Home Stretch...

As I near the home stretch of my pregnancy (I'm ending my 38th week), I have many mixed emotions about this whole experience:

I'm happy that...
- I'll be able to have my sushi and mojitos again!
- I'll be able to sleep in any position I choose to. 
- I'll be able to lose the 20lbs total weight gain more easily than if it were 40lbs.
- I'll be able to hold our baby and smother it with kisses! 
- I'll be able to see my husband finally spend time with the miracle that we've made together.

I'm sad that...
- I'll miss the bonding moments between the baby and me (and no one else).
- I'll miss the different rolls and movements that the baby makes that I can see, uncomfortable or not.
- I'll miss feeling the baby's butt push up against the right side of my belly.
- I'll miss waking up to the baby "playing around" inside.
- I'll miss the baby's hiccups that start off endearing but turn annoying. 


What I'm not looking forward to is the process of welcoming our baby.  As long as I keep my eyes on the prize and get over the initial pains, I think I'm good.  Epidural, don't fail me!  Plus, the husband has been a great support these past few weeks in terms of preoccupying me during my Braxton Hicks contractions.  Let's hope he can keep his composure IN the delivery room also!  


In no time, LiL One, we'll finally get to meet you! 
 

Practicing...

Many people, mothers and non-mothers alike, have informed me that I will never get any sleep/rest after the baby comes.  While I appreciate their advice, I've already been waking up every 2-3 hours thanks to the frequent bathroom trips during the night.  The difference between now and later is that I don't stay up longer than a couple of minutes to do what I need to do now.  Hopefully I'll be able to take advantage of the "sleep when the baby sleeps" mentality and adapt to my new schedule.  I'm actually looking forward to it, being a mom that is =)

On another note, the baby has been "waking up" at regular intervals now.  Strange feeling, it is.  It'll wake up and move around during breakfast, lunch, and dinner times and even sometimes in the middle of the night.  I find it so endearing and precious that our growing baby has a schedule already that I'm starting to get used to.  And let's not talk about the types of movements that causes my belly to distort towards the left side.  I'll start to feel some tightness and then slowly the distortion begins, usually on the left side and about the size of a nectarine.  Head?  Butt?  Whatever it is, I love it and I love to connect with it and feel it's hardness and shape <3 It weirds the husband out but he still enjoys those moments we both share with our LiL One.

Symptoms...

Many people have been asking me if I've had any pregnancy symptoms, cravings, etc.  Unfortunately, I have to admit that I've been a pretty boring pregnant lady *knock on wood*.

Symptoms:
- almost instant aversion to raw meat (1st trimester only, but still scared to test myself)
- little to no morning sickness
- fatigue like no other (1st trimester only)
- constipation & gas (TMI!)

Cravings:
- 1st trimester: orange juice, pb&j sandwiches, scrambled egg sandwiches, bagels & cream cheese
- 2nd trimester: apple juice, rainier cherries (by the box load! Thank goodness the husband has connections with a cherry vendor!), scrambled egg sandwiches, butter croissants

I'm hoping this enjoyable pregnancy I'm having will last through the 3rd trimester.  People have told me that sometimes if I don't feel the negative symptoms in the beginning, they might creep up towards the end.  Let's hope not.

1st Contact...

Last night, at 18w4d, the husband got his first feel at the LiL One's movements.  I'm not sure if it was a kick, punch, or just plain moving around but it sure felt strange yet exciting.  To me, the feeling was a strong bubble pop which I can associate with the sound of popping bubble wrap.  To the husband, the feeling was more of a vibration/pop that he distinctly felt. 

New Beginnings...

Let's see where this goes!