Time marches on

Time is always such an interesting thing. A minute is always composed of 60 seconds, an hour always composed of 60 minutes, but some days it feels like time can truly fly, while other days it seems to drag its hands through the mud. I have 7 weeks left until my due date and Nick is scheduled to be home before then. 

The last few weeks of a deployment always seem to take the longest. I thought I was seeing the light at the end of the tunnel then someone went and posted that we "only" have 26% left of the deployment. Then it seemed I lost the light. I guess it is all about perspective. Over the years I have tricked myself into making deployments seem shorter whether I count them in "only months", "single digit weeks", or just start shopping early for my homecoming outfit one piece at a time.

This time around, however, I have been counting up to something. The estimated due date of our first baby. It has definitely been a new experience all around. The weeks did seem to pass quicker while counting up in the pregnancy and simultaneously counting down until Nick's return. Going through the pregnancy mostly alone has been quite the experience. 

I've always thought I was a fairly upbeat and positive person who was strong enough to stand on her own, and I am happy to say I think I truly believe that now. I think I may have had less deployment mental breakdowns this time than any of the four times prior. Yes, there was the time right before my birthday when I dropped the garbage can on my toe and proceeded to sit down on my kitchen floor and cry, BUT for the record my toe nail is still black and blue so some of those tears were warranted. I have gone to all but two doctor's appointments alone, dealt with the discovery of another dermoid cyst, found out some interesting things about my blood antibodies, and all the normal pregnancy ailments on my own. I'm not sure I ever want to be pregnant during a deployment again, but I know I could if that were the situation at hand.

Baby B is doing great, in fact the doctor called him perfect last week at my prenatal appointment. Here he is at 30 weeks, looking great albeit shy. 

He is not a fan of the ultrasound machine. No paparazzi for him, please. I call him SuperBaby because he always has one hand or arm up near his face as if he is ready for flight take off. He is adorable. Just a few weeks and the pictures will no longer be via ultrasound. I am very excited.

Just for fun I thought I would post a few pics to show my growing belly

From looking a little green and probably acting "witchy" (1 week past conception)

To feeling the joy of the season aside from the tossing of the Christmas cookies (15 weeks pregnant)

 To finally feeling the pregnancy glow (26 weeks pregnant)

To most recently, no denying it now (32 weeks pregnant)

 

 I feel very blessed to have had such a healthy pregnancy as far as the baby is concerned. I have been healthy as well, any issues I have encountered have been part of what my Grandpa coined "the strangest things" that has always been my normal. Happy Easter one and all.