Pregnancy: Week 25

( Pattern: Tanis Fiber Arts: Sunnyside Baby Sweater )

A few weeks ago my doctor informed me that instead of my placenta being at the top of my uterus it's at the bottom covering my cervix. This puts me at higher risk of hemorrhaging and preterm labor. I still have some time for the placenta to stretch upward and out of the way as the uterus grows, but if it doesn't I will potentially be put on bed rest and will have to have a C-section. Doctor's orders require that I rest and stay off my feet as much as possible and that I can no longer exercise, have sex, lift or bend over. Right now they're watching me closely and I regularly have to go to the hospital to monitor my baby and placenta. "But, don't worry," the doctor said, "it will be okay." Ok, sure- no worries...

David does not naturally show love through acts of service, which has never been an issue because I do not feel love by acts of service. Since being pregnant, however, I need him to do things for me. Usually, I find being babied somewhat irritating, but now I want to be the baby. This changes the dynamic of the relationship we've built over the years. And though it isn't intuitive for him to pamper me he surprises me every day with kind, little services. This kind of sounds like a small thing, but this boy has very little time and instead of using it on himself to unwind, relax or sleep he gives so much of himself to me (ie cleaning our apartment and catering to my whims) without getting much in return. I think men deserve as much credit for the birth of babies by the support, service and stability they offer their wives during a time when women are less able to offer the same in return.

For the first time in my life I started connecting with the drug ads on TV. I sympathize with all the old people stooping as they climb up flights of stairs to hold their lower backs and knees groaning, "Ooo!" with a narrator in the background saying, "Imagine life without chronic osteo-artheritis pain!" Then the sun comes out and all the frowning, bent people start smiling, straighten their backs and run off to hike the Swiss Alps in perfect health. Seriously, can I get me some of that magic? My back is always killing me! 

(I know I shouldn't really be picking up pumpkins, but I got really excited about the funky colored and lumpy ones.)

Baby still does not have a name. I've always found boy names more difficult and the few I did like I'm having commitment issues with. People keep asking over and over what to call him and it stresses me out. How can I not have a name for this little person? David sees it as a bonding hindrance and started calling him by the name we most like, which doesn't bother me, because I feel like it's not permanent... yet. I hope I'm not one of those parents who goes into labor and is still unsure of what to name their baby. I've got 3 1/2 months, which when you think about it is both a long time and a very short time.

I'm heading into bulbous territory. Already I feel like a beast and I know it's only going to continue getting worse. Less and less seems to fit me and my butt and chest have started to grow gigantic. Now I know why pregnant woman wear so much spandex and jersey, ha. Seriously, jeans -even when they have stretch- are claustrophobic. I don't even mind the weight gain as much as I mind the feeling of being restricted, clumsy and slow. I'm not comfortable sitting. I'm not comfortable standing. I'm not comfortable lying down. I don't sleep at night and I can't take naps during the day. Sometimes, I feel like a waddling zombie. Luckily, the holiday season goes by quickly and there's lots of fun (ie distracting) things to look forward to.

(Pattern: Straayer's Scribbles: Pants to match "Super-Natrual Stripes" by Fawn Pea) 

In my rotund state I feel like I've become somewhat of a hermit. All I want to do is be by myself or leach on to my husband. It's been hard moving to a new part of town the week after getting pregnant. I feel like in our new ward I miss so often that I'm forever the new girl. And I'm sure they think I'm also the grumpy girl because people's smiling, energetic faces make me want to throw up. I'm struggling to find the smallest amount of equilibrium amongst the physical and emotional roller coasters I'm on and people just totally throw off my Zen. I'm always telling my husband that pregnancy makes me feel mean.

We can now see Baby moving about in my stomach from the outside. It's really weird to see what looks like him dancing as he stretches, hiccups and kicks. It's so exciting we sometimes spend half an hour staring at the little bumps that flutter over my stomach. 

Oh, the things that entertain expecting parents!