Bump Watch

And so begins month 7... 28 weeks! The pregnancy is going so fast. I can't believe we're already entering the third trimester.

We had a nice Memorial Day weekend with friends and family. My girlfriends sat out in the heat and humidity with me on Sunday so I wouldn't have to breathe bar smoke. It was a fun day. We played cards and gabbed for five hours. We were hot, sweaty messes, but they assured me it was nice to get some sun.

Today, we took Stella to her first parade. She did well, but was really scared by the bands (especially the percussion). She doesn't ususally mind loud noises or thunderstorms, so we were pretty surprised. After the parade, she played outside almost the entire day and promptly passed out on the couch when we got home. So cute.

Welcome back, feet

My feet have returned to their normal size. Sigh. I feel so much better.

It's hard to focus, let alone get things accomplished, when you're really, really ridiculously swollen. And hot. Swollen and hot are not a good combo for anyone.

But the humidity has dipped way down, and they're forecasting evening temps in the 50s tonight. Sleeping with the windows open again will thrill me beyond belief.

The big conversation

I did it. I told the boss I'm not coming back.

It was a good conversation. She said she was sad to lose me (natch), but that she wasn't surprised.

I tried to stress how great the job is, and how much I've learned in the past three years. She asked for my assistance with the transition, and even left to the door open to do some freelancing. I'm happy to be leaving on a good note.

So 12 more weeks of employment... then I'm a stay-at-home mom and part-time grad student. Crazy.

Pregnancy + Heat = Swollen

You should see how swollen my feet and ankles are. They're huge. Like HUGE. I feel like I'm hobbling around on stumps.

We have a mirror at the top of our staircase that reflects from the waist down. So every time I go up or down the stairs I catch a glimpse of my gigantic cankles. They're not pretty.

Ben reminds me that this heat is uncharacteristic for May, and even in August, this will probably be about the hottest it gets. Let's hope as the temperatures drop later this week, so do the size of my feet.

It's going to be a looooooong summer.

I'm kind of a big deal

In case you missed it, Kristy from the Wicked Noodle commented on one of my posts last week. OMG. I feel like I totally have blog cred.

Ben and I are huge fans of her recipe for Nana's Oatmeal Pancakes. We eat them with fresh whipped cream and strawberries. Delish. I will never use the "just add water" stuff again.

(Side note: You absolutely must use buttermilk as she says. Take my word for it.)

Crash course in budgeting

Ben and I have never really had to stick to a budget. We both make a comfortable income, so our philosophy to date has been "save what you can, don't spend more than you make." We're not rolling in excess dough, but I also don't hesitate to buy the fancy artisan cheese at the farmer's market.

Though we've been married for almost three and a half years, we only recently consolidated bank accounts. And truly, only out of necessity given our fast-approaching one-income status. Not that I consider my money and his money to be seperate entities. Each of our salaries contributes to a piece of the collective household pie. But after I pay my share of the bills, I don't really care to have Ben know what I spend my money on. And visa versa. I don't understand the outrageous amount he paid for new golf clubs. And he doesn't understand the love affair between my Visa and J.Crew. It's just been nicer to keep our finances seperate.

We are fortunate that Ben's job provides me the opportunity to stay home with the baby. But it's going to be a big change. We will have a budget, a real budget, that I will have to track by saving receipts and recording expenses. We will have to give up some luxuries, like gym memberships, going out to eat, and cable. But there are some things I refuse to sacrifice, including:

• Internet - I cannot possibly live without a high-speed internet connection. And though we're giving up cable, I can still watch my favorite shows online. Win/win.
• Retirement Savings - Compound interest, people. Compound interest. Though we're still in our 20s, saving now will make a huge difference in our retirement nest egg. Ben will be contributing the maximum matched by his employer (it's free money!). And I will be rolling my accounts into an IRA. I hope to contribute my freelance income and other sources when I can.
• Good Food - A gift handed down from my mother, I am a damn good cook. So while we can't eat out much (or ever), I can still make simple, delicious meals at home. This is one thing I want to keep up with to retain some sense of my former (pre-child) life. I am inspired by the Naptime Chef who prepares family meals during her daughter's naptime. Genius.

I'm sure there will be other daily luxuries I fight for, and a few that I just have to let go. Like showers. And sleep. Many new mothers tell me there's no way in hell I'm hanging on to either.

"Glowing" or some other term to make pregnant women feel less disgusting

I've never really been one to sweat. Even when exercising. Sure my face will get pink and my hair line will get a little damp. But I never really sweat.

Until now. Except it's not sweating when you're pregnant, it's "glowing". As if that's supposed to make it better. Well let me tell you... I "glow" like a pig.

We've had approximately 3 days of warm, summer weather. And I've been 100% miserable (and especially irritable) since. I'm hot all the time. I "glow" at my desk. In the car. Sitting on the couch. I feel so gross. I have a feeling I'll be taking showers three times a day pretty quick.

Needless to say, I'm really excited to be in my third trimester for the three hottest months of the year. Fair warning, Ben... our electric bill is going to be insane. I'm running the air conditioner 24/7.

100 ramblings... and counting

100 posts already? Time flies when you're bearing an heir.

This blog has had quite an arc... from contemplating a baby, struggling to get pregnant, freaking out that I'm pregnant, figuring out life while pregnant, and now preparing for impending motherhood. It's been a crazy ride so far, but really fun to write it all down.

I used to find blogging very indulgent and self-absorbed. Who cares that much about your thoughts that you have to write them down every day? But for me, blogging has become very therapeutic. I love talking about my pregnancy (and the baby!). And with so many of our friends and family scattered across the country, it helps me feel more connected to people I care about most.

Thanks for reading.