Pregnancy Brain

I don't know when pregnancy is actually supposed to begin affecting your brain. Surely all those hormones start flooding the neurons pretty quickly so that is what I am chalking the events of today up to. I am not sure why, but I actually woke up flustered. Lily was ready to go for a walk, but I just couldn't get myself together for a while. I was running late all morning, we didn't go walking til nine and I didn't leave for school until ten. I was annoyed with myself because there is often not many parking spaces left after ten. I was so pleased when I got to school and found plenty of open spaces. I sighed a sigh of relief, this wasn't going to be such a bad day after all. I gathered my things and happily skipped into school. Then, as I was approaching my office, I realized my hands were awfully light, and how was I going to get into my office with no keys? I frantically begin going through my purse, where on earth could I have misplaced my keys in the walk from my car to my office? Ah, of course, the passenger seat of the car! Alissa came to the rescue and drove me home so I could get my spare car key and get the rest of my keys out of the car. So, I didn't actually get to work until a little after 11am!
I was also supposed to call my doctor today to talk about an appointment for my NT scan. This is the screening done between 12 and 14 weeks to assess the risk of down syndrome. Sean and I were unsure if we should get this done, but they booked us an appointment to make sure we had the option in the specific time frame after we were surprised by already being 12 weeks along. Yesterday, I had written the phone number on a small calender in my purse. I was going to do this before leaving for school this morning only to find I couldn't find the phone number anywhere in my purse. I could only conclude that I must have somehow left it at school. Yet, when I got to school for the second time and actually looked in my office, I still couldn't find the little calendar anywhere. I really thought I was losing it. I couldn't even remember the name of the specialist that does the NT scan so I couldn't look it up. This drove me nuts all day until I finally get home and see the calendar right on the kitchen table!
There is a great book called "The Female Brain" by Louann Brizendine, M.D. She states that the brain is actually sedated by the influx of progesterone in the first trimester leading to the sleepiness, etc. Then in the 6th to last month of pregnancy, the brain size and structure actually changes enough to see it shrinking on an MRI. The shrinking is actually just a massive restructuring of the brain and the neurons to prepare for motherhood and the size returns within 6 months after birth. CRAZY! So, today may be just the beginning of my potential insanity :)

And, on another note, HAPPY EARTH DAY! It is a great day to begin to think about ways to reduce your carbon foot print. I am excited to be as green as possible with Baby Butterball. First and foremost we are researching cloth diapering. I am also excited at the prospect of moving into a house of our own where we can compost and garden and implement energy saving strategies throughout the house. I will keep you posted on all of this.