some thoughts on pregnancy

• First trimesters, for me (as I know it is for many women), are a time when I wish that I could die a speedy death instead of enduring 24/7 nausea and throwing up.  Or maybe happen upon a time machine that could simply skip over the next month of my life and land me in February. I know that when the curse of "pain in childbearing" was placed upon mother Eve that meant that we'd suffer through the labor and delivery part, but c'mon God.  Really?  REALLY?  Did the sweet, darling baby package also have to include feeling like death warmed over for 3 months solid?  
• Why is it that when I'm not pregnant I have a desire to eat and prepare healthy meals, loaded with whole grains and vegetables, and then when I am pregnant (you know, when one's nutritional intake truly matters) I crave stuff like top ramen, canned chili, Oreos, sour cream n onion potato chips, and Taco Bell?  And I am too exhausted right now to even care about preparing a meal that requires more strength than the push of a microwave button.
• Why does my husband's deodorant/cologne/general male scent utterly repulse me right now?  Oh wait, I know.  It's my body's way of saying, he's the one that did this to you!!!  Keep him far, far away.  I don't really mean that, of course.  It's just funny how pregnancy turns us into human bloodhounds.  Today the girls were eating some now n' later taffy at the table and the smell of the candy was making me nauseous...from the other room.
• Josh has been SO attentive this time around.  He seems to have much more compassion on me and has even taken an afternoon off here and there on my really bad days, to take care of things so I can be a blob on the couch.  In the same breath, he's also the male that keeps saying, "I'm so glad I don't have to go through that!"
• Does a pregnant woman have the right to slap a man when he makes comments like the one aforementioned?  Yes I hear you say?  Alright then.  Be right back.......
• This pregnancy has been such a new experience for me in that the kids are all old enough to understand that they will soon have a new baby brother/sister.  When I had Jayden, Joanna was barely 3, and Jaclyn 1 1/2, so obviously they didn't get it at all.  Jayden especially has shown such compassion for me whenever I'm in the bathroom feeling sick.  He comes in, pats my back and says, "it's ok mom, you'll be ok."  He even brought me a glass of water one time. "Here you go mom, drink this and you'll feel better."  What a sweetheart!! 
• I have a new-found respect for people who endure daily health problems that make it difficult to function.  I am so grateful to God for blessing me with a healthy, whole body that can conceive and carry a baby, as so many desiring women cannot.  I am grateful that I have never had a long-lasting illness or condition that makes daily activities a struggle.  I can barely handle 3 months!
• Eyes on the prize.  Eyes on the prize.  At least I'm gettin' a cute little baby to snuggle when I reach the finish line!

Family Pictures

I'm not the best at having our family pictures taken.  The last time our family was altogether--in one picture--for a more formal picture was when the kids were 4, 2.5, and 9 months.  I know.  Sad, right?  Since they are now 6, 5, and 3.  ;-(  Sad by today's standards, I guess, since this is 2011 and it's so easy and inexpensive to take a picture.  For the moment, judge me through the lens of a photographer in 1922, who would think that taking family portraits 2 years apart was both unnecessary and extravagant.

Here are some of my favorites from our Sunday photo shoot.  Pay close attention to Jayden's sign.  No reason.  Just sayin'. 

 Looks like somebody is not so happy about 

relinquishing the "baby-of-the-family-throne" soon.

So, there you have it.  Cat's out of the bag.  We decided to make one more of these cute little minions.  I'd tell you how far along I am but I don't even know.  Haven't been to the doc for an ultrasound yet and I have NO idea, not even an educated guess, as to how far.  Gotta thank my always irregular cycles for that.  Curses!!!  Based on my symptoms with the other pregnancies I'd say I'm about 7-8 wks along because that's when I started puking with them.  And I threw up for the first (but, alas, not the last) time today.  All I can say it, let the countdown to 2nd trimester begin!