What I've Learned

This post is dedicated to my good friend, Shell, who just found out that she's pregnant. Congratulations, Shell!

I have A LOT of friends who have already had babies. For the last 11 years, babies have been popping out among close friends and family, so you'd think I'd understand more than I do...but when it's not happening to you, you tend to tune it all out. That's why the following things are NEW revelations to me.

1. Maternity pants rock! I will be so sad when I have to go back to pants that I have to button and zip and have no elastic at the top for when you eat too many brownies. Not to mention, the easy-up, easy-down feature sure comes in handy for those million times a day you have to pee.

2. I never understood why pregnant women were always touching, rubbing, scratching their bellies. What is the obsession?? Well, I think there are many explanations for this. First of all, your belly itches! And your boobs itch worse, but it's more socially acceptable to scratch your belly in public than your boobs. Second, the belly starts sticking out there, and you bump into things with it, and you have to protect it. Not only that, but you're wondering if it's really part of you...it feels kind of alien at first. I also find myself rubbing and pushing on my belly trying to get the baby to move so I know everything is ok.

3. I now count my life in number of weeks. I don't say I'm 6 months pregnant...I say I'm 23 weeks or 24 weeks pregnant. Non-pregnant people probably think I'm a freak counting weeks, but weeks matter now, let me tell you!

4. This is the ONLY time in my life that I get excited to go to the doctor. I LOVE hearing the baby's heartbeat, and I NEED to hear the doctor tell me that everything still looks great. Getting on the scale at the start of the appointment and peeing in a cup every time? Not the fun parts, but bearable.

5. Shell, don't think you're being a freak if you find yourself going to the bathroom even more times than you have to just to check and make sure you're not spotting or bleeding. This may not be as common as some of these other items, but I sure did it! Until I hit about 16 weeks, I checked EVERY TIME.

6. One final thing - this is just a warning, and one that I'm still following. DO NOT walk into Babies 'R Us or the baby section of any store at the start of your pregnancy or if you are by yourself. I did this, just out of curiosity, right after I found out I was pregnant, and I was overwhelmed! There are so many things that I know I need, but I am insisting on some of my more experienced friends taking me shopping so that I don't pass out on the breast pump aisle.

I know that the next 114 days (plus or minus a few) will bring many more new revelations and experiences...and I'm so thankful for my friends who have gone before me, so that they can teach me the way.

Signing off for now,
The Little Grasshopper

P.S. I can't wait to see what kinds of google searches this post shows up in!