Orchids in Formaldehyde

A couple of month's ago, my mom sent over a package containing "dasters" or maternity dresses for indoors. I was surprised to find a baby onesie inside. It took my breath away, left me speechless. I just turned around and showed it to my husband and he laughed with me, the kind that's a giggle / disbelief combination.

And then later he remarked, "Oh no, are we ready?" I felt the same way. Although I'm sure he's worried about the finances, I was worried about the upbringing. We would be responsible for another person.

It was a wake-up call.

I couldn't stop looking at it though. I couldn't stop holding it in my arms as if I'm holding an infant. Lol.

It seems funny, when he calls me over to the kitchen, I am bringing along a baby's clothing in my arms. I joked to him that in a few months, I'll be moving around the house the same way, but with a real baby this time. We'll be attached to the hip. Or chest-to-chest.

I love that the clothing is in green. I think that's a perfect unisex color. When we received this, we didn't know the gender of the baby yet, but I always thought I'm having a girl. Like to the point of claiming it. Like: "Desdel, start your baking business already so I can order from you those pretty floral cupcakes I saw on Pinterest for baby's birthday." That is why the floral pattern and butterfly detail on this onesie didn't bother me one bit.

But now... I'm sure baby wouldn't notice. 😉

I'm speechless. I just found out I've already got a good number of stretchmarks on my upper thighs and buttocks. I've been very diligent with applying oil on my stomach because that was where I was fearing the marks will show up since it is ballooning so fast, I forgot or didn't pay any attention to my thighs and butt. I actually don't feel like they've changed size at all.

Although "science" says stretchmarks can't be prevented, I still would like to think that I at least have tried. :( Besides, I still don't have any marks on my stomach, except for linea nigra (the black line running up and down the center of the bulge), so maybe the oil works.

Sucks.

I've never really told a lot of people that I am pregnant. And that's a good thing. Because have I told them, I would probably be complaining to them a lot about the miserable trek that I went through. The first trimester was a misery! I've heard a lot of women say they were done with the pregnancy at week 30 or so, I was done at week 11. Like, sobbing my eyes out, I-wanna-go-home-to-my-mother kind of done.

I was nauseated pretty much everyday. I go green from the smell of hot cooking oil, the hot stove, the kitchen sink, and I guess the kitchen overall. Since I was also very fatigued (plus the nausea), I didn't have the energy to clean which I guess added up to the horrid smell of the house (which really isn't that much - just pregnancy nose picking up more scents than usual).

We also had two dogs at that time - God rest poor Dookie's soul, I still feel so guilty because I kinda neglected him during his last months. They also added to the smell and the chores, although they're indoors dogs so they're not that dirty (except when Dookie contacted allergies/mange from something he ate).

There was also the [TMI] constipation. It was like hard work. Like seriously, it was like a work out just getting it done. I hear that's pretty normal for pregnant women especially when they start taking iron supplements, which I am now this second trimester but haven't had that experience again (yet).

And I should not forget to mention the abdominal cramps. It's far too common for girls to complain about them when they're on their periods like it's the bane of existence, but I didn't know it would still have an appearance during pregnancy. And by golly! How I wish I was just menstruating so I know that the pain will be over in an hour or so, and that the bloody business over in a week. No, this time I have absolutely no idea when and why it is happening. My uterus surely isn't contracting to expel it's linings.

I know, too much TMI. But that's what pregnancy will do to you I guess. Just the knowledge that people will be hovering over your open legs in a few months will desensitize you.

What else? Oh yeah, I lost weight when I was suppose to be gaining them. All the nausea/puking and fatigue don't really give one a healthy appetite. And fearing that I'm damaging my baby because I'm not giving it proper nutrition is enough to bring on the water works.

And I also had UTI. It's common for pregnant ladies to get them. I didn't really feel any pain with urinating and what not, but I had to take antibiotics for it and being a child that I am, I don't know how to swallow pills. :D I had to crush them into powder before taking them and chasing them with water, then juice, then candy or some dessert. I hurled them twice during that one week routine because it was just plain nasty.

Well, I'm over that hump now, thankfully. They say the second trimester is the easiest and happiest among the three, and I agree. I'm blissful. Not that it doesn't have any aches and pains, but it is so much easier than the first trimester. :D

And they say the third would be just as hard as the first, hmm we'll see.

I'll update you when I'm over the second trimester. ;)