It will be 28 weeks on Sunday and I will be in the third trimester. Amazing. It has been quite the journey and I wish I had blogged more often. As amazing as the journey has been, I am able to sum it up to this point pretty simply. Weeks 1-5 were surreal. The I-can't-believe-this-is-happening phase. I didn't feel different and it was hard to come to the realization that there was in fact a positive pregnancy test. Weeks 6-7 were not my favorite. This was the what-in-the-heck-did-I-do phase, as I snacked on frosted mini wheats to combat the nausea and Advil to keep the headache at bay. Looking back, apparently I had it pretty easy compared to many women. Weeks 8 to about 15 were great! The I-can-do-this-but-first-let-me-go-to-the-bathroom... again phase! I got my energy back and I was cruzing along like nobody's business. I guess it was about weeks 16 or mostly 17 to 24ish that I was growing that baby bump and feeling the energy ever so slightly trickle from me by mid afternoon. The oh-my,-this-is-real-and-there's-no-turning-back phase. From 25 until now I feel on many occasions that I am climbing a flight of stairs. I'm already having difficulties putting on socks and shoes and I still have three more months to go! I hear this is perfectly normal. I have to sit to catch my breath on occasion and only just two days ago did I experience my first restless night. I have good days and I have great days and I have not reached the please-just-get-here-already phase. I am trying to absorb every experience and although Mike may beg to differ, I try very hard not to complain too much. He is just my go-to guy when I need to vent about something but that is pretty much a husband's job, right?
I'm not sure if I've experienced any hiccups yet. Maybe a couple of times but they sure didn't last long. She clues me in on her presence about every 10 minutes, squirming, kicking and or performing summersaults. There is just something wonderful about having this baby move inside of me. I am in awe every time she does it and I think my family might be just about sick of hearing about it. "Come feel!" or "Did you see that?!" have been exclaimed many a times to no avail.
The fact that we are conceived and grown in another human being is pretty much amazing in and of itself. The miracle that could only have been devised by our Heavenly Father himself is something that probably most of us don't think much of until we are able to experience it. These sweet beings begin as just a couple of combined cells and go through umpteen different phases to get to the point of delivery. I'm grateful for the opportunity for sure. And to think that I was one of these sweet beings at one time sure strengthens my love and appreciation for my own mother.
I often wonder if I have the unconditional, unexplicable love for my mother because of the idea of coming from her and having had that bond. Or is it the sacrifice she's made throughout her life as a mother that I've grown to appreciate and cherish. When I first learned that we were having a girl, I was a bit on edge. What in the world was I going to do with a girl?! Then I got to thinking... if I raise her like my mom raised me, she should turn out pretty ok.
