August 28th, 2009
8 months pregnant
I was just finishing my lunch at my desk because it's so hot outside and my husband made me a very yummy dinner last night so I had even yummier leftovers. Due to my gestational diabetes, my husband has become quite the gourmet. He made me grilled chicken and onions with a whole wheat tortilla and cheddar cheese. I ate only a part of what he made and brought the rest with me to to work today. As I went to bite down into my delicious taco concoction, a wayward grilled onion went flying out of the back and landed right on my bright blue shirt. There's no getting around it. My shirt has a huge stain on it from a combination of oil, onions and cheese. This incident forced me to remember last night when I was going through my nightly ritual of picking out what to wear to work the following morning.
I used to never have to wonder what to wear because everything in my closet fit me. Now, not so much. My pregnancy clothes are getting tighter and tighter as I get closer to my delivery date so in order for me not to panic and run late in the morning, I usually try something on the night before, pray that it fits, and hope that with the right use of accessories and attitude, I might look less like the Macy's Day Parade float I feel like and more like Heidi Klum during her pregnancy. I've never managed to feel like Heidi Klum but I have found a happy medium.
Lately, when I've gone into my closet to pick out my clothes, I've noticed that on most of my tops and certain areas on my dresses, there are stains. I do wash my clothes every time I wear them but I guess a hot pink Old Navy dress can only take so much falling chicken, peaches, oil, peanut butter or whatever before it decides enough is enough. I will count today's oil/onion calamity as another stain to add to my large collection of stained maternity clothes. The main problem is that my belly is so large, I can only get so close to a table or my desk to eat. Therefore, whatever inadvertently misses my mouth winds up on my stomach. I probably could suck down whole meals off of what is leftover on my clothes, but I'm too much of a lady to ever do something like that.
Those who know me, know I do love clothes and to have clothes with stains on them is just not ok. Thankfully, I only have to endure 5 more weeks of this before I can slowly start to assimilate myself back into the world of the fashion-forward. I still window-shop online and salivate when I see a pair of gorgeous leather skinny jeans. I can't wait to start wearing shoes that have heals and don't start with the name "flip". Until then, I will continue to stare down at my newly-stained shirt and marvel as I watch my little girl kick me from the inside.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
The Learning Curve
August 24th, 2009
33 Weeks pregnant
Yesterday, Danny and I took a parenting class. We learned all about what happens after a baby is born. A lot goes into to making sure the baby is ok and healthy. The hospital will test for everything under the sun within hours after the birth. They will test for all kinds of diseases and will test her hearing by putting little headphones over her ears. So wild! They also talked about how important skin-to-skin contact is. When Mia arrives, the doctor will place her right on my chest. We learned that the first 60 minutes after a baby is born is called the "Golden Hour". Skin to skin contact is very important for bonding. I can't wait to do that with Mia!
In addition to the tests the hospital does after the baby is born, we learned how to diaper a baby, how to swaddle a baby and how to bathe a baby. We were each given a baby doll to practice on. It was hilarious to watch the husbands play with their dolls. Some would turn the heads completely around ala The Exorcist, while others would take their doll's arms and legs and put them in completely inappropriate positions, much to the chagrin of their wives. My husband was no better. Even so, he did a stellar job when it came to diapering. I'm so afraid of bodily fluids, even my own that I'm not sure how I'm going to handle the diaper "mess" situation when it occurs, and it will most definitely occur. Everyone says that when it comes to "gross out factor" it's different when it's your child. I'll have to reserve my judgement until the time comes but for now, I'm very lucky that Danny does not get easily wigged-out by bodily fluids and he realizes that there will be many a dirty diaper to be changed in his future.
Swaddling is interesting too. A neighbor of ours just had a baby boy that we were fortunate to see a week after he was born. He was being taken out of his car seat and he was crying and fussy. He was not very happy but when she took him upstairs and wrapped the swaddling blanket around him, he stopped crying almost instantly. Apparently, babies love to be wrapped up like little mummies because it reminds them of being in the womb. That feeling must definitely fade with time because when I recently got a body wrap at high-end spa, all I could think about was the itch on my nose and the fact that my hands were bound by thick layers of seaweed. Not fun. But for most babies, swaddling is a comfort like no other so I have to say I got pretty good at it.
Only 5 1/2 weeks left until my little one comes into the world and there is still so much to learn. I just ordered cotton balls and baby shampoo and I'm sure there are going to be plenty of things we're going to need that we'll find out about after I give birth. Until now, I will continue to perfect my swaddling technique until my little angel blesses us with her arrival.
33 Weeks pregnant
Yesterday, Danny and I took a parenting class. We learned all about what happens after a baby is born. A lot goes into to making sure the baby is ok and healthy. The hospital will test for everything under the sun within hours after the birth. They will test for all kinds of diseases and will test her hearing by putting little headphones over her ears. So wild! They also talked about how important skin-to-skin contact is. When Mia arrives, the doctor will place her right on my chest. We learned that the first 60 minutes after a baby is born is called the "Golden Hour". Skin to skin contact is very important for bonding. I can't wait to do that with Mia!
In addition to the tests the hospital does after the baby is born, we learned how to diaper a baby, how to swaddle a baby and how to bathe a baby. We were each given a baby doll to practice on. It was hilarious to watch the husbands play with their dolls. Some would turn the heads completely around ala The Exorcist, while others would take their doll's arms and legs and put them in completely inappropriate positions, much to the chagrin of their wives. My husband was no better. Even so, he did a stellar job when it came to diapering. I'm so afraid of bodily fluids, even my own that I'm not sure how I'm going to handle the diaper "mess" situation when it occurs, and it will most definitely occur. Everyone says that when it comes to "gross out factor" it's different when it's your child. I'll have to reserve my judgement until the time comes but for now, I'm very lucky that Danny does not get easily wigged-out by bodily fluids and he realizes that there will be many a dirty diaper to be changed in his future.
Swaddling is interesting too. A neighbor of ours just had a baby boy that we were fortunate to see a week after he was born. He was being taken out of his car seat and he was crying and fussy. He was not very happy but when she took him upstairs and wrapped the swaddling blanket around him, he stopped crying almost instantly. Apparently, babies love to be wrapped up like little mummies because it reminds them of being in the womb. That feeling must definitely fade with time because when I recently got a body wrap at high-end spa, all I could think about was the itch on my nose and the fact that my hands were bound by thick layers of seaweed. Not fun. But for most babies, swaddling is a comfort like no other so I have to say I got pretty good at it.
Only 5 1/2 weeks left until my little one comes into the world and there is still so much to learn. I just ordered cotton balls and baby shampoo and I'm sure there are going to be plenty of things we're going to need that we'll find out about after I give birth. Until now, I will continue to perfect my swaddling technique until my little angel blesses us with her arrival.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Moving Mia
August 14th, 2009
8 months pregnant
I was never what one would call graceful. I never floated on air like a ballerina, even though I did try to take ballet classes when I young. I lasted one class. As a child I would play "safe games" like Red-Rover but when the other kids said, "red-rover, red-rover send Laura right over", I eagerly ran through the arms of my friends and smacked into a wall hidden behind bushes. I had a huge gash on my nose for weeks. Needless to say, as a grown-up, I'm no better. Last year, I tripped over my seat belt as I was getting out of my car and my ankle still isn't quite the same. I've become accustomed to finding new bruises and scars and what's most disturbing, I can't decipher from all of the bumping into walls and tripping which bruise belongs to which stumble or tumble.
Lately, as my pregnancy progresses, sometimes I feel like a Sherpa that is carrying around an extra wide-load, while climbing Mt. Everest. Every time I stand-up from a sitting position I need to take an extra few seconds to steady myself because I can very easily topple over, just like Humpty Dumpty, but unlike Mr. Dumpty, I don't even need a wall to fall off of. Just walking to say the bathroom--because lately that is my home away from home, seems like a journey full of landmines. I have to be very cautious because one small move and I'm done. I know that because I'm carrying so much additional weight the laws of gravity are just pulling me forward, kind of like those toys called Weebles. Even the song, "weebles wobble but they don't fall down". Well, I'm the one Weeble that CAN fall down.
Walking is one thing but trying to pick up something I dropped on the floor is another endurance test. I was just eating my lunch and some bits fell on the floor, which isn't terribly shocking these days. What is shocking, is the energy I put forth trying to lower myself from my chair to the floor. I find myself having to breathe in a Lamaze-like fashion in order to pick-up a piece of wayward chicken. Why can't my food just stay on the plate or in my mouth? On the flip-side, although I'm clumsier than ever before and can no longer bend down or reach for things, the angel that is Mia inside my belly constantly reminds me that she's here. She is moving so much lately and for a mother-to-be, these movements are extremely comforting. She's even moving now as I write this. I can't wait to meet her after all of this time. I wonder if she likes chicken?
8 months pregnant
I was never what one would call graceful. I never floated on air like a ballerina, even though I did try to take ballet classes when I young. I lasted one class. As a child I would play "safe games" like Red-Rover but when the other kids said, "red-rover, red-rover send Laura right over", I eagerly ran through the arms of my friends and smacked into a wall hidden behind bushes. I had a huge gash on my nose for weeks. Needless to say, as a grown-up, I'm no better. Last year, I tripped over my seat belt as I was getting out of my car and my ankle still isn't quite the same. I've become accustomed to finding new bruises and scars and what's most disturbing, I can't decipher from all of the bumping into walls and tripping which bruise belongs to which stumble or tumble.
Lately, as my pregnancy progresses, sometimes I feel like a Sherpa that is carrying around an extra wide-load, while climbing Mt. Everest. Every time I stand-up from a sitting position I need to take an extra few seconds to steady myself because I can very easily topple over, just like Humpty Dumpty, but unlike Mr. Dumpty, I don't even need a wall to fall off of. Just walking to say the bathroom--because lately that is my home away from home, seems like a journey full of landmines. I have to be very cautious because one small move and I'm done. I know that because I'm carrying so much additional weight the laws of gravity are just pulling me forward, kind of like those toys called Weebles. Even the song, "weebles wobble but they don't fall down". Well, I'm the one Weeble that CAN fall down.
Walking is one thing but trying to pick up something I dropped on the floor is another endurance test. I was just eating my lunch and some bits fell on the floor, which isn't terribly shocking these days. What is shocking, is the energy I put forth trying to lower myself from my chair to the floor. I find myself having to breathe in a Lamaze-like fashion in order to pick-up a piece of wayward chicken. Why can't my food just stay on the plate or in my mouth? On the flip-side, although I'm clumsier than ever before and can no longer bend down or reach for things, the angel that is Mia inside my belly constantly reminds me that she's here. She is moving so much lately and for a mother-to-be, these movements are extremely comforting. She's even moving now as I write this. I can't wait to meet her after all of this time. I wonder if she likes chicken?
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Tickle My Belly Button!
August 6th, 2009
31 Weeks pregnant
The other night I had the strangest dream and even though strange dreams are to be expected while one is expecting, this dream really disturbed me. I only remember bits and pieces but what I do remember was strange.
A lot of things happen to a woman's body during pregnancy. As I've been writing this blog, I've explained some of those things in great detail. One of the less significant things that usually happens is while the belly is stretching, a once adorable "inny" belly button, now is a gigantic "outty". It just happened one day and to me, it looks like an eye that's bulging out of my stomach, which leads me to my dream...
I dreamt that my belly button stuck so far out of my stomach that it actually started to look like a flower with a long stem. In my dream, I clearly remember being frightened that I would have to walk around with this on my stomach and I also pondered how I would get dressed with this inexplicable bulge where my once cute belly button used to be. Even though it was just a dream, I now find myself looking down in the morning to make sure my belly button hasn't grown anymore than the norm. I still marvel at the way my belly button looks under clothes, particularly the kinds of clothes that highlight my pregnancy. I can't imagine that it will go back to the way it used to look before but from all accounts, it will. Only 8 more weeks to go and I'm counting the days...Can't wait to see what happens next!
31 Weeks pregnant
The other night I had the strangest dream and even though strange dreams are to be expected while one is expecting, this dream really disturbed me. I only remember bits and pieces but what I do remember was strange.
A lot of things happen to a woman's body during pregnancy. As I've been writing this blog, I've explained some of those things in great detail. One of the less significant things that usually happens is while the belly is stretching, a once adorable "inny" belly button, now is a gigantic "outty". It just happened one day and to me, it looks like an eye that's bulging out of my stomach, which leads me to my dream...
I dreamt that my belly button stuck so far out of my stomach that it actually started to look like a flower with a long stem. In my dream, I clearly remember being frightened that I would have to walk around with this on my stomach and I also pondered how I would get dressed with this inexplicable bulge where my once cute belly button used to be. Even though it was just a dream, I now find myself looking down in the morning to make sure my belly button hasn't grown anymore than the norm. I still marvel at the way my belly button looks under clothes, particularly the kinds of clothes that highlight my pregnancy. I can't imagine that it will go back to the way it used to look before but from all accounts, it will. Only 8 more weeks to go and I'm counting the days...Can't wait to see what happens next!
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