Alive and Kicking!

Week 18

I started week 18 on Sunday with the expectation of feeling my baby more often and that’s exactly what I got! The movements slowed down a bit last week so of course I started to get paranoid. I only feel it early in the morning and after 8pm at night, which is fine as long as I feel something. I still get the flutters, but they’re stronger now and it also feels like the baby is rolling. I can locate my uterus easily, no matter what time of day it is. I think that’s pretty cool. Getting these sensations has been the best part of my pregnancy thus far.

My face is starting to break out just a tad bit, but I’m not looking gross. Thank God! It still doesn’t even come close to my PMS symptoms. I’m still wondering why that is. Shouldn’t I have crazy hormonal imbalances? I can count on 1 hand how many times in the last 4 months I’ve felt overly emotional. It’s good for Dave I guess, lol. I’m not happy with the fact that my face is looking tired all the time, even though I’m not sleepy. It’s also blowing up and making me look fat! Perhaps I need to invest in some good make-up. I’m starting to wonder if a fabulous pregnancy equals a nasty child birth session. Let’s hope not!

I took my weekly belly shot yesterday, but this morning I woke up to a much bigger bulge. It’s amazing how things can change over night! Just 2 more weeks until Dave and I find out the sex. We’re getting really excited about that. I want to stop calling my baby “IT”. We’ll be finding out the same day we start our residential move so then we can start buying baby crap and designing the room. I’m pretty stuck on having a boy since I haven’t had ANY girl dreams or visuals in the last 2 months. What do you all think?

As for the name, I’m pretty sure I won’t be able to make a decision until after the birth. Dave still hasn’t come up with anything, so yay. I really want to be the one to name my child since he had that luxury with Halle. It’s my turn, damnit! So far the votes are in alignment with my first choices - Dominick Angelo and Destiny Rae. Please click on my baby name list and cast your vote!

Pregnancy Symptoms This Week:

* Growing belly
* A couple of zits (eww)
* Difficult time getting to sleep
* Feeling the baby move

So Much To Celebrate

Week 17

I hit 17 weeks on Sunday and I’m really grateful. I honestly feel like I’m out of the woods and can relax about this pregnancy. I’ve been feeling the baby move a lot lately and it’s so exciting! It started in week 14 or so, but by last week this kid was making its presence known pretty often. It’s calmed down a bit now though and I’m finding myself trying to get it to move again, lol. Dave and I only have 3 1/2 weeks until we find out the sex and start the moving process. I have so much to celebrate.

I’ve been taking weekly pictures of my belly’s progress and I’m starting to see the changes in my body more frequently. It’s expanding outward, not width wise yet. It’s not just my uterus though. My face has bloated out a bit in the last week, ugh! At the end of 16 weeks I had what they’re calling “round ligament pain”. It wasn’t too bad and it only lasted an hour or so. This week I’ve got normal stretchy cramps, but now I’m feeling it in my tummy region. My face is still clear of acne, yay!

I’m learning so much about myself while going through this. I’m not reacting the way I originally thought I would, which is obviously a great thing. I was so anti-pregnancy, but now that I’m here, I’m really looking forward to raising my child. I’m not looking forward to childbirth though. I’m still terrified and hope I pass the hell out and not remember a damn thing about it, lol.

At this point I’ve got a lot to do to prepare for this life change. It’s not just the pregnancy, but moving in with Dave and the girls. I’m really stoked because our new place is fabulous and now we have more to offer the kids in the long term sense. I’m starting to clear out more crap and clutter so I can pack and be prepared by March 13th. Dave is a bit on the lazy side when it comes to this stuff though. He’ll be doing things last minute, but as long as I have my stuff in order, I’ll be fine.

Pregnancy Symptoms This Week:

* Stretchy cramps
* Morning gas
* Uncomfortable sleeping
* Stuffy nose

Baby Name List

Check out my tentative baby name options and vote yay or nay. I probably won't be able to decide until I see the baby after it is born, but I thought this would be fun. I will add names as they come to me.

My Baby Likes Rap Crap!

Week 16

Here is a picture of me when I woke up this morning and no, I didn't bother to brush my hair, lol. You can finally see my baby bump!




I’ve made it to week 16 and all is well. My belly is growing and I’ve been documenting with pictures. Check out my photo album to see the comparison shots. I still don’t have enough maternity shirts so I’m going shopping this week. There’s nothing more annoying than not having anything to wear. I’m sick of bumming it every day. I’m going to weigh myself at the end of the week because I’m worried that I may be gaining too much, even though I don’t feel or look it. I’m starting to get some of my energy back this week. It’s nice to be able to work hard and not need a nap by 1pm. Today I woke up at 5am so I will be taking one just to keep my body balanced.

Last night Dave and I were watching part of the Grammy Awards because there really wasn’t anything else on. When Kanye West was performing, I felt the strongest kick/movement I’ve ever gotten so far. I’m guessing this child was reacting to the music. Actually, I did like the song he was performing, but I’m not normally a huge fan of rap. Now I understand why it drove my mother nuts when I was a teenager. I will say, however, that my “old school rap” was much better than the “Move bitch, get out the way!” BS blaring from top 40 radio these days.

We finally told the kids about the move and the baby. They were really excited and happy, which I knew they would be. Dave’s ex-wife turned our situation into a “poor me, you have everything and I have nothing” cry session. Literally, she had to hang up on Dave because she was bawling her eyes out. Unbelievable! At least everyone knows and we can move on with our lives. It’s onward and upward for me, bitches!

I’m going to start packing since I know Dave will need some help. I want to be ready on time for the move because I’ve always been a last minute everything in the past. Last minute packing, Christmas shopping or anything else that requires me to get off my lazy butt, with the exception of work. I already started going through my home office to see what I can get rid of. I found a ton of pictures that I should no longer have in my possession. Pictures of my ex-fiancée don’t belong in my home. I couldn’t believe I missed those when I moved out of state. I also have some furniture with imprints of my ex’s I have to dump. I really can’t wait for this move!

Pregnancy Symptoms So Far This Week:

* Fairly frequent urination
* Growing belly
* Mild stretchy cramps
* Feeling hungry a lot (it’s back!)

That’s all for now. I may post another entry at the end of the week if anything new comes up.

xoxo,
Cristin

There's Really Something In There

Week 15

I had an OB appointment yesterday morning. It was really easy as they only weighed me, took my blood pressure and tried to find the baby’s heartbeat. It took the nurse about 10 minutes to find it. The little booger was hiding from me. I thought I was going to have a heart attack, but then I heard it going at 150 bmp…whew! Due to the fact that I’ve had very mild pregnancy symptoms, it’s been difficult believing that there’s really something in there. I’m at the point now where I’m dying to know the sex of the baby. This waiting is killing me, but I know it will go by pretty fast.

Dave bought me a new digital camera for my birthday and since I had some friends asking for baby bump pictures, I took some last Saturday at 14.6 weeks. Yesterday morning I woke up feeling a bit bigger and took some more shots (15.2 weeks). I am starting to show a little and I couldn’t believe how much my body has changed in only 3 days. Check out the comparison below. I’m scared to see how I will look when my next appointment arrives at 21 weeks, LOL!

Remember I mentioned that Dave and I applied for a condo last Friday? Well, we found out Monday morning that we’re approved. It really is the perfect place for us. I’m soooo happy and now that’s not hanging over my head. We have to break the news to his kids about the move and the pregnancy. I’m pretty sure it will go over well, especially since Trenity used to bug me about living with them a lot. It will be a huge adjustment for all of us, especially me, but I think God and the kids have broken me in, lol.

Pregnancy Symptoms This Week:

* Growing tummy
* Light heartburn
* Minor fatigue

March 13th can’t come fast enough for me since that’s the date of my next ultrasound. I’m getting really excited. We’re slated to move into the new place at that time also. March has always been the big month for me to experience major life changes. I met Dave a year ago, March 17th so it’s fitting that we’re starting our new life together in that same timeframe this year. It’s amazing how things can change over night and all I did was go to a wedding!

Until next time,
Cristin

Wake-Up Call

Tomorrow I will start my 15th week of pregnancy. I can’t believe how time flies by. Just yesterday I found out I was pregnant and now we only have 5 more weeks until my next ultrasound and we find out the sex.

This week has been nuts since day one. Dave received a call on Sunday that his brother-in-law dropped dead at age 35. It’s a horrible situation with him leaving Dave’s sister and their 2 daughters, ages 7 and 4. He died in his sleep and the autopsy report came back inconclusive so we’ll never know exactly what caused him to depart suddenly. Dave had the entire week off of work and we spent most of the time taking care of his sister, shopping for clothes and going out of town for the funeral.

In the midst of the craziness, we did find and apply for a condo that is absolutely perfect. That was one of the major things stressing me out the most in the last couple of months. I hate moving, but it’s necessary now that we need to put a roof over 5 heads. It has everything we both want and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we’ll get approved. If we do, we’re slated to move by mid March. We won’t have much time to dispose of stuff we no longer need, clean up our apartments and pack, but this place is worth it.

I had some epiphanies yesterday. I know that I’m grateful for everything I have, but there’s a part of me that feels like I’m not doing enough. Here today, gone tomorrow so young is truly a wake-up call. I started thinking about my life and how rigid I can be when it comes to my standards. I preach about letting go of emotional bullshit and I do my best in my own life, but after experiencing this particular funeral and spending time with Dave’s family, I believe I can do better.

I fought my relationship from the very beginning and no matter what I tried to do, God shoved his middle finger in my face and gave me the opposite of what I said I wanted. Was I right? Hell no, lol! Someone sent me an email and said, “If you want God to laugh, tell him your plans.” Boy was she right. Letting go is tough, no matter what you’re focusing on.

I didn’t realize how severe my family issues were until a good friend of mine pointed it out and I put myself in Dave’s family situation. I was sadly mistaken thinking that I had released those demons from my past. I’m going to have a child of my own and I have to clean up my act. Now I feel like I can and this time I’m going to make sure no stone is left unturned.

PREGNANCY SYMPTOMS FOR THIS WEEK:

* Expanding boobies
* Minor stretchy cramps
* Constipation (damnit!)

Tuesday I have my next OB appointment and I’m excited. I always feel better after I go to the doctor. Sometimes I don’t even feel pregnant and wonder if there’s actually something in there. I’m hoping they will let me hear its heartbeat with the Doppler.

Leave The Pregnant Woman Alone!

Week 13

At 13 weeks and 5 days, I‘m stressed to the max, leaving me in a foul mood. The pregnancy hormones seem to be kicking in finally. I’m either calm and perfectly stable or flying off the handle, pissed off because there are some people trying to dictate how I should be living my life.

Normally this wouldn’t bother me because I’m really good at flashing the middle finger and ignoring comments, however, it’s coming to me all at once and I’m severely overwhelmed. It’s not just the unsolicited advice and demeaning comments, but the tension of all the responsibilities this pregnancy is bringing upon me. It’s like a ton of bricks have been dumped upon my shoulders and I can’t seem to find a place to discard them.

Last Saturday Dave and I went to his parent’s house to give them the news about the pregnancy and us moving in together. It went pretty well, but we had to explain why we’re not getting married. We saw them again on Monday and had to do the same thing again. Actually, it was me doing most of the talking and by the end of the night I think I finally got them to understand our position.

All week long I’ve had to deal with some people using scare tactics in effort to change some of my habits. I’m only drinking 1 to 1 ½ cups of light, diluted coffee a day and that’s the only caffeine I put into my body. My doctor told me I can have up to 3 normal sized cups and I’m not even doing that. To hear people say that I can’t have any or else I’ll miscarry and that they don’t care what my doctor says pisses me off! I’m embarking on my second trimester and still with child so if you’re not a physician, shut the hell up! I’m not going to live in fear. Stress is detrimental to me and my unborn child so please, mind your own business and leave the pregnant woman alone!

Oh yeah, and the smoking. That’s always a controversial subject since smoking is not good for our bodies and unborn children. I know this and carry it with me every day. The minute I realized I was pregnant, the first thought I had was, “Holy shit! How am I going to quit smoking after 15 years?“ I have to say that when I’m left alone, it’s so much easier for me to continue cutting down my intake, but when I’m hounded constantly, all I do is smoke more. Reading an email from a friend telling me that I’m basically “scum of the Earth” because I can’t quit cold turkey is disheartening and sabotaging my efforts to change. I don’t need that shit right now. I’m trying to kick my nicotine addiction. Is a little support too much to ask for?

Pregnancy Symptoms This Week:

* Stretchy cramps
* Fatigue
* Exaggerated stress
* Hormonal outbursts
* Fluttering in my uterus
* Fairly frequent urination
* Mild itchy skin

My prenatal vitamins must be kicking in because I’m finding hair in unwanted places, ICK! I feel like I’m due for a good waxing. I’m a little pissed though. I thought prenatal vitamins were supposed to strengthen my nails, but they’re breaking easily instead. Also, I’ve hit my laziness limit. All I can think about is cleaning and clearing the extra clutter out of my apartment.

Sorry about the extra long rant. I have to write it out in order to free my Spirit of all the unnecessary negativity. Since I wrote the majority of this blog yesterday, I’ve had some time to relax and try to find solutions to my stress. Today I decided to rid myself of the crap I can’t control and put the responsibility on the person it actually belongs to. I feel better already!

xoxo,
Cristin

Welcome To Poochville

Week 12

I’ve made it to 12 ½ weeks without turning psycho bitch on anyone! I really thought that pregnancy would unleash the monster within, but Dave tells me otherwise. Nice. I’m only getting emotional when someone pisses me off to the point where I can’t hold it in any longer. When I’m on the PMS, I turn into a different person so it’s great to see that pregnancy is making me react less hormonal and sweet. You’d think this would make me want to be pregnant all the time…LOL!

Pregnancy symptoms this week:

* Light heartburn
* A touch of insomnia
* Headaches (new)
* Fatigue and laziness
* Stretchy cramps

Symptoms that are subsiding:

* Frequent urination
* Needing to eat every hour
* Gas
* Painful boobies (for now)
* Pinching nerves

This week I’ve officially entered Poochville. I used to say that I’m bloated, but now I’m starting to take the pregnant woman shape. I’m feeling like I have to be careful of what I eat because I started this pregnancy a little fatter than I would’ve liked. My tummy wouldn’t be this blown out at 12 weeks if I were at my normal size. It doesn’t matter what I eat though, the minute I do my stomach pooches out and I feel like a heffer. I weighed myself this morning and I’ve gained 5 pounds. That’s not too bad, right?

I went to the Motherhood store with Dave last night to check out prices and maybe get a new pair of maternity jeans. The ones I bought a couple of weeks ago are okay, but I wanted something cuter. I was surprised at how cheap the clothes were as I’ve always thought they were off the chain expensive. I also got a new shirt. What made me laugh was the pregnancy pillow you can try on with the clothes. I told Dave that if I look like this in 3 months, our kid would be an alien baby since the pillow was all lumpy and deformed.

What really excited me was the fact that my ass isn’t as big as I thought. I fit into petite mediums. Whooo hoooo! Unfortunately I’ll be wearing large and extra large shirts because my boobs are the size of watermelons and I highly doubt they‘ll be deflating any time soon. Perhaps that’s where a portion of my weight lies. I’m telling you, each breast has got to be about 5 pounds a piece, at least!

My next OB appointment is February 5th and I'll be about 15 weeks along. It's just a check up and they'll probably do more tests, ugh. I really hate needles, but I'm dealing with it better than I thought.

See y'all next week!