I’ve been trying to Practice the Art of Patience the last few days and today it paid off!

I got to the dentist’s office at 10:50 for my 11:00 appointment.  I watched the last 10 minutes of some interior decorating show and then the tv screen went blank.  So patiently I sat and waited for my turn.  I sat, I sat, I sat.  There were a few times that I wanted to walk up to the receptionist and ask what the hold-up was (the dental assistant had come out and called everyone BUT ME) but I sat instead.  It was now 11:10.  I sat patiently with my hands on my belly.  I just got really quiet and sat.  11:18.  I had been sitting there for 28 minutes.  I was about to get up and tell the receptionist that I would need to reschedule my appointment when I felt this jolt in my stomach.  I got quiet and continued to sit.  It happened again, and again, and one more time.  Four incredible jolts.  I am using the word jolt and not kick because I’ve never felt a baby kick in my life and have no idea if that is what a baby kick feels like.  But this “jolt” feeling was something I have never felt before.  It wasn’t the butterfly feeling or a gas-like feeling. It was much different and more profound.  I felt four significant jolts underneath my belly button on the left and then a few moments later a small one on the right.  Amazing!  I could have cried.  It was the feeling/movement that I have been waiting to feel for weeks!  (If indeed that is what I really felt.) 

And then the dental assistant called my name.  I sat up and had a huge smile on my face.  The lady profusely apologized for the delay and I just smiled and told her it was no biggie.  I was happy to wait!

Of course for the next 30 minutes the dental hygienist went to town on my mouth so I couldn’t feel a thing besides my hands shaking!

With that said, God answered my prayers by testing my patience.  I am so glad I passed the test and was patient with the receptionist.  I should sent her flowers!

 I’ve reached the halfway mark!!!!

Weight: 146 

Signs of pregnancy: I feel like my uterus is hanging on by a thread.  It seems like every time I get off the couch or bed I feel a pull.  I am trying to be more careful and not make sudden moves but sometimes that isn’t enough.  I know the pulling and tugging is normal since my uterus is growing but my goodness, when will it get strong enough for me to stand up without feeling it working?

Baby Development: Baby P weights about 10 ounces and is approximately 8-10 inches long from head to heel.  About the length of a banana (see below) but the size of a small cantaloupe (my uterus was the size of a cantaloupe just two weeks ago and now the baby is!  Growing fast!) 

Thoughts:  The halfway mark is finally here!  Although it seems like just yesterday I found out I was pregnant.  But then again, the more I think about it I can’t believe I have only halfway to go.  September seems like only a month away.  I still haven’t felt the baby kick which scares me but I know I need to be patient.  All the books and emails say I should start to feel movement anywhere from 17-22 weeks.  So I still have some time before I should worry, right?

To keep with the fruit theme… 

although I measured this banana and it was only 8 inches long.  The banana I ate yesterday was much larger (weird to say the banana I ate yesterday and then show a picture of a banana which represents the size of Baby P.)

Do you ever have those days that you just can’t do anything?  Not that you physically can’t but you just can’t.  I’m having that day right now.  I have so much to do at work but I just can’t “get in the mood” to do any work.  I went for a nice lunch at Subway and got my free Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream (donations go to Life Skills), went for a mile walk and now I am sitting here eating my peanut butter crackers and playing on the internet.  Emails are flying in left and right, the phone is ringing, and I just can’t get into it.  I’m in a funk.  A funk at work.  Blah. 

For my entire 28 years of life my belly button has been an innie.  I noticed a few days ago that it is slowly becoming an outtie.  Is that a normal pregnancy thing?

I’ve been thinking about this photo a lot lately.  This picture was taking at our wedding during the Rite of Marriage, right before we said our vows.  At that precious moment, Father John asked me, “Will you accept children lovingly from God, and bring them up according to the law of Christ and his Church?”  And as I responded, “I Will” a tear came down my check.  Frank wiped the tear (and totally scored some points) while Father John continued to read the statements to me. 

I think that was the only time during the wedding that I cried.  I always imagined I would cry during the vows or when we were announced being husband and wife.  I never thought that the ‘I Will’ commitment connected with starting a Catholic family would get me crying.  When Father John stated that intention, I remember my chest, throat and heart tightening up.  It was such a powerful statement and it really struck me.  I realized at that moment that I was making a serious commitment to God.  This marriage was not only about Frank and me but it was also about God.  The three of us were uniting as one.  And by saying “I Will,” I was making my promise to God.

And here I am now, 19 weeks pregnant and I am fulfilling the commitment I made to God on our wedding day.  Frank and I knew from day one that we wanted to start a family but the timing was just off for the first year.  So it took us nearly a year and a half to fulfill our promise to God, but we are here now.  And it is the happiest place to be.  We both are proud to be making our “I Will” to God come true. 

I was chewing on my piece of peanut butter bread.

Although this is from Wednesday, but who is counting.

My boss is in town and he didn’t get to the office until about 11 yesterday.  When he saw me he said, “you look like you have been eating a lot of sandwiches.”  I gave him the look of death and his face went blank.  Don’t mess with a pregnant women.  He quickly added, “you look really healthy though.”  I walked away.

A few minutes later he came to my desk and I was eating my afternoon salad.  We chatted for a bit and then he went back into his office.  An hour later he came to my desk and I was eating my lunch.  We chatted for a bit and then he walked back into his office.  At 3 p.m. I pulled out a piece of bread and put peanut butter on it.  My daily routine at work.  Of course, my boss walks up to my desk.  All three times he came to my desk I was eating.   I look back at him and he just has a huge smile on his face.  He starts laughing and I can totally tell he is thinking back to the ’sandwich’ comment.  

Weight: 146  (The most I have ever weighted in my life!!!)

Signs of pregnancy: I’m starting to feel a lot of movement in my belly.  No baby kicks yet but a lot more of the “butterfly” feeling.  It went on for a really long time yesterday.  I can’t 100% say it is the baby but it is a feeling I have never felt before. 

Baby Development: Baby P is the size of a largo mango, weights about 8 ounces and is approximately 7 inches long.  Some greasy white protective coat (vernix caseosa) is starting to cover Baby P.  This is a protective substance that protects Baby P from the surrounding amniotic fluid.  This is an important time for the development for the senses.  Baby P’s brain is starting to develop senses of smell, taste, hearing, vision and touch.

Thoughts:  That belly grew over night!  I love it.  And I love maternity clothes!  But I don’t love the two pound weight gain every week.  If I keep this up I will gain another 44 pounds by the end of this.  Yikes!

I know that I usually update my page on Wednesdays with my Pregnancy Progress but I am running a day behind.  Yesterday I had a work happy hour (which technically isn’t happy when you aren’t drinking!) and then I had to come home and write an article for the local paper.  Of course the article is due today and I procrastinated like crazy.  But that is when I do my best work.  Although I don’t feel like this is my best work.  I don’t even know if they will publish the article.  But hey, you got to start somewhere.

So tomorrow I will upload my Pregnancy Progress.  I took my picture last night and my growing belly did a lot of growing since last week!  I can hardly wait to post it!

I am fortunate enough to say that for most of my life I have always been a medium.  Going shopping was always easy because I just picked up the medium top and it fit.  I can’t recall ever buying a large in my life.  So yesterday when I hit the Kohl’s maternity clothes sale and bought Large and X-Large tops…it was the most fun I have ever had shopping!  I felt like Julia Roberts in Pretty Women as I walked out and modeled my maternity tops and pants for Frank.  Maternity clothes rock!  I can’t wait to start wearing these adorable tops and pants.  I have never been happier in my life to buy a size larger in clothing! 

Thanks to my ever so beautiful and happily pregnant friend, Jenny Mac, who mentioned that Kohl’s had a buy one get one free maternity sale.  Frank and I went there right away.  I was able to buy four tops and two pants for $104.  What a deal.

I would have posted some pictures but I didn’t get home until 11 p.m. last night, and now I am running extremely late for my morning work meeting.

Yeah for Maternity Clothes!