Friday, April 27, 2012

Maternity Clothes...

14 weeks into my pregnancy and I'm pretty much completely into my maternity wardrobe. I swear I must have spent hundreds of dollars on maternity clothes my first pregnancy. Can you blame me? Not only was I so excited to be pregnant for the first time and in maternity clothes, but I also decided I could accomplish being pregnant AND looking cute. Hubby almost had a heart attack everytime I stepped into Motherhood Maternity. He claimed I was single-handedly keeping them in business. He may have been right....as I went into that same store over three years later and the woman actually remembered me. Hmmm, that's not a good sign!


I justified the fact that I was spending so much money in the Motherhood store by telling hubby it was an investment. We've always known we wanted 2 or 3 kids so I told him that the clothes would definitely be reused. Unfortunately, I had our first son in March so most of my clothes are warm winter clothes. This time the baby is due in October so I will be needing tons of summer clothes! WHOOPS! Sorry hubs!


This time I'm being smarter and trying to minimize the amount of money I spend on maternity clothes. It didn't hurt that my mom offered to buy me a few outfits. The nice thing about being pregnant in the summer is that I should be able to get away with wearing a lot of dresses. Also a lot of non-maternity summer tops are long so I can get some use out of them too. As for shorts...I tried the "rubber band" trick and the belly band for a little while but that requires that your ass actually fits into the shorts in the first place.  Again- whoops!!


Bless my heart though because I can't stand not to try to dress in cute clothes, even when pregnant. Thank goodness maternity clothes have come such a long way in the past few years. Gone are the days of the moo-moo and weird giant shirts with bows tried under the neck. You know the shirts I'm talking about, the ones that look like giant clown shirts. 


Maternity clothes are definitely cuter now but possibly way more complicated. This morning, I got stuck in my maternity shirt while trying to get dressed. It's such an adorable top, black and white see thru with a white tank underneath. Somehow, I got completely tangled up in it when trying to dress myself. It made me remember some of my shirts from last pregnancy. I can't tell you how many days hubby had to help me get dressed before work. Not because I was incredibly large or swollen, but because those cute maternity tops can be so damned complicated! Gosh, you'd think they could make shirts less complicated for hormonal pregnant women to wear. Good thing no one was home to see me stuck in my shirt, flailing my arms and cursing at the mirror! 


The other thing I'm laughing about is the fact that I bought about 6-10 pairs of maternity THONGS my first pregnancy. Hey- I was working at the time and wearing tight dress pants. I didn't want my little first graders to glimpse a panty-line through my pants! GASP!


 I can't help but wonder who thought of maternity thong underwear. I also can't help but wonder how many pregnant women actually wear thongs. Like we aren't uncomfortable enough when we're pregnant-let's go ahead and add some thongs into the mix. Needless to say, I balanced the uncomfortable maternity thongs out by wearing old lady shoes to work. After all, I was on my feet all day! 


The truth is, I'm excited to be in maternity clothes now and sporting a small bump. I think it's so exciting! Let's see how much much I'm loving those clothes in 4 to 5 months. For those of you who are wondering, I have retired the J-Lo shoes for now. After all, you can hardly expect a pregnant woman to balance both thongs and ho shoes, can you? 

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Holy HORMONES!

Oh the joys of pregnancy! I feel so bad for hubby. I really really do. I swear I have not felt this crazy in years... 


Hubby may not be the one carrying this child, but he is definitely experiencing this pregnancy with me. From the little weight gaining competition we seem to have going on (who has the bigger belly???) to the crazy mood swings he has to deal with....that poor poor man. He honestly deserves a medal or some "husband of the year" award when this is all over. 


I remember watching the movie "Looks Who's Talking" when I was a little girl. (It was one of my mom's favorite movies!). Even now, I vividly remember the parts where Kirstie Alley's character goes through crazy mood swings. I especially remember the part where she is sitting on the couch sobbing uncontrollably while watching television. It was so funny to watch when I was younger despite the fact that I figured it be to a bit of an exaggeration. 


Fast forward to today. Here I am, a 30 year old pregnant woman. I am a MESS and I have nothing but my hormones to blame. This poor child, he/she is being blamed for things before he/she is even born!!!!


 I don't think a day's gone by in months that I haven't cried while watching TV. Sometimes it's all out sobbing (like Kirstie Alley!) but most of the time, my eyes just start tearing up or my nose starts running. Luckily, I have a cold so most times I've been able to hide the fact that I'm crying from hubs. He loves to shamelessly point and make fun of me whenever I cry at tv shows or movies. That may be the reason I quit going to Nicholas Sparks movies with him. (Hmm maybe that was his plan all along?!) And who can blame him for laughing at me? I am crying at everything from shows like "How I Met Your Mother" to dramas like "Private Practice" to HALLMARK commercials! I'm embarrassed to admit I've also started crying while watching some of my son's movies with him. Most recently these included "Ice Age" and "We Bought A Zoo." Yes, it's true. I'm an insane emotional wreck. Let's blame my unborn baby...    ;)


The crying isn't too bad but the hot/cold mood swings are what's really putting a "zing" in our relationship. One minute, I'm SO happy and in love with my hubby. I can't believe I've hit the jackpot with such a wonderful man. The next minute, I am cursing the day we met (I'm PRETTY sure he is too!). I can't seem to help it. One moment, I'm fine. Then suddenly, something sets me off. Sometimes it's a big thing, sometimes it's a little thing. Last week I gave hubs a 20 minute lecture, half of it while standing up and waving my finger at him (so shameful!), for not putting down his phone while I was talking to him about an upcoming doctor's appointment. Was I right to be annoyed? Of course I was, it's rude not to look up from your phone so you can have a simple conversation with your wife! But I doubt the 20 minute lecture and finger waiving was necessary. In fact, I'm pretty sure he tuned me out after the first minute. 


Last week I also got mad at him for spending too long cutting the grass. WTF? My husband worked all day from about 8:30-5:30, then came home and had to spend 3 hours in the yard because our grass grows like it's on steroids. Then, he came inside to a hormonal screaming pregnant wife. I almost feel sorry for the man. 


I say "almost" because let's face it, sometimes he deserves a good "hormonal" talking to. For example, when he acts baffled by the fact that I'm tired at the end of the day. HELLOOOOO stay at home mom taking care of the cleaning, cooking, grocery shopping, dishes, laundry, and temperamental 3 year old boy while GROWING A HUMAN BEING IN HER BODY! Why the hell do you think I'm tired?! Or when he comes home and immediately sits down and opens the mail instead of saying hello to anyone, not even his son. Drives me crazy. 


However, the hubby is a good man. He's the kind of man I would want my daughter to marry- if I ever have a daughter, that is. He's kind, smart, funny, handsome, loving, and a good father. He spent two straight weekends-over 24 hours total- single-handedly building our son a wooden swing-set. The day after he was finished he took "A" on a father/son date--haircuts, McDonald's, and a movie so that he could work on continuing to build their relationship. Every night, our son begs for a story from my husband because hubs loves to make up stories in which our son is the main character. If "A" has a nightmare, my husband simply grabs a pillow and a blanket and sleeps on our son's bedroom floor for the rest of the night. Most of the time, I don't even know he's done this until I wake up alone the next morning. He came to every doctor's appointment when I was pregnant the first time and has come to every one so far this pregnancy. 


Most importantly, he puts up with my crap. Not that he doesn't dish out plenty of crap of his own, but you know what I mean. He's there for us when it counts. He STAYS. Doesn't sound like a big deal right? After all, we did take vows 5 years ago. But the sad thing is how many husbands/fathers don't stick around. Lately I've been reading a lot of posts on Babycenter.com. I'm in the October 2012 birth club. I cannot believe how many women have posted that their husband or boyfriend is leaving them. All of these women are pregnant. Most of them are scared to do it alone. Why shouldn't they be? It's scary enough to do with a partner. 


Because of these men, I thank G-d everyday for my husband. Even the moments when I'm seriously contemplating throwing something at his head. (HORMONES????) Hubs, if you are reading this, thanks for sticking around and dealing with my crazy mood swings. I love you.


 Just do me a favor and watch your step. You never know what a batshit crazy pregnant lady will do. 





Friday, April 20, 2012

Things NOT to say to or about your pregnant wife

I've decided to start a running list of things a husband should not say to his pregnant wife. Maybe this list can serve as a preventative measure and save some husband from getting something thrown at his head. Or better yet, save some woman from wanting to cut off her man's dick. :)   (Note: not all of these were said by my husband. Trust me, he would not still be standing right now, LOL) 



  1. Wow, you've gained how much? Is that normal? 
  2. Your hormones are making you crazy!
  3. You're supposed to brush your teeth with that toothbrush, not your throat! (said by my hubby with a chuckle EVERY single time I gag brushing my teeth in the morning)
  4. Doctor, is there anything you can do to help these crazy hormones? (Said by my hubby to the Obgyn last week when the dr asked if we had any questions for him)
  5. You're really breaking out...
  6. Your boobs are huge! Let me touch them! 
  7. I'm SO tired. (said by my hubby when he gets home from work after I've been taking care of our son all day while exhausted my entire first trimester)
  8. I see your ankles are starting to get bigger...


I'm going to save this list and add to it throughout my pregnancy. Feel free to use the comment section to suggest more quotes for the list! I promise to add them! Remember, it's all in the name of saving male genitalia from being chopped off by crazy, hormonal, pregnant wives ;) 

Team blue or team pink???

 I am 13 weeks pregnant! That means the first trimester is over and I'm finally starting to feel okay, both physically and emotionally. 


Two days ago, we went to the obgyn and got to hear baby's heartbeat for the very first time. I was so nervous because the first trimester was just coming to a close and I was just praying to hear a heartbeat. It took the doctor a minute to find it though. That minute was the LONGEST minute of my life. It felt like my heart stopped until I finally heard that magical little sound of the baby's rapidly beating heart. PHEW! 


I have been having nightmares that I will have a miscarriage. I NEVER remember being this paranoid when I was pregnant with "A" but I guess I'm older and wiser now and more aware of the many things can go wrong with a pregnancy. When I'm awake I try to think positively, but when I'm asleep that's a different story. One of the nightmares felt so real that I practically woke up in tears. What a relief it is to finally cross the threshold into the second trimester and with a baby with such a strong heartbeat!


The single most important thing to me is having a healthy baby. People keep asking me if I prefer a boy or a girl this time and I keep trying to tell them," As long as it's healthy!". A lot of peeps assume I want a girl because I already have a boy. I admit, one of each would be nice. If I had a girl first, I'd probably want a boy now just so I could have one of each. But to utter the words "I want a girl" or "I want a boy" seems so selfish. 


First of all, it seems to be tempting fate. I mean, what if I sat here and said, "I want a girl I want a girl" and then we lost the baby? Or found out something was wrong with her? Would gender really even matter at that point? Of course not.


 As many of you know, I have an older brother who is severely and profoundly retarded. Because of that, I am fully aware of what it's like to live with a child with a disability. So perhaps I'm not quite as idealistic as some of my friends who have never been through that. Again, we just want a healthy baby. 


Second of all, we tried for six months for this baby. Doesn't matter if it is a boy or a girl, I promise you, we want it!!!!! I would never ever want my child to later find out we were disappointed in what he/she is, especially before it is even born. 


Needless to say, I am still dying to find out what it is. Finding out the gender of your baby makes it so very real. Besides that, once you know what it is, the fun can begin. We will be able to pick a name, decorate the nursery, and better plan the shower! 


I convinced hubs to take me to a 3D ultrasound place at 16 weeks so we can find out. The doctor isn't going to tell me until 21 weeks and the not knowing is driving me bananas! The appointment is for May 5 (two weeks away!!!!) so I told him it can be my Mother's day present. Plus I can't wait to get another sneak peek at our little one. The last ultrasound we had was at 9 weeks and baby just looked like a blob. 


In the meantime, I am driving myself crazy trying to figure out what it is!!! Here are the results of the different "tests" I have done to try to figure it out:



  • Chinese gender chart=BOY
  • Old Wives tale online quiz=GIRL
  • Heartbeat test=GIRL (160bpm at first appointment, 155/160 at second appt. Old wives claim that 145bpm and under is a boy, anything over is a girl)
  • Baking soda test=GIRL (put a few teaspoons of baking soda in a plastic cup and pee on it. If it fizzes, it's a boy, if not, it's a girl)
  • Way I am carrying=GIRL
  • Friends and family poll=a few say BOY, most say GIRL (probably because I already have a boy, people automatically assume girl. Ha)
  • My son's opinion=GIRL. He is telling complete strangers he is getting a baby sister even though we have told him several times that we don't know what it is yet. When we tell him it could be a little boy, he responds with "But it's a girl. I don't want a bruder (brother), only a sister!"
  • Maternal gut instinct = changes EVERY day. I was thinking GIRL for a while, but looking back at this list and the results, my instinct changes to BOY. Everything here pretty much points to girl which of COURSE means it's a boy! ;)
In any case, only two weeks left until the big gender reveal! We will then get to see who is wiser: the Chinese or the old wives!!! 

In the meantime, care to place a bet? Odds are 50/50, not bad odds at all!