:: Thoughts On Pregnancy ::

These days I get asked quite frequently the question: "So how is pregnancy treating you?!" And I always find myself smiling a huge smile and replying, "Pregnancy is awesome!" I just can't get over how much I love the whole process. I wanted to write out my thoughts on pregnancy for those who might feel the way I used to about pregnancy. Which was border line terrified of the whole thing.

But I don't really blame the old me for the fears I used to have. After all, how many times have we all heard the horror stories about the morning sickness, the cravings, the weight gain, the stretch marks, the vericose veins, the "you'll never get your body back" warnings, the sleepless nights, etc. etc... It got so bad that whenever women would get together to discuss their pregnancy/delivery stories, I would have to vacate the premises. ASAP!

I'm not quite sure why it's so common for girlies to share horror stories and freak all the rest of us out, but I'm guessing it has to do with the "misery loves company" aspect of our life experiences. I don't know. But going into this pregnancy, especially after trying and failing for so long, I made a promise to myself that I would try my hardest to not give into any miserable feelings. I wanted to be the one girl who I had needed for so long to tell me how great, amazing and miraculous the whole process was. It seems silly, but that's just what I wanted. To see it all in a beautiful light. Even the difficult stuff.

A pretty big goal right!?

But the funny thing is, it has been so awesome! And I'm not sure if it's the goal I made in the beginning coupled with supportive friends and husband, or maybe it's been all the little things I've done to try to keep healthy and happy, but either way, it's been great.

Even in the beginning, when the first three months felt like I had a 24/7 flu, I still couldn't stop smiling at all the queazies and how that meant that the little cutie inside was doing just what they were supposed to be doing. It's weird. I know. I even wrote down in my journal with jubilation: "I threw up today!!!" Lol. That was my first bench mark of being a true pregnant woman for some reason. Puking. Haha.

And the cravings were bomb diggity. It was so so fun to be experiencing all the silly movie scenes like, "I need pizza! If I don't have pizza I will die!" (Richard obliged every time. It was so rough for him to have to get the occasional pizza and milkshake, let me tell you...*wink*)

I thought the weight gain would be rough on my female brain, but to my surprise it's also, so cool. Before pregnancy, us girls do the daily mirror of shame: Standing there and analyzing all of our imperfections. Sucking in and trying to imagine what true happiness would look like. Then making promises that we'll only eat one bowl of cereal and stay away from all sweets to lose those extra 10 pounds that just have to come off so we can have that flat tummy we've always dreamt of having. You know what I'm talking about. We all do it. No matter how we perceive other women and their "perfection." Even that girl who you feel is perfect in every way does the daily mirror of shame. Which we all know is sad, but that's another soap box day.

So the weight gain I imagined would be the hardest for me. But as the weeks and months ticked by, and the numbers on the scale went up, I couldn't help but be so excited for the "bump." And when it finally came, and got bigger and bigger, I just loved it even more. I loved dressing the bump in fun maternity clothes. I loved seeing the bump in reflections as I shopped. And then the bump started kicking and the awesome meter blew up ya'll. :) I would always play "pregnancy" as a little girl with pillows shoved underneath my shirts, and now that I have a true, melon bump...it's just so fun! I'm getting repetitive but that's okay. :)

And all of the other little stuff...the stretch marks etc...well, I'm a firm believer in staying healthy and active, and slathering on that cocoa butter, (which works wonders for the stretching and any itching!) and I've seen a beautiful body the whole time. But for those who are still freaked about the stretch marks, let's be honest...everyyyy one has a stretch mark SOMEWHERE. Perhaps a few. Perhaps a lot. Or cellulite. And they always fade and who cares, right? None of us look like Heidi Klum, even at our very best. So I say, "If you can dress it, don't stress it!" (I really came up with that, pretty great right?!) But it's true. There's nothing a great pair of jeans can't fix. I've never met a new girl for the first time and thought, "If she has stretch marks or cellulite under that outfit, she is ugly to me..." Of course not. We always think, "She is so cute! She is so kind, sweet, lovely, etc."

Like I mentioned, I really think staying active is so wonderful for the body. I have had a really successful pregnancy on paper, and I truly believe the little bit of yoga & pilates & walks that I squeeze into every week has made a world of difference for helping back aches, mood, blood pressure and baby being healthy. Eating good food doesn't hurt either of course :) And I'm not at all saying that if you had a difficult pregnancy it's because you weren't active or eating right. I know, some things just can't be helped. But I do believe it helps to transfer your pregnancy experience from "blah" to "booyah!" Someone wise once told me, "Your pregnancy can be what you make it." And I kind of love that. :)

So in conclusion, I am 25 weeks along, and have 15 weeks to go and so excited for it all! Yes, even the labor and delivery! It's cuhrazy what is going to go down that day, but I've got an amazing Doctor and husband, and modern medicine, ha! Not to mention a pretty incredible baby to meet, so I'm down. Let's do dis. Bring it. So if you see me and I say "I'm awesome!", I really mean it. BTW, I love it when people ask to feel my belly, so go on witcho bad self. Cuz I'm a weirdy like that. :)

And that is the end of my thoughts on pregnancy, for now!

 Loves S