I have tried to not write too much about the fact that I’m pregnant because, well Modern Reject is not a baby blog. It’s not even a mom blog. But, I happen to be a mom who is having a third kiddo.
As much as I’ve tried to avoid the “pregnancy posts” this one was inevitable. This post is actually not just Favorite Things, but also least favorite things–of which there are many during these torturous nine months.
I’ll start with the things I love, like shopping for baby clothes. Then I’ll share the things I don’t love, like creepy older women touching my belly without permission. My Favorite (Pregnancy) Things for Friday….
I love…
1. Yes, shopping. Baby clothes are just about the cutest things to buy ever. Sadly, since we don’t know the sex of this baby,I have been relegated to searching racks in hopes of finding one cool neutral outfit minus ducks, teddy bears, and frogs. Needless to say, this kid might be naked for the first few weeks.
2. Feeling (and seeing) the baby move. It is always exciting when those flutters in your belly are no longer confused with gas from yesterdays Mexican dinner. When kicks and rolls become common. They are comforting–a sign of a healthy baby. This kid, by the way, is like some sort b-boy/Chorus Line member. It moves so much, so violently, it makes my other babies look like they were sleeping on the job. Is this a good thing or a bad thing?
3. Sharing in the excitement with others. My family, my husband’s family, and friends are all excited for us. We make jokes about the future craziness that will ensue once this baby is out. I’ll be exhausted. I’ll be moody. But my kids will have a new sibling and my husband and I will forever be the parents of 3.
Stuff I don’t like…
1. Being pregnant. That’s right, besides feeling the baby move, I despise being pregnant. I am not one of those earth-mother-goddess-types who is in love with being pregnant. I find it annoying, uncomfortable and waaaaaaaaaaay too long. I’m sore and achy. I don’t sleep. Heartburn. And on and on….
2. The pee factor. The sudden uncontrollable urge to pee is one thing. It is annoying, yes. But then when you rush to the bathroom certain that you are about to pee your pants, that your bladder is so full it is about to explode, only to drip out a tablespoon of pee…it is infuriating. What the heck?
3. Random strangers. I either have weird, older women who eyes get all glassy and big when they see my pregnant belly as they try to touch it without my permission. Or, I have strangers make such delightful comments as “Oh honey, you look like you’re about to pop.” Or my personal favorite when I tell them this is my 3rd: “Oh, wow. Three. Good luck. You’ll need it.” Really? Really people?
4. Baby weight. There I said it. I’m vain. I like my body and I dislike giving it over to another person for nine months of pregnancy, not to mention months of nursing after wards. I hate gaining the extra weight and each pound feels like punishment. Not to mention the fact that I get huge when pregnant….like gigantic…like a tugboat. But I remind myself that it is all for this little baby, whoever they are. And when I see that face for the first time, all slimy and grodie, I won’t care about any of it. I’ll be in love, once again.
Alright, if you’ve been preggo or have kids, what do you love about pregnancy and what do you hate? If you haven’t been preggo or don’t have kids do you want to? What are you looking forward to, if yes?
I know the sentiment about the 3 kids comment (we just had #3 in April). We have three under 3.5, so we get comments about that as well. :)
As a husband, all the “nesting” drove me insane at times. How many times do I need to rearrange the garage, sweep the floors, etc. :)
My husband hates the nesting too. Trips to Home Depot, Target, etc.
Also I have done a lot of it myself and I’m not suppose to. I’m suppose to be taking it easy. He comes home to a new project I started and gets frustrated with me for not putting my feet up.
Oh sorry husbands of pregnant women. You deserve some kind of reward or prize.
Dustin,
Just posted on your blog. Let me know when you get the message because I’m really messed up!
hahaha. i have 3, so you’re about to get a lot of “my, don’t you have your hands full?” yes, random lady in the grocery store, “full of LOVE,” you discouraging old …
when i was pregnant with my first daughter, i worked retail and an Indian man reached across the counter, put his hand on my belly and announced i was going to have a boy. i let him down easily the first time, but after the fourth time of him assuring me that it was going to be a boy, i asked for the next customer in line.
blessings to you on this pregnancy!!
I am 26 weeks preggo and was recently in the ER to make sure i didn’t have a concussion. I had gotten pretty bad whip lash from a stupid water log ride that was so little my 5 year old could ride. So embarrassing but on to the important stuff. The first thing the nurse said to of was, “didn’t u read the warnings about being pregnant?” really lady?! Pregnant girls run marathonp for goodness sake and she didn’t even know how small this ride was. Then, he that comment wasn’t insulting enough, she them went on to say, “are u sure your not havinig twins? U look so much bigger than 24 weeks.” Oh my gosh! I didn’t mention to her that just the day before my OB got on of bc i’m so UNDER weight right now. I just thought this nurse was an idiot with on clue or tact for that matter. So, in conclusion, things I dislike most…people expressing their unsolicited opinions!
Oh, dear. I simply can’t relate at all. (However, my best friend is pregnant with baby #3, too, and she REALLY hates the random-strangers-touching thing. What about my being pregnant allows you to handle my person, she wants to know. And she’s blind, so she can’t even see it coming. So she’s 100% with you there.)
My mother is convinced that I would experience pregnancy once, and be forever done with it. That would be enough. Because, y’know, I’m such a wuss. My sister is tough, though. She’s had two children. Her labor for the first one was 36 hours long. Innyhoo, the childish part of me really wants to prove her wrong, and have two kids.
But the thing is…I’ve already got three. I don’t need five. I don’t WANT five! I’m finally living in a diaper-free house (my girls are 6 and 4.5-year-old twins). Only one of the twins is still in Pull-ups at night. It took me almost three years to eliminate diapers. I almost ran around the house in glee.
And I think my sister is the wuss. So she had a 36-hour labor. So she’s spent a total of 18 months of her life pregnant. Big whoop. She knew her kids were coming. She had nine months to prepare for each of them.
Me? I got mine–then not quite 3 and 18 months–with less than nine days’ notice and got tossed into the deep end of the ocean of parenthood.
Top THAT one, sis.
Oh Nicole, this post was so fun. I have never been pregnant but I think I’d really like it! I might not even mind the random strangers touching me! I want to have a bunch of kids (I’m really interested in adoption as well) so the idea that so many people are harassed about having 3 kids annoys me. I’m trusting God to give me the number of children He wants me to have and not the number I want or society thinks is acceptable. Here is a great article on desiringgod.org about having 3+ kiddos http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/motherhood-is-a-calling-and-where-your-children-rank
I think you’ll like it!
Blessings and congratulations to you and Jonathan as you approach the birth of your newest little one!
Peeing everytime I laugh, sneeze, cough or any other exhertive activity.
@Casey,
I do that all the time. This means I am…pregnant? I figured it was just me having a lazy PC muscle. :)
gotta love the question “how much weight have you gained?” what is wrong with people. oh and BTW babies are yummy:)
Hi Nicole,
Good luck with your third.
I’m father of six (all grown and gone, Thank God. Youngest got married last January. Our children are now our best friends).
Remembering back, my wife says it’s a shame that babies don’t come with what parents really need: an instruction manual and an electric cattle prod.
John Cowart