16 weeks and counting!

Well, here we are, 4 months and 2 days. It seems crazy to think we are that far along when those first weeks seemed to have taken forever. When we would look at the pictures of 6, 8 even 10 week fetuses and see how vulnerable and bizarre they were. Now when we look at pictures we see little faces, tiny fingers which can flex and grasp, knees, feet...we could even see genitals -IF we were so inclined (so far we're still leaning towards 'no'). Pregnancy has already been such an amazing journey and I feel so fortunate to be experiencing it for myself. I am diligently trying to appreciate every day of it, the wonder of it all, as every day brings something new.

Lately it's been bringing more tired, less room! I notice then when I bend over to get something, I have the inevitable 'oomph' that accompanies the motion, and my belly no longer cracks along the middle to accomodate the bend. I've gained 5 inches around my very middle and I can feel the general thickening of my torso, although I still look practically normal in my clothes - albeit they fit a bit tighter! I seem to have regained my appetite and am craving very warming, homey foods like roast beef and gravy, indian food, breads and butters. Still my sweet tooth remains in hibernation (not a bad thing) and the aversions of the early months seem to have abated, to my great relief. I'm not used to being a fussy eater!

I continue to be quite tired, and I feel like I should have moved on from that. I have trouble giving myself the permission to live in the tired, I feel like I should be up and out there and like my old self, but I have been persistently exhausted, making that somewhat more difficult. Right now my heart is racing a bit, and if I get up too fast, I feel dizzy and light. So I'm trying to take it easy, take my time, enjoy the last months and days of the freedom I have to do that. I'm doing a fair amount of pre-natal yoga, working my way up gradually to more. I feel like it is the best preparation for birth possible; breathing through discomfort, pushing through pain, stretching, making room, relaxing, meditating. I feel myself opening up to all the possibilities for my future as a woman, a mother, for us as a family...

A family. Our very own family. What a wonderful gift.