We are nearing the end of the second trimester; babes and I. And we are growing! Yes both of us. This wee one is still has about three months left and already little feet are pushing up into my ribs while little hands tap the lower part of my uterus. Aneliese is satisfied with my big belly now as we try to both lay on the couch for nap time songs and stories. I realized the other day that I must caution the girls to be gentle with the baby in my tummy regularly when Cecily looked down at her own little tummy that was sticking out after a meal, rubbed it and said, “baby in my tummy, it hurts.”
We have long chosen a girl’s name for this little one but are no further ahead with a name for a boy. We have tried a couple out but they never wear for long. The two that we really considered have been decided against because, one, we don’t like the meaning of and the other is very common and popular. It does have special meaning to us though so we have set it aside to come back to. Aneliese says we are having a boy. I openly acknowledge that my gender sensing intuition is nil. And so we anticipate the day that we finally get to know and hope that we have a name chosen by then. We’ll take suggestions:).
If my other babies movements are any indicator; this child is never going to sleep at night! Aneliese only ever moved at about 3 am and that was when she woke to eat right from the beginning. Cecily moved more and awoke to eat more once on the outside. And this little one is dance partying it up all night long. I am scared.
On the pregnancy front; I will spare most of the details, but I think I mentioned a hernia in a previous post. Make that two hernias. One being very painful and causing equally painful varicosities on one leg. Which has led to the warning that I should not lift, and need to keep the swelling/inflamation down (translated, rest). It’s hard for me, partially a pride thing, partially an I have two small girls and a home thing. I want to be the person who just keeps going and says that I have no choice, but then my body tells me that this isn’t an option, not for me or for the baby. And so I am learning to measure the outcomes of each thing that I do in a day very carefully. So we stick to home a great deal, I tell the girls that I can’t hold them but that I can cuddle on the couch, I remind myself to move slower, the basic house work is done and not much extra, and I do things like fold the laundry with my feet up on the couch. Then too, I take lots of vitamin C as well as topical vitamin E which helps greatly. And Dan helps as much as he can. And we. are. going. to. make. it. We are. Keeping my mind in the right perspective is the most challenging. I am struggling to not get depressed and truthfully, whiny. Yes it is only a couple of months left but it can seem endless. Choosing to remember that my mind and hands can still be alert and active is hard. Basically everyday, I fight against slipping into mindless, pointless, and energy sucking internet surfing in the resting moments. Depressing? Not the happy, I am in love with this amazing child within and here are some artistic baby belly shots, sort of post that you might expect? Believe me, I am in love and filled with anticipation. I watch this child twist and “leap” inside me with awe and I often gaze at my growing self in the mirror with wonder. I am proud to be the bearer of this child. And even if it isn’t easy, in a just a few months we will hold our precious child in our arms and we will be so in love and thankful. Yet I would be phoney if I didn’t acknowledge that for me this season is very hard, many days incredibly hard. And sometimes the hardest things are also the very best things.
I wonder who she has been looking at?
After I wrote but hadn’t shared this post, Dan actually took some fun pictures while we were playing on the swings so I will share a couple belly pictures after all. I feel a little like my clothing looks like I broke into my daughters’ closest or a costume box but they are happy.
I love it when she tilts back to look at me:)
such a brave girl!
And spinning!
I love you so much, and I wish I was there to help! Please rest when you are able. ANd this is definitely definitely absolutely probably a boy!!
Thanks Sades….I would love to see your face right now! And on the boy…um…didn’t you say that with Cecily? So if that is your instinct, does that mean I should go get some super girly things?
Oh man, this post moved me. I can relate…though I’m not experiencing near the limits and physical pain you are! Oh friend, I wish I were closer…. It IS so exciting to look ahead to the joy and the celebration, but the ‘now’, dang, that’s real and heavy and long long long.(sidenote: I hear you on the names! We had a girl name but aren’t getting anywhere on a boy. There’s one we love, but I too am put off by the meaning [there just insn’t much to it, though the name sounds beautiful– annoying]. We’ve got a middle one, I think, and i’d be fine with it as a first but I haven’t convinced The Other yet 😉 )
ANyways.
You look ADORABLE!! Oh, and sidenote on my pics from the day; I generally look way larger in real life…and am apparently ‘showing’ more in my backside than anywhere, if my pants are any indication. I’ve never quite packed it on like this with previous pregnancies. I’m not sure if it was the timing or the shots today, but I myself was surprised. Fun. 😉
Anyways. Wish you were here…hang in there!
Haha, I also look bigger in real life as well…I am usually shocked at pictures, though these ones seem pretty accurate to what I see in the mirror:). I am “showing” all over it seems:) .Thanks for the encouragement too!
Not depressing. Just real. Pregnancy is wonderful, and amazingly hard sometimes. I’m sorry you’re hurting so much. And I know it’s hard but… rest! Even if the floor doesn’t get swept. Save your energy for your loved ones and pretend you don’t see whatever it is that needs cleaned up right now. Even if you hop up and attend to it, it won’t stay cleaned anyway. 🙂 I always think of it this way, look how impressed everyone will be once I can finally get up and get things cleaned again… it will be much more appreciated. At least that’s my wishful thinking.
I hear you on names, the girl name we had picked out when Abraham was born is SO popular but we still love it, but… I don’t know. I think I would rather use a name that I love enough to use even when it’s so popular, rather than something that just happens not to be popular? I don’t know. And then too it is bothering me – this is laughable, but still – already that our children aren’t named in alphabetical order. If we’d had a boy first, then maybe, but I was realizing today that it’s going to bother me forever that they are not in alphabetical order… so here’s my name suggestion for you, pick something D or later in the alphabet, then I will be forever in envy. 🙂
Jamie, alphabetical order is SO something you would be bothered about 🙂
Haha, that was my thought too, Lola:). Jamie, I did suggest to Dan that we stick with B names so that we could have A, B, & C but then their ages would still be messed up…hard to handle. Or A, C & E but how could our kids spell ACE. 🙂
It really does bother me. A lot. I try not to think about it. But I automatically alphabetize other people’s children… we have friends whose children start with A, H, and B, in that order, and it drives me crazy because I am always calling them A, B, and H… and I automatically put Abraham before Priscilla too.
I don’t think ACE is so bad. I’m concerned about what we might end up spelling with PA… or RA… but I’m sure it will work out… right??
You look great. Love the colours in the outfit. And yes, being preggers is tough sometimes. I wish more people would write about it. I’m glad you did. Makes me feel like my experience was in the normal range:)
That photo with A and the stuffed animal in her shirt is just ridiculously cute. Dang.
And, thanks for being honest and not all fake-peppy. Honesty is so much more refreshing. Miss you!