Too Soon for Maternity Clothes?

Over the weekend the hubs and I went shopping. Because of my awesome bloat belly, I thought it might be time to get a feel for what size maternity clothes I might be wearing soon. It's been awful dressing lately. Like I wrote before, I normally have a rounded out lower belly, but now? It's ridic. I was never a big pants wearer, but now my only pants options are leggings and my stretchy almost yoga-pant NY & Co. "trousers." I really thought my closet of over 100 dresses would pull me through many months of pregnancy, but they all seem to emphasize the bloat. Announcement time can't come soon enough!

So anyway, I have no idea what pregnant woman in this town do for clothes.How will single racks of maternity clothes in JC Penney and Old Navy are get me through until November?? We used to have a Motherhood Maternity but we lost that months ago. Online shopping it is. I did at least pick up two non-mat dresses at Kohl's that should suffice for warm weekends - yay empire waist!

Instead of clothes, we came home with another book - this time for the daddy-to-be. Upon the recommendation of my friends, I signed up W to received the weekly BabyCenter emails, which I figured would do the job. But alas, this book was $4. I may crack up the first time I spy him reading it. But we're five and can't talk about baby books without re-enacting Seth Rogen and Katherine Heigl's fight in "Knocked Up" -- "I didn’t read the baby books! What’s gonna happen? How did anyone ever give birth without a baby book?!"

You know what else is ridiculous? The pregnancy/food relationship. Friday after work I went to the grocery store to pick up some rice (BRAT diet for my GI bug). I also grabbed some hot chicken tenders on my way out. And then something snapped in me as I got into my car. I pried open the chicken bag. It was like I lost all concept of etiquette and decency as I drove the rest of the way home with one hand on the steering wheel, the other clutching my fried chicken. I have never felt so pregnant than I did in that moment.

Food on the Brain

Today is 5w3d and so far so good. I'm getting used to the everyday fatigue, and now that my cold is almost over, I'm sleeping through the night so much better. I think a lot about food. I'm guessing that will change should morning sickness strike in the next few weeks, so I'm going to just run with it.

Last week I thought a lot about sauteed vegetables. This week? Red meat -- cheesesteaks, hamburgers, bacon... I'm pretty sure I dream about it. A friend told me that's a boy sign, but I'm trying not to put much weight to those wives' tales. Oh, and sadly carbs are pretty nice too. The smell of my chicken noodle casserole is making my mouth water right now. I hope that craving goes away quickly; the last thing my butt needs are more starches.

I've been slowly accumulating books and downloading iPhone apps to help me navigate through these exciting and daunting nine months. Books are great of course, but I'm finding the most value from my BabyCenter app, which gives me a checklist. The other app I use daily is one called BabyBump which shows daily and weekly updates and tips. Oh technology. Someday I'll have to tell our baby he/she was conceived with the aid of an app.

Also, and more importantly, I'm fortunate enough to have a fabulous network of women in my life, many of whom have/are going through pregnancy and parenthood. Thankfully I can ask any silly question to them, and while they may internally mock me, they're very understanding about explaining certain things to me. And any question that is too mortifying to ask those women? Those go to Dr. Google. What did pregnant women ever do before the Internet??

Lab Work & Starter Kit

I received another "jolt of real-ness" today when I got the call that my morning blood test was positive. And again when I scheduled my appointment to meet with an OB nurse. It lends a little bit more credibility to a store-bought home test of course!

While it seems feels very surreal, I am trying to temper excitement by realizing how easily things can turn the other way. Especially today when I felt less symptomatic than others. I know I shouldn't try to hurry up the ill part of first tri, but at least it would make this seem more like real life and not a thought planted in my head.

I also received what I'm calling my Pregnancy Starter Kit: half caf K-cups, What to Expect When You're Expecting (which I realized post purchase it's not the best), and some cheap pregnancy tests because I'll probably be pretty paranoid until I see a clinician.

Of course today had another positive. Getting this message via email from W: I just wanted to take a second and tell you that I think you’ll make a wonderful mommy. I’m so happy.

Tomorrow I get to visit with my in-laws, and I'm sure I'll be bursting at the seams to tell them, but I'm going to control myself. And also figure out a way to disguise the fact I won't be drinking alcohol. :-/

For my mom friends: What books do you recommend? Also what tips do you have for this very early stage?