Then Comes the Baby in the Baby Carriage

My newest experience that I am currently undergoing is *bum-bum-bum* pregnancy.  Not that you hadn't figured that out by the title of this blog, you smart reader you.  There are all kinds of new things that I am learning during this experience.  I will list them in a minute, but first let me tell you the fun story of how I discovered I was pregnant.

From the top...
My husband and I always planned on having our first child at age 25.  I have gone back and forth on whether I felt ready to have a kid or not.  During one of my more particularly maternal moods, I told the hubs that we should stop trying not to have a kid.  Spontaneity.  It has both cursed and blessed me.

Four weeks later, I was having one of those super moody nights, you know what I mean ladies.  I was a bit crazy.  The husband picked up on this and started to feel the same way.  This made me realize that I was moody and about to have the monthly curse.  I told myself to stop being so moody because of the PMS.  Magically and suddenly, I was super relaxed.  You might not know me, but I do, and let me tell you, I am good at managing my moods and thoughts (benefits of being trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy).  Except when I am having PMS.  Anyways, sitting in my super relaxed state, I realized that I had just shut down PMS.  Rather than giving myself a pat on the back for being so in control of my emotions, I realized that I was pregnant.  The next day (which was supposed to be day one of my monthly) I took a pregnancy test and found out I was preggars.

I was not excited, but I wasn't regretful.  I knew there was going to be a ginormous change in my life and I didn't know how to feel about it.  I spent the day planning out how to tell the hubs.

Uncooperative man
I have had a plan on how to tell the hubs about being pregnant since I started Pinterest-ing.  I saw a post that gave some creative ways to break the news and it gave me an idea that wasn't on the list.  I went to Kohl's, bought some toddler-sized black Converse low-top shoes, and went home to gift wrap them.  Inside of the box, I taped the positive pregnancy test.  When the hubs got home, I told him I bought him a gift.  He was excited, but went about his business of who-really-knows-what and was about to go play video games (not knowing I had a camera set up recording the event).  I told him to go sit at the table for his gift.  He whined about it, wanting to sit on the couch.  After some convincing (me repeating myself until he obeyed), he sat down.  I gave him his gift and he opened it... and stared.  For a while.  Then he shot his eyes up to me and almost whispered, "You're pregnant."   I nodded, not capable of speech.  After about five or six, "really?!"s, he exclaimed, "My *&#^ works!"  I have video evidence of this, but if you know him, you probably aren't surprised.

The moment
I was living in a surreal emotional state for a while, not sad, not happy, not disappointed, but just not really believing.  The moment I realized I had an actual baby growing inside me was when I was reading up on my symptoms and the baby's development.  I found out that my baby had little tiny fingers and toes.  I started crying.  My baby had itsy bitsy hands with itsy bitsy fingers.  That was the moment when it became real.  The little bud of excitement that had been hiding started to come to the surface.

Secrets
We told my family and some of his family and then sealed it up.  We didn't want to tell anyone until we heard the heartbeat.  So, for two months, we tortured our family members by not allowing them to release the big news.  At my first appointment at 12 weeks, it was time to hear the heart, except the baby didn't cooperate.  My midwife wanted to make sure everything was okay, so she sent me in for an ultrasound.  It was pretty amazing.  The baby looks like a little, tiny, giant-headed, human.  Just chilling in there.  Our baby was fine, of course, so we finally got to tell people.  Having people react so excitedly fed my energy and helped me to become more excited.  I already have several babysitters lined up.  Telling people was a lot of fun too.  I sent out text messages to some of my closest friends and family that simply said, "I bought a pair of shoes that I can't wear for a while, can I show you so I don't have to wait?"  When people said yes, I sent them a picture of the little shoes.

Except for one exception.  There was only one guy that made it on my text list.  I didn't think he would care at all.  Then I received a text back that simply said, "I'm coming over."  When he got to the apartment, my husband put the shoes in his hands.  He stared at them for a few seconds before his head shot up in shock.  "You're pregnant!" It was hilarious.

Most people got this picture of our chucks all lined up.  How cute is it that all the shoes are black and white?  Too perfect, I know.

What have I learned
I am about to enter the second trimester next week and I am so happy to be past the awful first trimester.  Things you should know about me before you read the list of the things I have learned:  I drink a lot of water (about 75 ounces a day), I love Zumba and Bosu but am not a huge fitness fanatic, I am typically a pretty healthy person.  Now, enjoy this list of educational insights no one prepared me for.

• Water has no flavor.  I haven't been able to drink it plain - at all - without feeling sick.
• The first trimester is basically like having PMS with cramps for three months straight.
• I have struggled with acne for about 12 years, but it is now the worst it has ever been. Thank you hormones.
• College frat boys have nothing on the gassiness levels of pregnant women.  This has faded recently for me, but wow.
• When basically everything makes you nauseated just to think of, food tends to lose its appeal.
• Doesn't matter if you are showing or not, people still want to touch the belly.
• Two naps in a day are not enough.
• Conversely, naps cause headaches.
• Walking up stairs or down the street becomes a workout.
• When people find out, they immediately want to know the gender and name.
• Boobs are unmanageable at this size.  I have a new found respect for big-busted women.
• The thought of fetus hands is tear-inducing.
• People will think you are crazy if you tell them you're having a natural birth at a birthing center.
• People really want you to eat - a lot.
• A simple cold will have you crying on the bathroom floor, yelling at the hubs when he tries to help.
• Baths are suddenly one of the best things ever.
• That little tiny thing inside you takes over your heart before you realize its happened.

I'm sure there will be more to come, but these are the biggies for now.