The Numbers Game

The more I think about it, the more I realize that pregnancy and childbirth are little more than a numbers game. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that numbers are the only concrete thing that you can concentrate on until you actually get to meet the new little muffin. How many days since your last period, how many weeks along you are, how much weight you have gained, how many days until your next appointment suddenly changes into how many centimeters you are dilated, how many minutes apart your contractions are, and, for me anyway, how many hours it has been since you got induced. Insert birthing story here, and in a whirlwind your attention turns to how many pounds the baby is, how many fingers and toes she has, how many centimeters long she is, and even how big her head is.

Fast-forward a few days and you begin to realize that even child rearing has its share of important numbers. Now the focus becomes how many months old the baby is, what percentile she fits into, how many ounces she's eating and how much weight she is gaining.

The numbers game--I admit that I totally play into it; I think that most of us do. So, in honor of the monumental significance of numbers, I thought I'd let you guys in on some equally important yet lesser known numbers associated with this, my third pregnancy.

*How many times I've been pregnant: 3

*How many times I have been surprised at the Ultrasound findings: 1

*How many times I have thrown up this pregnancy: 0 (A modern-day miracle, I totally recognize.)

*How many bins of girls clothes I have saved in the past 4 years: 13 (Plus 2 full boxes of shoes.)

*How many boxes of diapers I have purchased in preparation for our new little bundle: 1

*How many Skittles I have eaten this pregnancy: 234 (An admittedly conservative estimate.)

*How many pairs of shorts I can fit into comfortably: 1

*How many days I have gotten through without putting sweat shorts on: 0

*How many meals I have avoided putting meat into because of a sensitive gag reflex: 6

*How many toes I can still see when I look down: 10

*How many times I have painted my toenails this pregnancy: 2

*How many belly buttons I have left: 0

*How many chins I have: 2

*How many times I have blow-dried and straightened my hair since I got pregnant: 1 (Thanks for noticing, JL and sweet husband.)

*How many times a night I wake up to pee: 2

*How many times a night I wake up on my back, despite my doctor's advice to the contrary: 4

*How many times a day nothing sounds good for lunch: 1

*How many days a week I contemplate not getting dressed at all: 6 (Only because it's less of an option on Sundays.)

*How many days a week I eat "second dinner" at 10:00 at night: 5

*How many days I have gone without a nap since I got pregnant: 3 (Another miracle, yes, I know.)

*How many times a day I ask one or both of my kids not to push on my tummy: 8

*How many times I have hula-hooped this pregnancy: 2 (Oh, yeah, still got it!)

*How many times I've gone maternity-clothes shopping: 2

*How many times a day I struggle to sit up: 7

*How many little girls I will have by 2010: 3

Well, there you have it, friends, just a tiny look into some of the obscure numbers that I can proudly claim as a part of this pregnancy of mine. If there is anything I have failed to mention about this pregnancy that you are dying to know about, just let me know...I'm sure there's a number for it.