pregnancy stuff.

Enduring the first trimester was tough. Everyone suggests things that help but really you just feel awful and you can't get around it. I am glad I haven't stayed sick because I really don't think I could do it. I definitely can't imagine throwing up fish tasting water again (from the prenatal vitamins) and the unreal exhaustion. So unreal. But it's over and now pregnancy is going way too fast. It makes me sad to think about this baby girl being on the outside but I am also very excited about giving birth and seeing her for the first time! Anyway, I just thought I would share some of the things that have helped me through my second trimester. Honestly I love hearing what works for other women. So...

1. This pillow. Oh my word. My friend Catherine let me borrow hers and I got a jersey knit cover for it. I am all about the jersey knit, always have been. When she showed this pillow to me, I laughed at it because..come on. It is so ridiculous looking, but this thing has been a lifesaver. I believe in it.

2. I don't particularly like shea butter because it's thick and messy and makes your clothes stick to you, but I am never ever itchy and always have moisturized skin. This is good stuff, hopefully it will help keep the stretch marks away, even though I have some of those from the early teen years. urghh.

3. Lemon water was a huge craving for me. For a while, I constantly got a big cup of ice water with so much lemon that most people wouldn't be able to stand it. It wasn't just a craving though, it a great thing to drink in the hot summer.

4. Storq maternity clothes. These are the real deal. So comfortable. So easy to put outfits together. I haven't had as much energy to style these clothes and dress my baby bump as much as I hoped, but that's okay. I guess.

5. 502 Power Yoga. I love exercise so much, sometimes I would do it twice a day. I never dreamed I wouldn't continue to workout everyday and with the intensity from pre pregnancy. I know some women can, but for me, no. I came home from work and took naps. naps?! That is not me, but like I said earlier, the exhaustion can be unreal. It really bothered me and made me feel like a failure, but exercise took the back seat. In my second trimester I started to go back to the gym and still found it difficult to do the things I used to, I needed something a little easier. So I quit the gym(temporarily) and joined a yoga studio. This place is great and it has been easy to go everyday. I know it will help me give birth and be less stressed through everything.

6. Smoothie King has been such a treat! I usually get a kid size and it makes me feel so refreshed! Especially after the yoga :)

7. Good Birth Companion is a wonderful book! I know every women needs to follow her own instincts and do what she feels is best. Through research and following my own feelings, I have determined my personal birth plan. I know things may be out of my control, but I feel there is a very good chance I can have the beautiful experience I have planned for. If you are anxious about birth (no matter what kind of birth you hope to have), this book is such a big help. It helped me to feel comfortable with birth and actually look forward to it! That is just crazy for me, I never ever wanted to get pregnant because of all the fear. I am SO grateful the fear(for the most part) is gone).

There are some things I cannot figure out- like how to deal with the back pain, but I am planning on getting a prenatal massage next week. I hope it helps!
Also, being big is hard for me. It is mostly mental, I pass by a mirror and think 'oh. whoa. no. that is not okay.' It is tough to see the scale go up, I secretly thought I would gain on the lower end, but that is not going to be true for me. The rational part of me knows it is okay as long as I am healthy and knows that I will go back to normal (kind of ).