Emotional Basket Case

I promise that eventually EVERY post won't be about me being knocked up, but hiding my pregnancy for two months was TOUGH, so I think I deserve a little slack, and room to word vomit some of my complaints here for a second.

 

Growing a human leaves you feeling delighted, anxious, exhilarated and exhausted — sometimes all at once. But even if you're thrilled about being pregnant, the situation still adds emotional stress to your life. For me, this translated into extreme mood swings and bouts of uncontrolled (and often unexplained) weeping.

 

No, I'm not talking about a single, angelic tear.

 

 

 

Or something like hot, vulnerable Miley Cyrus, misunderstood Gretchen Wieners, or friendship betrayed Lauren Conrad.

 

For me, it was more like a combination of "Joey chose Pacey over me??" plus "I traded my voice to the Sea Witch for legs and Prince Charming still doesn't love me," and "I'll never, ever get back to my life before I fell through this damned rabbit hole" all rolled into one.

 

    

Seriously, Stewart started to think I had gone totally Looney Tunes. My body was completely flooded with hormones, and almost anything could set me off. Reruns of Full House, almost every single link posted on Facebook (especially "Giving is the Best Communication"), and any sentimental TV commercials: credit cards, McDonald's, Hallmark... especially the one for Extra Gum.

 

Shows or movies with kids or babies in them, pretty flowers, sad songs, sirens in the distance... I couldn't go a day without something setting me off.

 

Some days I would come home from work, collapse into bed, and start sobbing. Poor Stew would ask me what was wrong, and all I could explain was, "I just don't feel good!!"

 

One night, while I was taking a nap, Stew made us dinner. I was super impressed and thankful, and told him so, to which he replied, "See, I'm still capable of taking care of myself." I thought he was insinuating that he will one day again be single... bring on the waterworks!

 

Oh, and let me tell you about the time we tried to watch Blackfish. If you can watch this documentary without weeping, you're freaking dead inside. I happened to tune in right when they were separating the baby whales from the rest of the pod, and I about lost my ever-loving mind. It took quite a while to stop the hysterical sobbing, and Stew finished that movie on his own later.

 

I honestly don't think there is any good way to cope with these emotions during pregnancy, except to remind yourself that what you're feeling is normal. Stew provided me with an amazing amount of support, understanding and encouragement during the first trimester, and now that a lot of the extremes are over we're able to look back and laugh.

 

Although those reruns of Full House still really get to me...

 

I hope everyone is enjoying themselves on this Veteran's Day. I always especially remember my Uncle Dean and my Granddad today. And thank you to ALL the veterans who have served our country so bravely.