Life-things have been accelerating since the beginning of May. It's been a strange ride, these past 6 months! And, I'm technically halfway through this pregnancy and need to record this experience before I forget all the details (which I inevitably will).
Hey Girl:
Our little pumpkin is a girl! I am slightly embarrassed to say how shocked I was when the tech announced the sex. My instinct was telling me boy all the way, although first and foremost we just want a healthy little one. Zach and most others predicted it would be a girl; I had to tell everyone they were right and I was wrong. Boo.
Perhaps what rattled me was that we'd already picked out a boy's name, and in my head already thought of baby by that name. There was this really weird, brief kind of mourning/but also happy/excited feeling while I was laying on the ultrasound table watching the monitor. I told my friend (who is due 2 days after me and also having girl!) that I was happy it's a girl, but also sad it's not a boy. Thankfully, she completely understood. But I'm over it now and so excited to be having a baby girl! I know once she's here nothing else will matter.
Bumpdate:
Cravings:
During the first trimester I really loved spaghetti, broccoli, corn, salsa, and yes, pickles. Any pasta with a rich tomato sauce sounded delicious. It still sounds delicious, who am I kidding?
Now that I'm halfway-ish through the 2nd trimester (again--already?), it's been all about sweets. I still love and will find any excuse to eat pasta, but lately it's been all about French toast (3 days in a row, and I just bought more bread--woot), Muddy's cupcakes, and sweet iced decaf espresso drinks. One of my favorite things to do in the summer is hit up coffee shops around town and sample their cold drinks. So far, my orders sound like this:
Starbucks: tall iced decaf mocha, no whip
Bluff City: iced raspberry mocha, decaf. Do you have almond milk? No? Okay, soy milk.
Otherlands: iced mocha, decaf
Eclectic: Levitt latte, decaf. Almond milk! (This was an iced latte with coconut syrup. It was good.)
I should probably cut back on this habit since it gets pricier as the drink gets fancier. (Once, I ordered $6 latte, not realizing it would cost that much. I will never forget the look in Zach's eyes. It was a salted caramel mocha with almond milk, and it was amazing. Only available in the winter. Totally worth it.) Also should cut back for the baby's sake. Right?
Things I miss:
- Laying on my stomach
- Wine. Margaritas. Sangria. Mojitos.
- Spicy tuna rolls--have been hanging around the cooked sushi rolls to be safe.
- Hot dogs. Other than the list of four fish, this was the one thing my doctor said to not eat unless it was steaming. I was never a big hot dog person, but now that they're off limits I really want one.
- Deep lower back twists
I love twisting and popping my lower back. I am so dying to just do one really good twist!
- Cheese/ charcuterie. I'm not really worried about cheese, but generally have avoided soft cheese and goat cheese to be safe, along with cured meats. After this pregnancy I plan to make the most awesome cheese plate ever. Gonna bring it with me to the hospital.
- Speaking of cured things, smoked salmon. Adding it to my cheese plate as well.
- My clothes. I bought a gray skirt from Old Navy. I wear it about 16 hours a day, every day. Will probably burn it once baby is here.
Things I worry/think about:
- What if the baby doesn't like me?
- What if I'm one of those women who are 43 weeks pregnant and still hasn't delivered? Please, God. No. Please.
- If/when someone says something rude about my belly or tells me a story about their niece's neighbor's pregnant granddaughter who had pre-enclampsia and needed 5 surgeries for her and her newborn, how am I going to react? Will I freak out? Be rude? Start crying? (Seriously--I've heard from friends and with my own ears the stuff people say to pregnant women and it's unbelievable.)
- Do I really need a warmer for baby wipes?
- What if I'm wearing one of those cloth baby carriers and the baby falls out?
- What if nobody comes to the showers my family and friends are throwing for me?
- Am I really nesting, or am I just cleaning the house because I feel bad that I'm at home all day and not really doing anything productive?
- Will I be able to concentrate on anything when work starts in the fall? Am I getting an intern this year or not? Why does it take so long for the internship coordinator to respond to emails?
- I should probably get a black diaper bag so Zach won't feel embarrassed to carry it.
Happy things I think about:
- I am really, really, really lucky.
- More blessed than lucky.
- We're going to have a girl!
- I love summertime.
- I am so incredibly blessed.
