16 Weeks & The Great In-Between

A photo taken of me on the way to the grocery store by Chris who was laying on the floor - a real ace photography team we are!

16 weeks, 4 months... or is it? I don't quite understand how to figure out the months when it comes to pregnancy. 16 weeks is, in normal life, 4 months roughly. According to one book it's the 3rd month (I guess after conception) and to another I'm not in my 5th month until 18 weeks. I'll just leave it at 16 weeks.

In order to not jinx myself, I'm not going to talk about anything sleep related. Instead I will talk about the in-between stage I have found myself in. It's an odd stage to be in. According to the grocery store scale (which is the only thing I have to go by in between doctor's visits and so far has been accurate), I have gained about 5 pounds this month. That's a little more than I'd like in one month but overall I have gained about 6 pounds which is okay with me. It's difficult because I feel as though I don't want to be obsessive about my weight gain yet I absolutely want to track and keep an eye on it. I have always tended to be an average weight for my height. I was actually probably my thinnest in college which amuses me since my diet consisted of beer and ramen noodles. I think my metabolism hit a wall at about 25 or 26 and although I eat mostly healthy, anything unhealthy took a greater effect on me. During my pregnancy, I have eaten nearly the same and without alcohol that means an even healthier diet. I exercise. I could exercise more. All in all, I think if I continue with how I am eating and exercising I should gain an amount I'm comfortable with. But that's not what I am referring to with the great in-between...

Most of us could probably gain 5lbs (if we wanted to) by eating junk and being lazy. 5lbs is easily an amount that could be mistaken for simple weight gain - not pregnancy. I seem to not know whether I want to stick my belly out and arch my back (as in my previous photos) or stand up straight and suck it in as I normally would. Do I want to look pregnant yet? Is that okay? Should I look pregnant yet? I'm sure a lot of women struggle with the weight gain pregnancy brings. I am happy to gain the weight that my baby needs, do not get me wrong, but this stage is awkward. In that photo I am standing perfectly to the side (not 3/4 as in some of my previous photos) and standing up straight. I'd consider this a "normal" pose (well I don't typically stand around with my hands on my hips; Chris may disagree with that haha). Those that know me might notice the rounded belly as a baby bump but casual passersby would probably just assume that's how I normally look. So who cares about those random strangers? I'd love to say that I didn't. And truly I don't really, but I'd by lying if I said I didn't care about what I look like! I absolutely, 100% look forward to having a big ole belly and people on the street smiling at me knowing baby is on board. For now, this in-between is a very odd stage.

One thing I do know... it's time for stretchy pants!

Dear Baby,
I can't believe I will probably have to wait another month probably to find out what you are! I have a new respect for people who wait until their babies are born. Your mama can't handle the suspense! I seem to get more and more distracted lately daydreaming about your nursery and paint colors and decorations. It seems hard to focus on anything else sometimes. I read that you have eyebrows and eyelashes now. I can't even deal with how cute that is. I truly hope you have your dad's eyebrows because mine are screwy haha. I wonder what long lashes would look like if you're a boy? I wonder sometimes if you will surprise us with blue or hazel colored eyes as opposed to your daddy's and my brown eyes. We have some on your mama's side. Wouldn't that be a funny surprise!? I have a feeling you will have lots of hair. Your daddy was a bit of a fuzz head from what I can tell from photos but your mama had a mop of hair from the moment she was born. I have a feeling that trait may be pretty dominant. I feel bad sometimes because I tend to refer to you as "he" a lot so if you are a little "she" I hope you won't be too offended! I am looking forward to our checkup on Monday. I don't like not knowing what's going on with you. Now that the morning sickness has faded and before I can feel you move, I need to know for sure you're doing okay! I look forward to hearing your little heart beating again. Until then...

All my Love,
Mama