Expectant Mothers parking spaces

After reading this week’s blog entry about parking spaces from my friend, Nev, I got to thinking about Expectant Mother’s spaces. I’m not sure how long these special spaces have been around, and I doubt many places actually have them from what I’ve seen, but darn it, I want to park in this space!

I remember spotting one years ago and thinking how silly they were. Pregnant women aren’t incapable of walking! Why should they be privileged enough to get an upfront luxury spot?

Oh, how naïve I was.

Now being what, eight, eight and a half months pregnant, I now see the need for these precious spaces. I drive in circles in a crowded lot hoping to find this special space, only to find that they don’t exist or that there is only one space available, to which of course someone else has already taken. And, here I’m left parking at the far end of the lot, taking a deep breath before I cross the Sahara of parking lots, to eventually find my oasis at the other end. I’m glad I always carry a bottle of water with me. Just call me Lawrence.

Which makes me think; is this person who parked in this valued space, really pregnant? There’s no need for a special ‘pregnancy’ sticker to dangle from the mirror, so who’s to say just anyone can park there? Also, at what point in pregnancy is it ok to park in this space? I think I would feel guilty to park there if I were only a couple months pregnant. Which brings me back to who exactly is parking here? A woman can easily get away with parking in this space, whether or not she is pregnant. Because, who dares to ask a woman if she’s pregnant, right? A very stupid and idiotic one, that’s who.

But, to those ‘non pregnant’ stealers of this space, I tell you this:

It's so not fair for those of us who are waddling their way around, barely being able to walk from the added 25-30 pounds and the excruciating pain of slowly parting pelvic bones and ligaments as if a horse kicked you in the crotch. And, let’s not talk about the recent heat wave here in Southern California that will melt a pregnant woman in her crazy swollen feet’s tracks (what are ankles again?). Or, how about when the baby suddenly decides to pop a squat on your bladder, making you not think twice about finding a nearby bush?

These are just a few of the ‘joys’ on this girl’s complaint list (this is the one time I’m entitled to complain without consequences, so I’m eating it up for whatever sympathy it’s worth!).

Baby, I know you’re comfortable in there, but if you’d like to come out early……please, feel free! I won’t take it personally, honest!

This last weekend, we marked an item on our ‘to-do’ list, and relaxed as we went away for the weekend. On our few outings out where we needed to park, of course there wasn’t any Expectant Mother’s space to be found. So, instead of Jeremy listening to me moan and complain about how far away we’ve parked (he’ll demonstrate to you a great mocking version of me if you ask him), we bypassed the pain and annoyance and simply used valet. A girl could get used to this!

I’m still waiting to park in my EM space…..

Countdown begins....

The crib is set up, complete with jungle animal themed mobile, bumper and blanket. The dresser is filled to the brim with neatly folded baby clothes organized from sizes newborn all the way up to nine months. The bouncer, swing, stroller and car seat are still in their boxes, but are rapidly approaching the point of being opened and assembled, and the ten stacks of diapers are primed for use along with the wipes and Butt Paste.

I’m constantly getting asked, “Are you ready? Are you excited?” To which I usually respond, “Mostly….yes….I think so…I hope so…”. I must have an expression of sheer exhaustion or terror, because I usually get a response back telling me, “It’s only going to get worse…”.

As if it wasn’t true already, the weight of the reality of this birth is finally bearing down on me. I’m beginning to feel a little overwhelmed by it all. I’ll find myself thinking about the magnitude of emanate change and get a slight wave of anxiety surge through me.

Just the other day, as Jeremy and I were lounging on the couch watching some tv program, I realized that these quiet and relaxing moments will, if not be gone completely, be very far and few. Our life as an independent couple with no responsibilities, who can go out on a whim or do nothing at all, will completely be changed forever. We will be parents.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m completely excited that this little boy will be here next month. Plus, I’m so done with being pregnant. However, the new and transformed portrait of our lives at that point is very surreal. It’s as if I were staring at one of those 3D photos (remember those?) and finally blur my eyes enough to see the hidden image. It’s a mix of excitement, fear, and awe of suddenly seeing your future in a completely new view. We've been a couple for so long (13 years), it's just strange to imagine our lives as three.....

Another moment I experienced that this is all coming to a reality very quickly, was at our latest prenatal appointment this week. The doctor mentioned that they consider the baby to be Full Term at 36 weeks, and if labor started by then, they wouldn’t stop it. I am currently 34 weeks. That’s only a couple weeks away.

Yet again, a moment of panic and excitement rolled over me.

Of course, these are rough estimates of when a first baby comes. And, from my research and constant asking of women, I’ve gotten about 50/50 on whether they come early or late. But, there’s nothing to say he won’t come early. And the mere fact that the hospital will go ahead with labor if started that early is throwing me into overdrive.

Let the nesting stage begin.

We may have all the big items, but now little things are coming to mind, and I quickly grab pen to paper to jot down essential items and to-do’s. My last day at work is June 6th, a mere three weeks away. Although, I’m frantically attempting to get things done before I leave, I’m completely relieved that I’ll get those couple weeks off before the due date (of course, that’s if the baby comes on time) to get some of these items accomplished (with the help of Jeremy of course).

1. Pack hospital bag.
2. Get car seat ready.
3. Wash all the baby clothes, sheets and blankets.
4. Buy baby approved laundry detergent.
5. Get the carpets and couch cleaned.
6. Clean the apartment like there was no tomorrow.
7. Put collection of replica swords away.
8. Fill out all FMLA and SDI paperwork.
9. Make sure cat has soft paws on at all times prior to delivery.
10. Find time to relax and sleep before we can’t

Oh, I suppose I should add another item: Name this child!

So, to get #10 off the list, we’re planning on spending this weekend down in Anaheim for a relaxing ‘babymoon’ as they like the call it: Lounging around the pool at a nice hotel while sipping on ‘mocktales’, catching a movie, maybe the new Narnia film, and then spending some time at Disneyland eating churros and Dolewhips. Sounds like my kind of weekend. And, since it may be our last of this kind of weekend as ‘a couple’ for a while, we’re going to make the most of it.

Hey, why not, right?