The Worst Possible Things You Can Say to a Pregnant Woman

In the first trimester:

"Isn't your risk for miscarriage really high?" (actual comment made to me in my first trimester!)

In any trimester:

"Wow, are you pregnant with twins?" (made by a woman who is way larger then I am now and doesn't even have the excuse of pregnancy)

"I haven't heard anything but are you pregnant or just getting fat." (oh~ where is the dying art of social tack)

"You're only 5 months pregnant! You are going to be huge at 9 months" (this little gem was also accompanied by the man holding his hand out away from my belly to illustrate how large he believed I would become)

"Whoa, whoa don't move your going to blow!" (not actually said to me but to a friend of mine)

After these comments I got a little worried and talked to my doctor. I didn't think I had turned into Jabba the Hut but maybe I was living in a hormonal pregnancy dreamworld. Guess what all you nast people with your rude comments my weight gain is actually on the low end of the acceptable range! And my uterus is measuring right on track too! Now I don't think these people were trying to be vicious but it is these kinds of thoughtless comments that make women pregorexic. Here is my advice to the world, just keep your mouths shut about pregnant people's appearances. Even if a women gains more than the recommended amount, do you have the body of a Greek god? My guess is no as most of the people who made comments to me didn't exactly win the genetic lottery, in fact some of them quite plainly lost. Has anyone else been victim to a litany of vocal pregnancy abuse? What are you stories?

Christmas is around the corner!

"Its lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you" It seems like years since I've gotten really excited for Christmas but this year I cannot mask my enthusiasm. I'm so excited! Perhaps because this is my first married Christmas. Neil and I got hitched on December 28th last year so all my excited energy went into the wedding, not Christmas. So since last month I've been gathering presents, making stockings, and preparing decorations and this Saturday Neil and I are going to go get our Christmas tree! Its fun because this year we can start our own family traditions. For example I want Saturday to be a day of Christmas. After we trim the tree we can have donuts and hot chocolate and watch a Christmas movie all curled up on the couch. This afternoon I'm going to start gift wrapping the gifts so they will be ready to go under the tree. Merry Christmas!

Pictures From the Past Year

Sorry I couldn't figure out how to flip this! PS: It is great to post pictures of before I was pregnant, I don't have a bloated face!

Here is the family!

Here we are busting a move at our wedding!

Here are Neil and I walking around Navy Pier at night. ooo lah lah romantic (not really my mom took the picture:)

I found some fun pictures from my bridal shower on my parents computer. Yes, I am wearing a tiara with a veil and holding a paper mache wedding cake the guests later smashed to pieces!

CHICAGO!

Last Saturday Ashton and my mom threw me a baby shower. It was wonderful to see everybody and the baby received some really great gifts. The funniest one was from Ashton, I unwrapped the package and across the box was written "Poopsie." I initially thought it would be something associated with some sort of diaper genie/human waste, I voiced this thought and the old gals couldn't stop laughing... oh no it is a little doll that fits inside a pea pod. It is undeniable now, I look totally pregnant!!!

Quarter Century Crisis

I know everyone is just dying to hear about my birthday so here goes! The first fun birthday themed thing occurred on my birthday eve. My friend and Mom of the maligned Neville Longbottom baby (see prior post) took me out to lunch. What was really clever was that I had no idea she was footing the bill. After we were done she revealed that fact and confessed she hadn't told me because she wanted me to order whatever I wanted. I decided this was a good idea and next time I go out to lunch and want to pay I am going to use this surprise tactic, then people get what they really want. Another good thing about the element of surprise is if the other diner orders lobster, steak, and a bottle of expensive wine you can just change your mind, not pay for them and they have no idea. That might have been tacky to write.... oh well.

Now fast forward to the morning of November 9th. I was awakened in bed by Neil and a plate of scrambled eggs and toast and a big wrapped box. The breakfast was great but the box of gifts was better! Neil presented me with a box of chocolates, a big fluffy bath robe (like the one in our Paris hotel), and an envelope. Inside the envelope were pictures of the downtown Hilton(pictured above), we were going to stay there for the weekend!!! ParTay!! So we ended up going down town and shopping at the galleria. For those of you unfamiliar with the galleria it is a big mall and when I say big I mean it has an ice skating rink inside it. They have all the normal stores and then some fun posh shops. There is a Tiffany's, a Giorgio Armani, Kate Spade and pretty much anything else you can think of. They also had a Cheesecake Factory where we had a delectable dinner. When we got back to the hotel there was some sort of fundraiser going on because people in formal wear were everywhere, it was rather fun to spy! We had a tasty cake with Neil's family later on that weekend. Needless to say I had a great birthday.

Oppppppps!

When my primary class came over for a party they gave Neil strep throat! Whoops!

PS: Today is my birthday eve!!!!!

The Buzz

Today Neil is down town taking his next actuarial exam, cross your fingers for us! This afternoon I went to a mommys lunch at a friend's house. One lady there told another, "Your son looks like that smart kid from the Harry Potter movies." At first I thought Hermione? Then it dawned on me who she meant. I gasped out loud in horror, "Neville Longbottom?" And then the mother of the accused child exclaimed in dismay, "The Squib!" Talk about a dis! Trying to look at the bright side the mother said, "Oh do you mean the eyes?" and the lady responded, "No his face." I almost died! If anyone is truly unfortunate looking it is the actor who plays Neville Longbottom! For the record the child in question is really cute and I see no resemblance to Neville.