that I am not enjoying this pregnancy very much. Besides being riddled with hellacious nausea the first three months, I haven't been able to sleep very well lately and my body just feels completely taken over. I keep reading and hearing from friends that this is what a pregnancy with a girl baby does but I guess I just didn't really expect things to go the way they have. I mean I can't help but compare everything to my first pregnancy. I think its normal that we do this and pretty hard for us to avoid considering everyone asks me on a daily basis how this pregnancy is going compared to first.
I saw a friend today who I haven't in about 4 months or so. She had no idea I was pregnant and she asked me if I were sick because I didn't look very good. Nope, just pregnant. She shook her head and remarked that's why I looked like I've gained weight. Thanks, friend, for so nicely telling me that I looked fat. Funny though, I haven't gained a kilo since I started this pregnancy. But putting on a skirt that I wore pretty frequently while pregnant with Maximilien I noticed that my butt looked bigger as I pulled my black maternity tank down over the top of my bum.
And the heat... oh man, the heat. It's currently 29°C (84°F) in the apt right now. We own one fan and it's blowing into our room where Max has decided he'd rather sleep these days. The heat isn't helping things. I do find myself lingering in the yogurt and cheese aisles at the grocery store but besides that none of my daily haunts have la clim so I will have to go out of my way to find places to cool off. I thought about the pool today but walking home after doing morning prep at the tea house and seeing the line go around the building and down the street pretty much turned me off from that idea. And then I remembered going to the pool with Max and the craziness that the French public pools could be.
In a positive light, Max is completely obsessed with my belly and babies. He tells me everyday there's a baby in there. The assistants at the creche know that I am pregnant now and talk with him about it. They were excited to get out their collection of books about becoming a sibling and new babies in Maman's belly. Today, I went to pick him up from the crèche and I saw Max pushing around a baby in a pousette. One of the assistants told me that he had been telling all the other kids that this was his baby. He would hold the baby and then put it back in the stroller and sing songs to it. Talk about total explosion of my heart.
But standing in the mirror tonight in my favorite striped skirt and black tank I looked and felt like I was starting to look pregnant. I am definitely carrying this baby differently. With Max, I carried him out in the front and with BB it's more of a fat tire thing going on with my whole mid-section. I can feel her kick and sometimes kicking in my back? Anyone else feel that? Maybe my placenta is placed in the front this time. I'll have to ask my doctor about that. But those little love taps make me happy and I quickly forget about how uncomfortable I am this time around. But still... I find myself counting the weeks until the finish line. I'm 18 weeks this week, indigestion and all.
You look LOVELY in that picture! Hopefully the sick stage will soon fade out and you'll get to enjoy things a bit more.
It's adorable that Max is so stoked at the idea of a baby sister and I'm sure he'll be a very loving big bro.
I know that you'll be heading to the US for vacation soon, but I would love to get together with the boys... time flies!
bisous
Posted by: libby | June 30, 2009 at 22:07
All I know is, with both of the girls (and both were pretty much the same pregnancies), I felt butt ugly, fatter than a whale (and I gained just as much weight with all 3 pregnancies), and I did not enjoy the pregnancies as much at all. But, what's weird is I definitely carried Louise differently than with Gab, but Alice was more like when I was pregnant with Gab. Anyway, I think it's true what they say about girls stealing your beauty because I sure didn't feel pretty one instant and every single month, especially with Alice, I was counting the days until the due date!
Keep cool, that's the most important thing right now. Have you ever tried one of those Evian (or other brand) spray things? When I was pregnant with Louise, it really helped to cool me off.
Posted by: andie | June 30, 2009 at 22:21
Hang in there Aimee!! I know it is tough being pregnant in the heat especially. I can only imagine being pregnant in the heat, working and having a toddler in tow. I'm not looking forward to getting pregnant with baby number two, but I am looking forward to expanding our family as I know you are!! The things we mothers do, huh!!
Posted by: kat | June 30, 2009 at 23:11
Yes, hang in there! It's worth the wait! I remember being preggers in the summer. If I couldn't find a cool spot, I would lay on a cold tile floor (not in public, of course) :^) You might feel ungainly, but really, you look absolutely adorable and beautiful! I'm sure your hubs tells you this A LOT. :)
Posted by: Divina | July 01, 2009 at 00:15
hugs
I never felt Katy kick much. She was always turned in a way I couldn't feel it. I also never felt pretty, always felt tired, and never had that pregnancy "glow" that others do. Hopefully it will cool down soon, or soon you will be on a plane to the midwest....where we all have a/c and rootbeer floats!
Mary Anne
Posted by: Mary Anne | July 01, 2009 at 00:38
Long-time lurker chiming in just to let you know that it's ok if you're not enjoying this pregnancy. I had nausea 24/7 the whole 9 months with both of my kids (1 boy, 1 girl). So I didn't enjoy being pregnant very much. I felt guilty for not liking it, but some of us are just not that lucky to sail through a pregnancy feeling great. Just try to focus on the positive things (i.e. the baby kicking). Before you know it, it will be over. Keep your eye on the prize! Sending feel-good vibes your way. :)
Posted by: Bonnie | July 01, 2009 at 01:06
You are beautiful. But I hear you--the hair darkening, the skin changing, any zits I had scarred for the first time in my life, and I had a linea negra that was just nasty looking. And heartburn, hemmerhoids, constipation, bloating--it was not fun.
BTW, Rowan laid sideways (head at my elbow, feet at my other elbow) for many months. It was not comfortable. Especially the day she decided to turn. (Ow.)
So, names? Has the one you were thinking of been confirmed, or is it still up in the air?
Posted by: La Rêveuse | July 01, 2009 at 04:47
My sister had her boy first and her girl second. Totally different pregnancies (although both kids came after LONG labors of 26 and 20 hours, respectively). 2nd pregnancy, she carried differently, looked pregnant WAY sooner, her ankles swelled a lot near the end and she felt like crap. I also think she looked blooming during the first one and tired during the second one. Also the girl was, for the first 6-8 weeks, a lot more work; easily startled, didn't take to the boob at all, which stressed my sister out to no end until she finally had to give it up.
But I will also say this: my nephew was a lot more work AFTER the pregnancy, until... well, he's turning 22 this weekend and he's STILL more work! LOL! The girl is a DREAM child... fun, delightful, never given anyone a bit of trouble, good temperament, great friends, and at 17 we see no signs of typical teenage girl bitchiness.
So you just never know. The pregnancy is no indication of what the baby will be like in "real time". ;)
And I think it's great you're just being honest about how you feel. Why sugar-coat it?
Posted by: The Bold Soul | July 01, 2009 at 05:41
Damn those women who only look pregnant because of that basketball under their top. Me...pregnant in Washington, DC in full summer...every inch of me was fat..right down to my toes that wouldn't fit into any shoes but Tevas. And my despair when I had to take off my wedding ring!
But it's only temporary, right? And you will have a new little bundle of joy soon enough.
Posted by: Anne | July 01, 2009 at 13:05
My pregancies with both my girls were like night and day. Their personalities are as such now too. But, you know what they say?! Horrible pregnancy easy labor. Just keep saying that to yourself. Oh, and my first preganancy was a nightmare, but I ended up have a child with the easiest disposition. The opposite was true with the second. It was like I wasn't even pregnant, and have an extremely fussy/collicy baby and PPD. So, just know that you are putting in your time now. It will be such a relief when you hold that beautiful girl in your arms. Everything will be right with the world :)
Posted by: Meg | July 01, 2009 at 14:38
A GIRL! Am I slow? How'd I miss that? You know the hair darkening...I actually liked that about my pregnancies. This weather isn't on your side, for sure. Nap lots to bypass the heat....
See you bientot.
Posted by: phillippa@gmail.com | July 01, 2009 at 15:45
Max is going to be the **best big brother** ever! I'm so excited for you, J and M. Stay in the shade and close to that fan. :-) A cool, wet cloth on the back of the neck feels great when les grandes chaleurs kick in ....
Posted by: Margaret | July 01, 2009 at 16:10
I did not care for being pregnant either, and I was carring a girl. As much discomfort I was in after having her I was so happy to not be pregnant anymore. Of course all is forgiven now and she is the apple of my eye.
Posted by: Tami | July 05, 2009 at 06:04
I'm currently in my 37th week and it's a nightmare with the heat!!! What's worse is people back in Malaysia (or here) don't seem to understand my problem - I don't have a fan or air-conditioning here, damnit!!!! I seriously understand your pain...
Oh, just to share another insight with you - I'm carrying a girl and I didn't have any morning sickness (just some mild nausea), no backache (just pelvic pain), no water retention and no zits too! So I would go so far as to say that it's unique to each individual. :)
Posted by: Mei | July 05, 2009 at 14:23