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?