Random Musings of a Rockstar Mommy

As I've contemplated this week's post, I found it a challenge to find one over-arching subject into which I could package my thoughts.  I have things to tell you, but one doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the other.  As I was convincing myself not to force the cohesion, it dawned on me that this is a pretty decent metaphor for the way my brain has been behaving as of late.  That is, it is functioning and serving its purpose, albeit in a flaky and flighty sort of way.  The good news is that this "fuzzy-mindedness" is an actual symptom of pregnancy and is even referred to as "Pregnancy Brain."  The bad news is that it only starts to happen in the third trimester.  So what's my excuse?  I don't know.  All I can say is, "There's a baby in there! Ah!!"  So I apologize in advance for the "All Over the Place" nature of this post.

1.  Today we are 200 days away from my due date! That seems like a long time, but a nice round number is always fun to work with, so I'll take it.  (Btw- I only know this because thebump.com counts down for you.  I am not yet crazy enough  to be counting calendar days until 4/22.  Just crazy enough to maniacally check thebump.com everyday).

2.  The baby is the size of a fig!  Another cute fruit!  Okay, confession time...

Last night I bought a fig.  Just to hold it in my hand and pretend it was my baby.  And let me tell you, I fell in love with that fig.  The actual fig.  It just felt so cute and plump.  I got it specifically because my mom and dad were coming over and I wanted them to see it and my mom will tell you, she thought it was adorable too.  If Ivan is smart, he'll quietly hide the fig because watching it shrivel up as it gets older has the possibility of sending me into one of my now pretty common crying fits.  It really might put me over the edge.

3.  I have been reading a LOT of pregnancy books and websites.  It's addictive to get more insight into my insides and what is actually going on with Baby H.  I've got books that tell me "What to Expect," ones that explain what's happening "Week by Week," ones that help with names, and a particularly interesting one on the science of being pregnant written by the incomparable Dr. Oz.  The most fun by far, though, is one called Rockstar Mama, which was given to me by my fabulous sister, and from which I stole the name for this blog.  (My sister, by the way, will heretofore be referred to as Zandar.  Her choice.)  The book gives great ideas on how to continue to feel human and cute (which we know is important to me!) throughout the process of pregnancy.  Now, I could do an entire post on the fun ideas in this book- maybe I will- but today I need to mention one thing that really stuck out.

The author said that to avoid getting stretch marks on your boobs, you should wear a bra all day, everyday and all night, every night.  Oh that's right.  You read that correctly.  Here's the problem:  Taking off my bra is my FAVORITE TIME OF THE DAY.  Ever since my mom got me my first training bra and I found it lying on my bed around 8pm that fateful night, struggled for 20 minutes to attach it to me and proudly displayed my new accessory to her and my aunt and they told me, "That's great, but at night we get to be free," I have felt that way.  I really took that to heart.  I audibly moan when I free myself from that sucker each night.  The idea of keeping one on indefinitely gives me nightmares.  The worst part about it is that my mother, who is quite wise in all lady-matters, and life-matters for that matter, concurs.  I just don't know if it's worth it.  Is that terrible?

4.  I canNOT wait to spill the beans at work.  My best friend at work, D, told me that I had better make the announcement soon because it is so obvious.  Geez!  The problem is that none of my work pants fit me anymore so I have resorted to wearing the type of flowy dress that causes people to wonder what you're hiding even when you are in the greatest shape of your life.  Why do designers make clothes like that?  That empire waist top- soooo cute on the hanger.  But on real women: insta-baby bump.  How infuriating.  So anyway, between the flowy clothes and the fact that five extra pounds shows on a 5'2" frame like a beer belly, I know that people are wondering.  When my mom was over the other night, she felt my belly and said, "I don't know, B... you are definitely showing!"  (Mind you I had just eaten a massive portion of leftover chicken parm, plus anything else that got in my way for dinner.)  I told her, "Yes, but none of that is baby!  It is chicken parm and everything else I eat in hunger-crazed frenzies, along with a huge decline in exercise.  It doesn't have much to do with being pregnant."  "Of course it does," she said, "You are thickening.  You are supposed to thicken."

Thickening.  Just what every girl wants to hear.  Thickening from chickening.  And pizza-ing, and chocolating, and pumpkin-spice Hershey's kisses-ing.  Oh!  And Sun Chip-ing!

5.  We had our first bout of "nesting" last Saturday.  Ivan had hand rails installed on our steep staircase so that my clumsy butt doesn't fall down them (which it has done, twice, pre-pregnancy).  And me?  I cleaned out our refrigerator.  And by "cleaned out" I don't mean just "threw out the nasty, expired food that was in there" (though I did that too).  I mean I took out every shelf and drawer, washed them in the sink,Tilexed the whole inside, and organized it.  To those of you who have done this before, I salute you.  This was my first experience.  Not only was it DISGUSTING, but it took HOURS.  What a nightmare.  But now it looks amazing and hopefully the new baby will love the clean fridge- ha!

6.  It is super fun to feel like you have a tiny partner in crime.  I find myself talking to the baby, "Okay, Baby!  You ready?  It's just you and me!"  And when Ivan puts his hand on my (chicken parm filled) belly while we watch t.v. and asks how our little fig is doing- honestly, the joy just bubbles up inside of me.

On Monday we get to go to the doctor again-it felt like the day would never come!  We're so excited to learn more about the baby, maybe get to see her/him, or hear the heartbeat.  It is nerve-wracking to constantly wonder about the baby's health and any landmark that leads us to believe that all is well is so welcomed.  We know that it is all in God's hands, but we're so grateful that you are keeping us in your prayers and thoughts.  Thanks for reading, Ladies!  :)  Love you!