Nicole Tasker Woods

Mango!

It is hard to foresee a Christmas wish in early September when thoughts
Are blocked by a cathedral’s gothic frame and flying buttresses.

Dark clouds quickly gather to suffocate the sky,
But we escape the pending rain and enter the abbey.

Names, dates and poems still etched clearly in stone walls
Render us speechless as we silently shuffle from room to room.

Before exiting the church, I donate a pound to the offering box;
Pick up a candle and borrow the blaze from an already flickering flame.

Rain and wind sneak in from behind, wicks of fire shake in unison;
I wish and I pray with eyes closed to be pregnant by Christmas.

Copyright © 2011 N.E. Tasker

Every night I am so thirsty that I am chugging ice water like it is going out of style. You would have thought that I was Tom Hanks in Cast Away after being rescued from the island. My mouth is so dry and it is difficult to quench my thirst. As a result, my bladder wakes me up 4-5 times during the night to go to the bathroom. After the 3rd trip, I usually wake up holding my growing tummy and try to ignore my urge to pee and will myself back to sleep. That NEVER works!

Meanwhile, every morning I rush to the refrigerator and take a couple swigs of grape juice from the big bottle. Before I can take the dog out to go to the bathroom or before I start getting ready for work, I have to have a drink of juice. I don’t know what it is but I need that sweet, fruit taste on my tongue when I first wake up. Water just will not do.

I have heard other women who said the same thing about fruit. When they were pregnant, they needed that fruit taste–but in most cases, citrus. One of my friends told me that they would drink bottle upon bottle of orange juice in one week’s time. Another person told me that they would suck on lemon wedges–they just needed that citrus flavor. As I think about it now, my mouth is watering. So odd!

Sweet potato!

That is what the doctor said to me as he was looking at my baby boy with the ultrasound. The technician told me she thought it was a boy, but the doctor would be able to tell me for sure.

The doctor walked in and asked, “Did you find out the gender–boy or girl?”

I replied, “She said it was a boy.”

“Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!” He said as he looked at the computer.

“But I want to know for sure because I need to start buying stuff!”

He chuckled and took about a split second’s look at the ultrasound screen and said, “It is definitely a boy.”

Definitely a boy!? Woohoo!

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In all the baby books I am reading, they give you advice on how to handle people rubbing your belly without asking. I am totally fine with the belly thing. I love being pregnant and I love getting attention. I even love having my belly rubbed. I joke around with my friends and rub their bellies (who are not pregnant) while they rub mine.

The baby books also tell you how to handle friends, family and even strangers throwing their two cents your way. Sometimes I silently scream inside when getting advice that is just ridiculous from someone (whether they know me or not).

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