Pregnant

After years of hearing the stories, I have now joined the ranks of women who had to quit their job to get pregnant. I'm not sure if that's a commentary on the profession of architecture or my own inability to reduce stress, but boy do I feel fortunate I had the opportunity to take this time off! Anyway, it happened so quickly, I was still happily drinking cappuccinos and enjoying my red wine when I figured it out.

Then about a week later, I had just finished blogging about food when the morning sickness set in. After the final food blog "basta della pasta," eating became a real struggle. I know, I'm in Italy, how can I not want the food? But if you mention tomatoes and basil to me, be prepared for a green tint to my face. I had to learn how to say "sono incinta" (I'm pregnant) so I could explain to strangers why I was throwing up in the parking lot.

And my back going out? That's a typical thing to happen during pregnancy. It's something about high hormone levels loosening up all the tendons and the squishy things between your vertebrae, so you lose a lot of the support your back muscles typically have.

I also had to stop taking day trips because I'm so sensitive to the heat. It's been strange for me, the person who's always cold to suddenly be too hot most of the time. It's really weird to hear John ask if he can turn the AC down in the car. Fortunately the weather has finally turned cool.

Needless to say we're thrilled. We didn't want to say anything too soon, but it's been a struggle to blog around this! John's fairly good Italian vocabulary has been broadened by such phrases as "first-trimester screening." I've pulled a lot of numbers in Italian hospitals waiting in line to give a blood sample. I will definitely never forget this time in Italy!

The details: It's a boy, due March 14th, we'll be back in the states in November.