Nearly 18 Weeks

Pregnancies are different, just like each child. With Marisabelle, everything I experienced was new. I was very lucky to have only experienced two bouts of actual nausea. This time around, I'm overly paranoid for every tiny thing I experience that may be out of the ordinary (i.e. what I didn't experience the first time around). But this post isn't about those feelings and complaining, it is dedicated to all things Tesla aka our baby in utero. Here she is at 17 weeks and 4 days.

She had just moved her hand to the side of her face, moments before, she had it resting under her chin like she was posing for a school portrait from the 80s. (yeah, you kiddos of the 80s remember those, right? ) She was very active, kicking, punching, and even looked like she was yawning, but the tech told me she was drinking fluid. It was so precious!

For the first month I experienced nausea without vomiting. Just an all day, I want to get sick. I discovered that eating a piece of cheese fixed that in a jiffy. Right when I was getting over that, I began to suffer intense migraines. They were quite debilitating and a couple of times I was out of commission for an entire day, curled up in a ball willing my brain to behave. And then....COFFEE! My doctor gave me the go ahead to drink one cup as soon as I felt a migraine coming on. Actually, he was going to write me a prescription, but I wanted to try something a little less chemical-y. We compromised with coffee or tea. I was back to feeling more like myself and well, ever since then, the only two noticeable side effects of this pregnancy are lots of emotion and an ever expanding belly.

A couple of weekends ago, I ran/walked in the Komen 5K. My time was 38:42. It was 8-9 minutes slower than the last time I was timed, but I didn't think it was that bad.  As a matter of fact, I was just happy to be able to run. Speaking of running, I found my old maternity support belt and used it this past week after the sonogram. I felt so positive and happy about everything in general that well, I wanted to run. Don't you worry, I took it easy. The most I ran at one time was a 400. I would run a lap, then walk half a lap and start running again. Just like with Mari, I just pictured the little one growing inside of me growing stronger, working those tiny arms and legs. While I didn't know it with Mari (and I know now), the breathing I do while running is very similar to how I breathed during labor. I'm hoping the running will help with labor this time around.

Anyway, that's it. That's the update. I will take a belly picture soon enough and post it. Then again, I may just wait until Halloween to get extra inventive with my costume. Other stats:

• Went to the horse races for the first time
• Went to see Alo, G.Love, Jack Johnson, One Republic, and Maroon 5
• Traveled to Lubbock...twice
• Snapped a couple of weddings and portraits
• Went to a few birthday parties
• Ate my weight in cake and cupcakes

All-in-all a fabulous 18 weeks! :D