Somehow these weeks keep flying by and baby is getting bigger and bigger. When Danny and I found out back in February we were going to welcome a baby into the world I don’t think we had any clue what to expect. (I’m referring to this pregnancy…not having a baby because clearly, we still have little idea of the reality of a baby. Our baby will sleep all the time, only cry for short amounts of time and just be smiley and happy…right? )
Many people when they get pregnant eventually do posts about their journey to pregnancy and what worked for them to get pregnant. I really don’t have much to say on that topic because we were lucky enough that it just happened*. We were pretty surprised and probably in disbelief for the first 3-4 months. Even hearing baby’s heart beat and getting ultrasounds didn’t totally make it real for us. I always envisioned when I got pregnant there would be lots of tears at the first ultrasound/doctors appointment, but really the tears didn’t come until the 16 and 20 week appointment. I kind of even felt pretty detached in the beginning. While I was always somewhat excited, the surprise and disbelief kind of got the best of me. (*Note: Even though I didn’t do anything to technically prepare to get pregnant, I do feel that eating healthy, exercise, being at a healthy weight and not having an overly stressful life all did help!)
Fast forward to 24 weeks and now I couldn’t be more excited. I’ve spent the past week taking time to lay down each day and watch baby C kick and move across my belly, something that is truly alien like. I also ask baby if it’s a boy or a girl almost daily…but I tend to substitute our secret baby names in for boy or girl. Either way there really is a baby inside there and it’s all very real. Danny has gotten into the habit of saying hello and goodbye to baby when he goes to work, which is just the sweetest thing ever. The excitment I see in his eyes is so special to me. I know that he is just going to be the best father.
Now that I’m crying…
Onto this week in pregnancy! I’m almost at 24 weeks. 16 weeks to go..give or take some time. I’ve been feeling good and I really am taking everything in stride (I think…). I have had some uncomfortable nights where I just feel like I want to detach my belly from my body, but I mostly just feel really good. Heartburn has also made a somewhat nightly appearance, but I’ve dealt with that on and off my whole life, so it’s not awful.
Food: Food is blah again. I’m not excited to eat much but I’m still eating healthy. I also have found that occasionally I get REALLY full from a normal or even smallish dinner. Last night I had a salad with chicken, feta, chickpeas and some veggies and I felt like I ate a Christmas Day feast! I think it depends where baby is. My favorite foods right now are homemade pizza, cheese and corn pasta…and watermelon…still. Random, I know. I’m not really into dessert at all…but I do have some sort of chocolate usually each day. This week it’s been in the form of chocolate covered fruit & nut bars. Yum.
Exercise: Still going strong. This week so far I had a session on the elliptical/short full body weight session, 2 runs and a Jillian Michaels DVD. Tomorrow I’ll probably just go for a walk. Tuesday was a HARD run. I walked more than usual, which I’m totally fine with. I’m not sure what made it especially hard, but I got through it with walking breaks. Today I got out at about 6:45 a.m., did 5 miles and felt great with only 1 walking break.
Belly: I feel like belly has grown a lot in the past two weeks. Some nights I feel HUGE, but most of the time I’m just enjoying it. I have no clue how much I’ve gained at this point. At 20 weeks I gained 8 pounds, so I’m guessing it’s between 10-12 pounds at this point. I’m overall happy with how I look and I think keeping up with exercise and healthy eating has really helped with body image. I feel strong.
Sleep: I love sleep. I really do. I go to bed (on the couch) most nights by 9 and then move to my bed at 10 after Danny fights with me to get me up. I usually sleep until 6-7 with one wake up to use the bathroom.
That was a long update and not even much has changed..besides my belly. I’ll leave you a picture of my (dry peely) belly. I woke up this morning and rolled over and baby C promptly did the same, making my belly totally lopsided. I thought it was so funny I had to snap a pic (and send it to 5 people.)
Feeling very lucky and grateful to be enjoying this pregnancy so much.
See you tomorrow!
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
It’s actually really comforting to hear that you felt detached at first because that’s kind of how i’m feeling. I’m excited but not really in any overt kind of way. Sometimes I feel like I have to fake excitement when people talk to me about it (maybe it’s the fatigue?). It just doesn’t seem real. I just look like I’ve been eating too much ice cream. Haha. But we started to work on the spare room to turn it into a nursery. And my ultrasound is at the end of July. So I’m thinking it’ll start to become more real to me soon.
i always forget that the shape of a belly can actually change in the pregnancy. as in the baby rolling over picture, or seeing the baby kick in your belly. crazy! must be surreal and so exciting for you. i can’t wait to meet baby c!
Caitlin recently posted..Real Housewife of New Jersey at Mohegan Sun – Giveaway!
I totally relate to this post– I think I was in disbelief (and kind of detached) for a long time at the beginning of my pregnancy too…and then suddenly it was like a switch was flipped and I was SUPER excited.
So glad that everything is going well for you, Nicole!! That baby will be here before you know it…
Anna @ On Anna’s Plate recently posted..This Sauce…Like, Whoa
Love the belly shot! It really is so weird but exciting see the baby move around and make those crazy looking bumps in there. Almost makes me want to go through it again.
I remember losing appetite when pregnant in summer. I think the heat just kills it completely.
Tina @ Best Body Fitness recently posted..My Fitness Bucket List
love these updates and so excited for you. love seeing the baby belly and so happy to hear that your pregnancy journey is going so well!! hugs
purelymichelle recently posted..thank you
I say this after every pregnancy update post, but I think you look so adorable. And I love hearing how well you are doing. Can’t wait to meet this little one!
Krysten Siba Bishop (@darwinianfail) recently posted..Marathon Training Thursday – Mileage, Miles, and More Running
ahhh…I miss those random feet and elbows jutting out!! Always a cool feeling.
Lindsay @ Lindsay’s List recently posted..dealing with plantar fasciitis
You look great!! I love seeing your Instagram pics and updates on running. You’re halfway there. I remember that as my pregnancies progressed, I couldn’t eat much at all because my stomach was squished by the baby! Enjoy it!
Christine @ Love, Life, Surf recently posted..Transylvania County – Land of Waterfalls…and the Hunger Games
Thanks for sharing your pregnancy update Nichole. There are many changes that will take over during pregnancy and it gives you overwhelming feeling, surprise and happiness. In fact, you will feel excite to see your angel. So, good luck on your pregnancy. Love you.mwuahh.
Allicia Tresch recently posted..Dealing with Important Men’s Issues
I have read a lot of pregnancy updates and I am so happy that you really have a health pregnancy period. You are very happy for your baby. I am happy for you as well. I hope you will have a healthy baby.
Faith Snow recently posted..Instant Eyelid lift for every women
I have never had a baby, but does it feel weird to have the baby moving around on the inside?
I missed this yesterday =) 16 weeks to go is nothing!!!!
Isn’t the lopsided belly the strangest thing in the world? It gets even weirder as the weeks go by – I was always so worried to touch my belly too hard, and would stare in disbelief as my dr would press around in my belly SO hard! LOL. So I started doing it when the baby would wedge up in one area and make life uncomfortable – totally worked to move him/her around =)
So glad to hear that you are feeling great – you have such a good outlook on pregnancy ! Love it.
Michele @ nycrunningmama recently posted..Sparkly Soul Coach of the Month (June) + Giveaway
Short-time reader, first-time commenter. ;c)
I’m 22 weeks along (today!), and I wanted to chime in on the feeling detached during the first trimester, and even feeling guilty when everyone around me was more excited than I was, and expected me to be absolutely elated, too.
To compound the surreality, my pregnancy was a surprise. Not an unwanted one by any means; in fact, we’d tried for three years, struggling with infertility, finally giving up after some discouraging lab results (we weren’t willing to get aggressive with IVF, etc.). We’d had a year to adjust to either eventually adopting or not having kids at all. When I started feeling sick in early March, I thought I had food poisoning. I saw my doctor after not being able to shake it, she ran a pregnancy test to be sure, and … I was almost 8 weeks along!
So, we had to shift our perspective from not having kids to having one on the way. Because of my age (37 now, 38 when I deliver) and fertility struggles, I was afraid to get too attached to the idea of having a baby, convinced that something was going to go horribly wrong. We didn’t start to relax until the 12-week ultrasound, and I didn’t really start to enjoy it or feel connected until about 16 weeks. Now, I’m looking forward to delivering (and meeting!) our healthy son!