I've heard stories of pregnant women and infamous cravings. I kind of thought it was a hoax or an excuse to eat whatever you wanted or maybe it was exaggerated a little bit. Especially because my first couple of weeks of finding out I was pregnant I was super healthy giving my body and baby every single thing I read and knew would be beneficial to me and the baby. I was full of energy, exercising everyday, and eating as clean as anyone could. I cut caffeine, sugar, alcohol, and anything else that might be less than amazing for the little lentil growing inside me. Then something happened around week eight...here are my Friday pregnancy confessions from the first trimester.
I have always prided myself on being a healthy eater and have never in my life had an issue with getting my veggies in. I love them all, eh or did love them all. Around week eight my body decided that it was super tired and my energy levels went up and down. I still have managed to get my walks in everyday and I can thank my persistent dogs for that! But, on top of my new found exhaustion, one night I fixed chicken and farm fresh roasted vegetables for dinner (a normal dinner in our house pre-pregnancy)...and I had to gag it down. It was as if overnight, vegetables and pieces of meat and eggs completely turned me off.
I began to crave the junk that I was sure I would never crave because I would never be one of those pregnant ladies. After all I am a food blogger, and making beautiful fresh meals is my job. Well let me tell you, don't ever assume you know what it will be like when you are pregnant and what your body will want. I began to want cheeseburgers at least twice a week, pizza on other nights, and anything else that was carb heavy. Luckily my love of fruit has never wavered, keeping me at least eating healthy snacks. I could drink a gallon of milk and orange juice on a daily basis and probably have eaten more cheeseburgers in these past few weeks than I have in the last six months.
I know...not the best situation here, and I am really hoping in the next week or so when I am officially done with the first trimester that my love of all things healthy will return to me. For now I have been tricking myself and hiding veggies in different things like smoothies and pasta sauces and still can eat a salad depending on the day, so if it's a day that I think I can manage it, I eat one!
Canean has sacrificed with me by eating out more than we ever have before. He went from a wife that was cooking five to six nights a week (keep in mind this was all 90% farm fresh food), to now where I cook maybe once a week if I feel like it. He's even gotten to the point where he will say, "What's for dinner, and if you say a cheeseburger I'll get something else." He's been super supportive though and I mean I can't help it that me and the baby want all things carbalicious for dinner most nights. Lately french fries and things like frozen tater tots (pictured above) have made me a super happy pregnant woman! And let me state that I haven't had tater tots from a bag since I was probably ten years old...I'll tell you, they were utterly delicious and I would do it again.
I have been really lucky in the morning sickness department and have only had a few iffy mornings where I just felt off. I have had a few severe headaches here and there which was a combination of hormones and caffeine withdrawals, but other than that my food aversions have been my biggest change and challenge. That and the fact that I can take a nap like it's my job and it's a vital part of my everyday schedule for now.
I'm still in the beer belly phase where I mostly feel like my belly looks like I am not pregnant and I just gained a food baby, but the pooch has officially started to poke out a little more this week. I am looking forward to when I don't have to worry about my shirt clinging to me because there will be no question to whether I am pregnant or just need a bigger shirt! Annnnnd to the day where hopefully my taste for vegetables will return.
I am sure I will have lots more stories to tell you over the course of the next six months and can't wait to share the joys, laughs, mistakes, and everything in between along the way! It's crazy that I am growing a little person inside of me, who has arms and legs and fingers and toes and is only the size of a lime. I can't wait to feel him or her grow and kick and I just want to try and savor this time where my little one is safe inside my belly all warm and snuggly because I know it is going to fly by and I'll never get this special time back.
But for now, if you are pregnant or have been pregnant and have had similar situations I'd love to hear about it so I don't feel like a crazy person here. And before you worry about me, I am still making sure I get the essential nutrients for my babe even though I might have had a cheeseburger too many! :)
