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

Eleven Weeks

How far along?: Eleven weeks.

Baby is the size of: A lime!

Total weight gain/loss: No change.

Symptoms: No change, except I might be even more exhausted if that’s even possible. I am so ready for that second trimester energy!

Food Cravings: Still potatoes. They are so yummy. And Middle Eastern food. And Balkan food.

Anything Making Me Queasy or Sick: Basically all food.

Sleep: I can’t sleep at night, and I end up sleeping all day. Ug.

What I miss: Soft serve ice cream.

Wedding rings On or Off: On.

Movement: Not yet.

Maternity Clothes?: I got a pair of jeans one size up just so they are most comfortable, but I have plenty of room in them still.

Labor Signs: Nope!

Best Moment of the Week: Going on a shopping trip with the hubby to buy crafting materials for our announcement packages for our parents.

Nine Weeks

How far along?: Nine weeks.

Baby is the size of: A green olive!

Total weight gain/loss: No change.

Symptoms: More of the same ickyness. I’m nauseated and exhausted all the time.

Food Cravings: Potatoes. Mashed potatoes, boiled potatoes, baked potatoes, roasted potatoes… mmm. And pickles.

Anything Making Me Queasy or Sick: Anything greasy, asian food, fishy smells, hot dogs…

Sleep: I sleep about fifteen hours a day, sometimes more. It’s hard to get to sleep but once I’m out, I’m out for a very long time.

What I miss: Soft serve ice cream.

Wedding rings On or Off: On.

Movement: Not yet.

Maternity Clothes?: Nope!

Labor Signs: Nope!

Best Moment of the Week: Eating a whole jar of pickles in bed and jokingly discussing with my husband how the baby’s embryonic tail was dissolving away this week, which was possibly why I was craving acidic foods. He tried to take my pickles away because he thought a baby with a tail would be cute!

Eight Weeks

Home sweet home.

Several days in a house full of strangers followed by 1,699 miles on the road was not the easiest feat while eight weeks pregnant. We had to pull over a few times when I was sick, so the trip went slower than we had expected. I missed my husband so bad that I cut out one of our stops and drove straight through the last two legs in one day.

I had one rare day of seriously insane hunger on the trip where I ate two Subway foot long veggie subs, a bag of baked potato chips, three bottles of chocolate milk, a container of mashed potatoes from KFC, a taco salad from Taco Bell, and several packages of peanut butter crackers. Good grief. That was short lived though, I haven’t been hungry since. Eating is just not my thing most days.

I’m having dreams about Christmas. I don’t know why, but I just can’t wait for it this year! Hot chocolate, sparkling lights, cookies, decorating the tree, eggnog, Christmas music… it’s a wonderful time of the year. I can’t wait for your first Christmas. I’m already thinking of all kinds of presents for you that are special enough for your first Christmas.

It’s been a weird week, and honestly I’m glad it’s over. I’m ready to get on to next week and my first official prenatal visit!

Seven Weeks

How far along?: Seven weeks.

Baby is the size of: A blueberry!

Total weight gain/loss: No change.

Symptoms: Oh goodness. Crazy exhaustion, nauseated all the time, dizziness, and general yuckiness 24/7.

Food Cravings: Chocolate milk.

Anything Making Me Queasy or Sick: Anything greasy, asian food, fishy smells, hot dogs…

Sleep: Need a ton, not getting much.

What I miss: My husband. I’m several states away at the moment and it stinks.

Wedding rings On or Off: On.

Movement: Not yet.

Maternity Clothes?: Nope!

Labor Signs: Nope!

Best Moment of the Week: Watching my good friends get married and not throwing up during the wedding