Friday, September 6, 2013

Baby Faeh // halfway

I knew with our second baby I wouldn't have as much time to sit around and document every little change as the pregnancy progresses. I no longer pour over countless pregnancy websites and books trying to obtain every ounce of information I can. I do my best to be well-rested and well-fed and Penny takes care of the exercise :) It's a different experience the second time around. I have less time to think about the pregnancy which has actually made it go by WAY faster. I can hardly believe I'm already halfway there! We find out the gender in a week and I am SO excited. Knowing a little more about who your baby is makes it more personal and easier (for me) to bond. Plus I'm ready to start the naming battle with Truman (he hates everything I love!) In the meantime, I wanted to dedicate a little post to the first half of my pregnancy. 

12 Weeks
13 Weeks
15 Weeks
16 Weeks
19 Weeks

Though this pregnancy has seemed harder (with less time to relax and much more fatigue) I am loving being pregnant. With my new diet restrictions, I had a very hard time enjoying food (which wasn't the case last time around) but I feel pretty comfortable now. What surprised me most this time around was how sore I was from the beginning. Things didn't get uncomfortable until the 3rd trimester last time and I can barely walk around the block without having my legs and hips killing me.

My cravings have been pretty similar to last time's with a few exceptions. This time I am eating lots of apples with maple almond butter, jalapeno baked potato chips, cinnamon gum (?? haven't had this stuff since I was a kid and all the sudden started craving it!), chocolate, snow cones,  and I crave anything and everything with pasta or bread in it. I've been able to find a few gluten free pasta dishes but for the most part I just can't indulge in that craving...major bummer.

I started feeling really faint movement at 16 weeks. At 18 weeks, I felt the first legitimate kick and bulge. With Penny, my placenta was in the front so I couldn't feel movement until about 20 weeks so I was thrilled to be enjoying it much earlier this time. It was so distinct, in fact, that Truman could feel it as well. I have been having a lot more braxton hicks contractions this time and they started at about 14 weeks. Unfortunately the cure for those is drinking water and I hate. drinking. water.

Being pregnant again has been a real blessing. My body is constantly reminding me that I need to slow down. I can't do it all and that's okay. I'm learning that taking care of myself and my family comes WAY before a clean house, fun homemaking things, and errands. It's hard to imagine what life will be like with two children. I remember with Penny it never felt real until right at the end. And of course people tell me over and over that it will only get harder--I'm so aware of that. And to be honest I fear it a little. The post partum depression, having a baby in the winter (when I'm already cold and depressed), the recovery process, the financial aspect, SLEEP. But if I have learned one thing in my first year of motherhood it's that the moments of complete exhaustion (the kind you didn't know was possible to reach), repetitive days, messy hair, and takeout for the third night in a row are SO worth the absolute joy of children. I know I can survive life with two babies because I have survived life with one. It will be messy, I'll struggle daily with leaning on the Lord instead of trying to "measure up" but I'm just so excited for it.
Here's to hoping the second half is as fast as the first! (And that baby Faeh doesn't have his/her legs crossed at our ultrasound next week...)

J.

1 comments:

charlie said...

so, yeah. obviously things will be harder in some ways (errands, cleaning up messes when they're both eating, putting two babies to bed by yourself when your husband is gone, etc) BUT some things will get easier too (the ennui of being home all day with one baby). you will feel more confident and you'll be challenged and have to think creatively and be scrappy and you'll feel really proud of yourself! and then (i'm still waiting for this, but i'm starting to see glimpses) they'll be playing together and i can drink a la croix and catch up on pinterest while they're AWAKE haha. not that i would EVER. i mean, i'll do laundry and make homemade bread/yogurt. ;) oh jord isn't it truly the best. i get teary writing it. i am not a sweet nor gentle person...i wasn't ready to have a baby when i did...but they're my constants and my little friends and my utter frustration and bewilderment. thank you Jesus for not treating me with kid gloves and letting me LIVE...get messy and softened and challenged!!!

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