On Being Pregnant...

Things I don't Like:

• The 1st trimester in general


• Being tired (I know it is nothing compared to what it will be with an infant though)


• Getting up to pee at night and having to go seemingly every 15 minutes during the day
  
• Painful kicks in the ribs and punches in the bladder


• Having an upset/unsettled stomach often


• Being overly emotional and irrational at times


• Acknowledging that I can no longer paint my own toenails (Seriously, I broke out in a sweat last week trying to do this. It will have to be a new job for Jermale)


• Getting winded from grocery shopping
  
• Dropping things, which happens a lot for some reason (and trying to bend over and pick things up is even worse)


• Running in to doorways (this usually happens at work-my equilibrium is off I guess)


• Being mean to Jermale (I really try to control myself, but I know he gets the worst of my mood swings)


• Having this experience and being far away from family and most friends


• Baby brain (this causes me to be forgetful at times, unproductive at work and obsessive at home all because I constantly think about the baby and all things related to him)


• Struggling to shave my legs (this will likely be another new task for Jermale)


• Being hot (I shouldn’t complain too much since I have historically always been cold, but it is pretty bad sometimes and the Texas weather doesn’t help!)


• Being uncomfortable in a general sense that is hard to describe


• Facing the unknown (I’m a planner- labor, delivery, infant care, parenthood- you can only plan so much and I’ll have to learn to go with the flow)

Things I don't Mind:

• Gaining weight (I have been blessed to have a slow and steady weight gain that has centralized in my belly. I have a month and a half left and have gained 17lbs so far)


• Strangers touching my belly (I’ve always been intrigued by baby bellies and I don’t mind people having a little rub)


• Baby hiccups (not the most fun thing I ever felt, but kind of cute and not a problem)


• Eating frequent snacks (I was already a snacker so this was easy to kick up a notch)


• Working (if I wasn't working my days would go so much slower and I'd be a big blob who did nothing all day except eat, make lists and watch episodes of a baby story and bringing home baby on TLC)


• Maternity clothes ( I have found a way to make a lot of my normal, flowy clothes continue to work and the maternity stuff I have isn’t bad)

Things I like:

• The amazing anticipation (waiting for this baby is like no other anticipation I have ever felt)


• Baby movement (I’ll never forget the first tiny pulse, tug kind of feeling I had at 17 weeks. Ever since then it has been so cool for the movements to change and get stronger and more distinct. It is so cool)


• Hearing the heartbeat (I love it every time and it was especially important to me before I could feel him move. Very reassuring)


• How Jermale randomly rubs my belly and talks to the baby (So precious)


• SHOPPING! (I have more fun buying things for the baby than I do for myself)


• Instant friends (It’s crazy how people just randomly talk to you like they’ve known you forever when you have a baby belly. I have heard the question “when are you due?” from every type of person you can imagine)


• Getting the room ready (the more things we get done in the room the more real it seems)


• Not having a monthly cycle! (Need I say more-fabulous!)


• The fact that I never threw up or had heartburn (what a blessing)


• My belly - and pictures of it. (Yes, it is a bit bothersome at times, but for the most part I love my belly and have enjoyed all the growth)


• My birth center (I have never had a hospital birth, but so far I have truly appreciated my experience at the birth center with the midwives and doulas)


• Eating ice cream (it’s really the only real “craving” I have so I let myself indulge pretty frequently)


• Going to Jason's Deli with Jermale after prenatal appointments (it has become a fun tradition)


• Reading, watching videos, and taking classes (Yes, I have discovered I’m an info. junky when it comes to pregnancy and childbirth. I can’t get enough)


• Ultrasounds (I only had one so far and it was so amazing. I will have one more at the end of May and I’m looking forward to it)


• Reading to the baby and playing music for him (bonding moments)


• Loving Jermale in a new way (I think back to the day I met Jermale as a new staff member at Calvin College. I was a junior. Little did I know when I shook his hand that he would later become my best friend, my husband and the father of my children. With each step I love him more)


• Loving the baby (it is almost insane how much you can love a tiny person you’ve never really met, but I’m already head over heels for this little guy)


• Seeing God's perfect plan unfold (If we had it our way, we probably wouldn’t have had a baby at this exact time, but God knows best and has worked out every last detail showing us that He is in control and confirming that this life was always meant to be and meant to be right now. I am humbled, amazed and thankful)
  

Here is the whole album of belly pictures my cousin took :)
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2570479&id=2247339&l=40b89113b2

~Anissa