JIC

This week I did the unspeakable… Something I vowed never to succumb to…
I wore the giantest, ugliest, maternity pants known to man. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Back in my pre-pregnancy days, I swore up and down to myself and to my husband that there were certain things I would not give into once I became pregnant (giant pants, giant underpants, giant grandma bras, excessive weight gain, odd cravings) . I made all these promises. Well, like everything else, you can’t always plan things.

I guess I should rephrase my above statement. They weren’t necessarily the ugliest pants. I’m very grateful to have received them from one of the many kind women to so graciously pass them down to me. They were the kind of pants that I pulled out and thought, uhhhh… not for me. I was about to pass them on but since they were black dress pants I might need for work, I figured I better hang onto them as a “JIC” pair.

So lately, my belly is pushing its breaking point. Most of my pants still fit everywhere else but the belly. And maybe it is the way I am carrying this Hansen Child (or maybe I am just a pork chop) but most of my tops are getting too short and I will have an inch or two of belly hanging out the bottom. One morning this past week, I was digging around my closet trying desperately to find something to squeeze myself into. I have less than 9 weeks to go. I really don’t want to spend any more money on maternity clothes. So I pull out these JIC’s. They are the kind of pants that go all the way up, right to the bra, and have a giant cut out with a stretchy cotton panel in the front. It felt like I was wearing a onesie with a kangaroo pouch. I pulled out one of my “tent” shirts to cover the pouch. And off I went to work.

All my other pants are of the under belly variety or have that nylon panel that goes up and over to hold them on. Just a personal preference but I absolutely hate having extra fabric clinging to my belly. Plenty of women have told me that when they were pregnant the JIC’s were all they wore. And they loved every minute of it. But then again, I don’t even own any non-maternity pants that actually sit on my waist.

Everything else has been going fine with the baby. I have typical pregnancy problems – heartburn, swelling feet, fat face, itchy skin, and achy joints. I did have the glucose test a few weeks back. My first test came back with high levels (which Lincoln blamed on the cheesecake I had for dessert the night before) so I had to sit for the 3 hour test, stuck in a lab facility, watching a mother give her kid strawberry pop in a sippy cup while calling it juice. He was a bratty child too. Too much “juice”. But the 2nd test came back just fine and my OB applauded me for having such great hemoglobin levels. I think I might get a plaque or something.

Speaking of awards, Lincoln and I went to a two day childbirth prep class at Banner Gateway where I will be delivering. He sat there patiently listening to all the talk about dilating to the size of a pickle jar, being proud of the placenta, the computer animated c-section, and the absolutely horrendous birth film (which my mother so wisely commented that no one really needs to ever see another women giving birth). He worked hard as my breathing coach for the Lamaze portion and rubbed my belly and back like a good support person should. He did get his kicks in by blowing his stinky Hansen breath in my face while I was trying to take my “cleansing” breath and he would tap on me while counting, which resulted in my threatening to sever a digit or two if he attempted that crap during labor.

All this good behavior was for one thing. He was waiting for the talk about the epidural. Back when I was first pregnant, a family friend (pregnant with her 2nd) told me to get the epidural. She said it’s not like they give you a trophy if you don’t. Lincoln looked at me with all sincerity and said “I’ll get you a trophy.”

So when the teacher brought up the pain options, Lincoln politely raised his hand and asked about the hospital stats on the #’s of epidurals (a whopping +90%). Then he asked with a completely straight face, if the mom chooses to not have one, will they get a trophy? Chuckles from the other participants, quick look of discomfort/shock from the instructor, then a polite no, no trophy.

My plan is to go all natural and get the biggest trophy ever (perhaps one that includes a set of diamond earrings), but I’m willing to be flexible as long as I can have a safe delivery.

Randoms:

I went to The Killers Concert at Dodge Theatre with sister Lena and s-i-l Erin. Bought the tickets back in January for an April concert but they postponed until September. So I dragged my 7 month pregnant self to the show. Fortunately I had an older gentleman in the row in front of me who sat the whole time so I could do the same. It was a great show. B-Flow (Brandon Flowers) is fabulous.

Lincoln and I and the pups went to Globe for a nice weekend visit. Hit the favorite eateries for lunch (Leonard Paul’s on Sat, La Casita on Sun). Chatted with m-i-l Susan (after Pico left her a nice present on the wood floor). Went to Walmart and the Dollar Store with my Nana. Had a nice BBQ with Ma & Pa Navarro. Good times.

Miss Myla Jenkins celebrated her 2nd birthday yesterday. Her present consisted of some extra pets and a little bit of lunch meat as a treat.