Just Say Julie

One of the first things you learn when you become pregnant is all the things you can't have or can't do.  There is a list of foods to stay away from, a list of medications you can't take, a list of activities you shouldn't participate in.  Most of it is common sense.  Some of it is a bit overboard. And some things your body just simply refuses to tolerate.  I won't say that I have followed these do's and don't's to a T (for example, I cannot give up my Dr. Peppers completely) but there have been a few things that I have stayed away from.  So here are some of the things I have being missing over the last 5 months. 1. My waistline - I wasn't exactly skinny before I got pregnant but I wasn't fat either.  But it is going to be a long time before I have waistline that can be classified as anything other than round. 2. Fish - The week after I found out I was pregnant, we went out for catfish for my brother's birthday.  One bite and I was done...

One of the major things I have learned over the last 5 months is that every woman handles pregnancy differently.   For example, no one could believe I started showing at 9 weeks.   That wasn’t possible.   It was only gas.   But it was possible, at least for me.   I am only 5’2” (OK…5’1”) so I have a fairly small build which leaves little room for the baby internally.   I knew my growing belly wasn’t gas because it felt different, harder from my normal stomach.   I get weekly emails telling me what milestones I should be expecting that week and most of the time I have already experienced them by the time I receive the email.    Here are a few more things I have observed that I think are worth sharing. My Growing Belly:   I have enjoyed watching and feeling my belly grow and realizing I have absolutely no control over it.   It catches me off guard sometimes when I will see my side reflection in the mirror and I realize that the chang...

Yesterday we had the big anatomy ultrasound.  I realize the doctor how more to look at than just determining if the baby is a boy or a girl but I was already anxious enough going into the appointment so I could hardly stand how long it was taking to find out.  The technician started at the head and worked her way down.  We got to see the baby's profile, even though we couldn't see the baby's face because the hands were in the way most of the time. Then she moved on down checking out all of the organs we could see.  Everything looked good and it always reassuring to see or hear the heartbeat and know that everything is working as it should be.  Apparently, I do a good job at growing humans.  When we got down to the legs, I knew we would be finding out soon but I got a little worried when I saw the feet sitting so close together that we weren't going to be able to tell. But I guess those technicians know what they were doing because she was able to get ...

So, obviously I have been remiss in updating my blog.  Sorry about that.  I have been intending to write for several weeks now but between illness and exhaustion it just hasn't happened.  That being said...let me get on with the post.  I have been composing this post in my head for several days so I hope I can remember everything I wanted to write. There have been several things I have noticed since I found out I was pregnant that I have found interesting.  Some of it has to do with the changes in my own body while some has to do with the changes in behavior of those around me.  Right off the bat, I noticed that as soon as I found out I was pregnant, I felt pregnant.  Prior to that, I just felt weird.  I was tired and slightly queasy all the time but it wasn't anything that couldn't have been explained away for various reason.  However, that first + sign changed everything.  Suddenly there was an explanation for why my coffee tasted we...