There's always a first

Yesterday I hit a pregnancy first. I'd hoped to skip this pregnancy milestone all together but we don't always get what we want.

The night before I went to bed with some ginger ale because my stomach was upset. When I woke up I decided on an outfit then decided to finish the ginger ale and take my prenatal. I grabbed the tshirt I needed only to realize it needed to be worked over with the lint brush. Then I grabbed the blazer I'd planned on. A blazer I haven't tried on in the past few months. Of course this was a fail. I chose something else but couldn't find the tank I needed to wear under it (necessary to hide the band on my jeans).

At this point it's more than 30 minutes since I've taken my prenatal. Usually this would do nothing or just make me feel a little ucky. By the time I got downstairs and decided on a banana my stomach was really unhappy with me. Half a banana later everything came back up, making 17 weeks 3 days the first pregnancy puke.

It's a Baby Explosion

2009 was a big year for babies. Between friends, family, former coworkers, and work associates there were 10 cuties. Of the 10, 5 we local and 3 I get to see occasionally. I thought that there was no way that 2010 could top that, but I couldn't have been more wrong.

As of today there will be 9 local babies born in 2010. I love love love that there will be 8 babies right around the same age as our baby as they're growing up. In my head I've fast forwareded to the toddler years and am picturing play dates and birthdays with all of these babies playing together.

I also have a cousin whose wife is pregnant with their first who lives in San Diego. She's due 5 weeks before me. I'm picturing out babies playing together on the beach. Or their family coming to visit us for some winter/snow fun.

Not that it matters to you, but here's the rundown:

Neighborhood friend A: A boy and girl in late Feb.
Hubby's friend (whose wife I'd like to get closer to): A boy in early March
Study abroad friend: A boy and a girl in April/May*
Neighborhood friend B: A girl in July
Cousin: Unknown in August
Me: Unknown, Sept 10
Neighborhood friend C: Unknown in late Sept
and most recently
Grad school friend: Unknown in October

Are you picturing all of the fun with me?

The only problem I see in all of this is gifting. For showers I like to get a few of the more boring (but useful) things on a registry. Bottles, pacis, bathtub, and changing pads are a few of the more recent things. I figure most people get pulled in by the cute outfits and toys, but at the end of the day Mom and Dad will need to give the baby a bottle, etc. That part will be fine.

To increase the cute/sweet factor I knit or crochet something. In 2009 there were 5 blankets, countless hats, Mary Janes, balls with rattles, baby kimono sweaters and who knows what else. The March baby got a blanket. The Feb twins got hats. I haven't actually made anything for my baby during this pregnancy and have a long list. Between the pregnancy brain and sleepiness it takes me forever to finish things. Also, I've decided I want to learn to sew. I just don't think I'll be able to get something made for every baby before they're born. Any cute and super quick patterns out there? I'm a pretty proficient knitter and an okay crocheter.

*The April/May twins were ready to make an appearance in March, giving us all a scare. Momma is on bed rest and we're hoping they'll be patient so they can develop a little more.

The Maternity Plunge

As of last Sunday I've officially given up any and all bottoms that have a zipper. I have 1 pair of maternity jeans, a maternity skirt and a few elastic waist skirts. Those, along with gym/yoga pants have been making my wardrobe. I probably should have made the switch a little over 2 weeks ago but I was being stubborn. Then I realized- how often is it socially acceptable to wear what amounts to an elastic waistband in public?

Today I did some shopping and added to the maternity wardrobe. I got 3 maternity shirts- a plain black t and 2 that I can wear to work-and 4 dresses. The dresses are what sent me to the store. On Tuesday my husband's company announced a somewhat mandatory cocktail reception in 2 weeks. I then spent 3 days freaking out about finding something appropriate. There aren't many store around that carry maternity clothing that's affordable, in my size, and nice all at the same time. On Friday my boss and 2 other recently pregnant friends all gave me the same advice. Get a regular dress a little big in a forgiving fabric and cut. So I went up a size in the regular store and found a few things that work now and should work until the end.

Tomorrow I hope to rearrange my closet, putting all of the really cute spring skirts that I have no chance of fitting into, and anything else not belly friendly away. The elasticy stuff, the maternity stuff, and regular shirts that are long enough to hide the maternity waistbands will be taking center stage.

Surrender

I recently acknowledged that I am not longer in control. Things have been much better ever since I came to this realization. The foods that I usually love & crave end up with me being sick. Lounging in my favorite positions is out. I wake up 30 minutes before my alarm on most mornings, though there's rarely a day where I couldn't take a nap. Then there's making plans. We've learned not to decide what we're going to do in advance. Instead each night he says what kind of night is it and we go from there.

I can be a bit of a control freak. I guess this is the baby's way of getting me ready for all of the things I won't be able to control over his/her lifetime.

Over the past few weeks I've gone back and forth on if this should be a public/private blog. That an if I should share the links with friends & family. While I was debating this things I wanted to post were things I may not have wanted my mom to read...

The Plague

A few weeks ago my husband got sick. It started as a cold and generally feeling ucky. The Sunday before Valentines day it progressed into a crazy cough, headaches, and occasional dizziness. He spent the whole week in exile, living on the couch in our front room and staying pretty far away from me. Somewhere in the he went to the doctor and got diagnosed with bronchitis. Thanks to antibiotics and cough syrup with codine he was feeling better on Presidents Day (8 days later). That Tuesday we deemed him well enough to hang in the family room and sleep in our bed again.

By Thursday he was feeling sick and was once sent to exile in the front room. Another doctors visit came up with a diagnosis of bronchitis + flu. Maybe. He got more antibiotics and stronger cough stuff. More warnings to stay away from me.

I've stopped using our powder room and only go in the front room to deliver food. If he ventures out of the front room he wipes everything down with Clorox wipes. The last time I washed my hands this much was when I evaluated child care programs. Despite these efforts I think I'm getting sick. I'm always stuffy when I wake up (yahh pregnancy) but usually it's gone within an hour. I've been up 2.5 hrs, used a neti pot, and am still stuffy/sneezy.

Usually this wouldn't be that big of a thing. But the only pre-baby vacation we have planned starts on Thursday. So any pregnancy safe home remedies? I'm drinking tea. Planning on lots of garlic today.

A few early bullets

• I have a crazy sense of smell. Lunch time at the office has gotten really interesting. Though we have a conference/kitchen area the secretaries in the department where we sit have their own. I don't mind so much for afternoon popcorn, but the lunches. Oh the lunches. It should be against the rules to put fish in a communal microwave. Also anything sweet and sour, vinegary, or anything else that i don't agree with in the moment.
  
• I have never loved sleep so much. I'm averaging 9-10 hrs a night. With an occasional nap. Some days this is so irritating because I have stuff to do, but most of the time I try to enjoy the fact that I can take a weekend nap without worrying about a kid. How do women handle this for baby number 2?
• I have never been so fussy about food in my life. I'm a vegetarian with a few food allergies, but outside of the foods ruled out by those things I eat almost anything. I should say I ate almost anything. These days it takes me forever to decide on anything. This morning it took me 1.5 hours to come up with something (cheddar drop biscuits) and another 40 minutes to get up the energy to go make them.
• Pregnancy nose (congestion sinusy stuffiness) isn't all that different that my allergies growing up, but the lack of available meds makes it fun. I finally bought a neti pot. I've used it 5-6 times and with the exception of this morning it's been great. This morning my sinuses said f that, I am going to give you trouble. I think I'll try some essential oils in the shower (if I ever make it back upstairs)

Despite the weird and crazy I'm doing my best to enjoy it. I mean really- whens the last time you slept 10/hrs a night multiple nights and didn't feel guilty?