I was a slacker and didn’t update last week. By the time I felt like it, I thought ehhhhh it’s almost time for the next one, so I’ll just wait. Last week, I was particularly lazy. And now you suffer the consequences along with me because this post is WAY LONG.
On Monday, for Labor Day, we went to my aunt’s house for a barbecue. It was a lot of fun. It was also the first time seeing many of my family members since I got pregnant. I think they were quite disappointed with my belly progress, haha. Oh well. I reassured them that, by Thanksgiving, I’m sure I’ll have a much more satisfactory bump. I did get my first belly rubs though (one aunt even introduced herself…haha, it was funny and cute). I don’t mind it from family members, but I don’t know what I’ll do if/when a stranger does it. My friend Erin lent me her copy of What to Expect When You’re Expecting, and there are a number of suggestions for how to handle that situation. One of them is to rub that person’s belly back. LOL! I’m pretty certain I would never–could never–do that. But it made me laugh.
On the topic of books, Veronica (the awesome Veronica that sent me the ginger treats) sent me a book she had told me about: Belly Laughs, by Jenny McCarthy. She says it’s kind of crass (no surprise), but very funny. So far, I’ve just read bits and pieces as I was flipping through, but it looks highly entertaining. I’m looking forward to reading it. (Side note: no, this one doesn’t have any anti-vaccination propaganda. It’s just humorous commentary on pregnancy and childbirth. Mostly pregnancy.)
Last Sunday, I got a call from my mom that a crib + changing table set was on sale for a good price at Target. I looked online, and the reviews were quite good, so Pete and I headed out to buy it. Generally, we’d call ahead and make sure they have it in stock, but I didn’t. And of course, they were already out of stock. Bummer! An employee suggested calling every morning since they get a truck every night, and they could hold it for us. But I never even called. It was nice, but there are some I think I like better, so I decided not to rush into the purchase. Actually, I was probably just a slacker, and that’s just what I tell myself to justify my slacker-ness in my own mind. But I’m going to keep an eye out. It was a fantastic price, but if we decide that’s indeed the set we want, it retails for $30 more on the Walmart website.
This week, I have felt…less pregnant. It’s weird. I’m not nearly so sleepy (yay, 2nd trimester!), and I continue to have days when I can button my pants just fine (though not every day). I’m sure when I’m huge, I have little toes crammed up in my ribs, I can’t sleep, and I don’t have energy for anything…I’ll long for days like this. But it’s still really weird when I know in my head that my body is completely different, but it doesn’t look or FEEL that different. Like, if I hadn’t heard the heartbeat myself, I’d think this whole pregnancy thing was an elaborate practical joke, and I’ve just gained a few pounds.
Ha. But then I remember how zombie-like I was just a couple of weeks ago. And that I’m starving every two hours. And I’m getting more frequent headaches. And the increased boobage (my personal favorite). Oh! And lots of loogies! And I can’t sleep through the night without having to get up to pee at least once. Etc. etc. I’m getting that increased urination thing already. I read that, frequently, you have to pee more the first trimester due to the hormonal changes. Then 2nd trimester you get a break. Then of course you have to pee all the time in the 3rd trimester because the kiddo is squishing your bladder. I didn’t have any issues in the first trimester, so I thought maybe I would be okay for a while, but no such luck. Uh oh. 3rd trimester is going to be a fun one.
A lot of people have been asking me lately about cravings. I still haven’t been having them, I don’t think. Nothing out of the ordinary anyway. It’s nothing unusual for me to be like, “dang, I could really go for some peanut M&Ms right now.” Or something like that. But I don’t usually do anything about it, then it passes, then a few days later I suddenly want to eat sushi or chips and salsa or something. It’s always something I don’t have in my house, and it’s never so urgent I feel the need to leave my house to get it, so I just deal. This is both pre-pregnancy and now.
The thing I continue to experience is not wanting to eat things I normally like. The opposite of cravings. I don’t want to eat Chinese food anymore. I don’t want to eat my vegetables anymore (I do it anyway!). I don’t want to eat spicy food anymore. I don’t usually have any desire to eat sweets. Certain things that didn’t seem overly salty before I find unbearably salty. I do find myself wanting to eat more carbs, especially pasta, but it’s not so strong that I’d call it a craving. I still want to eat things that I should avoid. Like deli sandwiches, sushi, sodas.
This week, I’ve been reading a lot about childbirth. Maybe jumping the gun, but I’ve been especially fascinated by it this week. Against my better judgment, I even found some childbirth videos on youtube. CRAZY PEOPLE POST THEIRS ON THERE!!!!!! What are they thinking? It’s so interesting though. I actually wanted to see people who survived unmedicated births since nearly everyone I know had an epidural. Most of it is home birth/anti-hospital propaganda, but it was still interesting. (No, I’m not considering a home birth.)
Okay, week 16 belly pic. I noticed this week that I have just a little bit to rest my arm on if I’m sitting down. =P
I think I’m going to have to retire that shirt for my comparison pics though. It’s getting too difficult to put on and take off…. -_-
Random note: Last couple of weeks, I’ve listened to the heartbeat recording almost every day. ♥
Hey, cartoon baby time! 4-5 inches long.
