End of Days

I remember the first trimester. Feeling quite hungover, extremely tired, and pretty emotional. I remember it fondly. Wait. What? Yeah, you heard right because compared to the third trimester, the first one is a friggin' picnic.

LOL

The past few weeks have sucked. I've been home, which I am ever so thankful for (I had to leave work early due to some gnarly contractions and the fact that I wasn't getting enough rest and could barely function with my increasing loss of sanity), and while that definitely helps, it still sucks. I never expected any of this to be easy - c'mon, I'm not delusional - but Holy Hell, I'm ready to have this kid and feel like a normal human being again. 

Last week I could have sworn that Sully was on his way. 3-4 hours of nonstop cramping and time-able contractions, and I was thrilled. Yeah, I'm at that point where I welcome the pain with open arms. Seriously. Bring. It. On. However, as soon as I was getting ready to call my doc at 3 AM, everything started subsiding and my hopes fizzled into the early morning that I've come to know so well.

The past few days have been interesting. Really bad cramping since Saturday, along with what I can only assume are contractions, in addition to being a complete insomniatic psycho. My legs have been giving out on me, my head is constantly aching, and nausea has been paying me a visit. I've been up and wide awake as early as 1:30 AM… completely restless and unable to sit still.

Last night was another time that I thought "this is it." My lower back was radiating pain all through my hips, legs, and eventually into my tummy. It was brutal. I could barely walk, but I wasn't having that tightening like I would with a contraction. At least not consistently. SO confusing. 

They always say "you'll just know" which annoys the living hell out of me because, really, that's so unhelpful. I don't want to be told that "I'll know," I want you to freakin' tell me what it feels like so I'm not driving myself crazy by worrying about every little twinge or pain, which are coming all too commonly these days. Then I get the "everyone's different" routine… You may feel a lot of pain. You may not. You should know when you're having contractions. Some women don't (a little confusing when you are previously told that "you'll just know"). This may be nothing. Or it could be something HUGE. Jeeeeeeezum. 

#thoroughlyannoyedwithallthiswishywashyinconsistentinformation

This morning, my back pain has leveled out to a dull ache, but I totally feel like I'm coming down with something. I don't want to move. Sitting here to type is proving to expel a lot of effort, but I really, really, really, really needed to vent. My pregnancy has been fairly easy compared to what a lot of women go through. I know I'm lucky. I'm lucky to have had no serious complications, and I'm lucky to be able to have a baby when so many have trouble. But this doesn't mean I'm not allowed to get frustrated. I'm not ungrateful. But still…. Being this constantly uncomfortable and worrying if "this is it" the past few weeks has been completely draining.

I'm super emotional. Grumpy. Moody. Overwhelmed. A lot of things do it to me these days. Just going to pee and not being able to get off the toilet without grabbing on to something makes me emotional. I guess I'm just ready to feel like myself. 

I was thinking last night of all the things I can't wait to be able to do again. A lot of them were things I took for granted when it was just me in this body. I can't wait to:

1). Be able to put my shoes on without feeling like I'm suffocating or just ran a marathon.

2). Sneeze, laugh, or cough without pissing myself.

3). To get off the couch or out of bed without having to give myself a pep talk first. "I think I can!"

4). Paint my toes.

5). Walk without looking like I'm trying to impersonate a penguin.

6). Fill up my pellet stove (40 lb bags are a "no no").

7). Run.

8). Pick things up off the floor.

9). Sleep on my stomach or my back.

10). Have a friggin' drink - I need one.

I love Sully to pieces, and when it gets really overwhelming, I think about his little smiling face that was up on the ultrasound screen last week. He totally smiled. I know it's all worth it. This is something I've known since this all began. I knew it wouldn't be all glowing butterflies and rainbow unicorns, but it can get to be a bit much, ya know?

I've heard "it's all worth it" a million times, but I really don't need reminding. I know people just want to make you feel better by trying to help you see the light at the end of the tunnel, but sometimes you just want to bitch about things for a few minutes, get it out of your system, take a deep breath, and move on. That's really all this post was about. I just needed to throw a little tantrum and now I feel much better - mentally, anyway. Thanks!

Cheers!

Changes

36 weeks today! At this point, if I went in to labor, Sully would be considered full term anyway, so there's nothing they would do to stop it. I made it! Now the waiting game begins. Honestly, Sully could come absolutely anytime he wants. No rush. But seriously. Anytime.

Sleep and I have been battling it out lately. My poor hips have been protesting the side-sleeping (which is all I can do), and let's just say they are pretty loud about it. Pains shooting down your leg have the tendency to keep you up at night. Not to mention, I just wake up for no reason at all... Today is the first day in a long time that I slept past five AM. It's glorious.

Our baby shower was last weekend. It was amazing. We had family up and friends coming in from Texas - it was incredible. Not to mention it was a baby shower for the history books. Ever been to a Wimbish/Mahaffey party? You're missing out. Plus, it was at our wonderful friends' house, and they certainly know how to have a good time. Everyone kept asking, "This is a baby shower?".. Yes, people.. It was a Wimbish/Mahaffey baby shower, and that's how we roll.

Sully's room still isn't organized. We had the epic baby shower last weekend, Sully got totally spoiled, and I've been meaning to get in there and get everything ready, but time and energy are not on my side. Sully's been acting up. I've been having what my doc says are regular contractions on top of Braxton Hicks on top of just feeling like utter crap. I've been trying to suck it up and just battle through my normal day with a smile on my face while trying to ignore these things, but it's not easy. Just yesterday, I had a craft fair I was participating in with a friend, and it was awesome to showcase all of our hard work. But by the time I got home at 2:30, I felt like I was going to die. Went to bed and stayed there for three hours. Got up only to move my ass to the couch. Totally over-did it, but the limitations I have right now are driving me nuts!

The doctor has me at home right now, "laying low." I'm not working (I may or may not go back, depending on what doc says), and I'm really just trying to rest as much as possible. My house is dirty and disorganized, which drives me bat sh*t crazy, but I'm trying to listen to what my body is telling me. Thank God for Netflix, crocheting, and my books. I'm even starting to write again, so maybe the inactivity is a blessing in disguise.

I just can't wait for the little bugger to get here! Not only because I'm ready to evict his royal cuteness and not be pregnant anymore, but I'm ready to finally meet him. People ask me if I'm nervous, and I can honestly say that I'm not. Not about the labor or about figuring out what the hell we are doing... I figure it'll come to us. It won't be easy, I'm under no delusions, but I don't think it's anything to freak out about. I'm focusing on all the fun we are going to have (it's not difficult to do), and that overshadows any doubts or fears.

My whole perspective on babies has changed. In the past, I'd see a picture of a baby, shrug my shoulders and go about the rest of my day. Not that I didn't appreciate that the parents were excited, I just couldn't share in that excitement. I've never been one to be totally in love with babies - it was kind of a take it or leave it. In fact, they kind of freaked me out. I even questioned myself on more than one occasion if I even wanted to have one of my own or just keep things the way they were. But now that it's here, I get excited seeing little ones. I've even started to notice what kind of strollers or carseats people use - God help me - it's a place I never thought I'd be in.


Cheers!

Becoming a Stay at Home Mom

Recently, we have made the choice that I will be staying home with Sully once he makes his debut. I went back and forth for a while, unsure if the decision was best or if we'd be put in a tight spot, but ultimately it boiled down to what was best for Sully. And if we're being honest, what was best for my sanity.

I just couldn't fathom sending my infant to daycare 40+ hours a week. I get anxious just thinking about it. For one, the idea of someone else taking care of my little guy just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. It doesn't feel right, and I refuse to let that happen if I can help it. Second, I feel like there's not enough time as it is, and adding a baby on top of a full-time job and taking care of a home... How do you give all that the attention it deserves? I felt like things were about to get spread real thin.

Not only that, but the cost of daycare is ridiculous. I might bring home a little bit, but really? Most of my paychecks would be devoured...

I know a lot of women go back to work and careers and make the whole package happen. Kudos to you. No, seriously. I have a lot of respect for those women and have no judgements at all towards the amazing things they accomplish. The thing is, I used to care about starting a career, but in the past few months as I get closer to my due date, it's become less important than Sully. It's practically a non-issue. The idea of missing out on all those little first-times and moments that we'll never get back scares me way more than the thought that putting a career or job on hold will "screw me up" resume-wise in the long run. (Whatever that means...) Doesn't mean I think that's what other moms are doing by going back to work - this is just how I feel about my particular situation. Everyone has different circumstances, different strengths, and different desires for their life. As long as you can make a choice and be happy with it, I say that's all that matters.

I've read articles that say that women who stay at home feel isolated or like they've sacrificed their lives to raise children. Or these articles give you the guilt trip, that women have fought so hard to make an equal place for themselves in the world, and women who choose to stay home are throwing all that away. (Seriously, why are people so judgmental?) I don't believe any of that for a second.

I don't believe I'm sacrificing a thing. If anything, I'm being given a gift in having a choice and am blessed to be able to stay home to take care of my little one. A lot of people don't have that luxury, so I know how lucky I am to be faced with this decision.

I get a mix of understanding and funny looks when people discover that I'll be staying home. Like in this day and age, the idea of being a stay at home mom makes me... I dunno.. lazy or something. Sorry guys. I'm not superwoman, and I'm not going to pretend that I can or even want to juggle it all. Anyone who knows me knows that I'm an ambitious person. I don't sit around twiddling my thumbs - I'm always into something, doing something. I don't believe I'm throwing anything away. I'm being faced with the most important job of my life, but I also know that I will continue to be and do more.

I'll go back to work. Hell, maybe I'll start my own business (there's already one in the works). Maybe I'll finally finish my novel. Not that I'll have a ton of time on my hands to do these things, but my point is... Deciding to be a stay at home mom doesn't define me as such, especially when it comes to stereotypes. Just like a career doesn't define any other person. Staying home with my baby doesn't make me a less ambitious person - it just means I've made a choice - a choice that, lately, doesn't seem to reflect what's become the social norm.

Cheers :)

Things I've learned so far.... The trivial and not so much...

Being pregnant is one of the most intense educational life experiences I've ever been through. I've learned a lot not only about what it takes to be happy during my own pregnancy and what I need to prepare myself for after, but I'm pretty sure I'm finding out just exactly what I'm capable of. And that's anything.

I've had no choice in learning patience (and anyone who knows me knows this is not one of my virtues). Nine months is a looooong time for me. Although it's going by so fast that my head is beginning to spin, waiting has never been my thing. I've had to learn to take things slow, and as a result, I'm enjoying the whole process rather than focusing on the result. There's no rushing a baby :).

My tolerance for discomfort has sky rocketed. I'm pretty much uncomfortable all the time, even now as I type this and sip on my one cup of coffee for the day. My back hurts, my feet are beginning to swell, and sometimes I feel like I literally can't get out of my chair. Just last night, my body was so worn out and hurt so much that I seriously crawled up the stairs and by the time I reached the top, I just laid down, at which point both my lovey dogs came and snuggled up to me. So yeah, I'm getting tired. But I'm still totally happy with it; Taylor makes me laugh about it, at which point I have to be careful not to pee myself.... Yeah. I just said that.



I've had to learn to just let things go - it's okay if the house isn't spotless or if I'd rather put my feet up than cook dinner. I'm obsessive about my house. I like it to look good, smell good, and be cozy. We work our asses off for this amazing life, and having my own home has always been important to me. SO it was very difficult for me to just let it go a little bit in exchange for the R&R I'm needing more and more of as this pregnancy progresses. But you know what? I'm definitely happier not worrying so much about it.

I've always been really hard on myself with... well... everything. If I don't do something just right, I get really upset and frustrated with myself. At work. At home. Doesn't matter. It's stupid. Which is why learning to just let things go and work at a slower pace has been a major but necessary obstacle for me to overcome in this pregnancy if I want to be happy through it all.

Also, a part of this whole letting things go mantra I've been going on about... The weight gain sucks. Not fitting into your clothes sucks. Seeing a number on the scale that you've never seen before in your life sucks. But it's a part of the whole thing, and as someone who's always been very active and pretty careful about my weight, this is insane. But you know what? I'm pretty much over that now. Last week, I had an appointment in which I was measuring small. As in about two weeks behind normal. Had to have an ultrasound a week later to make sure Sully was growing like he should, and in that week, I swear I didn't give a damn about my own body. I ate, and ate, and ate. And after all that, Taylor made me eat some more. He wouldn't leave a restaurant until I "finished my plate." LOL. My appetite is back and forth, and sometimes food just sounds... UGH... But you know what? The ultrasound showed Sully was perfect (full head of hair!!) and that I just measure small. I think that little scare was God's way of telling me to quit being so freakin' worried about how big my used-to-be-nonexistent ass is getting and just be happy that my little guy's health is right on target.

So the things I've learned can pretty much boil down to "DON'T STRESS." I've heard people say that being pregnant is a huge sacrifice, and I guess I can see their point, but at the risk of sounding like I know it all (because I absolutely don't), here's what I do to make it not feel so much that way...

1.) This one's big, so it'll be kind of long: Everything in moderation. Being pregnant seems to come with a ginormous list of things you can't eat or do, and it gets a little too extreme. (Some women drive me nuts about this... I've even heard that pregnant women shouldn't eat peanut butter or chocolate. Are you kidding me?) I've done a lot of research, talked to my doctor, and I've come to the conclusion that harm only comes in form of excess ~ which is true when it comes to anything in life. I enjoy my one cup of coffee. I have seafood every now and then. And, hell, I'll even have a teeny glass of wine or half a beer every once in a great while. If you do a little research, you'll find that things are changing from the whole long list of "nevers" that come with pregnancy. It doesn't have to be so freaking strict. Women stress so much about this kind of stuff, and I think that that's worse for the baby than anything.

You don't have to freak out, just be aware. There are things I don't do, such as eat deli meat or pound coffee like I used to. So in that case, I get a hot sandwich or go with decaf if I really need an afternoon pick me up. When moderation sucks, I replace it with something just as good. So all in all, I don't really feel like I've sacrificed much of anything that I would have normally done when I wasn't pregnant.

2.) Do things that make you feel pretty. Kinda sounds cheesy, but when you feel fat, swollen, and achey all the time, the little things can really make a difference. Bubble baths are amazing things - I'm talking candles, music, a book... whatever. Just do it. Coconut oil is your friend (straight up from the baking isle in your grocery store). I rub it on my belly every day, and haven't spotted one stretch mark so far. Accessories are essential. Scarves and jewelry - I'm telling you. Candles. I always have one lit because they just make me feel cozy.

3.) Work on projects for the nursery. DIY. Works for me. Right now, I'm making Sully a blankie and I've got a couple of pieces of nursery wall art I'm working on. Doing these things makes me forget any discomfort, and instead I just feel happy, proud, and excited.

4.) Ask for help. Typically, when I cook, I clean up afterward. Lately though, I've simply asked my husband if he'll help me, and he's always happy to. Before, I just did everything and never asked for a hand. It's amazing what a simple request will do to take those little burdens off your shoulders.


I think that's all I have for now... Sully is in great health, as am I. Hopefully soon I'll have photos of the nursery!


Cheers!

Updates and What Not

I'm a little over six months (or 27 weeks 5 days, if you want to get right down to it) and if things weren't beginning to change enough before, they sure are now. The third trimester is kicking in, and I can definitely feel it looming over me like this beautiful yet oppressive and tangible thing. Everyone has told me it's the hardest to get through, but despite that, I'm trying to go into it with an optimistic mind.

Fatigue has kicked in, but it's really nothing to compare to the first trimester when I was tired and felt "hungover" all the time (without having any of the fun usually associated). So this is a cinch, so far. My back kills me, my knees creak, and I'm having trouble sleeping, but overall I'm still in a pretty good mood. I just think about Sully and how all this is for him, and I get more excited than anything else.

Braxton Hicks contractions started kicking in around, oh, 23-24 weeks-ish? I wasn't sure what the hell was going on until my doc mentioned it at my 24 week appointment. I was told that women could start as early as their first trimester. Fun stuff. They don't hurt per say, but holy hell do they get your attention. They take your breathe away and make it difficult to focus on anything else, which is annoying when I'm at work, but what are you gunna do? It's my body's way of telling me that we're getting closer, and I can't complain about that.

I've become well acquainted with the concept of "snissing." You know.. you sneeze and then piss yourself. I wouldn't recommend it. I thought it was bad when my second trimester rolled around, but now that I'm getting into my third, I've found that being super aware of my bladder is a good idea, even when I don't have to sneeze. Especially when Sully decides to drop kick it like a soccer ball, nearly knocking me out of my chair... 

On to the fun! We started to get the nursery ready, but the backboard of the crib was cracked. No worries. The company is sending us a new piece asap, and it's going to be beautiful! Sully's room is going to be pretty low key. Not going to be a ton of frills or bright colors. He's a boy. I'm his momma. Frills are not our thing. Blues, grays, and whites. Arrows and outdoors and mischief and imagination. No real theme, just something cozy that he can grow in to. 

I've been spending a lot of time wondering what Sully is going to be like when he makes his appearance. Taylor says he'll be all Mahaffey, but I think he underestimates the power of the Wimbish gene. ;). Will he have light or dark colored hair? My little brother had a full head of dark brown hair, so who knows? Will he like sports or will he be more of a fisherman? Maybe he'll be a writer. I'm determined that he'll be a reader. It's interesting to think about what he'll look like, what his passions will be, and ultimately, who he'll be.

We'll find out soon!!


Cheers!

Getting there!!

24 weeks. Holy moly. My third trimester is looming on the horizon, and I can definitely feel the weight of it bearing down on me. So much to dooooo! And it feels like... or actually we are... running out of time!

Little Sully has a huge container of stuff and his own corner in my living room. (I'm sure this won't change.) We are still working on getting his room cleaned out, so I haven't had a chance to organize everything yet. Baby clothes, toys, books, and a car seat. You shoulda seen me trying to figure out that last one. There are so many buttons and safety precautions, I actually did what you're supposed to do in these situations: I read the guidebook. Go figure. Reading the directions actually does make things easier.

Accumulating all the necessary essentials that are required to keep your baby safe and happy is really... crazy. If feeling Sully kicking didn't make it real enough, seeing all this baby stuff in my house is really taking the whole "reality is slapping you in the face" to the next level. Sully will be here in less than four months, and while that can sound like a long time, remember that we found out about him almost six months ago... YEAH. Really. Having those months go by as fast as they did makes me feel like four will be the blink of an eye.

So how am I feeling? That's a question I get a lot. For the most part, I'm feeling really tired. I've been having more off days than days when I feel like a normal human being, and I think that has a lot to do with my second trimester coming to an end and the fact that Sully is getting huge. Yesterday I spent a couple of hours cleaning the house and doing laundry, and by 11 AM, I was spent. I have a really bad habit of not listening to my body when it tells me to lay the frig down, but this time I had to. Laid down to do a bit of reading and ended up falling asleep for an hour.

Needless to say, this being tired all the time (again) is really putting me in a predicament. I feel like I can't do anything without paying for it somehow. Last weekend was pretty full. A friend's baby shower. Canoeing on the lake. 2 mile walk. More canoeing on the lake. Dinner with friends. Then work on Monday. By Tuesday and Wednesday, I felt like I was going to keel over and die while having a major hormone-induced bitch-fit. Turns out, I was just exhausted and needed to go home and get some R&R. Literally just sit on my ever-growing ass and do nothing.

It's frustrating, because I want to go walking every day. I want to go out and do things with friends. But at the same time, I need to relax as much as possible or else I'll end up sick and miserable. Seems like it's hard for others to understand, but it is what it is right now, and I don't like it anymore than they do.

What makes it all worth it is feeling Sully get stronger every day. He's begun to wake me up at night, and I find it really difficult to get frustrated with his insomniatic antics. It's something I better get used to, and I'm pleasantly surprised to find that it doesn't bother me being woken up by a squirmy little munchkin. We'll see if that changes when the kicking turns into screaming... ;)

Speaking of kicking, Taylor finally saw Sully move. He had his hand on my belly while Sully was uber active, but for some reason, he can't feel it to save his life. Over-think much? I actually saw the man's hand move when Sully kicked him, but nope, he didn't feel a thing. *Sigh* Good thing the kicks have gotten to the point where I can see them pushing on my belly. (There's that "alien" thought again....) So I had Taylor watch the belly instead. And BAM, the moment finally happened. There was no way Taylor could mistake those huge jumps in my belly for hunger pangs.

I have my next appointment on August 1st, and I'm excited to see how much Sully has grown in the last month. He's definitely strong, healthy, and growing fast. My belly feels enormous, so much so that I had to roll off the couch the other day to get up to pee (again), much to the amusement of my husband.

Do you see how walking two miles could be difficult with this added weight constantly throwing me off balance? I see all these "fit and pregnant" women on Pinterest or other blogs, and I have to fight the urge to say screw. you. I've always been one to workout and jog as part of my lifestyle, but my knees, ankles, and energy levels are finding it hard to keep up. It's gotten to the point where going up and down my stairs half a dozen times while cleaning is calling my exercise routine for the day good. Now if only I could turn my craving for chocolate ice cream into a craving for something like... Oh, who am I kidding?

There are a lot of things you have to just let go when you're pregnant. The house isn't going to be as clean as you like. You're not going to be as active as you want to be. The scale is inevitably going to go up. And you're clothes aren't going to fit anymore. It is what it is, and it's really taught me a lesson in just letting things be and not focusing on the things I can't do. I've been trying to put the energy I do have into things I can do. Or stepping back and remembering the things I am doing... Like creating a whole other life.

I think Taylor was worried about having to live with a pregnant wife due to the horror stories that every man seems to like to tell (as if they are victims and have the most difficult job in the whole deal), but I think I've handled it pretty well, and it helps to have such an understanding guy on my side. When I'm feeling extra irritable, I just tell him, "hey, I'm feeling really *itchy tonight," and instead of thinking it's something he's done or that I need to get over it, he always asks, "what can we do to make you feel better?" Or if I'm in one of those moods where I just want to cry, he gives me a hug and tells me to just let it out because I'll feel better for it. I don't make him a target of my hormones. I just give him a heads up that they are getting out of control and it's something he just seems to know how to help me with. We work together.

So instead of him thinking I've become possessed or me thinking he's an insensitive jerk (stereotypes, I know), we can focus on the fun stuff. Like belly kicks and car seat fiascos and putting the crib together.

Hopefully, soon I'll have some photos of the nursery!


Cheers!

The Rollercoaster

I don't have to tell you that being pregnant is a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Everyone knows it and it's always the joke that a pregnant woman will usually break down and cry doing something as simple as watching a freaking toilet paper commercial. I wouldn't say it's been that extreme for me, but I've definitely experienced a lot of ups, downs, backs, forths, and in betweens.

What I find most surprising, though, is how I feel now compared to how I felt barely a couple of months ago. I was asked very recently by a young girl if I liked being pregnant. Now, I'd definitely say yes. Before, all I wanted was for someone to knock me out and wake me when it was over. Pregnancy is a very sudden, absolutely drastic change, and it can be tough to deal not only with that, but with the prospect that this isn't even the scariest part.

However, now I'm feeling different. I got over the initial shock and frustration that my body is no longer my own. I've not only accepted the fear of what I don't know, but I've shifted my focus from my anxiety to looking forward to learning. I think the transition started when I started to feel Sully doing Kung Fu moves in my belly. 

I've got one active kid on my hands here, and if he's this crazy now, I'm definitely in trouble. It's gotten to the point that not only can I feel him move, I can see it. Yup. I'm not the only one who's seen it, and I think it freaked the guy out a bit if the look on his face was any indication. Sully's getting stronger everyday, and I'm glad for it. 

I've discovered that he loves chocolate chip cookies. I swear, he does! He usually gets kicking after I eat, but with chocolate chip cookies, he goes berserk. I can only imagine him in there going...

You might be thinking that it's the sugar, which would make sense, but I've eaten other sweets (what? don't judge...) without such a significant reaction out of him. The only conclusion I can come to is that it's his favorite thing I've ever eaten. So when I reach for another and Taylor gives me a funny look, all I have to say is, "What? Sully likes them!"

So between feeling that movement and the fact that I can call him by his name, everything has moved from that surreal dream world to something more solid, which has got me realllllly excited!! There's always that little voice of worry in the back of my mind, but for the most part I give it dirty looks and ignore it. 

I get the question "How are you feeling?" quite often, and my honest answer would be: great. I do have those days when my hormones amplify everything I'm feeling, and that can be tough (not to mention annoying), but I've got a great guy supporting me who never fails to pull me out of that hole. I get tired pretty quickly and have to take it easy more often than I would like, but I'm trying to just take advantage of my free pass and put my feet up. 

I think that's been the hardest part. Not being able to do the things I used to. Stay up late with friends. Go for a run. Load up the canoe for a day on the lake. Go all day working around the house. But I know it's not about me anymore. It's what's best for Sully, and my body is much more in tune with his needs than my own right now, so I really try to listen. Seeing it that way, I'm finding that it's getting pretty difficult to be frustrated.

The tables are turning and rather than cursing the fact that men can't carry babies, I'm feeling blessed that this is my job. That's not to say Taylor isn't doing anything: he's been taking care of everything before the baby comes to the point where all I have to do is... well, practically nothing besides show up for my doc appointments, take care of myself, and have fun with it. It's his way. He expresses his excitement by doing. 

I'm coming up on 22 weeks, so yeah, I'm almost done with my second trimester. Holy. Crap. I've heard the third is the hardest, but I'm really doing my best not to go into it with that little tidbit hanging over my head. I'm sure I'll get my waddle on like everyone else,

and I'm sure I'll be ready for Sully to get his dance moves on in the real world, but I'm really going to try to just enjoy it, because it's going by fast. 

I think that's all for now! Until next time...

Cheers!