Reasons why I love my family

Various conversations via text and facebook after my two cousins found out I was pregnant:

M: Looks like there's going to be one more stocking on the couch at Nan's this year!

C: Hahaha Megan that's hilarious! I can't wait to see what the baby gets in it's stocking!!

M: Chrissie & Ashley-corn on the cob holders, hello kitty chapstick, and travel size   shampoo....that's what everyone gets in their stockings from their grandma, right?

C: You forgot shaving cream.

M:  well i didn't think the baby would need that yet...the other items are essential for a 1 month old though

M: So from what I just gathered from our texts, my parents knew and then I found out and then I told Chrissie. Chrissie was still the last to know something about the fam....somethings never change. If it makes you feel any better, I only knew seconds before you did.

C: Thanks guys! And I'm not the last to know, I forwarded Megan's text to Kelly and I'm sure she's already in bed and won't see it until tomorrow so she'll be the last to know :p

Me: Hahaha! maybe you have successfully passed on the curse to her then...

C: I hope so. I'm going to Christopher tomorrow so I'll keep you posted if I learn something knew or not.

                        M:  Start clearing a little spot on "the wall" in nan's dining room

                        C: Will do, I'll try and find you a good spot Ash!

M: Hope we don't have to take anyone down to do that...

C:  I make no promises....sacrifices may need to be made

M:  Chrissie, you need to show Nan the name "lafonquiqui" and see if she thinks she can fit that on an xmas ornament

And then my cousin Megan had these texts to send in reference to naming my child: 

"If it's a boy: Romeo, and I don't mean just any old Romeo, it needs to be pronounced "row-mayo" like in the Claire Danes/Leonardo Dicaprio version of Romeo and Juliet

For a girl: I just think Lafonquiqui has a beautiful ring to it...it will be super easy for Nan to puff pen onto an Xmas ornament." 

Let me stress again: I love my family.

My due date was changed to December 8th today.

I'm not sure I agree with this.
I really think I'm in my 8th week, but my ob/gyn said based on the beta results from my hcg, that's my due date.

Hmph.

Today, my blood pressure was significantly high. This really freaks me out. They seemed concerned, too. I have to go back in a week for them to retake it.

I talked briefly with my ob about a couple of things I wanted to do come delivery time. She seemed really laid back about it, which is good.

Now I just need to get this blood pressure down.

Week 8 Symptoms

via What to Expect: 

Fatigue: check! (!!)
Nausea and vomiting: Nausea, no vomiting
Food cravings and aversions: Hmmm, debatable. Yes and no, I would say. I've been craving pickled okra for days now. Bizarre, since I never eat it by itself.
Bloating: Triple check!
Increased sense of smell: Still not sure on this one.
Occasional headaches: Yes, and they're not fun :(
Occasional faintness or dizziness: Lord have mercy, yes. At least once a day, I feel like I'm drunk.


You know what? I'm thankful for all of this. It means this lil fighter is still growing, and will continue to grow. I love it, and I'll take whatever this pregnancy throws my way :)

Morningish Sickness.

So, I think I'm finally starting to experience some bouts of morning sickness.
Except, while it's guaranteed to usually happen in the morning, it continues at random times throughout the day. It's the strangest pattern--I wake up ravenously hungry, but then right after I eat and take my morning vitamins, it just suddenly hits me. Which means, my vitamins are probably making me feel bad. But this is strange, considering I haven't had any of this morning sickness until I literally hit week 8 (yesterday).

My question is, is it truly considered morning sickness if you don't throw up? I gagged twice when I was brushing my teeth, and once when I took my last vitamin...but thankfully, no upchucking. From what I've read, I have 4-6 weeks left of this. It doesn't necessarily hinder me immobile, but it's definitely been an nuisance.

I also think I'm experiencing heartburn. Is that what that burning sensation in my stomach is? Bleck. No bueno. 

I have my first prenatal appointment today. It should last 2+ hours. I get to choose a doctor, go over my medical history, and things like that. It's a lot of pressure, don't you think?

I may be as big as a house when this is all over with.

Food.

I find myself fantasizing about it during the day. I can eat what would normally make me full, and I'm still hungry afterward.

I just ate my second plate of spaghetti, so explain to me how I am still experiencing hunger pangs? It just isn't logical.
I really crave meat a lot. And fruit.

I had my first bizarre craving of my pregnancy today. Myself and some coworkers went out to eat for lunch, and I decided I wanted a fried shrimp sandwich with mayonnaise and lettuce on it. Granted, I used to eat this when I lived in Mississippi (they're called Poboys there) but they didn't give me what I asked for. Instead, I just got the shrimp and one piece of bread. So what did I do? I fit whatever shrimp I could on that piece of bread, and topped it with mayonnaise. Then, when I ran out of bread, I dipped my shrimp in mayonnaise and ate it up.

While I was eating this, I kept thinking "This is really disgusting," but I couldn't help how good it tasted.

I haven't really craved fried food so far, so today was definitely interesting :p

I haven't experienced any morning/afternoon sickness unless my stomach doesn't have something in it. This makes it really hard for me to not gain more weight than recommended. I'm constantly having to snack throughout the day. I've tried just drinking a lot of water, and that staves my hunger for about, oh, 20 minutes.

I don't understand how something so tiny can make me eat so much! -laugh-

Why my favorite jeans are tight now...

Took this while I was shopping at Old Navy last Thursday (April 12). Bought my first maternity work pants, which I now call my heaven pants :p So comfy! It's pretty much bloat, seeing as the baby is only as big as a blueberry. I've been downing water like crazy, which I think is partly to blame.

First belly photo! :)

Yes, I realize it's only baby bloat, but it's cool to see nonetheless!