Now, I believe in Karma, Good Luck, and Mother Nature, and you may as well throw the Softball Gods in there too, although I feel they are in cahoots with Karma and Good Luck. I know enough not to go against them or complain when really I have nothing to complain about and there are definitely others who have had worse. In that spirit, I have had quite a delightful 37 weeks of being pregnant. I have no complaints. I do have sore hip joints at times and problems breathing every now and then, but when I step back and realize I am GROWING A HUMAN, then it all falls into perspective.
I say "growing a human" instead of "having a baby" mostly because to me, having a baby sounds like you are throwing a party. "Hey! We're throwing a party Saturday night, want to come?" "Growing a human" to me makes all the aches, the discomforts, the hey-I-didn't-know-my-stomach-could-stretch-like-that and everything else all make sense. While I am not one of those mothers who feels "at one with their child in the womb", I definitely can't wait to meet the little guy and get to know him and see his personality. I want to show him the world and teach him everything I know, but at the same time sit totally quiet and just stare at him in awe as he figures out the world from his own perspective. Oh, and play in mud. There will definitely be mud.
While we are talking about it, let's talk numbers. Close friends want to know how much extra weight is in there now? I would love to know how much weight everyone gained and where they started and finished, just because I find it interesting from a learning perspective. When I started boot camp in September of 2012, I was a pudgy out of shape 170. By March 2013, I was down to 150, and that's when we got pregnant. Now, 37 weeks later, I'm up to 187, but feel so much healthier and in better shape than I ever did at the pudgy 170. Doc has approved me to keep going to boot camp as long as I feel good doing it. We shall see how long I can last!
I also believe in putting good out into the Universe, and while I'm not totally excited to show tummy pictures, I am definitely one who loves to look at other ladies' pregnant bellies. In the effort to even it out, here are a few pictures from start to today. Sorry about the messy bedroom, but it is my favorite mirror to use for the pictures. And no, I am not sucking it in or sticking it out in any of the pictures. Ready? Here we go!
12 weeks
17 weeks
20 weeks - when we found out the little guy was a little GUY
22 weeks
23 weeks...and Toby
23 weeks on a date with a boy!
28 weeks at the baby shower in CA
35 weeks dressed for boot camp. Running out of things to wear.
Decided against the long sleeve shirt as it kept riding up on my tummy. Had to improvise to keep my arms warm in a t-shirt. My latest invention - Arm Socks!
37 weeks - looks like half an egg shell on sitting on top of where my abs used to be.
Same 37 weeks, just with a belly button sticking out.
Same 37 weeks again, but the top of my belly has dropped, while the bottom is fighting to stay in place. Little guy definitely has not dropped yet.
Ryan, Cari and us. Those two always take good pictures!! Love them.
Boot camp people, and yes, they ate all the goodies too!
Adorable front door decorations
Table of games. I actually won the price game! My prize? All the baby stuff we guessed the prices on, woohhoo!
The cookie station - which really, how can you go wrong?
The fabulous cake pops, Thing 1 and Thing 2 style. YUM!!
Thank you so much to Ryan and Cari, not only for the lovely shower, but also for their friendship. They are wonderful people and we love every minute we spend with them.
Until our next adventure, keep on smiling, snuggling, and smelling the world around you.
Big hugs,
Mandi, Kyle, Toby, and the little guy
