11 KEWL Weeks!

**This is a pregnancy-related post, so please feel free to skip this post if you're not up for it. I do not want anyone to feel unnecessarily sad or hurt, as I completely and 100% understand how that feels. God bless.**

11 whole weeks, and I'd say that's pretty kewl. Excuse my AOL language...but I never could retire that one. You might even get a 'l8er sk8er' on occasion. Because sometimes we need to be old-school and silly...just because.

And 50 whole posts today!!!! WOOHOO!!! (Not sure why I'm celebrating really...it just means I have a lot to chat/whine about. But still kind of an accomplishment!)

I must say, I am feeling VERY HAPPY today. Happy to be alive, ecstatic to be pregnant. But don't let this euphoria fool you--these hormones, oh yes, they are a wild ride. Crying over pizza. Laughing at work. Brooding over nothing in particular. All in all, I'd say it's pretty kEwL.

We had a busy busy week this week! T and I were honored and privileged to attend and participate in his dear sister's baby shower this past weekend, and it was wonderful. I would include pics, but I'll respect her privacy...even though she was glowing and lovely, and so happy! She received so many great gifts, and I received many valuable tips as I near the end of my first trimester. Crazy, right?! Lord, give me strength! (P.S. My other sister-in-law's cupcakes deserve an honorable mention here as well...man, were those a gift to this hungry mama's growling belly!!! She sure is talented!)

After those festivities wrapped up, we had my middle sister's 22nd birthday to celebrate. 22!!!!! I seriously cannot believe she is so old (as am I, by default). I remember her when she was just a tyke, eating bugs and 'marrying' the neighbor boy (luv ya Moll). We had an awesome celebration, and it was great to pack in some much needed sibling time. The cake was pretty stellar, too (so many talented bakers in my family!!! Though I am not one of them...).

The gang's all here!

My sister NEVER EVER takes shots, but this was a result of my T's peer pressure (bad, I know). But they were lemon drops, and fairly innocuous. Cheers to you, Molls!!!

Monday is fast-approaching, and I absolutely cannot wait. I am surrounded by positive energy (especially T and my mama), and everyone is assuring me that things will be AMAZING. And so, I am choosing to believe that with my whole heart! Because what's the benefit of the alternative, really? Walking around in a cloud of doom instead of enjoying these precious days? Dumb. So I am praying and praying and praying, and I do feel like God is gifting me with the special peace that I recognize as His trademark gift to me, a perpetual worry-wart. Thank you, God. Thank you, Mother Mary. I have to remember, especially now, that I am consecrated to you...and that this is all in your hands, and the hands of your Blessed Son. At the end of my consecration, I remember them recommending a daily prayer of reminder to be said to affirm your commitment...I wish I could remember it word-for-word, but it was something like "Everything I have and everything I am, I offer to You, through your Blessed Mother." Truer words have never been spoken. This child in my womb is not my own, but rather is a child of God whose care has been amazingly entrusted to me. An adoption, if you will (an idea which has not and will never disappear from my heart)! I must remind myself of this, and proceed with faith and joy.

Rambling over. Here we go:

Don't worry, I slid that skirt back up and over the bump for work today...not ready to bare that much bump-age in the office yet (although who am I kidding, it's still totally there)!

How far along? 11 weeks, and baby is apparently the size of a brussel sprout. From the size of my tummy, you would think baby was at least at melon-status...but nope, not yet! PS Does the second trimester start at week 12? Week 14? The internet is split here.

Clothing? Creative as of late. Lots of stretchy/baggy tops, paired with my last two pairs of pants that fit or my only stretchy skirt (worn today). This weekend might be maternity-shopping time.

Stretch marks? Nope, but still need that belly butter.

Sleep? A sore lower back makes it a bit hard to get comfy, but 15-minutes with my trusty heat-pack helps a bit. Then it's GOODNIGHT SAILOR...unless your mom calls you in the middle of the night (11:00 PM) and tells you to head to the basement because there's a tornado a-brewin'. Turns out it was a false alarm. Cue grumpy mama.

Best moment of this week? Watching my belly streeeeeeeetch when it's full of food, celebrating my SIL's pregnancy, partying with my sister and the fam, and finally receiving my first belly kisses from T...who apparently FINALLY believes that there's somethin' cookin' in there! :)

Worst moment of this week? A few minor freak-outs over some ingredients in things...like the protein powder I put in my morning shakes, and some lotion that unknowingly had evening primrose oil in it. Thank goodness for understanding docs who can put this nutbar's mind at ease. Being pregnant is like one big (awesome) research project!

Miss anything? If I'm being honest, I have been CRAVING strong coffee and sushi this week (not together). Perhaps it will be my first post-partum night out (and morning in) treat!

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

Symptoms? Fatigue (so hard to wake up in the morning!), on-and-off breast tenderness, lower ab stretching/very mild cramping/RLP, mild nausea (but definitely dissipating, which of course freaks me out!), lots of sneezing and clearing my throat (G-L-AM-O-R-O-U-S), craaaazy dreams, general soreness, CLUMSINESS, metallic-y taste in my mouth at random times, a growing belly, and my newest symptom...DUMBNESS. As in, complete word-retrieval failure, ridiculous typing issues (I have already proofread this post about 25 times and caught typos every time), and stoopid comments popping out of my piehole left and right. Sorry, world. I'm trying, really!

Food cravings? Sushi, coffee, mac-and-cheese, toasted brown bread with butter, french fries.

Gender? Still calling her by her girl name, but have a boy name picked out just in case! BTW--no plans to find out until his/her birthday!

Labor Signs? No siree.

Belly button in or out? In! But worrying about this lately. I (VERY STUPIDLY--no offense to anyone who has this, but it was something I did as a 'rebellion' and didn't really want) pierced my belly button on my 18th birthday, and the hole never closed. I also have a pretty thick scar in there from my lap. What will that sucker look like at 36 weeks?! Again, sorry world.

Wedding rings on or off? On!

Mood? Euphoric today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But ask me again in an hour... ;)

Rituals? Nighttime lullaby, holy water on the belly in the morning, holy oil on the belly at night. And staring at the ultrasound picture on our fridge as often as I can!!!!!

Looking forward to? The weekend!!! Date night with T, fireworks with the fam, a wedding shower for a dear friend, and then MONDAY with my peanut!!!!!!

(Sorry if these updates seem like overkill, guys...I just genuinely want to remember every single moment!)

I hope everyone is enjoying the same beautiful weather that we are. The Windy City is gorgeous today. We love you summer!!!!! Please don't ever leave.

I will leave you with this wonderful Magnificat post, because, as usual, it really spoke to me this morning:

Because I still battle 'demons'--negative/anxious thoughts that try desperately to overthrow my joy. And this line touched my heart: "He is love, and this continuous warfare calls for more love and develops that love still further." Amen.

God bless, and have a wonderful week!