Sixteen Weeks

Westley was standing in the doorway, watching. "Why are you always taking pictures of Mommy?"

Rob explained that we were documenting my belly as it grows. Except that when I looked at the pictures, it didn't seem to be growing much at all. Which is impossible, according to my reflection (and the scale).

"Why do I look so much bigger in the mirror than I do when you photograph me?"

Rob hypothesized that it was something about the way I was standing. Or maybe I just think it looks bigger in the mirror because I stand closer to it than I do to the camera.

"But standing closer would just make everything look bigger. Maybe it's a trick of the light?"

Rob's eyes flashed wickedly. "It's a vampire belly that doesn't show up in photos!"

But then it wouldn't show up in the mirror either.

I took the camera into the bedroom.

BANG!

POW!

ZAP!

Whether it's obvious in photos or not, I feel like I exploded outwards over the weekend. It's getting harder to hold my belly in when I'm standing and walking, though I continue to try. Gotta keep that core engaged!

Beans and I made up this week. Sweet Hallelujah! I plowed through two recipes from Joanna Vaught's Yellow Rose Greatest Hits—Three Bean Salad and, appropriately, Hot Mama Salad—and it was glorious. Except for all the raw onion, which I now know to go easy on. I also have a huge sweet tooth for the first time in my life. I'm trying to keep my sugar consumption to a minimum, but I've still managed to eat more desserts in the past week than I usually eat in a month.

My unpleasant symptoms are mostly gone. I sometimes get a little nauseated an hour or two after eating, but a few stalks of celery or some cucumber takes care of it. My breasts are still sore enough that hugging anyone requires a bit of planning and some careful positioning. The only thing that's still a real challenge is the fatigue. I feel exhausted much of the time, despite getting adequate rest, eating regularly, drinking plenty of water, consuming 75-100 grams of protein daily, and exercising at least four times a week. I'm not anemic and my thyroid is fine, which makes me wonder if my soy sensitivity might be the issue.

I was beginning to reintroduce soy to my diet when I found out I was pregnant. I felt fine eating a serving or two of tofu or tempeh each week. As the early-pregnancy nausea wore off and my appetite improved, that serving or two of soy products turned into four or more. Some women with food sensitivities find they feel better and can tolerate a wider variety of foods while pregnant. For others, the opposite seems to be true, and sensitivities and intolerances become more pronounced. Based on my current symptoms and my experience with a piece of wheat-free (but not gluten-free) vegan carrot cake a little while ago, I think I might be in the latter group. Starting today, I'm back on a soy-free diet.

My next ultrasound is scheduled for Wednesday, and it will officially kick off the series of "regular cervical checks" that Dr. K recommended when I first saw her a lifetime six weeks ago. I'm fairly confident that my cervix is cooperating, and really just looking forward to spying on this baby again.

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