Pseudo Juneathon!

How do you knock out an insomnia ridden pregnant lady? You take her SHOPPING. For serious. (This was my Juneathon activity for two days in a row... believe me, it counts!)

My Mom and I had a marathon weekend of returning/exchanging baby stuff, shopping for more baby stuff, setting up baby stuff, and I must not forget eating and going to the movies. I received so many clothes at my two baby showers that we were bursting at the seams. To be honest, we still have so many clothes that the closet isn't equipped to hold all of them. It's ridiculous.  And scary. And completely unnecessary (but much appreciated!).

Good news is that the nursery is basically done. I have a few more things that I need to do and a bunch of things that I want to do but lack the energy to complete. I decided on a Grey, Purple, and White color scheme with a Whale theme. I found a really cute fabric pattern with whales and suns so I've incorporated a you are my sunshine type theme in there as well.

 

And outside of the pregnancy realm, my garden is doing really well!

 

25 Days to go: Turn little baby, turn!

Well, I had my 36 week appointment yesterday and it included a position ultrasound. The baby is breech and my doctor is already talking about a c-section. Not excited. If it happens, so be it but I still don't have to be excited about it!

30 days to go: Cheese Omelette with Goldfish Crackers and Salsa

Yes, I am currently eating  a Cheese Omelette with Goldfish Crackers and Salsa. The goldfish crackers were not there by design, I just saw them in the cabinet and decided that a handful would be a good addition to the omelette. Welcome to pregnancy, folks!

I'm really happy to still be working and keeping myself busy during the day. With my previous job, I would have been off weeks ago due to utter exhaustion and an inability to lift heavy objects (and an inability for that employer to keep me off the warehouse floor). I do however, have to watch my accounts get transitioned to our new employees and I have to train them. The changes are permanent so when I get back it will be like I'm a newbie again because I'll have to learn new accounts. Luckily, I won't need to relearn how to do my job. In general, things are going well but my customers are bummed to lose me. One of them even sent me a handmade baby blanket. How awesome is that? A woman who I have never met in person spent precious hours of free time on a baby blanket for Miss Baby D. 

Posting my belly progression... because I can!

Given my recent activities, I have almost changed my blog title from The Melanie Report to one of these titles:

Been There. Read That.
Babies Love Doughnuts (...so go get me an f'ing doughnut!)
Yes, I am Gigantic. (and other comments received by complete strangers)
Eating Watermelon Like a Boss

Though, I decided for the time being that The Melanie Report should continue to work out and I can't let Pregnancy Hormones rule my life. (Ha! That's a load of BS *incaseyoudidntknow*) And just so you know, my husband has not been sent out on a midnight grocery shopping trip, has not suffered from moments of Pregzilla-ness, and has, in general, had it so easy. Movies lie. There, I said it! Now I might just send him to Starbucks to get me a coffee...

41 ish days to go: My ankles have disappeared

Almost in the home stretch! I'm defining home stretch as the final 30 days of my pregnancy. Who knows, I could be in the home stretch right now.

I don't really have much to say other than I'm tired, I can't sleep longer than 2 hours, my fingers are swollen, my ankles and toes are swollen, and my eyes are dry. It's been in the 90's for the last few days and that is the root cause for most of my problems. I don't do heat well anyway but pregnant... it's like living in the Father of the Bride 2 where two air conditioners are required.

T Minus 60 Days!

And there it is... the baby BELLY! :)

I have 60 days left in my pregnancy and it really seems like just yesterday that we even found out! I guess this is life, you get older and time passes much quicker. What I would have given to speed through high school in the same way that I have sped through the last few years.

I've received a lot of compliments about how I'm handling my pregnancy. Apparently somethings are a huge topic of discussion amongst the people I see daily: my lack of complaining at work, lack of time off from work, ability to remain active, and most importantly, I remain level headed. The funny thing is that I can hear my inner monologue and no one else can. I am to the point where I am chipper for a few hours and exhausted the rest of the day. I'm snapping at people and have less of a filter when I'm interacting with people. I'm staying active only because I have a fear of gaining 50 pounds and because the bathroom is not close to my desk. I guess I'm just putting up a good front (and that is a great thing)!

This is how I feel on weekdays but ask me to get up at 6AM on a weekend and my body is all for it!

So, because I can, here is my list of 10 selfish things that I can't wait to do:

1. Go for a Run (more importantly run Tinkerbell in January!)
2. Drink a Glass of Red Wine...
3. ... while eating Sushi
4. Get off the couch without thinking, "How am I going to do this?"
5. Sleep without needing to pee every hour
6. Wear high heels without my feet swelling
7. Breathe through my nose without smelling the soap in my neighbor's shower (or my coworkers or the food that is eight miles away, etc.)
8. Drink coffee without feeling guilty
9. Vacuum without getting winded
10. Make it through the day without having a moodswing or a heartburn attack

My husband, by the way, is either getting advice from women he works with, reading a book for expectant Dads, or is just an exceptionally amazing man. I have my suspicions but generally just think he's a pretty cool guy. The other day, while gazing at my bare belly (or bear belly), I said, "I wish I had realized ALL the things that came with pregnancy." So, I start listing the things that are bugging me and at the end of my ramblings he says, "Well, don't forget the baby. That comes with pregnancy too and that's pretty cool." *insert a kiss on the cheek and a smile* Well geez, when you put it THAT way. At first I was like, wow... I'm a horrible person for complaining but then I just counted my blessings. I'm glad I have someone who can put me in my place while making me feel a thousand times better at the same time.

And now, my sappy list of  things I can't wait to do with Miss Baby D because my moments of selfishness will be fleeting:

1. Hear her laugh for the first time
2. Read her my favorite book - But No Elephants
3. Realize in her first moment of girl rebellion that she doesn't like my favorite book and decides to pick her own
4. Watch her wrap her Dad around her little fingers
5. Teach her how to walk the dog, even if she is still only crawling
6. Sing to her, sing together
7. Arts & Crafts time (oh newborn baby feet!)
8. Take pictures that will embarrass her later in life
9. Become well acquainted with the stroller and take lots of walks
10. Teach her the messiest way to eat Spaghetti

Time flies when you're pregnant/exhausted/hungry/thirsty

First things first... I got an apology phone call from that store. The woman was so disgusted with the situation that she said she had to figure out the appropriate response and had no idea how to apologize in a way that would be completely sincere. She said, "I bet offering you a gift card to our store wouldn't do much good, huh?" I told her I didn't need to be paid off, I just wanted a personal apology. So I got what I asked for and I'm OK with that. No, I don't have the intention of posting the store's name on the internet. If I hadn't received a response, I would be tagging up their Facebook page like crazy. I just don't have it in me to ruin a store's reputation because of one bad employee.

In just a few days, I will officially be in the final trimester of my pregnancy! Holy shit, where did the time go?

These are my last ultrasound photos from the beginning of March... Miss Baby D is yawning (or maybe already screaming?) on the left and smiling and dancing on the right. Geez, the end of June will be here before I know it!

 

I've had a great pregnancy thus far. The only problem has been that I get so sore when I am active. So the running hobby is on hiatus though I'm dying to run the Santa Rosa Half Marathon in August (this is so not happening, by the way). The swag this year is awesome and includes a bottle of wine... oh well! I WILL be signing up for the Tinkerbell Half in January. It's not just running or walking that gets me sore. I was gardening for a couple hours the other day and was completely spent. But then again, sitting the wrong way on the couch will do me in sometimes. Like the day I spent all afternoon sewing stuffed animals for the nursery, I was sorer than I was after finishing my last half marathon. But at least the stuffed animals are cute! I'm planning to make a crib mobile so I was practicing in big sizes first...

I had to go in today to take get my blood drawn as part of the 1 hour Glucose Tolerance Test. The nurse looked at me as she handed me my fruit punch glucose drink and said, "Are you sure you aren't doing this too early? Usually women have to be at least 24 weeks before they get this order." That made me feel good considering the shit I went through last week. I also had a chance to chat it up with a bunch of pregnant ladies in the waiting room who were all there for the same kind of blood work. The glucose drink wasn't bad but after about 30 minutes, the baby was practicing karate moves and within 40 minutes, I was dizzy, faint, clammy, shaky, and nauseous. I had to go to the window and ask the nurse to get me water. Before she looked at my face, she told me the water fountain was down the hall. Once she took a good look at my face, she rushed down the hall to get me water. By the time my blood was drawn, I was feeling much better. Apparently, this type of reaction happens often but geez... if I had passed out BEFORE getting my blood drawn, it would give my family more reasons to make fun of me for my hospital-phobia. :)

My boss told me about a month ago, "Just wait until you start nesting!" and I couldn't help but respond with, "I think I already am!" I know nothing about the nesting process but I know that I am definitely in "decorating" mode. I bought an adorable, custom quilt for the nursery and I've already started buying other decor and obsessing over details (what colors go well with purple and grey? do I have enough room to walk over there? did I ask for enough hangers?) plus I've been bossing my husband around about cleaning the house. My husband is really great at cleaning but usually only does it when HE feels like it. I haven't just been decorating the baby's room, I've also been trying to decorate the rest of our house. I gotta take it slow so my husband can adjust to not having the white walls that he loves so much!

  

 

Misadventures of a Pregnant Lady

Dear (Store Name that I'm not going to mention right now),

I am writing today to tell you about a recent experience in your Fresno, California store. I could just tell you that I am "highly dissatisfied" or that the store's customer service was lacking but I don't think that would quite cover my feelings.

I am in the sixth month of my first pregnancy and I am extremely aware of the new addition to my midsection (not to mention the additions to my thighs, arms, face, and chest). I'm desperately clinging to my pre pregnancy wardrobe and I don't want to be stuck wearing only maternity clothes. I walked into your store on Saturday because I saw a dress in the window that I instantly loved and was hopeful that it would be "the one".

The young woman at the counter gave me a once over as I asked her where the dress was on display in the store and smiled as she said, "I'm sorry but I don't think we have your size." After I asked again, she started leading me in the right direction but not before she added the additional comment, "I already told you, we don't have a size to fit your fat ass." Not only did I mention that I heard her but I also let her know that I am 6 months pregnant and that my size is none of her concern. What was her snarky response, you ask? "Well, that is no excuse to let yourself go!"

Man or woman, pregnant or not pregnant, plus sized or model thin, no retail store customer service employee has the right to judge a customer based on his or her size. It is absolutely unacceptable and uncouth. The lack of empathy that I received when I spoke to the manager of the store was equally as disturbing. I'm not a size two or a four, I'm a pregnant woman who is a respectable size 10. A size, by the way, that you do happen to carry in your store and it is not the largest size that you carry. I could have easily decided on my own whether or not my size was available on the rack. I could have easily tried on the dress and decided in the dressing room that it was cuter on the rack than on my body. It should have been my decision to make, not your employee's.

I'm pregnant with a little girl and it is treatment like this that makes me scared out of my mind to find a way to raise her to be confident with herself despite the callousness of others. How can I tell my daughter that the only opinion that matters is her own when a situation like this has caused me to question my own self confidence? Maybe before your employee opens her mouth to put down a customer, she should realize that your company profile advertises that you design and carry clothes to enhance a woman's confidence, to assist a woman in being captivating. Don't you think that her customer service focus should be based on that rather than practically turning someone away who is apparently a fat ass who has let herself go?

Thank you for your time. I hope to hear from you in regards to an apology in the near future.

-----

Seriously? I should have never needed to write that email to ANYONE. But the sad truth is that I did. And do you know what? I walked into a maternity store less than an hour later and almost started crying in the dressing room because "nothing fit right" and because I "was too big for everything". I was in desperate need of shirts because the belly requires MUCH longer t-shirts. (I found this out the hard way when I realized I was flashing the top of my maternity jeans to unsuspecting coworkers) Out of desperation, I bought t-shirts and tank tops and went home cursing humanity and stuffing my face with Chipotle. When I put one of the shirts on yesterday, I was so happy with how it looked and how it fit. I should have waited to go shopping until I felt better!

It's obvious... I've totally let myself go. Oh well, Chipotle still sounds good for dinner.