2 Pregnant Ladies

Shawnee is 29 weeks and I'm just about 23 weeks!

One Thing I'd Tell My 13 Year Old Self

"Someday you'll wear a size 36D bra. I'm serious. So enjoy your small, bra-less 

chest while you have it."

I LOVE THIS FEELING

I remember when I was on my life-changing-backpacking-trip around Europe...

I went with my friend Molly. We bought open-ended tickets thinking we'd be there for a year. Unfortunately we didn't really prepare ourselves money-wise. Molly ran out of money after the first month and I remember thinking, "Bummer, we're gonna have to go home." I felt so dependent on her while traveling. She helped change my life by saying, "But you still have money, you can stay." I can stay. I can stay! How thrilling and frightening. Life-changing. I ended up in Greece in my 3rd month abroad and to this day I am amazed at how fortunate I was on this trip. I had no itinerary, (This drove my Dad bonkers, because I WAS NOT PREPARED), I had no special travel book or map. I just would go to a country and wander and meet people who would point me in the right direction.

I remember arriving in some little coastal town in Greece (Corfu maybe?) and it was pouring rain. I found the youth hostel but no one was at the front desk (it was off season so everything was very quiet). So, I just sat, sopping wet in the dim waiting area when a cat came in and climbed onto my lap. It was all very gross because I was soaking wet, the cat was damp and I was petting it and then the cat's belly started squirming. It was creepy. I realized it was pregnant and what I was feeling were all of the kittens inside of her moving around. It was WILD. I have never forgotten that sensation. She eventually hopped off and sauntered away, with her feline, hanging, kitten-belly and all. Check out this youtube video of this waddling pregnant cat. This is what the Grecian kitty looked like:

 

Ever since I've felt my human baby move with my own two hands I have felt it move every day since. It's especially active when I'm sitting still or lying down. I LOVE THIS FEELING. I tell people this and of course they say (because they are more experienced than me) "You won't be saying that in your 3rd trimester when it's kicking you in the ribs." Maybe I'll regret saying this but I welcome a kick in the ribs from the inside. FROM THE INSIDE! How amazing is it that there is a little human growing inside of me that is moving around and I CAN FEEL IT HITTING MY BLADDER. I have only hit my bladder from the outside, never from the inside. FROM THE INSIDE. This is amazing, people. I don't care what you say. This feeling will never get old, even if it becomes a little painful at times; I will accept the pain with pleasure. If I complain about it I will buy you a bottle of wine.

Alien Baby

 

Usually I feel the baby move when I'm sitting still or lying down but last Thursday I felt it while I was standing up and doing the dishes.  I think it was the chipotle ranch salad dressing (nice and spicy) that I used on my salad that made the wee one react. After doing the dishes I sat down and just looked down at my belly and actually saw my belly move a little bit. AMAZING. Around this time of development cartilage is turning into bone so the movements are more solid rather than jelly-like therefore it is easier for me to feel these sensations. I really can't help but think of the movie alien when my belly moves. My little alien baby.

Always Be Prepared

 

I am the daughter of  2 generations of stalwart Scouting men. My dad got his Eagle at the early age of 13. Yes, thirteen and he is still involved in scouting today. His dad, my Grandpa (who we called Tutu), was involved in scouts probably through his 60s (he died in his late sixties I believe.) My brother and I never got the scouting bug. Sean got to Webelos...maybe a little farther, and I barely lasted a year in Girl Scouts. I cried before every meeting. What a little pain in the butt I must have been (sorry Dad.) I cried because the girls were mean and we never went camping. Scouting-kids or not my Dad was able to incorporate some scouting skills and philosophies into his parenting and raising of us kiddos. My brother is very outdoorsy and camps and hikes and explores better than some of those guys who even got their Eagle Scout badge! I love to hike, like to camp, enjoy exploring and love to craft (give me a book on tying knots and some rope and it'll keep me entertained for awhile). I think the most important lesson my Dad passed on to us is

TO ALWAYS BE PREPARED

and to always have a partner (especially if you're on a hike or something.) Remember that guy who was out rock climbing in Utah BY HIMSELF whose arm got caught in a big boulder who ended up amputating his own arm to free himself? Well, while everyone else was praising him and calling him a hero, my Dad said something like, what a dummy, if he was out there with a friend he may still have his arm. So, yeah, that's the way my Dad thinks. I like it. Anyways. I came upon these two pieces on breastfeeding, hormones and depression. Perhaps it's a little premature to look into this kind of thing but I "like to be prepared" or as prepared as one can be. I realize that postpartum depression may enter into my life after the baby is born. I don't want it to, but it might.
Here are some things for me to read if it does happen...so that I know that I'm not alone in it:
The Hardest Two Months of My Life and La Leche League: Treatment Options
Until then I am going to think positively: