Posts by Jesse Johnson15

Richard Morris43 said:and honestly, what am I supposed to do if you guys are all just walking around with some massive inferiority complex regarding Motherhood 🥳

Seriously, please stop embarrassing yourself with those "arguments," for God's sake.

Look, Trump, I’m not even trying to win an argument here or convince anyone of anything—he can go ahead and do whatever he wants, really. It just feels a little bit off to me, maybe even a little distasteful, when someone takes their own personal stuff—and she did mention quite clearly that it’s just more practical to have the baby in the same room as them—and then tries to market it under the guise of Motherhood. 🙄

And honestly, I can't help but wonder what the plan is if, by some chance, the baby wakes up before she does. What happens then? Is there going to be some kind of special shift where someone is stationed right over the crib just so the little one sees Mom the second they open their eyes? 🤣

I was just sitting here thinking about that whole discussion we had the other day, and honestly, I can't stop chewing on it. You know how I get—once a thought takes root, it’s like a weed in a garden, just spreading everywhere while I'm trying to focus on anything else. I was actually walking through downtown Chicago this morning, grabbing a coffee at Starbucks, watching the commuters rush by, and I kept coming back to what Peter Rogers mentioned earlier. It really makes you wonder about the direction everything is heading, doesn't it? Sometimes I feel like we're all just moving so fast that we forget to look at the underlying patterns, much like how people get caught up in the hype of a new tech launch from Apple without considering if the actual utility justifies the noise. Anyway, I don't want to ramble too much, though I suppose that's kind of my trademark at this point. I just felt like sharing those lingering thoughts because they felt important, even if they're a bit unpolished. kaže:
Ladies only, please. I’ve been sitting here thinking about this, and honestly, I can see that most of you have such incredibly vivid imaginations, which is a beautiful thing, really, but it seems like you just can't wrap your heads around the idea of intimacy happening anywhere other than a standard marriage bed.

I mean, I can go along with it if I have to, but what’s the actual end goal here? We’ve got the kid sleeping in the master bed, so naturally, that means we’re relegated to the living room just to get some privacy for ourselves—which, honestly, sounds like a recipe for disaster. What’s the next logical step in this downward spiral? Am I supposed to start whipping up dinner on the kitchen island while everyone watches? It feels like we're slowly losing any sense of a normal routine.

Well, I guess we’re just an all-girls club now, huh? Seriously, though... where on earth is a little bit of support when you actually need it? LOL.

I was just sitting here thinking about how much things have changed lately, you know? It’s funny how you can get caught up in the little details of a conversation and then suddenly realize you’ve drifted miles away from the actual point. I was reading through some of the older threads earlier—really digging back into the archives—and I couldn't help but notice how much everyone's perspective seems to shift depending on what kind of day they're having. It reminds me of this one time I was stuck in traffic on the I-95 near Philly, just sitting there staring at the bumper of a Ford, wondering if anyone else felt that same weird sense of existential dread when life just... pauses. Anyway, I wanted to circle back to what we were discussing before everything got so cluttered. I think there's a middle ground here that we're all missing because we're too busy arguing over the extremes. It’s like when you’re trying to pick a movie on Netflix; you spend forty minutes scrolling through the options and by the time you actually press play, you’ve lost all the excitement. We're doing that with this topic. We need to slow down and actually look at the core issue instead of just reacting to the loudest voice in the room. I really mean that. It’s easy to be loud, but it’s much harder to be thoughtful. kaže:
You clearly have no idea just how much some couples pour their entire hearts and souls into trying to conceive, or how deeply that struggle cuts into who they are as people. It’s not just some casual thing you can brush off; for so many families out there, it’s this exhausting, emotional rollercoaster that defines their daily lives. I remember talking to a friend back in Chicago who went through years of heartbreak before finally seeing a positive test, and the sheer weight of that journey—the hope, the grief, the endless doctor appointments—it changes you. It really does.

What exactly do you mean when you say "she hasn't a clue"? It’s one of those phrases that can carry so much weight depending on how you say it, isn't it? I was sitting at a coffee shop in Seattle the other day—just watching people pass by, minding my own business—and I started thinking about how we judge people's competence. Sometimes when we say someone doesn't know what they're doing, we're being genuinely helpful, like pointing out a wrong turn on a highway, but other times, it feels a bit more pointed, maybe even a little harsh. I remember back in college, I used to think I knew everything about macroeconomics, and I'd sit there in the lecture hall feeling so certain, only to realize later that I was completely off base. So, when you tell me she has no idea what's going on, are you saying she's genuinely lost, or is it more about her lacking a certain kind of intuition or experience? It really changes the whole vibe of the conversation. 😲

Honestly, she just knows everything, doesn't she? It’s like she has this incredible intuition where she can see right through the noise and pinpoint exactly what's going on before anyone else even realizes there's a problem. I was thinking about this the other day while I was grabbing coffee down at Starbucks, watching how people struggle to make simple decisions, and it hit me again—she really does have that answer for everything. 😳

Richard Morris43 said:Look, I’m telling you, right now I’m waking up every single night just to pee, and once I get up and head to the bathroom, I’m wide awake—I can't get back to sleep for the life of me. Honestly, if there was a toilet right next to my bed, I probably wouldn't even have to leave the covers, 😁

. It makes a massive difference when the baby is sleeping in the same room as the parents instead of being tucked away in some nursery down the hall.
Everyone loses out in that scenario, both the baby and the parents. Though, if I'm being real, I don't think many babies actually sleep in their own rooms anyway. First off, it’s just not practical, and second, most moms want to be close to their little one, and let's face it, the baby wants to be near mom too.

I find it such a ridiculous argument when people claim they don't want to be the first thing a baby sees when they wake up.

Look, I hear my kid wake up, and I'm right there in front of them within two seconds. If you want to go around thinking you're somehow a "better" mother just because you insist on sleeping in the same room, fine, believe what you want. But please, don't try to lecture me or tell me how to parent when you don't even have kids of your own. Those arguments are just totally nonsensical. Seriously, you're lucky I'm not coming over there to give you a piece of my mind. ☕

Peter Rogers said:Jesse Johnson15, how on earth do you deal with being able to let one rip without worrying about waking up some light-sleeping kid?
Or just the fact that you can kill an alarm clock three seconds after it starts blaring in the morning?
Or even just getting up to pee without having to pull some crazy gymnastics routine like a cat that’s been practicing yoga and martial arts for fourteen years straight?
Honestly, my whole life feels like it reaches a whole new level when, say, after being sick or going through a rough patch with sleep—you know, when those insomnia demons start creeping into bed with you—everything finally settles down and they just... drift away on their own, leaving you back in your own little kingdom of peace and pure bliss.

Oh, please, everything is finally back to normal 👍 and I can finally let out a good shout! 🙂

Richard Morris43 said:No, you won't find any book out there telling you that you shouldn't leave a baby to sleep alone in the next room🥳
A parent's natural instinct is to want their baby right there next to them, at least for those first few months. Honestly, if someone is already planning ahead to just toss a baby into a different room because they’re worried the kid might—God forbid—actually see their mother, then maybe they shouldn't have had kids in the first place.
Not everyone needs to be a parent, right? :

It's like when you need to give someone a pat on the back and tell them that Joe Biden is a complete joke, especially since it seems totally nonsensical to claim a mom shouldn't sit in an armchair to nurse her baby just because she might fall asleep in that same chair.
The thing is, these people don't even stop to think about what it actually looks like for an expectant mother sitting there nursing and drifting off.
Who cares if the baby might slip out of her arms while she's napping? Joe Biden clearly hasn't got a clue. ☕

I am going to personally sign my name to that bolded part right there.

As for the rest of it, I’m not even worried about getting banned; I’m just being too polite to tell you exactly what I think of your little take.

See, if you aren't thinking about how you're going to "shove" your baby into another room, you run the risk of raising a three-year-old who still sleeps right between Mom and Dad. And let me tell you, none of those three people are waking up feeling rested. The dad only knows about intimacy from watching stuff on adult sites, and the mom couldn't care less. It doesn't matter that we used to be a couple; now we're just two separate people sharing a bed. 😁

And then there's the child... what does it matter if you cause them separation trauma? Have you even thought about how you'll explain to them that you're "shoving" them into their own room? What happens if the kid refuses to go? Are you just hoping they'll eventually move out for college or something?

We moved our little one into his own nursery a while back. He says the air feels fresher, he sleeps better because his dad isn't snoring right in his ear, and he wakes up smiling just like before. For a baby, the most important thing is knowing Mom is right there when they wake up. My four-month-old doesn't care where I am while he's off in dreamland...

And please, save that "woke" nonsense for people who actually agree with you; stop trying to label us feminists for no reason.

meow said:I can't remember if I’ve already vented about this, but it honestly drives me up the wall that I have to be so careful about avoiding unpasteurized stuff... though, if I'm being totally honest, what bugs me even more is how people practically roll their eyes at me whenever I turn down something just because the label doesn't explicitly say it was pasteurized. It's like, I'm so tired of hearing things like, "Oh, I never even bothered checking that when I was pregnant," or "Don't worry, it's all pasteurized anyway." Look, I really don't care what you did or how you handled your pregnancy; I've made my own decisions about how I'm going to handle mine, and frankly, it's none of your business 🙂

I feel this on such a deep level.
Plus, I won't touch anything fresh unless it's been thoroughly washed, and the same goes for deli meats. Since I don't have any antibodies for toxoplasmosis, I just refuse to take the chance, and I really don't care how small the statistical risk might be right now 🙂

David Allen19 said:Oh, come on, isn't it absolutely wonderful when you finally escape that relentless intestinal pressure that basically hijacks your entire consciousness—especially with a big bang! 😁It’s the kind of relief you get when you finally kick off a pair of tight sneakers, though I suppose the lingering scent doesn't help matters much.

I was just posting over on the pregnancy forums about how much it bums me out that the first trimester threads are always so heavy and filled with nothing but bad news, and honestly, I felt like starting a whole new thread titled something like "First Trimester Gas and Other Total Nonsense," just so us moms could have a place to laugh a little and actually decompress.

I ended up changing my mind at the last second, honestly, because I just couldn't bring myself to stand on the same side as Jesse Johnson15. 😢

Anyway, I just wanted to say that I’m actually really glad we’re finally getting around to chatting like this a bit more often. It feels good to have everyone together. 🙂 🙂

Roger Rodriguez, honestly, don't you worry one bit about it; I really think your little one probably just sniffed those scents around in there and thought nothing of it. 🤣

I’ve been meaning to ask you guys, is anyone else experiencing this weird phenomenon where their hair and nails just go absolutely ballistic? It feels like things are growing at some insane, supernatural speed lately. Honestly, it’s getting a little ridiculous—I feel like I have to trim my nails twice a week just to keep them from becoming a total distraction. I was sitting there the other day, probably staring out the window thinking about how much time I spend on basic grooming now, and it hit me that this isn't normal. Has anyone else noticed this sudden surge in growth, or am I just some kind of biological anomaly? 😲And honestly, my hair has never looked better. 🥳

David Allen19 said:I second that; unfortunately, I know exactly what you mean.
I’ve basically built up incredible cardio just from sprinting out to the balcony or ducking into a heavily insulated room, all out of pure fear that someone nearby might choke on the smell or call the health department on me for some illegal methane production 😬

You see, you really do see it, don't you? 🤔

I was just sitting here thinking about how I could probably turn that into a pretty decent payday if I played my cards right. 😁

I’m just copying this over from my browser. 😬

I was just sitting here thinking, if I had even a tiny bit of shame left in this fleeting, passing life of ours—just a little shred of it, really—maybe I’d actually feel my face flush red for once.

I was sitting there thinking about how everything in life eventually circles back to one single point of origin, and honestly, I feel like my belly button is basically the central hub of my entire solar system. It sounds a bit ridiculous when I say it out loud, I know, but there’s this strange, meditative feeling you get when you realize how much energy just seems to flow through your core, almost like I’m some kind of gravitational center holding all these little orbiting pieces of my daily routine together. I was just staring at the ceiling this morning, nursing a lukewarm cup of coffee, and it hit me—it's like that one focal point in a complex machine where everything connects, you know? Just one tiny, centered spot that keeps the whole chaotic universe of my existence from spinning off into deep space.

Yesterday morning, I found myself falling down one of those endless internet rabbit holes—you know the ones, where you start looking up something simple and suddenly three hours have vanished while you're reading deep dives on pregnancy. It’s funny how that happens, but there was something about starting a new week while reading about how a baby develops inside the womb that just hit me differently. There’s this specific, almost indescribable sensation people talk about, like this subtle fluttering or a certain "feeling" as things progress month by month, and I couldn't help but sit there reflecting on it. It’s such a strange, profound thing to think about when you're just sitting there with your coffee, trying to wrap your head around the sheer miracle of it all.

I was shuffling along toward the bus station, feeling a bit like a clumsy kid again, just wandering aimlessly while my left hand kept rubbing my stomach—you know how it is when you’ve had one too many burgers and that mid-day slump hits hard. I was digging through my bag with my right hand, which honestly feels like playing a high-stakes game of lottery sometimes because I truly never have any clue what I’m going to pull out of there next. I was just desperately hunting for my phone so I could check the time, but by some absolute stroke of luck, I actually managed to find the damn thing on the first try.

"How much longer?" I could hear some old lady shouting from somewhere deep in the crowd. I just looked over at her and said, "Oh, honey, we’ve got a long way to go—I only just stepped foot into May."
"Noooooooo," he groans, just staring blankly at his phone, "how much longer until the bus actually shows up? Does anyone even know what time it is right now?"
And there we go, just three minutes left on the clock, so I’m really hoping things stay on schedule and we don't run into any last-minute delays.

It wasn’t late, honestly. I mean, if you really think about it, timing is such a subjective thing, isn't it? We all have our own internal clocks, and sometimes what feels like a delay to one person is actually just perfect timing for someone else, much like how I once missed a flight at O'Hare because I was too busy overthinking whether I'd left my charger plugged in, only to realize later that the delay actually saved me from a massive storm. So, yeah, it didn't arrive late. It arrived exactly when it was supposed to.

driftingcrane83 said:Haha, you guys are crazy, I swear 🤣
(SC & Jesse Johnson15 😍)

come on 🙂 get some sun, I know you've got 😬

Roger Rodriguez said:Those patches completely wrecked my hormones; I gained 30 pounds in just six months, and I dealt with constant allergic reactions at the application site, even though I switched spots every single week.🤷Even now, years later, I still have scars on my arms (where I gripped them most tightly because they kept peeling off my stomach) from those rashes that were so itchy I ended up scratching myself bloody.🙂
On the flip side, a close friend of mine has used them for five years straight without a single issue.🤷

By the way, those synthetic scents always made me feel nauseous too, especially that cloud of cologne my boyfriend sprays around the apartment in the morning; I’m honestly surprised I haven't thrown all his fragrances out the window yet.

Right now, I am beyond frustrated because I actually had an accident in my pants right in the middle of the street. It was pouring rain, so maybe people thought I just sat in a puddle, but it wasn't pretty—I spent fifteen minutes hobbling along trying to find a restroom, only to end up losing it like I'd swallowed a gallon of water just five minutes before reaching my apartment.☕
And for three days, I've been worrying about this stomach ache, terrified that I'd start dealing with massive bloating today. Well, here we are; I feel like if I lit a match, I might blow up the entire apartment building. It feels like I've spent the last week eating nothing but heavy greasy fast food, and now it's all making its exit. I have never experienced anything quite this intense. I woke up in the middle of the night to such a stench that I nearly hallucinated; I genuinely thought I was stuck in a barn next to fifteen horses and cows. This is going to be the death of me!🙂

🤣🤣🤣
bogatisusa 🤣

God, I feel like such an idiot, sitting here while my coworkers keep giving me these weird looks like something is wrong 😬

Keep typing, just keep it coming, more 🍿

Honestly, stories like these should probably just be printed out and turned into a book 🤣

As far as the gas situation goes, after that first trimester passed, I wasn't really a threat to the public anymore, nor was I having any accidents in my pants.

But listen to this, because life just keeps throwing curveballs:
-There was that one morning where I actually showed up to work wearing my fuzzy house slippers instead of shoes.😳
-And then there was the time I ended up getting sick right in front of the Whole Foods. Someone had smashed a bottle of wine, and the staff started cleaning it up with those super pungent industrial detergents. I just dropped everything right there at the checkout counter and bolted for the exit, feeling totally nauseous.🤮

Keith Allen4 said:You actually admitted that you have to force yourself to feel those maternal instincts...
It’s sad that people like that exist—though, honestly, "sad" isn't even the right word—it's more that I find it completely incomprehensible... the idea that someone would ever have to manufacture an emotional connection regarding their own child 😲

oh my god, please🙄
to be totally honest, I’m just not a "motherly" type of person. Not even a little bit. Honestly, I’d much rather hang out with my cats than deal with tiny babies. I can't stand toddlers, and don't even get me started on teenagers.
But this little thing growing inside me? This is mine. I have no doubt there will be love at first sight, even if I haven't quite wrapped my head around the fact that there's a living, breathing creature in there. Sometimes, after a long, exhausting day at the office, I actually feel a pang of guilt when I realize I didn't spend a single second thinking about the baby. It’s not like it just hits me automatically, you know?
Every now and then, the thought pops into my head and I'll just smile to myself while I'm cuddling my favorite seashell. 🙄

rustynomad12 said:Of course, I realized! 🙂))))
I don't know why, but this thread (this is my third time here, and I really have no intention of trolling or ruining anyone else's vibe by venting) feels... kind of heavy.
I mean, I totally get the discomforts, the issues, the bad days, the hormones... you name it. But when I think about the fact that there's a little squirrel in my belly that I'll probably lose sleep over and spend all my time worrying about... there isn't anything that could truly irritate me. A few things surprised me, sure, but nothing so intense that I need to vent about it on a thread where it feels like women are playing games about whether someone is allowed to touch their belly or not...
Sorry if that sounds blunt, I don't mean to be rude...
And Danicza, you're right... a lot of this comes down to a woman's maturity and the fact that she might have already handled her own stuff on her own... so it's not easy to shake her with just anything.

It's no biggie... for instance, when someone says to me in that annoying way, "Get some sleep, because you'll never get it again," I just snap back that I actually can't wait for that stage of life! Sleep was never my priority anyway, and like a few other people I know—I love waking up at 5 AM and making the most of the day instead of whining about life's responsibilities.

(And for the record—I'm not a huge kid person, nor am I a fan of kids in general... I can't even look at baby photos, let alone show them to my friends. I understand that some moms don't love their kids, their pregnancy, or motherhood. Just as I understand there are women who will never say, "WTF did I do with my life?" even when they' think it... Love for children isn't always "natural and automatic." It's a choice and a feeling. Thank goodness that if all women were honest about what they really feel toward kids, they'd probably raise them much more normally!)))

Amen to that.

And regarding the other thing, some women just get really hormonal and everything starts bothering them. Most of the time, I find that kind of stuff kind of funny, 😬
but then again, I've never been the physical type who craves touch or affection, and I generally avoid being touched by strangers too. I have this weird feeling that the baby has already curled up deep inside, right against my spine. 😬

Roger Rodriguez said:I'm really looking into academic leave right now, and it's such a shame you can't just pause a single semester; having to take a whole academic year off feels heavy. I'd love to avoid a long break because returning after a full year sounds daunting to me—it would be much easier to just "stay in the zone" without stopping entirely. But for now, I'm just asking questions; I'm not making any big plans. I learned my lesson once, and I won't be caught overplanning again. I'm just taking it day by day and seeing where life takes me. 😁
I'm hoping for the best too; there isn't much else we can do. 🤣

Oh, honey, you should really think twice about whether you'll regret missing that first year of baby milestones. You don't have to completely fall off the wagon, though—maybe you could prep for your exams at home ahead of time so things aren't so overwhelming later on. 🙂

Quinn:

I've been sitting here staring at my screen for a while now, just trying to find the right way to put this all together because there’s so much swirling around in my head, and honestly, it feels like I need to get it out there somewhere just to make sense of it all. You know those days where everything feels slightly off-kilter, like you're walking through a dream that’s just a little too vivid? That’s been my headspace lately. It’s funny how life works, isn't it? One minute you think you have a handle on things—you've got your routine down, maybe you're grabbing a coffee at a local Starbucks and feeling pretty settled—and then something shifts, and suddenly you're looking at the world through a completely different lens. I was actually thinking about this the other day while I was driving through downtown Chicago, watching the traffic crawl along, and it hit me how much we all just try to maintain this facade of having it all figured out when, in reality, most of us are just making it up as we go. I don't mean to ramble, I really don't, it's just that when you start pulling on one thread of a thought, the whole sweater tends to unravel, if that makes any sense. I feel like I'm constantly trying to weave it back together, though. Anyway, I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm still processing everything, and I wanted to reach out and share this bit of my internal monologue with you all, even if it's a little disorganized. It feels more honest that way, I suppose. Just being real about the messiness of it all. kaže: I’m currently 37 weeks along, and honestly, I feel more at peace and carefree right now than I ever did before I was even pregnant. It’s such a strange, beautiful thing how everything just settles into place when you get this close to the finish line.

That sounds great, but about that part in bold:

driftingcrane83 said:I also feel pretty great most of the time. Sure, I might be a little "off," but nothing dramatic. Honestly, I’m just happy and content with who I am.

I’d say I’m happy about 99.9% of the time, honestly, but I can’t help the way my stomach knots up right before any kind of lab work or medical analysis. I don't mean to make a huge deal out of it—it’s not like I’m having a full-blown meltdown or anything—but if I said I didn't feel that wave of anxiety creeping in before every single checkup, I’d be lying to myself. It’s such a strange, conflicting thing because, at the exact same time, there’s this little part of me that actually looks forward to them, almost like I'm eager to just get it over with and see the results.

I guess it all really comes down to how much of a struggle the pregnancy itself is, because honestly, for me, it’s been pretty much nothing but misery so far—I don't even bother counting the times I've been sick to my stomach anymore since it's just become such a constant thing. But on top of that, there's this one physical issue I'm dealing with that actually has nothing to do with being pregnant, which basically means I could be forced into bed at any given moment. And for someone like me, who absolutely hates being stuck lying down and prefers staying on the move, that is a seriously tough pill to swallow.

I just can't help it, you know? It’s like this thing that keeps bubbling up in the back of my mind, and honestly, I can't seem to shake it, no matter how much I try to stay busy or distract myself with work or anything else. It just hits me out of nowhere every once in a while, and there's really nothing I can do about it other than just sit there and let the thought wander through my head. 🤷 I mean, honestly, if you look at the big picture, I’m actually doing pretty great—just living my best life and keeping things happy for Mom. 😁

I guess what I was getting at with my whole thing about ignorance is that if you don't know something exists, it can't exactly weigh on your mind, right? It’s like, if I had no idea that one of my health issues could actually pose a risk during Pregnancy, I wouldn't be losing any sleep over it at all—I’d just be going about my day, totally oblivious, while everything stays blissfully unaware. It's that classic "ignorance is bliss" situation where you're just coasting along because you don't realize there's even a bump in the road ahead.

So, just to give you an idea of how this works... 🙂
I’m not trying to be negative or anything, I just really believe that having these kinds of fears is totally normal—just like how dealing with heartburn, hemorrhoids, or broken capillaries is just part of life. You could just keep adding things to that list forever. It doesn't mean that everyone out there is experiencing them at the exact same time, you know? 🙂

I’m 31 now, and honestly, I feel like I've finally settled that big, nagging life question once and for all. I mean, I really think age plays a certain part in how you see things, doesn't it? It's like everything just starts to click into place differently when you hit your thirties. 🙂

Lawrence Cook2 said:I’m in the exact same boat as you. It wasn't until I hit the 36-week mark that I had my first real hormonal meltdown, where I just started crying for absolutely no reason at all. My appetite has also only really kicked in now that I'm nearing the end of the pregnancy.
If anything, I’d say I’ve been much more mellow since becoming pregnant; I find myself picking fewer fights with my husband and things like that.

I did have one rather strange experience, though—a waitress who saw me for the first and last time reached out to touch my belly. She was all euphoric and kept asking if the baby was moving. To be honest, I was more caught off guard than actually annoyed by it. Aside from that, only my family and close friends have touched my stomach, and usually only because I invited them to.

Oh man, tell me about it!!! The memories are flooding back now. There was this one time I actually burst into tears over a plate of sautéed zucchini. I usually absolutely love them—I basically spend the whole year counting down the days until zucchini season hits—but I piled a plate high, took one bite, and suddenly, ugh, everything changed! My sense of taste just completely flipped and they tasted revolting. I ended up hiding away like a little kid.😬

Honestly, I'm just too exhausted to complain about anything lately.😬

Wait, did we end up going to the same restaurant?🤣

Roger Rodriguez said:

driftingcrane83 Asks:
Nobody has touched my stomach. Aside from my mother and a couple of family members—and even then, only after they asked for permission. It feels so incredibly strange having you all poking at me! 😂

Maybe you're just putting out some bad vibes? 🤣
And honestly, isn't it just wonderful how everyone focuses entirely on my looks? It’s almost as if I'm not even actually here. 🤷 I mean, look, the comments aren't necessarily bad, but I feel like I'm at one of those awkward small-town county fairs. It's always something like, "Oh my gosh, you didn't even get any freckles!" (Wait, why would I have gotten them anyway? Is that supposed to be the norm?) or "Wow, you didn't really gain much weight!" Honestly, how am I supposed to stay calm when people say stuff like that? 😠 Forget it—I’m more hungry than full anyway. Now I have to sit here peacefully while some liberal pundits try to judge whether I've gained weight or not. Honestly, what is wrong with people?
I was hanging out with a group of pregnant women recently—some I’ve known forever and others I met for the first time. I didn't think twice about commenting on how they looked; instead, I just asked a few thoughtful questions about their pregnancies and left it at that. Isn't it better to focus on the experience rather than the appearance?

I just don't feel like it. Is it just me? 🤣 I just finished up my finals, and now classes are starting back up again. It’s not that I’m drowning in work, but honestly, I’m so exhausted that even my basic responsibilities feel like a mountain to climb. I ended up skipping that certification course because I felt like I couldn't squeeze it in, even though I know deep down it would actually help me out. Is it always going to be this draining?

😘
I can relate to that feeling, even if my hormones are running the show right now; that doesn't mean my feelings aren't valid. Honestly, the things that bother me haven't changed since before the birth, but back then, I had enough patience to just bite my tongue and swallow the nonsense. Now? I have absolutely no filter left, and if something bothers me, I say it.

🤣 Believe it or not, I haven't really felt 🙂 personally, though I don't care that much about any of it. Even my husband tells me I'm acting completely normal—though maybe he's actually just terrified of me? Or maybe I was always this moody to begin with? 😬 )

And am I the only one who hasn't had those crazy "hangry" episodes yet? When does that part of the madness actually kick in?

By the way, when do you guys usually find time to check in here? Should we maybe pivot to a different topic so we don't go too far off track from the main thread?
I'm pretty new to this group, and man, some of these thread titles are intense 😱 it feels like it's nothing but talk about aches and pains and stuff like that 🙄

Roger Rodriguez said:

Scott Rodriguez2 Asks:
Oh my goodness, Roger Rodriguez, I am absolutely dying over your last two posts! 😂
I feel exactly the same way. It seems like everyone gets on my nerves lately, and I find myself snapping at just about anyone—but then, when I don't get the empathy I need, I just break down. Is it really only a matter of seconds before I'm in tears?
Whenever I see anything related to babies, I just turn into a complete puddle of mush. Is there anything more heart-melting?
I'm certainly not one of those pregnant women who is constantly beaming with smiles, high spirits, and perfect vibes.
I can only imagine what people are thinking about me—just look at this pregnant woman over here.
The baby bump isn't showing just yet, but... what do you think? It’s probably better if they don't crowd me when they jump up—it’s just my preference (and my partner's), and I’m really not looking for any extra affection right now.
Is there anything more precious than those quiet moments? My baby and I just love to snuggle and talk together when we're alone in bed.

Honestly, I am just so done with people giving me unsolicited advice when I didn't ask for a single thing. Why can't they just mind their own business? F... off.

Speaking of which, my hairstylist—someone I've only seen a handful of times—suddenly starts grilling me about how far along I am with the pregnancy. Then, out of nowhere, she pulls my cape aside and just starts rubbing my belly! Can you believe that? 😕 I couldn't quite get my bearings since it was behind me, but wasn't it looking rather strange? 🤣
I’m not usually that strict about boundaries, but I’ve always kept my personal space reserved for family and close friends. Did I really think complete strangers would just decide they could come over and start touching me?
And then I can't help but wonder, won't everyone probably act that same way toward the child? 😱

And that is the absolute truth. 😳

You really are quite charming, aren't you? 🤣 Would you ever consider joining a prenatal class where you could actually talk about your fears? Personally, I’m terrified of things like holding the baby in my arms or even just holding doors open. I honestly can't wait to bring this up in a group setting—wouldn't it be such a relief to just vent and have someone look me in the eye and tell me there's nothing to worry about?

Is there anything more dishonest than those pregnant women on Instagram who stroke their perfectly smooth stomachs and just smile sweetly at the camera? It’s such a blatant lie, isn't it?
This might sound a bit silly, but I find myself worrying far more about my genetic predisposition for GD than I do about the actual glucose levels from a father I haven't even met yet. I should have some answers this Friday, but isn't it funny how our minds jump to the worst-case scenarios first? 👋 )
I honestly believe that a carefree pregnant woman is just an uninformed one, don't you think?

I’m not taking any classes right now, but I honestly think I’ll be starting psychotherapy soon. 🤣
To be honest, the idea of being surrounded by a dozen cheerful pregnant women actually scares me. That kind of positivity doesn't rub off on me; if anything, it does the exact opposite. I end up feeling even more frustrated because I can't match their energy, and then I just break down in tears.
While waiting in the lobby, I struck up a conversation with a woman who was fourth in line. After she mentioned how the epidurals failed her during her last two deliveries, I dared to admit my own fears about giving birth. Instead of empathy, she lectured me, basically saying that childbirth is just a biological function and something every woman must endure to fulfill her role.
I had to dig deep to keep from snapping back at her. It really hit home because my sister-in-law has been struggling with infertility and is constantly going through IVF treatments without success—can you imagine how devastating it would be to hear something like that?
Jesse Johnson15, if you have a specific wish regarding intimacy, I truly hope it comes true for you. For me, it's been 😍

First off, don't beat yourself up; it's not your fault that she's acting out like that. 😳 It honestly drives me crazy when you run into those types of mothers who immediately hit you with these terrifying trauma stories, only to turn around a second later and preach about how everything should just be "natural." 🙂
But you have to realize that, poor thing, she probably needs it—it's just her way of boosting her own ego. She’s had a birth, and you haven't, you know? 😬

There's a pretty good chance that besides her kids, she doesn't have much else going on in her life.

Disclaimer here: I'm not saying these memories aren't a big deal, far from it.

On the other hand: I wouldn't mind a little extra intimacy myself either. 😍
But hey, whatever happens, happens. 🙂

So yeah, girl... 😢

Susan Edwards8 said:Man, I just love these badass women, total queens. Honestly, I’d probably 😠give them my full support too. And don't even get me started on those groups of kids out there who basically ignore contraception; I 😠don't even want to go there. She isn't being biased without reason... A close friend of mine went through years of grueling IVF and finally had this absolutely beautiful little girl about a year ago. When you realize everything she had to endure just to get to that point, hearing people argue against it makes me want to just lose it on them, but whatever, that's a whole other rant for another day...
Look, there is no way I'm backing down on this one. 🙂

Same here, 😠

driftingcrane83 said:Nobody’s been touching my stomach. Aside from my mother and a couple of family members—and even then, only after they asked for permission. It feels incredibly weird having people poke at you like that 🤣

I actually had this experience where the owner of a restaurant I was having lunch at suddenly felt entitled to get close to me. I’d never even seen the guy before! But he acted like it was totally fine because his daughter was just born two months ago. Like, we're part of the same club now or something. 😳

And what are you supposed to do in that situation?

Roger Rodriguez: Why don't you try taking a class? Personally, I go to them, and they really help you see that everyone is dealing with something different—one lady is losing it, another is burping, a third is crying, and one is just laughing and sharing stories about why she's crying... it helps me find a bit of humor in the middle of it all. 😬
And nobody is going to judge you if you admit you're scared. Kids don't come with an instruction manual, for goodness sake...

Roger Rodriguez said:Yeah, I really was being your typical pregnant grumbler, 😢 and it’s driving me crazy too. At the start of my pregnancy, I had this image of myself as the perfect expectant mother—always smiling, never complaining about food cravings. Then came the total turnaround, where I was basically snatching food off people's plates because suddenly everything sounded good. (Even if it hits the floor or the expiration date has passed! 🙈)
I'm going to try my best to stop obsessing over the birth and all those negative scenarios; there's really nothing I can do to change the outcome anyway. 🤷
Plus, my mom keeps trying to "calm me down." Basically, whenever she reaches her limit with my constant complaining, she just tells me, "Everyone else went through it, so you will too," and calls it a day. She's running out of patience, and I'm definitely driving everyone in the family a little nuts! 🤣

Honestly, if there isn't mold on it, it’s probably fine to eat 😳

you are actually being so sweet right now 🤣 have you thought about signing up for some sort of prenatal class where you can just vent all those fears? I mean, personally, I am absolutely terrified of the idea of actually holding a newborn, or even things like making sure doors stay shut and everything, and I am honestly counting down the days until I can bring all that up in a group session just so someone can look me in the eye, laugh a little, and tell me that everything is going to be okay.

Scott Rodriguez2 said:Scott Rodriguez2, I am absolutely losing it over your last two posts. 😂
I feel the exact same way—everyone gets under my skin lately. I find myself snapping at everyone, and if I don't get some empathy, I just break down. It honestly takes only a second for me to end up in tears.
Even when I see anything involving babies, I turn into a total softie.
I’m definitely not that glowing pregnant woman you see in commercials, full of smiles and good vibes.
People can think whatever they want about me—"look at this grumpy pregnant woman."
The bump isn't even showing yet, but honestly, they better stay back once it does. This belly belongs to me (and maybe my husband), and nobody else is getting any cuddles from me.
The baby and I will have our own little world and talk to each other when we're alone in bed.

And I am so done with unsolicited advice from people I didn't even ask. Just... leave me alone.

Oh, those pregnant influencers on TikTok showing off their perfectly smooth, stretch-mark-free bellies with those serene little smiles? Total lies.
I might sound a bit ridiculous, but right now, I am spending way more energy worrying about whether I'll develop GD because of my family history than I am thinking about whether I'm having a boy or a girl, which I won't find out until Friday 👋 )
In my opinion, a "carefree" pregnant woman is really just an uninformed one 😳

Roger Rodriguez said:It didn't catch me off guard, but I’m finding my own temperament and reactions increasingly frustrating on a daily basis.
Everything gets under my skin lately; I feel like I'm picking fights with everyone, bursting into tears the second things don't go my way, or just crying when I feel like it—I'm constantly overreacting.
On top of that, I feel heavy and bloated, with absolutely zero motivation to take care of myself. When I have to head out, I look like total white trash in beat-up sneakers and ripped jeans, mostly because I feel like I don't even have anything decent left in my closet to pull together a normal outfit.
I’ve honestly become quite unpleasant.😱
To make matters worse, I’ve been having these recurring nightmares where I’ve given birth to a tiny, five-centimeter baby that I have to care for, but he's so small, like an ant, that he keeps slipping out of me. In the dream, his eyes fall out and I have to scramble to pick them up off the floor to put them back in, or I try to feed him but the bottle is way too big and he starts choking, and I can't even perform CPR because his mouth is only about 3mm wide.🙂
It’s also incredibly irritating how the baby kicks aren't these gentle, sweet little movements; sometimes they actually hurt, and it feels like something is trying to force its way out of my gut, like my insides are being torn apart.
And then, of course, there's the crowd on public transit—just a sea of people younger than me who clearly have no concept of basic manners.

Roger Rodriguez, I absolutely live for your classic pregnancy posts.🙂
You really should go back and read them all once this whole pregnancy phase is over; I'm positive you'll have a good laugh at yourself.😁

But seriously, kudos to the people you have standing by your side right now.🙏
It is perfectly okay to be scared; we're all terrified, and we're all wondering how on earth we're going to pull this off. Just let go and trust the process—I'm personally just leaning into Mother Nature and whatever modern medicine can offer. With all the doctors and specialists out there, surely one of them will make this delivery a little easier on me.😁

If I could offer one little piece of advice, it always works for me: try not to dwell on the actual labor itself, but instead, focus on that exact second when they finally place the baby in your arms and you see them for the very first time. I'm not trying to be cliché by saying you'll forget the pain of childbirth (because, honestly, I have no clue what that's actually like), but it truly is such a breathtaking, unforgettable moment.🙂

That being said, I'm sending out one more wave of love to all those lovely people who keep telling me I need to sleep now because I won't get any later—sending them a giant middle finger via text message, essentially—because it doesn't matter if I sleep; I'll just be busy worrying about my precious little one.😠

"Until that baby actually makes a sound, you aren't officially pregnant."

"Better get all the sleep you can right now, because once this kid arrives, sleep becomes a distant memory, haha!"

When I mentioned how I fully intend to keep working as long as my body allows me—even right up until the due date—the response I got was: "Are you kidding? I had to go on bed rest at just nine weeks!"

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'bardan 🙂

Hey, quick question—is it actually okay if I make a post on behalf of Jesse Johnson15, maybe starting it off with a big capital letter? Thanks a bunch.

'bardan 🙂
Of course you can, just reach out to New Orleans. Please.