17 weeks

 

Even after a 55 hour work week in the pharmacy {wah-wah, boo-hoo… I know many of you work more…}, a place where we stand 95% of the time {no, I will not enjoy the varicose veins that are sure to result from my career choices later in life} I just have to lead off with this:

I AM EXTREMELY HAPPY.

Things are beyond well with my soul♥   I have a great job, a great husband, a great family, home…. etc. etc. etc. The Lord has blessed us with this little one and given me {so far} the easiest pregnancy I could imagine. AND with the beginning of spring, the days are becoming warmer, the sun is shining later into the evening, and the flowers are just beginning to bloom. My world is a candy covered rainbow at the moment and I just can’t help but rub my belly and smile. =)

 

 

At 17 weeks, I’m beginning to actually feel more and more pregnant with each passing day. The tummy {and baby!} seem to be in a  growth phase that I think we’re really going to start seeing comparing the weeks’ pictures now… I hadn’t even been concerned with keeping up with them until lately when I could really start to see the difference!

 

I’m feeling FANTASTIC. I have little to no negative pregnancy side effects at the moment. My appetite has definitely returned and there are absolutely no foods on my aversion list. I am still, ever in love with shrimp and milk. {Not together, mind you.} I can’t get enough of either.

And before you question my shrimp intake like many others in my life, I’ll let you know I’ve read from multiple sources and heard from the doctor that it is, in fact, safe. I don’t eat very much and I’m always craving cooked shrimp, they say to stay away from raw - so we’re good!

The return of my appetite has brought a quick addition of the pounds. Last I updated you, I had only gained 2 pounds in 14 weeks. We are now in the positive by 8 pounds! I’m starting to re-think what I eat {just re-think it, not actually stop eating it. ha!} and trying to fit a little more exercise into my life. It also makes me feel better that my husband has gained more weight than me in just the month of February alone(!) {Sorry, Nick! I had to rat you out for my insecurity’s sake!! =)}

 

I’ve been surprised that even with a still small belly, bending over is already more difficult! This belly is such a hard mass that doesn’t “fold” and squish the way just a fat belly would allow for my abdomen to bend. I’m already squatting more, not something I expected to be doing this early on.

To add to the list of surprises and to calm anyone else’s fears going through this for the first time too, I’m surprised at how many sharp pains I have in and around my abdomen on a daily basis. Of course, this is all the ligaments and uterus just doing their job to stretch, but DANG! it hurts. It literally stops me in my tracks and takes my breath away at times. I’ve been told that if pain isn’t coupled with bleeding, don’t worry about it. That’s just what I’m doing!

 

Lastly, I’m fairly sure… I felt the baby moving on Saturday! I felt little flutters like nothing I’ve ever felt before on and off all day. It must have been my son’s extreme joy over UK’s win to go on to the Sweet 16 ;) Sadly, I haven’t felt them since, but I’m sure when the rib kicks start, I’ll wish I had a little more of a break from this rowdy little boy that’s sure to be growing in there.

 

We have such a fun day planned for our 6 year anniversary of being together today♥   I’ll be sure to re-cap later ;)