People are nice to you when you are pregnant

I've noticed a big difference in how people treat you when you are pregnant. Now that I don't look like a puffy overweight 30 something, but an actually pregnant woman - people treat you differently.

Twice this week someone has asked if they can touch my belly. Several people have asked to help us move next weekend "since you shouldn't be carrying stuff". Yesterday a woman at the Sports Authority told her 4 year old to "be careful with the pregnant lady in front of you". Strangers open doors for you, men and women smile at you and at work they now let me decide where we should go have lunch.

I gotta say, 2nd trimester pregnancy is filled with sweet unexpected happenings, kind of like a great surprise upgrade at an expensive hotel.

Danceparty USA

There is a disco in my belly. It took me forever to figure out if the "tapping" I was feeling in my lower abdomen was gas or the little one, but the last few days has undoubtedly been the baby dancing up a storm. What a relief it is to actually feel it and not having to wait for ultrasounds every 4 weeks!

Doctor S says that my husband can probably start feeling the baby move in a month or so. He already talks to her every day. He puts his mouth on my belly and says "Hello baby, this is your dad talking". Like Darth Vader did to Luke Skywalker, I think that's where he gets it.

I can't believe I am 5 months pregnant.

Here's a weird one for ya

The past week I've had a really strong metallic taste in my mouth. As a kid, did you ever try to chew on aluminum foil just to see what happened? Remember that it sent bad vibes through your brain? That's what's happening right now.

I looked it up online. Apparently it's pretty common among pregnant women, but they don't know why exactly. One theory is because if the pre-natal vitamins, or horse-pills as you could also call them. They made me even more sick when I was nauseous so I stopped taking them a long time ago. Another theory is that it is because of the release of toxins in your body coming though all kinds of channels except the ones leading to your baby. I like this theory. Mama has a steel mouth so little one doesn't have to. Would that be creepy? If your baby came out with a piehole like Jaws?

Sleep Attacked

Yesterday we went to check out a few houses and then we went to lunch. When I sat down a very strong urge to sleep came over me. I rested my head against the booth wall and closed my eyes. When I opened my eyes again my husband just sat there staring at me. It made me wonder if I had gone though the Startrek transporter thingy and thereby not realizing I actually fell asleep in the middle of lunch.

I imagine the baby all of a sudden raised it's little fist at me and screamed in an angry voice "Mommy, sleep now!". It also has to be mentioned that we were having Chinese food.

Letting go of ghostly body images

Gaining weight really fast is a very strange feeling. I know that every woman is different and la-di-da, but as I believe that most women in the western world are not immune to the socio-economic "standard" of what weight is "normal" - most of us are probably affected in one way or another.

Since my teenage years my weight has yo-yo'd, it really wasn't until my mid 20's that it stabilized and the ups and down would vary with just a couple of pounds. I have also since then had a great workout routine with regular running with races and I also finished a triathlon.

So this sudden and abrupt weight gain is challenging mentally. 12 pounds (6 kilos) in a couple of months? That's allot!

I ask my doctor about it. She says it's fine. My blood pressure is low and sinking at 100/50. I don't have any health problems whatsoever. The baby is growing and is happy. I feel strong. So what's the problem?

Last night I had a dream that woke me up in cold sweats. In my dream I was at the doctor's office and I was weighed in as usual. The scale tipped in at 235 pounds. I remember thinking that this couldn't be right. Had everyone lied to me telling me that I look beautiful? Was I that self absorbed? Was I carrying two giant elephants? No wonder I couldn't see my own knees.

It's tough letting go of old ghosts. But it's also a really nice one that now includes both barbecued ribs and ice cream.

18 week bump

18 weeks
Note to self: need to clean up messy guest/laundry/office room

Thoughts of a crazy pregnant lady

First Trimester Common Recurring Questions and Thoughts:

* Is there a baby in there?
* How come I'm not showing?
* Why am I farting like a teenage boy?
* I think the baby will develop allergies from our carpets and will the landlord replace them?
* What if the baby is sick or severely handicapped?
* Who's boobs are these?
* My husband is a) too silly to become a dad b) will be the best dad ever c) has delusions about child upbringing

Second Trimester Questions:
* Am I going to continue to work or take a long leave?
* How come I don't feel full after I eat?
* Is caffeine really that bad?
* I gained a shoe size???
* Maternity clothes kind of suck
* Non-alcoholic beer is pretty awesome
* mmm...meat!
* My husband a) doesn't get it b) is so understanding c) needs to buy me something pretty very soon