pregnant is not all it's cracked up to be

and if you don't want to hear any complaining, then don't read this post.

at the wise old age of almost-35, i am pregnant with my first (and maybe last?) child. i am 24 weeks along, and am due january 22. currently, we're calling him walter but that could change if husband decides to like any of my other names (howard, arthur, linus, hugh....), OR in the event that i get brain damage between now and january and am swayed to his idea and we call him septembuary.  walter is the main reason that this blog has remained silent for months, due to the havoc he is wreaking on his mother's now middle-aged body. (should i have done this when i was 25??? perhaps.)

two of my sisters have had babies, and their pregnancies seemed to be pretty damage-free. and one of my grandmothers said she actually felt better when she was pregnant-- better mood, increased energy, etc., so i was hoping! but alas, i seem to have inherited my mother's luck. YE-AH.

morning sickness is a misnomer, people! because (for the lucky ones) it doesn't just show up in the morning, it hangs out ALL DAY. even taking a drug for nausea normally prescribed to people with cancer hasn't helped much. add to that the development of carpal tunnel (apparently it's common in pregnancy because of swelling), the inability to stand without grunting or peeing a little bit, a weird rash on my legs, arms and belly, the exhaustion, wearing clothes made for whales and feeling like one, the inconvenience of having to eat every hour or two, back pain, heartburn day and night, pitting edema, not being able to wear any of my shoes but birkenstock sandals (which is fine because i can't reach my chuck taylors to tie them anyway) and almost-chronic, blinding headaches... and we're off! actually, i have a friend who, for her three pregnancies, had to spend the entire time on her back in a dark room with no light and no movement.... and i think she is a saint. so could it be worse? yup.

at least i can send my husband out to get me slurpees and feel semi-okay about it. and getting my hands on that baby and smelling his baby smell will make it all worth it, right?

also, is it inevitable that this not-very-consistent blog will turn into a mommy blog? probably.