My original theory was that because I was pregnant with a half Japanese child, I was actually smarter.  I had very specific examples of my increased intelligence, and I gotta tell you, I was really looking forward to the next 5 months and what they had in store in terms of increased brain power.  In my heart, I truly believed that the superior intelligence of my baby would keep me from the dreaded baby brain for my whole pregnancy.

Unfortunately, I’ve noticed a not-so-promising development over the past week or so.  As it turns out, I may not be getting smarter.  In fact, I may be getting dumber as we speak.  Now, I’m not sure if it’s the pregnancy or the fatigue or the general lack of concentration, but something is afoot.

For example, I can’t remember anything.  Not just older events or memories, but anything really.  I couldn’t remember the name of my brother’s girlfriend the other day.  Not his ex-girlfriend or high school sweetheart, but his current girlfriend, who I’ve seen and spoken too and spent holidays with.  And I can’t very well call my brother up and ask him, that’s just rude.  And a couple of days ago my friends and I were talking about being electrocuted.  Except I couldn’t remember the word “electrocuted”, so I made up one that was the closest.  I came up with “electronacated”.  It’s not even a word, or anything resembling a word.  I can’t remember names, or words, or places, or people.  God forbid someone ask me for my phone number, I might have a small stroke trying to come up with it.

I know it goes with the territory, and it’s not so bad.  I have wonderful people around me who fill in the many, many blanks.  And I haven’t really started to forget important things like my husband’s name or where I live (I can just imagine that phone call home and the subsequent hospitilization).  Baby brain sounds so cute and innocuous.  But it’s really frustrating, and incredibly annoying.  And it’s my understanding that it gets even worse after the baby is born.  I imagine that all the new information you pick up is bound to push some stuff out.  Hopefully it comes back eventually.  Along with my waist line and ability to bend down.