On being a Preggo...

Finally here it is...a post about my preggo-ness.  I have been hesitant to write this post because I'm afraid it will just turn into a complaining session, but I shall try to avoid that.  And since I love lists, I'm going to do my Top 3's.

This is me and Chris at Texas Roadhouse with that little devil armadillo.  I am about 5 and half months along.

Top 3 Most Annoying Physical Side-Affects of being a Preggo

1.  "Morning Sickness" which does not magically go away once the morning is over.  It is more "All-day Sickness."  Thankfully I rarely get sick now but I was sick almost everyday for about the first six and a half months of my pregnancy and then it slowly started to taper from there.  It's like having the stomach flu for months on end.  No fun at all...

2.  Because of said morning sickness, I was given this delightful pill which would magically make my nauseousness go away.  I started popping that baby like there was no tomorrow, which lead to the 2nd worst physical side-affect of my pregnancy.  Maybe it's actually a side-affect of a side-affect.  Anyway, after about a week and a half of taking that pill, I got MAJOR constipation.  Let's just say, the ability to poo at will is a blessed thing I had always taken for granted.  After a horrible week I decided I'd rather be sick all day than be blocked up worse than a shower drain in a 6 girl apartment.

Here, look at something cute after you heard all about my constipation.  This is the diaper cake Chris's mom made for my baby shower.  She put together the whole shower.  She did amazing! I wish I had gotten more pictures.  It was jungle themed because that is how we are doing Jack's nursery.

3.  I feel like this is a toss up between my sciatic nerve, heartburn, and general uncomfortableness of having a bowling bowl hanging off the front of me.  But probably the most annoying would be the heartburn.  I've had ulcers in the past which have always give me pretty bad heartburn and I've taken Nexium everyday throughout my pregnancy, but I still find it horrible.  There were a couple of months when the baby was pretty big and hadn't dropped yet that my heartburn got pretty bad.  I felt like a gas stove.  Even when the heartburn wasn't in full flame, there was always a little pilot light in my stomach causing a constant little burn.  Like I've mentioned before, the heartburn was worse when I tried to lie down and I had a hard time sleeping sitting up, so that lead to a few sleepless nights.  In Kansas, I learned to tell what time it was by the sprinkler system.  First time I heard them it was midnight, then two am and then four am.  Now that the baby has dropped though, I hardly ever get heartburn so that is a b to the lessing.

These little beach ball/jungle animals were hanging out all over at the shower.   This lion is chilling on the fan.

Top 3 Most Annoying Emotional Side-Affects of being a Preggo

1.  I get bummed out real easy these days.  I will go to make a sandwich and realize I have no bread and then an overwhelming feeling of hopelessness and sadness rushes over me, and all I can do is sit down and cry...over a sandwich.  It's pretty pathetic.  Sometimes I feel like half of me is on a crazy roller coaster and the other half is sitting on the sidelines watching the crazy ride and wondering what the heck is going on.  I'm usually fully aware of how crazy my emotions are making me act, I just can't help it.

2.  I also get moments of unsolicited rage.  Poor Chris is usually the victim of these times.  I feel like a boiling pot of water; I have to let off some steam or I will explode.  These feelings come out of nowhere and surprise me just as much as the poor onlookers.  I'm ashamed to say that I have thrown a good many things across the room as hard as I could since becoming pregnant. (And maybe once or twice before that.)

3.  I just get emotionally exhausted or overwhelmed and just want to veg out and forget about everything.  When this happens it becomes really hard for me to communicate. I think things in my head and figure other people know what I'm thinking (which makes no sense at all) but find it almost painful to actually say things out loud.  Basically I become a mute. 

(I'm adding one more) 4.  I have become socially handicapped.  The thought of talking with some one I don't know scares me so much sometimes I make myself sick.  And you can forget about phones.  I hate them with a passion.  I talk with Mandi and Chris on the phone and try my best to avoid anything else.  The idea of having to small talk with someone also makes me uber nervous.  I feel like I'm a little kid again trying to get up the nerve to talk with all of the big, scarry adults.

All of these problems I've had before I got Preggo, now they are just magnified.  So hopefully they will shrink again when this cutey pa-tooty finally comes.

Don't worry I'm just scattering these shower pictures out and about to hopefully lighten the mood of this post.

The 3 Most Awkward things about being a Preggo

1.  The day I realized that I was skinner straight on than to the side was a weird day.  I'm so used to turning side ways when I want to squeeze by something.  Now I just have to plow straight through head on.

2.  The looks.  You would think people on campus and around Provo would be used to pregnant people.  But whenever I go on campus or out to do something fun I get strange looks.  Like when Chris and I went to the Homecoming Dance.  People looked at me like I was crazy to be leaving the house in such a state.  It's like unless its absolutely necessary, like grocery shopping, I should be hiding my shame.  Same thing with campus...I get bestowed the stomach glance quite often.  It's like "elevator eyes" only not flattering at all, and from girls too.  I always wonder if I used to give preggos looks too...and I think unfortunatley the answer is yes.  I think for the most part people are just looking because it's something out of the ordinary and my waddle is probably entertaining as well.  So I shouldn't judge the judgers so much I guess. 

Chris and I at the Homecoming Dance for BYU where all of the strange looks were given.  I am about eight months here.  Have you ever tried finding a maternity formal dress?  It is hard work.  Especially if you don't want to spend a lot of money for something you may only wear once.  Chris helped me fashion this number for about twenty dollars in a couple of days.

3.  When people ask me what I am doing with my life. ..."Uh...um...well...just growing a human I guess."  I had to quit my job very early in my pregnancy, even before I knew was pregnant, thanks to a wonderful combination of bleeding ulcers and a series of gnarly U.T.I's.  Then in Kansas I was too morning sick to work.  I never knew when I was going to need to lay down or upchuck.  And now that I'm feeling better there is really no time to get a job for just two months.  So now I'm a stay-at-home-wife.  Which is not a recognized profession.  I am so excited for when my tiny comes and I will have a purpose again.  And so that I when people ask,  I will sound more legit. 

Chris and I on a carriage ride at the Homecoming shin-dig.

Top 3 Best Things about being a Preggo

1.  When I was sick all of those months I lost a bunch of weight.  About 10 pounds I would say.  I didn't feel good but I looked good.  And now that I'm gaining so much weight these last few weeks I'm really glad I was able to lose some at the beginning.

2.  I'm never alone.  I always have my little buddy Jack to keep me company.  One time when I was really lonely and Chris had fallen asleep, I spent the night poking Jack so that he would stay awake and keep me company.  He hardly ever kicks too much or too hard.  Usually it's just comforting nudges that remind me that I have a little tiny friend that I already love so much. 

3.  Chris and I have become a lot closer.  I just love him so much.  He has been so good to me while I'm going through all of this physical and emotional trauma.  I just always feel like I have a best friend who will do anything for me.  It is such a comforting thought.  I don't know how people do this on their own. 

Chis and I this last weekend, in Park City for our Anniversary.  I am 8 and a half months here.  Too bad that means nothing because you can't see my belly...just the way I like it :)

Well that's about it and this did kind-of turn into a complaining session...oops.  This pregnancy has been really hard for me so maybe there was no avoiding it. 

In good news, I was informed yesterday that I am 2.5cm dilated and 85 percent effaced.  I was also told I have "a really nice cervix."  Strangest compliment I've ever been given.  Basically my doctor said that I have made significant progress in the last week and sometimes when this happens people have their babies within a couple of days or it could just mean that when I do actually go into labor it will be that much easier since I've already progressed so much.  And this morning I think I ejected part or all of my mucus plug (probably the grossest sentence ever to grace this blog).  While that is nasty I find it exciting.  Maybe little Jack will make his entrance this weekend.  And If not, that will just give me more time to emotionally prepare and more time to get those darn monkeys painted in his nursery.