Thursday, May 31, 2012

Occupy Veggie Mama: 24 weeks

At least, I think it's 24 weeks. I'm going with that.



You know how you try to take a thousand photos, but your mirror's dirty and your face looks lame and your kid is sneaking her head into the shot and you're in a hurry? Well... that. But she was being awfully cute at my feet chatting to the cat. And hey look - there's a bump! Promise that's not pasta this time.

I now officially can't fit into any of my jeans (PS if you have recommendations of good maternity skinnies, let me know!) and my shirts ride up just that annoying little bit. I loathe shopping though, so I'm hoping I can sort something out.

The inside baby is getting stronger and enjoying rolling around and poking me everywhere. We did find out the sex but I'm not telling anyone. I figured it's the last time I'm going to be pregnant so it would be cool to make use of the technology. Also needed to know if I had to completely pack up Abby's baby clothes or just wash them and put them back in the drawers. Given I've not done anything with her clothes at all except grimaced at the pile and hurriedly shut the closet door, I'm not entirely sure that works as an excuse!

Speaking of Abby, she's totally not the outside baby any more. She is becoming an actual toddler. Just today she's started walking greater distances, picking herself up without the aid of anything and choosing walking over crawling a lot more. She's chatting heaps, repeating everything she hears and tries to sing the alphabet, which is possibly the cutest thing I've ever heard. She knows about 20 words, and uses about half of them at the appropriate times, unprompted. I'm absolutely enthralled with watching her learn.

I've been trying to teach her age-appropriate (she's 14 months) independent tasks just so she's a little bit more self-reliant for when the new baby comes. Things like using a spoon, and getting her to come to me when I say her name rather than going to pick her up from ripping all the toilet paper off the roll. I just don't know what I'll be experiencing with the new baby, so the more cohesive we are as a unit, the better for all involved! However she will be 18 months, so I'm expecting a hell of a lot of general 18-month-old behaviour anyway.

I had a little moment the other day when she and I and her dad were all playing in her room and he got up to leave. She crawled after him, stopped, looked back at me, then continued on her way. I got the real sense that it was a profound moment for me - I remember all those years ago learning about attachment, and that a secure attachment manifested itself in a baby confident to leave their mother and explore, knowing that she was always there. I also remember thinking even though I was only 20, I was going to make sure that when I had babies, that's the kind of attachment they had. Twelve years later, I saw that become a reality. It was a really good feeling.

Speaking of feelings, I've been pretty good, with the odd exception of a sporadic but gross emo day. Usually when I'm very tired. Semester ends tomorrow, so I will be cutting back to working one day a week instead of two. Doesn't sound like much, but it's gonna make all the difference in the world, especially now I know how fast time goes and how soon I'm going to be feeling like a whale that's actually fallen out of its transport carrier and is being dragged along the road behind the truck.

Now, if I could just get myself a chef and a masseuse, and possibly someone to clean my bathroom, I'd be in a pretty good spot indeed. I really am taking each day to be grateful for this unique time in my life and to really experience it. I'd just be able to experience it a hell of a lot more if I wasn't scrubbing a shower.

xx

36 comments:

  1. Maternal America jeans are brilliant, you can get them online from queen bee. You look amazing, at 24 weeks I looked like I was ready to pop!

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  2. Stacey!!!  You are one of those very lucky pregnant women who glows and looks absolutely beautiful! (Sadly, I was not one of those women.. sniff sniff).  It must be so exciting to have another baby on the way. I totally hear you about having a very active toddler, my Little Miss is 15 months and it's CRAZEEEE.   I found the best maternity jeans are Seraphine. You can get them here: http://www.sweetlillymaternity.com.au/index.html

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  3. This is beautiful. I can't wait to experience all of this myself. Thank you for sharing - I'm sure I speak for all your readers when I say we appreciate it. I hope your mostly good days continue for as long as possible. Go mama!

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  4. I say take the photos regardless, I'm sad now because I wish I'd taken more than a handfull and won't get the opportunity again.  Jeanswest have great skinny maternity jeans, and at the moment they have 40% off storewide!

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  5. I love this post, thanks for sharing Stacey. I can't wait to be pregnant one day (hopefully soon) and go through those similar experiences.
    P.S. That photo is so so beautiful! 

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  6. Your bump is adorable. With half my mothers' group pregnant or already wrangling a toddler and a new infant, I will tell you what they've told me: the word stop is amazing. VB will be RUNNING really soon. Even though I don't have a little one in my arms we introduced it (and "Statues!") to get him to stop running :) 

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  7. You are such a preggers poster girl hun - how you manage to look so damn gorgeous is beyond me! At 24 weeks I looked like a teletubbie that ate a cow! xx

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  8. What a gorgeous pic. And yes, dirty bathroom mirror syndrome. Something only bloggers can fully appreciate. xo

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  9.  Ha there was a reason I would hide from the camera! I will try and find one though, you know just so you can have a laugh at my expense! ;) x

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  10.  And then I must dig out mine, in which I look like one of Jupiter's moons.

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  11.  Bahaha is this going to be one of those I'll show you mine if you show me yours type scenarios? Cause I'm totally up for it by the way ;)

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  12.  I'm envisioning a group effort... bloggers send in their least flattering pregnancy pictures! I like it.

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  13. Excellent, I will check them out! Thanks so much xx

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  14. bahaha give it time, in about two months I'll be horrific. It is exciting, but slightly terrifying at the same time to know there's another little one on their way :)

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  15. I'm so glad you feel that way - I always wonder how it will be received. You must be getting excited these days!

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  16. I'm going there this afternoon! Thanks! And yeah I hardly took any photos last time, I really must remember to make an effort this time xx

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  17. Thank you so much - it really is very special so I'm glad I've got a little record of it :)

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  18. Oh man, that is the best advice! Thank you! I'm teaching her "no" but that totally wouldn't work if she was off and running! Better get started on that one xx

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  19. Ha this made me actually lol! I think perhaps my filthy mirror has produced a wonderful filter ;-)

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  20. ugh, same with dirty kitchen. My food photos have to be really rather artful!

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  21. I second Queen Bee! Awesome clothes.

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  22. I love how much those little moments can speak to us. And they are really not little moments at all.

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  23. Such a beautiful post. I adore the way you form sentences and convey thought. No really. No smoke up ass here. I enjoy immensely. Thanks for sharing. xo

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  24. Love reading your posts, I always get very inspired. My two cherubs are 18 mths apart and my baby has just turned two. The first year was really tough: tiredness like you wouldn't believe possible (both terrible sleepers) and always feeling guilty that I couldn't be there 100% for each of them BUT I was much more confident as a mum the second time around and didn't stress about lots of things as I knew for sure that everything passes in time. Now they are great friends and mostly play really well together and it's quite nice knowing that the baby phase is over and done with, all in one foul swoop.

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  25. Nope, definitely not a little moment!

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  26. I lived in maternity clothes from asos.com, including skinny jeans!! I highly recommend! My 9 month old leaves me for more exciting adventures in other rooms constantly, I guess its good to know that it is because he feels secure! 

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  27. Such a cute pic, love your dress!!  I am 36 weeks pregnant and have 2 pairs of skinny jeans which I LOVE!
    Dark blue pair from Pumpkin Patch which I got on sale for $29 (they don't have the same ones available anymore but they do have similar), and my favourtite black pair from Jeans West  for $69 which you can find here http://www.jeanswest.com.au/store/womens/Jeans/maternity/maternity-skinny-jeans-reg-61426.html 
    Good luck on the jeans hunt!
    Donna xx

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  28. I only started following your blog several weeks ago, but already look forward to your entries when I open my e-mail at work in the morning.  And since we often eat meatless, your recipes are always a bonus.

    As a mama with a son who turned 15 this week, and another who turned 22 last month, I have to commend you for relishing each moment you are experiencing right now rather than hoping it hurries up.  My best girlfriend's mama had a saying, "The days are long, but the years are short."  As I raised my children, I realized the truth of those words.  When the boys were little and the 'long days' brought a spilled 5 lb. bag of flour, orange crackers ground into the cream rug, fluids coming out of both ends of both boys at once, and all this occurring while I was nursing the flu, I begged for the days to pass quickly.  Now..... well, now I'd give anything in this world to go back just one time to when they were small enough to crawl into my lap instead of vice versa. :-) 

    I hope you'll continue to feel up to writing because it sure puts a smile on my face.  Be well. :-)

    Evelyn

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  29. Dude... thank you so much. It just comes out in its own way and *I* like it, but it's so nice to hear that others do too. You are too kind, girl. Too kind xx

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  30. While I was quite taken aback at the surprise pregnancy, it didn't take long for the positives to outweigh the negatives... the negative being no sleep and two babies haha! I love the idea of a friend, all the baby stuff done at once, and so many other things. Now to just make it through that first year!

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  31. Ah yes, i had a look at Asos the other day! should check it out again, thank you xx

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  32. It appears the Jeans West were a popular choice! I went to get some yesterday and they were 40% off! Bar-gain. Will check out pumpkin patch too, thank you xx

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  33. Wow, thank you so much - this comment has meant a great deal to me. I love that saying about the days being long, and I do try to remember that. Although, I'll be the first person to wish away the sick days! ugh! Think about when they have babies that will crawl into your lap all over again... the circle of life, haha! Seriously though - thank you. It is so nice of you to say what you have xx

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  34. Hi - I just started following your blog! The last 3 times I have searched for recipe inspiration your blog has popped up into my google results. I think that is a sign! I have made your broccoli soup which was delicious.  I just wanted to say a quick thank you for all the delicious recipes you share.

    Also, you are looking fantastic! I am 22 weeks pregnant and I think I am at least 5 times the size of you.  I bought my maternity jeans from Jeans West and they are fantastic!  I find the denim stretches more than the black so maybe go a size smaller in the denim.

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