mom-mode post # 24 - on my 23-week belly pic

My new curtains plus 23 weeks of baby boy goodness!

Mom-mode # 23 - on my first childhood memory

Due to my current state ( preggo, in case you haven't heard), I have been pondering a lot upon motherhood and childhood. As I think about what kind of mom I want to be and what kind of childhood experiences I want to provide baby boy, I can't help but reflect on my own early years in life.

I am sure I am not the only mom-to-be who has gone through this. It is inevitable not to think about what traditions you want to repeat and pass onto the next generations and which ones you may wish to do differently.

One, I wish to never change or forget is my very first memory. It is precious and I'll cherish it always. I hope my baby boy can have a first memory as sweet as this one:

There was a certain buzz around the house. Like we were all waiting on something to happen. My 3-year-old brain could not quite grasp it, but I knew something big was about to take place. It was late evening and dad had gone to work (at the time he still worked night shifts at the hospital). Mom, my big sis and I laid on these big pillows in my dad's study, waiting on something I wasn't quite sure what.

Suddenly, mom gets up quickly. She makes a phone call and the next thing I remember is waking up to an empty house, our nanny telling me my aunt and uncle were coming to pick me up shortly. Perhaps to call my nerves or maybe just to pass time, she took me for a stroll around my neighborhood. I still remember neighbors smiling at me, the soft March sun shining on the sidewalk and our nanny's hand on mine.

Everything else is pretty much a blur from there until the most vivid moment I could ever recall: Dad pulls up on the driveway of my aunt's house, holding a shiny new gift. He tells me, grinning from ear to ear: your baby sister, that just arrived, sent you this. Now what was about to unfold as I unwrapped that gift, was the beginning of an undying devotion to shoes, purses and my baby sister. You see, in that package was the cutest little pink purse and pink sandals. If this baby brought me this, how bad can she be?

Naturally, my parents knew the way to appease my anxious heart (with purses and shoes!), but I still like to think that my younger sister was the one that picked out that prized pink gift. This is my first childhood memory, the day my (not so) little sister was born.

How about you, what is your earliest memory?

mom-mode post # 22 - on getting preferential seating

I have mentioned the little nifty trains that run by our city before. This train (it is called the tram) can take you pretty much anywhere you want to go, in a very short amount of time. For this reason, they are almost always very crowded.
When you get into a tram, you can hear an announcer’s voice saying something about babies, the elderly and I distinctly hear the word for “pregnant woman”. I must admit my local language is still very primitive and I can only pick up words here and there. But I have learned the word for “pregnant”. Plus, there are also some stickers on the windows with a picture of a mom and baby, a baby stroller, an elderly person and, you guessed it, a pregnant woman. Using the very obvious context clues, I can safely assume that these categories of people have preferential seating. In fact, I have seen youth get up from their seats to give room to an older lady. I have observed an older man get on the tram; someone immediately said something, quickly prompting several who were seating to give up their seat. It is a show of a civilized and humane society who respects their elders and moms. It truly is a beautiful sight.
My question is: WHY WON’T ANYONE GIVE UP THEIR SEAT FOR ME? I feel very pregnant. My lower back hurts. I’ve been wearing maternity clothes for a month now. Heck, I have a huge gut. You have seen my belly pictures, I know I look pregnant. Do I just look fat to them?
To be fair, I have been given a seat. Once. I was so happy people could finally tell I was pregnant and know I’ m not just fat. But now I wonder if the girl was just going to get up anyway, or if she actually realized I was pregnant. Because since then, every time I’ve gotten on the tram, I have been left to the mercy of the hand rails, performing a sad little balancing act of belly, purse and my own clumsy self.
So now my new favorite game to play on the tram is called: “Who can tell this lady is pregnant (not fat) and will give up their seat for her?” I have been trying different strategies like rubbing my belly ( and sticking it out real good), wobbling or placing one hand on my lower back and one on my belly. Neither strategy has worked so far. Any suggestions on what I should try?
Disclaimer: I don’t really care about getting a seat on the tram, but this is the first time ever in my life that I get to take advantage of this preferential seating deal. Well, I guess I do care about getting a seat, just so I can win my new game.

mom-mode post #21 - on the things I love about here

10 things I love about here:

1. The bread -- is delicious and is offered at practically every meal! Plus our doorman goes out and brings it for us every morning if we ask him to.

2. Chai -- Everywhere you go, people offer you chai.

3. The tram -- our city has this nifty little tram, which is easy to use and there's a stop very close to our house.

4. Our apartment! It's nicely lit during the day, fresh coat of paint on the walls and just perfect for us.

5. Walking everywhere. For those of you who know me, getting behind the wheels is very stressful (and probably not wise) so I love not having to deal with that. Plus, I appreciate the exercise!

6. Hearing this new language everywhere -- can't wait to speak it though.

7. Friendly people.

8. A huge pazaar ( market) two blocks away from our place every Wednesday -- filled with fresh fruits and veggies.

9. This little canal that runs through downtown. It is so peaceful and it allows me to feel like I'm near the ocean again.

10. My hubby -- so he's not from here, but it sure is nice to have him around!

And here's my 21-week belly by our brand-new (to us) living room window. He's been kicking like a soccer player wannabe. Just love it.

mom-mode post #20 - on how my belly looks at 20 weeks!

We arrived in our new country safe and sound. We had a relaxing weekend and I was ready to get started with all the shopping for our new place. I expected it to be hectic and chaotic, but I honestly underestimated how hard it would be.
I'm a shopper. I have been shopping since I was five ( so my mom tells me - a story for another day), but this was beyond anything I ever thought it would be. The combination: foreign country+little time+pregnancy was not optimal for a smooth day of shopping. But things are getting done and slowly things will fall into place.
I found this quote on a blog the other day and thought it was very fitting for these crazy days I've had:
"Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so. One day I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky and want, more than all the world, your return."

Attached is a photo of my 20-week bump.

p.s.: if you come to this blog and haven't introduced yourself yet, please do so! You can start with a " Hi, I'm ..." and I'll write back: "Hi, ...!" -- It will be fun, I promise. :)

mom-mode post # 18 - 19 week belly pic

Just so you all don't think I've finally had enough with the belly pics, here's shot of me in my 'going for a walk' outfit.

mom-mode post # 17 - on a sobering note

This has been a very sobering week. On the week we are getting ready to jump on a plane and start one of the most life-changing journeys of our lives, we heard about sweet friends that lost their baby boy, a few weeks away from the due date.

Moments like these are always heart-wrenching and never, ever easy. But suddenly, as I'm becoming a mother, this event hits even deeper in my soul.

I prayerfully grieve for our friends, for I have not other words to say. This couple has been an example of faith and resilience in the past, and I pray God will comfort them, yet again.

We get on the plane tomorrow, don't know when I'll be back here again. But as soon as I can get connected, I will carry on my ramblings on the joys and the pains of a mom-to-be.

A bittersweet day indeed.

mom-mode post # 19 - on how I feel about 'preggo t-shirt'

If you haven't guessed it by now, I'm not your ordinary preggo lady and I'm full of pet peeves about all the preggo merchandise people come up with.

There's so much hype about being pregnant and all the stuff you "need" to have. Before I left the States I had to do a lot of shopping for baby stuff and I was amazed at the plethora of products companies come up with to "aid" you in your pregnancy.

Most of it seems pretty useless, tacky and a waste of your money. However, if I were to buy one these baby bump t -shirts, this one would have to be it:
http://www.myretrobaby.com/item/does-this-baby-make-me-look-fat-tee/2970/p2c46 . To wear it especially when your gut doesn't quite look like a baby belly and more like a beer gut.:)

We have landed in our new country! Soon posts of our new place will follow. Right now I'm just trying to get over the exhausting jet lag.

mom-mode post #16 - on how we are thankful for your gifts

This is just to thank all of our wonderful friends and family who made these outfits possible!
Can't you tell I'm excited about little boy outfits? Now he just needs a leather jacket, a pair of high tops Converse shoes and maybe an argyle vest. Ha!
However, I do have to say how outrageously unfair it is to go shopping for a boy: 3/4 of the store is filled with adorable little girl outfits while less than 1/4 gets relegated to our little dudes.
Now, I do understand that infant boys may not care about how they look, but their mamas do (at least I do...)

Thanks again everyone for the lovely showers and gifts! You are so awesome.

mom-mode post #15 - another on working out while pregnant

Let me preface this one by saying: I'm about to divulge very personal information that might be slightly classified as TMI. So if you have a weak stomach, now is the time to look away. If you feel like you can handle this, read on friend.
My dilemma is, working out and dealing with full bladder issues. I had to stop running a couple of weeks ago, because 5 minutes into my run, my bladder will get completely full and I must make a stop. If I'm still close to home, no big deal. But if I'm a mile away...
So I took on walking. People say how walking is great exercise, etc. Well, baby boy continues to kick on bladder, so one must immediately turn around and head to the Water Closet.

Any suggestions on how to solve this so I can continue to exercise?!?

Thanks!