Wednesday, October 25, 2006

I Love You a Latte



(Photo from http://www.starbucks.com/business/default.asp.)


Confessional time.

I. Love. Starbucks. (By the way, who was the first person to put periods after individual words as a means of emphasis? It's SO grammatically incorrect, yet for some reason quite effective at putting a "tone of voice" into the written word.) Fabulous.

Anyway, back to my story. Starbucks, the mecca of caffeine-induced stupors of wonderfulness. Delectable beverages which require multiple words to order: "Grande Raspberry No Whip Mocha." Or, "Venti nonfat decaf cappucino."

Did you see the movie "You've Got Mail?" I love the scene where Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan are discussing the way that ordering coffee gives one a "defining sense of self" due to the incredible number of decisions involved in ordering such a beverage. (One of my favorite movies, by the way. I think I'll curl up on the couch and watch it tonight while hubby has to take care of some work stuff this evening! Anyone want to join me?)

However, I am 35 weeks pregnant. When I walk into establishments such as Starbucks, people take one look at my belly and then gasp in horror. "She's going to kill that poor child!" Good gracious. While I understand that certain substances are in fact dangerous to the unborn child, really, how dangerous is one latte a week? I've heard that pregnant women can safely consume the equivalent of 2 cups of coffee per day without any bad effects. I am only consuming two cups of coffee a week at the most!

But really, when a woman is 35 weeks pregnant, waddling around and bumping into things with her belly, can barely get out of a chair without assistance, doesn't she deserve some pampering now and then? For me, a Grande Raspberry Mocha with no whipped cream is the perfect "comfort food." (I know, I know, it's not food, but it has the same effect!) At least it will be until the Christmas holidays come around and they bring back the Gingerbread Latte. (Yum-O.)

Plus, I think my little Lancelot likes a bit of coffee every now and then. The bouncing and jumping becomes quite pronounced as I approach my temple of caffeine. While consuming the divine beverage, things are still as the little one savors every sip. Then afterwards, he does a little jig in appreciation.

On the few occassions in which I indulge myself in caffeine, I can't help but look down at my protruding belly and say to the little one, "I love you a latte."

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well, that sounds better than loving your baby a chai.

Anonymous said...

I embibed in a few yummy lattes when pg myself; ahh, caramel mocha ones or pumpkin spice or mmm, cinnamon roll~ enjoy, I say, to both you and little Lancelot. cheers!

Anonymous said...

Yet ANOTHER Starbucks is going in near our house, which makes about a gazillion within a mile from us. We're not coffee drinkers but I marvel the few times I've gone in there how people can even afford that daily dose! No wonder Starbucks is taking over the world!