The Bloat Belly Part Deux

As I sit here using someone else's unsecure network to even look at the internet, I figured it was time for a Baby Ratcliff post. 

We moved this past weekend to Alston Park in Bluffton. Thank you, God. That shit hole on the Islands was really cramping my style. I could go on for hours about what a pain in the ass that place was and how much I hate the staff and community manager, Randall. Yes, he and I have a first-name relationship. All I will say is this: we were paying as much rent at Colonial Grand at Hammocks as we're paying for our house. Yes, that should make you shudder. All that aside, Baby Ratcliff is relieved to be in a new, clean, and healthy home. This place is fabulous. There are running trails and a happy little park in the center where you can walk your dogs. Iggy, Maggie, and I just returned from a delightful evening walk. It was perfect. 

Now that leads me to my next topic: three different people today told me that I'm "showing." Normally, this might not upset an expectant mother, but when the expectant mother is a mere 9 weeks along and her baby is the size of a green olive (reference the ticker at the top), it's a very bad thing indeed. Ann, our office Administrative Assistant who is amazing (I must add that), even asked if I was expecting twins. Ouch.

I know everyone meant no offense, and most people would love to hear that. I, on the other hand, would rather be told how small I am and how little weight I've gained. A good, "Oh, wow! I didn't even know you're pregnant!" would be much appreciated. Instead, my stomach is showing all of the heinous food I've eaten over the past couple days. I mean, come on! We were moving! What were we supposed to do? Making a f&^$#ing salad?!? Right. I couldn't even find my forks for two days!

I promise this, dear readers, that I will get up in the morning and exercise from now on. I've been slacking because we're unpacking, but today's comments have been burned into my memory and will be a constant reminder that just because I'm pregnant doesn't mean that I can have a Quarter Pound Cheese Coney.  

Well, Baby Ratcliff,  if there's anything I should gain weight for, it's you, but  I really wish you didn't like ice cream and macaroni and cheese.... and 810 calories worth of Coney. :( 

I just wanted to take a break from creating a fantastically entertaining database of hotels to share the Royal Suite of the Burj Al Arab. I hate to imagine that this would be the best I could do for Baby Ratcliff's babymoon, but in these uncertain times it's just so important to be grateful for what we have.

The Bloat Belly

I figure the number one thing people care about during a pregnancy is the belly - right? It's cute and tells the entire world you're having a baby. Well, I don't actually have a belly yet, but we need a starting point. Today, my skirt didn't really fit, and I thought, "Okay. It's time." Right now, I'm just disgustingly bloated, so that was likely the culprit. I don't really want to miss the opportunity, though. Anyway, here you have our starting point:

8 weeks. I feel like I've gained about 20 pounds, but Derek insists that I haven't. Regardless, I'm not wearing that skirt anymore because I couldn't hardly breathe today. Maybe it's all the Easy Mac... 

I do think I may have already gained a couple pounds because of the lack of running. I still run, but it's a lot harder. After about 10 minutes, I poop out and just start walking. I really want to run as long as I can, and I'm sure I'll have more energy later. I walk a lot, and typically, I'm pretty good at watching what I eat (save the Easy Mac). Today was a bit of an exception: at work, we had cake and brownies for one of my coworkers, so that really tanked the diet.Then, Derek and I had cheese sandwiches for dinner because I've already packed up our pots and pans. Go me! Everyone loves ridiculous amounts of fat and convenience food! 

Well, I'm sure you're sick of me griping about food since that was the topic of the last post. I'll post another, heftier picture in a couple weeks. 

The weirdest thing...

For the first time in what seems like forever, I'm not absolutely starving. Of course, this immediately freaked me out. I feel bloated - especially bloated - today, but other than that, it hasn't been so bad. Typically, I'm starving by 10 am. I should add that when I'm starving, I'm also the world's biggest b word, so don't let me get hungry. Back to the absence of hunger, I wonder if it's my breakfast switch...


Two days ago, Derek realized we had no food for breakfast. Sad, I know, but we're getting ready to move. He runs to Wal-Mart before work, and he comes back with his choice breakfast: double fiber bread and peanut butter. For me, he got

Delicious!

I would not typically eat this cereal. Usually, I'll have Cheerios, and that's good. When I eat cereal, kids, I eat cereal. Giant bowls. Well, I'm thinking I had about 500 calories worth of cereal this morning (maybe more, let's hope not), rather than the 200 I usually have. I'm wondering if that's the reason...

Around 11, I had a brownie from our office sweet supply. We have sweets in this office nearly every other day. It just wasn't that great. Now, I'm eating my lunch - my usual Easy Mac. I know, I know. It's not "healthy."  I want macaroni and cheese, and I want it to be convenient, damnit! Anyway, it tastes okay, but not as absolutely delicious and gooey and wonderful as it usually does. 

We'll see how today progresses, and I'm going to finish my Easy Mac. Maybe it's just new the breakfast cereal and my abnormally large quantities of it.

Let's get this started...

Well, I suppose it's time to make this official, and by making it official, I mean starting a blog. Yes, we are expecting our first child in April 2011. Currently, our due date is set for April 10, 2010, but because I have wacky woman parts, it could fall anywhere between April 1 and April 10. I don't really get how that happens, and that's fine. 

We're currently at 8 weeks, and we're chugging along nicely - according to the doctor. We saw the heartbeat last week, and I am currently moody, fat, and hungry. From what I'm reading on all these sites, it's pretty normal to feel that way right about now. I don't think I've ever felt so fat... or hungry. And, I'm sure Derek would say that I've never been this moody. 

We look forward to sharing our adventure with you! If nothing else, you'll gain an appreciation for my sarcasm, even with matters as precious and wonderful as having a child.