Things I learned today

1. Icy sidewalks, many blocks to walk, and a pregnant belly make for a nervous slow-walkin’ Cari. Even in my super duper no slip boots. (Mine are red and orange. And were cheaper. Guess I ordered them at the right time! I wonder why the red and orange aren’t in stock anymore in the full boot…)

2. I need a new winter hat. What I have is warm enough, but I’m bored with it. Been wearing the same hat for two years. Time to get moving on that Lola Cap. I’m ashamed to admit how long the yarn and pattern for this one have been set aside, waiting to be knit.

3. If one is, upon returning home from tea with a close friend and braving of icy sidewalks, forced to hole up in the bedroom because one’s kitchen is being torn out and replaced with shiny new stuff by one’s fabulous husband and friends of husband thus kicking up fetus-unfriendly dust, it’s a very good thing to have the latest Constantines album loaded up on the iTunes.

4. I already knew that Japanese Weekend D&A (during and after) Jeans are the greatest maternity jeans in all the land. Today I learned that their maternity/nursing bras are the very greatest in the land as well. Picked one up today. I haven’t been this comfortable in many weeks. Added bonus? Billy thinks the flip-up nursing cups are hot. Nursing bras are sexy. Who knew?

5. Wonderful things are planned for the new Hold Steady album, which is just now in the works. I’ve been sworn to secrecy, but trust me…very cool things will be happening on the next one. Due for an August release. (Woohoo!) And hey, all you Australians…they’re heading your way on tour next month.

6. If forced to hole up in the bedroom while wonderful husband is renovating the house to make it baby safe, do order Chinese food. If you’re as lucky as I am, the husband will of his own accord stop renovation work to arrange your Vegetarian General Tso’s Chicken nicely on a plate for you and bring it to you with water and chopsticks etc. Chinese food tastes really good when eaten in bed. Even if greedy little dogs are watching your every bite with huge gluttonous eyes.

7. It’s hard to knit in bed if there’s a kitten in the room.

8. My iBook gets really damn hot when used for extended periods, so I really shouldn’t rest it on my leg while I type.

And a bonus: What I learned yesterday: I have the very biggest 18-week belly in my prenatal yoga class. I’m showing as much as the 24-weekers.

62 Comments on “Things I learned today

  1. Fun post! I’m a little bit jealous of your belly. See, in my yoga class there are two other women who are also 17 weeks, and compared to them I barely have a belly at all. Waaah. πŸ™‚ Thanks for the tip on the JW nursing bras. I hope my guy thinks nursing bras are hot! πŸ™‚ It seems like the kind of thing a guy would like…
    Posted by: Karma

  2. Omigosh, Japanese Weekend. years ago, many years, I worked at a maternity store when JW first launched their clothes. It was such a big deal! And here they are, still helping out pregnant women. πŸ™‚
    Posted by: Amy

  3. I think it’s time for another picture of that kitten! And my iBook gets hot, too, but not as hot as the Dell laptop they make me use for work….
    Posted by: janna

  4. Haha…sometimes when I am breastfeeding I flip the other side down so the other nipple can air out. Tibo told me he finds it very sexy too….I think it looks a bit weird but I am glad to hear it does it for him πŸ™‚
    Posted by: Sarah

  5. Oh NO! Not the greedy dogs with their big eyes!! How did you resist? I admit I too am immune to gluttonous dog eyes, but the whining… I’m still working on. Maybe another 5 years.
    Posted by: baast

  6. I’d really like to know, as a follow up, whether said Husband will find the disposable breast pad inserts seeping with overflowing milk a sexy touch as well. Just wondering.
    Posted by: Alison

  7. Fun post. Those maternity clothes are great, I wish they had been around 13 years ago. So, do we get to see pictures of the pregnant belly?
    Posted by: Carole

  8. It’s hard to knit ANYwhere if there is a knitten in the room. I accidentally got three. Trust me, I know.

    Sounds like you’re doing well and being taken care of. So very sweet.
    Posted by: Rabbitch

  9. put a pillow between computer and legs. it helps you type longer without feeling like you are burning your legs πŸ™‚
    (btw- loved JW clothes. wore a wrap top for my defense…)
    Posted by: rebecca

  10. yeah the mac laptops do get pretty durn hot. My old G3 Powerbook actually split down the back from melting. It never hurt the book tho, the black case just looked funny.

    I love my new powerbook though, it rules! I am always careful with how a hold it but im always cold so I like it when its warm!!
    Posted by: pixie

  11. mmmm, i KNOW that veggie tso’s chicken. red hot makes it nice and yummy like. yeah, a new kitchen! you must be very excited!
    Posted by: gleek

  12. gooooooooo belly. gooooooooo baby. constantines, eh? i’ll check ’em out.
    Posted by: carolyn

  13. Sooooooo jealous of the belly showing. BUT I’m also not jealous because at 19 weeks I’m still wearing my own clothes and bras. Of course, this might just mean that when I end up showing, I’ll wear my maternity clothes for just that much of a shorter length of time. Which will seem a shame. Love the JW stuff… wish they ranged into larger sizes.

    I also have a doting husband who’s been making me tea in the mornings so I can sleep an extra 15 minutes and still get breakfast. So very lovely. And instead of renovations, he’s house shopping.

    Take care and be safe… and comfy.
    Posted by: sophiagrrl

  14. Yeah, I had an iBook for a while, and those little buggers get hot! Keep an eye on it. I had one that got too hot, and it fried the logic boardy thing. Gosh Darn it πŸ™‚
    Posted by: Amber

  15. Big Belly = Healthy Baby

    Congratulations! You should lay about in bed all you can now, kitchen remodeling or not, because soon those days will be long behind you! Trust me…I know. My little Bug turns 2 next month, and when people ask me how I stay so thin, I just point to him or his two older brothers.
    Posted by: Jaimi

  16. Ohhh, new kitchen! Yum. I’m in a rental but would love a different floor, one that didn’t show the mud (rainy season here in the Bay Area) from the puppy and 5 felines who all go in and out would be SO nice. Your husband sounds like he is doing all the right things.
    Posted by: Dharma

  17. Fun post! I’m a little bit jealous of your belly. See, in my yoga class there are two other women who are also 17 weeks, and compared to them I barely have a belly at all. Waaah. πŸ™‚ Thanks for the tip on the JW nursing bras. I hope my guy thinks nursing bras are hot! πŸ™‚ It seems like the kind of thing a guy would like…
    Posted by: Karma

  18. Omigosh, Japanese Weekend. years ago, many years, I worked at a maternity store when JW first launched their clothes. It was such a big deal! And here they are, still helping out pregnant women. πŸ™‚
    Posted by: Amy

  19. I think it’s time for another picture of that kitten! And my iBook gets hot, too, but not as hot as the Dell laptop they make me use for work….
    Posted by: janna

  20. Haha…sometimes when I am breastfeeding I flip the other side down so the other nipple can air out. Tibo told me he finds it very sexy too….I think it looks a bit weird but I am glad to hear it does it for him πŸ™‚
    Posted by: Sarah

  21. Oh NO! Not the greedy dogs with their big eyes!! How did you resist? I admit I too am immune to gluttonous dog eyes, but the whining… I’m still working on. Maybe another 5 years.
    Posted by: baast

  22. I’d really like to know, as a follow up, whether said Husband will find the disposable breast pad inserts seeping with overflowing milk a sexy touch as well. Just wondering.
    Posted by: Alison

  23. Fun post. Those maternity clothes are great, I wish they had been around 13 years ago. So, do we get to see pictures of the pregnant belly?
    Posted by: Carole

  24. It’s hard to knit ANYwhere if there is a knitten in the room. I accidentally got three. Trust me, I know.

    Sounds like you’re doing well and being taken care of. So very sweet.
    Posted by: Rabbitch

  25. put a pillow between computer and legs. it helps you type longer without feeling like you are burning your legs πŸ™‚
    (btw- loved JW clothes. wore a wrap top for my defense…)
    Posted by: rebecca

  26. yeah the mac laptops do get pretty durn hot. My old G3 Powerbook actually split down the back from melting. It never hurt the book tho, the black case just looked funny.

    I love my new powerbook though, it rules! I am always careful with how a hold it but im always cold so I like it when its warm!!
    Posted by: pixie

  27. mmmm, i KNOW that veggie tso’s chicken. red hot makes it nice and yummy like. yeah, a new kitchen! you must be very excited!
    Posted by: gleek

  28. gooooooooo belly. gooooooooo baby. constantines, eh? i’ll check ’em out.
    Posted by: carolyn

  29. Sooooooo jealous of the belly showing. BUT I’m also not jealous because at 19 weeks I’m still wearing my own clothes and bras. Of course, this might just mean that when I end up showing, I’ll wear my maternity clothes for just that much of a shorter length of time. Which will seem a shame. Love the JW stuff… wish they ranged into larger sizes.

    I also have a doting husband who’s been making me tea in the mornings so I can sleep an extra 15 minutes and still get breakfast. So very lovely. And instead of renovations, he’s house shopping.

    Take care and be safe… and comfy.
    Posted by: sophiagrrl

  30. Yeah, I had an iBook for a while, and those little buggers get hot! Keep an eye on it. I had one that got too hot, and it fried the logic boardy thing. Gosh Darn it πŸ™‚
    Posted by: Amber

  31. Big Belly = Healthy Baby

    Congratulations! You should lay about in bed all you can now, kitchen remodeling or not, because soon those days will be long behind you! Trust me…I know. My little Bug turns 2 next month, and when people ask me how I stay so thin, I just point to him or his two older brothers.
    Posted by: Jaimi

  32. Ohhh, new kitchen! Yum. I’m in a rental but would love a different floor, one that didn’t show the mud (rainy season here in the Bay Area) from the puppy and 5 felines who all go in and out would be SO nice. Your husband sounds like he is doing all the right things.
    Posted by: Dharma

  33. Re: #8
    Love your blog. BTW my iBook gets really hot too.
    Did you hear about the recall on the battery of iBook G4? (Mine wasnΒ’t in the serial number range, but I may bring it in to the genius bar to have it looked atΒ…)
    Posted by: Brooke

  34. I can’t wait to see some pictures of your fab new kitchen! I should invest in some of those no-slip boots. I have already fallen three times this winter walking my too large for me dog. The last time I think I cracked something πŸ™‚
    Posted by: emily

  35. You are too damned cute with your belly! I just got a pair of those boots in the mail on Saturday! Though mine are the gray to match my office coat, But I was eyeing the orange and red.

    Cari, I’m going to NY for a concert at Radio City Music Hall in April. If you get some time, would you mind sending me a couple suggestions for some “must see” places while we are visiting. I think I’ve got all the yarn shops down and really doubt I will have much time to see too many of those. But I’ve never been to NY (Yeah, sad!)and we’ll be there from a Sun. to Weds. I always like to have the “locals” perspective rather than the touristy version.

    Posted by: Shelley

  36. Pregnant bellies are fabulous! That said, at some point in your pregnancy, you will likely look down at your belly and think “ok, i can’t possibly expand any more,” but then you do. It’s kind of nuts.
    Posted by: regina

  37. Curious. What exactly is Vegetarian General Tso’s Chicken? I assume it’s not real chicken, right? I live in Oklahoma. There aren’t a lot of vegetarians or vegetarian options in restaurants, so i’m not familiar with that one. πŸ™‚
    Posted by: kendall

  38. Oh, just wait until you have greedy little dogs dancing underneath the highchair. My boy enjoys tossing food to Bob, which comes back to haunt us around 2 a.m. Bob is now banned from the kitchen during baby feeding times.
    Posted by: Frith

  39. Love #6. I have to deal with cat eyes (and sometimes cats actually crawling through the back of my chair when I’m trying to eat at the dining table).

    Item #4 scares me, though. Dont’ get me wrong, I’m very happy for you that Billy likes the nursing bras. But I just got remeasured the other day and found out I’m 2 cup sizes bigger than I had always thought (which was already too big). And no, I’m not even a little bit pregnant. So heaven help me when I am. I’ll need a portable forklift.

    Yay for your big belly!!!!
    Posted by: Sneaksleep

  40. If you ever decide to bring your vegetarianism into the footwear sphere – Payless has many shoes made out of man made materials at reasonable prices.
    Posted by: Lisa

  41. I’ve been a vegetarian for 17 years (vegan for five, lacto for the rest of the time)
    and take it seriously. However, I made a decision years ago about whether or not
    to wear leather shoes. It wasn’t an easy choice, but ultimately I opted to go with
    owning only a couple pairs of well-made leather shoes, rather than go through many
    pairs of synthetic shoes in the same time period. I tried synthetic shoes and they
    just don’t hold up or provide the foot support that can be found in good leather
    shoes (specifically, apart from icy sidewalk wear, I only wear Danskos and Doc Martens,
    as I’m prone to plantar fascitis). Bear in mind that I live in NYC and have to walk
    A LOT. This city eats shoes. Synthetics don’t cut it.

    You can either wear leather shoes or throw synthetic shoes into the garbage as they
    wear out. I opt for a limited number of leather shoes over excessive consumerism.

    So thanks–I’m sure your intention was to be helpful–but the judgment implied in
    your comment wasn’t necessary. Not interested in playing More Righteous Vegetarian
    Than Thou.

    Take care.
    Posted by: cari

  42. 18 weeks, looking like 24? … Are you sure there’s only one heartbeat thumping down there? πŸ˜‰
    Posted by: TAMARA

  43. Awww, you almost make me nostalgic for those mid-pregnancy days…almost. πŸ™‚ Enjoy your drowsy knitting and eating in bed while you can! (I do miss that part!)

    I wear the Glamourmom nursing bra tank tops pretty much 24/7 – so comfortable! My husband is the same way about the fold down cups. He calls the black one “the S shirt.” Ha!
    Posted by: Megan

  44. Nursing bras look like they should be sold in Fredericks of Hollywood alongside crotchless panties. I’m not surprised that husbands (including mine) think they’re hot.
    Posted by: Dani

  45. Re: #8
    Love your blog. BTW my iBook gets really hot too.
    Did you hear about the recall on the battery of iBook G4? (Mine wasnΒ’t in the serial number range, but I may bring it in to the genius bar to have it looked atΒ…)
    Posted by: Brooke

  46. I can’t wait to see some pictures of your fab new kitchen! I should invest in some of those no-slip boots. I have already fallen three times this winter walking my too large for me dog. The last time I think I cracked something πŸ™‚
    Posted by: emily

  47. You are too damned cute with your belly! I just got a pair of those boots in the mail on Saturday! Though mine are the gray to match my office coat, But I was eyeing the orange and red.

    Cari, I’m going to NY for a concert at Radio City Music Hall in April. If you get some time, would you mind sending me a couple suggestions for some “must see” places while we are visiting. I think I’ve got all the yarn shops down and really doubt I will have much time to see too many of those. But I’ve never been to NY (Yeah, sad!)and we’ll be there from a Sun. to Weds. I always like to have the “locals” perspective rather than the touristy version.

    Posted by: Shelley

  48. Pregnant bellies are fabulous! That said, at some point in your pregnancy, you will likely look down at your belly and think “ok, i can’t possibly expand any more,” but then you do. It’s kind of nuts.
    Posted by: regina

  49. Curious. What exactly is Vegetarian General Tso’s Chicken? I assume it’s not real chicken, right? I live in Oklahoma. There aren’t a lot of vegetarians or vegetarian options in restaurants, so i’m not familiar with that one. πŸ™‚
    Posted by: kendall

  50. Oh, just wait until you have greedy little dogs dancing underneath the highchair. My boy enjoys tossing food to Bob, which comes back to haunt us around 2 a.m. Bob is now banned from the kitchen during baby feeding times.
    Posted by: Frith

  51. Love #6. I have to deal with cat eyes (and sometimes cats actually crawling through the back of my chair when I’m trying to eat at the dining table).

    Item #4 scares me, though. Dont’ get me wrong, I’m very happy for you that Billy likes the nursing bras. But I just got remeasured the other day and found out I’m 2 cup sizes bigger than I had always thought (which was already too big). And no, I’m not even a little bit pregnant. So heaven help me when I am. I’ll need a portable forklift.

    Yay for your big belly!!!!
    Posted by: Sneaksleep

  52. If you ever decide to bring your vegetarianism into the footwear sphere – Payless has many shoes made out of man made materials at reasonable prices.
    Posted by: Lisa

  53. I’ve been a vegetarian for 17 years (vegan for five, lacto for the rest of the time)
    and take it seriously. However, I made a decision years ago about whether or not
    to wear leather shoes. It wasn’t an easy choice, but ultimately I opted to go with
    owning only a couple pairs of well-made leather shoes, rather than go through many
    pairs of synthetic shoes in the same time period. I tried synthetic shoes and they
    just don’t hold up or provide the foot support that can be found in good leather
    shoes (specifically, apart from icy sidewalk wear, I only wear Danskos and Doc Martens,
    as I’m prone to plantar fascitis). Bear in mind that I live in NYC and have to walk
    A LOT. This city eats shoes. Synthetics don’t cut it.

    You can either wear leather shoes or throw synthetic shoes into the garbage as they
    wear out. I opt for a limited number of leather shoes over excessive consumerism.

    So thanks–I’m sure your intention was to be helpful–but the judgment implied in
    your comment wasn’t necessary. Not interested in playing More Righteous Vegetarian
    Than Thou.

    Take care.
    Posted by: cari

  54. 18 weeks, looking like 24? … Are you sure there’s only one heartbeat thumping down there? πŸ˜‰
    Posted by: TAMARA

  55. Awww, you almost make me nostalgic for those mid-pregnancy days…almost. πŸ™‚ Enjoy your drowsy knitting and eating in bed while you can! (I do miss that part!)

    I wear the Glamourmom nursing bra tank tops pretty much 24/7 – so comfortable! My husband is the same way about the fold down cups. He calls the black one “the S shirt.” Ha!
    Posted by: Megan

  56. Nursing bras look like they should be sold in Fredericks of Hollywood alongside crotchless panties. I’m not surprised that husbands (including mine) think they’re hot.
    Posted by: Dani

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