Eight Surprising Things About Pregnancy + News

Published by Bethany on June 27, 2018June 27, 2018

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]And just like that, we’re six months pregnant. I haven’t done a personal update in awhile. Like, since the beginning. John asked me why yesterday and I copped to of superstition–an unconscious belief that if something is going well, then talking about it will cause something bad to happen. Since saying that out loud made me realize how silly it is, here’s the update!

Today is officially 21 weeks! Overall, things have been great. I asked my OB yesterday–what am I supposed to be complaining about? Because there is nothing to complain about. Sure, there are new aches and pains, a multi-week period where I could only stomach crackers and brioche, a thousand-fold increase in allergies, weight gain–YES, but really, nothing major.

Here’s a list of things that have surprised me about pregnancy:

Shopping, Organizing, and Planning = Fun

Which is the best twin travel system? What kind of sleep setup is really best? And, how do we keep these tiny humans alive once they’re born? We still know nothing about the third question, but researching things one can control is fun.

I’ve always hated shopping. I count the time between mall trips in years. But as it turns out, most baby registry stuff can be accomplished online… with the help of knowledgeable friends and google. My goal is not to go to a store–at all–and I haven’t yet!

This set came in a million pieces and weighed about a billion pounds.

So is Decorating a Nursery!

This always sounded intimidating and impossible, but I have so enjoyed this process. John put together our baby furniture while I was on a trip, which was a huge help. Everything in the nursery was also purchased sight unseen (even paint colors!) but I have to say it’s coming together nicely.

Desensitization to Poking and Prodding

I tend to avoid the physician’s office unless something is terribly wrong. Yeah, IVF broke me of that, and desensitized me to frequent invasive appointments and questions. I look forward to appointments where we get ultrasounds.

My best walking buddy, Bailey.

Walking = Awesome

I never appreciated the joy of walking. And when your hormones are a billion and you’re carrying some extra, walking really is good exercise. At walking intensity, you can listen to a podcast, take a phone call, or just bond with your dog–all at a lower heart rate. I’ve still being doing some other forms of exercise, but I do it when I want to and don’t stress when I don’t.

Weekend Mornings Are Great!

For the last ten years, my weekend mornings have been almost exclusively focused on long bike rides and runs–and I liked it that way. It’s nice to take a break every now and then. At least more than once every ten years.

Trip to the beach with family last week.

Gaining Weight is Weird

Okay, I’m not going to claim I love gaining weight. It’s super weird, particularly when you’ve been in the same ten-pound range since age fourteen. Especially when you, say, sprint away from a dive-bombing wasp and fall—HARD—forgetting how much bigger, clumsier,  and off-balance you are, then have to call your husband for a pickup. Not that that happened to me. Or when you reach for an old dress in your closet remembering it as roomy and stretchy, then rip it before it gets over your hips. So yeah, it’s strange, but it also doesn’t seem that big of a deal as long as dem boyz are growing on track.

Sleeping isn’t Mind over Matter

Before, I’d try to go to bed around ten-thirty, often waking during the night. If I needed to get up early, I’d just set an alarm and do it, no big deal. If I only got a few hours, it was doable for a day or two. Not so now. Around nine or so I am done. Done. I used to read a ton at night and now I don’t even bother opening the Kindle app. If John follows me up the stairs I’m asleep before he gets to the top.

Food Obsessions are Real

I am a fruit addict. There, I said it. And then I read a study that said women who eat 6 – 7 servings of fruit a day have babies with higher IQs at one year and I felt better. Although, when I told a friend this she reminded me that women eating that fruit are less likely to be engaging in other destructive behaviors, too.

Besides the fruit, I love popsicles–fruit ones, obv. And Bailey has developed a weird fear of popsicles, I kid you not. She runs away when I open the freezer. I also love pickles, any dairy, certain vegetables (cucumbers and tomatoes-yum!), and Chick- Fil – A.

The News…

I’m expecting two (humanoid) babies + a book baby!

Thanks to Cori James for the photo that eventually got turned into the cover!

In other news, for anyone who made it this far, I have a book coming out. No, really, in like a week! You can read all about it and link to the pre-order. Starting tomorrow, in prep for the launch, I’ll be posting lessons learned from writing a beginner triathlon book. I can’t wait to see this thing in print, and see all the amazing stories of women I know.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]