I think it’s finally here.  I think my babygirl is teething.

She’s about 3 months old, which is fairly normal for it to start from what I’ve read.  I just didn’t know what to expect.

Yesterday was a bit of a trying day… lots of crying and fussin’.  At first I thought it was because her second nap didn’t go well.  She was awake for two hours, fighting sleep.  Dont’cha just love how it gets harder to put a tired baby to sleep? It’s a vicious cycle, I tell ya.  We think tired = fall asleep, at least that’s how my body responds (even if I’m someplace where I’m not supposed to fall asleep.  Say… like at the movie theater during 300.  Yes, I really did sleep through most of that…)

And isn’t odd how a lot of babies and kids fight sleep, while adults wish kids would let them sleep?

But now I think it was more than that.  Like widdle toofers.  Hell, this may have contributed!
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We attended our breastfeeding class on Saturday.  We learned some basics about it such as, positioning, latching on, identifying early hunger cues, health benefits, financial benefits, etc.  We also learned about nursing bras, breast/nipple care, pumps, and storage of breast milk.

There was a lot of information and right now that’s what I want.  I’m trying to absorb it all like a sponge.  Brian goes with to learn and help remind me when pregnancy brain hits.  Plus, if I’m feeling overwhelmed after she gets here, he will probably be able to recall things easier than my stressed out, sleep deprived brain.

The idea of a breastfeeding class before having baby might seem odd at first because it’s not like you can really practice until the baby is born.  But, knowledge is power.  The more I know about options, resources, and what I might need help with …. the better prepared I am.  It’s very important to me to breastfeed babygirl, so I don’t want to get frustrated and give up right away.  
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(This was posted and reposted in a thread on Baby Center Community, but I don’t know the original author to give them credit)

“I am Grateful”

I will not be annoyed when I get kicked, because it means my baby has healthy muscles

I will not be irritated with headaches and nausea, because they mean my hormones are doing their job to prepare my body and my baby for birth

I will not be bothered by my clothes not fitting, because I am full of a big healthy baby, who needs all that room to grow as large as she needs to be

I will not be frustrated by having to wear nursing pads already, because my body is making perfect nutrition for my child

I will not be cranky due to lack of sleep, because I remember sleepless nights worrying I might never have the opportunity to be pregnant again

I will not get upset with my doctors, because they are human, and they are doing the best they can to ensure my health and the health of my baby, in addition to all the other patients they see, and their own families

I will not be disturbed by having to get up to go the bathroom multiple times a night, because my bladder is being moved by that beautiful baby, and she doesn’t know any better than to grow

I will not lament over all the things I can’t do, because the one thing I can do, is a miracle, and is more valuable than any of the things I’ve had to give up temporarily

I will not be impatient waiting for my baby to arrive, because every day she spends inside is one more day I can protect her and nurture her in more perfection than the most high-tech nursery, without even trying

I will remember that I signed on for a 40 week tour of duty, and I intend to complete it, as a promise to my child

I will remember that these worries, discomforts, sleepless nights, anxieties, pains, and anticipation, are all excellent preparation for motherhood, and the rest of this child’s life that lays ahead of me

I will remember that there are thousands of women around the world who would give anything to feel what I’m feeling right now – and they may never have that chance

I will remember how blessed I am, not only to be graced with a child, but to live in a safe, climate-controlled home, with plenty of food, a comfortable bed, indoor plumbing, and excellent medical care – and that millions of other women are not so fortunate

I will remember that someday, not too long from now, I will have to strain to remember what this feels like, and wish that I could experience the miracle all over again – and wonder why I was so anxious to get it over with.

~~~~

I really liked this, which is why I saved it.  Don’t get me wrong, I am very grateful – even if/when I complain about aches and pains.  For even when I do voice discomfort or displeasure, I usually am doing it with a smile… I’m acknowledging the changes.  I have not actually moped, cried, and moaned like I’ve seen others do.

Then again, we can’t really judge how another woman is feeling since every pregnancy is so different.  We can’t know just how painful her pains are.  Overall, I try to find some good in most of my discomforts and sacrifices…. how these things are in the best interest of this lil girl I’m carrying.

I am grateful.

Sounds like a good band name, doesn’t it? Leaky Orifices.

Anywho, these are fairly nasty TMI (too much information) types of symptoms of pregnancy, but very common ones.

We have to deal with at least a few of these on any given day: eyes, nose, nipples, bottom and who knows what else.  (Echoes “knees and toes, knees and toes” … ok, don’t put it to that song lol)

Careful not to laugh or cough when your bladder is not completely empty.  (When is it ever completely empty during pregnancy?)  Don’t you hate feeling like you’ve wet yourself when you really haven’t… or discovering you did a little and get all embarrassed?  Between urine and discharge, my girlybits have been making me feel extremely unsexy lately.

Goofy stuffy nose will randomly drip.  This is weird when combined with feeling congested and stuff all the time.  Extra blood volume and vessels swelling make the nose uncomfortable.

And the oil. OMG the oil.  I have to keep wiping at my nose just to mop up the oily mess.  People probably think I’m being very unsanitary.  The motion is very much like wiping a drippy nose, afterall.  Ahh, hormones.

Then there’s the random crying (hormones, I blame you again).  There’s also the random drippy tears that aren’t from crying that like to leak out the side of my eye when I’m laying on my side sometimes.

Personally, I haven’t had much nipple leakage (yet), but I know it’s coming my way.  Of course it’s a sign of your body preparing for milk production, but does it need to be so obvious?!

When I first found out I was pregnant, I was thrilled…. but didn’t feel pregnant.  Only sick, sore, and tired.  Ok, so I felt a little bit pregnant.

As I’m progressing into the 2nd trimester (we’re approaching 18 weeks in a couple days!) I’m beginning to feel more pregnant, which is a relief.  Yes, really, it’s a relief! It makes it seem more real.

I still don’t feel 100% pregnant yet.  And, I have a feeling that although I wish for that now… I’ll regret that soon enough.

So what is making me feel pregnant now?

Backaches, butt aches, hip aches, I-don’t-know-where-or-what-that-is-aches, headaches, mood swings, crying jags (I cried while watching CSI recently.  Seriously.), increased hunger, the need to use the bathroom everywhere we go, waking up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, frequent doctor appointments (I don’t think I’ve visited a doctor this much in the last 3 years), being told I’m looking more pregnant (really, that was a good thing to hear!), compliments on my “glow,” and omg oily nose.  I feel like I’m in high school again with the breakouts.

And that’s just the short list.

So what’s holding me back from feeling 100% pregnant?

The percentage has increased now that I’m starting to show a little bit.  I’m a bigger girl, so I figured it would either take longer for me to start showing or I’d just get ginormous immediately.  People who know me or know I’m pregnant can identify the starting of the preggo belly…. to everyone else… I just look fatter than normal.

I’m also starting to feel more pregnant now that I’ve started to feel the baby move.  For me, I feel repeated pushes, pokes, and/or bumps in my lower abdomen.  This should totally make me feel pregnant, I know!  However, I’ve been so cautious to believe I’m actually feeling the baby move since I know how much I’ve been waiting and wanting to feel movement.  Plus, until someone else (like my darling husband) can put their hand on my tummy and feel something it’s a fairly lone experience.  I tried very hard to describe it to Brian when I first felt movement and perked up all “ooh! I think… I think I just felt the baby move…” but it’s one of those things that no matter how detailed my description is, it’s my experience – mine and mine alone – at least for now.

What about you? When did you begin to really feel pregnant?  Was it the first ultrasound? The first sound of the heartbeat? The first movement?  Or was it when you were being rushed to the hospital by a frantic partner as you cry out between contractions?