Kat's Playbook

10. My Confidence - its true.  This pregnancy has really rocked my confidence.  From everything to I think people are judging what I wear, what I do, when I work out, what kind of mother I am, and when I will come back to work.  Before that...I was the type of person that says, screw you...I do what I want.  It is getting a little better now that I'm on the home stretch, but it is still frustrating that I am not the confident person I was before.  Damn you pregnancy!!  Screwing with my emotions!!   

Posted in: 3rd Trimester, Annoys Me, Baby #2, Hormones, Must Drink, Running on Saturday, August 3, 2013 at 1 comments    

Posted in: Hormones, Impress Your Sports Lover, sports on Thursday, March 8, 2012 at 2 comments    

So I have a rule.  A rule that all men, women, and children should learn and follow religiously.

Rule #1:  DO NOT ask a women when she is due, how far along she is, if she is having a boy or girl, or anything else to do with pregnancy UNTIL YOU HAVE CONFIRMED THAT HER BUMP IS A BABY BUMP!!

And trust me, this is very easy to confirm.  If you give just a little smile...a little smirk, a glowing pregnant woman will smile back because she knows you have noticed that she is growing an exceptionally smart baby!   BUT if she looks down at the ground, turns her body, or ignores you in away....WALK AWAY.  Do not speak.  Do not even gesture.  This means that she is either not pregnant, or so ginormous and close to the end that she wants no conversation at all.

I was very close to violating my rule at Baby Gap, when I was about to ask the sales attendant when she was due.  And THANK GOD, she quickly made a comment about her 2 month old baby.  (Whew, that was a close one).  However, this just reconfirmed my importance of the rule.

Rule #2, DO NOT ASK WHEN SHE IS DELIVERY HER OTHER TWIN

So here we were...on cloud nine...after 48 hours at home with our newest addition, and leaving our house for  Mr. T's doctor appointment.  Gator Guy and I stood proudly in the lobby waiting for the elevator.  Soon, an Idiot-of-a-woman walks up and asks:

"Oh, how old is he?"
We both say, "4 days old.",  (Damn we are good, already responding in unison)

Idiot-of-a-woman looks at me kind of funny and then asks, "So then did you have one twin and still need to deliver the other?"

WOW...surely she is just being sarcastic (and rude), and yet she didn't stop there...
We both just laughed not knowing what to say or how to answer.

Idiot-of-a-woman then asks, "No really, so do I take that as a yes?"
OMG - Holy crap... she was f-ing serious. Who says that?!?
I said, "Nope just one baby", biting my tongue trying not to laugh and thanking my hormones that I'm not bursting into tears.
And yet she was still not done...

Idiot-of-a-woman looks at Mr. T again and then asks me, "So....then is he yours?"
"Yep, he's mine, and I still have the baby bump."
She says, "Oh well, I guess it does take time for that to go down. Well congratulations."

Yes congratulations....congratulations to the Idiot-of-a-woman who did not get a kick in the shins, punch in the face, tripped in the hallway, or a bucket of tears as the hormones could have taken over.  Congratulations to me for handling myself like an adult and just walking away...hysterical, and glad that Gator Guy was there to whiteness  such an act of idiotness.


And please stay tuned...because I will soon become brave (or stupid) and show you just what a belly 2 days after birth looks like.

Posted in: baby, Body after baby, Hormones, Motherhood, Postpartum on Wednesday, November 25, 2009 at 2 comments    

So when I got the BFP and spread the word to work, I began to have an irrational fear of my water breaking at any moment. In my fearful hormonal mind, it would happen when I would be sitting in a Board Meeting, would have to excuse myself, while saying, "Sorry about the chair, I will buy you a new one."

Or I would be sitting on the LightRail, and would experience giving birth on public transportation. That really happened in my city...she was on the news and everything. So let me tell you, I would much rather have my 15 minutes be for something WAY better than bringing my little one into the world while singing the Wheels On The Bus Go Round and Round.

And so, my irrational fear carried over to my Unnecessary Emergency Kit, in which I carried around in my purse for weeks (probably the entire 3rd Trimester). My kit, was a small little make up bag:

Yes, a doggy pee pad. (Just the pad, not the dog) And now you ask, what the heck was I going to do with the Doggy Pee Pad?? I HAVE NO FREAKING CLUE!!

Its not like you know when your water breaks to pull out the absorbent material. And its not like your water breaks, and then break again for a second time. I think I always imagined that if my water did break and I was forced to be on the LightRail, cab, or in a coworkers car, I would sit on the Doggy Pee Pad to make them and me feel better about ruining their leather seats.

I know, this does not make any sense. But I made sure I had this little Unnecessary Emergency Kit with me everywhere. Crazy Hormones.

Posted in: 3rd Trimester, baby, Hormones, pregnancy on Friday, November 20, 2009 at 3 comments    

So even before we found out that Mr. T was going to be a boy, I'm pretty sure that my hormones were trying to tell me something. How is that you ask? Well, I seemed to be crying at everything sports related.

I of course cried while watching Rudy (but come on...that's a freebie, because who doesn't?!?).
But then you throw in Cool Runnings. When that team picks up their bobsled at the very end and everyone starts to clap....Water works for Kat!And let's count how many times I cried at the Bronco Game:
1. For the national anthem.
2. For the Fly By
3. When the team ran out
4. For Each and EVERY time the Broncos scored. Which I think was only 3, but still. I was a sobbing mess. Luckily I had sunglasses on and my dear husband (Gator Guy) just kept his laughter to himself.
5. And then when we lost....to Miami

But the most memorial was the first time in my life that I cried while watching ESPN's College Game Day (Here is the second)

Here I was, sitting next to Gator Guy, reading the paper...or really just looking at the ads, and drinking my coffee (yes, coffee), when College Game Day begins their heart felt story of the day. I have seen these stories before, and I know that they can be touching just like Extreme Make Over Home Edition.

But the second I look up and see Joe Paterno, I begin to tear up. First of all, we are Bronco Fans, Gator Fans, and Ram Fans. I have never had an attachment to Penn State...until this day. Once ESPN queued in the music (The Story by Brandi Carlile), the waterworks began and I was a sobbing-snotty-mess that we have seen before. The hormones had taken over.

And so, join me in a moment to honor Joe Paterno. JoePa. Papa Joe.

Posted in: 2nd Trimester, Football, Hormones, pregnancy, sports on Friday, November 13, 2009 at 0 comments    

I remember it so clearly. The first absolute stranger that touched my pregnant belly. Here I was at 16 weeks and showing very early. I was feeling the burst of 2nd tri energy and in Vail for a conference. I even remembering at one of the cocktail hours, (sipping my water) just absolutely loving the smell of whiskey....seriously, apparently the hormones turn me into Toby Keith's little Whiskey Girl.

Back to the belly touching...

I have never quite understood why a complete stranger would ask to touch someone's belly. Would I ever ask to touch your tattoo, scar, love handles, or double chin?? I don't think so!! And so here I was, talking to one of my favorite IT vendors, when her co worker, asks..."Can I Touch your Belly?"

Of course in my mind he had a James Earl Jones kind of voice that echoed as if he was announcing to be my Father or Mufasa high in the clouds. His leaned across the table with his Ginormous hands that could palm a basketball like it was a child's toy...actually moved my name badge out of the way... and rubbed my belly. Rubbed it. Hello, does my name badge that you just moved out of the way say Buddha? Negative Ghost Rider. I very quickly excused myself...and called it a night.

Posted in: 2nd Trimester, baby, Belly, Hormones, pregnancy on Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at 0 comments    

Posted in: baby, Football, Hormones, pregnancy, sports on Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 4 comments    

Here I was, taking advantage of the lazy weekend and getting rest during my recent fatigued pregnancy. Hey now...gotta soak it for what its worth. I of course was craving just about anything I would see a commercial for. But I did form into the stereotypical madness of craving those mouth watering pickles. And so...while Ryan was out, I began to munch and munch and chow down the entire jar. But don't you worry, I didn't just stop there....Must have More. My hormonal craving needed that salty-vinegar-goodness. What does a girl do?

Cheers!! Drink it up. And that is exactly what I drank while sitting with my feet up.


I stumble upon the NFL Hall of Fame show. And yes, it was very touching even though I had never even heard about the players being inducted. But once Darrell Green got up on that podium and begin talking about his teammates....waterworks! The tears started flowing. And not just a cute little tear here and there where I dab a tissue to not ruin my makeup.

Oh no... Just as Heidi demonstrates below, this was a sobbing-snotty-mess that I just could not control.

Posted in: 1st trimester, Hormones, pregnancy, sports on Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at 0 comments    

Let's talk about You and Me. Let's talk about all the good things and the bad things, that may be. (Gotta love me some Salt-n-Pepa) "Trying To Conceive"...or to moms, moms-to-be, or just girlfriends with babies on the brain it is known as TTC. And let's just say that TTC is a big decision. Huge. Its the decision to Pull the Goalie. Hockey fans know that the goalie is pulled at the end of the game to help the team have a higher chance of scoring. Up to this point you have just been having a good time and trying out new plays. (wink wink) But now...its down to business and Pulling the Goalie is the best shot you've got. (And Yes we all know goals can be scored with the goalie present)

So what was your game like just before making the big pull? Did you decide that the last period would be spent traveling to Europe? Did you decide that you should manage the game of having a dog, carrying plastic bags on walks, and forever vacuuming up hair before you Pulled the Goalie? Did you decide to buy the house with that extra bedroom you will use for your "guests", even though all along you know it will be the baby's room because let's be honest...the only "guests" you have are your drunk friends that can't drive home after a night of beer pong.

For us, it was the house, guest room, dog, and running a marathon. I don't know if it is was because I wanted that last challenge to see if I could do it, wanted to know what it would be like to put myself through 26.2 miles of pain, or if I was secretly getting my body in the best shape ever before gaining the 50 plus pounds for the babe. Either way, it was something I needed to cross of my list. You play The Game of the first few years of your marriage, and then move to the finals with the big boys!

All the good things
Now do we really need to go into the details about all the good things? I'm pretty sure any guy can tell you about that. I think even my dearest hubby mentioned to one of our friends that he really enjoyed "practicing". So its pretty obvious what makes the pro list here.

The bad things
First of all, us girls were trained to pray for that monthly reminder each month and now you are praying for it NOT to come. Quite the change I must say. And I'm not going to lie...even if you just Pulled the Goalie, but are not in Full Force Operation TTC, you still get a little bummed when you first feel cramps, bloating, and headaches that any other time would have annoyed the hell out of you. And when it continues month after month during Full Force Operation TTC...you start to feel sad and then you start to feel like a failure. A failure of a woman. For us, it wasn't as long as some couples I know, but when you are in Full Force Operation TTC it consumes your every day thought. Even Ryan started to think that maybe his swimmers weren't swimmers at all and still learning the Chicken-bird-soldier. It messes with your mind.

My advice (given to me by my sister-in-law)...get an ovulation kit, or use another method to test for the best possible time. That way it takes the guessing game out of the way. Yes "trying" can be fun. But it can also feel like a job, especially month after month. And even though some swear by just trying it out every day or every other day, I say, "You Crazy Girl". I like to be in control, know what is going on, and the kit tells me when I'm ready.

Some of you may read this and think, what the heck are you talking about. You may have not even officially decided to Pull the Goalie and your scoring was successful. Or, like one of my GFs, you might have Pulled the Goalie, scored, and won the game all in just a couple of weeks. But just know that it can be very stressful and can wear on you. So warn your husbands that this is really the start of all the hormonal craziness. Even though the actual pregnancy hormones are not raging yet (oh just you wait), just having the "babies-on-the-brain" hormone is a big enough trigger for us women to get a little crazy. But trust me, winning that trophy at the end is all worth it, even if it means it is a trophy of poopy diapers and sleepless nights....is it soooo worth it.

Posted in: baby, Big Fat Positive, Hormones, TTC on Thursday, July 9, 2009 at 0 comments