Pregnancy: Not for the faint of heart.

Pregnancy.... A miracle they say. I think 'they' are men. 'They' don't have a uterus. Now, obviously the end result is worth it. Babies are great and all that. But until that baby comes, it is just 9 long months of torture. Torture that comes at you from a hundred different and unexpected ways.

My mind set at the beginning of this, my second, pregnancy: I can do this. The first one wasn't so bad. Sure there was some morning sickness, but there are drugs for that. Some mild heart burn, but I like the taste of Tums. I had a hard time sleeping, but that was just preparation for the sleepless nights to come as a new mom. I can do this even with a toddler to take care of. No problem.

Oh the stupidity. Obviously everyone experiences pregnancy differently, so I speak only for myself when I say, pregnancy number two SUCKS!

That morning sickness that was easily cured by drugs? That will triple, maybe quadruple in intensity. Drugs will only do so much. Even with the maximum dose you will still find yourself throwing up in the driveway, the car, the bed, outside the doctors office, and in the flower bed. I knew my morning sickness was really bad the first time Oaklee stopped on her way to the car to spit in the grass. She had seen mom do it so many times she assumed that's what we did on our way to the car. Add to this lovely image the fact that we were living in a friends basement at the time, so this was not my yard I was violating, but someone else's. I'm sure they were really loving their decision to let us live with them. Also, all the people who assure you it will go away after the first trimester? Liars. Big fat liars.

That heart burn? Go ahead and throw the Tums away, they won't touch this. I've come to think of my chest as an active volcano. The burn is always there, bubbling, mocking my hunger, daring me to eat something. And once I do, the volcano erupts, bubbling up into my throat until I am literally choking on it. Literally, I have choked on my heartburn. I am taking a prescription twice a day to help, but I still can't sleep flat. I miss being horizontal. It's such a great way to be.

The lack of sleep? Between peeing, hunger, the resulting heartburn, and Braxton Hicks sleep is a thing of the past. A distant memory. I know at some point in my life I have slept more than a half hour at a time, but I can't recall what it feels like. I bet it's wonderful.

Braxton Hicks contractions are another demon I was not prepared for. I never experienced them with Oaklee and they are evil. For a solid month now at least 15 hours a day my uterus feels like someone is trying to squeeze the water out of a wet towel. Stop teasing me uterus! If you are so eager to contract let's get on with it and have this kid!

There are a number of other side affects that caught me off guard, some of which I won't mention because frankly there is no need to embarrasses myself by sharing them. Needless to say, they aren't pretty. One last one that I had heard was very common but was not expecting was the deterioration of my teeth. This kid is literally sucking the life out of my mouth. By the time I get everything fixed I think I will have paid for my dentist to get a new car.

In closing may I just say, this kid better come out as cute as the last one, otherwise I can't promise to feel like it was worth it.

My make up attempt.

 

How on earth does one go about catching up on a year of neglecting their blog? To be honest, the prospect of doing it is making me want to go another year without blogging. But, as I was bugging one of my friends for going two weeks without giving me a new post to read, she pointed out that I might be a little hypocritical. So I will do my best.

I don't think I can possibly cover everything so I will cover the highlights.

Over the past year, in no particular order:

 

• We moved into a new home. It is just a rental but we were ready to be in our own space again.
• Oaklee and I (sometimes with Ryan) have made the trip from Grande Prairie to Utah 6 times.
• We went on a trip to California with my family.
• Ryan and I each had a sister leave on a mission.
• Ryan received a promotion at work.
• Oaklee has grown in leaps and bounds, learning to walk and talk.
• And perhaps the biggest one, we learned that we will be adding another little girl to our family this November.

 



 

 

We are so excited about this new addition to our family. I am due November 27 which makes me just under 35 weeks right now. This pregnancy has been a little more difficult than Oaklee's was so I'm happy to be nearing the end. My doctor is watching me closely now, because this is almost exactly when Oaklee was born. We still aren't sure why she decided to make her early entrance, but we are hoping this baby comes out breathing on her own, whenever she decides to come. The thought of doing another month with a baby in the NICU makes me panic slightly, so hopefully this kid cooks all the way. Cross your fingers.

 

This last year has also been filled with growing experiences for me. The task of sharing all of those experiences isn't one I'm up for undertaking. But because I'm apparently making lists today, I'll make another of some of the lessons I've learned, again, in no particular order:

• How to be a single mom 3 weeks out of the month.
• How to be apart from family, including Ryan, on holidays. Side note: I'm not claiming that I do this gracefully, just that I am capable of it.
• The HUGE blessings that can come from having good friends.
• The humility that can come only at the hands of a two year old.
• And maybe most importantly, the gas stations with the cleanest bathrooms from Grande Prairie to Kaysville.

I'm certain there are more I'm forgetting, and there are quite a few lessons I have learned before but been reminded of this year. I'm not always eloquent when it comes to expressing my feelings but I do want to say that this has been a year of personal and spiritual growth for me. There is a lot about my current situation in life that I never planned on, some positive and some negative. I'm still quite a work in progress, but I have seen the benefits that come from these unexpected events. The opportunity to grow and learn has been ever present in my life. I'm not always willing to take those opportunities, but I'm working on it.

 

On a MUCH lighter note, a side effect of Oaklee learning to talk over this last year is her personality bursting out in new and hilarious ways. I have said it before and I will say it again, she is SOOO much like Ryan. She talks constantly and always amazes me with the things she has to say. She has a HUGE imagination and I do my best to keep up.

 

To end this long, random, and somewhat rambling post I will leave with some of my favorite pictures from the last year. Enjoy!

 

 

And lastly, the one and only photo of my pregnant belly you will see. Oaklee also felt the need to show her belly. Who wouldn't want to look at hers right?