Food for Thought
This is what comes out of one trip to the grocery store when you’re pregnant:
At check out, the adolescent kid who rang me up totally judged me when he looked at me and asked, “Is this it?” I proudly answered, “Yyyyyup!” and then laughed at myself. I must have looked like such a heffer.
Yes. You see correctly. A mammoth size carton of Goldfish. Cans of Andersen’s Pea Soup (with bacon). Snickers bar (there is actually another one not pictured for extra oomph). Within a 90-minute period, I proceeded to eat a combination of these items. Yes, I am pregnant.
You know how else you know you’re pregnant?
You cry when the Goldfish milk carton packaging does not open without a fight. The folds were heavy-duty glued together and I could not rip the cardboard apart. And it didn’t help that I couldn’t get in there soon enough for handful after handful of perfectly salted, cheesy goodness. So, a few whiny expletives (Baby, cover your developing ears, please) and a frustrated tear or two later, I finally ripped in and the opening is not pretty but I don’t even care.
I’m having such a funny relationship with food. Sometimes, I can’t even look at it. Other times, I can’t get enough, but only very specific items. But, hey, it all makes sense. Pea soup is vegetables: that’s good. Snickers are full of protein (nuts) and dairy (chocolate). And Goldfish in mini Tupperware containers are basically a food staple for all children anyway. See? Good food choices.
Make Room For Bumpy
Well, it finally happened.
Yesterday I woke up to get ready and dressed for school. Thankfully, as a teacher, I don’t have to dress up in very business-y clothes. Jeans and appropriate tops are usually acceptable, so I have a few “Teacher Costumes” on rotation throughout the weeks. Normally, as I snooze through the 6:30 to 7:00 half hour, I visualize my closet and plan my wardrobe before finally getting out of bed and starting my day. So when I virtually dressed myself in one of my go-to pairs of jeans and a tank-with-cardigan combo, I thought I’d even have time to eat breakfast at home (as opposed to in the car).
Not so. I put on my jeans. Well, attempted to put on my jeans. I ended up doing a ballet of hops and skips and wiggles that made me look like the black swan who drank too much swamp water. I toyed with other options, but I never planned for backup! And that’s when it hit me: time to go shopping for maternity clothes.
So after school, I stopped at Old Navy for my first trip into the world of pants with panels and shirts with shirred sides. It was overwhelming and fun all at the same time. And thank goodness I had nowhere to be because I took my sweet time.
I tried on a few pairs of jeans, but realized that Old Navy does not carry maternity jeans in ankle length sizes like they do with their unpregnant jeans. While I appreciated the extra fabric on my belly, I had way too much fabric on the floor. Geez, Old Navy, some pregnant women are short, too! The dressing room lady told me they carry “specialty sizes” for vertically challenged people online. Well, fine, but what about instant gratification? And more importantly, what about shipping fees?? I’m coming back as a supermodel in my next life. This is not fair.
I did, however, find a cute pair of capri jeans (which are barely capri on my legs!) as well as a few shirts. My new little bump that seemed to grow overnight fit nicely in the jeans and I think I like this new look. I’m sure I’ll stop enjoying it when it’s pumpkin-like and prevents me from sleeping comfortably, but at least I don’t look like I just ate a big dinner and the reason for the belly is a little more obvious.
After I decided on some tops, I decided it was time to leave and remove myself from the premises before I overspent. But, not without a field trip through the baby clothes. Old Navy has the cah-u-test outfits for little tots and I can’t wait to start purchasing and filling up Baby Friedman’s closet! I probably would have spent a pretty penny but had no idea what to buy. After all, we don’t know the sex of the baby.
Should I shop on this side?
Or this side?
Only time will tell! The only thing I do know is that our due date is August 5th and as long as that baby isn’t too early or too late, we’ll have a little Leo on our hands. Old Navy has cute onesies with babyfied graphical astrology signs… but no Leo! C’mon, Old Navy! Help a sista out. Make some in-store short ankle length jeans and put out a Leo onesie. Cause really, my hormones can’t handle anything else.
And as far as shopping on the pink or blue side, well, that’s already decided anyway, and will be revealed soon after my ankle-length jeans online order arrives at my doorstep.
Your bump is adorable! xo
Omg, you just look too cute with your little bump!!! And why do you look so damned skinny, too?!! Grrrrr! If I didn’t like you so much, I’d have to hold you down and force some burgers and fries down your throat.
Does the cute onsie come in Ophiuchus???
Can not wait to hear what little bean is going to be! Kohls has a small selection of maternity and there is also a store in the mall. Try the band as well and you can still wear your old pants. It is like a wrap that goes over the top of your pants and you can leave them unbuttoned. I used it alot with my first but with my second I could not cause my hips for some reason grew a little quicker. ha ha
Good Genes
Today we had another date with Baby. While at school, I counted down the hours until the afternoon appointment with the perinatologist. We got there early to fill out paperwork, which was the same paperwork the office sent me in the mail that I brought back prior to the visit.
Dear Doctors,
Why do you make me fill out the same questions every time, even when you already have the information? I am pregnant and tired.
Love,
Alison
Now, this appointment was the first of its kind. We met with Dr. Genetics for a routine genetic counseling session (“Yes, yes, yes, Bryan and I are completely normal. Oh, except for my freaky feet that came out with extra toes when I was born. Where does that fit into the baby’s DNA, eh?”) and learned about our odds for having a baby with genetic disorders based alone on my age. Numbers have always scared me, but I actually felt at ease. Apparently, 27 is a low-risk age to make babies. Go us.
Then we went into the exam room for some more screening fun. First was a finger prick to squeeze blood onto test papers that would check further for genetic disorders (Down Syndrome, Trisomy 18). Who knew a few drops of blood on fancy doctor paper could help narrow down the odds? Hey, whatever works!
After my “Dexter”-like blood drops, the big moment of being reunited with the produce of the week, our little Plum, was upon us. We heard a strong heartbeat (155 bpm! That’s more than my Zumba workout!) and watched the baby snooze its way into an undesirable position. The sonographer needed our kid to lay a certain way so she could measure the nuchal translucency (fluid between the neck and skin), but of course Little Friedman wanted more time on camera so we had to wait it out until there was ideal movement. Finally, the tech was happy with the position, got a good measure, checked out the shnozz and happily reported that there is very little risk of a genetic disorder since the fluid levels and nasal cavity resulted in normal, normal, normal. Whew! Big relief! We were never too concerned, but it’s music to a parent’s ears (I can say this now) to know that the baby will very likely be born in good health (who knows about those toes, though?!).
The tech also measured Baby and even though chronologically, we are at 12 weeks, 3 days, the munchkin is measuring at 13 weeks, 1 day. So either we have a little chunker (ouch!) or it may want out sooner than August 5th. Only time will tell and I’ll just continue doin’ my thing like eating only carbs and passing out at 9 p.m.
We were kind of hoping for a guess on the baby’s sex. I’ve read on message boards (yes, I’m one of those) that some parents have gotten a “probably” male or female sway based on the positioning and angle of the private bits. But, I guess Baby Friedman was a little TOO private about his/her private parts, because the tech could not even make a guess. While we weren’t going to rush to paint pink or blue walls anyway, it would have been cool to start wondering what team we’d be joining. I guess we’ll just have to wait about another month to find out! A month in Pregnant Standard Time is so long, though!
this is so cool guys! I can only imagine how hard it is waiting for find out about blue and pink. So awesome!
U will soon know! Love your blog
That’s some plum you got there!
Two Peas in a Paw-d
Princeton is going to be a big brother!! Our first-born furry son loves all children and we know he’ll have a special place in his heart for the new baby! They’re going to grow up the best of friends and I can’t wait to watch them play together.
Way too cute!
Congrats!!! We heard from Grandma and Grandpa to be Friedman a while back and are sooooo excited for all of you!!!
Can’t wait to read more on your blog…looks and sounds great already!
Love and hugs,
Edie
Mommy’s First Blog Post
So, it seems as though the babymaking gods decided to play a funny joke on the world and give Bryan and me a baby. Sure, this baby was completely planned and intended and more-than-wanted, but we can’t believe it worked! And we can’t believe that we are allowed to become parents (isn’t there a training seminar on the whole thing we should go to?). And, before we can even become parents, we, um, I, have to give birth. All my Google searches on the topic have led me to the belief that I will wish for the stork to deliver this bundle in its beak to my doorstep. But, something tells me that Mother Goose and her silly stork will be flying north for the summer. That’s right, on or around August 5th, Baby Friedman makes its way into the world and our lives are going to fah-lip out. But in the meantime, we plan on chronicling this pregnancy journey for our own memories, to keep friends and family in the loop, and to give Bryan a project that he can also give birth to. Hey, women make babies; men make web sites. Sure, it’s all fair.
Here are the details we know so far:
I found out I was pregnant with Fiona on November 23, 2009. Crazy. I guess that is a good day to find out! So happy for you two!