weeks 22 and 23

Here are a few updates:


- I had a doctor's appointment last Friday and everything is looking good. My next appointment is in April where I will have an ultrasound, take a glucose test, and meet with the doctor.


- The nightmares have stopped, but the weird dreams haven't. Sometimes I wake up in the morning feeling really confused/stressed because of a strange dream I had that night. While I slept all night, I wake up exhausted because of the odd/stressful dream. I have one of those about once a week- so it isn't too bad. And I would take that over a nightmare any day.

- I have been craving sweets a lot more in these past two weeks. In the beginning, I wasn't craving sweets at all. In fact, I threw candy away that wasn't getting eaten. But now I day dream about boston cream donuts and Reese's peanut butter Easter eggs. More than I would pre-pregnancy (I have always loved sweets). It takes some serious will power to not cave and eat one of each every day. Sometimes I succeed, and sometimes I definitely fail.

- I am having the hardest time making sure I am eating enough vegetables. I really really don't enjoy them. I force myself to eat some each day- but I'm definitely not eating as many as I should be.

- In week 23 I cut over 12 inches off of my hair.  I haven't had short hair since 2007, and I felt like I needed a change. I was really beginning to feel so drab, and pulling my hair back into a pony tail each day didn't help matters any.  I felt like I needed something shorter and stylish so that I was forced to do something to it that wouldn't take me hours to do. As soon as my hair dresser cut the pony tail off, I instantly loved it. I am still adjusting to seeing myself, but I think it is a good change for now.

- Last Monday night I got home from work, made dinner and was relaxing on the couch when all of a sudden my back really started hurting. I figured it was from carrying Jack (the one year old I nanny) and laid down in hopes that it would go away after resting. No such luck. I didn't sleep AT ALL on Monday night or Tuesday night. In fact, I was in so much pain on Tuesday night- at 4 am, I seriously thought I needed to go to the ER. It hurt so bad- no matter what position I was in. I tried laying in all different positions I could think of, standing, walking, sitting, stretching (I googled it and found some yoga stretches to try), I even took a shower in hopes that might help. Nothing. I texted my chiropractor (who are also our friends) the next morning and they told me to come in that morning. So I did and I was there for an hour. They were so thorough and gave me the BEST care ever. I left feeling so so so much better. It was amazing. My back still hurt, but it was a dull ache and bearable, and I was able to sleep through the night (yay for me and for Lee!). I have continued to go to the chiropractor almost daily so that we can fully correct the problem and I can be as close to feeling better as possible. It has been over a week and my back feels a whole lot better, praise the Lord!

- Ever since the back pain I had last week, I have been feeling petrified to give birth. I seriously can't think about it for more than 10 seconds. Because if my back hurt that bad and I felt that miserable- how on earth am I going to be strong enough to give birth? So I think it might be best if he just stayed inside my belly for a while longer. Or forever. Because I'm pretty sure I won't be able to get him out.


Here are some bump pictures for your viewing pleasure.

week 22:

week 23:

 Before and after my hair cut:

weeks 19, 20, & 21

I have really been slacking on posting updates. I don't even have any excuses. I just forget or when I actually remember and have time, I would rather lay and do nothing than form coherent sentences. I am actually going to list what is new these weeks- I am not sure why I didn't start out doing that. It's easier to read and easier for me to write. So here is what has been going on over the past few weeks:

- The dry blotchy red skin is still there. I really wish it would go away now. 

- I have been having the scariest dreams. I have woken up sobbing multiple times and last week I woke up as I was screaming (legit screaming at the top of my lungs) "HELP!" I wish those would end more than I wish the blotchy skin would go away.

- I can't seem to eat enough McDonald's cheeseburgers (just a plain cheeseburger- and it has to be from McDonald's only). I used to really be a french fry only girl- I didn't care about much else. But now, I can not eat enough of their cheeseburgers and could careless about the fries. I know, gross that I am eating at McDonald's but I can't help myself. And it's not very often- I do limit it. 

- Instead of eating skittles everyday, I have resorted to chewing sugar free fruity gum. I feel like that is better for me than all the skittles. So maybe I am making up for the McDonald's with that choice? Or not. Whatever. 

- I have stopped wearing my wedding rings. Not because they don't fit, but because the dry, blotchy skin is also on my hands and when I wear any rings at all it gets even more irritated and I get a bigger rash. 

- My belly has been really itchy- as it gets bigger and bigger. 

- When my mom and sister were visiting we stopped at Target one night to get a few things for breakfast for the next morning and we also decided to head down the ice cream aisle for a little dessert that night. My choice? Raspberry Sherbet. WHO AM I??? 

- Baby G is kicking a ton! He kicks throughout the day, and I LOVE feeling it. Lee hasn't been able to feel it yet because every time the baby is kicking and Lee runs over and gets his hand on my belly, the baby stops. Soon enough he will be able to feel it though, I can't wait to share that with him. Because it really is so amazing. Every time he kicks, I tell anyone who is near me and will listen. :) 

- We can not agree on a name. Lee thinks we should name him Indiana after Indiana Jones. I think maybe we will save that idea for our first family dog. Not our first child. 

- I haven't been sick in a while. I switched my prenatal vitamins a few weeks ago and that has made a huge difference. Overall, I have been feeling so much better!

- I have been having such bad heartburn. No matter what I eat, I get it. It is SO painful. I especially hate waking up in the middle of the night with it. Awful.

- I think that's all. I am having a hard time remembering things so I could very well be forgetting something that has changed significantly- but for now, I've got nothing. 

Here are some bump pictures:

week 19:

(don't judge me for still having Christmas cards up in February)

week 20 (halfway there!):


it's so weird to look down and see this:

(super cute hat from auntie h)

week 21:

Lee.

**Disclaimer: This post makes me sound really bad. And mean. I blame the hormones and lack of sleep. But it is the honest truth- so please don't judge me!**



Being pregnant is hard work. Women definitely go through A LOT while carrying a precious little life inside of them. Every woman is different in what she experiences, but we can all agree that the woman does a significant amount of the work. (obviously.)

That being said, I also want to add that sometimes I think men don't always get the credit they deserve for the role they play throughout pregnancy. Yes, I got sick everyday for about 8-10 weeks. Yes, I have a really pretty red, blotchy looking rash on my face. Yes, my belly is growing and I am feeling more and more uncomfortable in my own skin as each week passes. But Lee has gone through a lot too. He has to put up with my moods. And those- are not pretty. There are days when I wake up sad. Or grumpy. Or better yet- both. And Lee- my word, he loves me through those awful moments/days.

Monday was one of those days. My mom and sister visited last weekend and obviously, it was amazing. So when they had to leave, I was really, really sad to see them go. As to be expected. But then you throw in these hormones and I seriously ugly cried ALL.DAY.LONG. Lee just kept hugging me, rubbing my back, and he made me feel so loved and comforted.

While I was sick in the beginning, there would be days when my alarm would go off and I honestly didn't know if I had the strength to get up- and go through it all over again. I always wake up first because I usually leave before Lee each morning. One morning, I woke up feeling incredibly tired, weak, and sad. As I was walking to the bathroom to get in the shower I heard Lee say, "I love you with all of my heart!" And I seriously melted. How did he know that I needed to hear that that day in particular?? It made my day, and every time I remember it, I smile and feel so loved, even if it was months ago. While I was waking up in the night (I am not sure why I wrote that in past tense, I am still up at least once or twice every night), Lee would/still does roll over, rub my back and tell me what a great job I am doing.

A few weeks ago, I was having a REALLY grumpy Sunday. I knew I was grumpy- I didn't know why- but mean things just kept spewing out of my mouth. I was aware of it and tried to stop it, and I even decided I would make Lee's favorite dinner that night because poor guy had to put up with me. But even as I was getting ready to start cooking- I was still being so grumpy. I really wanted to watch something I had been waiting for all week and it was starting at the same time I needed to start dinner. Poor Lee just kept telling me he didn't need anything special for dinner- I could make him something quick. But I insisted. Knowing that I was ruining what was supposed to be an act of kindness, I started making dinner and stopped talking so that nothing else I would say could ruin it. As I had my head down preparing the meat, Lee had turned the TV and TV stand all the way around so that I could easily see it while I made his dinner. Honestly? How is it possible for this man to love me so much even through my horrible grumpiness??? Because what he should have done was walked out the door and said "I will be back in a few hours" and gone and done his own thing- away from me. But he didn't. He sat at the counter helping me as I needed it, and showed such love to me. I am still- weeks later- blown away by that.

He is constantly doing things that make me feel loved, beautiful, and like I am doing a good job. I feel like men really do have a hard job too. While their bodies don't change and they don't endure the pain, nausea, discomfort, frequent urination, mood swings, etc. They endure dealing with the person who does have all of those things going on. And they have to not only put up with their hormonal wives, but they also have to make her feel good. On some days, that is no easy task.

I am so blessed to have such an amazing man by my side. Someone who loves me- through the ugly. I love you Lee- even if I may or may not have pulled your arm hair this morning while you were making that awful high pitched annoying sound. You are the best husband and support system- exactly what I need to help me through this. I am so grateful that we get to share in this amazing journey together!