..:the Hardest Secret I Had to Keep: I'm Pregnant:..

     Finally now that I am over my first trimester, I feel comfortable to announce it. It was the hardest secret I had to keep for 3 months! I did start to tell a few close friends and immediate family at about 10 weeks. Now I am at 14 weeks!
     I started to suspect it while we were finishing up our trip in Thailand. The two biggest signs was getting seasick riding the ferry to and from Phi Phi Island. I never get seasick, even riding on a small boat. Let me tell you the feeling was just terrible. I was dizzy, had a headache and of course worst of all, nausea! I ended up complaining, closing my eyes and napping during that 1.5 hour ride to Phi Phi. The second big sign was I was really really tired. I fell asleep easily and wanted to sleep forever! Luckily when we came back to the states, we stayed with the in-laws and I was able to sleep alot.
     We took a test in Thailand. The test was in Thai. The only English words that were on the instructions were Pregnant, Not-Pregnant and Invalid. Well that is all you really need to know right? Anyways the test was PREGNANT! How exciting! We both were very excited and happy!
     When I got back from Thailand to PA, the morning sickness symptoms started. It was not pretty and I did not feel pretty. I was not only sick in the mornings, but threw up a couple times, food smelled terrible and unsatisfying. Not to mention my face broke-out! I hardly ever get pimples and I did for those two weeks! I also had to start being careful about what I ate and drink. I had gained weight from our Asia trip. I wanted to lose it while I was in PA, but I knew I shouldn't be dieting while pregnant so the weight gain continued.
     I'm lucky to have such a loving and caring husband to help me get through morning sickness, so I didn't get all emotional like predicted to most women. We read it's good to sleep alot, have food/breakfast in bed and all sorts of other information that we needed/wanted to learn about being pregnant. He's definitely read alot more about health and nutrition about pregnant women than I have.
     We get to find out the sex of the baby in a few weeks. How exciting! We both decided we just want a healthy baby. We didn't have a preference of the sex. However, we know deep deep down inside women want a little girl to dress up and men want a boy to continue their family name. Boy or Girl, we just want healthy. I have been so nervous the past 3 months about the baby developing well and if things were on track. I even considered buying a Fetal Doppler so I can check for the baby's heartbeat everyday! I was so happy to hear the baby's heartbeat at week 13!
     Already I am 5 pounds heavier than my normal weight. Yes, it's true women's weight fluctuate alot, but I am quite sure these 5 pounds are here to stay. It's tricky because is it weight from pregnancy or some from my Asia vacation. I am nervous about the amount of weight gain that will happen. I read 25-35 pounds is normal or normal weight women. That seems like so much! I want to be careful for health reasons and also for body change reasons too!

I have made several this summer already!

     I have not had many cravings, but certain food does tasted better and sit better in my tummy. There are certain food that I notice I do not enjoy so much anymore. For example, I use to love love chocolate and now chocolate taste bitter and unsatisfying to me. I've probably only had on real craving so far, which was a bowl of simple Chicken Pho. I ended up going to my mom's and making some to eat. It had to be made with farm raised chicken! With hardly any cravings; how did I gain so much weight already? It's because I am eating alot more carbs than normal. I am also eating about 5-7 meals a day. I am eating things like rice, bagels, bread, and pancakes (Yes, normal people food). I am eating them for nutritional value and also when I don't eat every 2-3 hours, I get nausea. I always have to pack a snack or be thinking of my next meal.
     Now that I am in my second trimester, I do feel alot better. Perfect timing because I also started wo
rk. I hope to continue to eat well and gain weight gradually (which is what is recommended). I have yet to experience this "pregnancy glow" that everyone talks about. I have yet to have the BUMP. Right now I just look and feel bloated all the time! It has not been pretty! I also packed away 4 suitcases full of clothes that I know I will not be able to wear. That includes party dresses, skinny jeans, button down work shirts and skirts. Life is already changing!!!

..:Already that time of the year:..

             It's already that time of the year. It's time to go back to work. It's near the end of summer. We're two weeks away from the Great MN State Fair, the real sign that summer is over. For over a month now, I've seen ads and commercials for back to school. Everytime I see one, I get a little bit more depressed. As excited as I am to see the students and be in the classroom again, I have to admit I LOVE spending time with my husband. I just love being around him and being near him. It's a sense of warmth and being home that is secure and enjoyable. I only have a few days left to relax and be in the moment.
             When work starts again next week, it's going to be busy. I know stress is already lined up! This school year is going to be a bit different for me. I will have different responsibilities and life will just be different.
           We're getting ready to move. I am tired of moving, tired of packing and unpacking... But I know we are not ready for a house. It's too soon and I just don't want a mediocre house. If I am going to spend that much money, it needs to meet several criteria. Perhaps in a few years, we will be ready for a house. I just know that being away for 2/3 of the summer gives us little time to look and find a new home. However we did find a lovely community to live in. It's by another lake. For some reason the past places all have been near lakes!

Summer time is the best time to eat cucumber salad!

Since I have been back from Asian, I crave and want spicy cucumber salad almost everyday! I am most definitely making some tonight!