frame.of.mind: maternity

, by Unknown

Almost half-way to baby.

Well we're finally almost at the half-way point around here (19 weeks!) and morale is high. I am finally past the awfulness known as the first trimester of dreading cooking, despising smells, loathing my kitchen, and wanting to sleep all day long, and entering the warm and fuzzy stage of pregnancy when things start to feel a little more normal. O.k. let's be honest, cooking still isn't my favorite thing to do. But at least now it doesn't make me want to simultaneously vomit and burst into tears.

If only this sweet baby could know how much it is loved already. Jocelyn and Charlotte ask OFTEN to "kiss the baby" whereupon they promptly lift my shirt (and yes, they attempt this in public if I'm not paying attention) and plant a big sloppy kiss on my ever-blossoming belly. It is pretty stinkin' adorable.

Jocelyn talks incessantly about how she will grow bigger and bigger and bigger and then hold the baby. So I'm not sure if she thinks she will be a teenager by the time she/he finally arrives?? I would correct her but sometimes it feels that way to me too. She is already such a mother/nurturer to Charlotte, I know I am going to basically have to fight for time with my own baby.

With toddlers it is SUPER hard to try and communicate the concept of time, and just how long it is going to be before this baby is finally here. I try the whole, "Daddy's going to have a birthday and then Charlotte will have a birthday and THEN the baby will come" approach, but that doesn't do much to give them an idea of how long that really is. And I guess in all technicality, I am due June 14th and Charlotte's birthday is June 18th, so the baby COULD come before her birthday, but at this point, I am totally not counting on it. I am trying to not get my hopes up for anything before July, if my last two pregnancies have anything to say about it. *sigh*

Seriously though, I am about to go crazy wanting to feel this little babe! Those little flutters and kicks are so calming and reassuring, and supposedly you should feel them between 16-22 weeks. I know that still gives me some time, but STILL. I just want a good ol' roundhouse to the ribs every now and then to remind me that there IS someone in there, and they are alive and well. Oh, and please remind me of this when I'm laying in bed and he/she is having an all-out dance party in there.

I took these two little munchkins along to my last appointment, and I was a little apprehensive about how things would go, but they did GREAT. Despite having to park like, 5 miles away (it felt like it) and being a few (more like 10) minutes late, everything went quite smoothly. Jocelyn was all goofy and giddy until they listened to the heartbeat, and then she got really anxious and covered her face with her hands. But she secretly loved being able to go with me to see the midwife and talked about it for a long time.

Charlotte of course doesn't seem to comprehend very much of any of it, but just loves being along for the ride, of course. And MAN those two are growing up fast. I remember when I had two (almost) non-walkers and would carry Jocelyn on my hip and a car seat in the crook of my other arm, and entering and exiting buildings felt like powerlifting and cardio rolled into one. Now they are following me along, even helping carry a bag or backpack now and then. What a difference a year or two can make!!

And lastly, just for fun, let's have some discussion on finding out the gender. In a few weeks I will have my ultrasound and we could find out what we're having if we choose to do so. So far we have experienced both ways....we didn't know with Jocelyn and we did with Charlotte. You would think trying both ways would make it easy to decide but my husband likes knowing and I like NOT knowing! So we are still undecided about which we will do.:)

How about you?? Which do you choose, and why? I would love to hear.:)

12 comments

, by Unknown

Children

Wasn't it just yesterday?

6 comments

, by Unknown

Fashion

Football games and baby bumps.

   It is cold and drizzling outside (shocking, I know) and I am all cozied up in a quiet, calm bookstore, with my laptop, books and magazines to keep me company. I would also mention coffee, except that it's gone now. Actually, so are the books and magazines, so it's down to my laptop and I. I have nowhere to go, nothing to do, and therefore, no excuse not to update my blog! So here we go.

   These weren't my original plans for the day. My day started out with sleeping in WAY later than I do normally, as a result from a long game of Scrabble with Randy the night before. Even when I did finally wake up, I propped myself up on pillows and read a book until my poor baby demanded food, and went to the kitchen for some yogurt, granola, milk and a blueberry muffin. If you think you can feel hungry now, just wait until you're pregnant. Sometimes I'm about positive I can feel when the baby's hungry too. Of course I'm sure that's just all in my head. Or my...belly. Speaking of my belly, you asked for it, more pictures!

   Where was I? Ah yes, my original plans. I had planned to go to the football game with Randy, but we woke up and it was cold and rainy with no sign of stopping, and dear Hubby wanted me to go, but even more than that, wanted me to be dry and comfortable. So we decided he would take his little brother in my place, and I would go shopping. Works for me. :) Don't get me wrong, I actually really enjoy going to football games with Randy but I enjoy being dry and warm too, and the latter argument won out. Plus all I could think about was how sore my bum would get sitting on those hard bleachers, and with my extra weight I've decided I'm not even going to attempt going to games without taking something soft to sit on. So until I find something somewhat weather-proof, I'll wait for a sunny day to go. :)

This was back around 4 months, and the next few ones were all around 5 months.

Here I am pictured with my friends Emily (above) and Cindy (below) who are both due in December! My belly is continuing to grow, and here I am now at about 6 months. On my trip to Iowa my little Sweet Pea was soo active! Kicked and rolled like I had never felt before. Maybe he/she was missing Daddy. :)