9 weeks

Wow, 9 weeks (no exclamation point there because I feel tired and drained today).  But, we are slowly moving through the first trimester!  It feels like it is taking forever, but I know that when I look back it will seem like it went so fast. 

(I promise I will put make-up on for one of these pictures one day!  Geez!) 

This week was rough because our schedule was disrupted by going back to school.  I was nervous about how I was going to get enough rest in during the day, and how I was going to feel waking up at 5am.  It turned out to be ok, there was one day where I felt horrible at the end of the day (too tired), and one where I felt bad in the morning.  I think part of it was because I stopped taking acidophilus so I felt bad for a couple of days.  I have a bad stomach and it helps if I take it, but I didn't want to take a chance with the baby so I stopped.  But, after I felt bad, I did some research online and it turns out it could actually be beneficial to the baby, and me, so I added it and feel good again.  This weekend was amazing because I caught up on all the naps I missed throughout the week (I slept for 11 hours and took a long nap yesterday), so it was a much needed restful break!

I've already been getting some pregnancy "horror" stories from people (whether you ask for them or not).  People like to say the following to you (when you are pregnant):  "How far along are you?  Have you been sick?  Oh, that's just about the time I started getting really sick."  No offense people, but I don't really want to hear about it.  Just because it happened to you, doesn't mean it will happen to me, we are all different and our journeys will be different too.  I'm looking forward to starting Hypno Birthing this summer because Christine said they give you a button you wear that tells people not to tell you their stories.  My Obgyn said she really doesn't like when people do this either because then her poor patients come in with worried questions, just because they heard a scary story from someone else. 

Let's talk about bloated.  This week I gained another pound (that's only 2 since we started this journey a month ago), but it seems like I gained 10 because this week I felt super puffy, and super chubby.  My middle section looks different in my clothes, my love handles are getting bigger and my stomach is really hard (I even made all my girlfriends poke it this weekend!).  My chest is also getting bigger, fuller, and harder.  So strange.  But, I have been sleeping better which is a plus and figuring out what and how much to eat.  Last week Ian started making a little snack for blueberry a little until I told him it was just too much food for me.  Cute idea though, here are my bananas with honey and cinnamon he made us:

I succeeded in going to yoga once this week and walked 3 times on the treadmill in the morning.  It was hard and my energy level was definitely different but I did it and was happy I did.  The days I walk in the mornings I feel so much better.  I noticed something as I got off the treadmill on Monday that I never noticed before - because it wasn't there!  I always used to look down and see a flat tummy, but this was my view this week:

I also have been really into reading about pregnancy through other women's views.  You can have all the books (thanks June!) but there comes a point when you really want to see real pictures and read someone's real experiences.  I tried looking at "pregnant models" on a few sites where people submit their pics, but this was weird and the pics creeped me out (most of them looked like the young girls I teach at school).  So, I spent some time looking for blogs where women wrote about having their first child, and their experiences.  Blogs where someone is in the same week as you are hard to find, but blogs where people are a bit further along or have had their babies already are out there.  I wanted to find someone who was fit, healthy, was on their first baby and had pictures; and I found a really great one:  Ashley's Green Life. 

The first blog post of hers, that I read, reminded me of me and I liked her right away.  She has such great information on her page about having and raising a "green baby," becoming vegan and gluten-free.  Check out her blog, it's super cute!  She is 26 weeks today but has pics up since she was 8 weeks, so it has been fun to read her journey while I am on mine.  A sort of bonding experience even though I don't know her, feels like we have something amazing in common.  :)  She also has weekly pictures up and I like it because it shows me what's in store for me in the the future.  I also like that she takes a pic with her shirt over her belly and one with it up, what a great idea so you can remember what your belly looked like in clothes too!  I'm stealing this for sure!

I also found a blog with some amazing belly pics.  I really want to do belly photos when I'm bigger!  Check out my favorites:

(Seriously?!  That would be AWESOME to capture on film!)

I also love this shirt by Zoe B (from the blog too), I have to find it!

 

I get emails every week from Baby Center and this week it said:

"Start a daily ritual to connect with your baby . . . Women should set aside two five to ten minute periods a day to think about their baby.  Just after waking up and going to sleep works well for many expectant moms.  During these time, sit quietly and gently rest your hands on your belly.  Focus on your breathing and then start thinking about your baby (your hopes and dreams, your intentions, etc.).  It's a great way to initiate the bonding process and to help you plan for the kind of parent you want to be."

So, I decided that I definitely want some Belly Buds so that blueberry can listen to music, and also that we should start writing letters telling our little friend just how excited we are that he/she is coming.  Ian mentioned starting a blog today and I told him just to write on this one.  So, as part of our letter idea, he decided that he would write a weekly letter to include on here so that blueberry would know his thoughts as well as mine.  I really liked the short little notes on this blog that Trish writes to her baby, and wanted to do something similar, so off he went to write his letter tonight.

When I read his letter below, I cried.  I am so lucky to have my husband, he is my best friend and the love of my life.  Words cannot express just how lucky and happy I feel, we are so blessed.  Everything I hope and pray for each night comes true, every single thing.  Someone is definitely watching over us and we are so lucky to have the life we have together.  Little blueberry, we cannot wait to meet you.

We ended the night with homemade funnel cakes and a movie.  What a relaxing weekend!