See how I am growing!

18 weeks

21 weeks - on Valentine's Day

25 weeks - she's really growing now!
Steve says, "I think you might be pregnant." Silly man. : )

I am nearing the end of the second trimester, and boy am I feeling every bit of it! I am starting to get backaches and I can hear my pelvis crack and pop when I walk or turn over in bed, and sometimes I even feel it slide when I walk (an incredibly weird sensation, mind you). I got my first stretch marks (ACK! THE HORROR!) but luckily they are on my thighs, and not on my belly. I am staying greased up with cocoa butter in hopes I can avoid getting the stretch marks on my belly. I seem to have a headache every single day (but luckily my migraines seem to have lessened). I still vomit spontaneously, but at least the lingering nausea is gone, and I still rely on Tums (although I am sure not to take too many - thanks for the heads up, Kim). My fingers have started to swell a bit, so I've taken off my wedding rings, and I even feel my feet swelling sometimes. I feel like I can eat all day long (and all night, too), although I can't eat too much in one sitting. Suddenly I have a major sweet tooth, and SweeTarts Jelly Beans are my new favorite candy. I stay off the scale as much as possible - no need to torture myself! Luckily, my doctor's office uses the metric system, so I really don't have an idea of my weight until I convert it. 67 kilograms sounds so much better than 100-and-none-of-your-business pounds! : )

We bought our stroller and carseat - which was exciting! Soon, we'll purchase the pack-n-play, which we plan to keep downstairs to give her a place to sleep, since that's where I am during the day. The crib and changing table are ready in her room, just waiting for the bedding set I ordered to get here. I am so ready to have everything done in her room, although she won't be in there for the first few months. We plan to keep her in our room for the first 4-6 months, but I still want her room to be ready.

She is such an active baby in the womb - I wonder if it is a sign of things to come. And oh goodness, do I have some reaping to do from my childhood! I am sure that I will have an all new appreciation for my parents and the things they put up with from me. I'm sure Steve has some reaping to do as well. : )

Sometimes, it is frightening to think that in just a few months, we will actually have a real, live baby in our home. It's been just me and Steve for almost 8 years of marriage, and although we've wanted this for so long, it is still a huge change. As a perfectionist, I feel like there is so much I don't know and it's bothering me! I want to have a plan for how the next 18 years should go, a step-by-step guide for every large milestone and small accomplishment, so that I can prepare and know just how to act and the perfect thing to say. It really is a scary thing that babies don't come with manuals! I know I have to let go of my perfect ideals - I'm certainly not going to be a perfect mother, and as much as I know I'll love our little Penny, she won't always be a perfect angel either. I'm sure we'll learn as we go, and I pray God will give us wisdom to handle the things that come up.

I am looking forward to meeting our little girl. I always spend my first waking moments imagining how she will look, how she will smell, what it will feel like to finally have her here with us. I can hardly wait - COME ON, JUNE!!!