Reflections, (and I miss my Boobs!)

Well, I stared off this Mother's Day post to write about my love and joy about being a Mom.
And Then I started to look through some old pictures to accompany said post.
And then I got a burst of creativity and started a video "slide show" with all of my pictures since becoming a Mom.
This however was taking forever and decided instead to make a snack (sesame crackers and garlic humus, my latest food addiction).

Then I decided to get back to my blog... and pick up where I left off, but in classic “Me” like fashion I had switched gears. I felt the need to focus on the entire Mom's in my life, how lucky I am to know so many wonderful women....

And then I thought that was also going to take too long and be border line "sappy", and thought well how about a "quote" or a poem about Mom's....
Of course with more pictures to go along....

And then I stumbled upon this picture:

And then this one...

And the next thing I knew this post turned into thoughts and reflections on my two Pregnancies.... Relatively fitting for Mother's Day I think..
It goes something like this...

Reasons why I don't miss being Pregnant:

1)      The Backache and Sciatica combo. Nope, I don't miss that one bit. Both showed up in both of my pregnancies. While my lower back ached constantly, I was also having painful leg spasms that shot down from my butt to my foot I was only allowed Tylenol and an ice pack. Totally bogus!!

2)      Couldn't Poop. This one speaks for itself honestly and no need to elaborate but man, what a cruel thing for your body to hold out on you like that when you are eating for two and carrying around a watermelon. I still hold a grudge towards my "slowed" digestion system for that one.

3)      Nausea followed by starving for anything, followed by more nausea, followed by could eat a Big Mac and a Plate of General Tao’s Chicken, followed by more nausea and wicked awful heartburn.

4)      No alcohol.

 I truly did miss this sadly, in fact in this picture of me, and my Ultra Sexy Gingham Maternity bathing suit, you will see I am holding a beer. But alas, it was a super crappy nonalcoholic version of beer called O'Doul's (BAH). I just had to participate somehow since my whole family can't seem to stay on the beach without an ice cold beer in hand. I grew up this way. Have beach? Have Beer (or Bloody Mary's)! And since I married a man who loves this philosophy as much as I did I was truly having withdraws on this trip. Some might mention I was a bit "cranky" and I am sure I was... But I was fat and achy couldn't enjoy my usual Bud Light and I was tired people! Which brings me to number 5...

5) Fatigue... Oh lord. The first trimester and the 3rd trimester all I wanted to do was sleep... And most of the time I couldn't. If it wasn’t the heartburn it was my child playing hockey within my uterus. His favorite scoring shot? My ribs or (for extra fun) my "Who Who." Also called the "Pelvic Floor" as my OB described to me one in a matter of fact type way. He was male. I sometimes hated him.

6) Swelling and Gas. I think it is safe to say that the last 6 weeks of my pregnancy I was easily mistaken for a Hot Air Blimp. Puffy, swollen, stretched to the max and full of hot air. This was also the phase where my husband (for some reason) decided to point out the fact that my nose had "shifted"
I sometimes hated him too.

7) Insecurities and a bit of the "crazies".. On the days when I didn’t hate my husband I was convinced he was going to leave me. In fact so convinced was I one day that I actually followed him to the local Starbucks and waited for him to flirt with the barista who was much slimmer, cuter and Non-pregnant than me. He of course never left me, and only reassured me of his love for me when I would fling my swollen butt into his arms and plea with him if I was pretty and hoped he still found me attractive while me and my "shifting" nose turned red and runny from all the crying.

Reasons on Why I miss being Pregnant.....

1) My BOOBS!!!

Back when I was still pumping and had clevage

 I didn't have any before pregnancy (I am barely a 34 B and when I say barely I mean BARELY...) After the kiddo's and rounds of nursing and pumping I not only lost my sassy girls I also suffered from a case of "Invert-a-titus". Not sure what that is??  I will explain. Take your boob, turn it inside out and flatten. Leave only the nipple. There you go.

2)       The ability to eat what I wanted when I wanted and how much I wanted. I was lucky. Both pregnancies were normal and healthy. Sure I gained 40 lbs each pregnancy but that wasn’t my fault.  I had decided to breed with a man who comes from a long line of heavy pounders. . His own mother birthed him at over 10 lbs. She still hasn't forgiven him. I can’t say I blame her...

3)      The butterflies.... Sigh I really do miss this part. That first flutter  the first tickle coming within. I loved and savored just about every minute of that. And as the baby got bigger I was able to provide my husband with nonstop entertainment of watching my huge belly jump up and down, slide from side to side and when we were feeling extra crazy would lay the TV remote on top of me and watch it get kicked off. Good times!!!!

4)       The Ultrasounds process. Okay how wicked cool are ultra sounds now? Even in my day (only 6 years ago thank you very much) they weren't as cool with all the 3-D and movie like effects... But I remember being so excited for each and every ultra sounds we had. To see, to hear to watch, was truly a wonderful moment for me and my husband who was just as memorized as I.

5)       Pampering. From getting out of having to take any part of when we packed up and moved from our old house to our current one, to also being able to park much closer to stores thanks to the “Reserved for Expectant" mothers parking spots. I got offered seats all the time, was given extra special glances (usually from the sweet little old ladies) and on occasion my husband would suffer through an obligatory foot rub and then reward himself afterwards with a glass of scotch. The extra TLC was great and of course always appreciated.

Of course what I will miss the most, the real story here is that exact moment when you become a Mom weather it is your first second or fifth, that very breath you take the minute you see him or her…  Well that is something every Mom could never ever get tired of nor could ever get enough of.  I don't think a day has gone by when I haven't thought about or reflected on that since first glance at both of my boys.

My first Eye Contact with Evan in the recovery room

And Ryan who was a NICU baby.

And all the swollen, nose shifting, backaching, heartburning lose the bobbies moments I sure am glad that My world is fully of Mommy hupla.  The good the bad, the scary and downright entertaining that has left me with six wonderful years to reflect on and be greatful for.
So here to all the Mommies out there, and all the past, present and future moments all to be taken with the camera of our own hearts, to be treasured for a lifetime of  reflections

With love,
Mary

P.S.  I still found a Quote.

A baby asked God, "They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?"

"Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you."

The child further inquired, "But tell me, here in heaven I don't have to do anything but sing and smile to be happy."

God said, "Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you. And you will feel your angel's love and be very happy."

Again the child asked, "And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me if I don't know the language?"

God said, "Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak."

"And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?"

God said, "Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray."

"Who will protect me?"

God said, "Your angel will defend you even if it means risking it's life."

"But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore."

God said, "Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you."

At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, "God, if I am to leave now, please tell me my angel's name."

"You will simply call her, 'Mom.'"

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