Then and now.

First things first. Marketing strategy assignment 2 results = HD!!! This was an assignment that I stressed long and hard over because I was seriously lost and did not know how to even begin. It is a final year capstone unit that I should not be taking yet because I've not completed some other marketing units that would have come in useful here. I worked my butt off on it and stayed up 3 nights in a row past midnight just to get it done. Even then, I submitted a report that I honestly was not satisfied with but didn't know how else to improve it. So I just kept my fingers crossed. And guess what?! My hard work paid off and I got my second HD for the unit. Now I just need to study hard for the upcoming exam and make sure I don't waste my efforts. I'm super proud of myself, for achieving what I've achieved this semester, despite everything else that I'm dealing with at the same time. No point being humble about it when I deserve some credit right? ;)

Next up. My 18-week belly.



In comparison with 19 weeks with X -



So yes, I'm getting huge. Moving on now.

I went back to read old blog posts written at this same point in my pregnancy with Xander, and it made me realise just how different this pregnancy is, compared to before.

At this point in my last pregnancy, I had been battling various viruses and illnesses that put me on medication. Severe food poisoning, cough, flu, lots and lots. But (touch wood) now I'm feeling great and as healthy as a horse. I'm grateful for that :)

With X, by this time I was starting to feel regular movements from him. Constant kicking and punching and poking and prodding. He would hear Lady Gaga come on the radio in the car and go crazy, whether because he liked it or really just wanted us to turn it off, I don't know. LOL. With E this time though, I'd started feeling movements since 10 weeks. Super early. But they are quite few and far between. The only time I feel the 'thud thud thud' rhythmic kicking kinda movements is at night when I'm settling down and getting comfortable on my side. Throughout the day, I can go many hours without feeling obvious movements. But oh boy. When E gets moving, it's huge. Big sweeping rolling tumbling feelings in my tummy that make me jump every.single.damn.time. And it happens and just stops just like that every time. With X, once he starts, he keeps going for a while so papa gets a chance to feel like. This time, I go "woah!" and then it's gone. No more. All papa gets to see is my tummy go out of shape for a second and then it's like nothing ever happened. It'll be interesting to see if this is any indication of how different my two babies will be in disposition and character :)

Last time round, I suffered sooo badly from terrible and constant back pains, hip pains, and reflux. Jude had to massage my back every single night since about 10 weeks to help me sleep. Getting into bed was excruciating. My entire bed had to be propped up at the head with bricks so that I could get some relief from reflux while sleeping. Now Jude hasn't had to give me a back massage yet. At all. That is a freaking miracle in my books! Oh and I've only had leg cramps once. Not 3 times a night, every single night like last time. Phew! The hip pains are still bearable and don't hit until the wee hours of the morning when I've been sleeping on one side all night. Looks like my regular visits to the chiropractor is really paying off! Worth every single cent spent there :)

I'm seeing a lot more other changes in me too. Not physically, but more in terms of mindset and beliefs. I'm expecting that to be another long post so I'll write about that another day. But it's safe to say that I have a different set of thinking and beliefs now than I did during my last pregnancy. I'm more positive, I'm more zen and relaxed, I'm less stressed. And most importantly, I'm less likely to let the little things bother me now. Is it age? Is it motherhood? Is it simply maturity? Is it that my efforts to change my life and my beliefs are paying off? Hmmm... Maybe all of the above ;)

Time for bed. Nighty all!