BEACHED WHALE!!!! Oh wait it's just Natalie

So there has been some prodding for me to put a picture of my swollen abdomen on the blog. Most would like to see it because they never thought that I would be pregnant. I might add at this point that I never thought I would be pregnant too! Last night Dennis and I were talking and we came to the conclusion that I could have lived with small bouts of guilt once in a while but that I would have been fine without getting pregnant. Dennis on the other hand would not have been okay without children. So here we are.

This picture was taken about a month ago, so I am bigger now. Dennis took it so I could send it to Goat in Nicaragua. After he took it, I looked at it and asked if I was really that big. Dennis' response, "Oh, you're big!" His eyes were bugging out of his head and he was very serious. I laughed and told him I was so glad he was always honest with me. I really am glad that Dennis doesn't mince words that would be ruthless. Anyway, a few days later Dennis looked at me again and said, "Wow, you look like you have just popped out!" Again we laughed about how astonished he was that I would get fatter. Good times!

Zits and Smelly Pits

Two new things that are driving me nuts about pregnancy. First zits, I feel like I am back in junior high with a forehead full of pimples and skin that is so oily I have a nice "glisten" in the sun. I did not know that when I got pregnant I would revert back to the puberty years! Oh well, I guess there are worse things. Speaking of worse things, I think that is where the smelly pits come in. I have the most terrible B.O. now. Dennis and I have to share the same deoderant because apparently Secret may be strong enough for a man but not made for a pregnant woman. Old Spice on the other hand combats the stench fairly well. It is just the look you get when someone smells it and realizes it is coming from a woman.

There are a few benefits to the pregnancy bit. I can eat doughnuts and not get sick from the amount of grease. I can sleep in everyday and instead of saying I am lazy I just chalk it up to pregnancy. I can eat Taco Bell without being utterly disgusted by it. (That is a big one, before I was pregnant I hadn't eaten there in years.)

On a happier note we found out we are going to have a boy. There was very little chance of a girl because of the track record on Dennis' side of the family. We have some ultra sounds that I will have Dennis put on.

Our trip to Russia and Spain was good; girls camp the next week went better than I expected. Now I am leaving again for family reunions; Dennis has to stay and work 2 weeks straight. It stinks, but that is the way it goes when you're oil field trash. We wouldn't change it.

The Super Sniffer

I had no idea when I became pregnant that I would turn into part bloodhound. I never expected the super sniff to be this strong. I would like to tell a funny story about this. I warn you now it is a little grotesque. The other day I was getting ready to hop in the shower and needed to use the toilet. So I sat down on the throne and went. Well the smell from the toilet was too much for my super sniffer, so I started to gag. Usually I just gag a few times and I am done. NOT THE CASE, Dennis came in to see if I was okay and this is the sight he gets. Me, naked, sitting on the toilet, puking on the rug. Dennis is in a bit of a panic and starts scrambling to turn on the fan and open the window. I think I have it under control and flush the toilet while I am still seated. NOPE, here it comes again. As I start to heave again, Dennis is telling me to turn towards the shower and use it instead of the rug. Right, I can't control where this is going when I am midstream. After all was said and done I am sitting there with tears in my eyes. I look up and Dennis looks like he has just been knocked in the gut. I start cleaning it up and he told me not to worry about it he will take care of it. What a nice guy. He was probably so in shock he just wanted to get me showered and dressed, back to the normal state. Afterwards we laughed quite a bit about this. Dennis' first comment was, "Oh Carisa is going to love this one."

I think it is very needless to say that labor is going to be a little tough on Dennis. He is going be in the bed next to me unconcious.

I know most of you would not share such an experience but really if you know the Ercanbrack girls this is pretty normal life for us. If you don't believe me just read the stupid thing my sister did this week. Her blog is werahappyfamily.blogspot.com

The Suspenders 5/8/09

Dennis was so kind to help me crop this picture so you can see the baby at 3 months. I feel like I should tell you to stare at the inkblots and tell me what you see. The baby is hard to see in this copy, but in the original it is really clear.

Yesterday was the trial day of the suspenders. I went to my dad's closet and borrowed a nice pair of white suspenders. I decided before I bought any I should do a trial run. Dennis hooked them on the back and I strapped them over my shoulders and clasped them in the front. They worked great! There was just one tiny little problem... using the bathroom.

Now at first I thought, "Oh, I will just unhook them in the front and then I can go." Well as I went to pull my pants down, I felt the suspenders moving up in the front to accomodate the moving down in the back. I realized this was potentially hazardous. The suspenders were headed straight for the toilet bowl. I stopped, and thought about if I would prefer to take my shirt off and then just slide the straps off. I decided that would take to long. I had really exceeded the window of waiting to use the bathroom. So I just unsnapped the back and took them off. Not such a fabulous idea.

But I tried again today. The problem today was that the pants are a lighter material, so the suspenders don't stay attached in the back. I was popping lose every few minutes. I finally discovered if I pulled my pants up a little higher it did not happen as often. At this point I would really love to say I mastered the suspenders but not so. I finally went and bought a pair of crop pants that have an elastic waist. I was done. I guess the suspenders solely work on heavier pants like jeans.

I discovered my second guilty pleasure of pregnancy... sugared soda. I usually do not allow myself to drink sugared soda, but I've started. I indulge this pleasure about once a week.

The belly rub 5/6/09

As you know I teach English to Spanish speakers four days a week for 2 1/2 hours a day. There are mainly women in my class. We spend so much time together that we are very close. A few weeks ago I told them I was going to have a baby. When I told the class I was expecting a baby, one lady said, "Are you going to have twins?" I said, "I don't know we will find out." She then told me, "I think you are because you have gotten fatter than a normal person does during the first trimester." Now those of you who are familiar with the hispanic culture know that calling someone fat is not a big deal.

I smiled and thought to myself, "Yes but most people don't go on a Whopper Jr. bing." I checked the bank account two days before my student's comment and realized I had gone to Burger King 6 times in 2 weeks. I cut the habit after the realization. I guess you could say it was my first guilty pleasure during pregnancy.

On Saturday, I was in the grocery store with Dennis and Becky when I heard my name called. It was one of my students with her husband. I said hello and we began to chat. All of a sudden she started to rub my belly. She kept looking at her husband and talking about the beautiful baby. I wanted so badly to tell her she could rub all she wanted but my belly was not going to give her any luck like when you rub Budda's belly. I also was tempted to tell her she was only touching fat and the baby was way too little for her to feel. Needless to say I stayed quiet because hispanic people do not get sarcasm.

It is interesting to see how my class responds. After I told them I was only having one baby they came to a mutual census that I had just gotten fat fast. I laughed. I really think our society would be better if everyone was ok with how they were and if fat was not such a negative idea to so many.

I can honestly say that I would like to be a little fatter right now so that my pants would stay up. It is day 2 of wearing the same pants and I will be borrowing or purchasing suspenders. It is for my own sanity. Or maybe I should go back to my guilty pleasure of Whopper Jr.s.

My first blog

My thoughts on pregnancy

My friend suggested to me to keep a journal of what happens during my pregnancy. I believe she knew I would not be able to hinder the sarcastic soul that lives inside of me. So as a tribute to Miriam, here is my first entry.

FAT 5/5/09
I have never been a waif nor close to skinny. It does not bother me because I strive more for healthy than anything and skinny does not mean healthy. As the days go by I can’t fit into my regular size clothing, but I am too small for the next size up. I am stuck in fat limbo. I wear a pair of pants for one day and they stay on okay. Side note-I wear my clothes more than one day because Dennis is in charge of the wash in the house. Basically I forget about it and he does it. On day 2 of the wear my pants will not stay up by themselves. I think if I had a little more back side instead of my back with a crack it would help. I spend the day pulling them up as they slowly slip down. Many right now might be thinking in their heads, Natalie you idiot, put a belt on. Novel thought, but the belt hurts. It apparently squishes where it is not to be squished. I am getting close to wearing suspenders under my clothing so my pants will stay up. This is a trick my father does and it serves him well. I am wearing the culprit pants today and we will see how the day plays out. If I have the same problem tomorrow, I am borrowing my dad’s camo suspenders.