Looking for a new business? Start a maternity clothing line!

I have been so disappointed by the availability (or lack thereof) of maternity ware, it's unreal. I know it's hard to find pants because I'm tall, but it really should not be such a challenge to find a top. I mean come on, I already feel huge and not highly attractive....not finding nice clothes does not help me feel any better about this growing belly!
Let's see, I've visited both Kohls and Target over the past couple of days. Kohls had literally one (1!!!!!) rack of maternity clothes. Now I know you all know how huge Kohls is. You can't tell me that there is not more out there than fits on one rack. Oh sorry, I forgot the one rack with summer shorts on sale. Really? Last time I checked it was still winter here. Who in the world wears shorts these days?! Not quite ready to give up, I decided to check Target tonight. Needless to say their selection was quite limited, too. Not only that, but they had the maternity clothes mixed in with their womens sizes. Now I know that I am getting big, but to group maternity clothes with basically clothes for overweight people makes no sense. They might fit belly-wise, but most bigger people don't need the length that I need. So, no success there either.
And now explain to me this whole concept of a nursing bra please. Do they really have to look butt ugly? While I don't want to model it in front of the whole world, it could have a bit more of a cute-factor. And what size does one buy in those? Urgh!
All I truly want is to go shopping for normal clothes. Going into any kind of "normal" store is so depressing. I try to avoid it whenever possible, but geez, there are cute clothes everywhere...just not in maternity sizes. I cannot wait to wear regular clothes again. This whole maternity clothes thing is ridiculous, a rip-off, and utterly frustrating. So, if you are looking for a business idea in this tough economy, may I kindly suggest a maternity clothing line for the normal kind of people, i.e. not the XS and S sizes that you might be able to find if you're lucky enough to make it through half of the one and only maternity/big women rack!

Baby registry....what a nightmare!

Who would have known the amount of anxiety the thought of creating a baby registry could possibly create?! First of all, baby registries and baby showers are NOT common at all in Germany. In fact, any kind of shower, i.e. bridal or baby, is not really common. I successfully avoided a bridal registry because I really wasn’t comfortable with it and because I felt Ben and I already had a lot of the things that people typically ask for on a registry.

This whole baby thing is different. I realize that people want to have a shower and that people want to help us get ready for these babies. And that’s a good thing because I really had NO idea whatsoever of the many things that one supposedly needs to get ready for a baby. Double all of that for us and you’re looking at having to build an extension to this tiny house! That being said, I was willing to give it a shot.

I initially started a registry through Target’s website. Not a good idea. It was hard to see the different things, half of the stuff needed to be ordered online, and I was pretty much just randomly picking things. A couple of friends recommended books, but even that seemed overwhelming. I mean really, is it necessary to read a book to know what to get?! Apparently so and, in retrospect, maybe that would have relieved some of the anxiety.

My second step was for Ben and us to go to Babies R Us. I have to admit that I kind of expected a personal assistant who would literally walk us around and tell us exactly what might be worthwhile registering for. Little did I know, however. A customer service clerk took down some of our information and then handed us a little booklet which had all the essentials (and then some, I imagine!) listed. It was all organized by the store’s layout. That made the experience a bit more managable…..however, how in the word does one decide which bottles, nipples, blankets, onesies, etc. to get?! I was so overwhelmed and frustrated that we probably made some rather quick choices before dashing out of the store. Ben, on the other hand, really enjoyed using the little scanner to scan in all the different items. We ended up asking random people in the store for their advice (best strategy ever!) and went with some of their suggestions. Regardless, after leaving I was ready to write off the whole registry thing!

A few days later, after I had recovered from the initial shock, I took the Babies R Us list, highlighted all the things that we still needed and hadn’t registered yet or previously purchased, and off we went to a local Target store. No talking here, the lady handed the scanner over, and we were on our own. We tried to find most of the other items that were on the huge Babies R Us list and Ben once again eagerly used the little scanner. A couple of hours later we were DONE!

Since then, I have not spent a second revisiting the registries or doing anything with it whatsoever. We were told to pretty much throw everything on the registry so that, if nothing else, we could get the 10% off for anything left on the lists after baby showers and births. I am still not completely comfortable with the thought of a baby shower, but have come to accept that people really do want to help as well as have come to realize that we really do need the help.

In a future life, I might consider actually reading a book prior to registering or maybe taking an experienced mommy-friend along….for now, however, I am so relieved that this step in the process is done and over with and happy to announce that we are indeed registered at Target and Babies R Us!

Not Being Able To Help

As the man in this relationship, aka the father, better known as the one who caused all of her discomfort, I find it hard to watch my wife in all her discomfort. Massages do not work, her shortness of breath, and all the issues she has with food, i.e heartburn, nausea, lack of appetite, etc has me at wits end. I am glad that the babies will be here in less than 80 days because I want those babies here healthy and happy, but I want my wife to feel better.

It is hard, especially while in school, and knowing more now about what she is going through. It is hard, know what is happening, and knowing that there is nothing that I can really do for her. I try to show her that I love her, but it is hard when I am sleeping and she is dealing with insomnia.

I wish that she would get the rest that she needs and deserves. She puts on a brave front everyday; I know that she will be an amazing mother to Lukas and Lilli. She already is a great wife, friend, woman. Now she will be able to add Mother to that list.

Physical changes = no fun!

A lot of people have been asking how I have been feeling and while I truly have been feeling pretty good throughout this pregnancy, this is the perfect opportunity to share my ABCs of physical ailments related to this pregnancy.

A - Anxiety (I was scanning for emergency exit doors at IKEA, thinking I needed to get out of there!)
B - Breathing issues (I have often found myself breathless after just taking a few stairs, and while I don't mind not exercising, it would be nice to at least make it around the block with Max)
C - Cravings (luckily for me, lack thereof...there really is no food that I am craving in particular)
D - Dry eyes (we're trying the humidifier to see if that helps)
E - Extreme moodiness (although I really must say, I have been able to control this for the most part - I usually save it all and let it out on the husband!)
F - Flatulence (might be TMI, too)
G - Growing pains (boy, have I felt these babies grow!)
H - Hemorrhoids (sorry if this is TMI, but gosh, so painful. Thankfully, they have not lasted long)
I - Itchy skin (always had dry skin, but my legs have been particularaly sensitive)
J - Jiggly body parts (hope to get those back into shape soon!)
K - Kan't (lol) think of anything so I'll throw in all the left overs here: growing boobs, sore nipples, head aches, always thirsty, too much kicking, leg cramps, ....I'm sure there are many more!
L - Long nights (although I've been able to go to sleep, I have a hard time staying asleep)
M - Mild heartburn (yuck! I have yet to find a pattern or trigger)
N - Nose bleeds (only had one so far, but that was probably the first I've had in 15+ years)
O - Overly sensitive (must be those darn hormones!)
P - Piercing (had to remove my piercing after it got infected, but healed enough now to put the maternity piercing in soon...yay!)
Q - Queasiness (definitely better than morning sickness and really didn't last long at all)
R - Restlessness (just can't seem to sit still for long periods of time anymore)
S - Swollen feet (do I still have ankles somewhere?!)
T - Tiredness (I actually like this part, gives me an excuse to be lazy)
U - Undergarment issues (how in the world does anything fit and still look semi-cute?!)
V - Varicose veins (according to my doctor, the worst she has seen. Great! Extremely painful!)
W - Weight gain (they say, on average, someone pregnant with twins gains close to 50 pounds....I've been fortunate so far - about 10 pounds!)
X -  Xtreme urge to go to the bathroom at ALL times
Y - Yucky smells (I've always had a good sense of smell, but now I have a super nose and smell EVERYTHING, good and bad)
Z - zzzzzs (not so much anymore!)

Like I said, overall, I have been feeling pretty good and crossing my fingers that that feeling will last for the next 12 or so weeks.