4 Months!

Well well well…look who decided to show up this month! We were wondering if you were going to make a grand showing of your existence anytime soon, and boy did you. In fact, you made your big debut quite literally overnight. Sunday night, January 6, 2013 to be exact.

 

I was fitting into my clothes quite comfortably all the way through our Christmas vacation in Idaho. People often remarked on how I just didn’t look pregnant at all. Then suddenly on Monday morning I put on my work pants and POW, they only buttoned if I was standing up, which meant I had to go that entire day at work sitting at my desk with my pants undone. On Tuesday I couldn’t even pretend to zip up my skirt, so on Tuesday night we made an emergency trip to Target for some cheap maternity clothes to tide me over until I hit that “definitely, definitely pregnant” phase here in the next few weeks. Your dad and I speculate that the cause of your sudden growth spurt is that you went a little overboard like we all do and put on a bunch of holiday weight. That explanation makes perfect sense, considering you are half Allen, half McNally.

 

Your dad is thrilled to see my expanding belly and can’t seem to take his eyes off me/you. It creeps me out a little, actually. Every time I walk into the room your dad does this full body scan thing with his eyes, and then holds out his hands which I have come to learn means “let me feel your stomach.” It’s weird, but also kind of cute. I’m also relatively certain that this novelty will wear off after you, and that your siblings won’t be subject to the same level of pre-natal groping. Way to take one for the team.  

 

As far as pregnancy symptoms go, I think you have some things backwards and I would like to address them now. The way it was supposed to work was that during the first trimester and first trimester only, I should have felt fatigued and lost my appetite. Then, in the second trimester I should have gotten a burst of energy and regained my voracious appetite. But you apparently dance to the beat of a different drum. I felt almost no symptoms whatsoever during the first 13 weeks of pregnancy, but during this 16^th week I’ve felt extremely tired, prone to dizziness, and absolutely disinterested in most foods—especially the foods that are good for us. As a result, we go to bed at about 9:00 PM each night, and eat far more crackers and pasta than we are supposed to. How about you work on reversing some of those things, and see what you can do about giving your mother that pregnant glow that I’m pretty sure I’m entitled to in exchange for me lending you my entire body for nine months.

 

I did fill you in on a little secret yesterday in the car though. Yesterday we had to take a two hour road trip for a work meeting in western Massachusetts. On the way home I stopped by McDonalds and fed us some much desired chicken nuggets and fries. I have tried to avoid that kind of food for the most part during this pregnancy, and have committed to limit fast food intake in my own children. But I told you yesterday that you can always rest assured that when you are on the road with your mom, you can expect McDonalds. It will be our little tradition…as long as you are being good.

 

And yes, I was actually telling you these things out loud in the car. I read that you have grown your ears this week and can start to hear my voice, and some sources even encourage me to speak out loud to you as often as possible. I felt weird doing it though, so I don’t think our special womb conversations will be a regular thing. I have no doubt in my mind whatsoever though that you will hear a lot of my voice in the next few months (and for the rest of your life). So I won’t spend too much time worrying that you won’t recognize me or my voice on your birthday.

Also, your dad believes I am growing a hairy baby, and I very much look forward to when you’re born and we can both prove him wrong. Lately I’ve been suffering from a case of the dramatic hiccups. I hiccup only about 4 or 5 times a day, but when I do the whole world can hear. I have also suffered from bouts of heartburn. Your dad read somewhere that these are symptoms of increased progesterone, high levels of which are indicative of significant fetal hair growth. While I like to imagine you growing a beautiful head of dark hair and long eyelashes, your dad envisions you resembling something similar to a fuzzy bear cub.

I am not growing a hairy baby. Right?

 

And that’s your four month update! I still can’t feel you move around in there, even though allegedly I should be able to. I’ve been warned that with me being a first time mom I probably won’t recognize your movements for another few weeks. It kind of bugs me that apparently I can technically feel you, but I just can’t differentiate you from other bodily sensations. I can’t wait for that day though, so hurry up.