17 Weeks

This week, I'm focusing on nutrition. I don't think I'm eating enough (not getting enough calories - 2300+) and I'm pretty positive I'm not getting enough protein, calcium and iron, at least on a consistent basis. So I'm going to make a promise to get to the grocery store on a more regular basis and plan lunches and dinners better. Pizza every other night might get me the calories I need, but not the nutrition. And hummus and veggies for dinner might get me some good nutrients, but obviously, not the calories. Planning is time consuming though so I'm hoping I can stay motivated for the next six months...

I've also been thinking about all the stuff I need to start planning/scheduling as we're coming up on the half-way point. I'm researching birthing classes, a potential labor assistant, baby names, baby gear (a wedding registry was so much less complicated), a pediatrician (required prior to admission to the hospital), day care (gotta get on a wait list early...), confirming insurance benefits, arranging for maternity leave at work, scheduling never-ending future doc visits, etc. My mom thinks I'm getting ahead of myself, and maybe I am, but I'm a planner and have no idea how much energy and time I'll have later so...might as well start knocking this stuff out now. And budgeting for all of this, as the costs start adding up...But we willingly signed up for this, so we'll figure it out just like every other new parent.

As far as symptoms, there's not much extra to report (from one week to the next). I have been tired (not sure if that's pregnancy-related or not), light-headed still, craving sweets consistently, and most recently, have been experiencing tight calf and foot cramps (charley horses) in the early AM in bed the last few mornings. That has been rather painful, but fleeting. I think this can be fixed rather easily with extra potassium in my system. My baby bump hasn't expanded much, so I'll wait to add to the photo gallery until there's visible growth from the Honolulu pics - maybe next week? Lastly, my forehead's been breaking out. I've read that while some women get the nice, pregnant "glow," others prone to acne bypass the glow and go straight to oily. Oh well. I'm feeling rather good and normal otherwise and looking forward to more growth and progress!