Things You Forget

For some reason that I can only imagine has something to do with sustaining our human race, you forget about how much pregnancy really sucks. Yes you remember getting huge, you remember a vague sense of uncomfortableness, some sleepless nights, etc., but you do NOT remember the specifics, all of the many, many little "joys" of pre-natal-hood.

For example, how to put on shoes. For many, a simple task. For those past their 5th month (especially on the 3rd pregnancy), not so much. This morning I went to put my shoes on and I apparently grew quite significantly overnight because it was rather difficult. I had to sit there for a minute and try to remember how I did it (only 15 months ago, mind you) with my other pregnancies. I suppose that is the one good thing about being preggers during the summer - flip flops are easy to put on no matter how enormous I get. Not that the weather has been anywhere near dry or warm enough for flip flops here in the Seattle area, but I'm assuming that at some point during the next 4 months it will be. Anyway, you kind of have to bend your legs like you're sitting cross-legged and shove your shoes on that way. I also recall making Tom zip up my boots when I was pregnant with Nora - although how I actually got them on in order for him to zip them is another matter, and one that I have completely blocked out.

There are also the Braxton Hicks contractions. Apparently these suckers start earlier and earlier with each pregnancy because I've been going strong with these bad boys since week 13. Yes I remember having them with Harper and Nora, but I do not remember them being so freaking uncomfortable. I feel like I need to have a little sit-down with my uterus: "Excuse me - I appreciate the fact that you are carrying my baby and that you are preparing for an intense day of labor some 4 odd months down the road, but really - I have better things to do then practice labor. Also, you've done this twice before, you know the routine. Give me a break."

The arm fat. I ask you, is it really necessary to gain 5lbs in each arm to deliver a baby?? At least when I was pregnant with Nora I could hide them under long-sleeved shirts and sweaters since it was winter, but unless I want to drown in my own sweat and/or die of heat stroke, that isn't going to happen this summer. I will have to show off the lovely arm jiggle every time I try to wave my kids over, or fix my hair, or you know...move...at all.

The stronger-than-any-other-force-known-to-man-cravings. It's certainly not something I am proud to admit, but when I was pregnant with Harper I couldn't drive by a McDonald's without getting a quarter pounder with cheese, and I had the thighs to prove it. This time I think I'm doing slightly better since I'm craving more fruit and veggies, but holy crap, I feel like I will actually die if I don't eat it right now. I was craving a good taco salad at work one day, but the closest good one is over in Westlake and I had a ton of work to do. I knew it wasn't going to be possible to get away and I actually started crying right there in my office. Then I felt like such an idiot for crying about food that I started crying even harder.

Which brings me to my next point - the completely out of control emotions. Not only have I cried about taco salad, but there was also the dead squirrel at the train station, the time I couldn't put my regular pants on, the House season finale (and, ok, every other House episode). And of course the things that would make a normal non-hormonal person emotional that pretty much turned me into a total lunatic - the death of a friend's husband, my sister's wedding, my friends' sick baby boy, my own daughters' fight with Crohn's. Really it just seems like crying is the response to pretty much anything. Sad? Cry. Happy? Cry. Angry? Cry while punching pillow.

And lastly, because I am being reminded this very second as I type, the weird positions the baby gets into while in utero. I'm remembering that Nora used to like one side more then the other, and it seems as though this baby is also starting that trend. Right now she is squeezed into my right side, so there is a huge, hard lump sticking out on the right side of my tummy, and just mush on the left side. It looks as insane as it sounds, and it is not comfortable in the least, but it is kind of funny to imagine the baby trying to get comfortable. "If I just curl my legs up like this....and then put my head over here....yeah...that's good...that'll do for the next month or so."

I'm sure I will be reminded of many more wonders as the months progress!