Donna is Amazing

Last weekend our good friend Donna came over and took maternity shots. I wanted maternity shots because, well, I hopefully will never be pregnant again. (I know that sounds horrible, BUT, I am writing this in between very strong Braxton-Hicks contractions... so... bite me. On top of that, I have horrible insomnia, my hips are physically breaking into two, I am walking like I am riding a horse, I want to throw-up, I'm 0% effaced, I am 0 cm dilated, and I have another 4 weeks of this. So if never wanting to be pregnant again makes me a horrible person... well then, hello, I am a horrible person.)

Anywho... onto the beauty of pregnancy. Since I wanted to remember my last pregnancy as a "beautiful thing," I asked Donna if we could take some pictures to remember the "joys" of pregnancy.


Okay, so I begin with a non-maternity shot. Even still, I carried her full-term, so it is somewhat related. Here is the beautiful (soon-to-be) big sister playing in her tube.



Big foot, little foot, what begins with foot? Football, Footloose, and foot fungus. (Crickets.) I take it that no one here has ever read Dr. Seuss' ABC book? *Sigh* Work with me people!



What you don't see is the 3 pillows we needed to prop me into this position.



Yes, I am wearing nothing more than a sheet. Problems with that? Well then, aren't you glad that I did not post the pictures where I was completely nude! (Sticking out my tounge.)



(See last comment above.)



See that smile? It is called ACTING! When we were doing these shots, Donna said, "Make love to the camera." To which I raised both eyebrows and gave a doe-eyed look (well, it was more like deer in headlights doe-eyed look). Of course that shot did not come out so great and is not included here. Although, I think the look made Donna laugh so hard that she nearly peed her pants.



Must... hold... baby... in.



Isn't that the most precious look you have ever seen? Laine really hammed it up for the camera!



Hide-and-go-seek is not a game I am good at right now.



See, I told you I would get a shot of Laine putting her finger in my belly button! Ta-da!



Did you know if you take the weight I have gained in this pregnancy and add Laine's current weight, it is equivalent to 50% of my pre-pregnancy body weight? Therefore, this is a picture of me working out!



See, still not even breaking a sweat. (Alright, I admit that holding Laine is extremely difficult on my body at this point.)



The ever so classic heart on tummy shot. I used a black-and-white version of this shot on my Thank You cards for my Baby Shower at work that was held on Friday. (More about that later.)



This was a last minute one. The damn' Rose of Sharon bush in our backyard would not give up these flowers. I practically mangled the branch to get them.



This is a Mommy-eye view of pregnancy. Where's my lap? (Shrug.) I haven't seen it in months.



This one is just brilliant. 100% Donna's idea.


And there you have it, evidence that I am fat. Yes, the "joys" of pregnancy masked by the physical beauty it actually contains.

Yup, Definitely Taking After Mommy's Side of the Family

Appointments are now every week. I have determined that he is following the male trend on my side of the family. In other words, he decided to have his major growth spurt at the very end of the pregnany. I managed to go from 136 to 144 pounds over the course of two weeks. I am now 7 pounds shy of my max weight with Laine’s pregnancy. My tummy measurement went up to 36 cm. He is no longer smaller than usual. Maybe it is just the way I am carrying him now.

I have not dilated at all, even though Braxton-Hicks contractions have increased. I was told that it is very normal for a second pregnancy to advance more quickly at the tail end and not take weeks and weeks.

Missing: Badge of Honor

With this pregnancy I have developed a belly button that pokes out. The right side of my belly button poked out and was visible through thin shirts. (He is always on my right side now. In the same exact position Laine was in.) I have quite enjoyed my belly button and I played with it often. It was my badge of honor.

This morning I got up and went into the closet to figure out what I was going to wear today. I went to feel my belly button and was startled. It was gone! Well... not gone, but it wasn't poking out. Noooooooo!!!!

I looked down, cocked my head, and thought, "Son, what the hell are you doing waaaaaay down there?" I went and looked at my profile in the mirror. Well well, he is starting to drop. Already. Crap. I mean... shit. No, try again. Err... yay! (Giving a smile.)

I guess this explains why my hips hurt like hell and why they feel like they are turning into jell-o.

On the plus side, I have learned that one of my co-workers was a former midwife. Looks like I know who I will be calling to my side if I go into labor at work!

Most recent appointment

My appointments are now every other week. This week the little one's heart beat was in the upper 140s. My tummy measured 32 cm. And my doctor felt his position. "Hmm," she said as she felt for his head, "He is way down there!" I responded, "Oh, I know."

Last week his head decided to go very very low. As in, his skull was rubbing against my pelvis. I was at work at the time. I had to try to wake him up and pull him up as much as possible. The next day two separate co-workers told me that I was walking much better and did not look like I was in as much pain.

While checking out of the doctor's office I was asked if I cared which doctor I saw when I came back in. I said that I didn't care, but that when I went into labor Dr Carmichael needs to be the one on call. Dr C was in the process of putting notes in my file regarding the appointment, looked up, and said, "Yes Ma'am!"

Quickie Update

Braxton Hicks + toddler in the house = dear lord I am losing my mind.

I am putting myself on couch rest while my mom plays with Laine. Al and my dad are painting Laine's new room. Al chose the color purple and I chose the shade from the purple paint samples. I went with the grayest shade we had. It came out lavendar.