Ah...The Pregnancy Hormones

So, for most of this pregnancy, I've been relatively sane. You hear of women who become depressed, have drastic mood swings, or who are mean to their friends and family for no reason. I don't think that has happened to me (although I guess Josh would have to confirm). After the initial fear of something going wrong passed, I've been fairly emotionally stable.

Until Tonight. Ok...there was the episode a few weeks ago, but I feel like that was a stressful situation and there was at least some reason for me to be upset. Tonight, it was the barista's fault. Ok, maybe not his fault, but he was the catalyst.

Josh and I went to a coffee shop on 9th street to meet with a potential doula (who was great, by the way, that will be another post). We were a bit early so we ordered some drinks. He a mocha and me a "pina colada" smoothie. I thought it would have fresh juices in it, based on the description, but instead it was super sweet with those coffee shop syrups. It was really pretty gross. Josh told me I should go get a different drink, and thus began the emotional spiral.

I felt bad about getting rid of a drink that we paid almost $5 for, but at the same time I did not want to give my baby all of that sugar. I felt they should take it back, but I didn't want to seem difficult and ask them to. So, I go to the counter, explain that it was too sweet for me and ask what might be a bit less sweet. Hoping they'll offer to swap it and willing to pay for another if they don't. They don't offer, in fact, they act (at least to my perception) like I'm really bothering them. They don't really answer my questions about the other drinks, so I sort of slink back to my seat almost in tears, still holding the gross smoothie just as the doula comes in.

I fight the first wave of tears while she orders her drink and I manage get things somewhat under control long enough to talk to her. But, as soon as we are in the car, the tears come back. Josh and I tried to talk about the doula, but I felt irrationally teary. Now it's an hour later and I'm not really sure why I'm still crying. I just feel fragile. It must be the pregnancy hormones. I'm off to try to fight them with a bath, a novel, and some sleep. Wish me luck.

Some New Baby Pictures! Almost 18 weeks.

This one features her lovely profile

A rather skeletal profile

An up close profile

Josh says she looks like me.

This shows her little bottom, nothing between the legs.
Her daddy says this is the last picture of this that will ever be taken!
Here we see her head and an arm

Cravings

People ask me frequently if I'm having any strange cravings. During the first trimester I had a lot of food aversions. I couldn't stand the smell or taste of broccoli, and lots of other things grossed me out as well. Now that I'm well into the second trimester, the cravings have begun! Luckily for baby and for my waistline, I've mostly been craving fruit.

Watermelon has quickly become my absolute favorite food. Too bad it's a bit early for watermelon season! I've still been buying overpriced quarters of melon from the store. I've been eating it for breakfast, with lunch, as a snack, with dinner, and for dessert. If no one but me eats it, and I ration it, it will last two days. One day last week some friends stopped buy and gave us a quarter of their left over watermelon. God bless them, it was wonderful!

So, for those of you wondering, yes, I'm having cravings. Mostly for watermellon, but almost any sweet juicy fruit will do!

It's a GIRL!

My 2nd trimester ultrasound was originally scheduled for this coming Tuesday, but because we had plans to come home this weekend for Josh's dad's 60th birthday, we moved it back to Thursday. I have to admit that we were both pretty sure it was a girl and I was, despite my original hesitation, dying to find out if we were right.

It was such an awesome experience. It was good to have our speculations confirmed as our little girl was definitely not modest, but it was even better just to see her. Even though I can't feel it yet, she was really swimming around in there. I am amazed by the technology that allowed us to see the blood flowing to her heart and spine and to check her brain and other organs. She measured exactly the right size for her due date and everything looked wonderfully perfect!

This weekend we have been in Pulaski telling our family the news. They are all super excited. Now my parents will have a grandson (Hillary's son Jesse) and a granddaughter. Josh's family hasn't had a little girl around in a really long time, so they are ecstatic. Now we just have to figure out how to limit their pink and purple purchases! :)

I've been busy!

Life has been busy the last week. Josh and I are working diligently to start a vegetable garden, and, now that I'm feeling good, we've been out and about quite a bit. Plus, I'm back to teaching full time as my student teacher nears graduation. All of this means that I haven't been blogging much, which is sad. I have lots to say, so hopefully I'll have time to sit down and write more soon. In the mean time, I have to share something hilarious that happened at work today.

There are some very interesting characters that I teach with. Today, one woman, who I know pretty well, came up to me and rubbed my belly. As I've said before this doesn't bother me much, but I have to admit that her comments were a bit shocking.

"Mamie, you've been up to hoochie stuff and left the evidence! Didn't you know you shouldn't leave any evidence?"

How funny is that! I have to admit that I haven't really thought about it like that before!

Do I need a Doula?

Last night Josh and I had dinner with a friend who is a big advocate of natural child birth. She had both of her children with very little intervention, and swears by the importance of the support of a doula. I do think that it will help my efforts to "go natural" that I am using the midwife practice instead of a typical OB, but we're still undecided about the need for a doula.

On one hand, I can see how it will be very helpful to have someone around who has assisted in hundreds of births. I like the idea of a personal advisor when it comes to the many decision involved in labor and delivery. Let's face it, I've never done this before and don't really know what I'm doing. Josh knows even less. No books can really prepare you. It would be nice to have someone who is objective and knowledgeable on hand through the whole process.

On the other hand, I like the idea of labor and birth as an intimate time for Josh and I, and I'm unsure how I feel about anyone else being there all the time. I already know that I do not want family or friends in the labor and delivery room with us (not that I don't love you guys), but I'm not sure how I feel about someone we hardly know. I guess it would just depend on the doula and the rapport we developed with her.

Anyone out there used a doula before? Any good insight or recommendations? As always, I welcome your feedback!