Mother's Day

So this weekend we celebrated Mother's Day!  It was a great day spent with family... We went out for a big, over the top brunch and had a nice time... I know, obviously, that my little one hasn't been born yet... But, he's alive and growing... So, am I a mother?

I pondered this all weekend... Originally, because I was wondering if I would get presents (I love presents! Who doesn't?)  But then it got me thinking... Am I a mom yet, or just a fetus growing vessel?

My little guy has been pretty demanding on my body throughout the entire pregnancy... he's already turned my world upside down and changed my life forever.  He's 24 weeks old and his presence is felt every day - whether through morning sickness or a couple of kicks in the afternoon...

Granted, he isn't fully cooked... but he's partially cooked...  I mean, he's not an embryo... He's got hair, finger nails and apparently, if he were to be born now (which I would never want to happen) and received excellent medical care, he would likely grow up to be a normal healthy little boy!  So, all of this makes me think I'm a mom...

One rite of passage I have not yet experienced (that most mom's have) is labor and delivery... That is definitely a good counter-argument to everything I am saying... In order to qualify for presents on mother's day do you need to go into labor??? What about those who adopt?  Or have a surgical procedure (C-Section) instead of delivery?  This is a weak counter-argument for many reasons...

I'm truly examining this from every angle... Maybe the qualifying factor for being a mother's day gift recipient is having a child that is breathing air (my little guy COULD breathe air, but he isn't just yet and he certainly couldn't go to the mall to pick his mama up a card or little trinket)... Perhaps Hallmark should have better outlined the parameters for this "holiday"... Something to consider...

And now the million dollar question... Did I receive any Mother's Day gifts?

The answer is yes!  My mom knows me pretty well and I think she pondered some of the same things that I did... In order to be safe and not disappoint her crazy, hormonal, pregnant daughter, she filled out a blank card, wrote in some Mother-To-Be wishes and bought me a subscription to Parents magazine.  It was very thoughtful and despite my pondering, unexpected. 

Next year will be my very first "official" Mother's Day... My little guy will be about 8 months old!  Daddy better take notice and plan something special for his baby mama!

And yeah, you got me... I got pregnant just so that I could have another day of gifts... ;-)

The Power of the Snoogle

Until recently, I did not quite understand the allure or power of the snoogle.  I knew that many pregnant women found relief sleeping with the snoogle so as soon as I got pregnant I bought one thinking that it was this magical pillow that would make sleep even easier.  I was only about 16 weeks when my snoogle arrived and I tried sleeping with it for the first few days after opening it and ended up just kicking it to the ground.  I had not yet embraced the power of the snoogle.  I didn't understand it... It was so oddly shaped, so large and unwieldy (it's a 5ft body pillow, I'm a 5ft person) I just figured it wasn't for me.

About two to three weeks ago I started having more difficulty sleeping... My baby bump has now turned into a baby basketball and I started suffering from some lower back pain, numbness in my arms and hands when I slept, etc... I thought maybe it was time to revisit the massive snoogle that had taken up residence on my bedroom floor.

It truly changed my world.  How did this once uncomfortable, cumbersome, weirdo pillow transform into this amazing, life changing, sleep-inducing pleasure?  Frankly, I don't know and I don't care... It's just plain grand.  My husband thought it was hilarious to come into bed and see my wrapped up in this massive pillow... He says he never knows where the snoogle ends and I begin... And I say, it doesn't matter... For the next few months... we are one. 

Dear Snoogle,
I heart you and do not plan to leave you until after my little papaya (his size at 24 weeks) is born! Love,
Mama Byrd