Yesterday I hit 12 weeks.  My book says that this is the time that nausea and fatigue should stop and I should start feeling “normal” again. (Another says 14 weeks but I choose to believe the earlier prediction).

So that’s it!  The book said it’s so, so it will be so!  No more nasuea and the next few months will be full of energy.

I celebrated by going to the gym and then eating chocolate ice cream.

My food aversions have been weird and unpredictable.  I haven’t had any desire for chocolate, nor ice cream, usually my two favorite food groups.  Instead I’ve been craving fruit and fruit flavored things.

I’m doing well without coffee or caffeine.  Finally.  I don’t even really desire coffee, but I definitely can sympathize with an ex-smoker who enjoyed the habit of smoking more than the cigarette itself.  Same with alcohol.  On Cinco de Mayo I really wanted a Margarita, but more because it was a habit.  It’s a gorgeous almost-summer day here in Massachusetts today and my brain desires a cold beer even though my stomach and body are fine without it.

I’m having fun making and enjoying new “cocktails”.  My current favorite is grapefruit juice, soda water and a pinch of sugar to cut the sourness.

I’m still worried about everything.  I can’t help but having the thoughts “each new person I tell is one more person I’ll have to tell if things go wrong”.  Every little abdominal pain causes mini panic attacks.  I’m tempted to go onto pregnancy forums to just ask (and set my mind at ease hopefully) “I’ll know if I’m having a miscarriage right?  Right?!”

I didn’t really mind the nausea and fatigue.  They at least reminded me that something was going on in my body.  Their absence is almost more troublesome than their symptoms.   Monday was a particularly sick feeling day and Josh texted me with, “Remember- nausea is just the fetus’s way of giving you a hug!”

I do still have a pregnancy test left…  I may just pee, one more time, to set my mind at ease.

On Friday we had our first ultrasound!

First Ultrasound

I had been counting the days until this event.  IT still didn’t feel real and I almost felt like I needed visual proof.  My worry sensor is still going strong and I wanted to be told that things were good and everything looked ok.

Learned something new about pregnancy!  No such thing as privacy anymore!  The ultrasound had to be done intervaginally.  And my follow up with my midwife involved another pap smear.  Josh was in for a ride!

I was amazed though how much the baby moved.  Every time I shifted or laughed, s/he jumped all over and looked like he was swimming.  It was adorable!  Definitely made us both feel so much better and excited.  I think I’m still glowing a bit.

That night I made the announcement- on Facebook.  Gotta love technology!  Not only can I alert a group all at once, but this whole journal will be preserved digitally for the parasite to read someday!  Welcome to the 21st Century!

Boy names are harder. Have to add to the critiera a name not easily made fun of. For example, my favorite boy name “Eamon”- “ay-mon” is just too easily transferred to “gay-man”.

I want a strong-ish sounding name. Not thug, but a name that commands respect.

Eirnin: (air-nan): “iron”
Riordan (reer-don): royal poet
Ruari (ro-ree): red king, great king

Ug. need more.

Some name criteria:

Multisylabic. Since the last name is just 1 syllable, I want a good sound to the name.
Multi-usage. I want a name that would be good in the credits to a movie or in a courtroom. Or “President ____”
Not common. Not a name you’d find on a key chain. Either an old name that is known but not used or a made up name or an interesting (but not lame) spelling.

Irish Possibilities for Girls:
Aibhlinn (ave-leen) “Long wished for child”– how appropriate!
Aoife (ee-fa) another of my favorite names. “greatest woman warrior”- I like that!
Eibhleann (ave-lin or eev-lin) “beautiful, pleasant, radiant”
Muirgheal (like muriel but more of a o sound)- this satisfies both criteria- an old name and Irish spelling
Niamh (nee-iv)- has always been one of my favorite names
Rionach (re-o-noch): queenly
Sorcha: (sor-a-ka). Wasn’t the bad witch in Willow something like this? means “Bright, radiant, light”