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Second Trimester

I am officially past the mid point of the journey because I am in my 22nd week now. As each of the weeks get ticked off the calendar, it feels strange. Everything feels strange, including the wave like movements in my belly which are actually well timed kicks and punches. I used to think these things happen to "other people", but now they are really happening to me.

I was not keen on having a baby registry or a baby shower, as those concepts are very alien to me. In India, a baby registry would mean you are asking for gifts and that you are not grateful for whatever gifts your friends/family bring. Baby shower in India is actually a celebration for the mom, not the baby, because you are not supposed to count your chickens...etc. But the baby is American, so things are going according to her plans I guess. We found out the practicality of having a baby registry where you get discounts from Target or Amazon and my friends here explained that people WILL give you something and if you don't tell them what you need, you'll end up with 15 million onesies or get plastic bottles when you intended to have glass bottles. Ok! What can I do? Fine, I'll have the registry. I gave up. For the baby shower too, a friend wants to host it, so be it! It isn't me anymore, someone else has already entered the picture!!

Baby items have already started to come, the crib and all will be coming soon too. Bebe (our dog) who used to stay in that room has vacated it and moved her crate to the rec room. She is fine, she knows she is going to be the elder sister and is ok to give up certain things for the human pet she'd get. It still feels unreal.

Even after the childbirth class, and the prenatal yoga class, I think - is this really happening to me? Childbirth and labor are still distant objects. Looking at the baby onesies, I wonder so these are not cat's clothes, they are for a real baby. I saw her face in the 3D ultrasound at the end of week 20 and it is an incredible feeling of carrying another human within me! I looked at her face and thought, does she look like me? She doesn't. And then I realized, she is unique. She isn't a miniature me, she is an individual.

Health wise, the second trimester is pretty good. I am actually gaining weight, which is again something I never thought was possible. The yoga session helps, I should swim some more. If the horrid weather gets a little better then I get to walk also. Overall, things are fine. I am not always super hungry like some people are, neither am I craving anything weird. My thing is nesting. I want to clean the house and arrange everything at the same time :) Let's see how much success I have at that!

PS: The best thing since sliced bread is elastic waist maternity jeans.



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