According to Lara

As Good as It Gets: Second Trimester Reflection

by Lara on May 9, 2012

I’m officially 2/3 of the way through this pregnancy! You guys were right; things really did get better in the second trimester. After a fairly typical, rocky first trimester, I was pretty skeptical that things would magically improve, but I guess it’s not called “the golden trimester” for nothin’.

The highlights were abundant and the lowlights were sparse. Here we go:

The Good

No more nausea. When I was still vomiting at 17 weeks, I thought I might be doomed to nausea for the whole shebang. Things quickly turned around and by our 20-week ultrasound, I was feeling fine.
Tons of energy. We’ve been moving furniture and sorting through boxes to prepare the nursery. I’ve been consistent with my Bradley Method exercises and walking anywhere from 1-5 miles a day. I’ve been cooking and cleaning again, and generally enjoying my place back among the living.
Things got real. For us, the reality of the pregnancy really hit once we found out we were having a baby boy. Perhaps this would have happened at that point in the pregnancy regardless of whether we found out, but our world seemed to really turn upside down (for the better) once we could envision a little man coming into it.
Kicks. How could I forget kicks?! Right around week 20 is when I finally started to feel movement. Now, he’s kicking like crazy. It’s amazing and weird and mind boggling.
I’m finally looking pregnant. And not just, you know, extremely well fed.

Source: Wee Mail App

The Not-So-Good

Nothing fits! I guess this is the downside of being pregnant. Duh.
Awkward conversations. This is probably not a universal “symptom,” but as we prepare to have a baby, we’ve had to have some conversations we would rather not have with the people that are closest to us about issues like vaccinations, baby names, and the like. Warning to first-time parents: you will be questioned about every decision you make.
The glucose tolerance test. Fasting, chugging a sickly sweet syrup, and getting my blood drawn three times in the span of two hours was not a pleasant experience. Enough said.

Other than that, it really has been an exciting and happy few months. I’m thrilled to be in the last trimester, but also a little sad that these months were “as good as it gets,” as far as pregnancy goes.

Moms, what can I expect in the third trimester?

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On Dogs and a Baby

by Lara on May 3, 2012

See these two fur balls? They’re my two-year olds.

I know, I KNOW. Dogs aren’t babies. It’s an insult to canines everywhere to think otherwise. But these two crazy pups, until now, have been my babies: I’ve lost sleep staying up all night with a 9-week old Lulu; I’ve sought out special classes and experts to help a traumatized Pippa; I’ve driven to daycare, training classes, playdates, and doctors appointments; and I’ve cleaned up pee, poop, and vomit more times than I can count.

In short, until now, they are the only “babies” I’ve ever known.

Now that an actual human baby is coming into the picture, I think we’re all a little scared.

It’s a crazy thought to think that I will actually love another baby more than I love these two. It’s a frightening thought to wonder if I won’t.

Matthew and I are committed to keeping our dogs as part of our family. We are preparing ourselves for a potentially rough transition period as “the girls” start to realize that the screaming, crying, scary bundle in our arms is, in fact, staying.

Our hope is to prepare them as much as possible for the new noises, the change in schedule, and the inevitable decrease in attention. Our hope is to prepare our home to safely accommodate the co-habitation of two small dogs and a child. Our hope is for the pups to learn to love the baby as an extension of their love for us. Our hope is to raise a child who loves and respects animals. Our hope is to prepare ourselves for the craziness that will occur in this whole process.

I know we can do it. This isn’t an “either/or” situation; there is no reason why adding more love to one area of our lives has to come at the expense of love in another area. That’s the wonderful thing about love: there is no limit to how much you can have, feel, or give.

Stay tuned to learn exactly how we are preparing for four to become five.

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On Pre-Pregnancy Books

April 27, 2012

When we started thinking about TTC, the first thing I wanted to do was read everything I could about the subject. My reading ranged from books like Taking Charge of Your Fertility (I don’t categorize this as a pre-pregnancy book so much as one on reproductive understanding, whatever your aim is), to more specific reads about [...]

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Five Infuriating Things People Have Said to Me During Pregnancy

April 11, 2012

Source 1. “Will you be rehoming your dogs?” This is the one of the most ridiculous questions I have yet to hear. Maybe this isn’t true for everyone, but our dogs are part of our family. Unlike the rest of our family, they are members we actually got to choose. I am doing my best [...]

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Pregnancy Journal: The 20-Week Ultrasound

April 9, 2012

March 21, 2012 (20 weeks): We are waiting in the exam room for the lab tech. Matthew snaps a picture to mark the moment. I take one look at the photo and say, “It’s a girl.” I lie down. Goop goes on my stomach. We look at the brain first. Holy cow, this is amazing. [...]

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Pregnancy Journal: Weeks 13-20

April 3, 2012

February 1, 2012 (13 weeks): Pregnancy must be preparing me to deal with the Terrible Twos, because I’m acting like a toddler. I need to eat every couple of hours. The idea of eating a vegetable makes me cringe. I take naps. I throw fits when even the slightest thing does not go according to [...]

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Pregnancy To Do List Update

March 30, 2012

Baby prep is in full swing around here! I thought I’d write a quick post as an update on what we’ve been up to lately. Things I can check off the list: Hire a doula. I’m cheating by adding this to the list. I did it at week 12. Find a maternity/birth/newborn photographer. This gal [...]

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My Luxe Baby Wishlist

March 26, 2012

One thing that has surprised me about pregnancy and preparing for a baby is the sheer amount of stuff you supposedly need. I’m not really one for accumulating lots of stuff, but there are a few items I am excited to purchase. In the process of researching what we need and what we don’t, I’ve [...]

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A Letter to My Unborn Son

March 23, 2012

Dear Baby Boy, Little Man, thanks for showing us your goods during the ultrasound, but I should tell you right now that flashing people like that is pretty frowned upon once you exit this private little suite. I can hear you already. “Mom! I can’t believe you posted a picture of my penis on the [...]

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