Hormonal Thriller

Well, the verdict is in: #3 is scheduled to be born 2 weeks, 4 days early on Tuesday, July 8. July 8 seems like a fine enough birthday, but it's definitely no 4th of July.

John and I both went to the doctor this morning; the ultrasound tech pronounced the baby to be of normal size for this point in the pregnancy. Nothing is really normal about baby size in our family, so we'll see whether her predictions ring true two weeks from tomorrow.

After the doc, John picked out some fancy new eyeglasses and then we headed for lunch at a longtime favorite, Punch Pizza. By this point, I was feeling nauseated from hunger and thirst. (Normally, I have about 3 glasses of water and ice chips by 11am, and I forgot to bring even one bottle of water with me to the doc.) As we ordered our pizza, I requested a BIG Coke. The biggest available. I didn't realize the cups were refillable.

As John and I laughed over my urgent and desperate plea for cola, I suddenly found my laughter turning into tears...uncontrollable ones. John quickly tried to make amends, "I didn't meant anything by it, dear!" I knew he didn't. It was just a strange and sudden hormonal shift.

I have a feeling many more are on the way.

Up on the Scale

So, I'm feeling pretty proud of myself. This is my 1st pregnancy that I will actually fall within the doctor-recommended weight gain specifications, and let me tell you, it has been no easy task. I am still running...a slow 2 miles this morning, and I am feeling so much better than I did at the end of either other pregnancy. I've gained 27 lbs., and imagine I will be up to 30 by the time the next 3 weeks are through.

I recently saw a poster at the gym that said maintaining your health (or weight?...not sure) is about 20% physical exertion and 80% nutrition. Yikes. Unfortunately, I had to tip the scales with extra physical effort, because I still ate plenty of ice cream this time around.

I hate to do it, but for those who are reading this blog and are in or anticipating their 1st pregnancy, please heed my warning of not listening to the many who will tell you it's OK to eat for 2. It's really not. Trust me; I've done it. The weight is hard to lose, and you're better off gaining less to start with. I don't know how I would have kept up with Tom and Lucy this month if I'd been where I was at the end of my last pregnancy.

Anyway, the point of this entry is to celebrate! How often is it that I can step on the scale proud of myself at 8.5 months pregnant? Three cheers for Anne! Thank goodness the end is in sight.

Maternity Shopping Spree?

I stopped in at Ann Taylor Loft recently to check out the accessories. With the pregnancy coming to a close, I'm not in the market for any more maternity wear, and am instead left to dream of regular clothes (maybe I'll get to wear them for a few months this time?) and accessories. Imagine my surprise when I learned that they'd been carrying cute maternity clothes all this time! I guess I saved myself a bunch of money with that knowledge in secret, but if you're a working woman spending cash on a growing belly, I'd check them out.

Secrets to Surviving Pregnancy: Good Seamlessness

There is a weird phenomenon in the world of maternity clothes: apparently, if you are carrying a baby, you are supposed to show as much cleavage as possible. This may work great for 1st time moms who are trying to show off their hot stuff, but when I'm constantly bending over to play with Lucy or help Tommy zip his jacket, I don't need to give playgroup a peep show. I've taken to wearing seamless camisoles under almost every shirt. This one from A Pea in the Pod is extra-long to offer serious coverage of a growing belly. It's little spendy, but for the first 2 trimesters, I used cheaper models from some teenie-bop store called Charlotte Russe. Wherever you get yours , elasticity is a key factor. Before I discovered this, I bought cotton tanks that shrunk with constant washing and didn't expand well...as I do.

Secrets to Surviving Pregnancy: Vicks Vapo Rub

One of many annoying pregnancy symptoms is having your sinuses clogged continuously...for 9 months. What the heck do sinuses have to do with gestating? Anyway, if it weren't for Vicks, I would've spent many hours laying awake in these past months.

Adjustable Waist for the Whole Fam

I just bought these new maternity pants from the Gap this morning. In prior pregnancies, I felt more comfortable with a full-stomach panel, but these days, it seems like my stomach outgrows the panel but I need pants that are tighter everywhere else. Additionally, as it gets hotter (if it gets hotter), the under-the-stomach feel might be more comfy. Great news! Adjustable waist isn't just for toddlers and grandparents anymore. I cinched in these pants for now, and I'm sure to be letting loose as the weeks pass by.

My Ear of Corn is Growing

Since I've spent about 25 months pregnant in the last 3 years (hey, who's counting?), you'd think I'd have the gestational growth chart pretty much down pat by now. I still subscribe, though, to an online newsletter which gives me weekly updates as to the new developments of my baby in utero. According to BabyCenter, #3 this week is approximately the size of an ear of corn. Last night, as I lay awake, the corn was jabbing at my stomach in several areas at once. Really. Hard. I don't think the other kids were this powerful at such a young age, and this has to be a bad sign.

My Secret Sin of Pride

Generally, as a pregnant lady, I really suck. I am a whiner, I hate getting bigger, and I regret to say that I'm not a good sport at all. This time around, though, I have a secret weapon.*

After Lucy was born, I worked really hard to get back in shape. I didn't get entirely where I wanted to be, but my endurance was up enough that I fairly easily continued working out into this pregnancy. This is the 1st time I've really pushed myself in running (or moving, for that matter) while pregnant, and it feels great! I am so much more confident about my body, and I feel so powerful when I realize that people are looking at me at the gym thinking, Wow, that pregnant lady is sure making an effort!

I'm 24 weeks pregnant right now, and I'm not sure how long the running will continue. I've had to slow down a bit, but I still go about 2.5 miles every other day. That's something, at least. I figure when my belly starts to really get astronomical, I'll switch machines or maybe continue the treadmill slowly at a higher incline.

*For those who are unaware, I do have another, more important, secret weapon. He is my doctor, whom I've nicknamed He-Man. Dr. He-Man takes pity on me because my infants come out at about the size of an average 4 month old, and he induces me smartly at 37 weeks.

Worse

Worse than the embarrassment of two screaming toddlers at Target:
The embarrassment of two screaming toddlers at Target and a visibly pregnant belly whereby strangers stare at you thinking, She's in over her head.

And So.

Maybe I have found the blog at a time in my life when it is needed. Then again, maybe I have found the blog at a time in my life when a change of career AND A NAP are needed. Not in that order.

Later on, I am starting a job teaching ESL at my mom's school. I feel good about that. It must be a more productive use of time than creating TPS reports. Don't get me wrong. Publishing is an ok business. I guess I'd just rather be doing the writing than doing the willy-nilly pre-manufacturing work.

Burble. I'm not sure how to explain the feel when the baby moves. I guess it does sort of feel like indigestion, but not completely. It's extended, for one thing, and for another, it's still different. It's burbly, if that helps.

I made it through the morning, but there are still 3.5 hours til I can feasibly bust outta here. Yesterday I left early and I have been waiting for bossman to reprimand me. Maybe he doesn't care. Maybe he didn't notice. I doubt that, though. People always seem to notice what you don't want them to notice.

Like acne. Ugh. I hate to waste words on such a disgusting topic, but seriously, people: must we pregnant women just get all the fun? I thought that the dry-me-out, bleaching agent had worked, and maybe it did, because after I didn't use it for one week, presto! change-o! I am back to horrifying teenage girl with a love for cover-up.

John got a Bloomberg. He sent me a clip of the screen today, so I could know what he looks at from 9 to 5. He says he doesn't know what I do. I don't talk about it much. Who wants to hear about boredom? Anyway, this chapter is almost over.

Maybe I should do my TPS reports in Bloomberg. That would be more fun.

Got a Blog

I just got a blog, but I didn't know what it was until the holiday, when I asked my brother. A blog is a good thing for someone like me, someone who works at a job where there is no work and it seems that they should release me now, at 8:36 A.M. Why can't they pay me for nothing? Wait, they are. Why can't they pay me for nothing while I'm sitting at home?

Yesterday we had an ultrasound and the baby is growing, growing, growing. In two weeks s/he has seemingly doubled in size. Amazing. My stomach, too, in case you wondered. Yesterday I consumed a large quantity of ice cream (not unusual to me, pregnancy aside). I thought my tummy was full of just that, but indeed, it is full of baby.

Full of baby.