In 10 weeks (give or take a week) I’m going to have a baby. How crazy is that? Being 30 weeks pregnant feels crazy enough, but having only 10 weeks left until D-Day…now THAT feels really unbelievable. There are times (like today) when I get really worked up about it (how could this pregnancy already be almost over? Will I ever do this again? Is this the last time I will get kicked in the ribs – from the inside?)…..but then I remember that the bottom line is that there is no way to prepare yourself for your life to change in the way that it changes when you have a baby. You can read books, watch youtube videos, interrogate your friends…but nothing can really prepare you for having your entire life turned upside down by a creature the size of a large eggplant. So on that note, I’m just going to carry on. I’m going to appreciate however many weeks I have left of being relatively comfortable, active and well rested. I’m going to stay up late (9:30) and watch Wicked Tuna on TV. I’m going to go a baseball game, hang out at the mall, spend an entire day sitting in a recliner. I’m going to do what I can to prepare my body to push an 8(ish) pound baby out of a 10cm opening (how much can you really do to prepare for THAT?) – and then I’m going to just let nature take its course. Whatever happens is going to happen. I’ve done what I can, and if its not enough – well, then I’m pretty sure that’s the reality of parenthood – you’re never prepared and it’s never enough. I think I’m ready for that – it sounds kind of like final exams 🙂

Anyway, in the spirit of just living my life (until it gets reduced to dirty diapers and sore boobs) I spent the weekend galavanting around Boston with college friends. I met up with Emma and Perry (some of my college roommates) for brunch on Saturday and we drank bloody mary’s (water for me) and discussed all kinds of important things like what to wear to meet your boyfriends parents, who should be invited to a bridal shower and whether my stomach was huge or small (generally my friends who haven’t been pregnant react with “OMG you’re huge!” and anyone that has been pregnant says something like “wow, you’re barely showing.” Then, because old college habits die hard, we took a photo to document our brunch and general existence.

After brunch Emma and I wandered around Fenway trying to figure out how to get into the stadium (I had free Red Sox tickets from my work). Eventually we figured it out, but due to being the LEAST hard-core baseball fans in the world, we were more entertained by the fan cam than the players. We were also too full from brunch to eat hot dogs and ice cream – and since I couldn’t drink beer, the charm of attending a major league baseball game was definitely diminished. Nevertheless, we enjoyed the people watching, and we were undisturbed when the Red Sox lost. For some of the people in there, it definitely ruined there day.

After the game Emma and I headed back to her apartment (with a quick McDonald’s detour on the way so I could get a milkshake) and Emma continued to be very excited about the fact that people were offering us seats on the T, or to go ahead in the bathroom line, just because I was pregnant. I always declined but Emma insisted we take advantage. According to her, its important to take it while you can. Nobody is ever nice in New England. (Just kidding, sort of.)

After a brief stop at Emma’s apartment, we ventured out to attempt maybe one of the most amazing feats in the history of boston driving. Since my iphone/GPS was out of batteries, I attempted to follow Emma in my car from downtown Boston to Beverly, MA. Now, if you’ve never driven in Boston this might not sound like a big deal – but if you ever attempt (and I don’t recommend it) to drive in this absurd city, you will quickly realize that trying to follow another car without getting cut off, rear ended, pulled over or t-boned is about as difficult as getting the magnet off the spiral wire at the state fair without making it beep (I HATE that stupid game). Amazingly, we were successful, and we rewarded ourselves with a delicious dinner at Emma’s mom’s house in Beverly. Then, to complete the “college reminiscent weekend,” we stayed up way past our bedtimes watching the Breaking Amish Cast Reunion.

The next day I met up with my mom and her friend De (my other mommy) in Portsmouth for brunch. We ate yummy food, discussed breathing techniques for labor, and my mom got to feel baby kick, which was exciting for everyone.

Later that night I met up with Dan and his mom and sister and family friends for a Mother’s Day dinner at Carol’s new lake house. And when we got home, Dan surprised me with flowers, a card and sour gummy worms for Mother’s Day. He knows me so well.

Now I’m back at work and back to the grind…but looking forward to some snuggles tonight with baby Charlotte. In other news…I gained ZERO POUNDS this week. Best monday morning ever. Here’s the complete chart:

How far along? 30 weeks (10 weeks to go!)

Total weight gain: 20 lbs (I gained zero pounds this week – wahoo!)
Maternity clothes?  yep
Stretch marks? still not yet, I’m sure they’re coming though
Sleep: bad, my hips are killing me
Best moment this week: the whole weekend
Miss Anything? drinking beer at baseball games
Movement: all the time – mom finally got to feel a kick!
Food cravings: milkshakes, cupcakes, cereal
Anything making you queasy or sick: nope
Gender: It’s a girl!
Labor Signs: Not yet….I can’t believe this question is actually becoming somewhat relevant….
Symptoms: heartburn, hip pain during the night
Belly Button in or out? Still hanging in there
Wedding rings on or off? on
Happy or Moody most of the time: happy 
Looking forward to: sunny weekends at the new lake house