15 Weeks

How far along?: Fifteen weeks.

Baby is the size of: An Apple. 

Total weight gain/loss: I lost a pound (so one pound below pre-pregnancy weight), but then I ate at Olive Garden and gained four pounds, which has since evened out to one pound up from pre-pregnancy weight.

Symptoms: I'm feeling slightly better, but I've had a couple of bouts of sudden, strong nausea.

Food Cravings: Olive Garden minestrone soup and salad. 

Anything Making Me Queasy or Sick: Anything that is slightly overripe or just on the verge of going bad.

Sleep: Decent. I've been going to sleep in the early afternoon and waking up in the early morning.

What I miss: Soft serve ice cream. Starbucks java chip ice cream.

Wedding rings On or Off: On.

Movement: Possibly? Probably not, but I felt something that I wasn't sure of. 

Maternity Clothes?: I'm starting to look obviously pregnant, but I haven't bought any maternity clothes yet.

Labor Signs: Nope!

Best Moment of the Week: Olive Garden? Ha! I just really needed that soup!

Thirteen Weeks

How far along?: Thirteen weeks.

Baby is the size of: A peach!

Total weight gain/loss: No change. I’m starting to wonder if that’s a problem…

Symptoms: So tired. So nauseous. So ready for change.

Food Cravings: Mexican and Indian food.

Anything Making Me Queasy or Sick: Almost all food.

Sleep: My sleep schedule is so screwed up. I go to sleep at about 6AM and wake up about 6PM. I really need to reverse this somehow.

What I miss: Soft serve ice cream.

Wedding rings On or Off: On.

Movement: Not yet.

Maternity Clothes?: I bought a maternity dress at a thrift store because it was too cheap to pass up, but I don’t need it yet.

Labor Signs: Nope!

Best Moment of the Week: Ordering my first batch of cloth diapers to start my stash! Bumgenius and GroVia should be here any day.

Letter to My Little One - 2

Dear Little One,

It’s a big beautiful world out here, and we can’t wait to explore it with you. Our happiness is now caused by your existence. When you are born it will be a wonder to welcome you into this world, but for us, you will be a new world.

The world into which you will enter is a wondrous place. It’s full of vibrant colors and cultures, languages, and people living beautifully different lives. We will talk to you in three languages when you are born – Albanian, English, and Sign. When you are a little older we’ll add more languages, an ode to the multi-cultural identity and mentality we want you to embrace. You are a citizen of the world. Learn about it, travel it, love it, change it, make it better.

You’ve already boarded your first plane at just five weeks gestation, made your Mama sick during a cross country road trip, and apparently already have an international palate based on my cravings thus far. I’m so glad you’re on your way to becoming a part of this world.

Although I look forward to the world to come, I also love this world. Yes, it has pain and suffering and filth and hunger and tears… but it also has spectacular beauty and kindness and laughter and uniqueness.

I want you to live deeply. Breathe it all in, and find your place in it. Find your corner, and make it a better place. Because I know this world will be a little brighter because of you.

Looking forward to watching you change the world,

Mama