13 Weeks

That's my lucky pregnancy number.
That's how many weeks pregnant I was with Adeleigh when the "all day sickness" finally subsided and my green, always frowny face started to resemble more of a happy pregnancy glow. That's how many weeks pregnant I was when I had enough energy again to walk a further distance than from the couch to the bathroom without stopping to rest or throw up. That's how far along I was when I magically forgot the previous 9 weeks of misery that consumed me, day in and day out.

I am at 13 weeks today and after the last few months of nausea, aches and blah without any lasting relief, I was losing hope that history would repeat itself this morning.

And then I woke up...
...for the first time in 9 weeks, earlier than anyone else in the house, including the dog. I laid there for a few minutes with my eyes open, trying to determine how my belly was holding up.
Fine.
I jumped out of bed and for the first time in 9 weeks, had this crazy idea that I would walk the dog. I woke him up and took Rico on a short walk along the path behind our building.
Still feeling fine.
I came inside to a half-asleep husband and daughter and started cooking them breakfast for the first time in 9 weeks. Phaeton put his glasses on, looked up at me and said, "Who are you?"
I chuckled. "Thirteen weeks! I'm at 13 weeks today! I feel like myself again for the first morning in a long time."
Phaeton - "I can tell because you're doing everything that I've been doing for the last few months and it's not even 7:30am. This is awesome! But, can you please stop the vacuuming until we wake up?"

Our eventful day went on without a single bout of nausea or headache. And for the first time in 9 weeks, I'm awake after 10pm.

Phaeton - "I feel like you're back....I've missed you."
~~

I'm really hoping this lasts!

I needed this

I took the last two days off from work. Not because anyone is sick. Not because we are moving, packing or unpacking. I just took a break.
And it was just what I needed.

Monday
I spent all to myself. No toddler. No husband. No agenda.
I had enough energy to complete a load of laundry.
I scheduled myself a prenatal massage.
I painted my toenails, realizing that in a few short months, I'll no longer be able to reach them.
I conquered my fear of shopping with a toddler and took her out after I picked her up from daycare.
She was perfect :)

Tuesday
After 10 hours of much needed sleep, I woke to a little girl hugging my cheeks and kissing my nose.
My midwife told me that I should eat whatever I want and not feel guilty about it.
We spent the day playing with family we hadn't seen in over a year.
I had my first 12-hour stretch in 7 weeks without any nausea or headaches.
We heard the baby's healthy heartbeat for the first time -
which put it all into perspective for me....for the first time.
Today was perfect :)

I needed these last few days to re-focus. It must have worked. Because even with all the chaos and uncertainty going on around us, for the first time in months, everything just feels right.

:)

She's going to be an opera singer someday

You know that sound that you wish you would have the power to create, in the event that a stranger started attacking you? The sound that would alert the world around you that you need immediate help? That noise that would cause the stranger to run away in pure terror, scared of what other powers you possess?

Adeleigh has more than perfected that sound. And her favorite time to practice her S.O.S. scream, without fail, is while shopping with Mom.

Yesterday, she exercised her vocal cords in the bakery section of Sam's Club. The entire town dropped what they were doing and turned away from the sampling stations they were snacking at, to hone in on the stranger that must have been abducting a small child.

Hi everyone. Yeah, everything is okay over here. It's just my daughter, mildly upset that she can't have that one M&M cookie that is tucked in the middle of the 3-foot by 4-foot 350-piece cookie tray. I promise she belongs to me.

Phaeton left the salmon sampling station to come and find us. He just followed the train of stares and scowls until he spotted us. Fortunately by then, Adeleigh had calmed down. 

Phaeton - "Oh man, that was loud! What happened?"

Me - "Oh, you know. The usual. She wanted a c-o-o-k-i-e and I offered her fruit snacks instead. You can't just buy 1 c-o-o-k-i-e here."

Phaeton - "The chef cutting the fish said that she's going to make a great opera singer someday...[We chuckled]...Want a sample of some salmon?"

She's at that age where she's learning how to manage the many emotions of toddler hood. It isn't always going to be easy for her to gauge what an appropriate reaction is, or where is an appropriate setting for such a reaction. I feel like it's our job to teach her that. Yet oftentimes, I struggle with what to do when she decides to project her operatic voice-in-training in public. I try my best to validate her feelings, to re-direct and to teach her appropriate behavior. And I know that these moments are learning opportunities for each of us. I just feel like I've got a long ways to go. And I feel like she's got some time before her toddler-insanity-scream translates into music to my ears.

So Adeleigh, in the meantime, the next time you want to go shopping, Daddy is in charge of taking you. I promise though, that I'll be there when you want to buy your prom dress.