Now that I am entering the third and final trimester of pregnancy, I thought I would take a look back at the journey so far. The first trimester was full of anticipation, joy, and excitement at being able to share with family and friends the hardest secret I've had to keep in my life! I was also very fortunate that I only experienced mild first trimester symptoms consisting of nausea, fatigue, and a sensitivity to smells. I was very thankful that the nausea did not transform into what seems to be the most common symptom of morning sickness (although at times I thought vomiting might bring some relief to the ever present motion sickness feeling). Another symptom I experienced was epistaxis for the first time in my life (also known as nosebleeds...I thought I might put some of my medical transcription terminology to good use...lol) along with nasal congestion, which are caused by the increase in both blood and mucus production in the body during pregnancy, something I wasn't aware of until I read about it.
The second trimester brought with it an increase in energy and no more nausea. They also weren't kidding when the authors of one book I read listed "hearty appetite" as something else you might experience. I sometimes find myself snacking throughout the day what seems like every 15 minutes, but I have replaced my usual junk food snacks with much healthier alternatives which now include more fruits, vegetables, and dairy products. I also can't seem to get enough Peanut Butter Cap'n Crunch as I find myself eating it for breakfast, as a snack during the day, and occasionally for supper at times. This must be a true craving. Heartburn is another new experience for me as I have now begun to invest in TUMS. I also have a constant dull ache on the right side of my abdomen that is only relieved by lying down on my left side, something I am finding myself doing more and more each day between typing reports...must be from the stretching of the ligaments and muscles inside.
The two most exciting aspects of the second trimester have been feeling movement of the baby and confirming questioning onlookers that it really is a "baby bump and not plump." (This slogan was taken from a T-shirt I saw in a magazine...I seriously considered getting it...) The "quickening" or faint fluttering feelings I first began to notice have now become much stronger and more frequent every day, especially in the morning before I get out of bed and at night as I am falling asleep. The neatest part of this has been actually seeing little ripple or wave-like movements from the outside. It seemed the week I really started showing EVERYONE took notice when we went out and wanted to feel the bump...lol.
I have found myself becoming more confident in the fact that we are going to be raising a son. Coming from a family of all girls, I wasn't so sure about this prospect when we found out it was a boy, but I am feeling more prepared about learning along the way and attempting to do the best job I can of being a mother. Plus, I have the prime example to follow of a sister-in-law and brother-in-law who are raising 2 young boys! When I was teaching, I remember being so quick to notice the flaws I perceived of the parents of students in my class as well as the traits of the great parents. I know when the time comes, I will find out first-hand why they say parenting is the most challenging but also the most rewarding job you could have.
My mind wanders during the day, wondering what Elijah will look like and what his little personality will eventually be like. I can't really picture a boy version of myself, so I'm guessing he will be a mini-Ian, with dark naturally curly hair (if it gets long enough), long eyelashes, and hopefully his temperament too.
Entering into the third trimester, reality is starting to sink in more and more. I think I have come to the realization that this baby is going to have to come out, one way or another, and there's no turning back now. Two pieces of advice to keep in mind I came across while reading were that the labor process will not last forever, and it has a very definite, positive ending. I'm sure those two ideas will go out the window as soon as contractions start setting in, but for now those thoughts are helping me stay positively motivated that I will be able to handle it (with an epidural as well I'm sure...).
It is amazing to think something that starts out so microscopically small can emerge into a human body with all its intricacies. I guess that is why they call it the miracle of human life. It is hard to image we all started out that way. This also reflects just how powerful God is in creating human life, which reminds me of a quote: "If you understood it, it would not be God."
