Baby Kicks on the Outside and Bump Travel

This week has been wonderful for me, as it's my school's half-term break. I spent the first half of it in Switzerland visiting many of my old friends there for one last calm trip down memory lane. It was fun traveling with my little bump, which is finally showing enough so that others might suspect I'm pregnant too. When I look down, I think I look quite pregnant, while in the mirror I still just look a bit more round than usual. I know soon it will be unmistakable! 

 

My friends were (as usual) incredibly lovely, sweet, kind and generous. Everyone bought me dinner, treated me to spa days, and even gave me thoughtful gifts! My favorite gift is a belly chime necklace, that hangs right on the bump and makes beautiful sounds for my baby. I absolutely adore it! During the entire trip, I could feel all the love towards my tiny Wriggles, and am already getting so excited to bring my sweet baby back to Switzerland to meet everyone. 

The plane flight, I'll admit, was a bit uncomfortable - especially on the way back when I was stuck in a middle seat. I'm only a little nervous for our babymoon (to Majorca!) and my girl's weekend trip to Denmark, but both flights are tolerably short and I'm sure I'll be fine even though I'll be 7 months pregnant. 

I'm really writing today to remember this exciting moment, the day I felt the baby's kicks on the outside! They say you can start to feel them anywhere between 20-30 weeks on the outside, and I felt Wriggles just kicking away in there. I put my hand on my tummy just in case (plus it's kind of a habit now!) and there it was clear as day, little kicks! My dear husband isn't home at the moment, so it's just me getting excited about every little thing. Before I know it, everyone will be able to feel the kicks and then in 18 short weeks, baby will be here too!

15 Weeks and Feeling Better

I want to use this blog to help me remember this first, exciting pregnancy. But morning (all-day) sickness, travel, work, holidays, friends and family all seemed to get in the way and here I am not having posted for nearly a month! 

Take the tail-end of week 11 and the beginning of week 12 (Dec. 14-15), for example. I had to take the bus into work before our flights back to America, and I spent the whole bus ride trying desperately not to vomit. Then I got off the bus and tried to breathe deeply, willing myself to hold it all in, to think of anything but being sick. Finally, I was scouting for places to unobtrusively upchuck - I didn't find one and proceeded to projectile vomited all over the pavement and sidewalk. After cleaning myself up the best I could (in my work clothes!) I apologized to everyone around me and just kept repeating that I was pregnant. I needed them to know I wasn't hungover! Luckily I got a few sympathetic nods from people who understood those queasy first weeks. 

The day after the vomit episode I hit 12 weeks and was perfectly fine for the next three weeks. This was wonderful timing for our America trip, as it meant I could indulge in all the Mexican food possible. I had a delightful time sharing the news with my friends and family in a variety of creative ways, including my wrapped bump and a youtube video:

I didn't really do much documenting while I was visiting my family, as I was too busy seeing everyone and running around like usual. I did get to buy maternity clothes (too much fun! especially with the bump pillow!) Why didn't anyone tell me maternity stuff is so comfortable? I am never changing out of my comfy jeans again! No buttons, no problems!

Bump pillow! Can't wait to actually be like this!

Me in 3 months?

 My dear family friends were so incredible and threw me a last-minute baby shower. I felt so surrounded by love and happiness, it was a wonder I didn't sob all the way through (perhaps my emotions are a bit more in control now?) We played sweet games, chatted, ate yummy food, had delicious cake, made onesies, and laughed and talked for hours. 

 

Lovely quilt for baby!

Luckily things are still quite simple for me with a tiny bump, although I have passed into the exciting second trimester! I don't really feel more energetic, but I'm happy to be eating normal food again. I want it to both go slower (I'm loving growing a sweet baby!) to wanting it to go faster (I can't wait to meet my sweet little snuggle baby!). I've just gotten my next scan date - the anomaly scan - for February 8th so I'm really looking forward to that. Things seem to be ticking along just fine - no problems or concerns so far, and I'm just so happy to be here. I never thought I would be, and sometimes it feels like this must be a dream and it couldn't be happening to me! But here I am, rubbing my slightly protruding tummy and thinking about all the wonderful moments to come.