This is how it feels to be pregnant

First of all, thank you all for your prayers, concern, and shared disgust regarding our car situation! We are surrounded by a great community and the body of Christ is coming together to help us out. We'll keep you posted on how it all shakes out! But hopelessness is definitely not in our vocabulary.

Secondly, I just thought I would write a more lighthearted post today about the wonders of pregnancy. I know every woman experiences it differently and many tend to forget how daily life with a soccer ball for a stomach is like, so here may be some reminders...

I woke up this morning to Oliver doing somersaults in my stomach. Or at least that's how it felt. Kicks and wiggles are all over the place these days, but this was much more dramatic - it almost made ME dizzy! I think we have a very active little boy on our hands.

I used to force down breakfast because blah blah blah it's the most important meal of the day. Then morning sickness struck and I was even more literally choking down bland food like toast or my ever faithful cheerios. But for the past few months, ever since morning sickness passed, breakfast is now perhaps my favorite meal of the day. I wake up HUNGRY and thoroughly enjoy whatever I eat!

I have also become crazy for any sort of fizzy, slightly sour, fruity beverage. With lots of ice. I could go for one right now, actually...

At some point in the day I will notice that one of my fingernails is suddenly 8 feet long and needs to be filed, even though I just filed my nails the day before. They are growing like crazy.

Sometimes I can't bend my toes on my left foot because of the wonders of edema. I wouldn't be surprised if I get a stretch mark on my foot because they are really going through a rough time! I wish I had a good picture of my feet before pregnancy. Their natural state is extremely narrow and bony. Now they look like water balloons. They probably resemble the physical properties as well.

I have just been instructed by my doctor that I need to add a daily iron supplement to my routine. That's going to be great!

I love any sort of activity for pregnant women. We went to our first childbirth class at the hospital on Monday and while I was terrified at first (I think those videos in health class really scarred me...) I soon warmed up to our nice little instructor when she began the class explaining where the bathrooms and water coolers are, encouraging us to bring in our own food or beverages if we need to, asking if anyone would like a chair to put their feet up on, etc. She ended the class with a relaxation session that is making me sleepy just thinking about it. Of course it was for the purpose of learning how to stay focused and relaxed through a contraction, but it involved laying on the floor while our "coaches" gave us a light massage. I'm sure a real contraction won't make me doze off...

Abdominal muscles completely disappear during pregnancy. The sight of 10 pregnant women getting up off the floor as their husbands (or whatever) fought the urge to say "heave hoe!" was pretty priceless. Joaquim and I often laugh as I need an extra push to get up from the couch if I'm sitting too far back.

Every time I drop something I just sigh.

The other day I hit my stomach with the car door as I closed it. I was calculating using pre-baby-body information.

I am NEVER caught without Tums. Never.

My new best friend is the third pillow in bed at night. Who knew putting a pillow under my stomach would be so wonderful?

I look at pictures of myself pre-pregnancy and long for the return of a non-giant shape. Soccer balls are for the world cup, not my belly!

Well, at 29 1/2 weeks I am 75% of the way done! I am ready to not be pregnant anymore, but we are not quite ready for Oliver to arrive yet. July will be the month of preparation in our apartment! Bottles, diapers, and wipes, oh my!