Today is my due date. I will be meeting my little girl any day now, and I'm finally getting excited. I've been so wrapped up in other things and work, that it's been hard to connect and focus on her as much as I should. She is more of a wiggler than a kicker, but she can kick when she wants to. Thankfully, it's not that often because it is strong enough to cause me to react. That makes me feel a teensy bit crazy to cry out or jump for no apparent reason. She also tends to like to start moving around during meetings and conference calls. Not everyone knows you can see a baby move inside a woman's belly. I remember Mike jumping off the couch when he saw Dexter move around in my tummy for the first time. That's made me be sensitive to the guys in the office by holding my hands over my belly to shield her dance moves. It's seriously Alien-like if you haven't seen it before. Luckily, she just won't jump out and attach to your face.
This pregnancy has been much easier physically than my last. In my first pregnancy, I was still suffering from autoimmune issues that caused me to take steroids that eventually caused the very late onset of gestational diabetes. I had the worst morning sickness to the point of having to take medicine to keep things down. I also retained water to he point that I no longer had ankles. I had what is lovingly referred to as "cankles" because my ankles were the size of my calves.
This time around none of the things that plagued my first pregnancy have been issues. I
I didn't take any medicine. I had some high blood sugar for a bit, but it was always borderline even though I was eating large amounts of carbs. I eventually just occasionally check my sugar to make sure it wasn't high and it never was. I have gained the same amount of weight as I did with Dexter (way too much), but I know I can lose it like I did last time. There are some other minor things that are different, but I just haven't had the time to focus on the little things as much because Dexter keeps me occupied.
I'm unable to sleep in a normal pattern. I've been sleeping in 3 hours shifts. I go back and forth between sleeping in bed and sleeping on the couch since neither of them will keep my comfy for more than a few hours. Surprisingly though, my head isn't nearly as fuzzy this time around. Perhaps I've gotten used to less sleep? Or maybe it's a different load of hormones with a girl? I dunno, but thankfully, I'm not too lost in mental soup. I have some pretty complex tasks at work that can be a challenge on fully rested, noon-pregnant days, and being pregnant halves the comprehension factor. I feel like I"m doing well at it though despite the soup.
I haven't obsessively prepared for the birth like I did last time. I was happy when I discovered the birth plan for #1. I reformatted it and changed a few things, but pretty much co-opted it for #2. I STILL need to pack my hospital bag properly. I think I had that ready to go a month ahead of time last time. I'm so much more laid back this time. I'm ready to meet her. I'm not freaking out about what childbirth will feel like. It's horribly painful, but it has a wonderful ending. I know that now.
Each tick of the clock is bringing her birth closer. I hope I won't have to wait too much longer. She's been great listening to me about the fact she needed to hold off this week. There was too much going on, but now we're ready. Mr. Cobra is playing a show tonight. That's the last of the things that were potentially going to complicate going into labor. Now, please little girl, let's meet you!
