Good Day Sunshine

Well, there's nothing like Daylight Savings Time beginning, coupled with some super-early spring weather to give you a refreshed perspective.  I mean, how beautiful has it been this week?  In general, I am a much happier person once we have a little more warmth and sunlight, but to have it this early just seems like a gift.  I'm glad that I only have 4 1/2 weeks of work left, because this weather makes it feels like there should only be 4 1/2 weeks of school left in general.  If this keeps up, I cannot even begin to imagine how zany the kids are going to be come June- I'd want to kill them.  As it is, it's a real blessing to have my student teacher right now, because the amount of sleep I'm getting (or not getting, as the case may be) would have me biting off my students' heads by now.  But despite being super-sleepy, and in general, a little gross, when spring comes, I just can't be kept down.  I mean, get your Frappuccino-making pants on, Starbucks, because Mama's hungry.  On a related note, I was nearly late for my class at the gym on Tuesday because I was sitting in my car licking the caramel off of the inside of my Frapuccino lid.  Ironic?  Maybe.  Delicious and worth it?  Definitely.

Before I delve into the fabulous mood I've been in for the past few days, let me enlighten you to a couple of things that would seemingly be working against this mood.  First, I am peeing.  A lot.  I'm running to the bathroom after every class, and as I filled you in on last week, at least 6 times throughout the night.  Alas, though, the peeing does not end there.  It started several weeks ago, when in Target, I sneezed and straight up peed my pants.  We're not talking a little trickle here.  We're talking a significant amount of liquid, enough to soak my jeans but, thankfully, not enough to reach the floor.  Also thankfully, I was wearing my long winter coat, so the only person who had to be disgusted by me was me.  And boy, was I disgusted.  I had been on the way to my mom's house, so I did the only logical thing- abandoned whatever mission I was on, immediately walked to the candy aisle, picked out a ginormous box of chocolate that was on sale for $10 (score!), bought it, drove to mom's, put my pants and undies in the wash, and ate myself sick.

Then, on Monday, I was sitting on the couch at home, with my feet up at the suggestion of the doctor (my feet, along with my fingers have started to swell and I have to lay off the salt for the next few weeks- and I love salt) when I sneezed and subsequently left a huge pee mark on my skirt and couch.  Ivan, of course, found this quite amusing, and I, of course, did not.  This culminated with me running (well, the pregnant equivalent of running) upstairs to change yelling, "Shut up! Shut up!" in response to Ivan's laughter.  My only source of comfort is the fact that I have it on good word that this is not the first time that this has happened on this couch.  And no, I'm not telling which couch or cushion.

Despite all of this, I've really been trying to "savor" these last few weeks of pregnancy and soak up all of the good things that go with it.  I will elaborate shortly, but a quick story to add to the not-so glamorous side of things:

This morning I was feeling pretty cute.  With all of this warm weather, I've been breaking out some of the hand-me-down tops that friends have provided me with, as most of what I've bought is winter-y.  Today, for the first time, I am wearing a peasant-y type top, empire waist- you know the kind that makes you look pregnant even when you're not, so I feel as though I might as well live it up.  It's really pretty- it's got the red-orange color that I die over, as well as some blue, khaki, and yellow in the pattern.  I put it on this morning with my "skinny" khaki pants and some jeweled gold flats and I was pretty pleased with how well everything went together.  Some blue and gold earrings and a chunky yellow and orange ring from Zandar completed the whole look.  I felt pretty darn good about myself.

Now, I was too lazy this morning to pour my usual cereal and milk that I bring to school with me everyday.  I would have had to wash the container and that seemed like an insurmountable task and since I had gotten up early and worked out I rationalized that I had earned a morning trip to Starbucks for a decaf skinny cinnamon dolce latte and an oatmeal- yum!  While on line for said treats, the door opened and in walked a girl that I and everyone else in the store had to do a double take towards in order to believe she existed.  She, first of all, was an Amazon.  It honestly seemed as though she were two heads taller than me.  Not only that, but she was thin, nay, lithe.  She was wearing a charcoal wrap-dress and knee length, black, leather, high-heeled boots.  Her jewelry was perfect, her hair was long, glossy, and impeccably straight  She was the type of girl who, I'm ashamed to say, I think, "It doesn't matter how smart this girl is or what crazy talents she may possess- the only thing she should be doing is modeling."  How progressive of me.  I know, I'm ashamed.  I just know that if I looked like that, I'd be strutting around like crazy and I'd be getting paid for it.  But instead, I was there, in my "cute" outfit and all I could do was (audibly) chuckle and think (not audibly), "I'm an oompa-loompa."

All of this being said, though, the weather has given me a renewed outlook and with it, a renewed appreciation for being pregnant.  I cannot believe that we are only 5 1/2 weeks away now!  And who knows-  it could be less, (I hope not too much less!).  In many ways, it feels like I've been pregnant forever.  It takes a long time for that little baby to grow!  I particularly feel this way when I think about the last time I had a glass of wine or a turkey sandwich.  Or was able to shave my legs or bikini line easily.  And yes, I am still shaving everyday.  It's kind of my thing.  I have been told by more than one friend or sister that I have shamed them into shaving as well.  As in, if they know that we're going to hang out and they haven't shaved in something like 2 weeks, they will break down and do it, just so they don't have to hear me berate them.  The way I see, it, I am doing their boyfriends/husbands/society in general an invaluable service.  And it's for their own goods too- I mean, who doesn't love the feel of silky smooth legs?  Crazy hippies, that's who.  Now if only I could get my cousin to consistently pluck the eyebrow that hides under her bangs.  Anyway, the point is that ridding myself of offensive body hair is important to me and I'll be a hairless monkey's uncle if I'm going to let pregnancy stop me from doing so.  (I don't think that actually makes sense.)  But the point also is that this chore is becoming increasingly difficult as my belly grows and some areas need to be done quite carefully, with just my hands and a prayer to guide me.  But I digress.  The point actually is that sometimes (like when having trouble shaving) it feels like pregnancy lasts forever.

Sometimes, though, it feels like it was just yesterday that I was shocking Ivan and then our families with the news and that this whole ordeal has really taken place in the blink of an eye.  The fact of the matter is that I have been so blessed to have the opportunity to carry this child and all of the little complaints along the way (and let's face it, peeing aside, I've been pretty lucky) are so minuscule in the light of the privilege. And the "long time" that it takes to grow is really only 40 weeks.  It is nothing short of miraculous that by 6 1/2 weeks (only a week after realizing I was pregnant) the baby had a beating heart and now, 27 weeks later- roughly the length of baseball season- that little clump of cells is a baby!  How does that happen?

As I marvel at the craziness of it all, I'm trying to appreciate the process as much as possible.  As I've mentioned before, pregnant ladies bring out the best in people.  I absolutely love the smiles I receive, the questions, even the little rubs of the belly (in most cases).  I try to take advantage of the perks- the doors being held open, the reserved parking at Babies R' Us, the extra free samples of chocolate that I've been offered because "the baby needs one too" (duh, no brainer!), the fact that I don't have to KILL myself at the gym and no one expects me to- I'm actually enjoying the low-impact versions of the dances in class, the foot and back rubs that have become a nightly occurrence, among other things.  I have to remember that all too soon, they will end:  doors will be slammed before I can reach out and grab them and I'll have to park with the rest of the minions at Babies R' Us (which, by the way, I can only imagine is a huge slap in the face to all of the new moms who registered for all of their stuff there.  You just need to get a case of diapers and you have to struggle with a new baby and all of the equipment- from that very store- that comes along with the baby... you're juggling a million things and something that should take 7 minutes tops has turned into an all afternoon outing, but no love in the parking department.  Real nice, Babies R' Us.  Real nice.)  Pretty soon I'll be getting the stink eye from the people offering chocolate samples.  I know what their looks will be saying:  "Do you really think you should be having that?  Don't you have some baby weight to be losing?"  The same thing will be happening at the gym- "If she thinks she's getting back to her pre-baby body with that form, she's got another think coming..."  (Is it horrible that I assume that people think this way?)  And surely Ivan and I will both be so wiped out by the end of the day that any requests for massages from either party may result in laughter, slapping, or some combination of the two.

I even have a renewed appreciation for my pregnant body.  It helps that I've been pretty darn good about going to the gym lately, if I do say so myself, and that always helps with body image.  Well, at least it does for me.  My belly is so cute, and it's a home for a very special person!  I've even been inspired to take some maternity photos to document this time in my life.  At first I was a little self conscious, but I gave myself a little pep talk. remembered that "big is beautiful" and dove right in.  So without further ado, I'm going to do the big reveal right here on my blog.  Ready?  Drum roll, please!

Hahahahahahahaha... sorry, I just couldn't resist.  I mean, honestly.  I just love the debate over whether this is appropriate or not and how society kind of forgets that it would be inappropriate even if she wasn't pregnant.  In all honesty, I am planning on getting some photos done, but believe you me, there will be clothing.  Just a personal preference.

In other news, Zandar accompanied me to a very successful doctor's appointment on Monday.  The scale showed me at 6/10 of a pound below my "Do Not Exceed" goal for the entire pregnancy, so looks like that's not going to work out.  Oh well!  My belly is measuring just right at 34 weeks.  I am not dilated at all yet- good!- but my cervix is thinning out- also good.  Baby H is positioned just right- head down- and is moving around a ton!  In fact, at both of my last appointments, my doctors were amused by how active he or she is.  I've been having a bunch of Braxton Hicks contractions each day and it's incredible to feel just how hard my tummy gets!  I can't imagine what the real thing is going to feel like, but I'll maintain the upbeat nature of this post and save my paralyzing fear of labor for a later date.

In conclusion, it's a good thing I get a beautiful little baby at the end of this whole ordeal, because I'm honestly going to be a little bummed to not be pregnant any longer.  I'm sure that getting back into some of my old clothes, having the occasional cocktail or the frequent turkey sandwich, and a slightly less achy body will be of some consolation.  But in the end, for all of my whining, pregnancy is not a sacrifice that is worth it all in the end, but a blessing and privilege in and of itself.  And with any luck, the majority of the time it's pretty fun!