My Seventeenth Week of Pregnancy Update
Baby is the size of a: Sweet potato! Which makes me think of Thanksgiving. And that's never a bad thing! Thanksgiving is delicious. I measured on my hands how big a "sweet potato" is to Jarad and exclaimed, "Look! Like this! This is basically a sweet potato.. Right?" To which he hesitantly looked and me and muttered a "yes" before looking away quietly because he realized his wife is borderline crazy. The enthusiasm is nuts.
Total weight gain: According to my doctor's appointment, 9.2 total! Woo hoo! She says I am still on the "lower" side of "normal" but I just feel like each woman's body will do what it needs to in order to keep that precious baby healthy! I recognize that I am on the "smaller" side and actually have struggled with this because in some regard I feel guilty for not putting on weight: as if I am failing, already, as a mother by not giving my baby an abundance of food -- BUT I realized that my perception does not equal my reality. The baby has a beautifully strong heartbeat and, in a couple weeks, we will receive an ultrasound to see the baby's growth. And I am fully confident that our precious little babybean will be a strong and healthy size regardless of how much I am showing!
Maternity clothes: Just one pair of jeans! I am starting to realize, however, that longer shirts will be a benefit soon. The bump is coming. I can feel it.
Stretch marks: Not a single one!
Sleep: Sleep is wonderful. I love sleep. I want sleep all of the hours of the day. Sometimes I feel bad about that and then realize I am literally growing and harboring life inside of my body, and then I don't feel so bad. This is a big job! Sleep is essential.
Exercise: This week has been a get-back-on-my-daily-routine-of-going-to-work-8-to-5-without-crying-or-oversleeping sort of week. So no.
Miss anything: No. I am loving all of the weird moments that I have that surprise Jarad and I simultaneously and make us laugh. I am in love with every moment he puts his hand on my belly or kisses it and says he is "loving on us." I love that there are three of us. I don't miss when it was just us two. I am sure one day I will miss the peace and quiet of two adults in the home, but I don't think anything could make me want to go back to just that. I love everything we have been learning and doing as a couple in preparation for our beautiful baby. This question makes me think of a song by Brand New that says, "Do you miss the bland? Colors she left in your black and white field." And I think to myself... No, I don't miss the bland. Not that my life was remotely bland prior to being pregnant. But there aren't words to adequately explain the amount of COLOR that is and has been brought into my life since the presence of our little bean. Right now, I don't miss any part of not having him/her around and with me at all times.
Movement: Yes! And it still surprises me! I love feeling baby on one side... and then a few minutes later feeling movement on the other side. The movement I am feeling makes my heart so happy and reassures me of the life inside me. It is the biggest blessing!
Food cravings: Jalapeno chips. Jalapeno anything. Why is it so good? Sometimes I have to bargain with myself if the subsequent heartburn will be worth it. Normally the answer is yes. Also, I'm still on that weird Subway kick. I think its those fresh veggies. I can't get away from them! So much so that my boss literally laughs at me or stares at me funny every time I mention eating Subway for lunch. But it's so good! Also, my ability to say no to food has decreased immensely. Just yesterday Jarad suggested to me, "Let's get Lil Cesar's for dinner" to which I promptly responded, "What? No..... Okay." I literally have zero self-control. Food in general sounds yummy. All. The. Time.
Anything making you queasy or sick: The stupid fridge. Still.
Gender: Still have no clue. And my "feeling" or guesses switch back and forth. Since I found out I was pregnant I had an inkling it would be a boy. But, ever the skeptic, this means I truly expect a girl to come out. Just to be stubborn (like me) and surprise us all. The waiting and not knowing is fun... Especially because it's torturous to our friends and family (sorry, guys! You truly are entertaining!).
Labor signs: None! Fingers crossed it stays this way for about 20 more weeks! (Cannot believe how close we are already to the end).
Happy or moody most of the time: Feeling pretty happy lately! I did weep three times in five minutes while watching God's Not Dead the other night... But then I contained myself. Happy and weepy. That's typical, right?
Looking forward to: Jarad feeling movements, too! And hiccups from the inside out!