Things They Don't Tell You About Pregnancy, part I

Disclaimer: This post is not for the faint of heart.

I have learned a lot during the first trimester. One of the biggest things I have learned--they don't tell you everything.

It's like a secret pregnancy club. When my friends and family who have already had babies found out I was pregnant, they started asking me if I'd had the strangest symptoms. Things that had never been mentioned before. At first I thought they were all crazy. Now, I understand.

Sure, I knew I'd be a little tired. And a little emotional. And I knew my body would undergo some changes. But already, I've been surprised. Here's what I have discovered so far:

• My oldest friend asked me if morning sickness and being tired was just something pregnant women made up. I did not laugh at her, because I'd had that very thought in the past. Let me tell you--we're not making it up. I've been incredibly lucky with the morning sickness, but when it comes to fatigue, I could fall asleep anywhere. At any time. I sleep 12 hours a night, get up, make breakfast, and then take a three hour nap wherever I land. It's like having narcolepsy.
• Emotions going haywire is not an exaggeration. People, this may be the one thing that the movies have right. A few days ago I was sitting on the couch, happy as a clam, when I looked at my husband and announced, "I'm going to cry now". And I did. Hysterically. For half an hour. I cry at things a normal pregnant woman would--like when our friend's six month old baby fell asleep in my lap holding on to my thumb. And then I cry at not-so-normal things--like mac and cheese commercials. It just looked so good!
• Crying isn't the only emotion. My temper has gotten so short, some days if you look at me the wrong way I'll give you the evil eye. Case in point: I was in Target, looking for a specific type of laundry detergent and sweat pants. They did not carry either. That infuriated me so much that I had to go outside and give myself a time out in my car. What is wrong with me?
• I'm growing hair. In weird places. On top of the downy little fuzz that is growing in on my hairline (so that when I wear my hair pulled back it sticks straight up and looks like I've been electrocuted), but I have a distinct ring of dark hair around my belly button. What the...?!?
• My nose runs. All the time. And whenever I eat something, I sneeze.

And I'm only a third of the way through! I can't wait to see what the next three months have in store for me. But for all the weirdness that is going on, I can't complain. I'm fascinated with what my body is doing-- the barely there bump that I notice most at night, because I can't lay on my stomach anymore without feeling a funny...well, bump, in my lower abdomen. When I notice the subtle changes like that, all my concerns about hair and weepiness go right out the window--the symptoms might be crazy, but the end result is awesome.