Random Weekly Funnies

So I just wanted to write down a couple pregnancy funnies from this past week:

1) It happened, at just 16.5 weeks pregnant…I actually peed my pants. I have a LONG history of always having to pee, like always. Armando even made me get a full check-up and ultrasounds about 6 months ago, to which they simply said, “you are a woman, you’re fine”. So you can only imagine how challenging it has been with pregnancy, literally peeing every five minutes, constantly doing the bathroom dance. The biggest challenge has always been my daily walks with the dogs, which last about an hour, and during which time I have zero access to a bathroom. Usually about midway through I start to get the potty sweats, and always think “what if I couldn’t make it home and I just peed on the grass like my dogs”? Normally I just start walking very fast and I make it home, realizing how frowned upon seeing a pregnant lady peeing on your lawn would be. But this week, the combination of having to go, sneezing, and blowing my nose all at the same time, it just happened! Then of course I started laughing uncontrollably (picture little me walking two 65lb. dogs, by myself, just laughing on the street) and so then it happened again! Oh dear pregnancy, you do have your demons.

2) So I have been mentioning my congestion, which hit an all-time high this week (and has been going strong for 4 weeks now!). I have not wanted to take any meds throughout my pregnancy, just a personal preference (I am like this not pregnant for the most part as well). Someone at my office mentioned trying a humidifier. My first thoughts were using one as a kid, and they were big, loud and clunky, and they soaked the whole floor with water, LOL! But the new ones are so much better. We have an extra bedroom in our house called “The Cave” that we blacked out. Because our bedroom has hardwood floors, we moved in there last night to try the humidifier out…there are a lot of rules! 24inches off the floor, 6ft from any wood, can’t be near bedding, curtains…it’s a wonder you can use these things anywhere besides a gymnasium. We got it set-up and let it run all night, and let me tell you, it helped relieve at least 50% of my troubles and I slept SO much better! I woke up this morning in a fog of moisture in the air (it’s like being in a rain fog), and realized it was almost 8am (I am usually up by 6:30am). So if any of you are having congestion issues and don’t want to take meds, the humidifier is your best bet.

I am off to see my girlfriends in MI, and I can hardly stand it! It has been 3 VERY long years (I haven’t seen them since my wedding), and I can’t wait to squeeze them. Have a great weekend everyone!

The Bump

It’s here, the baby bump! Finally starting to have some kind of shape, rather than just a bloated belly. Some days my belly seems bigger than others, some days I feel great, some days I’m exhausted. I hate to put it in writing, but I am officially done with morning sickness, which is such a blessing. I have been congested for weeks! Apparently I can thank increasing progesterone and estrogen levels, and there is no telling when this will end. So many changes, it’s overwhelming. I am slowly starting to actually feel pregnant, and I can’t wait until we find out if we are having a boy or a girl! I have finally bought a few maternity pieces (Target has a great line by Liz Lange), and although the stretchy part of the pants is still loose at the top, I know it won’t be long before they fit just right. I am still on the hunt for the perfect pair of pregnancy leggings…any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

On another note, as we settle into pregnancy I have been thinking a lot about the flood of information available to expecting parents. When we first found out we were pregnant, we bought a ton of books. I read online every day and I downloaded apps. I am already over almost all of it. It seems so many things are written just to scare women, or you read about horrible situations you would never have even thought of, and then begin to think about a million other things that could go wrong. The internet can be a dangerous tool. At this point I figure I just need to go with everything, and realize that my pregnancy will go the way it will go. I can control only so many aspects, and the rest is up to fate. Here’s to an amazing future!

Pregnancy & Your Relationship

I feel like with all of the focus on the baby and the changes that will occur to your body when you are pregnant, not much is discussed about the changes that will happen to your relationship. And they do happen. I’ll be honest, I never even thought about how things would change between Armando & I for the 9 months we are pregnant. Basically, your relationship as you knew it has changed forever. You will never again be just the two of you. A scary thought, and probably why people try not to dwell on it. Being in a place where we have no family, it is just the two of us more than most couples could ever imagine, so we were definitely in a groove. It was strange to see that change…no more decompressing after work with a beer, or talking about the future over a great bottle of wine, no more sushi or going to bed without ridiculously heavy thoughts. Hello to being tired, bloated, and all of the stress that goes into thinking about bringing a human into this world. I feel a bit like we aren’t able to have the carefree fun we used to, like this time period has been SO serious, and that makes me a little sad. Add to all of this a lot going on in our work lives (and with our two furry babies already at home), and you have a recipe for a sort of ho-hum time. I do feel that with every week we are adjusting more to this new life, which is positive. I hope that as my belly grows we can get more into the joys of pregnancy, and start to participate in the fun of setting up and preparing for the baby. I’m sure once we have the first baby and are a full-on family, the changes won’t be as obvious with baby #2 (gosh, already talking about the second, I know!), but I’m feeling it with our first-born. That being said, I have decided to take this pregnancy one month at a time, because I feel differently every day (sometimes every hour).

I have more love for Armando than ever during this pregnancy, and I am still in shock that we created a life together, it’s truly an amazing blessing. I am already planning a vacation for us after the baby arrives to reconnect and lay on the beach together (blended cocktails in hand). I think a picture from our Honeymoon in Belize is in order :)

I will leave you with this funny article I saw, and it made me think “is this going to be my life in 6 months?” LOL! 13 Signs You're a New Mom

Body Changes & Health

Week 13 is starting, and it’s time to discuss these changes in my body. Because this is my first pregnancy, I had no idea what to expect. I’ve just been a bystander watching it all unfold. The first thing I noticed was that my boobs were growing at warp speed! Every morning I would swear they grew overnight, and soon my bras were becoming stuffed. I don’t think I’ve had these babies since I was a chubby 16 year-old :) Honestly, mostly I felt pudgy and bloated throughout the 1st Trimester, and until the last week or so, I looked the same. Ironically the week before we found out I was pregnant I took 6 of my favorite work pants to the tailor to have the waist taken IN. Coincidentally, around week 7 these pants started feeling tight at the waist, and by week 8 I bought a BeBand. This is an early pregnancy gem. You wear it over the top of your pants that you can no longer button, and it hides that they are undone and smoothes out the lines. You can find it at Target: BeBand

At this point I look down and can’t believe how my body is changing. It may be early, but I definitely have a little pouch, and things are starting to move in places they never used to. Some days my belly seems bigger than others, and some days I feel better than others. As my body expands and the baby grows, I am relaxing much more about everything and starting to just enjoy being pregnant. We were taking pictures of my stomach once per week, and then I realized it was like taking pictures of someone with severe gas. Not something I want to put in a baby book, so I’ll be taking a picture every 4 weeks now.
I will admit I am a bit obsessed with not getting stretch marks (the purple kind or the kind from gaining pregnancy weight, I am not interested in either). I have the traditional Palmer’s cocoa butter, as well as The Honest Company’s Belly Balm. I love them both and will keep trying new products throughout my pregnancy. If you are not familiar with the The Honest Company, you have to check them out. I get bundles from them monthly with both vitamins and household goods. It’s an easy and relatively affordable way to ensure you are making healthy options for yourself and your household. The Honest Company

I am still exercising as much as possible, though less than normal and less intensity (to my dismay). 4 days at the gym down from 6, and 3 mile walks with the dogs daily. I had to change the beloved LesMills classes that I take, Body Attack has too much jumping and impact, and CXWorks for abs just feels ridiculous. I am just listening to my body and letting it tell me when to slow down, or simply stop.

I am eating as healthy as possible, organic whenever I can, lots of protein and fiber, the best all-natural pre-natal and DHA vitamins I can get. I am admittedly having a strange obsession with sweets though! So different than my usual self, but I’m going with it and hoping it will pass. I am also finding all of my formerly beloved vegetables less appealing. I still eat them constantly for the baby, but I have to say they don’t have the same flare. Carbs are golden right now, but I haven’t had any cravings for anything in particular (yet). Cooking has unfortunately lost its luster for me, so I am making the quickest healthy meals that I can lately. It is unfortunate that our city has virtually nothing in the way of healthy take-out options, so we really are forced to cook at home constantly, like it or not some days. I find it overwhelming to try to eliminate all toxins from my life, and I think it is impossible anyway. I am doing the best that I can within my current environment. I drink only one cup of coffee/day and no other caffeine (besides dark chocolate, but there is NO way I’m counting that as a negative).

I recently posted a comment on Facebook regarding drinking while pregnant, and boy did the comments come rolling in. Overwhelmingly you ladies say NO to any alcohol during pregnancy. This was very hard for me when we first found out I was pregnant. I could not imagine 9 months without an amazing glass of red with dinner, or a cold Belgian beer with a burger. I am finding now that I don’t even crave it, and have had about three sips of Armando’s beverages in the last 13 weeks. What I do miss is relaxing and having a glass of wine with my husband, or sitting on the back porch and having a couple beers, just talking about nothing important together. I miss how you can just tune out, be silly, and just unwind. It’s not that I need other activities to de-stress; it’s just a social thing to have a drink, and one that I enjoyed. I have decided no alcohol for me, though if I actually wanted it, I would have a glass of wine.

Weight gained to date = 4.5lbs, and I’m fine with it!

Second Pre-natal Visit

This one was important because I just wanted to hear the heartbeat again and make sure everything was good. We actually got to see the baby again, and hear the heartbeat! It was perfect and now everything seems totally real. We are actually going to be parents! We were also given the date we will find out (hopefully) if it’s a boy or a girl, April 18th! It’s crazy because that is not far away at all…

Doesn't it look like the baby has teeth? So funny!

Weeks 8-12

This article is simply awesome and perfect timing to add this to my post, as I am finally starting to feel pregnant. I pity the first fool who says any of this to me! Pregnant hormones cause uncontrollable emotions y’all, so watch out. 12 Things You Should Never Say to a Pregnant Person

I am behind in my writing of these weeks but I think I can quickly wrap-up in a few words on get us up to date – Gas, lots of Gas. To my dear friend Brooke; do you remember the first time you ate a FiberOne bar? It’s like that. All. Day. Long. You’re welcome everyone. Oh, and I am also obsessed with oranges, they are the only thing keeping my stomach in check.
We took a little mini-trip to the mountains at week 10 in Ruidoso, NM. Such a great getaway on 5 acres of land, the dogs ran and ran and chased deer. This trip was also where the pregnancy announcement was taken, with Stella hanging out the window looking like she was talking. Such a personality.

Ok, we’re up to date now. I am in my 12th week and just when I thought the morning sickness was ending, it has come back for two days now with a vengeance. I did talk to my friend in Portland (thank you Sarah Kief!) who is also pregnant with her first baby, and she recommended Preggie Pops. What a genius idea for the ease of popping them in your mouth and getting some form of relief (suckers and candy, though the candies were the ones recommended). Here is the link for anyone who might be interested, with details and store finder near you: threelollies

The pregnancy books are great, but can tend to get a bit boring (I have three of the textbook size variety). I just bought my first Fit Pregnancy and it is such a great magazine! Loads of great information (a bot overwhelming actually), but the good news is it only comes out bi-monthly, so you have plenty of time to process it all. I highly recommend it to pregnant ladies and new moms. Here is the link to check it out: Fit Pregnancy

First pre-natal visit

This was so fun because we had no idea what to expect! We ended up getting the rundown from the front desk that yes, this baby is indeed going to cost you dearly, so you should start paying as much as you can to us every month. Awesome, so that’s done. Then we get into the room and right away they do the exam and then the ultrasound. And there it is on the screen, a real baby! Well a tadpole, but we still heard a ferocious heartbeat! It was amazing and so reassuring.

Weeks 4-7

As soon as we found out I tried to make a doctor appointment to get a blood test to triple confirm the results, but of course they won’t see you until 8-9 weeks. We found out at 4 weeks, so this waiting is torture. It’s still a week away from our appointment as I write this, and I am becoming more anxious every day. I just want her to do the bloodwork, give the exam and tell me everything is progressing and looks normal!

Physically, every week I’m feeling more bloated. My pants are feeling tight already. No weight gain, but things are shifting and I’m losing my waistline. My six-pack is completely dissolved. My boobs continue to grow every day and in the morning they are sore grapefruits (fun for Armando, not so much for me). I have a “Cyclops boob,” where my left boob is noticeably larger than my right. I googled it and this is supposedly perfectly normal, and it means I will most likely be using my left boob primarily for breast feeding. My nipples permanently stand at attention. The bloating has started the burping and gas, and I have some days of cramping. Also started having crazy dreams at Week 6 (I’m going to start writing down the content, all I remember is the last one had Julia Roberts and Kiefer Sutherland from back in the day, completely random). Week 7 is where the tiredness has fully set-in. I would have the occasion tired spell here and there, but the last two days I have down right lethargic. I could lay on the couch all day, which is so far beyond my comfort zone. But I will work on the fact that I am growing a human being in my belly, and I need to give myself a break here and there.

Initially I had the hardest time with giving up alcohol. I stopped drinking immediately, and I honestly think the cold turkey approach threw me through a loop. I didn’t even feel pregnant, yet I could no longer enjoy a glass of wine with a delicious meal. I felt angry and annoyed, like is this how I am going to feel for 9 months??? I started reading information every day about alcohol during pregnancy. Here is what I found out: There is no evidence that a moderate amount of alcohol damages the fetus. Unfortunately, there are not enough studies to be conclusive about what/if any amount of alcohol is safe while pregnant. I read many of studies that reported how European women continue to drink moderately throughout pregnancy, with no adverse effects on their children through age 5. All of the studies that the US bases their “no alcohol” during pregnancy guidelines on were done on malnourished, alcoholic women, and that’s a fact. But of course, US women have no understanding of what moderation means, so due to liability issues all healthcare professionals much say that no alcohol in any amount is safe during pregnancy. In the end, it is up to each mother to find her comfort level. As much as I believe there is no adverse effect of moderately drinking while pregnant (and by moderate I mean 1 beer or glass of wine a week), I have not chosen to have any alcohol to date. Truth is, it’s week 7 and I’m already almost over the craving. I never really understood it, but your body really does self-regulate for you. I’m sure I’ll have my days when I still want a glass of wine, and I may imbibe once I reach the second/third trimester once the baby is formed, but as your belly grows bigger you realize you are literally growing a human being in your stomach. The seriousness of that responsibility ends up outweighing your desire for a drink (at least in these early stages, when your baby is developing). On a similar note, prior to becoming pregnant, I had to have coffee every single morning to get me moving. Every morning without fail, right Armando? I read I needed to decrease my caffeine intake to no more than 200mg in total per day, so I started just drink 1 measly 10oz. cup a day. Slowly I am realizing I am already not even finishing that cup, and eventually I am sure I’ll just phase it out. My goal is to replace coffee with green tea, as I’ll still need something in my mug for my morning Today Show viewings, and it has less than half the caffeine of my coffee. I also eat dark chocolate every day, which has a minimal amount of caffeine but is worth every bite!

Personally, outside of the pregnancy, things are hectic as usual. Armando opened up his brand new billion-dollar terminal in Santa Teresa for the Union Pacific. It’s been two years of hard work, and opening this facility is the reason we were moved to El Paso two years ago. He’s working 14 hour days, and under a ton of stress. I’m still working real estate and despite the time of year, things are going well. I’m planning to work as long as possible; the last thing I want to do it to sit home and be depressed about how big my butt is becoming.

I am learning pregnancy is something I am going to have to gradually grow into, which is probably why it takes 9 months. It really is mental and physical preparation for the new life awaiting you. I need to find a balance in my life between living the way I did before I was pregnant, and going off the deep end obsessing about everything that I put on/into my body.