10 Things I Didn't Expect

Did I expect the nausea and the mood swings? You betcha! Here are 10 things about pregnancy that I didn't quite expect:



--The fact that it is SO dang difficult to obtain quality sleep at night after about week 16. (Hence the reason I'm typing this blog at 5:38 am in the morning). I have to get up every two hours to pee, Vivian likes to have a party in my uterus in the wee hours of the morning, and sleeping on my side is just miserable. I feel like after an hour on my side, my shoulder and hip have been dislocated. Not to mention the momentous effort it requires to flip over.

--That I would be eating Tums like they were candy.

--That my truly neurotic side would come out in the open. I always seem to worry about something I've accidently done to harm the baby, or if I'm going to be a good parent. I think people tire of seeing my neurotic posts on facebook!

--That I would adore the swimming pool this much. There is nothing better than floating around, feeling weightless...and being able to lay on my stomach! Oh yes, the pool is my new BFF.

--That I would have more of a respect and admiration for my own mom. I find myself talking on the phone with her more often, soliciting her advice. I think now that I realize what she went through to bring me into this world, I have more of an appreciation for her than I did before. Not only that, but now I understand the love the she feels for me, because I'm beginning to feel that love for my own child.

--That I would already feel as if I know my daughter already. I know that she kicks when I'm hungry (meaning she's likely hungry as well). She's not an early morning person, but she loves to party at night. She is quite the little prankster because my first pregnancy test came back negative and all the signs pointed to "boy"....and she has been very feminine in both of her ultrasounds. Early in my pregnancy, I could always tell the doctor or midwife where they could locate her heartbeat, because she always hung out on my left side, behind my artery...and the very first kicks I could feel, I felt in that area.

--That having to pee 24-7 is no exagerration. I swear, I buy toilet paper twice as often as I used to. It doesn't help that little girl likes to head-butt my bladder all of the time.

--That the aches and pains are no joke either. My stretched out abdominal muscles ache. My hips and pelvis crackle and pop when I walk. My lower back throbs. My feet hurt from all of the extra weight pressing down on them. I could go on and on. I told Brad to duct-tape a watermelon to his belly and walk around for a day (and to try and sleep with the watermelon at night as well). That might give him an idea. Although, I will say, he has been very empathetic towards me. :)

--That people seem to find you much more interesting when you're pregnant. At my job, women are always asking me when I'm due, asking me questions and soliciting advice. I think other moms feel more of a connection with you when they know you're a mom, too. I also get pampered a good bit more, both at work, home and out in public. I could get used to that!

--The whole second trimester "energy burst" is a bunch of crock. I'm beginning to think that the urge to nest is a fib, too, because I yet to have the urge to nest. I mostly just have the urge to veg out and be a couch potato these days.