My "How To's" of Survivng Pregnancy!

My best friend, who I literally tell everything and more to, said to me, "I sometimes forget your pregnant because you're so damn calm about it!" and it made me wonder, how the hell did I get through these past 9 months?!

I'm not saying or assuming that I "know" everything there is to know about pregnancy, or the rights and wrongs of it, because I don't, nor does anyone else - but these are my "how to's" and how I got through it!

1. Having a trusted friend to talk to.
 Mine was my best friend, Monica. It was awesome to have someone completely removed from the situation to talk to about everything. Someone who it didn't matter to whether I breast of bottle fed, or someone who didn't care what type of diapers I use, just someone who was there to listen. Someone who was there to say, look - you're doing an awesome job. Sure, my boyfriend did and does that - but he is effected by all of this, and is an active role in all that I do in this pregnancy that it DID matter to him what choices I made, but having an amazing friend who was removed from it all, and saw it differently helped so much.

2. Having a trusted been-there-done-that Mom.
 Main thing is trusted. There are so many mom's out there who think they know the rights and wrongs of pregnancy, and think that their way is the best way because of all the research and all the parenting they did - but truth of it all, nobody knows what the hell their doing. But, having a trusted mom there to tell you that it IS manageable to be a good mother, good spouse, and take a shower all in one day...maybe not everyday, but it happens! It's nice to look up to a mom that has done it and say, wow they did an amazing job despite the fact that it's hard as hell...they did it! My mother (well, my father also but he didn't physical birth any children) has been such an amazing support in my life and through this pregnancy. She naturally birthed her children, raised us amazingly, and is still doing such a great job.

3. Unisom and B6!
 I don't know what I would have done those first 16 weeks without those two magical little pills. Morning...well, make that all day sickness was awful. I know I got lucky with those two things working because they don't work for everyone - but they sure as hell worked for me!

4. Sweatpants.
 Oh my large pile of sweatpants. My lifesavers. Sweatpants are giving, they don't care how big your belly is, they still come up over your ass and under your belly AND manage to make you feel pretty comfy too - what's better than that?

5. Someone to remind you that you still are beautiful.
 Stereotypically, there's nothing beautiful about a large belly, swollen ankles, and stretch marks but having someone assure you that they still think the sun shines out of your ass, is amazing. As much as it's hard to look in the mirror and say, "Wow, my overly huge boobs that won't stay in a shirt to save my life look GREAT today!" - having another person let you know that you look beautiful, is the best thing to hear. Daily changes that are uncontrollable can be so hard to accept, as much as the reward that comes out of it all is the best thing, they are hard to accept. But my butterflies still came every time Tyler let me know that I looked beautiful in my sweats, unshowered, with a pony tail!

6. Warm showers.
 We know...we know...hot showers BIG no-no, but warm ones do the trick! I hate baths, so warm showers are the best thing to me!

7. Satisfying your cravings.
 I haven't had anything too weird, just normal things like orange juice or ice cream but having that craving satisfied is pure heaven! You're creating a human for goodness sake, you deserve all the horrible fatty, high calorie food in the world.

8. Taking things as they come, and not a minute faster.
 Changes during pregnancy are almost constant. Whether that's physical, emotional, or accepting the change of lifestyle - they are constant. One problem at a time, one issue at a time. Tomorrow's problems are for tomorrow, and not any sooner.

9. Last but not least, enjoying your pregnancy.
 Oh yes, the morning sickness, aching back, sleepless nights, and constant hunger are all fun...right? Of course not. But, you're creating a human. You're doing something not every woman is lucky and blessed enough to do. Enjoy it. Enjoy feeling your baby move, because it's a reminder that he or she is thriving and doing well.

As my pregnancy is almost over, I don't know where time has gone. I don't know how I did it this easily, and I sure as hell don't know what's next, but for now what I do know, is that I am blessed to be having this baby, to have such a loving guy next to me, and to have such an amazing group of friends and family supporting and loving me all the way. All the rest, doesn't matter :)