THERE'S A LOT OF LA LA IN LA LA LAND..."

I am not sure if I am like all 2nd time around mother's but...I have to say, motherhood is the hardest thing you will ever love. I ready some of these other pregnancy blogs and mommy blogs and wonder where do you live in La La Land? Why is everything seen through rose colored glasses? Don't they want to crawl up in a ball and cry like a baby, in the dark? Doesn't everyone feel that way after they have a child? AND if you get to live in La La Land, why don't I live there too? This shit's hard man...really hard...totally awesome but HARD as hell! Harder than any job, any relationship, anything really...

BUT you end up with something so very magical, that makes it all worth while. This is the person who loves and hugs me no matter what, the person who snuggles at 5:30 AM when I want to crawl under the covers and go back to sleep. The little munchkin that tells me she loves me all the time for no reason at all, the little one that hates to see me in pain, and sticks up for me when Brian raises his voice:) She is the best parts of me and the best parts of Brian. Aiden is THE best thing I have EVER done in my life; she is my heart walking around outside of my body. SO, when people ask my why I am so honest about everything and why do I let it all hang out, namely my pregnancy...I just need to show them this, THIS is why! It is really so worth it in the end...AND I guess in some ways, sometimes I do live in La La Land and at other times I do not. What I do know is that we are all human. I like the blogs that tell the WHOLE truth and not just the best parts of their day, but all their sides.. the hard parts of their days with kids too!

THE WEAR IN "WHAT NOT TO WEAR?"

Do you ever wear things simply for comfort? Do you know at the age of 34 I just realized that I do not! NOT Even in pregnancy? Never really have to be honest. I am finding this out now because I bought something a while ago and wore it yesterday from NYC to the burbs and just felt SUPER comfy; but not super fashiony...ACTUALLY, I felt kinda fat! WHICH is never a good thing for someone A. who is pregnant and B. who is in fashion. BUT why? I am 6 months pregnant shouldn't I be able to throw on some schmata situation at least once in a while, and really feel comfortable?

I don't believe you have to sacrifice feeling and looking good while pregnant, BUT there does come a time when you should probably at the very least step into a maternity store to check out the scene. To be perfectly honest 90% of my wardrobe during pregnancy is just bigger sizes, since it's so easy to do that nowadays! BUT I do need SOME things maternity just for comfort at the very least. Maternity clothing is also made perfectly when it comes to your bump. It does however KILL me every time I have to step into a store. The other thing I often do is wear things that I wore before I was pregnant, stretch them out and then throw them away right after the baby is born. I just can't justify wearing them before, during and then after pregnancy (we are talking months after) as it will just remind me of how annoyed I was, that I could not wear all my fun clothes for 9 months!

Let's talk shoes for a moment. If any of you reading this know and really know me then you know I am a 5-7 inch high heel wearer EVERY day of the week...morning, noon to night. I RARELY sacrifice comfort for shoes it's just the way I am...and what I am use to. HOWEVER I do love being pregnant through the summer for a variety of reasons i.e. less clothing to wear (the thought of putting on a coat, jeans, sweaters, etc. in the winter while preggers makes my cringe) on top of this weight, AND I love the fact that there are great inexpensive (and expensive:) flat footwear options! It's just easier at 6 months throwing on flats and then wearing the heels I love when need be. My staple is a maxi dress and a great flat...something fitted is always great too to play up the belly; and really you don't need MORE material when you are pregnant, just bigger sizes:) One of the best things is being stared out for being pregnant NOT just for being fat!!!

I do talk more about what to wear and what not to wear in my guide, along with some great sites I live by...where to shop while pregnant, etc....stay tuned!
XOXO
BTC

"YOU WANT THE TRUTH, YOU WANT THE TRUTH, YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!"

**I need to begin this post with a very light heart and say I DO NOT judge, or at least I AIM not to judge. I do however sometimes question how people think...I guess that may or may not push some people's buttons!

Why is it that some people feel the need to hold everything so close to them that they won't share things like the sex, name, etc. of their baby? I SO get when there is a reason to not share things, but I don't get it if there is NO real reason at all! Although I appreciate everyone's differences I don't really understand it?

Take this for example the people who know the sex of the baby (which means of course it is not a surprise) but don't want to tell anyone the name? Why is that? Why do so many people care what so many people think? I personally don't really care what other's opinions are when it comes to things like that...BUT I also understand not everyone is like me in that way; AND I TOTALLY get how people think that's free range for an opinion...WHICH it is not!

Here's another example when you actually do let everyone know everything, why on earth do they have the right to give you feedback when you don't ask for it OR want it?? I LOVE when that happens!!! I DO think that the less you care about what everyone else thinks in situations such as these...the better. Then I toy with the notion do people not want to tell things like names and stuff because their names actually suck? And they know it? Do they not want to share the sex because they are not happy with the outcome? Mmmm...for the most part, my girlfriends just let it all hang out...and I am very thankful for that...because if I can't share things like that with them, what can we share? Do we make decisions based on what we think others will think? That would be so sad, or do we make decisions despite others? Truly, probably a little bit of both, me included. I am certainly not exempt from all of the above, although I do tend to just tell everyone, everything...names, sex (in this case we know it, last time we did not), etc. I don't want everyone to be like me or the world would not be as colorful as it is! I do also know that when people do choose to be so secretive it can a bit annoying. If you think people seem a little annoyed about it then you are right...we are...but maybe that's because you keep things so secretive that we can't really ever get close to you...or maybe that's what you want? All things to ponder...

**I am thankful for Dana, Carrie, BO, Danielle, Lindsay, Betsy, Cara and then some...I love you girls and I love you for always putting it out there for everyone to see, I guess that's why you are all my best friends...and we feel more like sisters:)

Some things to think about...Short, sweet and STRAIGHT to the point:)

More to come kids, more to come...
XOXO
BTC

YOU ARE HAVING A.....BOIRL?

I overheard a conversation the other day at the bank between 2 women...probably in their late 30's early 40's, about a friend that was about 6 months pregnant. Apparently the "friend" did not want to know the sex of her baby, so her friends took the liberty of deciding what their girlfriend was having. I stood there listening to their reasons which brings me to this post...

When is it just normal fun to try and figure out what you and/or a friend is having? When do the crazy suggestions cross a line? AND how do people honestly believe the bullshit about what the sex of someone's baby is? I have to be honest, I can't really find truth to most of the myths. I mean at times I really do try...but then there are just so many things that prove them wrong! AND more importantly, how do such smart people believe such dumb things??? Case in point...
A. What about girls that don't get sick during pregnancy AND are pregnant with girls?
B. Girls pregnant with boys that puke their entire pregnancy?
C. Girls that carry out in front, low and like a basketball and have a girl not a boy?
E. Women who look and feel exactly the same as they did (within reason) before they got pregnant and have the sex where that's not suppose to happen?
Truly, I could go on and on and on...so how do we put a stop to this madness? I love those people who say (after you have the kid) I KNEW you were having a ___! I want to be like you got lucky! At times, some of the myths will fall true...but that's just a normal percentage people would actually get right.

Which way do you fall? Do you think we have to believe in the myths to make the journey more bearable, more fun?

I am taking a week off with my family and spending time with Aiden, giving C some time off and spending it the last summer before the new addition arrives. We are not doing much, just fun things locally...it's not super fun for me to go anywhere at the moment:) BUT, none the less...I am going to TRY and step back from work at the office and enjoy the time I have with her..in this AFRICA heat we have going on today, in NYC.

Be back tomorrow with God knows what!!!
XOXO
BTC

"STAND AND DELIVER"

Why is it that every time a pregnant person gets on a bus or a subway (I can really only speak for NYC), hardly anyone stands up?

It is always the ones that don't stand up, you particularly think should. The able bodied men, the perfectly fine women, etc. Why on earth is that? I have to say before I was married, had a kid, etc. I always stood to offer children, the elderly and pregnant women a seat. I especially think that men who are in their 30's, 40's, 50's should absolutely STAND THE HELL UP! I mean for the most I would assume most of them have children themselves, which means they are connected to wives that bore their children; which in turn means they were at some point pregnant. It is really irony at its best.

Case in point. Yesterday I walked onto the bus and it was pretty crowded. It was 90 degrees in NYC and I was TIRED from the day. Needless to say I could have used a seat to sit in. I was standing over a man and next to a woman who presumably could have totally stood up, BUT they did not. I stood there looking like a complete ass b/c you are barely able to contain your yourself from bumping into people, as the bus stops and moves and moves and stops and moves and stops! Finally one woman sitting in front of me says (and I am dead serious), "Excuse me there is an open seat over there?" NOW A. the seat was all the way in the front of the crowded bus and I was near the back B. it would have taken me a long time to get there and really by the time I did get up there, someone would have already taken it! C. what the hell was wrong with her perfectly fine legs that she can't get her ass up off the seat, to let me sit? AAAAmzing!!!

What about the women that look at you like you are nuts when you accidentally hit them with your bag, because you are being tossed around like a salad! Or the men that pretend to not see you while they bury their noses in a book! OR my all time personal favorite the ones that pretend that they are sleeping and then pop up when it's their stop. I LOVE those people, LOVE...

Bottom line is get up when you see someone who is pregnant or for anyone who needs a seat I should really say, unless you can't get up for whatever reason . Make it known when others can get up and they don't, open your mouth and say something. People like me will really appreciate it.

That's it for the week! Have a fantastic weekend with your family, friends, dog, whomever...

xoxo
BTC

'WE MUST, WE MUST, WE MUST INCREASE OUR BUST...

THE BIGGER THE BETTER, THE TIGHTER THE SWEATER THE BOYS DEPEND ON US!"

I have never had a shortage of boobage. I have always been quite well endowed in that dept. whether I like it or not. Sometimes it's a benefit, but most of the time it is not. When not pregnant finding clothing is utterly exhausting! When pregnant it's just a total SHIT SHOW! The size of my boobs after just week 4 of pregnancy is seriously obnoxious. Some women would say, "oh come on they are great, you look great", these are usually the women that have mosquito bites for tits. Then you have the women who empathize with you and know that these knockers are like carrying 10 pounds weights ALL the time! I am not sure what's worse...I don't need sympathy I have enough of that on my own to go around, I don't need staring and I certainly don't need little boobs telling me that it's great to have them!

Traveling back and forth to my office now (which literally consists of a NYC bus ride that provides door to door service) is now becoming increasingly difficult with these boobs, this belly and my bag; which I schlepp back and forth. I wonder if I did not have the extra 20 pounds of boobaliciousness would that make a difference? HELL YEAH! Imagine carrying watermelons around everyday on top of your baby. I have actually have had Brian stand in front of me, hold onto my boobs in his hand so he can feel the magnitude of what I am talking about. While he is holding them it feels like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders...literally. Once he lets go I want to die...which brings me to my next venture DA DA DA...A BREAST REDUCTION!

After this baby is born (and even if we decided to have another one) I have began the lengthy process of getting a breast reduction. My entire life has been filled with "FUN BAGS" that do not fit my body and never have! Although my male friends and Brian's too think it's actually comical, I on the other hand do not. When is enough, enough? Well I will tell you when, when your daughter likes to put her hands down your shirt and play with them in public. When your daughter looks at you and says mama your boobies are SO big, will I have boobies like that? When they no longer fit into clothing on the top AT all unless you begin to shop in sizes you did not even know existed, and lastly when you would surgically remove them yourself if taking pain killers was kosher while preggers.

So there you have it if you are lucky enough to barely have to wear a bra then MAZOL! If you are like me then lord help you...because believe me you, I know you need it!

Have a great day in this TARZAN COULDN'T TAKE THIS HEAT kinda day!
XOXO
BTC

JUDGEMENT DAY!

There are times in life when a woman encounters more competition than normal--big birthdays, graduations, the boyfriend/dating years, applying to colleges, getting your first job, getting engaged, getting married...and then of course having a child. I am not sure why women compete in all that they do, not everyone...but most. I don't exclude myself from this I just like to think that I (at the very least) try and curb it when dealing with things that are utterly ridiculous!

My feeling is this--you have girlfriends you love and trust and can tell ANYTHING to, then you have girlfriends that you love but wouldn't DARE tell anything to, for the simple fact that you know they would be judging you the entire time! Then there are "Friends" who simply judge everything about everyone at anytime...I hope to NEVER be one of those people AND believe me you if you think you might be one of those people, then you are. There is no exception to the rules with these "types" of women, so when you are pregnant everything you do, see and feel is under a microscope! Whether it is where you will be giving birth, where you live, where the kids will eventually go to school, who your doctor is, I could go on and on and on...they leave no stone unturned. You would think that given the circumstance the pretentious poops would just go let it go, but they do not...they simply lay low and then POUNCE every little chance that they get! Honestly, I think it comes from their own bouts of self doubt and insecurities. You know, break you down to build themselves up kinda thing...because at the end of the day, why does it matter to them what you are doing during your pregnancy? Where you live? Who your Dr. is? Where you will be giving birth? I certainly could care less where they hell the conduct their business!

Have any of you experienced what I am talking about? Do you have friends you just want to strangle when it comes to stuff like this? Do you feel like all eyes are on you when you talk about names, schools, living locations, etc? I certainly do! It's insane how that works. I find that it actually gets worse once you have children, it's pretty bad during engagement and wedding season...but at that time you are so on cloud nine you barely care to realize it's going on. THEN the babies start coming and it's taken to a whole new level.

Bottom line is we all eat and shit the same way. We all breathe and sleep, work and play the same. So why anyone feels it's necessary to hide behind their insecurities and make others feel less secure is beyond me. I am still trying to figure that one out, and have been since I was about 10. DON'T be your own worse enemy and play into that crap. Do whatever you want, wherever you want, with whomever you want and don't think for a moment you need to care what anyone else thinks!

Just another joyous day in the world of babies and bellies!

More to come kids...more to come...
BTC

"HOLY SH_T BALLS" I LOOKED PREGNANT BEFORE I EVEN TOOK THE TEST!

What the hell is it about the 2nd time around that makes it different from the first? Other than the...I am SO happy to be pregnant, this is all so fun, let's pick out names, I love my belly, let's register, blah, blah blah... You A. know what to expect B. feel pregnant before it even happens C. worry about every possible thing (which is ironic in a way because it's your 2nd time) and D. look pregnant before you can even say, POSITIVE!

I remember that faithful February 2010 day when I first took a test. I was meeting my business parter Beth and our client Ali Galgano (founder/CEO of Charm and Chain) at an accessories trade-show downtown. Our first intention was to go to the shows and then end with a nice afternoon cocktail, but that was about to change. After feeling a bit crampy for about a week I took the test that Sunday morning, holding my breath and the stick. It read positive in a similar way that it had the 1st time around, but this time I ran into the bedroom to tell Brian while he was cuddling with Aiden. I am painting a much different picture than the day I tested for baby #1. That lovely day I had woken up still drunk from the night before and was simply bored. I then decided to take a hand me down test that a collegue from work had given to me, just because. At that very moment this go round I remember looking down at my belly and thinking...OMG I feel it already, is that even possible? Is the pouch now even pouchier? I looked down again and then at the mirror and literally started putting clothing away. It was the beginning of the end.

What is it about the 2nd time that makes you SO much more "preggers" that much faster? I mean, besides the obvious, "My body remembers"...it's certainly mental and definitely physical, but does it really get easier the more you do it? Like sex with that person you are not so familiar with in the beginning? Then it should be just like riding a bike! I don't know, I don't know if I believe that. BUT then again, why on earth would people have 4 kids or worse...MORE! 85% of the time during my pregnancy I feel pretty good. I stay active, I love what I do for a living, spend time with our friends and family, etc. But the other 15% of the time I want to rock back and forth in a corner with a straight jacket, while heavily medicated. Those are the times that stop me from wanting more. Then that feeling passes again and I consider going for round 3rd. I guess that's when it happens, that's when I will want to have sex to make more babies...during the 85% not the 15% of the time. I imagine trying to get it on with me during the 15% of the time would be challenging for Brian, straight jacket, meds and all!

So, there you have it. Maybe they are right when they say the 3rd time is a charm. LORD only knows...as my grandmother use to say, "ONE NEVER KNOWS, DO ONE!" (FROM THE PLAY, "AIN'T MIS-BEHAVIN")

More to come kids...more to come...
BTC

CHANGING THE WAY I SEE FATHER'S DAY...

I have to admit Father's Day use to roll around, come and go and I really could have cared less. After my own father died it seemed like a pointless holiday. It has now taken on a WHOLE new meaning for me, one that is a day filled with love and hugs between my husband and my daughter; it's a day I get to observe the love between Brian and Aiden.

Having a little girl and seeing her with her dad is THE single most amazing thing, ever! I never knew how amazing it could be until I was able to see Brian and Aiden's relationship flourish. As she gets older and he is more in-tuned with her wants and needs it is quite amazing to see them together. Their interaction, the way they play together, the love...all of it. I see it as though she "needs" her mom but "wants" her daddy. I know that not all men are involved the way he is, but I do see the same relationships amongst my male friends and their daughters. I think the relationship changes may be due in part to the differences between generations. Do you have a bond like that with your father? If you are in your 20's, 30's or even 40's do you see the difference that I see? I feel as though mistakes that may have been made by our own fathers are now being corrected by the new generation of men; in a very positive way. In honor of Father's Day I wanted to highlight all of the amazing things my husband does for our daughter Aiden.

Brian is patient, attentive and 100% hands on. He never complains when she complains about the smallest bug in the world, sitting outside in the grass that she wants her daddy to move. He never has a shortage of hands to pick her up in any situation and will do anything to make her laugh. He will dress up in pearls and feathers and sit in her play area, while she puts a girly crown on his head and calls him a princess. The pool is never too cold to go into even at 7 AM when it's cloudy if that's what his little girl wants. He changed diapers, spit up, and then some, he allows her to call him Brian even though he prefers being referred to as daddy; and baby-sits anytime mama wants to go do something on her own. He is a true man in every sense on the word. I hope (and I speak for everyone who knows Brian) that she finds someone as wonderful as him, to share her life with when she is of age. SO, in honor of Father's Day I celebrate Aiden and Brian's amazing daddy/daughter bond, that is unbreakable...I love him more than I did the day we met and love him more each day because he is Aiden's daddy.

I hope all of you had a wonderful day with your fathers (or anyone you spent the day with), just remember it's not what you do or what you give and get it's how you love.

More to come kids, more to come...
BTC

IS THE BABY IN THE BOWL?

**FIRST of all, I am OBSESSED with this, check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKgaw4gtxFw&feature=player_embedded

I often think about what it would be like if I sat on the bowl pushing out a poop and out came my baby. Think about it like this, how hard would I really have to push for that to happen? When you are giving birth they tell you to bear down like you are pushing out a bowel movement, so if they baby were technically ready to come out then would it happen?

Constipation is certainly a part of pregnancy even if you have never suffered a day of constipation in your life when you are not pregnant! I feel extremely lucky to never have had this problem when NOT pregnant; however I have not been so lucky during both my pregnancies. At one point I told Brian (and friends) I thought I was having contractions at like 4 moths as a result of stomach spasms; due to constipation. Here are some things you can take (ONLY IF YOUR DOCTOR RECOMMENDS) to relieve some of the built up, tushy tension: Colace ( take that 1-3 times a day). IF I am DESPERATE you can gag your way through Milk of Magnesium and then in 12 hours you will have a fun filled, serious bout of dia. AGAIN, these are simply suggestions and things that my dr. had recommended to me...you MUST MUST check with your physician. Also recommended are Fleet adult suppositories. If you are comfortable sticking things up your butt (no pun intended) a suppository will work you out in a matter of moments! A last resort I would say...but definitely doable!

You can certainly eat the fiber rich foods, help things down that little highway of yours...whole grains, fruits, veggies, etc. but I know for some that's not possible. You sometimes don't love the things you love when not pregnant, so if you can't do that...well this too shall pass. Excercise (this I can attest to) DOES in fact help. I guess all the movement works it down? Who knows...

So there you have it, I often worry about pushing the baby out while pooping. If you have not ever felt that way, you are going to think that I am crazy. If you have felt that way, but never admitted it out-loud you are probably STILL going to think I am crazy...what can you do...

Have a great weekend all...more to come next week!
XO
BTC

"HOT DAMN GIRL YOU LOOK GOOOOOOD!" HUH? ARE YOU TALKING TO ME?

Morning everyone!

Mornings in NYC can be interesting...whether it's your commute to work (strange people on the train, bus, etc.), trying to hail a taxi for 20 minutes watching every other F__ER get one and you can't, or just starting off on the wrong foot at home with your loved one, child, etc., there is always DRAMA of some sort in New York City in the morning. I am hard pressed to believe that anyone is exempt, even the bridge and tunnelers!

However, when you walk down the street in the am (or really anytime of day as a woman) you are certainly privy to all of the delicious cat calling that goes on. It could be a passing car, the cliche construction workers, women who look like men... whomever, you just know it's bound to happen to you at some point or another. Some of you may find this extremely interesting, but more importantly surprising that it still occurs even when you are pregnant! Now I feel a couple different ways about this. First thing that comes to mind, WTF are you thinking? I obviously did not impregnate myself so 9 out of 10 times there is a mate in the picture. Two, WTF are you thinking? I am SO not looking my best; I want to yell at the top of my lungs, "ASSHOLE YOU SHOULD SEE WHAT I GOT GOING ON WHEN I AM NOT PREGNANT!" It just amazes me, it really does! Do you think they have wives? Would they want some man yelling that at their pregnant daughter? I think NOT! I mean really, my husband does not even look at me like that.

If you have a moment check out my guest editor spot today on Blogs.com....more to come kids, more to come...
http://www.blogs.com/topten/preggo-diaries-top-10-fashion-blogs-for-the-modern-mom/

PS: My business partner, Beth Overzat, edits my blog daily...you have to her thank for minimal misspellings! HA

CABERNET IS TO ME AS PINOT GRIGIO IS TO RAMONA...

(Having a New York Housewives moment!)

There comes a time in pregnancy when you have to go over all the shit you should and should not eat AND drink. Do you think it's normal that for most of my pregnancy all I can think about is it ending so that I can drink again? I am not quite sure if I am in the norm, but I do know that most of my girlfriends are excited at the prospect of drinking an unlimited amount...towards the end of their pregnancy.

I am not sure what I miss most...the comradery amongst my girlfriends, the I don't need a good reason to drink on a Friday afternoon at noon, the everything is better over a glass of wine situation...I could go on and on and on, on this subject. I miss brie, I miss spicey F__G tuna on top of tuna on top of tuna. I miss an unlimited amount of aspertime and good old fresh italian mozz! Where do you draw the line? I have friends that won't take a sip of anything and then friends that slightly over indulge. I am not sure what is considered the norm, but I do know that the idea of doing and eating anything that I want it quite appealing!

The good thing is you CAN and should overindulge in the things you normally would not, while pregnant. Like a little dark chocolate never hurt anybody, a scoop of ice-cream after dinner, that piece of cake at your daughters's friend's 3rd birthday...no time like the present; however I would not recommend partaking in that type of eating POST baby. Then you just need to work out excessively, starve yourself, get a tummy tuck and wrap your belly like a sausage!!!

**PS: SPEAKING OF NEW MOTHERS...I WANT TO MAKE OUT WITH BETHENNY FRANKEL...SHE HAS GOT TO BE THE FUNNIEST PERSON ON THE FACE OF THIS PLANET! BEST LINE OF THE ENTIRE NEW YORK HOUSEWIVES SEASON TO THE COUNTLESS, "EXACTLY YOU DUMB DRAG QUEEN"... JUST PURE GENIUS! I KNEW SO MANY LITTLE F__CKERS LIKE THE JILL Z'S IONS AGO...NOW WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH YOUR LIVES? NADA

WHAT'S IN A NAME? AND HOW DO YOU CHOOSE ONE?

We are having a really hard time this go round choosing a name for Baby X; with Aiden it was a no brainer! We had that name picked out I think since the day Brian and I got together. I taught a child named Aiden one summer and simply fell in love with it. With both my pregnancies everyone always thinks I am having a boy...and so far, I am 2 for 2 with girls. I guess this time I really thought it might be a boy and we were all set with a boy name. Now here we are just shy of my 6th month of pregnancy and still no confirmed girl name. We have floaters ones that we think we love but nothing we LOVE together when we add a middle name. So what's really in a name? My full name is Elizabeth Josephine Thomas. NOW, if you know me...do I look like that name? I don't feel like I "look" like that name, but none the less that's the name that was given to me.

Now let's talk judgement because lord knows there is a shit load of that going around. Do you choose a name that you and your husband and/or partner love? EVEN if you know that everyone else will think you are nuts? I mean you don't want a name that is too strange, because your kid needs to live with that name FOREVER! Do you use a family name? Name after the dead or the living? If you are me, you do both...which is controversy within itself. What about a name you love but don't love the common nickname, then what? In this day and age people use names as personal self expression so you have to be careful that the name is for the kid and not just for you! I am also not a huge fan of masculine names followed by a feminine middle name (totally personal of course). I would much rather it be all or none...

So, there you have it. Our baby in my belly is still named, BABY X. If you have any suggestions please do send them along...but only if they are good ones! So not into naming my kid after a fruit! HA!

More to come kids more to come...

OH WHERE OR WHERE DID MY VAGINA GO, OH WHERE OR WHERE CAN SHE BE???

The title should say it all! There comes a point where you can no longer get a good hard look at your vagine. It happens slowly, and then one day, BOOM...it's as though it's no longer there! IF you are a shaver (as opposed to a waxer) you will no longer be able to get there; which can pose as a major problem if you want to continue with your up-keep. If you are a waxer, then you are in luck...I continued my monthly brazilian wax throughout my entire pregnancy. One less thing you have to worry about. I do know a friend who had their husband partake in the fun, by actually helping her shave. Eh, so not my jam...but to each his own!

You will find there is a sudden loss of movement, a time when you can no longer reach body parts...something you take for for granted when you are NOT pregnant. It will become increasingly difficult to shave your legs. One side will be easy and the other side will be nearly impossible; trying to pass over the belly just is not something you can do! My suggestion is to just curse a lot and know that at some point and keep in mind that in the next couple of months it will all be over, and you will NEVER look at shaving the same way again. You could just let it all go to shit, I am sure not everyone is worried about what their VA-JJ looks like during these trying times.

Putting on your shoes (if they tie) is another challenging movement. You will have to literally cross your legs to tie them or have someone get down on all fours to tie them for you! Can you imagine even scratching a simple itch on a specific area on your back might no longer be possible? I speak the truth....or bending down when you drop something on the passenger seat of the car, NOPE can't F__G do it! Simply maneuvering into a down position for any little thing gets quite annoying. Do the roll over and get up slowly, or the blood will increasingly rush to your head (your head gets fat too by the way, EVERYthing gets fat!)

More to come kids, more to come...

DVD'S DO A PREGNANT BODY GOOD!

Not all of my posts will be devoted to the deterioation of your hot bod, some will actually be quite pleasant and more importantly helpful.

I happen to be one of those pregnant people who loves to stay active during my entire pregnancy, of course this is totally optional and not something you HAVE to do...especially if you are not a "worker outer". I live by yoga at least 3-5 times a week and try to make it a staple in my workout before, during and after birth. If you don't have a place where you already attend weekly classes, you can do it in the privacy of your home with a video like this one by

Shiva Rae ( http://www.shivarea.com). I love doing it at home because when you feel like a full on fat ass nobody see you, but YOU!

**PLEASE do check with your dr. before you embark on anything new in the workout dept. to make sure you get the go ahead! I am convinced one of the reasons my labor and delivery with Aiden was SO smooth was due in part to staying active.

I have recently become obsessed with a strength performance DVD by, Summer Sanders (http://www.amazon.com/Summer-Sanders-Prenatal-Workout/dp/B001VC995S). It is a mixture of cardio and strength training and runs for about an hour. I aim to do this at least 3-5 times a week. One of these workouts, combined with brisk walks (or even running IF you were a runner prior to pregnancy) makes you feel like you are somewhat human (and attractive). AGAIN, this is certainly not for everyone and that is OK...but if you do like a good workout while pregnant, these would be my favs!

It's interesting when not pregnant you work out to maintain a healthy lifestyle, weight, sexy bod, etc. When you work out while pregnant it is clearly to keep you and the baby healthy, certainly not to lose any weight. Although if it were safe to be pregnant and lose weight I would SO be that girl...come on, don't lie...you know you would be too!

I promise tomorrows blog will be back to horrific, mind altering, truths about pregnancy!!!

More to come kids...more to come...

TO PEE OR NOT TO PEE, THAT IS THE QUESTION...OTHERWISE KNOWN AS PEEZING!

A topic rarely covered and you will soon know why... is what I like to refer to as, the sneeze and pee, or the term I coined for it, "the PEEZE". In a nut shell, once you allow your pelvic floor to go to shit and the pressure is all placed...well...down there, there is a high probability that at some point during your pregnancy you will sneeze and accidently pee. It won't be like a full on river or anything nothing really catastrophic, but there's a chance you could wet your pants...and I mean for real. Why you ask does this happen? Honestly I have no F__G idea. I mean it makes sense that your baby is pushing on your bladder and that unless you practice kegel excercises daily or better yet hourly, I don't see a way to prevent it. I am an avid yogi, before, during and after my pregnancy and my girl Shiva Rose is good for a kegel excercise or 2 on her prenatal yoga video, however I can't seem to remember to do them while sitting at my desk at work or in a restaurant while having a conversation or spending time alone on the couch at home, etc. It is probably the last thing I am thinking about doing. Apparently, that's the one thing that can really help strengthen your pelvic floor while carrying your baby.

In any event, it's not limited to sneezing. In my case it could be a nice hearty cough or a vomiting episode (months 1-3) it bears no limits. So there you have it, be careful not to keep your bladder too full, or you too could experience the PEEZE first hand.

After my first post, a friend said to me, "You know what Beth, I am not sure I want to have kids. Will reading your blog deter me from wanting them even more?" I replied, "Really I don't think it should. I am merely telling you what can and typically does happen to all of us at some point during our pregnancies. At the end of the day you should feel enlightened by all of this knowledge. Had I known ANY of this I would still have gotten pregnant the first time, I just would not have been so naive thinking it was all moonbeams and rainbows (kinda like living in Kelli Bensimone's world). It's not all pretty, most of it is plain ugly but women have been doing it since the beginning of time, so it can't ALL be bad!

More to come kids...more to come...

PS: Did you catch Bethenny Frankel's new show, "Bethenny Gets Married" last night? Did you happen to catch how she mentioned no one talks about this shit? Yeah...I saw that too:)

I'M BRINGING SEXY BACK...

I remember the first day I realized I no longer had a back, let alone a sexy back. My back no longer curved down to my waist, because really I no longer had a waist. It just looked like one big, flat, square back. Gone were the days of definition, gone were the days of wearing anything low back, and gone were the days where I could actually put my hand on my hip and feel the front of my body. Sad but true I no longer had a defined shape. I am not quite sure why this bothered me so much the first time I was pregnant, and now bothered me just the same this second time around...I think due in part to not knowing that was something that naturally happened to everyone while pregnant. I frequently walk past the mirror, naked and forget it's me! You know when you catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror and do a double take because half way through you realize it really is you? Is there really such a thing as bringing sexy back (no pun intended) while pregnant? Is it even possible to look AND feel sexy, not just one or the other? I don't know about you...but the last thing I feel with 15 extra pounds (at this stage) is sexy. What I do know I feel, is hunger...more to come kids, more to come...

THE MORNING AFTER...

I figured why not start at the beginning, so everyone can enjoy the journey along with me!

You would think I am about to talk about The Morning After pill, but quite the contrary...I am referring to the morning after, when you wake up knowing there is a chance you may be pregnant.

My first emotion was elation, knowing there's a possibility that we were finally successful in the battle of the bodies. The next feeling once it all sinks in is,HOLY HELL...I can't turn the clock back and reconsider having another baby! We always knew we wanted more than one child; Aiden neeeded a sibling, but at the same time that meant our lives would change again...DRASTICALLY! Do we really want to mess with perfection? 4 hands to one kid is doable! To go from zone defense to man to man seems quite challenging! What people don't like to talk about is the length you will go to to get pregnant AND how much sex you really need to have, in order to ensure that it does take! Anyone is lying if they tell you it's all fun and games. It is clearly a job you need to get done, and the only thing that really saved us was good porn. So there you have it, you see it all from rose colored glasses before you get pregnant and it all goes to shit by month one. More to come kids, more to come...

THERE'S A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING...

So, here I am...writing my first blog entry, EVER! I am not sure how I feel about it...although, it seems helpful, considering everyone must be super sick of me talking about my pregnancies. This is a great outlet where no one can really tell me to stop, right? I somehow feel the need to speak on every woman's behalf (whether they would like to admit it or not) about the lovely 9 months known as pregnancy. I found little to no information my first time around the park (I have an amazing 3 year old daughter, Aiden Rae) and figured the best way to get the word out there...would be to write about it. God only knows who will even read this blog, but at least I have a place to let it all out. So, there you have it...this blog is clearly going to be about me and my own experiences; along with some other general insights about being pregnant...mainly that it sucks for the most part. The end result is something pretty spectacular, but there is certainly a reason that women do it and men do not...Bottom line is, you put your life on hold for roughly 9 months, giving up everything you love and feeling everything you hate. More to come kids, more to come kids...