Gametes In Love

We went out for dinner tonight to our favorite Italian restaurant. When we lived in the city, their SF location was two blocks away from our place so we were there quite frequently and got to know the owners (and they us) pretty well. Since we moved away they shut down their SF location and focused on the two others they had in the Bay Area. As such we don’t see them as often, but we do go a few times a year.

Tonight was the first time we’d been there since the early days of our BFP. It’s clear now that they are some changes in our life to come. The owners were thrilled for us and we spent a good time tonight catching up with them. What was funny, though, was one of their comments : “Oh, NOW we know what you two have been up to! [wink]” at which point I couldn’t help but smile, and nod, but in the back of my head think:
“Lady… you have no idea!”

I am dumbfounded by how much my body has changed over the last 4 months. I look at my belly, which is awesome by the way, asking myself where all this extra skin has come from? I mean who knew that in such a short period of time this thing can keep growing, and growing, and did I mention growing? It’s phenomenal!

I’ve been weighing myself pretty regularly ever since we started this process. Depending on how you look at it, I’ve either gained 12 or 14 lbs since this process started. At the “first day of my last period” I was 12lbs lighter than I am today. However, I lost about 2 lbs prior to the retrieval, so you can argue I’m 14lbs heavier now. It’s a little higher than I’d like to be coming up on the mid-point of the pregnancy. I was hoping for an overall 20lb gain, but this is looking like I might be closer to 30. On the bonus side the weight seems to be going entirely to my mid section, which makes me feel a bit better.

I’ve come to terms with my new wardrobe. This wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be, and physically showing now to the world has helped me get over all the cute jeans and shirts (I own) that I won’t be fitting into the very near future. Last week I had to give up my boots. This was in fact a sad day. My belly is now protruding quite noticeably, changing the stress points on my body, and standing in high heels is certainly not helping that. So I had to get some flats. I’m now 3 inches shorter, but my back is a much happier being.

There are other things about pregnancy I find strangely cute:

• Putting socks on is not the same anymore. Obviously I can’t bend my legs up the same way because Belly is in the way. I wonder if I’ll come to a point where socks will no longer be an option.
• Rocking myself out of a vehicle will soon be the only way out. We live up on a hill. When S drives, I have to get out on the side of the sidewalk, and it’s amazing how much those 4 inches of sidewalk can make a difference on the leverage and momentum you have while getting out of a car…. especially when doing it against gravity. Sigh — these are the starting moments of my “penguinism” future.
• People now give me their chairs. In a meeting earlier this week, I walked into a packed conference room. I mean, people were already sitting on the floor. Perfectly content to do the same, I headed to the back of the room, where a group of gentlemen immediately went into a scurry of who was going to give up their seat. I found it both sweet and hurtful at the same time. Hard to explain on the second part: I felt like I am still able to take care of myself and didn’t need their pity. At the same time also really relieved and happy that I work around people that care. Then about 30 minutes into the meeting I was thrilled I wasn’t still standing, nor were my butt-cheeks falling asleep while sitting on the hard floor. Yep, feel free to give me your chair any time.

I haven’t felt the baby move yet, which is a little disappointing, but also a good reminder that this baby is in control of it’s development and that my impatience needs to conform to it’s schedule and not the other way around.

We find out the gender next week. I think it’s a boy. My mom does too. S goes back and forth, and I’ve had several people tell me it will be a girl. All in all, pretty even. Well, I guess we’ll find out in just a few days.