The pros and cons of pregnancy.

I titled this post as if I was making the decision to get pregnant, but I want to write about what I remember about my pregnancy with Jack that I did or didn't like. I know, I know, I know that this pregnancy may be completely different. But I've been thinking of all these things throughout the past few days and I thought I could relish them in greater detail here.

Pros:

• I actually loved the attention. I knew it would be the last time it was "all about me."It was kinda fun to have everyone fuss of me.
• Not having to suck in my gut anymore.
• Feeling the baby move. It's such a private, adorable thing to experience. Sometimes not so comfortable, but still awesome.
  
• I love maternity pants and their lack of useless belt loops and buttons that dig into me. I think over-belly pants are gross, but the ones that sit under your belly are wonderful
• I actually admire the maternity close at Motherhood Maternity when I'm not pregnant. Now I can wear it without looking like I've just given up on my figure entirely!
• No one argues if I have to sit down.
  
• High schoolers are brutally honest at eliminating dumb choices for names. But another post on that later.
  
• I am big for a good reason. Not big for a bunch of lazy excuses, which is the rest of the time. ;-)
• No migraines! We'll see if that changes this time around, but I loved that.
• Great hair, skin and nails from hormones and vitamins!
  

Switzerland:

• Sometimes people would gravitate toward my orb-like frontside like a moth to flame, walking toward me with a mile-wide smile and outstretched arm, as if the Force was drawing their hand there. It never bothered me one way or another--I didn't get defensive and I didn't quite embrace it--but sometimes it was just weird. Like one day a guy walked by with his family at Wal-Mart. He came over, unannounced, rubbed my belly and grinned a goofy smile. He whispered, "Congratulations!" and went back to his wife and kids. Weird enough. I can't imagine how confused and weirded out I'd feel if John touched a stranger's belly, then walked back to me as if it was normal. But here's the kicker: she looks at him and snaps, "What?!? Was three not ENOUGH for you? Do I not make you HAPPY???" Uh................ I didn't stick around for the rest of the argument.
• Why does everyone want my kid to be born on their birthday? Don't you realize that that just means I will NEVER come to your birthday party?
  

Cons:

• Morning sickness, hands down. And the subsequent purchase in ginger ale stock.
  
• Having to waddle when I walk, which took FOR-EV-ER when trying to get to the bathroom. I would have to use the bathroom between EVERY CLASS. Add the aforementioned slow waddle, possible stairs and a million rude students in my way and I would be late to each class. Every. Time.
• Stretch marks. Ugly things, I know, but maybe, just maybe I won't get more because the old ones will just reappear??? Don't contradict me on this one. Just let me dream.
• Listening to people: I'm sorry, women, but many of you are thoughtless and ridiculously rude to pregnant women. I am trying to think "happy thoughts." Only another mom would try to add to a conversation about labor by describing how Mrs. So-and-So had a 8,670-hour labor and the epidural only numbed her throat so she couldn't tell the doctors when something was wrong and the baby came out with a leg growing out of his forehead and had no liver so he died an hour later. This is not helpful!
• Old wives' tales. Scratching your belly doesn't damage your belly skin unless you are Wolverine. The way babies "sit" in your belly does not always tell you what gender you have. My baby will not drown if I have him in water! There are tons of ridiculous things that people share!
• Not being able to reach my feet. John would have to lace up my Converse for me.
• Only being able to safely sleep on one side every night.
• Heartburn and the inability to enjoy tomatoes, orange juice or anything acidic.
  

a Magical birthday

This past weekend sure was a workout! I had a great time, but lugging a child around with me made me quite tired! Friday, the 28th, we went to Disneyland since Liz got in for free! But it wasn't just an ordinary trip to Disneyland...Mom and Dad came too!!! They hadn't been to Disneyland since they took me when I was FIVE YEARS OLD!!! That's twenty-two years!

So, it was John, me, Jack, Dad, Mom, Liz, Theresa and Gabe. I slept like crap the night before...I think, honestly, I was too excited! I finally fell asleep around 2 a.m., but we got up at 5 a.m. and left at 6:15 a.m. Yaaaaaaawn.

It was so incredibly hot that day...hot and muggy. You know when you go on a water ride and get completely soaked and have to put up with wet, clingy, abrasive pants all day? Yes, well we all went on Splash Mountain and got soaked...and we all dried. Well, with the exception of Liz. She actually got 100% soaked, so it probably took longer for her. It was oppressively hot before we ever entered the park! I was worried my mom would lose her drive for fun in the heat, but she stayed until dusk! I am SO PROUD OF MY MOM!!! She went on nearly everything we did, with the exception of some of the rougher rides like the Matterhorn and Space Mountain.

We were able to do just about all the "big" attractions. Space Mountain, It's a Small World, Jungle Cruise, Indiana Jones, Tarzan's Treehouse, Pirates of the Caribbean, the Haunted Mansion, Splash Mountain, (Jack and I went on) Winnie the Pooh, Big Thunder Railroad and probably others I can't remember.

We had a fantastic lunch at the Blue Bayou. Chef Moises and Chef Jonathan were so awesome at working with mom's restrictive diet to create a custom salad, even going so far as to hunt down veggies they don't carry in their kitchen! Thank you, Blue Bayou, for making my mom's day so much easier!

Mom did hit her wall around dusk, which was totally understandable! Honestly, if it wasn't Liz's birthday, I would have been okay with going home then too! Mom and Dad left and then we kind of split up to do what we wanted to do. Liz, Gabe and Theresa went on Space Mountain again. John and I walked Mom and Dad out, then waited for the fireworks to start. The fireworks show was amazing...I teared up a little bit. Which figures. I tear up at everything though. Liz makes fun of me, but she said she cried too, so HA!

Then we walked through Downtown Disney and got Liz her first shot! I'm glad it was with us and I'm glad it was just a taste and not a horrible experience for her. Often a 21st birthday is a terrible excuse for someone to take someone out to get absolutely drunk...and anyone who has been drunk can tell you why it's not memorable in a positive way by the next morning! I also thought it was kind of cool that the entire day was spent celebrating all the magic of childhood before focusing on how old she is and whatever society has deemed appropriate for her to do now. And, again, I'm glad it ended well too.

We ate at the Jazz Kitchen, which was fantastic, then finally, finally, FINALLY went home! I had soooo much fun, but it was a long day and my feet were killing me. Everyone was tired and headache-y and sore. John got called in to work on the way home and didn't get back home til 6:30 a.m. (have I mentioned how much I LOVE my man?) and Liz spent the night at my house in preparation for a great weekend up in Santa Ynez/Solvang! The next post will be all about that!