23 weeks: Pudgy-McPudge-Pudge

So yesterday was the monthly prenatal appointment with Dr. V. I don't have pictures to show, but everything seems okay so far. Everything, that is, but for my sudden weight gain in the last 4 weeks. I'm not even going to say how much it was. Let's just say I've gained more than the low end of the recommended TOTAL pregnancy gain for someone my size. It prompted Dr. V to tell me to "Lay off the carbs, kid"!!!

Dr. V says I'm one of his smallest patients, so that kind of weight gain in 4 weeks is not something he wants to see. This could be problematic if I continue gaining in this was, as the carbs will contribute to much of the baby's weight. My dodgy recollection of first year biology and intro human physiology somewhat supports this.

Carbs --> blood glucose --> umbilical cord exchange --> baby's blood glucose --> chubby baby.

At this rate, I could end up with a 9 pound baby, which is cute and roly-poly, but may also mean c-section. No thank you!!! I was a giant baby, and S was a big-headed baby who grew into a rather large adult. I've seen too many video clips of the procedure to be nonchalant about it. If there's anything I can do to prevent a c-section, I'll do it.

Dr. V could tell I felt really bad, so when he actually saw my belly and measured it, I think he was trying to make me feel better by saying that all that weight gain wasn't just the baby. But then joked that I was getting quite a pot. WTH? What kind of a joke is that?? He just called me fat!

So yesterday was one of those days where I felt disappointed in myself the whole day for possibly sending my kid down the road to a lifetime of obesity. I went through the cupboards and threw out old packages of cookies (we don't eat them much anyways, but just in case temptation strikes....), chips, and candies. I took a close look at our pantry and my diet to narrow down the culprits responsible for this. I think the culprit is rice and pasta. I've always loved to eat large amounts of pasta, so that wasn't much of a change. It's more about the rice. Pre-pregnancy, I hardly ate rice at all. I just didn't like it. I'd get a small scoop with my dinner, and most times, atleast half of it would still be on the plate after I finished all the other items in the meal. But since Christmas, I've been scarfing down the rice like any true-blooded chinese girl. So I'm cutting back the rice, increasing fish, upping the exercise, and trying not to worry.

My girl friend and my massage therapist both tried to make me feel better with the same story! They both gained 60 pounds in their first pregnancies (both are now on their fourth!!), and the babies turned out average sized. S also says that a fat baby doesn't mean a fat adult. Just look at cousin Darryl. heehee!

On the preparation front, the nesting instinct is starting to kick in for both S and myself. We had a weekend of curtain-hanging and are both very proud of the results. Next project is wallpaper for our bedroom (I have a vision of "french occupied vietnam aristocrat" for our bedroom) and reorganizing furniture for the little dude's room. On the shopping front, we have acquired the following:

- fancy crib bedding, but no crib
- a few baby outfits
- a Halo sleepsack wearable blanket
- a small mountain of fancy cloth diapers
- a ring-sling carrier
- a Beco butterfly carrier
- yet another diaper bag (this one is for daddy-o)

And borrowed:

- a glider
- a bassinet and stand (so cute!)
- a swing chair
- a baby bath tub
- a feeding chair

The house is finally starting to look like we are expecting a new family member.