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<\/a><\/p>\nI feel really big. Actually more accurately, I feel like I look really big. When I look in the mirror I’m kind of shocked at how big my belly is getting. When I’m sans mirror I actually feel pretty normal; I feel a big belly but I doesn’t feel as big as it looks. Sometimes it just feels like I ate a double bacon cheeseburger but then I see my profile and wow! So I had to look on google<\/a> for more images of ladies at 17 weeks. I discovered that 17 weeks can really differ from person to person but I found plenty of peeps with bellies the size of mine. So I feel better now.<\/p>\n I’m feeling pretty great, there are aches and pains and my body is totally worn out by about 8 o’clock every day, but I’m doing great. I’m learning that being pregnant is all about feeling different sensations, most of them involving some degree of mild to moderate pain and discomfort, but so far the pain isn’t bad, it’s just part of the ride. I feel very accepting of my pain and I’m keeping my body moving so that I can keep it in check… hopefully. Yesterday I had to take a gravity break, so I lied down on the bed for about 20 minutes and after that I felt right as rain… more or less. At one point I made the terrible mistake of leaping out of bed from lying on my back and the pain I felt in my abdomen was similar to a charlie horse except there was no way to “walk it off”. So painful. I won’t do that again. From here on out, it’s all about rolling onto my side to get up. Those abdominal muscles aren’t going to get any major activity other than passive exercise. You won’t be seeing me on any of those abdominizers at the gym. No sirree.<\/p>\n My appetite seems to have leveled out. I’m not starving and I don’t have aversions to food. I feel about the same as I did before I was pregnant, appetite-wise, maybe a little hungrier. I just feel more full after a meal now. I’ve been good about keeping snacks with me. There’s nothing that sucks worse than having a major crash when you’re out in the world with no decent snack options. I turn into a raving lunatic. Not pretty.<\/p>\n Next week we see the midwives and make our ultrasound appointment! I’m so excited. I’ve felt the baby move a few times and at other times I wonder if I’m feeling him\/her or if it’s just gas. Can’t wait for more sensations.<\/p>\n