Week 25 update

Here we are at week 25. It’s amazing how quickly the weeks have gone by although I still feel like we are a while away from the home stretch.

A check-in with the folks at BabyCenter reveals the McNugget is now about a pound and a half which is “not much more than your average rutabaga” which of course begs the question (again), when was the last time you came in contact with a rutabaga?

The McNugget and I enjoyed a treat yesterday: a pre-natal massage researched and organized by Jonathan. The highlight of the hour was the fact that I was able to lie flat on my stomach (aided by special pregnancy pillows) which is a position I gave up weeks ago and have sorely missed. It was also neat that the masseuse told me she was able to feel the McNugget move while she worked on my back. I’ve only felt the McNug from the front.

Some of you have asked for pictures of me and the McNug in our current state. I haven’t taken any for two reasons. One, my camera is at home and Jonathan and I have mostly been staying at my parents’ house while they are away. We go back to our house often to pick up things we need or have forgotten but I keep forgetting to grab the camera.

The second reason is the more compelling one. As some of you know, I worked for a while on a legal show on MSNBC and spent way too many hours working on the Laci Peterson murder story. As you may recall, we and other networks flashed those photos of a pregnant Laci Peterson showing off her bump more times than I care to remember. The sad images are etched in my brain (one in particular that I couldn't find a link to) and has perhaps contributed to my aversion to posing for those kinds of photos. It’s not that I think something major will happen to me and that photo will be the one the Today show uses when discussing me -- (although who am I kidding, I know how these things work, of course they will) -- I just feel squeamish posing for it. I realize this might sound weird but it seems no weirder to me than certain food cravings (more on those later). My own feelings aside, I have absolutely no problem or judgments looking at other people’s pregnancy poses. In fact, my friend Becky who is due in early June just sent me the most adorable photos of her pregnant belly and it definitely gave me bump envy. She looks great.

Speaking of looks, I’ve noticed that pregnancy makes me look older and younger all at the same time. I say older because I have noticed a small patch of grey hairs near the front of my head. I realize this happens to people as they age but since it all happened so quickly, I blame it on the pregnancy. I believe I look younger because my skin is oilier as a result of the McNugget and I am noticing more blemishes on my face which remind me of being young.

I should find out today what my travel schedule is for the month of April. There is a chance I will take two work-related trips very soon and I am anxious to find out whether the McNugget will continue as a world traveler.

I mentioned cravings earlier. I’ve had two lately. One, for a certain kind of cookie I enjoyed as a kid. It’s actually two buttery cookies held together with a drop of chocolate butter cream. Half of the delicious sandwich is then dipped in chocolate. There is absolutely no nutritional value in such a cookie but the McNugget clearly has a sweet tooth. The cookies are made by the Viktor Benes bakery and sold exclusively at the Gelson’s supermarket near my parents’ house. Thank goodness I am not staying there for much longer as this craving could get out of control.

The other craving came on suddenly and is once again a product of Trader Joe’s. What is it with me and that store? Regular readers will remember my cravings for TJ’s egg rolls and pita chips. Jonathan and I were shopping for some essentials yesterday and I noticed they were giving away a sample of trail mix. I took one and was hooked. The McNugget responded immediately and needed more. Sadly, although they were sampling a bag of “Tempting Trail Mix” that day, the store was completely sold out of that variety. I settled on a substitute, “Organic Trek Mix,” but it’s just not the same.

My anxiety dreams have subsided for now but I still continue to have strange dreams. Also, some of the themes I was dreaming about earlier continue. For example, last night I had the same concern I've dreamt of before: I am told the McNugget is a girl but I keep thinking we might end up with a boy on D-day. I wonder why this troubles my slumbers so?

Renovating our home and our family

Many thanks to friend and blog reader Maggie for pointing us to this article in the New York Times today.

It's an article I would have read on my own had I been able to find the paper this morning. Jonathan and I have moved into my parents house while they are in Asia for a few more weeks and I am still figuring out the quirks to their place like why their brand new dishwasher is even more difficult to use than their old one and where the newspaper is delivered on days when Jonathan isn't there to bring it in for me.

But I'm getting off topic. The article is about other pregnant couples like us who go about home renovations while waiting for their McNuggets. It's been pretty difficult so far but I am enjoying the house sitting part that we get to do now.

Jonathan promises to update our renovation blog soon.

New use for the bump

I was due for a new cell phone so I went to the LA Cellular store (name of cell phone company changed to protect the guilty/those who took advantage of the guilty party’s offerings of free things) near my office yesterday. As usual, there was a very long wait for help.

After watching my name slowly creep to the top of the waiting list, it was another 20 minutes before I was called. During that time, I tried to take my new belly out for a spin, sticking it out as much as possible hoping someone would take pity on the poor pregnant lady forced to stand and wait just to spend more money at this store. I made sure that every sales person saw me looking rather “sad and uncomfortable.”

Lo and behold, my name was called (I don’t think the stomach stunt had anything to do with it) and I walked up to the counter for help. As I already have a Blackberry with Internet access for work, I explained that I simply wanted a standard free phone and a one year contract.

The salesman was very friendly. He looked me up in the system and when he noticed that I was eligible for a corporate discount, he started asking me lots of questions about my job, telling me about his day, etc. It was slightly awkward, he seemed a little too nosy when asking about me but I figured this was some new way LA Cellular was training its employees to extract information from customers so that they could later market more overpriced cell phone accessories and plans to us.

When we walked over to examine the few phones that fit my criteria, I learned, as I suspected, they were only free if I signed a two year contract. I picked a phone I liked and while the salesman fetched it, I mulled over whether it was worth paying for this phone just to get a one year contract.

When the salesman returned, to my surprise, he offered to give me the phone I wanted, for free, with a one year contract. He explained he was doing this because, as he put it, “you’re cute.” I said “thank you.” I assumed he meant that I was a cute pregnant lady who he wanted to help out. But he then corrected himself by saying, “actually, I shouldn’t say you’re cute. Someone told me that if you tell a woman she is cute, you end up as the friend. So, I should say, ‘you’re attractive.’” He then went on to tell me how young I looked and again mentioned that I was cute/attractive. At this point, I was utterly confused. I had no idea that I was still eligible to be hit on in my current state. Let’s review the evidence that is really hard to avoid:

I’m 6 months pregnant. There is a definite bump in front of me. So, there is a pretty good chance that while I might not be married, I am more than likely involved with someone or was up until pretty recently and will probably be too busy to date in a few months. Granted, he was only looking at me from behind a counter with just a chest-up view but did he really not notice my “sad and uncomfortable” pregnant lady strut across the store for 20 minutes? What about when we walked over to look at cell phones? Does he just have a thing for bellies or the possibility of an unattached mom-to-be?

Either way, if he was going to ignore the facts and participate in some sort of fantasy that resulted in me getting a free phone with a one year contract (and at this point he also offered to waive the $20 transfer fee of my phone numbers and pictures and upgrade my existing plan to give me 150 more text messages a month) who was I to correct him? Feminism aside, this was going to save me a lot of money.

At the end of the day, I have a new phone which I really like, a new cell phone plan, and a new outlook on the utility of my bump. May the free stuff continue.

Senior moment or junior moment?

They say that pregnancy and new motherhood effects your memory. I have been loathe to accept this over the past few weeks as for years and years I have always relied on a great memory. (It's not only helpful at school or work but at dinner parties too!)

I have to admit, it's happening to me. This morning I could not remember my sister's area code. I knew her phone number, but not her area code. After a minute of trying to recall it, I broke down and looked it up in my cell phone. I am so ashamed. Just now, I went to the printer at work to pick up a document. But, when I got there, I realized I had forgotten to print it. I suppose this is what having a "senior moment" feels like. It's not fun.

Predictive facial mapping?

In my Week 24 update, I mentioned that I have to work on visualizing this whole process. I have made some great strides in this area since I first learned of the McNugget's imminent arrival but I have a long way to go.

I think one problem I have is a little mystery I have been focusing on for weeks. Namely, I really really really want to know (and have an incredibly hard time imagining) what the McNugget will look like. It's more than just wondering whether the McNug will resemble me or Jonathan. I really just can't picture the McNugget at all. Well, that's not exactly true. Jonathan and I are quite certain the McNug will arrive with a bounty of hair but below the hairline it's all a complete mystery.

I think this is sometimes why I can't wait to meet the McNug. We might know the sex of our future baby but we won't know what she looks like until D-day. I am sure there is some kind of futuristic predictive facial mapping we can do, and we might get some clues from our 3D ultrasound in week 36, but for now I guess we'll just have to wait and wonder.

Thank you commenters

I just wanted to thank you all for reading and especially for commenting. There is not really a proper way to respond to all of your comments but both Jonathan and I read them all and are flattered that you take the time to interact with our blog.

If I didn't have an audience, I would probably write about this stuff anyway. It's much nicer however to know that we have the support of many of you who seem to enjoy knowing what we are going through.

Again, thank you.

Week 24 update

Here we are at week 24 in the pregnancy. This is where the pregnancy math gets complicated. According to some sources, I started my 6th month last week. Others say that it starts next week. If we are going by the pregnancy = 40 weeks rule, I think that makes today the beginning of the sixth month.

This math (which has never been my forte anyway) is made easier when you outsource it to baby websites that volunteer to do it for you. Sites like Babycenter.com will send you a newsletter every week letting you know what's up with your uterus. They are the ones who tell me for example that this week the McNugget weighs "over a pound and is almost a foot long -- picture an ear of corn." I am not sure why I can't just picture a ruler, the universal symbol for "foot long" but I digress. So, in addition to giving me these fun food facts about the McNugget, it's the e-mails that remind me where I am in the pregnancy.

Some things I have learned this week:

• If you are wearing your pre-maternity clothing trying to "make it work" and you sense when you are getting ready in the morning that perhaps your dress is a tiny bit too short, you are right. It is definitely too short.
  
• There are a lot of pregnant women who live near me and all want to take the same prenatal yoga class on the weekends.
• People can get really competitive when talking about anything related to their pregnancies.
  

On that last point, I think most people get so competitive because, like me, they are probably really insecure about their choices. I have no idea whether I am going about pregnancy the right way but listening to other people talk (most of whom I don't even know) with such confidence and judgment about their plans and paths is difficult. The worst part is, I imagine this atmosphere of judgment won't end here and will follow me into the delivery room, onto the playground, etc. I realize there is judgment everywhere, I just never considered it in this arena before.

Another realization I had today: the McNugget won't be a baby forever. As you might know, despite the lack of posting on our other blog, we are in the middle of a big-time renovation to our house. Jonathan was talking to me about paint colors today and suggested we pick a color for our office that will work should it eventually turn into the McNugget's "big girl" room (the McNugget will, for the time being, be stored in the room that is now our guest room). This was the first time I ever considered the McNugget would become anything larger than, as Babycenter.com might put it, a small watermelon. I think I need to work on visualizing this all a bit more.

I of course picked my favorite color: orange.

What's cuter than the McNugget?

We haven't had a chance to take a look at the McNug in a few weeks but we imagine Ms. McNug has a few more weeks to go before she resembles anything that's "cute."

This fetus however has hit the prime cuteness stage. It's a photo of a baby elephant in its mother's womb. As you may know, elephants are pregnant for 22 months (OMG) before giving birth. This elephant fetus is 12 months along and 26 pounds:

More photos are here.

Fussy Furniture Finds

Some might call us fussy, some might call us particular -- whatever you call us, you know that if we have a chance to research something, we will research it ad nauseum. While not focused on our home renovation (which requires lots of focus and lengthy trips looking for appliances, tiles, etc) we are focused on thinking about creating a space for the McNugget.

I'm particularly particular about furniture -- I like the glides to move easily back and forth, and to not feel like, well, the IKEA stuff I used to have. I feel like the baby's dresser will gets lots of use and, ideally, grow with the kid too.

Add to this hysteria with glides, the idea that we want something modernish for the room -- so not totally traditional, like the stuff found in most baby stores (read: white wood). The stuff that we did find that was modern didn't appear to be incredibly durable.

I stumbled upon a neat little company based in the Bay Area called TrueModern and we totally love the stuff (from the pictures). I had several email exchanges with the owner and even a phone conversation. I grilled him on the quality of the furniture. He indicated that his was one of the few companies of this type that delivered furniture fully-assembled and used commercial-quality glides.

There was no store in Los Angeles that carried the stuff so we dispatched Paul -- my former boss and all-around great guy -- to do some field research in Berkeley (thanks to Frances for offering as well!). Paul reported back that these dressers are head-and-shoulders better than IKEA.

Sold! -- to the fussy pregnant lady and her fanatically fussy husband!

-Jonathan

Week 23 update

It's been another week of pregnantness for me and the McNugget.

The McNug is now about 11 inches long and over a pound, about the size of a large mango. How very perfect for a summer baby.

We have also been enjoying some prenatal yoga classes together. Well, at least I hope the McNug is enjoying them as much as I am. I naively assumed that prenatal yoga would be about stretching and relaxing but boy was I wrong. These are real workouts! But, I do enjoy some of the positions and the chance to interact with other moms-to-be.

I'm also noticing some mood swings. I sent a particularly nasty e-mail to a company's customer service department yesterday. Jonathan very delicately suggested perhaps I was overreacting. I had no idea what he was talking about until I reread it today. The good news is, the company's customer service department is so bad, I don't think they will even read it.

Here's a real-time update for you: the McNugget it kicking me right now.

Everyone is blogging baby

Since I've been pregnant I've been watching a bunch of pregnancy themed TV shows from Notes From the Underbelly to Scott Baio is 46 & Pregnant. I'm also looking forward to Lauren Ambrose's (of Six Feet Under fame) return to TV tonight on a new show called The Return of Jezebel James since I think it has something to do with pregnancy.

I've also noticed that some of my favorite blogs, pregnant or not, have touched on some prenatal or mom themes. Just this week I found:

• Mindy Kaling (yes, Kelly Kapoor from the Office) wrote about baby hair today here

and

• Brian Sack (humorist I've read for a while who is occasionally on CNN Headlines News) wrote about these ridiculous but true baby gear items here

I'm A Walking Hormone

At least I think it's hormones. I keep having the most intense dreams. The other night I had such a vivid dream I was sure it was reality. After a long trip with Jonathan, I gave birth (in my seventh month) to a boy. Yes, this seems to be a recurring theme. Also recurring: the fact that I keep reminding myself in these dreams to update this blog lest any of you be misinformed on the sex of my child. I find this rather funny considering I wasn't even planning on finding out whether the McNugget was male or female in the first place. I also remember a dream a little while ago when I was sure I had given birth in my fifth month.

Another dream this week included one where I spent some time with Tim Gunn and we went to Disneyland where we were assaulted by a gang of male attorneys. They actually wore shirts that said "Male Attorneys" on the back. Luckily, I did not give birth in the magic kingdom.

I am also blaming on hormones my occasional EXTREME enthusiasm about the McNugget's arrival. Yesterday I had a few bouts of this behavior. I simply could not wait to meet the McNugget. Jonathan and I discussed how this feeling is similar to one I have when I am cooking or baking something. I am constantly wanting to open the oven to see if it's ready, or to take it out and move on to the next thing. I suppose in this case the risk is far greater than salmonella poisoning or a fallen souffle so I will wait as patiently as possible.

Current craving: Greco's New York pizza (which isn't that great)
Current complaint: some back pain

Week 22 update

Hello there.

It's week 22 and I don't have a ton to report. The McNugget is almost a pound these days and is about the length of a spaghetti squash. My current cravings include wraps and salads from California Chicken Cafe which is a welcome change from my recent cravings and dreams about ice cream. At least this is a healthy craving I can satisfy often.

I've been feeling good lately although I've been pretty tired. And, while I used to only notice the McNugget's movements in the mornings and evenings, I can now report the McNug is getting some serious aerobics work in during the day.

I had a dream last night that at a check-up our doctor told us he thought the baby might be a boy but wasn't sure. What's more, I actually dreamed that I would have to blog about this new development here on surpriseimpregnant.blogspot.com. I even had a title for the blogpost in my dream! It was "Maybe Baby Boy."

We are readying ourselves up for the next few months. We've signed up for a few classes on birthing, infant care, and breast feeding. I am also enjoying reading "The Birth Book" as I continue to learn more about what D-day (delivery day) will be like.

More on jeans (not genes)

Some of you regular readers may remember my rant on maternity jeans.

Well, it appears I spoke too soon. I am happy to report that I am wearing my Paige Premium Denims today and they have been staying well above my knees for the past few hours.

How did this happen? Well, I don’t think my growing belly had much to do with it. I have my friend (and blogreader) Emily V. to thank. Emily reminded me of a product I bought earlier on in my pregnancy but had since lost track of. I don’t know where I’d be without it today. Oh wait, yes I do, working out of my car because my pants were falling down and I was too embarrassed to step into the office.

My secret is The Bella Band. It’s an elastic piece of fabric that I can put around my belly and waist, over my jeans, to help keep them in place. They still sag a little bit but this is a huge improvement! According to the Ingrid&Isabel website, the Bella Band has a whole bunch of uses throughout pregnancy so I am very happy to have rediscovered it. Thanks Emily!

That's my daughter in the water. . .

Well, to be a little bit more correct, I suppose I should say, "that's my female fetus in the amniotic fluid" but it just doesn't have quite the same ring to it, does it?

This is probably the most exciting blog post we've had since we announced the pregnancy. For a number of reasons we won't get into here, we decided to find out the McNugget's sex and we hope the 45% of you who voted in our poll are happy with the results and we hope the 55% of you who wanted us to wait are not too disappointed.

For those of you who aren't into rhyming or our charming wit, we'll spell it out for you: WE'RE HAVING A GIRL!!

We have heard a few stories lately about parents who were told they were having girls only to deliver healthy baby boys and vice versa but our doctor was pretty sure he got this diagnosis correct so we're going with it.

Barnard class of '30 (??) here she comes. . .

Our little McNugget is either waving at you or sucking her thumb:

I think our friend Annie put it best when she looked at these ultrasound photos and said "aren't you glad it's not coming out yet?"

Week 21 update

We are now onto week 21 which means we are now even closer to the end then we are to the beginning.

For those of you keeping score at home, here are your weekly stats:

• The McNugget is now about 3/4 of a pound and is the length of a carrot
• My recent cravings have included pizza and ice cream/milkshakes*
  
• Pregnancy side effects I am noticing these days include some stomach discomfort

*Not only am I craving ice cream when I am awake, I have had several dreams about ice cream. Usually in the dreams I am waiting to get some ice cream or figuring out how to get to an ice cream store on my way home but I never actually get the ice cream. Last night I had a very involved dream that included the ice cream theme. For part of the dream I was at an old fashioned ice cream shop. The ice cream lady (what exactly do I call her? Is there a term for someone who serves ice cream? Barista won't work here, right? How about Scooper? Or Milkshake Shaker?) was making me a milkshake. It looked amazing and I got to pick out lots of great flavors and toppings to go in it (this was not an easy task) but she took so long that eventually I had to leave the shop to get some other things done and never had a chance to pick up my milkshake. I wonder what this all means. . .

Another thing I have noticed is that many of my pregnancy symptoms/side effects last for one week and then don't return again. I felt nauseous for about a week. I had back pain for about a week. I had acid reflux for about a week, etc. It's almost as if my body is trying to check off some list of common pregnancy complaints. Still, I realize that I have had a relatively easy time so far so I am not complaining!

There was a request for more "cute nephew reaction" to the pregnancy. Alas, I have no videos of them but I can report that Asher has asked me the same question about 16 times: "Did the baby come out yet?" I guess everyone wants to ready themselves for the big day.

I wonder if anyone owns www.themcnugget.com?

Forget naming your child after a relative or friend or favorite literary character. Maybe we should all be more practical like these parents who pick their children's name based on Internet domain availability.