Pregnancy Perks

Some parts of being pregnant are pretty rough, but looking back, there are also some enjoyable parts I want to remember and share:

Eating what you want and blaming it on someone else - this is the most popular pregnancy perk.  No matter when you feel like a milkshake (breakfast, lunch #2, midnight) you get one.  And usually you can convince someone else to procur it for you!  The best part is being guilt-free, "it's not for me, it's for the baby."

Prime parking spaces - at many of the stores you need to frequent while pregnant, you get a front row parking space so you don't have to waddle quite as far (grocer, baby store, doctor, etc.)

Free chocolate milk - yes, this actually happened to me a couple of times.  Example #1: While buying a sandwich at Subway, the sandwich artist noticed my big ol' belly and demanded that I take some chocolate milk for free!

Zipper-free pants - this one takes a while to appreciate, but once you finally give in to wearing maternity clothes, you really get to enjoy the comfort and time savings of elastic waist bands.  If you shave 30 seconds off every one of your 20-30 bathroom breaks in a day, you save yourself 10-15 minutes per day.  Perhaps time to enjoy another milkshake?

Making strangers uncomfortable - there are many games you can play with strangers for extra kicks during pregnancy.  There's the "Thanks for asking, but no, I'm not pregnant," and of course the "I have raging hormones and could lose it in a BIG way in a matter of seconds," or, a little trickier to pull off because it requires pre-planned body positioning, "Are you checking me out? That's creepy considering I'm 8 months pregnant."

Cutting in lines to pee - This can happen anywhere, but is VERY frequent when at a bar surrounded by drunk people.  (No, I was not drinking while pregnant, but a girl can still go out right?)

Great hair and nails - I'm not sure if this is the vitamins or the hormones, but it rocks!  Long pretty nails and full bodied, shiny hair. 

With babies 18 months apart (to the minute) I also got to experience different seasons of pregnancy.  For those of you who really like to plan and can pull it off, here are the pros of fall vs. spring babies.

Fall Pro's:

Less clothing to buy: the summer preggo wardrobes don't require as many pieces of clothing so you save money and are obviously pregnant and not just fat and bundled.  By the time fall rolls around, you're too hot all the time to even need to consider warmer clothes.

The first trimester is done by March/April: Lots of fun events happen during the summer.  You get to be "cute-pregnant" during the fun-loving summer months and not have to pretend to be giving up alcohol for one reason or another (1st trimester) or waddle around uncomfortably (3rd trimester).

There's no ice to fall on when you're most unstable (3rd trimester) and there's no risk that you'll get snowed in and your husband will have to deliver your baby.

Flip flops are appropriate all the time!!

Spring Pro's:

Maternity leave in the spring is awesome!  You get to enjoy the wonderfully mild weather (not too hot or too cold for your new baby) and get out of the house a little.

You get your bikini body back in time for summer.  (YEAH RIGHT!!) This is a little pipe dream of mine.  I've seen some people pull this off, but they are not usually the ones who enjoyed pregnancy perk #1 quite as much as me.

You're done being an incubator and uncontrollably hot by the time the summer sun hits.

There are some negative parts to pregnancy, but in the end you wind up with a wonderful little bundle that brings so much happiness to your family the negative aspects all just fall away.  I like to focus on the positive parts because the ends justify the means.

**Disclaimer: Please do not ask my husband how he feels about me being pregnant; he may paint a very different picture.  I am so gratetful that my husband is one of the most patient and understanding humans on earth (or at least that he was able to learn to be...).