Likes and Dislikes

*disclaimer* for those of you who read my (rarely updated) baby blog... I'm probably going to post this there as well -although I did update this last week.

So... I don't feel GREAT... but I definitely feel a lot better than I was a month or two ago. I would say that I have two days a week where I don't feel good, just more tired or a little more sick than normal, but it's doable. If this is as good (and bad -I can hear all of you mothers out there laughing) as it gets, I'll be fine for the next 5 months.

However... I've been creating this list in my head that I thought I'd try to get down on paper -mostly just so I'd be forced to think of some of my 'likes' about being pregnant. Here it is (oh, and I'm keeping both sides G-rated, if you want the down and dirty, go read Belly Laughs).

I'm starting with LIKES... it'll be a shorter list, but I thought I'd start here first.

-The end result. I've always wanted a family, and this is the most traditional way to have one. There should be a healthy baby at the end of the 9 months.
-I like feeling my body change -or at least noticing the changes. I haven't even started all of the BIG changes, but they're on their way, and it's weird to actually feel my uterus.
-I like (most) comments from others, just having other people know that I'm pregnant. However, I'm still trying to wear 'normal' clothes at work, I like to be able to control who I tell and when.
-No monthly periods. That's still G-rated, and I refuse to use any other term... it sounds juvenile.
-I like my doctor, so I don't mind the monthly visits.
-I'll include future likes, which will be feeling the baby move. It hasn't happened yet, but I'm looking forward to it and I KNOW Justin is too.
-I'm not going back to work after the baby is born, so just knowing that is pretty nice (thanks Justin).

Now for the dislikes...
-There was a fair amount of stress and anxiety involved with actually getting pregnant, the 1st miscarriage and being a little more worried than normal the first few months of this one.
-Being sick. Yes, I didn't throw up and I am EVERY grateful for that, don't get me wrong. However, I was SICK. I felt like throwing up, had a hard time eating, hard time NOT eating, just feeling miserable overall. I can see all of you nodding your heads in agreement.,
-The 'glow' of pregnancy. Any 'glow' that I have has created a large amount of acne and other skin ailments. Oh... so attractive.
-My joints. Oh, my knees and wrists of all things are about to give. Those loose joints due to the hormones are wreaking havoc on my already arthritic joints.
-No drugs. Seriously... I love my drugs. I feel like I have a high tolerance for chronic pain, but I hate having headaches and muscle pain. I miss my ibuprofen and another prescription anti-inflammatory drug.
-Sleep. I miss sleeping through the night. What a dirty trick of nature to start the no-sleeping-through-the-night routine before the baby is even here.
-Peeing... all of the time. Even when I don't really have to 'go' I still feel like I have to go. Weird.
-These 'round ligament' pains are killing me. Plus... according to all of the books, I only get relief once the uterus is big enough to rest on the pelvic bone, which then starts stretching itself.
-Waiting. I was thinking the other day that I haven't waited 9 months for something for a while. Maybe turning 16 and getting my license. Even Justin and I didn't wait that long between meeting and getting married (judge me if you want). November seems far.
-Heat. And, along with heat, the swelling. Hasn't happened too bad yet, just a future dislike.
-Lack of exercise. Between still being super tired and having to keep my heart rate down, I'm missing my gym time.

I'm sure if I sat here any longer, I could come up with more, but I'll stop there. Even after listing all of my 'dislikes', that first LIKE on my list, has made it all worthwhile. I'm very happy that Justin and I are starting our family and I'm grateful that I am able to carry our child.

I may be singing a different tune later on in the hot summer though.