it's mid-january already?!

welp, here we are on January 14th. blam! and I will be heading off to yoga class soon... here's what we look like now in my 17th week (the baby is supposedly the size of a turnip this week):



I still mostly feel really good... my appetite is strong and most foods appeal to me very much. Monday, after my first yoga class in at least four months, I downed a smoothie, ran some errands, and stopped on the way home for these healthy items: chips and green salsa, shredded cheese, lucky charms, sun chips, and two kinds of ice cream. although, to be fair, husband was wanting ice cream as much as I was. I haven't eaten lucky charms in decades, but I dreamt about them a couple of weeks ago and just needed to go there.

and speaking of dreams, in the swirling cacophany of last night's there was a really nice brief one where I became aware of a baby's head under my chin and reached down and felt a whole baby, just laying there on it's back across my upper body, and it was such a comforting, peaceful, integrated feeling. not quite as dramatic as the dream where I birthed a gray kitten, but way less puzzling and much quieter.

other notes about my pregnancy for interested parties: around 7p, I start wanting to drink tons of water. I'm just so thirsty at night. I'm feeling intermittent, fleeting twinges and little pains around my abdomen, which are almost assuredly everything enlarging and making space. I have had a couple of headaches, but nothing major. getting back to the gym this week has been so wonderful, and another great exercise in paying attention to my body. yoga class on Monday was INTENSE, for real, and I had to really focus on breathing a lot, positioning myself in ways that gave the baby enough space, and taking things slowly if I felt I needed to. the instructor was so helpful in showing me modifications, and I felt so accomplished afterward. well, accomplished and sore, especially in my hips and shoulders. a good bath is a lifesaver for me! I know the whole thing about being careful when taking baths to not overheat, but baths have seriously been very important in keeping me relaxed and warm this winter. anyway, I'm so glad to have a gym membership again... it's nice to have a place to go and really does help my mood and energy level.

I do get stressed out here and there. as reported earlier, we gave our renters notice a couple of weeks ago and they've already found a place to move to, so we'll most likely be able to start work on the house on Woodfin much earlier than we thought. which is wonderful! the stepped-up schedule also makes my mind work overtime as I mull paint colors/timelines/task lists/sorting through our things/list of items we need to purchase and what we can do without/insurance switchovers from rental to homestead/utilities/work and travel/money to make it all happen smoothly/furniture placement/on and on and on. I also have two on-camera bookings before the end of the month and am eager to get them behind me (as my belly proudly protrudes a little more every day)... with a push-up bra, awful posture, tucking my pelvis, and wearing deceptive clothing I can pretty much look less preggo and more been-to-the-buffet, but it's still a bit stressful. how weird is it that I've booked more on-camera/print work since I've gotten pregnant than the entirety of last year?! it's exciting, for sure, and we're so thankful that God has completely blessed us at every turn. M even helped me do my taxes, and I'm on track to be completely done with wrangling receipts, working out mileage, adding up totals, etc. earlier than ever! however, it's still easy for me to lose focus and get a bit distracted or easily thrown when I'm surprised by things or if there's a hint of trouble. once again, this is turning out to be an excellent opportunity to just take things one day at a time, try to eat, drink, and sleep enough, and remind myself over and over again that God is in charge of my life and thank Him for it... I don't want to miss living fully in the here and now and appreciating what I'm being given for getting twisted in a knot about things ahead.

so, praise Him this day, all my people! praise for gyms and health and family and friends and opportunity and sleep and water and vitamins (gag) and veggies and sun chips and shelter and drawstring pants!

-m.y.