These are some of the things that I've learned. Some of them are tips, some are observations, and some are just little notes. Please remember, I am in no way an expert, and this is my first pregnancy, but if anything I've learned can help someone, I would be thrilled!
1. They're not kidding when they call the 2nd trimester the "Honeymoon Trimester". Most of the pesky 1st trimester symptoms are gone (like food aversions, morning sickness, etc.), and you feel way more like yourself! Woohoo!
2. You're finally showing!!! Now this is actually a tricky one. (I tried to explain this to Dan, who was sweet, but didn't really get it.) Because you want to show so bad, you're excited that your belly is finally big enough to get "that smile" from a stranger, or someone asking "when are you due?". HOWEVER when someone tells you "Wow! You're getting huge!", that's the kind of comment that is not quite as appreciated (although not usually - in my experience - intended as malicious).
3. This one goes along with number 2. Women have different body shapes, and so they will naturally carry differently. I've been very lucky in my pregnancy. I had a parent of one of my kindergartners say to me in my 25th week of pregnancy, "SO! When were you going to tell us you were pregnant?" It took a while for me to "look pregnant". I talked to my doctor, as I was worried maybe Baby Blair wasn't growing fast enough, and he reassured me that I was right on target. He told me that I am tall, and have a long torso, so the baby has much more room to grow, before he goes "outward". So, take every comment with a smile and grain of salt. And the only opinion that matters is your doctor's.
4. Feeling your baby move. There is nothing like it! It feels like giant gas bubbles, and butterflies, and honestly, an alien moving around. (It makes me think of that scene in the Matrix, when they put that thing in Neo's belly button- haha!) I felt Baby Blair for the first time on a Wednesday night, at church, while Dan was preaching. That was very, very special for me. :)
5. During your 2nd trimester is when you can find out your baby's gender, if you so choose. We couldn't wait to find out! There are so many cute gender reveal ideas out there, from balloons, to opening a present, to pinatas and confetti, silly string, and cake. We have the greatest friends, who put together the cutest "Reveal Party" for us. If you are unfamiliar with the idea, here's how we did it.
- Go to the doctor for your 17-20 week sonogram. (Ours was at 20 weeks.) When the sonographer gets to "that part" of your baby, you look away. No cheating!
- We had our party the same day, so the sonographer then called our friend, Cathy, to tell her if it was "blue" or "pink". Another option would be, to have the sonographer write it down, or put that ultrasound in a sealed envelope.
- Your friend then bakes a cake, where the cake (or inside frosting) is pink or blue, then they cover the outside with a gender neutral colored frosting, invite special people over, and you cut the cake - voila! :)
Here's how ours went down:
IT'S A BOY!!!!!!
I had felt like Baby Blair was a boy from the beginning, and Dan has always hoped his first baby would be a boy. His brother has 2 daughters, and his cousin has a girl... so his family has been due for a boy! :) WE ARE SO EXCITED!!! We plan on naming him Aidan Judson Blair. :)
Here's a video clip of how it went down:
And here's our 20 week old Baby Boy:
6. Your appetite will grow, just as your baby is doing! Remember, you're NOT ACTUALLY EATING FOR TWO!!! You only really need an extra 200 calories a day. So, yes, indulge, but don't go overboard.
7. Your boobs finally grow! 'Nuf said. :)
8. If you've been holding off on the caffeine, like I had been doing, once you're in the second trimester it really is perfectly safe. Oh, thank God!
9. Maternity clothes! You don't really need a ton, and with the cuts of clothes now-a-days, you can really use regular clothes for a long while. But, it is a really great excuse to get some shopping done! I suggest getting some basics, and then enhancing and accessorizing with things you already have - a bold scarf, necklace, blazer, cardigan... you get the picture! :)
10. Speaking of pictures, schedule your maternity pictures for the end of your second trimester. You feel/look your best, and you have a bona fide bump! We did ours, and the pictures turned out fabulous! I'll do a post on that once we get them all back, on what to wear, what to be prepared for... so be on the lookout! :)
11. On a serious note, be aware of what's going on in your body, but also try not to always jump to the worst conclusions. I had some very, very light spotting the other day, but it was scary for me. Everyone was great, my boss sent me home right away, Dan came home from work, and drove me to the doctor. We were naturally very nervous, but it all turned out just fine. I had a slight vaginal infection, but it was not harming Aidan.
12. Go around, and get your registering done. Target and BabiesRUs are some of the classics, and they have huge varieties. We also really liked Restoration Hardware Baby and Child. It's a little pricey, but they have really unique items, which will really make your nursery stand out.
13. This one is exciting. In the last couple weeks of your second trimester is when you can get your 3D ultrasound, if you want. They're not cheap, but with all our family living so far away, we really wanted a way to share the pregnancy with them in a tangible way, so we wanted to do it. It is truly amazing what technology can do! Here's what our Baby Aidan looks like:
I can't get over his sweet face, his nose, and that SMILE!
That's what I have so far! :) It has been such a fun ride, I can honestly say this has been the best experience, and I cannot wait to see
