Ahh, weren't those the days: I was definitely naive at 16, 17, 18...well, you get my point. It's appropriate to have been singing this song not only for little Ron's progress, but for remembering life when I was 16 and 17.
My ten year high school reunion is coming up. Ten years ago, I could have guaranteed you that I would not be having a reunion. My class was, umm, less than motivated. Most senior classes plan a trip or do something to commemorate the big send off, right? Picture ours as a mild version of Valley High...the cliques could be vicious, and that unfortunately cut down on the bonding between all classmates. When asked, I honestly respond that I was never part of a specific group. Sure, I had/have my close friends that I still keep in touch with, but I also was a part of the drama club, track team, and my favorite class senior year was Accounting 101. I was the only (and I am quoting here) "Cool-ass-white-girl" in my class. They still like to remind me of that!
So when I found out a few months ago, that some of my friends were making an effort to get this reunion together, I had mixed emotions. I'll just come out and say it: I either wanted to be one skinny bitch....or pregnant. How many of you are nodding your head? Knowing that if I wasn't skinny, I'd be comparing myself to every other girl there, and if I wasn't pregnant, I couldn't deal with everyone asking us "So, when are you going to have kids?" with that shit-eating grin plastered on their face.
We've decided we are going to the reunion. Fall in my hometown is so beautiful--and I haven't been home since...umm...yea, it's been a long time. I'm also looking forward to sharing those high school memories with Mook-he's met enough of my HS friends, that he won't feel left out of conversations. And what a trooper for agreeing to go with me!
Would I be a skinny bitch by now? Umm, hell no. And now that I am providing Ron a place to grow, do I feel more comfortable going? I'd be lying if I didn't say yes. BUT I have no intention of wearing a belly hugging dress/shirt to make it obvious, and I won't be the person asking the other couples "So, when are you going to have kids"
Have you all gone to your reunions--how did you feel about going, and what are your conditions if you do go?
So with Ron's 17th week, I crossed a milestone. I bought something. I have been given things, but I have not yet purchased anything. Until yesterday. And I'm in love with it. In love with a bib. I just happened to go to Etsy, and it was there...just staring at me. My little bluebird...
Mook and I are trying to plan a little get-away for our upcoming anniversary...he keeps reminding me it could be our last trip child-free. Hmm...what a concept.
Other than that, we are counting down the days until the anatomy scan! I have really enjoyed noticing Ron's presence with the flutters--some are very pronounced. I worry each morning when I get up and my belly has flattened back out since I still don't "look" the part unless I wear a shirt that covers me in just the right way. But as long as he/she's in there cookin', I'm ok with the shape of my body parts.
Hope you all are enjoying the fall weather as much as I am. While the summer blessed us (and scared the bejeezus out of me) I'm glad to welcome a new season...
I went to my 20 year reunion 2 years ago (so yes I'm waaayyy older than you), and I had a great time. I was 2 months away from getting married for the 1st time, and I talked to a lot of people who were on their 2nd divorce. I had a great time and was proud of where I was in life. I missed my 10 year because I was living in Spain, and even if I had gone at that time, I wasn't upset about not being married or having a child. Anyway so I hadn't seen most of these people since the 5 year reunion and it was fun. Go to your reunion and be proud. Don't compare your life to the lives of others - that never works. You are where you are supposed to be in your life right now - preggo with Ron!
ReplyDeleteAre you me? No, seriously...my 10 year reunion was in August and I was totally nodding about the wanting to be the skinny bitch or pregnant. In the end, though, it didn't really matter. We all had a good time...awkward at first, but by the end of the night, it was almost like we picked right up where we left off 10 years ago. That being said, my school and class were much different. My school was a consolidated school in the country so the majority of the kids I graduated with, I had been in school with them since Kindergarten. Also, our class was pretty close due to a loss of a classmate when we were Sophomores, so the cliques and nastiness that most high school classes deal with through HS wasn't really an issue by the time we graduated.
ReplyDeleteThat bib is adorable.
Soapchick thinks SHE'S old. ; ) If someone decides to organize one, my THIRTIETH (yes, 3-0) reunion will be next year (as well as my 25th grad school class reunion). I lived in a town with 12,000 people & two high schools. My class had 102 people in it. About 40 came to the reunion -- funnily enough, while some people came from thousands of miles away to attend, many of the locals didn't bother to show up. I was not among the popular crowd, but I did have a circle of friends, most of whom showed up, & I had a good time. My dh wasn't interested (wonder why??) so I shared a hotel room with a girlfriend in the same boat. There were still quite a few of us who hadn't had kids yet, although two girls who got married straight out of high school both had FOUR each by then. I say go & have a good time! There was an all-school reunion a couple of years ago & I would like to have gone, but it was the same weekend as my 20th wedding anniversary. :(
ReplyDeleteP.S. I did go to an all-school reunion the year after I graduated. I never had a date in high school, & my university boyfriend at the time (pre-dh) agreed to come with me. He was drop dead gorgeous, and the memory of jaws actually dropping as we walked into the room remains among the most satisfying of my life. ; )
ReplyDeleteOh, hooray for 17! That means I'm staring down the barrel of....21? Holy CRAP! That's awesome. And I love the bib, JJ. I can't wait to find out if I'm really having a girl! Hooray for week 17! And rambly comments!
ReplyDeleteMy ten year high school reunion is also upcoming. We aren't going, even though we went to the same high school (yeah, Matt and I have been together that long). Our high school had a thousand in our graduating class and it'd be too much of a trip to see only a couple people we knew.
ReplyDeleteMook can do what my dad did at my mom's first high school reunions. He went up to people and said things like "hey, weren't you in my senior year English class?" and then enjoyed watching them pretend to remember him. (Which, obviously, was impossible, since he didn't go to that high school and didn't meet my mom until college.) They are all wise to that trick now so he can't get away with it anymore. (Yeah, my mom just went to her 40th high school reunion last month. I think they'd caught on to my dad by the 20th.)
I missed my 10 year high school reunion as it was the weekend before my weeding. I had so many other things to do that I just couldn't pull away to go. I didn't keep in contact with many people from high school. While it would have been nice to see some people, I think that most of the people I would have cared to see may not have gone. I hung out with a bunch of people from the class ahead of me too so I would have really liked to have gone to that one.
ReplyDeleteNo matter what you look like though, comparing yourself with others will never be good. Others have had different experiences than you but their experiences is what makes their life different than yours. Have a great time.
Congrats on getting this far with Ron. I am so happy for you. The bib is beautiful.
We were in the same grade, then! How "neato"... LOL
ReplyDeleteSuch a cute bib; I think li'l Ron will love it!
Love the bib!
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I graduated from the same high school one year apart. We went to both of our ten year reunions (still ttc, but not yet pursuing IF treatments). It was a little tough because of that, but mostly our reunions were completely lame. There wasn't really anyone there I wanted to see other than the people I was still seeing. So ours were a waste of time and money. I certainly don't mean to discourage you from attending yours, but you asked, so I shared! I hope yours is much more enjoyable and that you at least enjoy a visit home!
ReplyDeleteAmen on the skinny or pregnant thing. Mine was this year and I was/am pregnant - but I still didn't go. I realized that the people I really cared about I already keep in touch with and I already had so many trips planned this year that I just didn't want to make the effort to fit that one in too.
ReplyDeleteyou should go.
Oh my word, that bib is adorable!
ReplyDeleteMy 10 yr HS reunion was this summer, and I didn't go for a few reasons: no money, no time, no baby, and most of the people I would want to see are either A) people I already keep in touch with and see regularly or B) people who were in the year above or below me, so wouldn't be at my reunion anyway.
I skipped my 5 yr college reunion primarily because I wasn't pregnant and didn't think I could bear to get asked about it or be judged for not pursuing some fancy career (I decided not to get a masters or get on a career track specifically because we wanted to start our family early, but, yeah, I've got nothing to show for that but a bunch of needles). Thankfully, a schedule conflict came up, so I got to duck out for a legitimate reason rather than my own cowardice. ;)
Sorry for the long comment; I guess you struck a nerve!
I'm nearing my 20th HS reunion and have yet to been to one. Why? For one thing I think there has only been one so far and honestly, I really don't think anyone in my class will be motivated to have another one.
ReplyDeleteSo love the bib! I wouldn't have been able to pass it up either.
It seems like you will be finding out whether Ron is a Ron or Roni at the anatomy scan? Are you planning to share with us if you do?
Thank you from the very bottom of my heart for what arrived in my mailbox today! You put a huge smile on my face, and perhaps even a tear in my eye. You are amazing!
ReplyDeleteI so didn't go. High school was not a good time for me in general. Yes, I had my group of friends (some who I still am in contact with) but overall my hs experience was underwhelming. I heard that it was mostly the popular crowd that went. Not surprising since they all married each other and were each other's bridal parties...
ReplyDeleteWoo Hoo for 17! I get there tomorrow. I am jealous my scan is still three weeks and 6 days away.
Happy 17th! I wish I could've gone to my reunion--it was this past June and, well, I wasn't flying to NYC 8+ months pregnant. :P
ReplyDeleteI cannot wait until your anatomy scan! Not much longer now... ((HUGS))
YAY for Seventeen! That bib is truly the cutest...now that you've bought one thing I'm sure you'll find it easier and easier to buy more and more.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if my high school even has reunions...I don't even think most people there speak English...
That is a great bib!
ReplyDeleteI skipped my 10 year, mainly because it fell right in the middle of my grad school qualifying exams and I had broken out in a horrific case of acne (seriously, I could have been the "before" in a acne med ad). No way I was going to be not-as-skinny-as-I'd-like AND have bad skin!
I love the bib--very cute!! I keep hearing of this "esty" place...I guess I will have to go look...
ReplyDeleteAs for reunions--I think they are a waste of my time (not that at some points in my life I did not want to "Show Them" how cool a geek I am now).
I was thankful that I was 2000 miles away from my high school when the 10 year reunion came about. It gave me a good excuse not to go!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on 17!
I was laughing at your Sound of Music reference because I sing Edelweiss to Missy all the time.
ReplyDeleteThat bib is beyond cute. You simply must post the web site where you got it. As the mother of a *spit up* baby, I beg you...
I am so glad to are to the point where you feel like you can indulge yourself and the baby. It's a wonderfully fun place to be.
Cute bib. Etsy is evil, I tell you!
ReplyDeleteICLW
I have my ten year next year. Man, in high school I somehow thought I'd be a lot older now. And cooler.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a great time.
I love love love the bib.
This should be the year of our 10 yr high school reunion as well - and our class sounds just like yours - unmotivated. Hence why I've heard absolutely nothing about a reunion. If we did - I would likely go (if it falls late in the year when I'm able to be out and about again). But if we don't have one - I might actually try to just get some people together between Christmas and New Years by word of mouth and even if just 10 people show up - it'll be nice to see some people. I really only talk to one or two people from high school. But yes the skinny and pregnant thing is so true, isn't it? I hope you get to plan a nice get away - you deserve a good vacation before the little one arrives :-)
ReplyDeleteThat bib is adorable!
ReplyDeleteI went to mine 3 years ago and it was horrible. It was the first summer that we were TTC so that wasn't too big of an issue, but the people organizing it did a horrible job and the admitted it was so bad that they announced during the dinner they were going to do a 15 year just to try and do better! I hope you have fun though because the concept can be pretty cool!
I saw on classmates dot com lately that my 20 year reunion was coming up. Wow. Can't believe it's been 20 years. I don't think I'll go though. I went to school with a group of people up until half way through my junior year of highschool and then my family moved from just south of Seattle to Great Falls, Montana. I wouldn't have any desire to go to Mt as I never really made many friends there and I didn't actually graduate with the people from Washington. Plus I'm way fatter than I ever was in school. So depressing.
ReplyDeleteLove the bib!
That bib is super cute!
ReplyDeleteI went to my 10 year re-union and it was nice... a few ppl asked the when you having kids thing but we were just over a year into our journey so it was still bearable... if my 10 year re-union was now though - no way would I go cos I know that most of the ppl I went to school with have had 2 kids already and we would really be one of maybe 3 couples who did not have kids... too much baggage for me to handle...
Enjoy showing off your belly discreetly at yours!
My school wasn't the sort that formed a cohesive enough class for reunions. Hundreds of students in the one year and all shifted about multiple campuses all the time.
ReplyDeletePlus most of them either A) got pregnant in adolescence B) got a criminal record in adolescence C) ended up doing time or D) died (several violent assunt related, some drugs, two in nursing homes after car accidents)......
But I carry some small satisfaction that I survived it, and well over a decade on I'm just determined that my little ones will not suffer the same educational fate.
I guess I'm saying that I'd find the concept of a reunion traumatic!
J
Love the bib, it's adorable!
ReplyDeleteI shamelessly skipped my 10 year anniversary last year because I wasn't pregnant. I felt like such a complete outcast. EVERYONE from there had babies at the time and being that it was in the throws of my battle with infertility, there was NO WAY I was going to show my face. Glad you can go to yours!!
*hugs*
10? You are a baby! I just went to my 20 and had a blast! But I was really specific that I was not going to grind any axes. I just wanted to have fun and see what people where up to. If someone was not cool I moved on. You can read about it on my blog.
ReplyDeleteYay for 17 weeks!!
ReplyDeleteI went to my 10 year reunion last year. I wasn't terribly excited about it. I actually live in the town I went to school in, though I never seen anyone, so I might as well live across the country. Ours was a two nighter kind of event. The first night was a family night; the second was basically a party at a bar. We went to the family night and brought Lila. I skipped the party night...not into the bar scene at all anymore. Plus, it was too expensive, and one night was enough for me :).
I skipped my ten-year reunion. I thought about going, but instead got together with a couple of friends from high that I just wanted to see, and skipped the rest!
ReplyDeleteWe just had our 10 year. I have to say, I was so excited for it. However, I started to miscarry at the reunion. So that night is just awful in my memory and I really resent not having a fond memory of that night. I did have an awesome time right until that moment
ReplyDeleteGo to yours and enjoy it! It should be fun.
Also, I love the bib!
I hated high school so much that I wouldn"t even go to the town let alone the reunion. Best of luck.
ReplyDeleteMy 20 year reunion is the next one for me. It's 2 years away and since I won't be pregnant, I plan on being one of those skinny bitches. Totally. :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats to hit the 17 week mark! I am so fucking ~thrilled~ for you. I still remember how you were thinking back on how you were laying in the backseat after your first go around. And didn't want you to have to add anymore to that disappointment. I don't know why that stood out to me so much - I've read others with just as heartbreaking negatives, but that one stuck with me.
You do know Ron is a girl, right?
Congrats on hitting 17 weeks! How fabulous!! And I LOVE the bib - so, so cute.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your kind comment on my blog on Tuesday when we got our awful news. I really appreciated it and am so grateful of your prayers.
My 10 year college reunion is in May. Fortunately I have the excuse of living overseas because I'm not sure I could bear to go. I keep in touch with the people I like and can't really be bothered about the others. But I think you have so much to be proud of and as soapchick said, you are are exactly where you're supposed to be in your life right now. And sometimes, that's all we can ask for or expect. Enjoy!
Went to my 20 year last weekend. That was crazy! Reunions definitely provide lots of great fodder for blogs! I'd totally play up the preggo card. Why not? Just remember, no one will be the same as they were 10 years ago, some better, some worse. But it's fun all the same. Have a GREAT time!
ReplyDeleteI went to my 20th with 2 babies. Most of my friends were done having kids. 28 is soooooo young :-)
ReplyDeleteOkay, if you're buying baby stuff then you have to go to http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5714191 - there's more birds plus pumpkins and planes and so much fun stuff for us all to be jealous you get to buy:-)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for stopping by my blog--it means a lot!
ReplyDeleteThat bib is absolutely ADORABLE. I, too, am in love with it.
Have fun at your reunion--I went to my 10th and it wasn't horrible :)
Love the bluebird!
ReplyDeleteMy 20 year HS reunion is in two weeks. I'm not really stressing to much about being married 18 years and no kids. I'm proud to be married to a great guy for so long!
I hope you enjoy your time back home!
love the blue bird. it is so good to hear the spring in your step.
ReplyDeleteThe bib is fabulous! TOO PRECIOUS! I went to my 10 year, ummm.... 3 years ago! SHEESH! I'm getting old. We were a small class, I was just proud that my husband, 9 years older than all the guys there, was the only one with HAIR! Time had not been friendly to the boys in our class. Oh they used to be such cuties, some even HOT! ummmm Not so much NOW! No regrets in going. I wore an awesome outfit to show off my beautiful personality rather than my body! :) Have a great time!
ReplyDeleteMaybe I'm the one they were talking about in the corner.... HEY QUIT THAT! ;)
LOVE the bib. I've been thinking of you a lot lately. Please try to post more.. you know, 'cuz you have nothing else going on and all.. ;o).
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on hitting that 17 week mark! You are well on your way!!!
ReplyDeleteMy 10-year reunion should have been in 2005 but my slack class couldn't get it together to plan one. What can I say? I find that typical of my class. Thankfully, if they had a reunion, we would have been at the very beginning of the TTC process and wouldn't have known about our problems then (though I wouldn't have been the skinny bitch I was in high school). I'm glad you are able to go and hope you enjoy yourself.
ReplyDelete