8 Weeks

**This is a pregnancy-related post, so please feel free to skip this post if you're not up for it. My wish is to document this special gift of pregnancy for as long as I am able to, and I truly do not wish to hurt anyone in the process. Take care of yourself first, and know of my prayers.**

Today is 8 weeks! YAY! 8 weeks! It really does feel like a big milestone, because I was only able to barely pass this mark with Anne. In fact, if I'm being honest, that thought is on my mind a lot this week. I am battling a lot of fear and anxiety that I know is NOT from God, but it isn't easy. I am so close to that arbitrary 32 days. It shouldn't matter at all, but I suppose it does to me. God, give me strength as I move forward.

My next ultrasound is Friday, and I am SO excited to see peanut again, hopefully even wriggling around a bit! But I will be extra nervous because, well, my last second ultrasound I was alone, and heartbroken, and devastated. This time, I will have my mom and T with me, no matter what. But I won't even think like that. It will be great! It will be wonderful!!!!!!!!!!! Prayers, if you can spare them, are greatly appreciated!

And so, on to the fun stuff...

Waiting for tapas...

Crazy sisters...

Crazier...

Craziest.

My amazing dad!

So, as you can see, my birthday was a blast!

T and I went out for tapas on Saturday night, which included a long wait for a table and a ginger ale on the house for my hungry tummy. But the food was delicious, even if it did take me less time than usual to fill up! Sunday my awesome parents cooked me a shrimp arrabiata pasta dish and made me a strawberry lemonade birthday cake! Sounds amazing, right?! My stomach wasn't quite up to it, and while I did have a few bites, the majority of it came home with me to eat later. But no complaints. An awesome birthday with peanut in my belly calling all the shots!!!

Which leads me to...

8 weeks on the nose

I'm realizing that my pictures don't seem to really do the belly any justice. You might not be able to see much, but trust me when I say, IT'S THERE. Big time. I will not say how much weight I've gained, but let's just say it's too much for a mere 8 weeks. And it just appeared, out of nowhere! Sure, I am not really exercising at the moment (doctor ordered pelvic rest), but I do walk 4 miles a day for work, and I'm not eating like a wild hog or anything! Where did all of those lbs come from?! Sigh. This same thing happened during my first pregnancy, and then it took me about 6 months to get those pesky lingering pounds off. With any luck, I will have FAR MORE weight to take off come this winter! 

I heard an interesting thing the other day, that women who have had uterine surgery are more likely to 'show' early in their pregnancy. Does anyone know if this is true? It sure would explain a lot!

On to the short and sweet.

How far along? 8 weeks on the nose!

Clothing? My normal wardrobe for now, but am fully into rubberband-in-the-zipper territory. The belly band is right around the corner, I'm sure. Gulp.

Stretch marks? Not yet, hopefully never? Wishful thinking!

Sleep? Getting lots and lots of it, waking up around 5 AM to pee, and the back to sleep for another 1.5 hours. Really hard to wake up, though!!

Best moment of this week? My birthday with baby peanut in my belly, even if she was extra demanding in the food department!!! :)

Worst moment of this week? Some fear and anxiety that I am really working hard to manage.

Miss anything? Walking to work without thinking about where the best spot might be to stop and puke. And NO, I have not puked yet, but every single morning is an extreme will-she-won't-she adventure!

Movement? Nothing yet, but SO EXCITED for that special day!!!

Symptoms? Some fatigue, on-and-off breast tenderness, heightened sense of smell, some lower ab stretching/very mild cramping/RLP, lots of nausea (but no puking), crazy dreams, and a mega bloated stomach. But NO spotting in almost three full weeks, praise God!!!

Food cravings? Last week I had a craving for Smashburger, but when it arrived in all of its glory, I could barely touch it. The only thing that has been calming my stomach is ginger ale and mini Baybel cheese wheels, of all things.

Gender? I guess for now I still think girl.

Labor Signs? Heck no.

Belly button in or out? Firmly IN!

Wedding rings on or off? On!

Mood? Happy!!! A bit antsy as Friday approaches, but so happy every day I have peanut in my belly!!!

Rituals? Nighttime lullaby, holy water on the belly in the morning, holy oil on the belly at night. It's just comforting to me :)

Looking forward to? Friday, and an AMAZING ULTRASOUND with hopefully more pictures!!!!!

Have a terrific week, all.