Pumpkin: Weeks 22 & 23

February 9th - February 22nd

Doing these posts reminds me why I do these posts. Even after two weeks it's kind of hard to remember all these little details.

How I Look
Well, that 'luscious' hair thing might be starting. I've noticed that most of my flyaway hairs seem to be all about the same length, so maybe they're all growing out and fewer hairs are falling out. Time and the shower wall will tell. Oddly enough, hair is not an equal opportunity situation. I'm pretty sure that in some parts of my body it is growing quickly, while on others it seems to be not growing (like my legs... I'm pretty sure I shaved a loooong time ago.. but still they are smooth). Strange. As always, I feel like I look huge and know that next week I'll look back and wonder what I was thinking. I do start to feel like I'm leaving that 'cute pregnant' stage and moving on to the beached whale stage.. but I know I am a few stages ahead in my mind and the rest of the world doesn't seem to agree for some time (not that any person in their right mind would agree with a pregnant woman that she looks like a beached whale, but you know what I mean). Every now and then I notice my hands swell a little bit (my rings get tight), although I generally don't feel too swollen.

How I Feel

Pretty good overall. A few rough patches last week. A seriously annoying and persistent headache with super sensitivity to light that lasted across four days, which made me feel generally achy and uncomfortable. I also had a couple of episodes of really high blood pressure (I am generally low ~90-100/50-60, and these were 140+/80+). I was a little concerned with this all happening together with some nausea but it seems to be a fairly isolated episode and I'm not going to sweat it unless it happens again. My heartburn is getting better with some dietary changes and a different food routine (eating more in the morning and less toward the evening, and really watching what I eat in the evening - high glycemic index foods will get me every time). I still tend to feel so full and stretched to the max by the end of the day, so not adding too much food on top of that is helping.

What I Feel
I should say, what WE feel! Finally, Blake has felt our little Pumpkin girl kick! We were sitting on the couch at my aunt and uncle's house watching a movie the day we turned 23 weeks and the perfect combination happened with patience and alertness on Blake's part and sweet P deciding to have a good work out. It was great to finally be able to share that with him and to see the smile on his face (and now I think he believes me that she's really moving) ;). I'm loving seeing her move from the outside too. She kicks my computer when I rest it on my belly and in the morning I can see the covers move.  I also felt my first (what I believe was) Braxton Hicks contractions. Painless but clearly contracted spots on my belly. I think maybe they've been going on for awhile and I just finally felt/saw one. Now they wont stop! Oh, I've forgotten to mention the heart palpitations. For over a month now I have these funny heart palpitations, feels like my heart is beating out of my chest for a beat here and there. I notice that it increases when she's more active. Honestly, it's really annoying! I've heard some people say that it never goes away after pregnancy... yikes!

What We're Doing
Still reading books and watching what I eat. I've started working out more again, probably motivated by the blood pressure scares ;). We're also trying to get to bed earlier. We aren't to the point of needing to really rearrange and make room for baby things just yet (also we don't have many things yet), but I am scheming about where we'll put what and how to decorate where. I'm also starting to put together my pregnancy photobook. It's been fun to organize those pictures and see them come together in one place with some notes and memories (not so fun to see the typos I've made and have to fix!). Again, it reinforces that I do these posts because without them, I'm not sure I'd be able to remember some of these details! It also reinforces the weekly belly shot. At first I wasn't sure if I would want a weekly picture or if a bi-monthly or monthly shot would do (weekly seemed a bit excessive). In the end (or rather just past the middle) I'm noticing that I like to see the subtle (yet still distinct) changes from week to week. It helps me feel better when I feel huge this week to see that I felt huge last week but look, I wasn't that huge (yes, you'll hear this mantra from me a few more times). And last but not least, we're always praying for our baby girl to be healthy, to stay warm and cozy inside me until she's done developing and that I'd be healthy throughout pregnancy. We're also praying for her life and the choices she'll make and the man she'll marry and all those crazy way-out in the future things that I'm sure will be here before we know it!

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Next baby post: Pumpkin: Weeks 24 & 25

Previous baby post: Pumpkin: Weeks 20 & 21

Fixated

I'm trying not to use the word 'obsessed' here. An obsession implies an extreme focus on something, usually with some anxiety. I don't have the anxiety piece, just the extreme focus. So instead I've decided I'm easily fixated.

I realized the other day that this time last year, I was obsessed fixated on getting my camera. I spent all of my discretionary time looking up reviews on cameras and lenses and reading photography blogs. It's not to say that photography doesn't take up any of my discretionary time anymore, but rarely is it a fixation (unless I'm in the middle of making a photobook or editing a batch of pictures). I occasionally read a photo blog post or forum, but usually just to answer a specific question.

My latest fixation is cloth diapering, but it changes every few weeks. Not long ago it was carseats and stroller combos, and not long before that it was my weight. Moving on from one obsession fixation to another and back again isn't uncommon. Understandably, I'm fixated on all things baby. Whether it's reading reviews as I work on our baby registry, or reading about natural labor strategies or breastfeeding tips or knitting patterns... my brain is baby focused these days.

I've decided that my brain works in a divide and conquer fashion of acquiring information and a little bit all-or-nothing. I'm either obsessed fixated on the subject and thus it consumes my thoughts until I feel like I have a good handle on the information, or I don't really get into it at all.

I say this to make myself feel better and to keep from feeling like I'm flighty or fickle. It's not that I move from topic to topic because I lose interest (although I have found myself moving on from a topic because I didn't find enough good information), it's because I've established the level of understanding that I decided was necessary for the time being. Sometimes I revisit a fixation because I realize there is more to learn than I originally thought I needed.

Take cloth diapering for example. About a year ago I did the research and chose a brand (if you've ever looked into cloth diapering, you realize what a battle just choosing a brand is). I also looked into systems for washing, which detergent is ideal for us and systems for cloth wipes. After that I was satisfied, until I decided we would try cloth diapering from newborn on (we are going to use a one-size pocket diaper, which doesn't fit until about 10 lbs... I don't plan on having a 10 lb baby). That meant a whole new look at the cloth diapering world and the pros (leakage protection) and cons (cost) of a set of smaller diapers. Most people use disposables until their kids fit into their cloth system.. but I'm feeling up for the challenge after the first week or two (after the 'black tar' has passed). Right now I'm thinking we'll use prefolds and covers (more traditional cloth diapers) but I might get a few newborn pocket diapers too if I can find them used or at a really decent price.

I don't mind that my brain works this way, but it is interesting to analyze it.

I wonder what I'll be obsessing about fixated on this time next year?

Pumpkin: Weeks 20 & 21

January 26th - February 8th
Half way there (give or take a week or two)!

How I Look
I keep forgetting to mention this, I've always heard about the hair and nails that pregnancy hormones and prenatal vitamins give you. Well a few weeks ago I could really see it in my nails but I'm really not experiencing that 'luscious' hair thing. I still shed just as much but of course do have some fun peach fuzz growing on my belly.

How I Feel
Great. After that week or so of being really uncomfortable, things have eased up and I often find myself thinking, this is the part of pregnancy that people remember when they say, "I loved being pregnant." I find myself saying that as well (but in present tense). I feel great, I look pregnant - no question about it, but I'm not huge yet (i.e., I feel 'cute pregnant'), and I have the energy and motivation to get some things done a few times a week.

My one notable complaint symptom: heartburn. It has really kicked into overdrive these weeks, and I just can't get a handle on the things that cause it (seems like everything!?) but I'm starting to eat less in the later part of the day and that seems to help more than Tums, papaya enzymes, cal-mag or sleeping slightly upright. It's the weirdest heartburn I've ever had, very different than my heartburn before this point. Always this pure acid burning sensation right under my UES (upper esophageal sphincter, the muscle that closes off your esophagus from your pharynx/throat). I'll confess, feeling that burning night after night does make me worry a little about esophageal cancer, which motivates me to try to prevent it/get a handle on the burning.

What I Feel
Stretching, kicking, pushing, rolling etc. You name it she does it. I'm fairly certain she's strong enough to feel her from the outside, I could swear I've felt her move with my hand on my belly, but Blake still hasn't felt her. It's hard to time it so that Blake and Pumpkin are awake at the same time and sometimes she'll kick only once or twice in a row. So I'll get Blake's hand on there just as she's done. I'm also still feeling round ligament pain occasionally.

What We're Doing
Thinking of names (remember, we're non-name sharers) and considering not having a middle name (not really, but we're having a hard enough time coming up with first names). I'm reading all kinds of books on natural birth and breastfeeding and reading everything I find on the ins and outs of cloth diapering. Oh, and I think I'm experiencing a little bit of that nesting thing. Thank goodness, I hope it sticks around while I feel pretty good. I'd like to whip these closets into shape!

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