p.s

Belly Bars are Nom Nom Nom!

ALIVE

No crap.
Yesterday I ate more than I have done since I found out I was preggers.

Hmmm.
We had:

a yoghurt
1/2 cup of rice
some cashew nuts
2 blueberry muffins
2 pieces of peanut butter toast
1/2 a belly bar
and a burrito from Taco Hell.

HOLLAR!
Normally I survive on a couple of pieces of fruit a day and some cereal.
And I had more ENERGY than I have done in ... f o r e v e r .

Oh, it felt soooooooooo good!
And today, so far, (touch wood) I have energy also.

I am so EXCITED!
To paint!
To exercise!
To clean!

Things I have sorely missed.
Cross fingers for me that...well...that I'm back!!!

(and if I am back, then I could totally survive first trimester again...despite groaning for the past two months that NEVER EVER could I do this again)

Vitamins

Make me vomit.
Badly.

I am going to try these as an alternative.



Huzzah!

More information:

http://www.nutrabella.com/

(thanks Sylvia, who spotted them at Target!)

LIttle Monster

And oh did you see down there?

Baby has gotten all it's toes (to kick us with) all it's fingers (to scratch us with) and is a functioning pee machine (to stink us out with).

Hoorah.

Puked

Puked in the kitchen sink last night.
Nom nom nom.
Not getting enough vitamins or food.
Relost my appetite and am down another pound today.
Boy concerned.
Me concerned.
Best friend Lisa assuring me it's normal in the first trimester.
*hug*

For the first time in 14 years, I'm contemplating meat.
ICK EW GROSS YUCK SWEA$$#@RS.

Week 9

Fetal development in pregnancy week 9: fetus in third month

Congratulations! Your amazing growing baby has been accepted into to the fetus-club, a very exclusive and exiting new stage in their prenatal development. Basically, this means the little sweet pea has graduated from swimming embryo creature to a recognizable human being! This week in particular, the irises of their little eyes can function, but (frustratingly for them?) their eyelids remain fused shut for a while yet. Their external ears are formed and their inner ears are now filled with fluid—so your little one is already developing their sense of balance. Your baby's little swimmer legs are still relatively, although other bodily developments are going forward at a nice pace: their kidney is actually functioning now, which means they’ve started urinating (this might seem charming now but wait till you have to start buying diapers!).

And how's mom doing? You’re nearing the end of the first trimester and while there are plenty of dynamic and noticeable changes going on inside of you, not many changes are noticeable to you, with the exception of a mildly bulging midline-- which doesn't look pregnant enough to stop people from wondering if you need to lay off the donuts. Although your body might seem a little boring right now, you can expect the creeping-up-effect of weight gain as you will gain roughly 1-2 lbs gain per week (some more and some less). It’s not a bad idea to chart this to make sure you’re not over or underfeeding both of you. As you’ve entered into the Fetal Period, it might be a good time to evaluate your personal health regimen—that is, if you haven’t already. Are you eating enough protein? Remember, protein can be found in beans, soy products and nuts—it doesn’t have to be a 12 ounce sirloin! Are you sleeping well, exercising right, drinking enough (non-sugary) fluids and getting your vitamin C? Having a baby is the ultimate test for your body—if you take care of your health now you’ll come out of the pregnancy on top of your health and ready to be an energetic mother, if not, well, let’s just say, you’re increasing the chances of suffering from depression, osteoporosis, diabetes, obesity, and a multitude of little nasty viruses (think colds and flues) that good health could've beat before you even noticed they’d invaded.

Let The Timelapse Project Begin!

You know.
Everybody does it.
Takes a photo of their bellah each week and at the end of nine months BAM!
They timelapse it all freaky like.

Well I took my first bellah photo today.

Le baby body.

re: Friday's Post

Boy asked me about the post on Friday.
I had to explain to him that our lives were just *so perfect* as they were.
Really, I loved my life so so much.
And while I know this will be great too (and it was the time for it once we decided we didn't want to miss out on the experience of children) it's just strange to think I went and altered something so perfect in such a drastic way.

BUT!
I know once baby is born all will be amazing.
And I'm not giving up my art or anything crazy.

So it's only going to get better, right?

Just turbulence on the plane right now.
Touchdown should be spectacular.
*crosses fingers*

New Favourite Saying

"Baby made me do it."

Today.

Today I am scared about what I have done to my life.

*yawn*

Back down another pound.
Exhausted.
Blah blah blah.

Week 8

Week 8: Goodbye sea creature, hello baby!
Fetal development in pregnancy week 8: embryo in second month

Woohoo! You've got one whole inch of baby inside of you! Your little embryo has finally reached the one-inch mark (30mm). And if it were possible to take a peek, you could actually see your tiny baby without a telescope! What’s more, your baby is finally starting to take on some very distinct human features. For starters, their little tail (really just the spinal cord) has disappeared completely. It’s nice to know your baby can no longer be mistaken for a sea creature! Additionally, both their toes and fingers are prominent with very little, if any, webbing. Upper and lower limbs all show recognizable joints (elbows and knees) and the lower limb bones are starting to ossify. But don’t expect your baby to resemble either parent quite yet. Right now, your baby’s head is disproportionately larger than the rest of their body--making up almost half of your little one’s height and weight!

And how's mom doing? Your slightly-larger-than-a-cherry embryo is also starting to have a physical impact on you this week—and not just hormonally, as you may be noticing a slight bulge at your midline-- mostly from water retention. Most people won't even notice the subtle change to your belly's shape, but since you’re tuned in to every little change in your body, it hasn’t slipped past. Good news for the hormonally tortured: if you have been extra moody lately, that may start to subside this week, as the placenta is beginning to take responsibility for your baby’s hormone production. This means your body will soon be able to relax a bit from its over-production of hormones as the placenta starts to regulate your baby’s hormones-- allowing your body to focus on producing more normal levels of hormones for yourself (see Week 10).

GROSS!!!!

GROSS!!!

It's AN INCH LONG!!!!

There is officially a THING inside me.
Like...alien, right?!?

It's not a dot anymore.

Tre freaky.
IT'S A FREAKING INCH!

I Dream Of Genie Pee

No, seriously.
Pee dreams.
The first one I peed all over the walls in a house.
The second one my friends employed me as the 'revenge' pee and I would piss on their ex-boyfriends stuff.
And last night I dreamt I was at my dads house in the Ville and I opened the back door to squat over and pee into a pretty full garbage bag.

And yes, after every dream I got up to pee.

Thank goodness for the subconcious, right?
Otherwise my husband would have an extra toasty warm bed to lie in each morning.

Wrapped In Art Not Blankets

I'm so excited.
I will learn to play the guitar!
Boy will be teaching child before child can walk.
I'll follow up on the lessons when boy isn't around and in doing so learn myself.
And then there will be the painting and drawing sessions.

I don't think there'll be any other child in the world as drowned in art as ours.

In fact boy has already started buying books for kiddo.
He's building up the library for a whole new being.
Not baby books, but classics...you know.
He says "our kid won't be watching the movies first."

I can see them now, reading together.

And the music.
And the art.
And the singing.

Until teenage years.
Then I see slammed doors.
And I snort with laughter.

Beautiful

Just went for a mile & a half run in the rain.
I know that's not far but I've been taking it easy with the bean and I stopped to walk with my lover halfway.
Oh, it was...beautiful!
The rain was falling.
The street lamps causing the world to glitter.
My toes, naked, crashing down on the asphalt.
And frogs and toads ALL OVER the place!
It was like...
It was like...
It was a long breath of fresh air that I sorely needed.

I wish it rained every night so I could run in it.

I know it was good for baby, too, to feel my pores come alive.

Pork Chops

Sometimes it's best to just focus on your family and forget the rest of the world exists.

Me, now:
In the kitchen, dancing and singing, washing dishes.
Thinking of:
Making pork chops and mashed taters for Brennen, what to feed baby and myself.
Dreaming of:
Taking a walk with him this evening.
Being held in his arms tonight.
Vegetable lasagne.
French toast one morning soon.

Pretty alright turn of events.

KNEES!

Baby has KNEES!!!
Refer lower post. ;)

Week 7

Fetal development in pregnancy
week 7:embryo in second month

Your baby is really beginning to develop more physical definition this week – their oversized head isn’t just large and oblong anymore, it’s actually a little bit pointy. The tiny receding tail bud is now starting to be overshadowed by the growth of their legs, which are now complete with knees and the beginnings of toes. Their eyes and ears are the most visible features on their head and their miniature bones are starting to harden throughout their body. You also have some variation on a boy or a girl at this point, although their genitals won’t be visible enough to determine which color cigars you’re going to buy until around the 16th week.

And how's mom doing? Your hormones are still out of whack because the placenta won’t take over hormone production for your little one for another couple of weeks. So until then, expect more of the same. At this point any close family or friends have undoubtedly noticed you’re a little more moody and/or irritable than usual. And there are probably times where you’re ready to tell the world off (maybe you already have), but it’s always worth the time and effort to explain to yourself and others the reason for your current emotional rollercoaster; you don’t have to be a monster just because you feel a little whacked out. Focus on your breathing and energy levels. Take naps if you feel fatigued but don't forget the stress-reducing benefits of long walks outside for fresh air and exercise. Sit down if you start to feel nauseous, and take the time to eat healthy vitamin-rich foods when you’re hungry. Even though there’s no bi-weekly paycheck or boss, pregnancy is harder work than you might think and you need lots of positive physical and emotional energy to provide your baby with the safest strongest home possible.

Eat, Don't Barf.

Eat.
Don't barf.
Eat.
Don't barf.
*breathe*
Eat.
Don't barf.
Eat.
Don't barf.
*breathe*

Rinse and repeat.

Dressing For Pregnancy

What a mission.
I can't wear my normal bras (even in week 6!) I have to wear some pretty hard-core supportive ones. Well, all of those don't go with my skimpy, pretty, gypsy tanks. So I have to change my tanks and wear more high-cut singlets (t-shirts are too hot).
Fine, right?
Well, not fine. Because all of those tanks go with jeans or capris and 99% of the time I don't have clean undies to wear (we are without washer and it's too hot to go to the laundromat). So I should wear skirts, right? Where underwear doesn't matter. But all of my skirts go with my little gypsy tanks, which I can't wear with my sports bras.

Gnar!

If I could find skimpy supportive bras (impossible) it would be okay.
Or if I could wear jeans/capris with my high-cut tanks it would be okay.
But when I try and mix and match them together I look like a bag lady.
No lies!
Boy said so himself when he came in and I had a t-shirt thrown on over top of a summer dress (to cover the bra straps)
He said "nope. you look like a bag lady"

Iyeeeeeeeeeee!

(no offense to the bag ladies out there)

Boy

Boy is a rockstar.
I've never felt more coddled or loved in my *entire* life.
Just...
intensely beautiful, magical moments.

And then the cute moments too, like when I'm messing around with my seat in the drive-through, up and down, back and forward, and boy screams "STOP! You'll SQUISH the baby!"

Awwwwwww.
I love that sucker.
I can't wait until his child in born and he holds him/her in his arms.
I think it'll be the most beautiful moment I'll *ever* experience in my life.

Really.
That's the shot I want to see.

Boobs! Nipples! Dammit!

Used to be I would write in my art blog about burning incense, listening to cohen, naked in my studio first thing in the morn.
Now the incense isn't lit and I'm forced to wear a sports bra almost constantly to strap these suckers in.
I have friends who said I'd love my breasts during pregnancy but all I want to do is cut them off, throw them into the river and watch them sink.
For surely something so heavy wouldn't float.
The pain!
They hurt.

I don't understand why my boobies couldn't grow at the end of this, say in Month 9.
Because surely baby doesn't need them now.

And let's not even get started on my nipples, which now like to stick out 100% of the time.
How embarrassing it is to walk the street with my nipples sticking out.
Used to be boys would admire my face and body but now they never even take their eyes of my chest.
Hey!
These nipples aren't for YOU!
Maybe I can put some plastic shields down there.
Yeah, like I want my chest to be even heavier.

The Brennen Reece Nose

Right now baby is growing the Brennen Reece nose.
How do I know?
Well, he has that nose, his sister has that nose and his mother has that nose...it's a *strong* gene.
And to tell you the truth, I haven't a clue where my nose comes from.

A Brennen Reece nose, it is!

All Over The Coffee Table

This morning when I tried to swallow a vitamin I vomited orange juice out of my nose.

Oh!
Magical times!

Week 6

Fetal development in pregnancy week 6:
embryo in second month

This is going to be a busy week for your amazing little embryo. Their brain is still growing remarkably fast; miniature hand plates are starting to develop and the early formations of what will be their fingers are already visible. Also, the lower limbs do not develop quite as fast, so they’re pretty much still flippers. Up until this point, your baby has been very curled up with the head and tail in close proximity, but this week their trunk and neck are beginning to grow and straighten as their tail recedes into its resting position in the back. Even though your little miracle is only 6 weeks old, they’re already capable of demonstrating reflex responses to touch!


And how's mom doing?
It’s official (grumble): if you’re going to have morning sickness, you’ll be feeling the unpleasant symptoms starting some time this week. If you don’t, then chances are you’re in the clear-- but don’t blame us if we’re wrong! There are always a handful of women who are officially morning-sickness late-bloomers with another week or two before the nausea sets in. There are several factors that can help you determine whether or not you you’re one of the unlucky ones. If you are having twins (or more), or had morning sickness with an earlier pregnancy, or experienced nausea or vomiting with birth control pills, then you might expect to have morning sickness with this pregnancy. To lessen your symptoms, you’re going to have to buckle down and focus on cleaning up your diet. Don’t eat fatty foods, drink lots of fluids, eat several small meals throughout the day, take plenty of naps, and don’t forget the prenatal vitamins! (Have you consulted with your doctor or nutritionist yet?) For those of you without morning sickness: don’t dwell on it,you're just one of the lucky 20% of pregnant women who never actually experience morning sickness.

Unstop

It seems like everything I wasn't going to stop has stopped.
I wasn't going to stop exercising.
And I wasn't going to stop painting.

Well, what do you know?
Both have escaped me.

It's so so hard to feel so sick all the time.
I had no idea the toll pregnancy would take on your body, just in the early stages.

I'm glad to be taking the advice of those around me by taking it easy, but...
I miss what it feels like to run and paint.

Am I really not as tough as I thought?

Trippy

Told someone I'd only just met that I was preggers last night.
Whoa.
Trippy.

Was offered a glass of wine at an art opening and I said 'oh no thanks, I'm pregnant'.

Stupid and weird.
I should have just said I didn't want a drink!

In others news:

The vitamins are making me ill.
The 'morning' sickness is making me ill.
The sleepiness is kicking my arse.

Good lordy, Monster!
You had better be pretty damned special at the end of all this!

Bah!

Bah!
I feel like dookie today.
And I've lost 4 pounds.

n a u s e a t e d .