Baby on the Brehm… What’s the Haps…

So the cat, as they say, is out of the bag. The bun is in the oven. I am packing a peanut. The baby is on the Brehm. Although I am just barely in the second trimester, I can already see some differences and similarities between this pregnancy and those that came before. I have very quickly been reminded of how it takes every part of a woman to harbor a human.

Belly. I feel like I started “pre-showing” {or whatever you want to call that jelly-ish belly-ish that appears on your person after previous babes have pre-stretched the womb} earlier with Jonah than with this pregnancy. I remember donning materni-wear around nine or ten weeks with Jonah, as compared to the 19 or 20 weeks with Barrett. It remains to be seen when I will make the full-out transition with this little nugget. This morning, however, I did pull out the ol’ hair-tie-around-the-button business so I suppose it’s only a matter of time before mama B goes ExpandapantsCentral.

Nausea. The nausea has been nill. Okay, not completely nill…I mean, I am still preggo reggo… but it has been extremely doable. Unless I am more exhausted than normal {like post-event at work or post a week of travel}, I have been able to evade the barfies and blahs. With Barrett, I was physically ill almost daily through about 18 weeks, with Jonah, I was nauseous from the hours of 6-10pm nearly every night and in my last pregnancy, I asked for Zofran at my new OB appointment. This little peanut has made it pretty easy on mama.

Skin. I am just waiting for the smooth skin that came with pregnancies #1 and #2. Anytime now would be fine…any day…c’mon. Perhaps the second trimester will do the trick.

Hair. Also waiting for the soft, non-straw-like hair that I bragged about with the pair of brothers. With B and J, my hair was flaxen, voluminous and absolutely enviable… Or at least that’s what people told me. My current mop is still making its way back from the miscarriage so we shall see what type of locks I will have with this little love.

Cravings. If Jonah was made of Iced Tea in a plastic cup {thanks, JDRF girls} and McGriddles than this babe is formed of fruit, orange juice, smoothies and Root Beer thus far. But not just any root beer. Root beer, with crushed ice, in a foam cup. Not that I’m picky. It’s just that I’m picky.

Aversions. The only throwing up I’ve done from food has involved eggs. My morning coffee I’d happily been drinking every morning since Christmas now tastes like bitter badness. Diet Coke, my beloved, has been cast aside for the sweeter undertones of root beer. And Mexican can only be eaten at home. Eating Mexican out is pretty much a no-go. And fast food…even driving by the Golden Arches is enough to make me gag just a bit.

Boobs. I never fully remember how wonderful pregnancy boobs are until they appear on my person. I know, I know, I am 31 years old and a mother of two and I am not probably supposed to talk about such things publicly but remember that outside of pregnancy and nursing, I’ve never boasted much of a bosom. The plump and perkies of pregnancy compared to the mother-of-two flat and floppsies, are a little gift to anyone like me who never really hit puberty. The main difference this time around the barn is that my pair has been in pain. Somewhat ridiculous pain. I mean, I had heard about this symptom but had never felt it until my third pregnancy and this one was even more severe. In fact, the very first inkling I had that I might be expecting was at about three and a half weeks {yes…three and a half weeks which essentially means the bean was barely in the business} when I woke up and felt as though I must have had my set stuck between a vise through my slumber. This pain has, thankfully, begun to subside and my once-too-tender ta-tas are getting a reprieve. Who doesn’t love the second trimester? It’s pretty much freaking amazing.

Plumbing. I can’t possibly write a true and candid post about pregnancy symptoms without mentioning the plumbing, I just can’t. Sorry. Let’s just say, the plumbing has been rough this time around. Jonah gave me a reprieve with that in early pregnancy. This baby has not. But again, the ease of hormones in the second trimester should make way for smoother sailing ahead. Hopefully.

Exhaustion. We have two kids now. And I’m pregnant. So yeah, I’d say exhaustion is present. But you pretty much have to put up with it when you already have rugrats under your roof. I do pretty much turn into a pumpkin about 9 pm and am always in bed by 10:30 and I really try to rest or nap on the weekends when the boys are down for the count. So basically, I’m pretty cool.

Headaches. My head pounded profusely while Jonah was Grin. I’ve had very minimal headaches so far…so good.