Thursday, March 14, 2013

One Down!

Well, somehow we are already through the first trimester of pregnancy!

It has not always been easy, but it sure has been exciting! The insatiable hunger that led me to wake up once or twice a night for a snack has finally taken a leave of absence. This past weekend I felt a curtain of exhaustion lift and allow me to get more done. And the nagging and persistant nausea has subsided, for the time being. Those three things, admittedly, made me irritable and uneasy.

The joys have far out-weighed the adjustments, though. It's all worth it... our sweet baby is growing inside of me! We have gotten to see our baby and its heartbeat and we received our first ever pictures of Baby B!! In our most recent appointment we heard the thundering hooves that was our baby's heartbeat, strong and healthy. The midwife says that Baby B is active... who would have imagined?

The First Trimester is Complete!!!

I've started taking Prenatal Yoga classes, which are really enjoyable, relaxing, and strengthening. Other than that we do hikes and walks in the area throughout the week and on the weekends. Last weekend was the first in a while where I've had the energy for a big hike and so we did McAfee's Knob (8 miles). Hopefully we'll be able to keep hiking and active right up until the end.

This weekend I was reading through my pregnancy journal, which has lots of information on the baby's growth and what's happening to my body as well as places for me to write, and it said that my first trimester would be ending in a day. Other women have told me that it's almost like a switch goes off (or on, depending how you look at it) and you have more energy than you did before. I realized that my switch occurred almost a day before the second trimester began. They have this down to a tee!

All women are different, though. I am learning this quickly. I am more interested than ever before in the pregnancy experiences of those around me, gleaning every word I can from their stories. If I haven't spent time with you yet, get your birth stories ready! Haha :)

Baby B, we cannot even begin to express how excited we are about being your parents. We are enjoying each of the little moments so far, and you are still very small in my womb. Even though I am so eager to meet you and hold you, I want to cherish each day you are within me. What a joy to be able to protect and carry you for the first nine months of your existence. We'll have the rest of our lives to  see and hold each other. Dad loves to hold & rub my belly and kiss you. His beam is ever-present and only you can bring that out of him.

First one down, two to go!!!

6 comments:

  1. YAY! You look awesome! I can't wait for this summer when you'll have a bigger stomach than me for the first time in my life ;)

    Have you read Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Childbirth? You will LOVE it! 1/2 is positive birth stories (which taught me more than anything else) and the second 1/2 is really solid medical insight on childbirth.

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    1. Thanks Julie! I have not read that, but I'll have to see if it's at the library. First on my list is "Birthing from Within." We just went to a birthing class with a doula and this is the one she recommended, as well as the one that my friends in the area suggest, too.

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  2. Love the collage! (and we can talk more about light on Thurs if you'd like, I have some ideas :) I think I have a copy of Birthing From Within if you want to borrow it.

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    1. Yes, please feel free to pass along any ideas! Thanks, Mary!

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  3. i second ina may. you can borrow my copy but what might be better is buying it used so you can write in it and underline stuff--in my opinion it's a must-read. i have all the great books if you need them!
    joi

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    1. i have been thinking the same thing, joi! time to put the amazon gift card to good use :) i may not buy ALL of them though, but i'll trust you that those are two that i should buy. thanks for being willing to let me borrow some!

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