Maternity Clothes and Manners

I've mentioned before that although I am 5'7", petite size pants fit me perfectly. This is because I have a long torso. This didn't pose a problem for me when I was pregnant with Nadia, but it has definitely been a problem this time. I am not sure if it's because of a difference in the style of summer vs. winter tops or because my belly is bigger this time around, but most of the maternity sweaters I bought aren't long enough to cover my belly any more, particularly if I am wearing an "under the belly" style of maternity pants. Normally I wear either a size medium or large sweater; it's rather frustrating when XL maternity sweaters don't fit. One solution I have found is that actually some of my tunic style sweaters (size M or L) fit. Something is wrong when a non-maternity sweater in a smaller size fits when a XL maternity one doesn't. My mom, Nadia, and I went shopping at Target on Wednesday, and my mom graciously bought me a few XXL maternity sweaters there. I don't think the fact that they were XXL was the difference but rather that sweater was a longer style. It's so nice not to be tugging on my sweater all day long to make sure my belly isn't showing!

I am torn as to what I should do regarding the maternity clothing I've outgrown. I put the summer maternity clothes in the basement because even if I decide to sell them on eBay, now isn't the right time. My bigger decision is whether to sell the 2 pair of pants (size L) that fit me in the early stages of pregnancy with Nadia that don't fit now and also the sweaters (L and XL) that no longer cover my belly. We're not going to do IVF again, and by the time I finish nursing Ian I will be getting very close to 39 years old (presuming I nurse him at least for 12 months). In the last 7 1/2 years since we started trying to conceive, we've never gotten pregnant without medical intervention (IUI or IVF). Although I would love to have a third child, I really don't think it's going to happen, and of course after being childless for so long, I am thrilled that soon we'll have two little ones. I'd hate to sell my maternity clothes and then end up needing them again, but I also think emotionally it's probably better for me to just assume that Ian will be our youngest child. I think selling the maternity clothes will help it seem more real to me that the door of having more children is closed. Yes, there is sadness when I think of that, but considering a few years ago I assumed I'd never be pregnant, I just need to focus on the two wonderful blessings God has sent our way and that helps decrease the grief over "only" having two kids when I always dreamed of having at least three or four. What would you all do in my shoes? Sell the clothes or hang onto them just in case there's a surprise BFP at the age of 39 or 40?


Yesterday I was at the NAEYC conference in DC. All throughout the day I had quite a few people ask me when I am due. One lady looked at me and asked "you aren't going to have that baby today are you?". Generally it seems the reputation is that people in certain areas (the South or rural areas) are more polite than those in other areas (the North, cities). Well I must say that in DC I was treated in a very polite manner all throughout the day yesterday. For example, I was offered a seat on a bench while waiting for the METRO train. This is one perk to it being obvious that you're pregnant. :-) The conference is so big that the Convention Center isn't big enough to house all the sessions. They also are using two nearby hotels. Unfortunately my session was at one of those hotels, and it was an ordeal getting there and back as the shuttle wasn't running every 15 minutes as advertised.

The expectation is that we will present at at least one national or international conference a year. I have typically gone to 2-3 conferences each academic year. I did still do three conferences in this calendar year (2009), but in terms of this academic year (09-10), this is the only conference I will be attending due to Ian's arrival, and I only plan to speak at one during the next academic year (in Baltimore in November 2010). The next year I am thinking of doing more than one is during the 11-12 academic year (one in DC and two in Philadelphia). Conference proposals are due about one year before the conference so it's something one must plan in advance.

Last night we had dinner at Chevy's. It was a treat to have Mexican food as I rarely get to a Mexican restaurant since Paul doesn't like Mexican food. We discovered that Nadia loves cheese quesedillas. It was no surprise that she devoured the ice cream that came with the kids' meals. It was nice to see her eat so much since she's been eating very little lately.