Week 6: By far the hardest week so far. I was EXHAUSTED this week and felt sick. There was a touch of the flu going around so it's possible I caught a bug as well but I took 2-3 hour naps most of this week. I had zero desire to cook and ate leftovers for lunch 4 days in a row.
Craving: Lasagna!
Week 7: During this week we shared the news with our parents and finally had people to talk with! Cravings: Gummy, fruity candy which is funny because normally I like chocolate and savory.
Week 8: BabyBan took it's first vacation this week! As kind of a spur of the moment idea we drove to Washington DC from Friday-Tuesday and stayed with my aunt while touring the city. We biked and walked all over the city, saw museums, monuments, the White House, Arlington and enjoyed picnics in the sun. On Easter we went to a sunrise service at the Lincoln Monument and ate delicious food all week. I did pretty well for how tired I had been but snuck in naps as much as I could. By the final day I basically walked from bench to bench at the museum while Jonathan walked around looking at exhibits and reading signs.
Craving: Ice cream, everyday, all day. I also knew exactly what I wanted, one day we walked an extra mile just for tacos.
Week 9: Wednesday we drove back to Michigan (well, J drove all 12 hours while I slept, watched movies, read and snacked) for my sister's wedding. We shared the news with our siblings and the great-grandparents.
Craving: After the wedding I NEEDED spinach dip. Other that I was very smell averse this week and a lot of things set me off. I was NOT craving chicken. We took leftovers home from my sister's wedding and for some reason it was revolting and I ate almost vegetarian the rest of the week.
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| ...also pretty much known as "before" pictures... |
Week 10: On day one of week 10, we told the rest of the world about BabyBan. And then, the questions started! So before you ask, at this point we haven't decided if we're going to find out the gender, I don't know what my work situation will look like after baby and we have not talked about names yet. All in good time :) Traumatically during week 10 we trapped a skunk and it sprayed right next to my house and my husband. Lemme tell you, skunk smell is NOT pleasant for a preggo woman who already struggles with smells! Since my co-workers knew I was expecting I was able to stop hiding snack time and realized that I snack at almost exactly 10:00 and 2:30 everyday. It's a good habit to have.
Craving: Cereal (which I normally don't love) but man that Cinnamon Life is goooooooood. I found myself having cereal with milk for breakfast, as a snack, an after dinner dinner and even on the couch with my hand in the box.
Week 11: BabyBan had their first TV appearance this week! I did a quick interview promoting summer camp for WOTV4 out of Grand Rapids, you can watch the interview HERE. This week my pants started getting a little uncomfortable so I'm trying out a belly band and maternity pants (all thanks to some awesome friends from church) but only on certain days and outfits. BabyBan got their first clothes today, thanks Great Grandma VanDyke!
Craving: I wanted a doughnut for days. I don't know why I denied myself because it would NOT go away. Major thanks to HannahY who brought one in to work for me! Things I have not been able to get but would really love this week also include Chinese food (crab ragoons!) and Little Caesar's crazy bread. Yummmmmm. That may have to be our weekend plans!
Week 12: At the end of the first trimester I definitely have more energy and am eating and cooking again. I'm still wearing my normal pants but mostly unbuttoned and rubber-banded cuz BabyBan is bumping! Maternity pants, here I come! This week BabyBan is the size of a plum and we heard the heartbeat! It sounded like a butterfly beating wings really fast. Headaches have been bothering me this week as well as my sciatic nerve flaring up, hopefully that'll fade quickly.
Craving: As mentioned in week 11, Chinese food and crazy bread both of which I got on Saturday! Coffee still isn't appealing but frozen coffee drinks are awesome. I've also been enjoying jello as a snack quite a bit.
At the end of the first trimester we still haven't decided if we'll find out the gender of the baby, names or how on earth we'll fit a baby and all their stuff into our teeny tiny cottage. A few things I have learned is that I married an incredibly selfless and servant-headed man. I knew that but he's been incredibly patient cooking when the smells drove me crazy, cleaning when I couldn't leave the couch, listening when I get emotional about silly little things and offering to help however I can. I'm getting a glimpse that life is going to change but I have a feeling it's going to be good. God has been so faithful to us and I know that is one thing that won't change.
We're starting the second trimester and also summer camp season. My hope is that I can practice good self-care while serving whole-heartedly, be at peace about the transitions coming, seek and commit our future to the Lord and enjoy a fun summer bucket list with Jonathan doing some of our favorite West Michigan things. I want to savor these days and moments now.
