 readers at this point b/c I refuse to let anyone know I started a blog...but I digress).  But let me explain something...this child is going to be one SPOILED ROTTEN little girl!!  And as much as I act like I'm not...I'm ok with it.  She deserves it.  You see, my husband is one of 4 boys (God bless my mother-in-law) and has he has 1 nephew...so Tenley will be the first Baby Girl Cain!  Holy spoiled.  And since my sister hasn't had kids yet this will be the first grandchild on my side.  On my dad's side Confusing family history to be explained at a later date! - my step siblings have all boys...again, FIRST GIRL!!    So to sum it up...she's going to have sooooo much love and nothing could please me more!

All that being said, having a girl is a little intimidating to my husband and I.  You see, we wanted a boy.  (Don't judge!!  Everyone has a preference no matter what politically correct answer they give.)  We knew what his name would be, what sports he would play...basically his whole life planned out.  For a girl we had - NOTHING, except fear!!  You see, girls just seem so much more complicated.  More hissy fits, attitudes, eye rolling, horomones, money!  Not to mention we only had her middle name picked out.  All that being said - we're thrilled to death about this precious little angel that we are being blessed with.  At our 20 week appointment where they do all the measurements of the organs, brain, etc...everything came back as NORMAL!!  God IS GOOD!! 

Anyways, I will use this blog as a way to track my pregnancy and my life as a new mother among other things that I enjoy talking about.  Hope you enjoy!  Pics to come soon!