15 weeks

This little photo project is turning out to be quite the burden. I feel the need to go to these great places and get these fantastic pictures. But it's wedding season, and my husband is very busy taking pictures of other people, so, I'm relegated to Sunday photo sessions. Those of you who know me well know that I have a long-standing tradition of not showering on Sundays. I've been not showering on Sundays since college. Sunday is a day of rest, people, and showering and putting on lotion and blow drying hair and putting on makeup is not restful.

So, last weekend I thought I would take full advantage of my no-shower Sunday tradition and go bike riding downtown. That gave me an excuse to look like crap in these pictures. But you can really see the bump in my workout clothes! We took these pictures in front of the Stevie Ray Vaughan statue at Lady Bird Lake.

Mind your own business.

By this point, most people who know I am pregnant know that we are not planning to find out the sex of the baby. Their opinions are split about 50/50. Half think it's awesome to wait, and the other half feel if it were their choice, they either couldn't wait to find out or are just planners and would want to know in advance. I don't expect everyone to agree with the decision, but I do expect people to be polite about it. And this week, I came across someone who crossed the line and was overly pushy and rude about my choice, and it really pissed me off.

It was a coworker, and one who is usually so incredibly nice. He asked when we would find out the sex, and I told him we weren't planning on it. I got the typical response at first..."but how will you plan your nursery?" and "what about the clothes?" I explained my position on both: the nursery will be bright and cheerful, not gender-specific and the clothes will be pajamas for the first few months, so who cares? Then he kept pushing. He even used the word "crazy." I again explained that we thought it would be a great surprise and that we weren't planning on buying many gender-specific items, because we plan on having more kids. And he kept pushing. Then, he actually insulted me. He said that the "surprise" of finding out the sex at birth was actually "anti-climactic," and that I would probably not care at that point because I had just gone through labor.

Um, excuse me? First of all, it's none of your damn business what I do. If you don't agree, smile and nod and get the hell out of my way. Secondly, you don't know whether it would be anti-climactic, because you found out the sex of your baby before birth, so you really don't have any idea what that would be like. Third, when I tell you at least five times in the conversation that this is what WE want, the decision that is best for US, shut the hell up.

I'm sure this will not be the last time I come across someone who has their own ideas about my plan. And don't get me wrong, I certainly don't expect everyone to agree with my decisions. What I do expect, however, is common courtesy and respect. Be polite. Smile and nod, you know?

So, let's get to the baby bump, shall we? It's really bumping these days. This week, James wanted to shoot the pictures at the car wash down the street. Because nothing says "We're having a baby" like a car wash?? No. For at least the last three years, the car wash has had a sign out front that says "Big changes coming soon." And well, big changes are coming soon to the Dvorscak household, so we took the pictures under the sign. Just in case the car wash decides after three years to actually make big changes.

13 Weeks

Oh I am definitely showing now! This is the first week I have been unable to button some of my pants. I actually spent a hour in my closet today trying on clothes to figure out what I'll be able to wear for the time being. Thank god for the belly band!

We took the 13 weeks pictures at the Texas State Capitol on a gorgeous (and hot) afternoon. Have I mentioned it's hot here? Already? And it's only April?

My Marathon

Alot of people have asked me why I've decided to have natural childbirth with a midwife at a birthing center, as opposed to a hospital birth. There are so many reasons. This was not a decision I made willy-nilly, and it's one that James has to be completely on board with, which he is. I've always been interested in natural childbirth. My mother had me without drugs, and I love to hear her tell the story of my birth, and how great she felt afterward. But ultimately, each reason is my own personal reason.

Reason #1: Because I CAN.
My body was created, specifically designed, for childbirth. Women have been having babies, without pain meds, since the beginning of time. Now, I'm not saying that modern medicine has no place; it absolutely does. Modern medicine saved my mother's life, twice. Here's the thing, though: our bodies were not created to withstand cancer, brain tumors, heart attacks, without modern medicine. We should die from those things, but because of medical technology, we don't. And I am so thankful for that! But my body was made to withstand childbirth without modern medicine, specifically pain medicine. I have enzymes and hormones that will kick into gear and make natural childbirth possible. I'm not saying it's not going to be painful; that's just dumb. I'm squeezing a human from my loins. This will hurt. Immensely. But I can withstand it, and then it will be over. It's what my body was made to do.


Reason #2: Medical research blah blah blah.
There is a lot of information I could write about here, but I won't. I'm no doctor, I sell advertising, people! But, here's what I know and have done extensive research on. Thirty percent of women in the United States get C-sections. That is the highest percentage of any industrialized country. Many times (not all), when in a hospital setting, a woman is not allowed to let labor progress naturally, however long that may take. A hospital is in the business of making money, at the end of the day. They need to turn beds over quickly. Therefore, drugs are used to speed up the process, and if birth doesn't happen within the doctors time line, a C-section is done.

There's also the issue of the epidural and other drugs routinely used in hospitals. First of all, I have never had any form of anesthesia, so I have no idea how I would react to it. This makes me uncomfortable. Secondly, many of the drugs used during labor actually work against each other and the labor process, making it even more difficult. Again, I'm speaking in generalities here, because I don't intend to write a book on this subject. But as mentioned above, there are certain hormones that a woman needs during childbirth, and the use of various meds during labor restrict the release of these.

Lastly, I worry that with pain meds and such during labor, I wouldn't be fully connected to the process. How would I know if I was pushing, and pushing GOOD, with an epidural? Just my own personal feeling.


Reason #3: Because it's a challenge.
My husband has run a marathon before. I think that's nuts. Why would anyone want to run 26.2 miles? It doesn't sound like fun, it sounds painful. Well, natural childbirth is my marathon. Why do something painful when you can do it (relatively) pain free? Because I want to. Because it's a challenge. It's my marathon. I want to push myself so close to the edge, and then cross that finish line. Marathons and climbing mountains, those are physical challenges, but more than anything, they are mental challenges. So is natural childbirth. It is most definitely a physical challenge that requires extensive training. We are required to take the Bradley Birthing Method class, and that class is hard core. We must prepare and practice for weeks leading up to the birth. I have to be diligent about my diet and weight gain, so that I can be in the best shape when it's time. And James has to learn how to get me to totally relax, and stay relaxed, for hours upon end. But mentally, that's the real challenge for me. You can't quit labor. At least in a marathon, you can actually stop running, if necessary. But childbirth, that baby is coming no matter what. It's a fierce mental challenge and one that I am so excited about. Now I understand why people get excited about running marathons. I get it.

So, these are some of the reasons I want to experience natural childbirth. Please know that these are my personal thoughts about MY experience. Everyone is different, and I do not think that women who had C-sections or medicated births are lesser humans or something. No way. I think any woman who has had a baby, however she had it, is a miracle. I just have my own desires for my birthing experience, and I intend to do my part to make it happen. I am fully aware it may not turn out that way, and if it doesn't, I might be disappointed. Ultimately, the baby's health is most important, so whatever transpires, I'll manage. But, I'm training for my own personal marathon, and James is training to be my coach. And I really can't wait to hold that baby.

Twelve Weeks.

I will officially be twelve weeks pregnant tomorrow. In the weird world of pregnancy, I'm actually still in my first trimester through the end of the thirteenth week. I still don't really understand the whole week/month thing, and it takes some thought to figure out what month I am in, since I am counting weeks. What can I say, math was never my subject.

The last few weeks have been pretty good. Still have that morning nausea, but I wasn't overly tired, until this week. I did finally drop the bomb at work. That was fun! I walked into my managers office pretending that there was some advertising emergency or something, and then gave her the news. Haha. Everyone was pretty excited, so that's good. And it's more fun now that it's not a secret!

We've been taking our weekly pictures, although I am pretty behind on posting. It's funny, I feel like I looked more pregnant weeks 8-10 than I do now. Not that you will probably be able to tell, since I'm not naked (thank God) in the pictures. Gross. But there is definitely a bump there. I had pretty much been wearing more loose-fitting tops, since I hadn't told work yet. But now that the word is out, I hope to wear more normal stuff, even if I just look kind of fat. I don't plan on wearing tents exclusively throughout this pregnancy, I mean it. But I'm ready for that baby belly. Wonder how long it will take for me to retract that last statement?

Below are pictures from week 10, which were taken at a nearby park. The cowboy boots were James' idea, and I love them:





Week 11 was shot at Bull Creek. Since we haven't had any rain lately, the water was low and kind of gross. I came home immediately and washed my feet:







We took the 12 week photos in front of the famous Austin mural. I'll definitely have to come back when I am huge and take some additional pictures:

I will. No, I won't.

I'm officially in my third month of pregnany. Funny, I feel like I LOOK pregnant right now. I'm incredibly bloated. You know how when you get bloated and you can't even suck in your stomach? Yeah, that's how I feel. Everyday. Awesome. No one can tell I am pregnant, of course. Although, I read the other day that women with small frames can start showing earlier. Do you think being 4' 11" constitutes a small frame?

I thought it would be fun to make a list of the things I will or won't do while pregnant. Because we all know that you can say, "Oh, I would never complain about feeling bad after it took me so long to get pregnant. I'd enjoy it." Riiight. I would have totally said that before I got pregnant, but now? I feel like crap, OK?! It'll be fun to revisit this after the baby is born, and see just how delusional I was.

I will:
1.) Wear high heels throughout my entire pregnancy.
2.) Work out. (hahaha)
3.) Strive to thrift or refashion the majority of my maternity clothes.
4.) Have a natural childbirth experience with a midwife.
5.) Read a book on natural childbirth and a book about breastfeeding.
6.) Take a picture of myself every week and make a photobook documenting this pregnancy.

I won't:
1.) Gain more than 30 pounds.
2.) Eat for two people.
3.) Find out the sex of the baby.
4.) Eat raw sushi, feta or gorgonzola cheese (just kill me now), or drink alcohol.
5.) Dedicate all Faceboook posts to pregnancy or baby-related topics.
6.) Act like I am the only woman who has ever had a baby.

I think this is a good start. While I am officially nine weeks along, I'm a bit behind on my photo posting. Here's 8 weeks:

Project Pregnancy Pics

We have decided to start a photo project of this pregnancy. You know, since my husband is a photographer and all. We'll be taking weekly pictures of me and my stomach, but will endeavor to take these photos at Austin landmarks. Notice I said "endeavor": two weeks in and we haven't made it to any said landmark, unless you count that beautiful gate my husband built. Saturdays are the best day of the week to take photos, for me, since I work and generally look like hell at the end of the day. But a wedding photographer is usually pretty busy on Saturdays, so we'll see where this little project ends up.

First up: Seven Weeks.





I look pretty good. Not noticeably showing, but I do look slightly bloated. Um, it's because I am.