Great Expectations

Ever since I found out I was pregnant, I have realized I had a lot of expectations about what pregnancy would be like for me. Come to find out, most, or all, were completely wrong.

1. I will not know I'm pregnant, and could go months without prenatal care. I thank "I didn't know I was pregnant" for this complex. I also didn't really know what to expect from my period without birth control (BC). Before going on it, I was alway so irregular that I never quite knew if I would have a regular 28 day cycle when I stopped. The truth: Without a missed period, I should have been suspicious, but in the first few weeks of my pregnancy I was training (and competed in) my 2nd half marathon, while on Daniel's Fast. It never crossed my mind that my slow exhausting runs, extreme thirst, and extra need for sleep, could be pregnancy. Until I finished the half and realized I had gone 40 days without a period that. When I realized that, I knew I had to be pregnant, other symptoms or not.
2. Getting pregnant will not be "easy" for me. Pure skepticism. I had no valid reason to think this except an irregular period and having never gotten pregnant. I felt like it wasn't going to be that simple.. but if it was meant to happen, it would.  The truth: Well, I'll just say it didn't take long. I guess all that talk from my mother and grandmother about how incredibly fertile our family is was true. 
3. Morning Sickness won't be that bad, I can tough it out - stomach of steel! Oh please..  The truth: This one just makes me laugh. What on earth was I thinking. Any person who "toughs out" morning sickness, does not have morning sickness. That nausea stuff just doesn't go away on command. I felt a little wimpy at times and didn't want sympathy but at the same time, I did. 
4. My stomach will be huge, fast. I only remember the big final months with other pregnancies, so I felt like it happened fast. The Truth: All bodies are different while pregnant just as they are when not pregnant. My pregnant body did not have much of a bump till close to 20 weeks, and even then, other people were totally surprised (or acted so) when I told them I was pregnant. The last few weeks, the little man has grown like crazy and I have strangers coming up to me asking the usual strand of questions - due date, sex, name.. it took 6 months for this.
5. Will not be emotional or moody. This was me thinking I could control this.. The Truth: I don't know how others feel about me on this, but sometimes I feel like I'm lucky to have friends and family that still talk to me. My filter is virtually non-existent, my patience is gone, and I've never been one to cuss, its not natural on me, but lately, the words just slip out and I don't care a bit. To top it off, my instinct to protect and nurture is exponentially higher and extends to anyone I'm close to. I am easily biased to the side of whomever gets to me first about a fight, and I'm fast to say "that B!*$#" Thank god my husband still has patience with me these days.. 
6. Crazy cravings. You know.. like pickles and ice cream. The truth: Big Disappointment. When you first find out your pregnant and finally tell people, they LOVE to ask what crazy food you've been craving. My sad answer.. nothing. If you want to hear my list of food aversions.. it's endless, but cravings. Not so much. If you count only eating potatoes for months because it's all you can eat with out dry heaving for hours, then great.. I crave potatoes. 
7. I can control unhealthy cravings. Ha, again me thinking I can control these things. The truth: I know this may sound silly after I just said I didn't have cravings, but these aren't "crazy" cravings... these are just unhealthy food cravings. All of which started in the past few weeks and primarily includes sweets. I always thought I could fight off the urge to eat a candy bar, slice of cake, and maybe some ice cream all in one day, but the truth is, when I want something, it feels like I NEED it and it becomes top of mind till I fill that need. Fortunately, these don't happen everyday and even with these days, my weight gain as been completely normal so I'm not too worried. I guess I'll really know if this is a problem when I go in for the 28 week glucose test next week though..
8. Working mom and proud! never in a million years did I think I may want to be a stay at home mom. Work has always been incredibly fulfilling for me, and I love my job, so I always expected I would go back to work no problem. The truth: Since I've been pregnant, I think about staying home with him daily, and it pains me to think that that's really not an option for us financially. I will cherish every minute I get with him and hope that going back to work will be as painful as it sounds right now.

Not to let anyone down on a current "bump" shot.. I meant to do this last week but well.. I'm little more forgetful these days, and I needed my husbands help. Here I am:

My husband insisted on my face being in this... I should have posted HIS "bump" photo. =P

27 weeks (6 months), officially into the 3rd trimester

Physically I feel..

Pretty dang uncomfortable in most any position for more than 5 minutes. Sitting, laying, leaning, standing.. each provides some type of relief for the first few minutes, followed by some new discomfort and lots of fidgeting. Ever heard of sciatic nerve pain.. yeah, had it since about 10 weeks, and it's only gets worse.

On the bright side, my little man is moving like crazy, and I love it! I have days that he literally moves non-stop for hours on end - rolling, kicking, punching, stretching. You name it, I can feel it. In the ribs, on the bladder, stomach, belly button, hips bones. He's crowded in there.

I'm convinced he's going to come out of me sprinting. I have felt him move since the end of week 13 My doctor actually told me I was an "overachiever," ha! I can't imagine a fetus this active becoming a newborn who spends much time sleeping, but who knows! I'll keep my fingers crossed that he got a little of my husband's character and will be a bit more easy going than he feels.

Other good news, I have been sleeping (a little) better despite sore ribs which means I feel mentally, a million times better. I still crave a nap most days, but it's nothing like those first few months. Also, running seems to be one of the best feeling activities right now.. as long as I do it in moderation. Wesley is so high right now, that I can really feel him pushing on my lungs making breathing much more difficult. Running is the only time that doesn't seem to be the case. mmm.. oxygen!

What expectations do you have (or did you have) of being pregnancy?

The cat is out of the bag..

We're pregnant!

Our little jellybean at 8 weeks. 

I think everyone knows this by now seeing my third trimester starts tomorrow, but I felt like I still needed a blog announcement.  

The story..

Sharing our story was a big decision. I went back and forth on this for awhile and have decided that I'd like to keep the details of how we found out private. There were so many details involved and so many I want to cherish between my husband and I, so I'm choosing not to share with the world!

I will, however, say it was a surprise. One big fantastic surprise, full of life changes, and it is with the spirit of that change that I want to change the content of my blog from being primarily about the wonderful photography sessions with my clients, to also include updates on life as a pregnant lady, family life, running/health, and travel. All of the wonderful passions in my life. I plan to change the name and URL of my blog to fit these changes, but I'll make sure nothing gets interrupted in the process.

There are so many unknowns (or so they seem..) when pregnant that I have lived in the blog world the last 6 months. Since everyone's experience is so different, I am inspired to share mine in hopes they will help just one person.

I was going to post a bump photo today, but since the most recent photo I have is from a few weeks ago, I thought I'd wait till tomorrow since that officially marks 26 weeks. =)

Photo news - Kristen and Brad are engaged!

Even better, their date is set.

Kristen and I have been friends for a LOONG time, and by long time, I'm not exaggerating.. we met when we were 6. That's 20 years! So many years, so many memories..

Their save-the-date!

One of my favorite memories.. the day she got engaged. It just happened to be the date she found out I was pregnant! This was easily the most amazing reaction I got from anyone because it was sheer surprise and excitement.

She found out by accident. She was picking me up to head out to a cinco de mayo/b-day celebration at another friends house. I left my phone and dog in the car while I ran back inside with Brad to carry out some food. While inside, my mom called, and as long as we have known each other, she naturally picked it up. When she hung up the call, she saw a half written text message about me hearing the babies heart beat for the first time.

I was walking back towards the car when she came running towards me looking.. um, wild. I thought my dog barfed or peed in her car.. I was so confused.

When she finally caught me, she said something along the lines of.. "You didn't tell me!!"

Still confused, I asked what she was talking about.

"You're pregnant!!"

Ohhh.. and then the tears came. From both of us, but the absolute best part, and the words I will never forget.. Kristen said, "This is the best day, EVER!"

The irony of that statement just cracks me up. What she did not know, and what I could not tell her, was that Brad was going to ask her to marry him that afternoon. How's that for best day ever?

I had been waiting to tell her for many reasons, we were waiting to tell our family even.. but one big reason being, I knew Brad was proposing, and I wanted that day to be all hers, but hey.. this made that day all the more special, what can I say. Plus, we will never, ever forget this.

Love you long time. =)

Enjoy!


How did you share the news of your first born with friends and family? Did you choose to wait those delicate 13 weeks to share? Or, did you tell the world immediately? We waited.. not an easy task. I learned quickly that I am not good at keeping some secrets while pregnant, but we made it about 10 weeks before telling the family.