11/29/04 - Thanksgiving Weekend

I'm finally starting to feel human again. I can't handle fatty or rich foods, but I'm happy to say I was able to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with no problems. We went to our friends, Mark and Jessica's, house, and I only had to make carrots, mashed potatoes, and crescent rolls. They made the turkey with all the trimmings, and boy, can they cook! They should open their own restaurant. It was a very relaxing day, which was good, because going back to work in the mall on Black Friday was insane. Thankfully my energy is starting to come back, or I would never have made it. The crowds are dying down now, but they'll be back towards the end of December.

Starting To Show

The girls at work are starting to mention that I'm getting a little pooch, but I don't think anyone would notice if they weren't looking for it. I'm wearing maternity jeans on the weekends now because they are stretchy, though I don't need maternity tops yet. I always wore baggy sweaters because I don't like tight clothes, and thank goodness they give me room to grow comfortably. The challenge is finding tops long enough to cover the panel on my pants. Oh, well. Soon I'll be wearing maternity tops and it won't be an issue. Time seems to be flying now. Soon it will be Christmas, and then it will be time to start childbirth classes and put together the baby's room. I feel the clock ticking while my To Do list gets longer.

11/21/04 - Second Trimester Begins

I've been pretty discouraged this week. I'm in my 14th week, but I'm not feeling any better. I was told the second trimester was the "honeymoon trimester", where your energy and libido start to come back and you feel like yourself again, apart from the Buddha belly. My body can't decide whether to give me nausea or heartburn, so it alternates between the two with frustrating unpredictability. I'm told that chocolate is a huge heartburn culprit, which is tough news for a chocoholic like me. I also have to avoid anything fatty or acidic, which makes it a challenge to eat, especially in the mall at work. I love pizza and tuna melts, tomatoes, apple juice and citric fruits. When I eat trouble foods I have to sleep propped up on pillows, but not on my back. That keeps me tossing and turning, so Dave ends up on the couch trying to sleep undisturbed. Considering the fact that I'm barely showing yet, I can only assume it will get tougher as I get bigger. I haven't really been able to focus, so my sales are suffering at work. Leo, my boss, has been surprisingly understanding. He goes out of his way to check up on how I'm feeling, making sure I leave at five or go home when I'm sick. It makes me feel guilty to be an inconvenience to my co-workers, especially when they're so kind and accommodating.

Welcome to Reality

I thought that I would have all sorts of wonderful dreams about my baby while I was pregnant. Instead I'm dreaming that I got my tongue pierced and that I'm riding a crazy five-mile long roller coaster along the San Diego coastline. I had this picture in my head that pregnancy would be a time of bonding and excitedly preparing for my baby, but right now it doesn't seem real. In my head I know that a baby is on the way, but it's hard to visualize. I just feel overweight and unwell (though I’ve only gained five pounds so far). I feel kind of ungrateful, actually, that God is giving us this blessing, and I'm unable to think beyond just making it through the day. Especially since by medical standards, this really isn't a difficult pregnancy. It's just the "typical" discomfort, and it really could be alot worse. My friend told me she never really bonded with her son until he was born. She tried, but she couldn't really focus on any other reality at the time but trying to stay comfortable. That made me feel a little better. I've got this list of projects to do in the second trimester before I get too big, like put together the baby's room, organize my closet and sign up for childbirth classes. Hope my energy comes back soon so I can get started.

11/13/04 - News Flashes & Research

I'm usually an avid observer of current events, but I've found during pregnancy that it can stress me out. I've needed to take periodic breaks from my favorite radio talk shows or watching the news because thinking about all the issues can get my stress levels up. I read somewhere that Chinese women have a tradition that they only read beautiful poetry and fairy stories while pregnant because they believe their emotions shape the baby's personality. I’m sure there’s an element of folk wisdom to the benefits of avoiding stress and depression during pregnancy. I’m certainly more relaxed now that the election is over and the incessant political ads are gone. I started reading up on pregnancy, buying used books off Amazon.com and printing articles off the internet to share with Dave. My favorite book so far has been "The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy", largely because of the author's irreverent sense of humor. With so many changes, stresses, and discomforts, it's helpful to read something informative that tackles these subjects while focusing on the lighter side. I'm also working my way through the required "What to Expect When You're Expecting", although I find this author's approach more likely to give me extra things to worry about, like whether I may have accidentally harmed my baby by drinking herbal tea. I've been very impressed with "The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth”. The author clearly leans towards natural childbirth, backing up her views with research in a way that invites the reader to make her own informed choices. I also frequent BabyCenter.com and AmercanBaby.com, as well as a dozen other pregnancy websites. They offer alot of good information. On days when I'm especially nauseated, reading about pregnancy only seems to make it worse, so I distract myself with biographies or light fiction.

www.BabyCenter.com

www.Childbirth.org

www.AskDrSears.com

www.MidwiferyToday.com/

www.SanDiegoBorn.org/

www.waterbirth.org/

www.givingbirthnaturally.com/

Baby Snoopy

About a year ago I fell in love with this adorable crib set I found in a catalog on Snoopystore.com. It's cute and neutral, so I could use it for a boy or girl, and not have to change the nursery for a later baby. As luck would have it, when I went back recently to order it, it was discontinued and nowhere to be found. The local baby consignment store only had the crib bumper. Dave found the crib bedding on Ebay and I was able to get it for $26, though it normally sells for around $80.