Just for the record

The past you know, 250ish days have been a learning process all their own.  When started I was like all other first time mom's, unaware, full of questions, inexperienced, well, new.  A few short months later, with one huge learning curve to climb, I feel like there are a few items I have learned on my journey.  Take it or leave it for what you will, these are just a few tidbits, I thought I would share not only to other new moms but to myself.  (Disclaimer, I am not claiming them to be fact, or an expert by any stretch of the word, just a few lessons I learned along the way, with a few more weeks to go, I have a feeling this list will only continue to expand)

Lessons Learned....

- Enjoy every day with your little one in your belly, even the scary, sometimes uncomfortable, and very exhausted days.  It goes quick, so quick.  As I hear so does the rest of life.

- Learn to take a compliment, Learn to take what people think is a compliment, and Learn to take what no one in their right mind would EVER think is complimentary but choose to say anyway.  Ex.  "You look great" say thanks, "You don't look big, just healthy" smile and sip your orange juice,  "Are you having twins" politely say no then try desperately to find somewhere else to go before you scream, "Wow, I didn't think you would get so big, I mean you were just so little before", proudly pat that belly and proclaim, yes we did good!

- Always size up....before when shopping and deciding between two sizes, I would originally say go with the smaller of the two.  That's nothing one run or a little stretching wont take care of.  Pregnancy brings a whole new light.  No amount of stretching will actually stretch those pants that shouldn't have been purchased in the first place.  Give yourself  a little room to grow.  You will grow, that is a GOOD thing.

- Never compare pregnancy weight gain with others.  Its just not good for anyone.  If you were a super hero and gained 20 pounds, good for you.  If you were a super hero and gained 70 pounds, good for you.  No need to go writing home about it.  First off, no one ever really tells you their correct total, second off, if your dr. isnt worried, no one else should be.  Leave it at that.  BUT be prepared for any Tom, Dick or Harry to ask off the street.  Apparently when you are prego social norms go out the window and people feel obliged to ask. 

- Give into your cravings when you have them, but don't try to recreate them when you don't.  For example....When all that sounds good is pretzels and orange juice, by all means go right ahead, but be aware that 6 times from now when you are still trying to eat those pretzels and o.j., it will loose its luster. As it should, its weird. 

- The right undergarment can be a real game changer.  (See point above about sizing up)  If you haven't been comfortable in a month and you realize you are still trying to wear the same underpinnings as before you were pregnant, just go get some that are bigger.  It will change your world.

- Talk to your baby.  Even if you feel weird about it.  It is the only time you have them captive, no interruptions, crying, etc...  So what if the guy sitting next to you in traffic thinks you are talking to yourself, just go ahead and tell him or her whats going on, how you cant wait to meet them, and how much you love them. 

- 2 words.  BODY PILLOW.  I don't even know if you would call it a pillow or a huge monster that takes over your bed, but either way, get one and use it.  Your husband may grow to despise it and it may end up burned or torn to shreds after the baby comes, due to the hatred that has been brewing over the last 9 months....BUT get one anyway.  Your body will thank you.

- Hire a chef :) , if you cant hire one, train your husband, if he is un-trainable, order out, but by all means try and avoid cooking.  One, even if you muster up the courage to cook, by the time dinner is ready your feet hurt so bad you night is pretty much over.  Two, even if it sounds good before you go to cook it, once you stare at it for 30 or so minutes, taste it, stir it, season it - then go to eat it, something happens, because what you thought looked good an a hour ago, and what smelled good 20 minutes ago, just isn't appetizing anymore and you would kill just to eat a pb&J.  I am hoping my domestic urges return once the baby gets here and I will enjoy the culinary process again.....

- Just ask.  If you are worried, agonizing over something, thinking about it, googling it, etc. just ask someone, anyone.  Your husband, Friend, Doctor, Mother, Sister, sometimes ask them all.  It wont hurt.

- Watch out for sneezing attacks....for those of you who have been there you know why.  Enough said.

- Say no to the social obligation every now and then.  Spend the time you would have there with your husband at home.  Nothing is better.

- Go easy on your other half every now and then, despite what your crazed hormones may be screaming at your, he didn't mean to make his socks smell extra bad today, wasn't malicious when he bought you sprite instead of ginger ale, and really truly didn't intentionally make the apples you have been dying to eat go bad in the fridge.  Sometimes fruit just gets old.  He really is trying.  Just let him.

-  Start a blog, because when everyone else is tired of talking to you, you can just write it :)

- Love every moment.  You will never have those moments again.