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August 20, 2003
I really had the best intentions to post an entry at the end of last week, but then, whammo, we lost power on Thursday afternoon and then I was off the computer all weekend. I have all sorts of things to catch up on, and I expect this will be my only entry until I get back from vacation on Labour Day!
Car!
First, let me backtrack a bit to the long weekend I wrote about in my last entry. One of the reasons for heading to Ottawa that weekend was to pick up my MIL's car. They (the ILs) are heading to their cottage in Prince Edward Island for two months, and only took one car. They very generously offered me her car for the whole time they're away. Since we only have one car, I usually have to rely on public transit to get to and from work. Well, let me tell you, life is quite different with two cars. No more sweating on the stinky, overcrowded streetcar! No more hour-long trip along Queen Street for a distance that is only a 15-minute drive. I leave home at 8:20 a.m. now and I get to work at about 8:40. Life is grand. The only thing that sucks about the whole arrangement is that I will eventually have to give the car back! We're hoping to buy our own second car this fall, so hopefully I won't be carless again for long. I know there are worse things in life than having only one car and having to ride transit, but it really takes up a huge chunk of my day and is so annoying and puts me in a bad mood by the time I get home. Add to this the fact that I'll have to be heading to frequent midwife appointments and soon I'll have a belly, and the car is even more convenient. Anyway, I could obviously go on and on about having a second car, but I'll stop now.
Bulging belly?
I am not a slim person to begin with, but I've always had a fairly flat stomach regardless. However, that seems to be over now. I first noticed that my jeans were getting tight around the waistline and that when I sat at my desk, it was waaaay more comfortable to undo the top button. Then about a week later, when I undid the button the zipper would then fly open too. Last weekend I went and bought some new khakis ($15 at Old Navy, score!) in two sizes larger than usual. They were rather too big, but now that I've shrunk them down in the laundry, they're only a bit large and super comfy. I feel fat and bloated and I just want to let it all hang out!
Big wedding week!
This coming Sunday (the 24th) my best friend is getting married, and I am in the wedding party. We are wearing long pink A-line gowns, and since we're all rather tall, blonde and buxom, I think we'll look like three Barbie dolls. It should be rather fun, actually. I have to admit, I like pink and it is flattering to my complexion, so I'm glad that's what was chosen. The bride is very short, a bit dark and petite, so it will be a nice contrast. I went for my dress fitting on Saturday and was hoping like mad the dress would still fit. It did - phew. I will have to wear a slimmer underneath and remember to suck it in a bit and stand up straight though. I also need to somehow get a bit of a tan in the next four days. I also wish I could highlight my hair, but I'm still in the first trimester and I'm worried it could be harmful. However, the important thing to remember is that nobody is looking at the bridesmaids - they're all looking at the bride! But let me just say that all the crazy preparation for this wedding makes me all the more glad I got married the way I did - in secret, with only immediate family in attendance. And no attendants, limos, hairdressers, videographers, overpriced flowers, etc. And far away! I highly recommend this simple (and just as effective) method to anyone who has yet to tie the knot. Oh, and has anyone got any wedding toast ideas for me??? I have to give a toast (which I am assuming, no hoping, is shorter than a speech) and I am one of those people who is terrified of public speaking. How did I get myself into this?? Again, let me recommend the elopement method of marriage.
Upcoming vacation
The day after my friend's wedding, Chris and I are flying to PEI for a week. Yahoo! I can't wait. I really, really hope the weather is decent. His parents have been there for a couple of weeks now and apparently it's been rainy and cool the whole time. I really need some quality beach time, or at least not have to be holed up in the cottage all day. That's fine when it's just the two of us, but with his parents there too I imagine I'd go a bit batty. We'll be seeing some old friends from our university days when we're there, and we'll tell them our news. By the time I get back I'll be in the 2nd trimester, so it will soon be time to tell the world.
MW appointment soon
The week after my vacation, I have my first "official" MW appointment. I imagine she'll do all the usual stuff like listen to the heartbeat, weigh me, measure me, etc. I think I also get an ultrasound, or at least talk about getting one soon. I am not adverse to getting one ultrasound, and if everything's OK, that's it. Hopefully all will be well and I won't need a whole bunch more. Also, if all goes well at the appointment, I will give the go-ahead to everyone who already knows to start spreading the news. My poor mother has been DYING to tell all her friends!
Doppler
For fun, I sent Chris the link to a baby doppler rental website since it had a little "listen now" button that played the sound of a baby's heartbeat. It's a Canadian site and had all the information about renting, ordering, shipping and delivery. Well, my dear, well-intentioned husband took it upon himself to order the doppler and it is probably arriving this week. He did it to surprise me, so I feel awful that I don't *really* want to use it. I haven't told him this. What will likely happen is that we'll use it once before the MW appointment and then send it back once we are assured that everything's OK in there. He is very excited to hear the baby's heartbeat so I think if we use it once there will be no harm in that. I can't bring myself to tell him to cancel the order. And I would be lying if I said I wasn't the least bit curious to try it myself, so there you go. For any of you that are interested, the website for this is www.fetalassure.ca.
First baby clothing purchase!
Last weekend when I was at Old Navy, I couldn't help myself. I felt the irresistable urge to go to the baby section and look at the wee items there. Then I took things one step further and bought two onesies. Just to be safe I bought a boy and a girl outfit. Chris thought I'd gone mad, but he had to admit they were pretty cute. They're hanging on my dresser knobs so that we can gaze at them while lying in bed. They make things seem a bit more "real" somehow.
Symptoms
Again, I don't really have many. There's the bloated belly mentioned above (which I could just as easily blame on too much ice cream), and the teeniest bit of morning sickness. There were a couple of days last week where I started taking my vitamins with breakfast, instead of at bedtime like I'd been doing all along. Well, this proved to be a bad idea. There was one morning at work where I was sure I was going to end up tossing my cookies for sure, and spent an inordinate amount of time in the bathroom. Thankfully I didn't puke, and I've switched back to bedtime vitamin-taking. I guess the lesson here is: If it ain't broke, don't fix it!
Talking to Jeanette
I almost forgot! I had a phone conversation with Jeanette last week. She'd given me her number while she was home visiting in Nova Scotia, and I finally called her. She was waiting for Laura (of Mom's Today) to have her baby, since she was to attend the birth as a support person. We chatted for a bit and then her brother got desperate for the phone and she had to go. But it was fun while it lasted! She sounds more or less how I expected her to - energetic, smart and funny. Hopefully we'll get to chat more soon, and might even meet in Chicago this November!
***TALK TO ME***
Did you ever rent a doppler during your pregnancy? Was it helpful? Did it just scare you more??
Did I mention that I have to give a toast at this wedding?? Well I'm mentioning it again. Please, help me, I beg you!
Any truly horrid bridesmaid dresses in any of your closets? (I like mine, but I'll likely never wear it again.)
Has anyone been through pregnancy/parenthood with only one car, or none? Was it unbearable, or did you manage to get by?
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