I was comparing my pregnancy journals last night and it got me thinking about just how different this pregnancy has been! It's been so different that I can't help but wonder if I have little boy on board this time. But, with that said, I was CONVINCED Leighton was a boy so I don't take any thoughts I may have as "intuition" or "motherly instinct." The books say every pregnancy is different so we will just have to wait and see (so excited I am down to counting hours now!).
Because I am a list-making type of girl (and I'm a lazy blogger) I thought I would share just how different this pregnancy has been...list style :)
The Skin Difference
When I was pregnant with Leighton my face broke out bad and I mean BAD. From practically the day I found out I was pregnant (November 10, 2008) my skin was full of blemishes. So many in fact, when I finally decided to spill the beans about my pregnancy to my co-workers I actually had one say to me, "Well, I was wondering why you were having such skin problems..." Yeah it was a cringe moment for me then but I can laugh about it now. With this baby, my skin has never been more clear. I have always been prone to little breakouts here and there but I am not kidding when I say that since I found out I was pregnant (December 8, 2010) I have never had such clear skin! Now, since I have declared that fact I am bound to have a major breakout :)
The Sickness Difference
I was just starting to feel nauseas with Leighton at 8 weeks and I wrote in my journal that it "comes and goes." I can remember actually throwing up two times (once after Red Rob.in which I haven't eaten since and one time on the way to work) but otherwise I just felt hungover everyday. By 13 weeks, all my nausea was gone and my appetite had kicked back in :) This time, I puked on New Year's Day for the first time (in a Ko.hl's bathroom thankyouverymuch) at about 7 weeks and pretty much puked every single day (multiple times a day) until about 2 weeks ago at 17 weeks. Still at 19 weeks I puke at least once a week and still take nausea medicine just about everyday. It has actually become comical to Toby and me about the number of public places I have puked around our town (pretty much every restaurant we eat at, every store we shop at and a few gas stations in between).
The Cravings Difference
With Leighton it was ALL about the sweets. Cupcakes mostly and cookies :) One day on my lunch break I went to the French bakery and ordered one of EVERY cookie they had!! The French baker (in his French accent) referred to my baby as a little "cookie monster." If you know Leighton now you know how right on he was. The kid would kill someone for a cookie! I knew this pregnancy was different when at around 8 weeks I had a Frosty and promptly puked it all up! The same thing happened with a strawberry milkshake a few weeks later and then there was the cheesecake...Toby had to literally stop the car in our driveway so I could jump out and make a mad dash to the bathroom, not exaggerating when I say BARELY made it. So, it's safe to say sweets have not been on my list of cravings this time around. In fact, this time I want ketchup (literally on everything) and cheese sandwiches. That's pretty much it, lol.
The Shortness of Breath Difference
With this baby, for the last week or so I feel like I can't catch my breath. Even when I am just walking from one room to the other I feel short of breath. It's crazy. I didn't have this with Leighton. At all.
The Nosebleed Difference
Probably the most disgusting pregnancy ailment I've encountered this time around would be the reoccurring nosebleeds. They usually happen in the morning and only the morning but today I had one in the middle of the day and was totally unprepared. I was browsing the aisles at my favorite craft store and thought my nose was running. This is gross but I kept wiping my nose with the side of my finger and kept shopping. It wasn't until I passed by a mirror that I realized my nose wasn't running it was BLEEDING and I had blood all over my nose, upper lip and hands. I was so embarrassed but I couldn't quit laughing to myself. I cleaned myself up with a baby wipe and made a quick exit for the checkout line. Only I would be so into my shopping that I wouldn't realize I was bleeding everywhere! GAG!!! I don't remember having nosebleeds with Leighton. At least, I didn't document them in the baby journal if I did have them.
With the differences stated, I have had some similarities with both pregnancies. I am pretty much exhausted all the time but I can stay up a little later this time around (like 11ish versus 8ish). I think that's because I'm not working this time and can squeeze in an afternoon nap when Lei is napping. Also, this time around I've had the pleasure of being reacquainted with the skin issue known as "spider angiomas." Basically, they are dilated blood vessels that are caused by all the hormones rushing through my body. They are lovely let me tell you. I look like I have been hit with a spiked chain all over my chest. I will spare you the picture. Eww! I had them with Leighton and they seemed to clear up right after she was born.
Even with all the side effects baby blondie 2.0 has brought I think I am enjoying being pregnant so much more this time around. Some of it has to do with no longer working (less stress) and being more secure in my marriage and life (we had only been married 6 weeks when we found out we were pregnant with Lei) but most of it has to do with the fact that I know how fast it all goes by and how I did miss it when it was over. I love having the baby with me at every second and feeling the kicks and pokes and just the overall bond between mother and baby that pregnancy brings.
I mean I can't believe we are already at the halfway mark and in less than TWO days I will know if I'm having another diva or divo ;)
I feel SO blessed to experience pregnancy for the second time and am trying to soak it all up!
“From the fullness of grace we have received one blessing after another” --John 1:16
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