Bun In The Oven: 14 Weeks

Ruth is pregnant with her first baby and kind enough to be sharing this journey with Dallas Moms Blog. We will get to experience with her the excitement, fears, and joy that comes with expecting. To add to the fun, Butterfly Baby Planners will be there to help her along the way.

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 Wow!  What a journey this has been.  I got home from vacation in June and that week was dared to take a pregnancy test.  Much to my surprise it was positive and I was SHOCKED!  This was definitely not the outcome that I was expecting.  Soooo, here I am venturing into this journey called motherhood.  Thank you for letting me share with you some of the experiences that I encounter on the way.

When Lauren and Casey asked me about sharing my experiences during my first pregnancy with you on Dallas Moms Blog, I thought to myself, what would I have to share that these experienced moms would want to read?  Then I realized, what a great opportunity to be honest and ask questions and learn from you experienced moms.  So thank you for allowing me to join this great group and journey into parenthood with you.

When I first saw the positive pregnancy test I didn’t believe it.  I had impulsively bought a pregnancy test from Dollar Tree and figured they surely couldn’t be accurate.  Well, four pregnancy tests and a blood test at my doctor’s office later, I finally began to come to grips with the fact that my life had drastically changed.  I was indeed pregnant and our newest family member would be here in February whether I was ready or not.

Now, let’s be honest, no matter how much you plan and prepare, who really is completely ready when they find out they are pregnant with their first child?  As nervous as I am that I am not prepared, nothing could have prepared me for my first trimester.  I had heard rumors about feeling sick and not having energy, but until I experienced these sensations first hand, I never appreciated what pregnant women deal with behind the scenes.  I mean, I know we all love a good baby shower and the cute pregnant woman who has their little bump, but there is SO much more that goes into this process.  I feel like I don’t know my body at all anymore.  I have always been one to love food and know exactly what I want to eat, but these past couple of weeks I have not wanted a thing.  Don’t get me wrong, I have eaten (otherwise my stomach would go nuts and revolt against me).  But not my usual mainly balanced diet.  My new pregnant diet has consisted of… crackers, bagels, tortillas, toast, and pasta.  Are you kidding me??  Who eats carbs alone for every meal for 4 weeks straight?  This girl.

I am also learning a lot about myself in regards to patience, or my lack thereof.  Being a 5^th grade teacher I consider myself fairly patient.  That is, until Baby W came into the picture.  I have gotten pretty good at planning every day since that is a huge majority of my job.  I have to be prepared and ready to entertain/inspire/encourage 28 ten and eleven year olds every day.  It’s my job.  I want to prepare for Baby W, but let’s be honest, I can’t just find out if it’s a boy or girl tomorrow.  I have to wait.  I don’t know if Baby W is healthy and if I am doing everything I can to keep him/her safe.  I have to wait.  I don’t know what life will look like post baby and if I will be able to continue teaching or if I will need more time at home with Baby.  I have to wait.  So many questions and so much time to really put my faith into practice.  Am I willing to trust God with these questions, or will I continue fighting and trying to plan and organize and realize again and again that I am not in control?

So as I venture into the second trimester I pray that people are right when they say it is the dream trimester.  Here’s hoping that…I will get some energy back, I will be able to sleep somewhat normally again, I will like vegetables once more, and mostly that I will TRUST the Lord.  As my waistline expands and the pictures of the baby look more and more like a baby I am getting excited for this new chapter in my life.

And could somebody please tell me if there is such a thing as cute maternity clothes and where to get them?

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Oh this only sounds too familiar from my own experience and from clients too!  All I wanted was carbs too…they knew me at Einsteins!!  As a Baby Planning and concierge service, Butterfly Baby would like to add the following:

• Great Maternity Shops- GAP and Old Navy, Isabella Oliver, Pickles and Ice Cream, Destination Maternity.

• It is never too early to start nesting – feeling organized in your home and getting ready to prep the room you are going to make the nursery are small things you can do to feel like you have some control in your life

• Sleep when you can, go see movies if that is your thing and spend quality time with your partner!

• Since we are still in the 1^st trimester, it is a little early to know the sex, but as soon as you do, it is time to start ordering nursery furniture.  Depending on where you go, some places take 6-10 weeks to deliver furniture, and having your nursery ready a little early will give you peace of mind and really allow you to enjoy the nesting process!  We can help design the perfect environment!

• Just know – your appetite and cravings will change..give into what your body is wanting (except those no-nos of course)!

• Start thinking about the classes you want to take – childbirth, Daddy Boot camp, etc.

• Start budgeting for your baby – the monthly costs of doctor visits for you and baby, diapers, formula (if that is your choice)..it adds up and it is better to start planning for these expenses as early as possible.

•  My favorite book was “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” and “My Pregnancy Journal”.  I kept this journal while I was pregnant, and I recently placed in my daughter’s time capsule.