Wanna Wrestle?

As if trying to find the perfect Halloween costume isn't hard enough, imagine trying to find one when you are pregnant.

Last year I had a creative stroke of genius when I decided what my costume would be. If ya'll don't remember, I was a blow up doll. It was a total hit too.

This year was a tad more difficult trying to find something that I could incorporate my ever growing bump with. I scoured the interwebs for ideas. Mostly I came up with some lame-o ideas that mostly included painting your bump. Eh, it's been done before. My original thought was to do a trailer park trash lady with a big beer gut, but my bump was becoming more round and less flabberiffic so I didn't think it would look right. Some other ideas I came across that were cute were the baby skeleton on the shirt, and the bun in the oven costume. Cute, but not Erica. And then I saw it.

I could totally do this. I already had the unitard from my blow up doll costume, so all I would have to do is the underoos, nipples and hair. I was sold. I had Chad pull down the unitard and tried it on. Thank you Joseph Shrivers for creating Spandex! It still fit!

The hardest part was trying to figure out how to make the sumo thong. I wanted it to be as authentic as possible so I called my Mom to help me with the logistics. We had planned to make one while she was up for the baby shower but with my sister's surprise visit, it became a non-priority. I started to worry how I was going to manage to make this thing by myself without it looking like a total mess. Then I had a lightbulb moment.

With Sisqo's Thong Song ringing in my head I ran to my nicker drawer, and fished out a pair of black thongs. Again, thank you Joseph Shrivers, because my thong still fit.

My costume was almost done. I ran off to the craft store and picked up some felt fabric for a whopping $0.37 to make my nipples. I debated on going to the Halloween store to pick up a Sumo wig but then remembered how itchy the blonde wig I wore last year was. My solution? I didn't wash my hair for three days. Or maybe it was four. Gross, I know. Either way, my lovely hair oils helped to slick up my hair to a very high pony tail thing without using a ton of gel and hairspray that would ultimately make my sumo hair into a sumo helmet.

Now, it was the moment of truth. Would my costume be as big of a hit as it was last year?

That would be a yes. And, apparently it was better. Now, I'm worried how I am going to even come close to something as creative next year.

2nd Tri Round Up

My 2nd trimester (weeks 13 to 27) were mostly just as easy as the first. I wouldn't say I'm the luckiest person ever because I'm already getting new symptoms so knowing my luck, I'm going to hit the freaking jackpot of a craptastic 3rd trimester.

The Pros
I never threw up or felt nauseated by anything. I also didn't crave any weird foods. Although I slightly gave up my love for sandwiches toward the end of this trimester. That could also be due to the fact that I ate them like everyday, and sometimes twice a day.

I felt the baby kick! It was pretty dang cool. Although at first I thought I was going to poop my pants. Same kind of feeling, except there is no emergency code brown.

I had some emotional moments but nothing really to write home about. I think I might of been flustered over these same things had I not been pregnant.

I had weird dreams, but no bad dreams, and nothing that was totally out of the norm for me.

The Cons
I hated most meats, other than deli meat. I could eat it but it wasn't yummy at all. Not even the best of the best filet intrigued me. I basically lived off of cereal, sandwiches, fruits, and veggies. 

Acne, acne, acne. It's like I was reliving my adolescence, and it sucked just as bad as it did the first time around.

My hormones might be in overdrive, hence the acne, but I have NOT been able to revel in this "your hair is so thick and luscious" business. Even my hair stylist said the same thing. So basically, my face matches my stringy hair. See? Adolescence.

My back and my hips hurt. Like I gave up working out because I'm afraid of hurting myself even more. I think my cottage cheese legs are making a come back.


It's a Crapshoot

I'm round and getting rounder. This is good, but bad when I step on the scale. I just cannot be happy to see that number going up and up, and up every week regardless if it's because of the baby. I'm only 4'11 and weighed 104 lbs when I first found out I was pregnant. As of week 27, I was up 22 pounds.

And now for the long awaited Bump Pics!

29 FOREVER!

 I don't know why they call it a pregnancy glow. It's more like the pimple rebellion. I have never had so much acne in my entire life. Seriously, an atomic bomb would not put a dent in what is going on on my face.

I "heard" it was suppose to clear up in my 2nd trimester. Well, 3 weeks in and no such luck. It actually got worse. Well, it decided to move, and by move, I mean it started to not become so oblivious on my face and more obvious on my neckline and behind my ears. Who gets a pimple on the back of their ear?! This girl does. It's ridiculous. I would cry but somehow I didn't get the emotional rush of hormones with this pregnancy. I've got a cold heart of stone.

So after this new phase of acne emerged I ventured out to the dermatologist. Maybe they had a spare face I could borrow until the end of this pregnancy. I struck out again! They can't prescribe me anything, and almost everything they told me to do to clear it up I was already doing.

To make matters just a wee worse, the doctor asked "How old are you?" I replied, "29 FOREVER!" Okay, so I really didn't but, I totally was thinking that as I said 30. "Oh, well, welcome to the new age bracket. We need to start using anti aging products now." We? Was there someone else hiding in the room? Who was she talking to? I'm 29 FOREVER! Apparently I will be 29 forever with wrinkles and zits though. What a bad combo. Like, really, really, really bad. Does that even happen? Knowing my luck I'll be the one documented case when I'm 40. Caption will read "She thought she would be 29 forever."

 So I bought my first anti aging product. Being not wrinkly is expensive.

Ninja or Princess

I went to the doctor yesterday for my monthly checkup. I was lucky enough that we were able to get a sneak peek of our little baby's goods. Based on my pregnancy symptoms, I was convinced I was having a boy.

Chinese Gender Predictor
The ancient Chinese gender chart predicts your baby's sex, based on your age when you got pregnant and what month it was.
Survey Says - BOY

Cravings
Traditional beliefs about pregnancy cravings are that if you crave sweets, fruits, and orange juice you are having a girl. Sour, salty or protein cravings are thought to indicate a boy.
Survey Says - GIRL

Morning Sickness
A woman who suffers severe morning sickness that lasts all day long is thought to be carrying a girl. A woman with less morning sickness or none at all may be carrying a boy.
Survey Says - BOY

Sleeping Position
If you prefer sleeping on your left side, you'll have a boy. Right side? A girl.
Survey Says - BOY

Appearance
Many people believe that a woman carrying a baby girl may have severe acne. A woman with less acne may be pregnant with a boy.
Survey Says - GIRL

Weight Gain
The belief is that, if your husband puts on weight during your pregnancy, then you will be having a girl. If he doesn't put on a pound, then you're carrying a boy.
Survey Says - BOY

Moods
Feeling extremely moody? Expect a girl.
Survey Says - BOY

Baby's Position
If a woman is carrying mainly in the front, the gender prediction is a boy. If the mom-to-be is carrying the weight all over, the baby may be a girl. 
Survey Says - BOY

Baby's Heart Rate
A baby with a heart rate higher than 140 beats per minute is presumed to be a girl. A heart rate less than 140 beats per minute is thought to indicate a boy.
Survey Says - GIRL

I was totally wrong. We aren't getting a ninja. Well, unless a hotdog grows out of that hamburger in the next few weeks. She's a GIRL!

First Tri Round Up

I've never been pregnant before so I don't have anything to compare this pregnancy to, but I think it's been super easy so far.

With most ladies, the end of the first trimester is a blessing. Mine was just another day in the books. I don't know if it was the fact that I just kept telling myself I would not be sick or barf, or that my own mother never had morning sickness with my sister or I, but it just never came.

The "food aversions" I did have were probably the mildest of any case documented. Although no foods seemed to have made me run for the porcelain God I did have find that early on most foods just didn't seem appetizing at all. For example, I love Greek yogurt but the thought of me eating it made me not hungry. Then I ate it anyway and I was all like "I love you Greek yogurt". It made no sense. Some foods did not have the same effect such as chicken, fish and meats. Specifically all fish, anything but ground beef, and chicken breast. I could still eat it but while I was chewing it I was thinking in my head, "chew, chew, chew, swallow, drink water to wash the taste out."

Just like the food aversions, my food cravings are nothing crazy, such as I must have it or I'm going to die this instant. I love food. All kinds of food. Before I was pregnant I would pretty much eat anything. Cheap, easy, elaborate, expensive, healthy, deep fried ... any kind of goodness, even if it wasn't all that good for me. All throughout my first trimester I wanted fruit and sandwiches. Peaches, plums, bananas, melon, grapes, mangoes, etc. I'm not a sandwich snob either. Chicken, turkey, chicken salad, avocado, BLT, tuna ... there is no end. Seriously, I could live off this food. So while Chad is eating his salmon and broccoli, I'm devouring my sandwich and I am as happy as a clam. Well, not a clam. Those don't seem appetizing. Happy as a peach. Mmmm. peaches.

Here and There

I'm back! Although it wasn't like I was ever really gone. Just MIA. I was busy. Very, very busy.

So how can I wrap up the last 6 months?

Well, I worked ... a lot. I did some household projects. Hubberoos and I did did a lot of couponing; the toned down version of Extreme Couponing. We went skiing at Lake Tahoe in April, although it was more like slushing since most of the snow had melted by then. Chad and I celebrated our 2 year wedding anniversary this past May, and we went to Europe on a Mediterranean Cruise. It was lovely. But, the biggest "thing" we did is made a baby ... yikes. We're in trouble now.