My Latest Debate: Is Buffalo Check Appropriate for Pregos?

Over the past few months, I've noticed that Buffalo Check has made a major comeback. Being the trendy mama that I am, how could I pass up a fad?! So off I went last week and picked up a buffalo check shirt (not maternity - just big). I finally had the chance to wear it on Tuesday as I went to my various Dr. appointments (changing out of sweats was a big moment for me!). I put it on and thought it looked pretty good before I left the house. But as I walked into my first appointment, I caught my reflection in the shiny glass building. And let me tell you - there was A LOT to see! I looked like a picnic blanket, with a giant pumpkin hidden under it. It was horrendous! I of course gasped, and hit my husband on his arm - "Why didn't you tell me this shirt looked so bad?". As with everything else - of course it was his fault. And that's when he said it... "What do you mean? That's what all your shirts look like." WHAT?!?!?! That wasn't the answer I was looking for. But - it did make me think - maybe this buffalo check made me look like a tablecloth covering a pumpkin, but does my zebra print shirt look like a throw rug over a beach ball? And does my blue shirt make me look like a giant blueberry? I've decided  that no matter what I wear - it's not going to be pretty. So might as well have fun with the fads, trends and wear what I want - I just need to avoid reflective surfaces : )

In Position!

Headed to the maternal-fetal specialist yesterday for follow up tests after last week's episode. And guess what? The baby is fully in position! Over the past few days, she has turned from breach (head up) to sideways, to head down, and now - her head is starting to wedge itself into my lower uterus, pushing against my cervix. WOO HOO! Well - there are two sides to this sentiment - I'm happy that she is progressing, but the pressure/discomfort has raised significantly. But somehow it's easier to deal with it all when you know its only a matter of weeks until she is here!! They've moved me to a twice-weekly doctor schedule to keep an eye on her and me until I deliver (or they decided it's time for me to deliver!). Every Tuesday I will head to the perinatologist/specialist to do an ultrasound and check my cervix, etc. And every Thursday I will head to the regular OB to hook me up to monitors and check for contractions and the like. Can't believe we're SO close! I'm so appreciative for my baby girl (even more so than ever given last week's scare) and can't wait to see her smiling face and be the best mommy I can be for her. Let the countdown begin!!

The Last Few Days...

I've decided that I'm going to stay in bed every Wednesday until the baby is born. Why? Because that is the day that bad things seem to keep happening. This past Wednesday, I was at work on a conference call - just a typical day around the office. My colleague asked me to forward an email, and as I went to try and type, I realized the fingers on my left hand weren't moving. I then realized that my entire left arm was numb and I couldn't move it. I thought - "hmmm. that's strange. I must have been leaning on it weird." And then it got worse...

The Sweet Smell of Babies

When I think of babies, a certain smell comes to mind. One part baby powder, one part "clean linen"-scent from Yankee Candle and one part milk. I always thought this is what babies came out smelling like on their own. Never mind the fact that I never noticed the coincidence that ALL babies smelled the same. That's besides the point... : ) But this weekend I started washing my baby's clothes to prepare for her arrival with the one-and-only mother-approved detergent - Dreft. I transferred the clothes from the washer to the dryer, then went back downstairs. A few minutes later - lo and behold - the house filled with the smell of babies! It was only at that very moment that I realized what the true baby-scent is - Dreft detergent!! Who knew? Well - I'm guessing all the experienced mamas knew. So now the baby's room smells like baby/Dreft. And I love it! Makes me feel like her arrival is right around the corner!! I wonder if they have a Dreft air freshener I can hang in my car and office? That would be nice!

Top New Dad Fears: Sweet Leigh Mama's Responses

My favorite resource for prego info (after Google and my mom and sister) is TheBump.com. But this week, they posted responses to "fears" new dads may have. Some of their answers were a little weak. So I've decided to post the real world answers for all the new Dads... so listen up! : )


http://pregnant.thebump.com/new-mom-new-dad/your-life/articles/top-10-new-dad-fears.aspx

FEAR: “Will I do everything right?” --Andrew
MOM TIP (From TheBump):Let him know that it's okay to be clueless.

SLM RESPONSE: You know those books I've bought for you that are collecting dust?  READ THEM! And stop trying to get out of the parenting class I've signed us up for. This is new for both parties involved - but be as prepared as possible.

FEAR: “I'm scared that everything we do will now be centered around babies.” --Hendrik
COUPLE TIP (From TheBump):Relax. Like Gold says, “If an active social life is important to you, you're going to make that work with one kid or ten.”
SLM RESPONSE: Yup, pretty much! At least for the first year or so. We've had nearly 30 years to be selfish and focus on ourselves - it's ok for something else to be more important now.



FEAR: “I guess my biggest concern is that having a baby will force me to grow up. I'll have to drink less beer, play less video games...” -- Tom
DAD TIP (From TheBump): Yes, life is going to change. But it's okay if you still need some time for yourself. “Verbalize one thing you need and have your wife verbalize one thing she needs,” says Gold. Maybe you can take baby-duty on Tuesdays while she has a girls' night, and she'll hold down the fort so you get Thursday nights with the boys. 
SLM RESPONSE: Ummmm... does this even deserve a response? Yes. You will need to grow up. But the bigger question is - why/how are you in a relationship if you haven't "grown up" yet? Does your mother still do your laundry, too? Sorry - but this one really frosts my cookies!



FEAR: "Lack of sleep, because it makes me really cranky." --John
COUPLE TIP (From TheBump):“You WILL sleep again,” says Gold. Just not at first. In the meantime, get a sleepy-time strategy. Will one of you handle the late-night shift on weekdays and the other on weekends? Can a grandma help out sometimes? Make a plan that works for you.

SLM RESPONSE: Now think about if you had no sleep AND were breast feeding a baby every 2-3 hours. You want to see cranky?! Team work is the key. And Starbucks!

FEAR: "All the crap that will be everywhere around the house." --Nate
DAD TIP (From TheBump): “There's not some monster that's going to come in and steamroll over you,” Gold laughs. If it's important to you to maintain some order, make a plan with your spouse to do so. Follow Gold’s lead: “I have a house with baby-friendly and nonbaby-friendly areas,” explains the mother of two.
SLM RESPONSE: News Flash - You know your koozie collection, college football posters and stinky shoes that are hanging around the house that I've been stepping over and decorating around for years? Think of this as pay back. And bottom line - deal with it. It's your baby you are talking about!

Those Darn Thighs!

I think my body likes practical jokes. I stepped on the scale this morning and saw that I've lost about 5 pounds since I cut back on the carbs. Not sure what the doctor will think about this development, but they must have realized that was going to happen, right? Anyway... So since I was having a "skinny" morning (relatively speaking), I thought I would slip right into my prego skinny jeans. WRONG! I pulled. I squatted. I even laid down on the bed to try and wrangle them on. But that just made me out of breath, so I finally gave up. I couldn't get the darn things over my thighs!!!How could I have LOST weight, but my thighs still expand? I wasn't ready to give up on my outfit for the day (skinny jeans with Uggs), so I found another solution - I took my cropped prego jeans from the summer (that, btw, are made out of a nice stretchy material), cut the cuff loose, and pulled my Uggs up over them. PERFECTO! However, I must note that although stretchy, these jeans have almost reached their maximum capacity as well. Gosh - if I lose another few pounds, I'll have to go up two sizes! : )

B.Y.O.G.: Bring Your Own Gown

At my baby shower a few weeks ago, I expressed a deep, dark secret - hospital gowns! My best friends completely understood (although not yet mamas themselves) how gross a hospital gown may be. One of my friends is a nurse, and confirmed that the gowns are reused from patient to patient. Washed, of course. But STILL! The experienced mamas in the room (my mom and MIL) thought I was nuts. They said that is the last thing I'll be thinking about while giving birth. I agree with them, but I'd rather feel 100% comfortable (I'm big on atmospheric influences affecting my mood - smells, lighting, etc.) than be grossed out by a skeezy, scratchy, previously-used hospital gown. Soooo... I've decided to make my own. I know I'm not the only one because there is a booming B.Y.O.G. market online. But man, they sure expensive! Plus, I want a specific style (yes, for function!). All the one on line look like hospital gowns made out of pretty fabric - zebra, leopard, flowers, etc. Gorgeous! But I'm not big on being surrounded by tons of loose fabric while laying down. I always feel like the fabric is going to engulf and suffocate me. SO, my BIG idea... (drum roll please)... is to take the top portion of a nursing tank (pictured below), and then sew on a large skirt-like bottom. I'll keep it open in the back, and put ribbon ties for closures. This way, I'll have tight support on top (zero suffocation), and built in convenience for immediate breastfeeding once the bambino arrives. I created a very loose visual below for reference... what do you think??

If It Walks Like a Duck... It Might Be A Prego!

Week 29 has brought on a new development - the prego waddle. I think I've been doing this for a while in order to keep my balance, but now I'm waddling around just to get through the day. Becasue of all my medical qualifications (aka NADA), I've determined that the baby has gotten into a head down position, and each day works her way further and further down. Why do I think this? Imagine the weight of a watermelon pushing down on your va-jay-jay from the inside. Each day, the pressure gets a little stronger, and the watermelon gets wedged in a little further. It's not pain per se, but just maaaaaaajorly uncomfortable. All the pregos (or mamas) know exactly what I am talking about. It almost feels that if you don't walk slowly and take your steps gingerly, something may fall out. Hence, the waddle walk. You have to stay in just the right position while in motion - clenched up to put it nicely. This new development has also slowed me down a bit. OK, a lot. No more laps around the office. I strategically plan my movements, trying to get the most accomplished on each journey to and from my office. 8 more weeks to go... think I could get away with using one of those electric scooters??

Pregos SayThe Darndest Things

My husband has informed me that my pregnancy and raging hormones are causing me to be a bit... how do I say it... feisty! Particularly when it comes to my temper. You know how people excuse old people for things that they say because they "can't help themselves"? Well I am asking for the same leniency when it comes to us pregos. Sometimes we just can't help what bothers us, gets under our skin, or frosts our cookies. On Saturday night, I told my loving husband that he "acts like an idiot when he sleeps." Oops! I'm honestly not even sure what I meant by that mean-spirited comment. But I know what spurred it - he fell asleep on the couch, and then I had to wake him up and tell him to go up to bed. Keep in mind, this scenario is reversed 99% of the time, with him waking me up... but that's besides the point! : ) So he stumbles upstairs, turns off all the lights, throws the covers onto my side of the bed, and falls back asleep. Ummm - EXCUSE ME?! He must have not gotten the memo that I'm the prego one that needs pampering, back rubs and pity as I try to fall asleep each night. So that's when my blood started to boil, and diahreah of the mouth kicked in. I didn't feel bad about it either until the next morning. I apologized of course, and you know what my husband said (with a laugh)? "It's a full time job keeping up with your mood swings! I never know what's going to push you over the edge next." At least he has a sense of humor about it. So - with this post - I apologize for what I have said and what I will say that may seem out of character. Blame it on the hormones!!

Clear out the clutter in time for baby!

The room that served as our storage closet last year, is now being converted into a nursery for my baby girl. I'd imagine this isn't uncommon for all us pregos! : ) So what do you do with all the old junk that's piled up? Best Buy is kicking off a fun contest and a chance to win a $3,500 home theater makeover! I don't know about you, but any baby of mine is going to love watching Elmo and Dora on a big screen!

Check out the video, and then go to www.scarytechnology.com to enter.

The Dreaded Words... Too Many Carbs!

I had a doctor's appointment on Wednesday morning. Nothing unusual - just the usual weight and blood pressure check, plus the baby's heart beat check. They also did the glucose screening (btw - that drink is sooo gross!). Fingers crossed all is well with that.

So when the doctor came in, she asked me to review my daily diet. So I did: milk and waffles or a bagel for breakfast, a sandwich and soup or a baked potato with chili for lunch, pretzels for a snack, chicken or fish with pasta or rice for dinner, and a Weight watchers ice cream bar for dessert. I was actually pretty proud of myself for staying away from fried foods and junk. But the doctor didn't look as pleased as I was : ) She said, "You are eating WAY too many carbs!". WHAT!? I was shocked. But then when I thought about it - I was eating a lot of carbs. She said my weight gain was normal (about 19 lbs), but that if I kept on this path, that I would probably gain another 15-20 pounds by the time the baby was born. AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! Not so good.

So - she told me how I can adjust my diet to reduce carbs, but still feel full and keep my energy up throughout the day. Here is my new, carb-limited diet:

Breakfast: 2 eggs with toast; fruit
Snack: Yogurt and fruit
Lunch: Baked potato and salad OR chili and salad (but not a baked potato with chili)
Snack: Fruit or vegetable
Snack #2 (because I usually don't eat dinner until 8 pm): Yogurt, cheese or vegetable
Dinner: Protein and vegetable - NO CARBS! (boo!)
Dessert: Weight Watchers ice cream bar (she said I can keep this - yay!)

Day two of this new way of eating and so far so good. She also said I wasn't snacking enough (which I know I wasn't), but that I needed to make sure I was eating something every 2-3 hours. I'll keep you all posted on how this goes!

UPDATE: Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte

GOOD NEWS for the pregos! The seasonal Pumpkin Spice Latte comes in DECAF!

I know you were waiting with bated breath on this one : )

Baby on Board

I never could figure out why women drove around with the "Baby on Board" signs on their cars. I figured it was just a mom-badge of sorts, but served no real purpose. That was until Tuesday morning... As I was driving into work (reminiscing on my fantastic baby showers this past weekend - more to come on them soon!) I looked in my rear view mirror and saw a red pick up truck racing toward me. The driver jerked into the left lane and I saw he was on his cell phone. Great! He immediately began to jerk right back into my lane - and into me! I slammed on the horn, and was forced to drive off the side of the road. Thank goodness there was no one in the lane next to me! Everyone around us stopped -I'm sure they witnessed what just happened and were panicked like I was. The red pickup truck driver stopped for a second, shrugged is shoulders, gave me a quick wave, and went on his way. WHAT A JERK! Luckily everyone was fine, and there was no damage to my car (or the baby!). But it made me think - maybe, just maybe, if I had the "Baby on Board" sign on my car, the driver would have been a little more cautious when driving by me. Needless to say, I am headed out to buy one tonight. This is precious cargo I'm carrying!

Charles Bronco

Charlie Horse. Such a nice, innocent sounding name for that slight cramp you get in the back of your leg from time to time. Well, I got one of those last night. And let me tell you - it was not an innocent Charlie Horse. I've decided this was a visit from his much more intense, crazy older brother - Charles Bronco. During last night's peaceful sleep, I was rudely and suddenly awakened by stabbing pain in my leg. I really thought I was going to open my eyes and see someone stabbing me. I started screaming - scaring my husband to death btw - and reeling from the pain. I read that leg cramps are common during late pregnancy due to restricted circulation... but really? Charles Bronco, you are not welcome here!

Pumpkin Spice Lattes and Other Things I Miss…

Nothing says “fall” like a pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks. Now, that once delectable green light of Starbucks that drew me in like a moth to a flame is just plain mean. It taunts me as I drive past the 4-5 Startbucks locations on my way to work. I even have two locations within a one block radius, calling to me through my office window. I would assume that Starbucks can make a decaf pumpkin spice latte, but what if they can't? Would I be tempted to order a regular? Oh, the dilemmas we pregos face : )

I decided to create a list of other things I miss, and am looking forward to enjoying post-baby:

1. Starbucks
2. Sushi
3. Diet Coke (non decaf)
4. Margaritas!
5. Non-elastic clothing
6. Decompressed lungs
7. High heels
8. Being able to see my feet
9. Walking regularly
10. No heat flashes
11. Peeing less frequently
12. Bending over freely
13. Wearing my wedding rings
14. Staying awake past 9:30 pm
15. Full brain capacity and function.. although I've heard this never returns to normal! : )