Tuesday, August 31, 2010

swagger of a college kid

I had my first "perks of being pregnant" experience today. It was small and pretty insignificant, but one of those moments where you consider sending a christmas card to the good-doer for going out of their way to make your day.

I had a three hour lab, a thirty minute break, then lecture for an hour and a half today. During break I typically chow down on something, but today I was trapped in conversation with a friendly 19 year old who wanted to open up and talk about her life. The whole time I kept thinking about the table of food being set up for the biology department's welcome back picnic that we passed on the way in to the building.  I eyed the brownies before class and couldn't stop thinking about them.

Ten mins into lecture, I decided I needed to eat something, anything. Even a Snickers would do. So I bolt out of the room, and go to the adjacent building where I figured a candybar vending machine would be. I wasted no time and asked the Biological sciences secretary exactly how to get to the vending machine. She was quick to respond, probably because I had a crazed look in my eye. As I journeyed down the hall, a lady makes eye contact with me, smiles, and says "how are you?"

I smiled back and replied, "Good, thanks." She kept walking, but kept talking. "What are you up to? Are you doing your lab?" I answered an honest "No. I'm looking for a vending machine. I need a candy bar really bad." She stops mid-step and quickly turns around back to me and says, "Go eat those brownies on the table. There's plenty of food out there. In fact, I'll walk with you, and you can just help yourself to the cheese and fruit and vegetable tray. I promise, there is plenty of food. I know how it is, when you're hungry, you're hungry."

I was completely not expecting such generosity, especially by a random lady who was on her way home, ready to call it a day.

She walks me to the table, hands me a plate, and says, "Really, hon, help yourself." Then she walks off and I hurried and yelled "thank you!" hoping she heard me.

I filled my plate with fruit, veggies, a fattie brownie and helped myself to a drink. I found a bench off to the side, in the shade, and attacked the brownie first thing. Holy crap was it delicious!!! I should have stayed out there the whole rest of class, but anxiety got the best of me. I shoved my face with the rest of the strawberries and hurrried back to my seat.

My 19 year old friend looks at me with concern, "is everything ok?" I smiled back, probably with seeds in between my teeth and chocolate crumbs in the corners of my mouth. "yep" I replied.

Sweet success!

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Redemption post

Have you ever watched Tosh.o's Redemption videos? I feel like I need about a million redemption posts to make up for the last two depressing ones. Really, my life cannot be reduced to this- there are so many good things going on around me, and when I take my pregnancy blindfold off, I think to myself, "Oh, that is lovely. Life is good. I am so blessed." etc.

Over the summer I developed an obsession with a TV reality show on Bravo called "Bethenny Getting Married?" This woman is crazy, but I love her. I loved her most of all because she was 39 years old, and pregnant with her first baby. I hate to say it, but I lived vicariously through her, watching her do normal everyday things, thinking constantly about food, taking pit stops every hour to get a treat, and putting a nursery together at the last minute. I totally connected to her and her experience, especially since all I can think about is food, and putting a nursery together is the farthest thing from my mind.

I attended my second outing for the summer last Saturday for a Phillips family reunion. It was miserably hot, but I loved seeing everyone and eating potato salad. I love potatoes. The next day, Sunday, out of nowhere, it began to rain. The shift in temperature, mixed with the smell of my mom's ribs and cheesy potato casserole in the oven, reminded me of autumn and winter. I am a true Idaho girl, as I have discovered how much I hate hot weather.  I see leaves on the ground and my heart skips a beat.

I am 18 weeks. Morning sickness is mostly done with. I can eat normally, sleep at my house normally, run errands normally,  clean up after myself normally, return phone calls normally, and think about the exciting near future normally. I'm still working on personal hygiene. Showers still gross me out.
                                                            4 1/2 months, baby!

(ps I want everyone to know how much I truly appreciate their love and concern. I may not show it, but your words of encouragement have gotten me through this rough patch. I only hope someday I can return the favor. I am so blessed to have such loving friends and family.)