I think I remember from last time that the last few weeks of being pregnant are a time of big belly growth.
This time I think it might be even more extreme.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Getting bigger every day
I think I remember from last time that the last few weeks of being pregnant are a time of big belly growth.
This time I think it might be even more extreme.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Couldn't wait
Last night it was finally time for our much-anticipated outing to see a live taping of Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, the NPR radio news quiz show. In SF, I listened to this show religiously usually while riding my bike to and from work. When we found out they would be taping in Tampa it was not optional to attend.
My mom and Emerson drove me to campus to meet up with Eric a little after 5pm and then headed home.*
Eric and I left his car parked on campus and walked across the river to have dinner downtown before the show. We ended up at a place called Pizza Fusion which makes an effort to use organic, local ingredients and has really decent pizza. I voluntarily ordered a salad with beets in it because even though I usually think beets taste like dirt for some reason that was what I wanted.**
Toward the end of dinner we learned that a group of 150ish bikers doing some sort of event were about to join us at the tiny pizzeria so we got and paid our check quick-like and got out just as the locust-like swarm started to descend but not before I waited the longest time ever for a woman to emerge from the bathroom.
We still had plenty of time before we had to be in our seats so we made our way slowly toward the Straz Center which was just a few blocks away. As we walked, we heard a train and Eric pointed at the clearly defunct, dilapidated train tracks in the middle of the street we were on and said "Is it going to come down this street?" Ha ha, we both said.
And then we saw the light of the engine up the block. The train was moving at about 3 miles per hour and it was either because of that or in spite of that that people kept crossing the street right in front of it. We resisted the temptation to dodge the glacial train and enjoyed watching it go by. It was an engine pulling one car: a huge tank marked as Chlorine. Probably heading straight to the water reclamation facility, or to some really old-fashioned pool supply shop.
The Straz Center was abuzz when we arrived, partly due I think to the number of restaurants that are part of the facility. It seems to be a large complex with a lot of theaters, a lot of restaurants and lot of carpet reminiscent of a roller skating center from the 80s. Eric got a (large) drink and we strolled around to check it out. At 7:15, 15 min before showtime, they opened the doors and flashed the lights, our signal to head inside. Eric was getting ready to down his drink when we noticed people were taking their drinks with them into the theater. What's this? Here's another way Florida, or at least the Straz Center, is unique: you can drink during the show. Remarkable. I suspect I will appreciate that more when I am not pregnant.
This being a radio show I had absolutely no idea what to expect visually from the disembodied voices I so enjoy. My observations (from pretty far away from the stage): Peter Sagal, who I love, is not as warm-feeling in person as he is on the radio; Karl Cassel is exactly as old as I expected and surprisingly spry, Adam Felber was not the skinny young nerd I have always pictured but rather a not so skinny-not so young-not so nerdy comedian type, Faith Salie is much hotter than one would guess from the radio, and Roy Blount Jr is exactly what you would expect.
The Tampa audience was engaged and appreciated Peter's backhanded appreciation of Florida, the governor, etc. The audience did have a hard time not saying the answer out loud in unison during the fill-in-the-blank limerick part of the show.. I think it was Roy who said "This is like church for these people, they can't help themselves."
It was fascinating to hear the unedited show and guess what they would likely take out. I look forward to listening to the podcast (while not riding a bike) and hearing how they edited it. I will also be listening for the sound of myself clapping.
*Actually, as I found out later, to Chipotle for a dinner of burritos
**I don't think it is pica
My mom and Emerson drove me to campus to meet up with Eric a little after 5pm and then headed home.*
Eric and I left his car parked on campus and walked across the river to have dinner downtown before the show. We ended up at a place called Pizza Fusion which makes an effort to use organic, local ingredients and has really decent pizza. I voluntarily ordered a salad with beets in it because even though I usually think beets taste like dirt for some reason that was what I wanted.**
Toward the end of dinner we learned that a group of 150ish bikers doing some sort of event were about to join us at the tiny pizzeria so we got and paid our check quick-like and got out just as the locust-like swarm started to descend but not before I waited the longest time ever for a woman to emerge from the bathroom.
We still had plenty of time before we had to be in our seats so we made our way slowly toward the Straz Center which was just a few blocks away. As we walked, we heard a train and Eric pointed at the clearly defunct, dilapidated train tracks in the middle of the street we were on and said "Is it going to come down this street?" Ha ha, we both said.
And then we saw the light of the engine up the block. The train was moving at about 3 miles per hour and it was either because of that or in spite of that that people kept crossing the street right in front of it. We resisted the temptation to dodge the glacial train and enjoyed watching it go by. It was an engine pulling one car: a huge tank marked as Chlorine. Probably heading straight to the water reclamation facility, or to some really old-fashioned pool supply shop.
The Straz Center was abuzz when we arrived, partly due I think to the number of restaurants that are part of the facility. It seems to be a large complex with a lot of theaters, a lot of restaurants and lot of carpet reminiscent of a roller skating center from the 80s. Eric got a (large) drink and we strolled around to check it out. At 7:15, 15 min before showtime, they opened the doors and flashed the lights, our signal to head inside. Eric was getting ready to down his drink when we noticed people were taking their drinks with them into the theater. What's this? Here's another way Florida, or at least the Straz Center, is unique: you can drink during the show. Remarkable. I suspect I will appreciate that more when I am not pregnant.
This being a radio show I had absolutely no idea what to expect visually from the disembodied voices I so enjoy. My observations (from pretty far away from the stage): Peter Sagal, who I love, is not as warm-feeling in person as he is on the radio; Karl Cassel is exactly as old as I expected and surprisingly spry, Adam Felber was not the skinny young nerd I have always pictured but rather a not so skinny-not so young-not so nerdy comedian type, Faith Salie is much hotter than one would guess from the radio, and Roy Blount Jr is exactly what you would expect.
The Tampa audience was engaged and appreciated Peter's backhanded appreciation of Florida, the governor, etc. The audience did have a hard time not saying the answer out loud in unison during the fill-in-the-blank limerick part of the show.. I think it was Roy who said "This is like church for these people, they can't help themselves."
It was fascinating to hear the unedited show and guess what they would likely take out. I look forward to listening to the podcast (while not riding a bike) and hearing how they edited it. I will also be listening for the sound of myself clapping.
*Actually, as I found out later, to Chipotle for a dinner of burritos
**I don't think it is pica
Thursday, November 17, 2011
For the list of Ways Tampa is Different from San Francisco
Post script added Saturday: I turned on the hose on the patio today and several more of these tiny frogs came hopping out of it before the water came.
Tiny frogs everywhere!
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Night out: Hockey!
We took advantage of Gama being in town to go out Tuesday night to see some college hockey. The match-up was Eric's own University of Tampa, whose hockey team is in its first year as an official team, facing off against the University of South Florida which is also here in Tampa. The event was set up as a fundraiser (with free admission) and they played the game at the St Pete Times forum in downtown Tampa.(One of Eric's students who plays on the team had said
that he was excited about maybe getting into a fight on NHL ice.)
We put Emerson to bed and still got there in time for the pre-game pageantry, including the national anthem sung by a small a capella foursome, one of whom had his hand to his ear the whole time, of course. It was neat to be at the arena for such a "small" event where the spectators were confined to a small section of seating, only one concession stand was open and we got to sit a lot closer than we normally do.
This was my first UT sporting event and it set the bar pretty high. Here's a shot of the action:
I didn't set the bar so high myself: I sported yoga pants, a large black maternity t-shirt that the light of the arena revealed had booger stains (not mine) and sneakers, dirty hair in a bun and my scratched glasses. I looked like the exhausted, mega-pregnant mom of a toddler that I am right now.* I guess I thought it would be darker at the hockey game (it usually is a little darker up high where we always sit). I thought about standing at a discrete distance when we ran into students of Eric's so as not to embarrass him but instead I just smiled and tried to stand in the shadows as much as possible.
The game was great fun to watch and when we left after the second period it was 3-2 USF. The final score was 5-4 USF so going to bed meant we missed some good action but for my part it was worth it.
*For the record: in general, I have made what I consider to be an extraordinary effort to present myself well since we arrived in Florida.
We put Emerson to bed and still got there in time for the pre-game pageantry, including the national anthem sung by a small a capella foursome, one of whom had his hand to his ear the whole time, of course. It was neat to be at the arena for such a "small" event where the spectators were confined to a small section of seating, only one concession stand was open and we got to sit a lot closer than we normally do.
This was my first UT sporting event and it set the bar pretty high. Here's a shot of the action:
The game was great fun to watch and when we left after the second period it was 3-2 USF. The final score was 5-4 USF so going to bed meant we missed some good action but for my part it was worth it.
*For the record: in general, I have made what I consider to be an extraordinary effort to present myself well since we arrived in Florida.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Paddleboat Joe
Eric's mother Joy was in St Pete Beach for a dancing event this weekend and we took advantage of her relative proximity to go meet her for dinner last night. My mom, Emerson and I drove down a little early to poke around the beach a bit and Eric joined us as soon as he was out of an all-day training for work.
Being 36 weeks pregnant, I thought nothing of driving down there with my pants half-pulled-down to take the pressure off my lower belly. I was wearing a long top and no skin was showing or anything scandalous like that. It was just necessary.
So when we pulled into the hotel and the only option was to valet the car, I hastily locked the doors, rolled down my window and told the valet that we "needed a minute" before we were ready to get out of the car. Then I waited for him to get far enough away from the car that I could pull my pants all the way back up before unlocking the doors.
Once again fully wearing my pants, I headed with my mom and Emerson to explore a little bit before we were going to meet Joy. The valet pointed us toward Pirate Island and there we discovered Paddleboat Joe and his fleet (of paddleboats). Paddleboat Joe was an older black gentleman who seemed born for his job: quick-witted and engaging, delighted by everyone who walked by.
It was clear that we had to go for a ride.
If driving a car with pants on was too much lower belly pressure then forget about pedal-powering a small watercraft while wearing those same pants. Luckily, my mother was happy to do the legwork while Emerson and I took turns steering us into the edges of the channel which wended its way around the hotel property, never more than about 18 inches deep.
Eric arrived about halfway through our paddleboat adventure and didn't hesitate to jump on board. I moved to the backseat and chatted with a caterpillar who was hitch-hiking while Eric gave Gail some needed support on the pedals.
When we pulled back into the dock, Paddleboat Joe had a lot to say about our having gained a passenger on the short ride. Eric told Paddleboat Joe that we had offered him $5 to help us pedal.
Being 36 weeks pregnant, I thought nothing of driving down there with my pants half-pulled-down to take the pressure off my lower belly. I was wearing a long top and no skin was showing or anything scandalous like that. It was just necessary.
So when we pulled into the hotel and the only option was to valet the car, I hastily locked the doors, rolled down my window and told the valet that we "needed a minute" before we were ready to get out of the car. Then I waited for him to get far enough away from the car that I could pull my pants all the way back up before unlocking the doors.
Once again fully wearing my pants, I headed with my mom and Emerson to explore a little bit before we were going to meet Joy. The valet pointed us toward Pirate Island and there we discovered Paddleboat Joe and his fleet (of paddleboats). Paddleboat Joe was an older black gentleman who seemed born for his job: quick-witted and engaging, delighted by everyone who walked by.
It was clear that we had to go for a ride.
If driving a car with pants on was too much lower belly pressure then forget about pedal-powering a small watercraft while wearing those same pants. Luckily, my mother was happy to do the legwork while Emerson and I took turns steering us into the edges of the channel which wended its way around the hotel property, never more than about 18 inches deep.
Eric arrived about halfway through our paddleboat adventure and didn't hesitate to jump on board. I moved to the backseat and chatted with a caterpillar who was hitch-hiking while Eric gave Gail some needed support on the pedals.
When we pulled back into the dock, Paddleboat Joe had a lot to say about our having gained a passenger on the short ride. Eric told Paddleboat Joe that we had offered him $5 to help us pedal.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Good question
My mother is here for a week which means Eric and I are hitting the town every chance we get.
Friday night we went out for dinner at a local spot near our house. It was the kind of place that could be a chain but isn't (as far as we can tell). When we got there the senior crew and the families with young kids were on their way out and the date night-ers were on their way in.
As we waited for a table an older gentleman approached Eric and asked in an almost accusatory tone:
"Who has the better looking bald head - me or you?"
"Ah, I think that would have to be you," replied Eric, with just the slightest hesitation.
"You got that right!" the man guffawed.
"It's a good night out," Eric observed. And he was right.
Friday night we went out for dinner at a local spot near our house. It was the kind of place that could be a chain but isn't (as far as we can tell). When we got there the senior crew and the families with young kids were on their way out and the date night-ers were on their way in.
As we waited for a table an older gentleman approached Eric and asked in an almost accusatory tone:
"Who has the better looking bald head - me or you?"
"Ah, I think that would have to be you," replied Eric, with just the slightest hesitation.
"You got that right!" the man guffawed.
"It's a good night out," Eric observed. And he was right.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
35 weeks
Today I am officially 35 weeks, or about 8 months, pregnant with Groucho, a little brother for Emerson. I'm not really sure where the time has gone, at least partly because I think I am actively trying to repress the memory of our first few months here in Florida in the middle of the pregnancy. But I wanted to take a moment to write down what's going on with this pregnancy because this blog is actually a replacement for my brain which doesn't always hold onto memories so well right now even when I want it to.
This pregnancy has been different from my pregnancy with Emerson in a couple of major ways. For one, I had a sugar aversion with Emerson and while that didn't stop me completely from the occasional cupcake it did mean I wasn't so much into sweets for that 9 months. With Groucho, I have had the opposite experience. I would eat exclusively sugar and be perfectly happy if that were a remotely acceptable thing to do, which of course it is not. Before we knew Groucho was a boy, this made me suspect that baby #2 would be a girl. I guess it just means he'll be a super sweet boy.
As I think is typical, I showed a lot sooner this time than I did the first time around. I had a very pregnant-looking belly pretty quickly this time which was nice in that I got to "feel" pregnant sooner, but was distressing because the trajectory suggested I would end up three times the size I did with Emerson. The good news I can report from 35 weeks that I didn't know at 15 weeks is that I plateaued significantly in the weight gain category and seem on track to be about the same amount of large as I was last time.
For those middle months when we were living in temporary furnished purgatory, I had a lot of back pain and I blamed it on the pregnancy. What I discovered after two nights of sleeping in my own bed is that it was just the terrible, terrible mattress in that grim little condo and my back has been in great shape ever since.
I have also noticed ways that Groucho himself is already different than Emerson. The way he moves around is different - more sharp and sudden movements and more stretching where I feel him seemingly at my collarbone and halfway down my thigh at the same time. He has also not had the hiccups nearly as much as Emerson did.
Groucho is great company and I am really excited to meet him on the outside in not too long.
This pregnancy has been different from my pregnancy with Emerson in a couple of major ways. For one, I had a sugar aversion with Emerson and while that didn't stop me completely from the occasional cupcake it did mean I wasn't so much into sweets for that 9 months. With Groucho, I have had the opposite experience. I would eat exclusively sugar and be perfectly happy if that were a remotely acceptable thing to do, which of course it is not. Before we knew Groucho was a boy, this made me suspect that baby #2 would be a girl. I guess it just means he'll be a super sweet boy.
As I think is typical, I showed a lot sooner this time than I did the first time around. I had a very pregnant-looking belly pretty quickly this time which was nice in that I got to "feel" pregnant sooner, but was distressing because the trajectory suggested I would end up three times the size I did with Emerson. The good news I can report from 35 weeks that I didn't know at 15 weeks is that I plateaued significantly in the weight gain category and seem on track to be about the same amount of large as I was last time.
For those middle months when we were living in temporary furnished purgatory, I had a lot of back pain and I blamed it on the pregnancy. What I discovered after two nights of sleeping in my own bed is that it was just the terrible, terrible mattress in that grim little condo and my back has been in great shape ever since.
I have also noticed ways that Groucho himself is already different than Emerson. The way he moves around is different - more sharp and sudden movements and more stretching where I feel him seemingly at my collarbone and halfway down my thigh at the same time. He has also not had the hiccups nearly as much as Emerson did.
Groucho is great company and I am really excited to meet him on the outside in not too long.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
