Boy how things change when you have children. It seems like such a cliché statement but every word of the sentence is true. Matt and I went on a long overdue date this weekend and I realized that we are so out of tune with our “old” lifestyle. We have left our DINK way of life (Double Income No Kids). Prior to having Harper it was not uncommon for us to eat dinner out 4-5 nights per week. We knew all of the great hotspots and most weekends our evenings didn’t even get started until after 8 or 9 pm. We never batted an eye on menu prices or drink prices. Now, most of the time, I am reading the backs of my eyelids by 9pm and we are looking for the early bird specials!
Matt’s parents were very gracious to give us a night off while Matt and I went out to one of our favorite restaurants for an early Valentine’s Day dinner. A place that we use to be persistent customers and even use to receive complimentary gift certificates because we accumulated lots of frequent diner points for eating there so often. Because the place gets packed on the weekends, we left our house around 5:45 pm eager to have a night out alone. Even at this early of an hour, we arrived with a 1 ½ hour wait. Back in the day, we would have gone to back to the bar for a few drinks with friends and the time would have passed by so quickly. But, these days our patience level for waiting so long wasn’t what it use to be. So, we opted for first come, first serve counter seating after about 15 minutes – which is a great place to people watch and get good ideas for what to order.
After browsing the menu, we both had selected our favorites – I got fresh Halibut with rice and clam chowder and Matt got fried jumbo shrimp with salad and rice. Although price did jump off the page more so than in the past, we vowed to not think about money since it had been so long since we had treated ourselves to a nice night out. Since we were so early for dinner, we were able to take advantage of the early bird pricing anyway which was a nice surprise.
We had so much fun talking and laughing without having to worry about keeping Harper seated in his high chair or having to entertain him while the other one did the talking. Although, most of the time, we found that our conversation centered on Harper and BB – but, it was still nice to have an uninterrupted conversation.
When our dinner arrived, our conversation nearly ceased and we put almost 100% focus on eating our delicious meal. After 20 or so minutes we both looked up and realized that we had eaten every morsel of food on our plates. We laughed and chalked it up to the fact that it had been a VERY long time since we had had a meal that was so good. Normally we would have split our favorite dessert – Raspberry Almond Torte – but instead, we opted to get our own because after all, it was a special occasion and we were both in no mood to share. As with dinner, the only thing left on our dessert plates were crumbs. I’m sure our waitress must have thought that neither of us had eaten in a few days – or maybe we just had that look of a socially deprived parent on our faces.
After paying the bill, we realized it was only 7:20 pm! What were we going to do with a few hours to kill? A few years ago, we would have felt that the night was young and we would have had a list a mile long of things that we could do. But instead, we were like two awkward adults in a foreign land – what do we do, where do we go? Had it really been that long since we had a night out that we had totally forgotten what adults do without children? After driving around for a bit, we decided to go walk around at the outdoor shopping mall and visit the bookstore. Once there, we were like two lost pups trying to find our way around the dark. The bookstore seemed odd since neither of us have picked up a book without rhyming sentences or Sesame Street characters in a long time. We both wandered aimlessly in and out of the aisles trying to find something to catch our attention – of course, I found myself spending most of the time at the children’s table trying to see which of the books Harper didn’t own yet.
By about 8:30, we were both so tired that we decided to call it a night. Plus, walking around on concrete is not what I call fun now that I am at the end of the second trimester. Between my back hurting and my eyelids becoming heavy we decided to return home. It was fun having a night out together, but we did realize that nothing will ever be the same. We are motivated by different things, our priorities are in a different place and our minds our consumed by our children (both born and unborn). We see the world through a different set of lenses – yet it is fun to cherish some time alone on occasions such as these but it is also fun to return home and wrap your arms around your little one (even when they are sleeping!).
When people tell you that life will be different, they are so right and yet you could have never predicted how. But, I think “different” is defined by each individual and you will never know what “different” will be until you are there. I am the first to admit that our lives are now very kid-centered, but I also won’t lie that a little alone time with Matt is a much needed treasure every now and again. But, like most parents will tell you, your thoughts and conversation while you are alone still seem to gravitate back to the kids. So, I guess this is our new reality of a date or time alone…. Different but honestly it seems more fulfilling!
In closing I thought I would give a brief update of how the pregnancy is going. I am now going into my 27th week and I feel like my spine has been replaced by a steel rod, my inner thighs feel like I have been doing splits all day and my heartburn feels as if someone dropped an alcohol soaked rag down in my gut. Other than that, BB is still active as ever – I swear he is going to be a rambunctious and active child because he is continually providing swift kicks throughout the day – especially when I eat something sugary (which is with most of my meals!). It is becoming harder to get a good nights rest and even harder to “hip” Harper with my big belly pooching out. I’m starting to look like a barefoot and pregnant stereotype. But, my spirits are high, my attitude is good and most importantly I think we have settled on a name. If you will recall in a previous blog, the only name we could agree on was one that we would be “stealing” from another child at Harper’s daycare. I am happy to report that I ran into the mother today and asked for her permission in using the name. To my surprise, she was happy to share and she even provided me with the name’s origin and meaning. I almost felt like I got a bargain on that one. The name is under wraps for now – I think we might keep it a surprise. But, if you know me – I hate surprises and secrets so who knows I might have to share in the coming weeks!
Monday, February 12, 2007
Saturday, February 03, 2007
Our Little Samurai!
I have gained 8 pounds in one month. That is roughly 2 pounds per week and trust me, I can feel the difference between this month and last. I am going into my 26th week and have gained a total of 15 pounds. Pretty good considering that BB is already well over a pound and a half himself and over 12 inches long! Of course, the chocolate covered Dove ice-cream bars that I have been eating on occasion has surely contributed to this gain as well. But, they make BB happy so I have to eat them .
This week I had another ultrasound and I also had my monthly doctor’s visit. The ultrasound was great because I was finally able to confirm what I have been saying for the last month and a half. I do have an active and accomplished samurai / acrobat in my belly. The ultrasonographer could not stop laughing during the appointment because BB was putting on such a show! He would do 360 degree turns both sideways and forwards for the entire ½ hour that I was there. So, my perception that I have a baby that is continuously kicking the crap out of my insides is true – I witnessed it on the screen first hand. In addition, BB successfully showed us that he is all boy. About midway through the appointment, he reached down and grabbed his wee-wee. I think he just wanted to remind me that he is full of testosterone! We both had a great chuckle. The sonogram went well and they were able to get all of the appropriate measurements they needed. The ultrasonographer said that in her opinion we have a very healthy and VERY active baby that is developing. Before leaving, she told me to get plenty of rest over the next several months because if her predictions are correct, I am not going to get very much rest after his arrival! Matt and I keep asking ourselves if it is possible that BB could be more active than Harper. I think we are going to have our hands full and constantly be entertained for the next 18 years and beyond!
My doctor’s appointment went very well, too. BB’s heart rate is strong, my blood pressure is great and I am still feeling good given the circumstances. Dr. Sharp did give us a wake up call that this appointment was our last one before I enter my third and final trimester….. UGH – where has time gone! I have one more monthly appointment and then I start seeing the doctor every other week. He also reminded us that, although rare, premature labor can happen and we are entering the time where the baby can live outside of the womb. So, he slipped us the phone number to the University of Utah’s Labor and Deliver along with signs and symptoms to be aware of for premature labor. Although I don’t anticipate needing it anytime soon, I still input it into my cell phone memory just in case.
In ending this week, I wanted to share my most recent embarrassing moment that may or may not be related to pregnancy. But, I would like to think I would be more careful in a “normal” state of mind. Yesterday, I went to our work cafeteria to order a grilled ham and cheese and french fries with fry sauce. (For those of you who do not live in Utah you will probably be saying what the heck is “fry sauce”? Well it is a concoction that Utahans eat with their fries, instead of ketchup, that is pretty damn tasty. When you first move here, you swear that you will never eat it, but ten years later you travel outside of the state and wonder why the rest of the country hasn’t picked up on what a great combo fry sauce is with French fries – it is simply a half and half pinkish mixture of mayonnaise and ketchup that is used for dipping. In some “specialty” restaurants, BBQ sauce and mayo might be used – which is just as tasty.) Sorry for the digression but I thought it warranted an explanation.
Anyway, while waiting on my fries and sandwich I pumped heaping portions of fry sauce into two dipping cups. Once I got my plate, I placed the filled dipping cups on top of my food and headed out to the tables to salt my fries before returning to my office. When I had gone about 10-15 yards to a table to get the salt, two gentleman got my attention from across the room. They said “mam you have fry sauce dripping all down the front of you.” When I looked down, I wanted to laugh, cry and crawl under a table at the same time. Sure enough, I had this pinkish mixture dripping from my belly to my shoes and there was a flow coming from my plate only adding to the current mess. As I tried to keep my composure and get myself cleaned up, another gentleman had gotten up from his seat and was cleaning up the trail of fry sauce that I had left from the cash register to where I was standing. It was everywhere!!!!….. I had this thought that people were probably staring and thinking “the poor pregnant girl – look how clumsy. I guess that is what she deserves for feeding her unborn baby such an “un-nutritionally” balanced meal.”
Once I was able to get myself and the floor cleaned up (with the help of the very nice gentleman), I rushed back to my office to hide. I felt like the biggest, pregnant, messiest slob! I convinced myself that this would have never happened if I weren’t pregnant – and it probably wouldn’t have because I don’t think I could have ever been hungry enough to order food from our yucky cafeteria and I wouldn’t have been greedy enough to try and fill both of my 2 tablespoon dipping cups with 1/3 cups of fry sauce each! Oh well, this is what happens when you are pregnant – food is so enticing that you are oblivious when it is dripping all down your front. You only have one thing on your mind – “I’m starving and when can I eat?” – your dignity seems to be an afterthought!
This week I had another ultrasound and I also had my monthly doctor’s visit. The ultrasound was great because I was finally able to confirm what I have been saying for the last month and a half. I do have an active and accomplished samurai / acrobat in my belly. The ultrasonographer could not stop laughing during the appointment because BB was putting on such a show! He would do 360 degree turns both sideways and forwards for the entire ½ hour that I was there. So, my perception that I have a baby that is continuously kicking the crap out of my insides is true – I witnessed it on the screen first hand. In addition, BB successfully showed us that he is all boy. About midway through the appointment, he reached down and grabbed his wee-wee. I think he just wanted to remind me that he is full of testosterone! We both had a great chuckle. The sonogram went well and they were able to get all of the appropriate measurements they needed. The ultrasonographer said that in her opinion we have a very healthy and VERY active baby that is developing. Before leaving, she told me to get plenty of rest over the next several months because if her predictions are correct, I am not going to get very much rest after his arrival! Matt and I keep asking ourselves if it is possible that BB could be more active than Harper. I think we are going to have our hands full and constantly be entertained for the next 18 years and beyond!
My doctor’s appointment went very well, too. BB’s heart rate is strong, my blood pressure is great and I am still feeling good given the circumstances. Dr. Sharp did give us a wake up call that this appointment was our last one before I enter my third and final trimester….. UGH – where has time gone! I have one more monthly appointment and then I start seeing the doctor every other week. He also reminded us that, although rare, premature labor can happen and we are entering the time where the baby can live outside of the womb. So, he slipped us the phone number to the University of Utah’s Labor and Deliver along with signs and symptoms to be aware of for premature labor. Although I don’t anticipate needing it anytime soon, I still input it into my cell phone memory just in case.
In ending this week, I wanted to share my most recent embarrassing moment that may or may not be related to pregnancy. But, I would like to think I would be more careful in a “normal” state of mind. Yesterday, I went to our work cafeteria to order a grilled ham and cheese and french fries with fry sauce. (For those of you who do not live in Utah you will probably be saying what the heck is “fry sauce”? Well it is a concoction that Utahans eat with their fries, instead of ketchup, that is pretty damn tasty. When you first move here, you swear that you will never eat it, but ten years later you travel outside of the state and wonder why the rest of the country hasn’t picked up on what a great combo fry sauce is with French fries – it is simply a half and half pinkish mixture of mayonnaise and ketchup that is used for dipping. In some “specialty” restaurants, BBQ sauce and mayo might be used – which is just as tasty.) Sorry for the digression but I thought it warranted an explanation.
Anyway, while waiting on my fries and sandwich I pumped heaping portions of fry sauce into two dipping cups. Once I got my plate, I placed the filled dipping cups on top of my food and headed out to the tables to salt my fries before returning to my office. When I had gone about 10-15 yards to a table to get the salt, two gentleman got my attention from across the room. They said “mam you have fry sauce dripping all down the front of you.” When I looked down, I wanted to laugh, cry and crawl under a table at the same time. Sure enough, I had this pinkish mixture dripping from my belly to my shoes and there was a flow coming from my plate only adding to the current mess. As I tried to keep my composure and get myself cleaned up, another gentleman had gotten up from his seat and was cleaning up the trail of fry sauce that I had left from the cash register to where I was standing. It was everywhere!!!!….. I had this thought that people were probably staring and thinking “the poor pregnant girl – look how clumsy. I guess that is what she deserves for feeding her unborn baby such an “un-nutritionally” balanced meal.”
Once I was able to get myself and the floor cleaned up (with the help of the very nice gentleman), I rushed back to my office to hide. I felt like the biggest, pregnant, messiest slob! I convinced myself that this would have never happened if I weren’t pregnant – and it probably wouldn’t have because I don’t think I could have ever been hungry enough to order food from our yucky cafeteria and I wouldn’t have been greedy enough to try and fill both of my 2 tablespoon dipping cups with 1/3 cups of fry sauce each! Oh well, this is what happens when you are pregnant – food is so enticing that you are oblivious when it is dripping all down your front. You only have one thing on your mind – “I’m starving and when can I eat?” – your dignity seems to be an afterthought!
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