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It is unbelievable the change in lifestyle a pregnant woman has to go through the second she finds out she’s pregnant, even if in the weeks prior she was living her life exactly the way she’d always been. To give you an example, when I found out I was “knocked up” I had been cooking white fish, and proceeded to not eat any of it because I didn’t know whether it would be safe for the baby.

I feel so caught off guard and unprepared. Aren’t pregnant women supposed to know all of the rules right away? Most people are ready for this to happen, right? I know the obvious restrictions: no drinking, smoking, sushi or deli meat. But what else? What can I do to make sure our baby is perfect? Oh yeah, and how do I avoid those lovely stretch marks?

Upon finding out the news, I immediately sent Jared to the grocery store to buy some pre-natal vitamins, which he complained cost $30 and that “us women will buy into anything…first the wedding market…then the baby market”. Blah, Blah, Blah. He’s probably right…but I’m willing to be a sucker to make sure we have a healthy baby.

The past couple of days were a little bit of a challenge, as I was in New Orleans for work, and walking down Bourbon Street while (secretly) pregnant is a little bit of a bummer to say the least. My co-workers and I ate a fabulous dinner at K-Paul, and usually I’d be joining them in flights of wine paired perfectly with each course, but I sucked down water with a smile on my face while they looked at me like I was crazy. The Ashley they knew would never turn down a good glass of wine.

After dinner we walked past  bars that were blaring live music, and looking inside you could see people who were dancing the night away and likely had a few glasses of liquid courage to do so. I felt so out-of-character when my girlfriend asked me if I wanted to stay out late to check out one of the bands, and I had to reply, “I don’t think so…I’m just not feeling too hot.” The truth is, I was exhausted, but that just isn’t my personality to turn down a good time, especially in a new city.

These next 8 months will definitely be an adventure that I’m looking forward to. It has already given me a new perspective on life and what’s important, and I can only imagine what else I will learn along the way. I may stumble a few times, and I won’t do everything perfect, but I plan on being the best mommy I can be…even if it means no hurricanes in NOLA J