Preggo/Mom Series: Just A Girl

So I can enjoy some time with Owen and get acclimated to life with a newborn, I asked some of my blog buddies to play along and answer 10 hard-hitting questions about pregnancy and motherhood.

Today, the lovely Chris from Just a Girl is sharing her experiences and insights.

What did you enjoy about being pregnant?
I felt like my husband and I really bonded during this time. We waited four years to have a child, so we were both ready. I loved feeling/watching the baby move and experiencing the sincerity of complete strangers when it comes to a pregnant woman. I wish people behaved that way all the time!

What did you NOT enjoy about being pregnant?
Nausea. Ugh. Fatigue. Get out. Working full-time during both pregnancies was miserable, so I’m sure it didn’t help the fight against those two. The weight gain didn’t bother me. I had a baby in there-big deal. But sleeping with that weight? Not so fun.

What did you miss most during your pregnancy/pregnancies (booze, sushi, lifting heavy objects, being able to fit into tight spaces, etc.)?
Being able to smoke and drink booze. Just joking. I didn’t do either. I stopped drinking pop, so that wasn’t fun. And I did miss the general freedom of movement. Something as simple as planting flowers is quite a chore with a huge ball in your tummy!

Any interesting pregnancy cravings?
Oh man. I ate an entire jar of olives one night in bed. When I was finished, I started to drink the juice in the jar, and my husband said, “Don’t. Do. That.” I guess I was taking the salt craving a bit too far? Other than that, I’m pretty sure ate 47 gallons of ice cream, 72 pounds of shaved ice, and 94 ears of corn on the cob.

Any interesting pregnancy aversions?
Spicy food and nausea don’t go well together. Pizza and I took a long break from each other. And cooking raw meat? Yeah, that didn’t happen.

If you weren’t married to your spouse and could choose one celebrity to father your children, who would that be and why?
Great question! I obviously don’t know these men (yet), but I’d choose Ben Affleck or Matt Damon. They’re both hot, and they both seem to have a good handle on fatherhood. I also look for dad’s that would be protective of their families and they fit the bill. Speaking of bills…they could probably pay them. And pay them well.

What are the three baby products you couldn’t live without?
Acid reflux happened in our house, so lots of soft, cute burp cloths! I work full-time, so I couldn’t have made it without my breast pump! And pacifiers saved my life on more than one occasion.

What’s one thing you didn’t know about babies before you had your own?
Truth be told, I wasn’t a fan of kids. I always turned down the opportunity to hold a baby, and I rarely babysat as I was growing up. What I didn’t know is that my kids would obliterate any aversions I had to kids to that point. They became my everything, and I never looked back.

If I offered to care for your child/children for 48 hours what would do, where would you go, etc.?
My husband and I would go to Bora Bora. We would sleep, drink, talk, laugh, “Hug”, and relax the entire time. As a matter of fact, you might wanna make that 72 hours.

Any sage mom advice you’d like to share?
I haven’t had a baby in the house for sometime now, so parenting is sooo much easier for me. The best advice is to use any help that’s offered to you. We always think we need to do everything ourselves, and that’s not true. It really does take a village. If a neighbor offers to come over so you can take a nap, don’t feel awkward. Take that nap! If your mother in law offers to vacuum you floors. Cringe and let her do it. You’ll be happier–and better rested–for it. Just know that you’re not the only one who can care for your child. Help is good!

Check out the other Preggo/Mom Series participants!

Katie from Bower Power
Erin from How To Nest For Less
Rachel from Maybe Matilda