Week 14: Nobody pees in Paris.

We're one day away from packing up and heading back home from our 2-week stay in Paris, and I have this one pregnancy-related observation to share in this, my 14th week of pregnancy: nobody pees in Paris. If there is a shortage of anything here (besides tennis shoes; nobody wears those) it's this simple, confusing and troubling reality. In all my restaurant visits, museum tours and jaunts through the city, I have found myself desperately in want of a toilet. I have mastered the art of "holding it" - no small feat since it seems I have to go every 15 minutes or so. 

What do the French do?? 

One theory I have is that since they don't drink water, they don't have to pee. That's right. City sidewalks lined with folks imbibing wine and coffee, but hardly any water. And forget about buying a bottle of H2O anywhere when you really need it (like, say, the Musee d'Orsay, when all you want is a little sippy sip of something refreshing before gazing at the Van Goghs. And trust me: in those warm, crowded galleries a pregnant girl's got to have a drink!)? Or how 'bout drinking fountains? Not a one. Zero. Unfirtunately, to guarantee I'd have water on-hand, I had to carry my own bottle, which, added to the umbrella, gloves and other paraphernalia filling my cross body purse, made for a not-so-light load.

But there I go complaining again about Paris! I hope you'll read this through the lens of pregnancy and cut me some slack. After all, I'm still getting used to this whole body invasion situation. Sounds harsh? Until I can feel Baby moving inside of me, it's hard to connect with the little bugger causing all this trouble. ;)

I'm confident, though, they once I do, we will have turned a corner in our relationship ...and I can be more forgiving of the pressure being put on my bladder all the time.

What about you? What was or has been the most inconvenient thing about your pregnancy?

Week 13: Pregnant in Paris!

Ah! - Paris! What a place to spend lucky Week #13 of my pregnancy. Call it a baby moon, of sorts; we wanted an extended honeymoon after our short (but sweet) trip to Napa Valley after our wedding this past May.

So here we are, in the most romantic city on earth. And I can't drink the wine, eat the cheese or walk around too much. After yesterday's jaunt through the Louvre and down Champs-Élysées (do you like how I used those accents there? :) that ended in a view of the night lights from the top of the Arc de Triomphe, I was flat on my back pretty much all day today. Did I mention that the climb to the top of the Arc is 50 meters up, or 284 steps? Sounds totally doable, I know. But factor in pregnancy, and it's a totally different ball game. Not to mention that I'm not in the most incredible shape of my life right now.

What a way to start a blog, huh?! :) Enough complaining...I'm in Paris! Really, my intention here is to take "pregnant pauses" - moments to just reflect on and share about the experience of pregnancy for me. As a first-time, slightly "older" mom-to-be (I'm 34 & 1/2 - will be 35 when I deliver in June), I've had quite a long time to observe, imagine and establish expectations for what pregnancy will be like. And now, on the other side of the positive pregnancy test, I am basking in the realities - along with their joys and challenges - of being pregnant.

Check back with me often to share the journey. I've got 26 more weeks to go and look forward to sharing them with you!

For now, let me just say "Au revoir" and "Bonne nuit!" (Goodbye and Goodnight, for all you non-French speakers like me ;)



Please pause with me: Where did you travel during your first pregnancy? Any challenges? Surprises? Do tell! Your stories are most welcome. :)