May 2011

Feeling dead sexy at 8+ months pregnant (Ya, right!) Plus, check out my 33-week baby bump!

by Courtney on May 29, 2011

Having a baby in mid July is kind of an awkward time when it comes to finding clothes to wear in early summer, especially considering I’m now as big as a house and it’s hot as hell outside.  We’ve already discussed how wearing long maxi dresses may be comfortable, but my wicked thunder thighs rub up against each other as I walk and it drives me crazy. I’ve resorted to maternity Spanx to remedy this issue and I guess it works, except it’s a pain when you have to go the bathroom 80 times a day. I have to dance my preggo ass back into those damn Spanx every time I pull ‘em back up! And maternity shorts are a no go. My legs have totally failed me in the second half of pregnancy. What happened to them? Oh ya, they got fat too. Let’s not forget that my gym has a rockin’ pool scene in the summer and since I like a nice tan, you better believe I’ll be hitting up the pool for as long as possible. But then I’ve got to wear a bathing suit! Oh Lord, how much more of a beating can my self-esteem take?! I used to hear some women say they feel really sexy in pregnancy, but not me. I feel cute at times, yes, but dead sexy? HELLZ NO! In my Babycenter.com email this week it said that “many women still feel very sexy this far into pregnancy”, and I wanna know who these women are and what they’re eating.

Yesterday, I spent an hour in a dressing room at Motherhood Maternity trying on dress after dress and top after top looking for the one that’s going to make me look preggo skinny. None of them did. I just had to settle for the least depressing looks and call it a day. It’s so hard to find clothes that make you look and feel good when you’re 8+ months pregnant. On the one hand, you don’t really want to be buying clothes this close to your due date, but when the weather is totally going from mild 60s/70s to 80s/90s, you have no choice but to wear less, and that friends, is a challenge when all your exposed limbs are suddenly chunky and full of cellulite.

I remember last August going to dinner with one of my friends who was 6 months pregnant at the time and I asked her how it felt being pregnant. She surprised me with her response when she said; “You experience a lot of body image issues when you’re pregnant.” I thought that was so weird because I’d never heard of anyone saying that before. I just thought when you were pregnant you got a big belly and kind of full other places too and that was that – it was expected. But now I totally know what she meant, because clearly I have body image issues too. I mean, I’ve got nothing but love for my baby bump, but it’s all the other stuff that goes to shit that can play on your self-confidence! It sucks big time, not gonna lie! I said I’d keep it real for ya, so I am! But I know that things will improve after I give birth – especially if I breast feed, which I intend to do. But before it gets better, I have 7 weeks for it to get worse! OH MAMA MIA!!! Have mercy!

Baby bump watch continues – week 33!

According to Babycenter.com, the baby has passed the 17 inch mark and weighs over 4 lbs, or about the heft of a pineapple. The baby is rapidly losing that wrinkly alien look and filling out to her chubby little self, obviously causing my belly to get bigger. Babycenter says that by now I’m no longer “sashaying” around, but most likely waddling and bumping into chairs and counters when I walk passed things. Ummm…this has been happening since WAY before my 33rd week, Babycenter!! In early pregnancy I swore I’d never waddle, but damn, waddling just feels good. I mean, it’s the only way I can maneuver around these thunder thighs!

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How to have the Best. Baby. Shower. Ever! Plus, check out my 32-week baby bump!

by Courtney on May 24, 2011

I know I may sound biased, but I’ve just been to the Best. Baby. Shower. Ever – and it just so happened to be mine! I know what you’re thinking; but I really don’t think I’m biased – it’s true. So I figured I’d share all the ways to ensure your shower is not only fantabulous in your eyes – but your guests as well!

First, you’ll need the support of your friends or family to really take on the planning/hosting roll of it so all you have to do the day of is sit there and enjoy yourself. But, if you’re like me and you like to have *some* creative control, you should try to be involved in some of the planning aspects – like putting your two cents in on the major stuff – and then your hostesses can go execute most of it.

Have a reason to get your baby nursery done early. After my rather depressing blog post last week about being stressed due to my upcoming baby shower being at my house, thus my nursery needing to be done-zo in time, I was all set to tell you all to not make the same mistake I did: DON’T HAVE YOUR SHOWER AT YOUR HOUSE! But now I’ve changed my tune. I mean, yes, it was a tad bit stressful trying to get the nursery done because it was such an expense to buy all that crap to fill a room in such a short amount of time. And I know I didn’t really have to have the room done, but c’mon, you know that’s what peeps want to see so you’ve gotta deliver the goods! Much to my happiness, everybody loved the nursery! (I can tell they weren’t just being nice either!) *pats on back* The best part is I’m 32-weeks preggo and my nursery is pretty much done! I’m not saving the task until the last minute when all I want to do it veg on the couch – YAY ME! Having the shower at my house forced me to get that thing done and I’M GLAD.

Plan an additional event for out of town guests. My friend Erin who lives in Indiana loves to plan events, so she offered to put together a Napa Valley wine tasting event on the Friday before the shower for all the out of town guests. How freaking sweet is that? We lucked out big time on Friday with a blue sky, 75 degree day and our first wine tasting was outside in a private area with lunch following. It was so nice! We went to two other tastings and by the end of the day, as this preggo is driving everyone back to the hotel, the backseat shenanigans sounded a lot like this; “I looooove youuuuu maaaaaan….you’re my bessssttttt friennnnnnnnnd evveeeerrrrr. You’re just, AWESOMMMMMME. No. No.. you’re AWESOMMMMME!” And of course the tipsy ladies were already declaring this the Best. Baby. Shower. Ever. and we hadn’t even had the dang shower yet! HA!

Have your shower indoor AND outdoor. Despite speaking a little too soon, those winos were right – the shower was fantastic, if I do say so myself! It was just so comfortable and laidback, even with games! Usually I’m not a fan of baby shower games because they’re lame, but this was fun and just the right level of activity. Like Friday, we lucked out with perfect weather on Saturday so people could hang out both outside and inside. We had two tables set up outside so people could chill and eat, but also design their own onesies for the onesie decorating contest – which I think is such a fun little activity for guests. Plus, the mom-to-be gets a bunch of new onsies and what do newborns live in, especially in the summer – onsies. Despite having a house on the small side – hey, I live in Cali y’all! – by having the party both indoor and outdoor it never felt cramped and it was breezy and casual – just my style.

Include the ambiance elements you enjoy. I love fresh flowers, candles, good music, and CUPCAKES, so I wanted to make sure the shower included all that. Thankfully, my friend Victoria knows how to make killer floral arrangements, so she had handmade bouquets strategically placed throughout the shower and it was GORGEOUS! I attempted to make an iPad playlist for the shower but my stupes iPod was failing me so I just turned the TV station on Comcast’s Hottest Hits and that worked fine. Except it was a little weird at one point during the present opening when it got quiet for a second and Eminem was blasting in the background talking about needing a doctor coz he’s about to lose his mind!!

Well, that’s enough on shower stuff. I had a blast and it was such a memorable weekend. Thanks to all my friends and family that came and made it so special, especially my mom, Victoria, Melissa, and Erin for hosting and putting together the shower and Napa trip! You’re the best, muah!

Baby bump watch continues – week 32!

I can’t believe I’m 8 months pregnant! This has been such a journey so far, both wonderful and in recent times, uncomfortable! And I can’t believe I only have 8 weeks left of pregnancy – if I go full term! According to Babycenter.com, the baby is about 3.75 lbs by now and 16.7 inches long, or about the size of a large jicama (whatever that is!). I’m supposed to be gaining about a pound a week from now on and this means baby is packing on the weight in preparation for birth. She has toenails, fingernails and hair on her head (or at least peach fuzz)! She moves like crazy and she’s getting really distracting at work! I have to be careful in meetings when she moves in such a way that elicits a strange look on my face because someone might think I’m giving them the stink eye, when really I just got a foot or head butt to the ribs! Ouch!

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Are final trimester hormones a preview of the baby blues? Plus, check out my 31-week baby bump!

by Courtney on May 16, 2011

Lately I’ve been so impatient it’s not even funny. I’ve been feeling a little bit stressed trying to finish up the baby nursery in time for my shower this weekend at my house, so I think the combination of trying to pack all the expenses of filling the nursery into such a short time span, plus working later at work in the past week and not getting to the gym has made me feel kind of…down. I read recently that sometimes women experience a bit of the “baby blues” in their third trimester of pregnancy. When I first read that I thought; “Huh, that’s weird – the baby isn’t even here yet, how is that the baby blues?” But I’m starting to understand the emotion…

I’d say a bulk of the stress inducing blues comes from the shower/nursery planning. It’s hard to get into nursery decorating early when it still feels like you have so much time. And then you decide to have the shower at your house and suddenly it’s a mad dash to get the room ready in time! I’ve got to give my husband some major props because he has been a task master machine when it comes to putting together the baby furniture, hanging pictures and new curtain rods, gardening – the list goes on and on! He’s been really great and I so appreciate all his help with relatively little complaining on his part! Well, I guess what he has recently complained about is me, more specifically – my moodiness! I totally understand and feel guilty, but look; you try directing someone hanging pictures in the very specific way that you want them with the limited patience that I have right now! It’s tough!

And then you add in the constant presence of my little stage five clinger – my dog, Indy – and you can imagine how at times he gets in mama’s way! As I’m moving about my house Indy is always right under my feet moving with me every step of the way. And it’s driving me CRAZY! You need to understand that this guy is my baby. He’s been my pride and joy for the last 2 ½ years, but lately, he’s just in the freagin’ way. I feel like I’m being mean to him by constantly telling him to get out of my way and then I feel guilty afterward and have to get down to his level and apologize to him and blame my moodiness on this little syndrome called “pregnancy”. I hope he understands!

This is so not me!

I’m seriously the most laid back person ever; I just go with the flow and don’t let things get to me. If I have no control over something then I don’t get my panties in a bunch about it, I just move on. This attitude has allowed me to be even keel for as long as I can remember. But these days, I feel like I’m a walking ball of frustration. My poor mom is often the person I call to complain about every little thing that is going wrong or not my way. I’m sure at some point she’s going to start screening her calls and not answer when she sees my name on the caller ID! Sorry mom!

The annoying part about all this moodiness is that I’m aware of it but I can’t help my reactions to some things! It’s not like off the chain or anything, but for someone who is so easy going like me, it’s definitely strange to feel a myriad of Debbie Downer emotions like stress, frustration, impatience, and gluttony all the time. I’m guessing this is in some way what it feels like to have the “baby blues” or just the blues in general. I really miss the old positive me. Hopefully this too will pass and when the baby comes I’ll get back to my normal self soon!

Baby bump watch continues – week 31!

Only 9 more weeks to go! I can’t believe we’re in single digit numbers now, how crazy? According to Babycenter.com, the baby is heading into a growth spurt now, measuring over 16 inches and weighing about 3.3 lbs – or the weight of about 4 navel oranges. She’s moving a lot now and it’s begun waking me up in the middle of the night! There have been a few nights where I’ll wake up because she’s going crazy in my belly, doing summersaults and kicking like Billy Blanks! The other night she was moving at machine gun speed doing who knows what at 4am, so I put Jeff’s hand on my belly even though he was dead asleep. After about 15 seconds, in a groggy voice in the dark I hear; “Whoa, that’s actually kinda freaky!” HA!

Did anyone else feel a rush of hormones in their third trimester that made them feel a little out of whack?

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Just call me a breastfeeding expert who has never breastfed. Here’s what I know…

by Courtney on May 12, 2011

The pregnancy classes have officially started for me. First up, breastfeeding 101! I’ve gotta say, I’m about 30% less intimidated by the idea of breastfeeding than I was walking into the class this past Saturday. For two hours I learned all about the ins and outs of breastfeeding, such as the various ways to hold a baby during feedings (like “the football hold”), how many times a baby eats during the day and for how long, and of course – the color and consistency of the baby’s poop…you know, as an indicator of whether you’re doing it right. And now that I’m an expert, I feel I should impart some knowledge on you, dear readers, so you know how to do this when it’s your turn. I’ll just cover the major takeaways that stuck with this mom-to-be…

It takes HOW LONG to breastfeed a newborn?

I realize now that my existence in this world will soon be nothing more than a boob feeding milk factory. Well, at least for the first couple of weeks/months of my baby’s life. Apparently babies eat 8-12 times per day and it takes 20-40 minutes to breastfeed PER BOOB!!!!!!!!!!!!! Let’s do the math on that. If it takes 40 minutes per boob to feed, that’s 80 minutes for one feeding. Then if the baby feeds 10 times in a day that’s about 13.3 hours a day…oh my gawd. That’s almost like packing two traditional 8 hour work days into one day!! So I’m going to have two full time jobs just feeding my baby and then there’s the changing diapers piece…

You know what, my husband may not have boobs, but he certainly has hands that can be trained to wipe tiny poopy booties and he knows where the trash can is. I can’t have two full time jobs and get sleep and blog all in the same day. I’ve just decided that he’s going to be on sole pop patrol. Like breastfeeding will be my personal bonding time with my ‘lil girl, wiping her ass will be Jeff’s.

Baby could fall asleep on the boob and all that nursing time doesn’t count!

Breastfeeding and boob nuzzling apparently becomes so soothing for babies that they can often fall asleep just sucking away but never swallowing. So basically, I can’t zone out watching an episode of “True Blood” and risk missing the cues that she’s not eating.  This could mean the past 40 minutes of feeding simply did not count. Sure, baby might go down for a nap, but she’s going to be up walling away for that food in much less time than she’s supposed to because she was never fully satisfied while I was swooning over muscley vampire abs.

Chart the poop color and consistency

Have you ever heard moms talk about how fascinating it is to discuss baby poop with other moms? I never understood that until now. Because for a newborn, the color and consistency of poop is an indicator of normalcy – and who doesn’t want their kid to be normal? Day one, poop should be yellow. Day two, poop should be white. I’m just kidding, I don’t remember what it is but I’m pretty sure it’s not supposed to be white. And if it is – that’s not normal. But I guess I don’t need to worry about charting the baby’s poop since Jeff is the only one who will ever see it. Thank God for boob-less husbands with hands made for changing diapers.

Renowned medical associations recommend breastfeeding for 12 months or LONGER!!

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that you exclusively breastfeed for 6 months, but after that, they encourage you to continue breastfeeding with solid foods until 12 months or longer – if you and baby “are willing”. Now come on…mama is gonna want a margarita at some point – and maybe even get a lil tipsy for fun when I finally can! But hell, if I’m breastfeeding I have to walk a fine line with drinking alcohol and feeding the baby. Pump and dump.  But isn’t that a pain to sit there and pump for an hour just to throw it away! What a waste! So anyway, we’ll just see how this whole thing goes. I’m really going to try and I hope the baby takes to the process. Hell, I hope I take to the process because to a newbie it does sound mildly – ok insanely – uncomfortable.  The MOST exciting thing I’m looking forward to – that I hope is true based on what everyone says – is that breastfeeding will help me shed the baby weight faster. Here’s to hoping the fat comes off me like butter off a hot knife! (My real motivation rears its ugly head, oops!)

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Mocktails! Maternity Ward tour! Preggy fashion show! Oh my! Plus, check out my 30-week baby bump!

by Courtney on May 11, 2011

I now live in the land of baby mania. You know your life is changing when a tour of a maternity ward, getting your walls painted, and learning the art of breastfeeding is now considered an exciting weekend!

On Friday I attended a fun event called “Mom & The City” put on by my birthing hospital, John Muir, and I had a great little time! The hospital has a brand new state of the art maternity ward and they were showing it off to moms-to-be, but not without some added fun like mocktails (think – alcohol free martinis and mojitos!), appetizers, free hair styling, prenatal massages, manicures, makeup application, and a preggy fashion show! I went by myself, giving my husband a free pass since I knew it was mainly for my enjoyment, and it was so neat being around so many other pregnant girls. I occasionally see other pregnant ladies out and about, but never so many in one concentrated place! It was like being a foreigner, or an alien, returning home to “my people” when I walked in the door! It’s neat to just automatically be on the same page with so many strangers. We talk due dates and back pain and we just get each other! Plus, it’s interesting to see how pregnancy affects other people. Some people didn’t really seem that big yet but seemed to already be struggling to walk, whereas others looked like they were 5 months along and apparently about to give birth any minute! You really do realize that pregnancy affects every woman differently.

In touring the birthing center, I was impressed by the size of the labor and delivery rooms. They’re massive! Plus, the one we saw had a super nice view of Mount Diablo here in Northern California. I thought; “How serene would that view be in the middle of the day or at dusk in mid-delivery!” But I’m pretty sure the room with the view is not standard and I’ll be looking at a brick wall or the parking garage outside of my window! After the maternity ward tour I got my hair done (where my stylist said she gained 50 lbs. during pregnancy and I immediately loved her!) and then sat and watched a fashion show put on by Motherhood Maternity and Pea in the Pod. It was great! Then I got the most amazing five minute prenatal massage ever, where she worked the shit out of my tailbone where I have all my pain – likely linked to the baby pressing on my sciatic nerve. OUCH! In fact, after talking with another preggo in the massage line she told me this exact same pain is happening to her and her doctor said it was this nerve – that just so happens to be the largest nerve in our bodies! GRRREAT! If anything, I feel relieved knowing this back pain I have is something specific and not just a general back pain side effect of pregnancy. Plus, saying “sciatic nerve” sounds so scary and clinical and people will feel more sorry for me when I complain about it now…

It’s lower back pain and now leg muscle pain like this that makes me want to be done with pregnancy. I’m over it! By week 30 I’ve decided it’s time to move this thing along – no more stalling! I think this is God’s way of getting women through the initial fear of the childbirth delivery process. By the time you get to the end of your pregnancy you’re so uncomfortable you’re just like: GET THIS BABY OUT OF ME I DON’T EVEN CARE ABOUT THE PAIN!

*Next post I’ll detail my other weekend adventures: a breastfeeding class and operation baby nursery!*

Baby bump watch continues – week 30 (whoohoo!)

I can’t believe I only have 10 more weeks of pregnancy! Time is zipping by at lightning speed now. Thirty weeks just sounds like such a huge milestone. I had a 30-week ultrasound yesterday and my doctor says the baby is about 3.7 lbs at this point. And according to Babycenter.com, the baby is about 15.7 inches long, or about the size of a head of cabbage.

Babycenter warns that in my third trimester my first trimester mood swings will return again (they certainly have, my husband can attest to this!); I’ll have difficulty sleeping (YES!) and my feet may be getting bigger and permanently, so I might need to invest in some new shoes. This is driving me crazy and it’s so true! I can’t wear any of my shoes so I’m relegated to sandals that have some room for my feet to spread. How is this even fair? Again, it all goes back to those bastard ligaments that are just getting so damn lax on me! What we women go through in the name of childbearing…

Ugh, 10 more weeks of pain and suffering for my little chicki-poo. But I’ll gladly put up with it because I love feeling her so active in my tummy. I play games with her where I push on my belly and she pushes back. How freaking cute is that? Strange on some level, yes, but adorably amazing on a bigger level, VERY!

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Preggo rants – the fun part is over!

by Courtney on May 4, 2011

Oh I know, leave me alone!

When I first told you I was pregnant I promised to keep it real – I wouldn’t sugar coat it but give it to you straight. And now that I’m almost two weeks into my third trimester I’m here to tell you that the fun part of pregnancy – the cloud hopping, cute as a button part – is over. At 29 ½ weeks I find it unthinkable that I have 10 ½ more to go. That’s 10 ½ more weeks of weight gain, back pain, etc.  What everybody says about the third trimester being the hardest is true. How did my body – my temple – the place I live – become so uncomfortable so fast?? And all I can do is suck it up and deal with all the discomforts that come along with pregnancy’s final phase. But if anything, I take solace in knowing that I can bitch about it on my blog and perhaps I’ll feel better. Lucky you!

I’m just going to sound them off in a series of rants…

When I wake up at 3am to go to the bathroom and roll out of bed, I’m sometimes stunned frozen by the shooting pain I feel in my lower back. Two nights ago this lower back pain actually shot all the way down my leg and I limped all the way to the bathroom. Instead of bending over to lift the toilet seat lid I had to bend my knees to lower myself down to the lid’s level – I have no freaking range of motion people. The ligaments around my back and hips are my worst enemy these days. As I hobbled back I desperately wanted to wake my husband and ask him to kneed my tailbone so the pain would be soothed somewhat. But like hell he’d wake up and do that! So I just laid there in silent agony. I’m seriously getting all weepy for myself as I type this.

My thighs rubbing together make me feel like the freaking marshmallow man charging down the street in the movie Ghostbusters. UGH! THESE TREE TRUNKS COMPETE FOR WALK SPACE!! Wearing maxi dresses are the most comfortable thing right now, yet I cannot stand how my thighs rub together when I walk that I’m literally going on a search for pregnancy Spanx this weekend. I can’t take it anymore. I need some sort of material to make the thighs glide past each other more smoothly. This sticking together crap is for the birds. I know, that sounded so gross.

WAH! I can’t stop eating dessert! I feel like fatty McFattsberry. Yes, baby is growing, but I literally cannot say no to dessert or make healthy decisions anymore. You should’ve seen me in my second trimester. I was a poster child for healthy daytime eating. Carrots, grapes, apples, salads – you name it! But I think because of my increasing aches and pains; feeding myself the good stuff (meaning the bad stuff) somehow makes me feel better. Or least that’s what I read somewhere. It’s like; My back hurts; I deserve a Frosty! Hmph!

Constipation, hemorrhoids, farting – yep, I’m going there. There’s nothing worse than being on the elliptical at the gym and a sneaky fart squeaks out and you literally get whiplash from wiping your head around to see if anyone was in earshot and noticed. When you’re not pregnant your stomach usually gives you ample notice that a fart is about to come and you can either stifle it or let ‘er rip if you want. But when you’re preggo, there are no such warnings and letting ‘er rip isn’t a choice, it’s just the way it goes.

Walking is so exhausting! Why is it that I can do 30 minutes on the elliptical two or three times per week, but when I try to take my dog for a walk outside I’m feeling overly exerted within 10 minutes? I remember at 24 weeks I walked all over the city of San Francisco with my parents when they were in town. But last night on our way to a comedy show, I could barely walk .4 miles to our destination from the train station. I mean, I could walk, but it was a full on waddle-feel sorry for me walk.

Well, I could probably go on for a few more paragraphs but I’m starting to feel sorry for my baby. I really have enjoyed pregnancy and I love feeling my little chicky-poo wiggling around in my belly. Jeff and I decided last night that I’d refer to her as “Wiggles” from now on because not only does she kick, but she’s just a wiggly little thing and it feels so funny! Yes, there are PLENTY of joys of pregnancy and I hope I’ve done a good job to-date of listing them off. But I’m not gonna lie; the fun part of pregnancy where it’s new and easy is definitely O-V-E-R!

Looking forward to July……..come ooooooon Juuuuuly!

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Reality vs. Fantasy: How much of having a baby is dreamy-happy vs. exhaustion-stress? Plus, check out my 29 week baby bump!

by Courtney on May 2, 2011

I know I shouldn’t see it this way, but I keep looking forward to maternity leave like a 3-month vacation. It’ll be summer and the perfect time to get a tan and get back into shape while taking long walks on trails with the baby in her big wheeled stroller. I’m picturing us meeting my husband out for lunch on some outdoor patio where my little mini-me will just sit there quietly in her baby carrier and sleep while mommy and daddy enjoy a good meal. I think about having the freedom to travel back home to see my family over those few months, and even going to college homecoming with my friends while grandma and grandpa enjoy a little bonding time with the bambino! Basically, I’m envisioning only the dreamiest of scenarios for when the baby comes and I’m starting to fear that reality will be like a hard, swift kick in the a-s-s.

When it comes to pregnancy, you have 9 months of nonstop things to talk about, starting with your growing belly, cravings, weight gain, back pain, baby names – whatever! You get oodles of attention and everyone just fawns all over your belly or wants to know how you’re feeling all the time. It’s great! And then you find out what you’re having and it all becomes more real to you, so you name your baby and the baby becomes a person frequently discussed in your household – as if she’s already there – and she kicks and rolls around in your belly and everything just seems wonder-like and dreamy. You look forward to your baby shower and think about that last hurrah “babymoon” you can take, and then at the end of it all you get this little bundle of joy that according to everyone I’ve ever talked to, will make your heart burst from overflowing love that you’ve never known before. I’m walking on cloud 9 just thinking about the last 7 months and what’s to come in the near future!

It ‘aint gonna be roses all the time

But the thing is, I KNOW it’s not all fairy tales and butterflies. It’s going to be hard work! There’s a crying baby that can’t explain to you what their problem is, so you shove a pacifier or a boob in their face, or you change them unnecessarily, or you try to burp them or put them down to sleep, or WHATEVER – and the cries don’t stop! I can only imagine the frustration! And what about changing that nasty green poopy diaper that stinks so bad you nearly faint, or seeing your baby have some odd reaction to who knows what and you have no idea what to do! All this stuff sounds so overwhelming and let’s face it, downright unpleasant! So why when we girls are pregnant are we so caught up in the fairy tale of it all?

One thing that is always reassuring to me is when people enthusiastically tell me, “It’s a lot of work, but it’s sooooo worth it.” Or, “You’ll never experience a love so deep in your life, it’s awesome.” I especially love hearing that from dads! You kind of expect to hear that sappy stuff from moms, but when dudes say it; I’m on board! I’m sure the balance of the dreamy-happy days sometimes outweigh or under weigh the days of pure exhaustion and stress, and it’s ok. I’m not striving for perfection or anything; I just want a healthy, happy baby. And I may just be in for a rude wakeup call when that maternity leave doesn’t turn out to be very vacationy, but come on, it’s going to be blue skies and sunny every day the entire 3 months (I live in California!), so if anything, I’m at least looking forward to being confined to my house vs. confined to my office cubical with no windows!

Baby bump watch continues – week 29!

I’m definitely getting bigger and I keep thinking to myself; I still have 11 weeks left – how much bigger can I get? It’s giving me anxiety! It’s already getting difficult moving around now so I can only imagine how badly I’m going to be ready to have this baby when the time comes! And the weight gain that comes with the third trimester isn’t just me having one too many brownies or Wendy’s Frosty’s (I know what you’re thinking!), according to Babycenter.com, the baby is growing rapidly now. She weighs 2 ½ lbs., like the size of a butternut squash, and she’s a little over 15 inches long from head to toe. To put it into perspective, Mariah Carey just had her twins and her little girl was 18 inches long! That could mean my baby is nearing her full length soon! Wow! The baby’s head is growing bigger to make room for her developing brain and she needs LOTS of calcium right now to help strengthen her hardening skull! Ok, so sitting around drinking milk sounds blah unless there’re cookies involved or the milk is chocolate. Wait…all of a sudden, this task isn’t sounding so bad. It actually sounds yummy! Watch, thanks to my over-indulging efforts my baby is going to have the thickest skull ever! GRRRRRRRREAT. . .

If you’re a parent, please share your two cents on the rewards and challenges of parenting! I’d love to hear your thoughts!

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