PregnanTV

This morning I joined 6 other almost mamas at a place called the Pump Station (no, they don't sell gas... but they do have snacks) for a filming. I got an email earlier this week about taping for a Rachael Ray show segment with some woman I had never heard of-- apparently she's a Rachael buddy -- and her partner or husband, I don't know which. Seeing this as an opportunity to meet some mamas and get myself some swag, of course I replied. After all, not many mamas have this kind of opportunity!

We gathered and waited (as I expected) and had some time to chat and eat, which -- lately-- is always a good thing for me. First, second, third breakfasts... they all help curb the nausea that continues to linger. I think I had two bagels by the time we got around to the taping. After about an hour and a half of chatting and listening to a baby skin care expert tell us about the unique features of baby skin, we were finally asked to get ready for the segment. I learned how to swaddle and practice some baby wearing, which is hard to do when your baby is taking up the tummy space you need for the wrap. It doesn't really work to be pregnant and try baby wrapping. Regardless, it was a decent use of my morning if only for the learning experience. There was also a little added entertainment for lil ol' Topanga mama that I am -- the Rachael buddy was wearing 5 inch heels (the woman is 7 months pregnant) and her husband/partner really was clueless. I believe at one point he asked if swaddling was to prepare baby for "sleeping through the night" -- as if any newborn is going to actually be sleeping through the night! And he had a few other questions, one regarding diapers and if it was ok to just leave a wet diaper on for a change schedule of a "couple" of times a day. hmmm. Were these genuine questions, or is he the comic relief? I left knowing that there's someone who will likely have a tougher time with parenthood than me (and Clint!)

Stuff Swap Success!

As of today, I have all the baby clothes I'll need for at least the first three months... and I got them all in under an hour... for free! How? A friend from Arlington who was once my babysitter and one of my favorite people when I was 10 because of the awesome hand-me-downs she gave me has given me more stuff... 20 years later!

Holding little tiny clothes sorta makes the whole thing seem more real for some reason. I know it's REAL, but this gives baby something to wear -- not just me imagining some tiny life form. Now I can imagine a tiny life form wearing Lakers socks.

I have it all --- everything from little tiny baby socks and mittens to a giant stroller and bouncy seat for baby-tainment after a few months. It's all part of a stuff swap she organizes with 8 or 9 other moms. She keeps tubs full of clothing and blankets and sheets and everything in her garage. Moms take what they need when they need it and return it later.

When this stuff is outgrown, there's lots more to choose from too, all at no cost. There is only the expectation of returning it when it's too small and adding whatever else I've got. This will save me sooo much time, energy and money. I am grateful to have friends who are older... and wise enough to start such a great swap!
weeeeeee

Trouble!

Today I got a package from UPS addressed to Trouble Rockwell. I was home when it was delivered and the UPS guy thought it was really very cool that someone would be named Trouble. "Got a package for Trouble.... Is that a birth name?" Well, see, we've been calling it Trouble because it has caused a lot of it over the past 7 months or so. The nickname stuck and perhaps it will continue to stick permanently if it's really that awesome. It looks good on the label. Add the surname and it has a good ring to it. There are already a few songs dedicated to trouble. Not so bad!

Everyone keeps asking if we've chosen a name (no), but maybe I'll have to put Trouble on the list for real! It could be Trouble ________ Rockwell, and then we could shorten it to be T. _______ Rockwell, so it's a real conversation starter. It's better than Santa or Lady Gaga Rockwell. Trouble's actually pretty good. Or maybe not. hmm.

Move it!

I didn't ever really think about my insides too much until the past few weeks. Normally, things like ribs hang out and don't do a lot. Lately, they've been hanging out and getting in the way. Now that my uterus is the size of a melon and the nugget is more the size of a hen than a nugget, there isn't room for everything. Hence the incredible shrinking ____________ (Fill in the blank: stomach/bladder...)

Nothing is really where you'd think or where it belongs -- I read today that in this, the 35th week, even my heart has to move a little to make room for the little person who will be baby Rockwell. Crazy!

Birthday Blues

Today I am officially a year older, meaning this was the day 30 years ago that my parents ever so patiently waited (an extra SIXTEEN days) for. It must have been agonizing! I don't think it is the fact that I am 30 that made me mopey and generally listless, So I am going to blame the baby.

Being pregnant is not exactly fun. In fact, for me, it would probably qualify as the #1 thing that if I knew what I was getting into when I signed on for the adventure, I would not be doing. I doubt that "parenthood" will fit into this category--- at least I hope not. There are many things that I wasn't quite ready for mentally that have gone on over the past 7 months or so that have led me to come to this conclusion, including the emotional roller coaster I can't seem to get off of. Angst, panic, frustration, fear, anticipation, worry-- if it is possible to feel all of these at the same time, I've done it. And now I have to sign off so I can go somewhere to cry again.

Deferred Maintenance and More

As I inch closer to baby time, I am finding things that need attention... but not things you might think of. Many parents-to-be have a list of things to do before a baby arrives and their lives change forever. These lists include things such as going to Costco to load up on paper towels or painting a nursery or doing something else around the house. Since I've been overseeing house construction since April, I'm sooo over that. Now I have started a new list of things that I need to do-- but these are things that will have to wait until AFTER baby arrives. We'll call this deferred maintenance. Or deferring maintenance, since I seem to find something new each day.

I think living in my new community helps a bit with the acceptance of my current state. It seems the locals have a more lax attitude toward things like hygiene and forgiving when it comes to fashion than in my old 'hood. My hair hasn't been cut since my friend Heather trimmed it in early March. I have even crazier hair now, meaning it's longer than ever before (ever ever ever) and it's getting light on the ends without any kind of color treatment or anything, meaning that hair is ancient! Ok, so deferred maintenance #1: get new haircut. I'm deferring because I can't commit to what I want to do, so it's best to just not do anything right now. #2: I need a pedicure. Mum, thanks for offering to take me and then offering to GIVE ME A PEDICURE (only a mom would do that!), but I just don't think I wanna do it right now. I can barely see my feet, so what's the point? #3: I either have bruised or cracked a rib, which hurts every time I roll over too fast or forcefully onto my left side (think: beached whale). I really can't do anything about this right now, so it automatically becomes deferred. #4: I really ought to do something about my crazy eyebrows. Thing is, they've turned blonde from being in the sun so they're not too terrible. Sunkissed, in fact. They say owners start to look like their dogs... my dog and I now have matching golden eyebrows. #5: I have to see the dentist. I might even need a few new teeth at this point. I have special toothpaste, but I don't think it's working. Baby had better have some great looking pearly whites when the time comes. #6 through 100?... There's so much I'd like to do -- sleep through the night, ride a bike, eat sushi, stop wearing Clint's clothes, sleep through the night on my stomach, wear anything on my side of the closet, sleep through the night in any position other than on my side, not have to pee every 5 minutes, not feel like vomiting every time I wake up in the morning, stop eating for more than 3 hours and not suffer consequences... the list goes on and on, but everything will have to wait another month or so. One day at a time!

Eating Machine

I think I'll invent an eating machine that I can plug into somehow and absorb the food nutrients. What's that you say? It's already been invented and it has a more medical sounding name like a... feeding tube? And it's really gross? Ok. Well, how about we just stick to the Willy Wonka version-- the three-course dinner chewing gum? I could use an invention room to work on my gum meals...

I thought I liked to eat until I had to do it all the time. Really-- that's what it seems like. Constant eating. And if I'm not eating, I am drinking something and thinking about what I could/should be eating. It's recommended that baby mamas get lots of protein during pregnancy. Apparently protein is good for all sorts of things, including brain development and building a strong placenta. I'm just really tired of constantly trying to come up with creative protein sources. Soy beans, whey and soy shakes, cheese, milk (chocolate-- regular isn't so tasty), cottage cheese, more cheese... Enough already!

Six weeks and a day until the official due date... at the going rate, that means 6 cartons of milk, three blocks of cheese, 45 soy shakes and a lot more nibbling to go.