Lessons From Mothers

My mother always taught me, "If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all." Let me tell you how much more true this is, towards pregnant women. {A side note: I have had the BEST pregnancy. I have had zero incidents of morning sickness, zero stretch marks, zero pain...100% best pregnancy, hands down.}

Yesterday, I went to the mall to look for maternity dresses for several events I have coming up. I got side tracked and ended up shopping for my little Peanut instead. A nice man was in line behind me, checking out at The Children's Store and he said to me, "How far along are you?" I kindly responded, "7 months." He said, "Wow, you are so little to 7 months pregnant." I smiled, thanked him and walked away feeling even more great about being pregnant. HOWEVER, later that afternoon, as Cullen and I went to the mall to shop for these dresses, a mid-50s aged cashier and I had an exchange of words at Dillard's. Our conversation went something like this:

Rude Lady: How far along are you?
Me: {With a smile} 7 months!
Rude Lady: Oh. My daughter is 8 months pregnant....{pause, deep breath in from her as she looks me up and down}. But, don't worry, she is really petite.
Me: {Happy smile turns to "Just-be-pleasant-smile"} Thanks.

Our exchange of words ended there, with me feeling like a lard-ass because her daughter is petite.

Since I was a little girl, my parents taught me, "If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all." This is especially true towards pregnant women. So, world, PLEASE THINK TWICE before you say something to me for the next three months. You might catch me on a day where I just can't be pleasant; and, I would just hate to be ugly to anyone so close to crossing the pregnancy finish line.

Here is my 27 week pregnant belly. I refuse to post these pictures on Facebook. So, if you are one of the few who read this blog, and have asked for a belly pic update - this one's for you:

Third Trimester!!!

Today is a BIG day. Today marks the beginning of my third trimester. TWO whole trimesters down, ONE long, expanding trimester to go. I hear this is the longest trimester... however, I think the 1st trimester was pretty darn long. Let's just pray for the best.

Baby Noah, you have just a few more months inside my tummy. Be good to your mommy. Don't make me grow TOO TOO much. I love you, and we can't wait to meet you!

26 Weeks, 5 Days

Often, conversations with me and strangers are very similar and short. Often it is questions. "How far along are you?" Do you know what you are having? Oh how sweet, do you have a name picked out? How has pregnancy been??"

Today, I am 26 weeks and 5 days pregnant. Up till now, it has been so...not what I was expecting. I was talking with Cullen the other day, and I asked him if this is how he thought I was going to be while pregnant. Did he think I would gain a TON of weight, be sick all the time, be moody and temperamental? We agreed. We both thought I would be not as well off as I am. I am so thankful how easy this pregnancy has been. For him and I both.

I was reading online about pregnancy in the 27th week via Baby Center, Just Mommies and a few other websites. Here is a short list of things I have to look forward to. Let me share a few tid-bits:

• I should feel my baby move regularly. This is due to hiccups and acrobatic workouts. Fact. Noah moves more and more daily. Not only does he move, I swear he is practicing drills inside my tummy. Sunday morning, Noah was kicking so hard, Cullen moved his hand off my "bump" because it got so weird (for him, not me).
• 27 weeks marks the beginning of THIRD TRIMESTER. Two down, One to go!! This is the final home stretch. Cullen and I are soooo excited to meet baby Noah. I asked him the other day at dinner what he is most excited about. Do you know what he said? "Teaching him the three-step drop." It is a football play. Yep, our first child - and that is what he is most excited about. That is Cullen for you. No mush. No gush. Just football.
• Baby Peanut weighs 2.2 pounds (on average). Wow, a two pound baby. I feel like that is so much, and it is so close to 7 or 8 pounds full term. It makes me nervous though to think it took Peanut 27 weeks to grow to 2 pounds, yet in the next 14 weeks, he will gain 5-6 more pounds!!!
• This week, I may be experiencing shortness of breath and pain in my rib cage. For me this is half way true already. Shortness of breath is kicking in for sure. And, with a growing uterus, I am finding it much more difficult to eat meals. Last night, at my JSL meeting, I found that after one SMALL slice of pizza, I could hardly breathe and didn't want any more pizza. WHAT? ME, NOT WANTING MORE PIZZA?? What has this world come to???

There are a ton more things going on this week during pregnancy. However, these were the fun ones that apply to me. You can google many others, but thankfully, the do not apply. Have a super week.

Jealousy Pains?

This weekend, our dear friends, The Durbins welcomed to this world Kylie Durbin. She weighed in at 7 pounds, 12 ounces, and she is simply perfect. Cullen and I went to visit her Saturday in the hospital and Sunday at home and oh boy, did my little Noah kick me the whole time. He kicked and kicked and kicked.... to the point where I felt he and I needed to have a brief "Mommy can play with other babies" conversation.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVED every little kick and jab, but, goodness, I think Little Noah is a little jealous! :)

Hope your weekend was great!

Welcome To The Club!

In several posts on this blog, I have talked about verbal milestones. We had the first question, "so, when are you due?" (which I was only asked once or twice), the common question, "So, can you feel him move?" (which always follows in conversation of baby talk.)

Recently, {I would say, about a week ago}, people have started to ask regularly, "so, are you having a boy or a girl?", "When are you due?" or they just offer their pregnancy stories {which I love}.

I feel like it has really put me into the "I really look pregnant" category. And, I think it officially allows me to be in the pregnant mommy club. While some would think this ticket was punched 6.5 months ago.... it really isn't. When you don't feel pregnant, and when you don't look pregnant, people don't really take you serious in the pregnant mom club unless they are pregnant or recent mommies themselves.

Yesterday, a young girl, 5th grade ish, was sitting down when we walked into a restaurant for lunch. She looked at me, and immediately stood up and said, do you want my seat? It was so kind of her. {For the record, I declined - probably because I didn't want to sit next to her dad, but....)

All that to say.... I feel like I really look pregnant. I really feel pregnant. And, I am two weeks away from my third trimester. Whoo hooo. We are on the downhill slope now.

Tonight is our second installment of Childbirth Class. Stay tuned for updates. If you are not familiar with last weeks saga go here. I am hoping this week is more comical and less uncomfortable.

Noah's First Valentine's Day!

Today was Noah's (kinda) First Valentine's Day. During church this morning, our Pastor was talking about how St. Valentine's Day came about, and love in the biblical and emotional sense. Throughout the entire time Pastor Keith was talking about love, Baby Noah was kicking me. He kicked me regularly. It seemed as though as soon as Pastor Keith was finished talking, Noah was finished kicking. Coincidence? I think not. I love you too, Baby Noah.

Happy Valentine's Day!

24.5 weeks.

Today I am 24 weeks and 5 days. (For those of you who do not translate quickly from weeks to months, that is 6 months and a week)

Many of you ask about belly pics. Since I love you all sooooo much, I thought I would share. I will share with you a clothed belly bump, and unclothed belly bump...you know, this will help be break the modestly levels down a little. :)

A Real Eye Opener

Most of my blog posts are semi-serious... wrapped with a comical or happy little bow. Let's get serious for a minute.

Cullen and I went to our first of four childbirth classes at the hospital last night. I was on the phone with my mom prior to our class and I told her, Cullen hadn't had anything to drink, and we are watching a birthing VIDEO. Yikes. I told her I would be shocked if he makes it through the video without vomiting, or wanting to vomit. She got a good laugh and knew I would have great stories to tell after class. Want the story??

Turns out, I was the weaker one. Through the video I found myself laughing at inappropriate times; I found myself weak-stomached, a bit disgusted at times and wondering if I am the only mother, who six months into pregnancy, thinks maybe this wasn't a great idea??? Yes, for a split second, I did think - Can I really do this?? It wasn't the actual Labor and Delivery that threw me for a loop. It was the idea of being completely exposed. Emotionally and Physically. I am emotionally vulnerable to this new life, to the doctors and nurses, to my husband (who I am not sure will make it through L&D) AND, new information to me, I am COMPLETELY EXPOSED. Naked. I know, I know. Most of you are thinking, "wasn't that a known fact?" NOPE. It wasn't. I thought, for some odd reason, there was a modesty shield, or cloth that was hung that separated me from "whats below." Nope. Not a chance. The sad thing is, if you know me at all, you know that I am NOT modest. Turns out, pregnancy has sure done a number on me!

Last night, the lady running the class did assure us that the hospital staff is very careful to protect your modesty until the absolutely have to expose you - that is just not something I want to see, and it is for sure something I don't want Cullen to see. Pregnancy is going to scar him enough, much less those images.

Enough of the rant. To be boldly honest, last night scared me. It made me cherish my little baby boy RIGHT NOW. I like where he is. Inside me. Covered. I am finally nervous about labor. Not the pain. The pain will be worth it. It is the emotional roller coaster that goes with it.

I am glad I have a supportive partner, friends who are going through it with me, and mothers who are there to guide me through. I have never been so thankful to have such a supportive circle.

I will leave you with my constant thought... to quote Thomas the Train, "I think I can. I think I can. I think I can."

More Kicking (Is this becoming a theme?)

Baby boy sure is an active little boy. Cullen hopes with every move, he is in my tummy practicing his "three-step-drop" for football season {in several years}. Last night, I was sitting in my chair next to Cullen, watching a movie. Noah was kicking, kicking, kicking. Just for fun, I lifted up my shirt just to seeeeee if I could see Baby boy move. Just my luck, you could. You could really see my belly kick. It was so precious...and weird. I paused the movie and had Cullen come stand behind me to watch the alien move in my tummy. As predicted, he stopped. If Noah is anything in real life like he is in the womb, I am pretty sure he is going to be a momma's boy. He will just not show off for his daddy.

On a "overall pregnancy" note: I am officially 24 weeks pregnant tonight. No morning sickness, no weirdness. This has been the best 24 weeks of my life. I feel good about myself, I feel like God has blessed me with such a little miracle to raise with the man I love with all my heart. I don't know if Noah knows how lucky he is to have a model to watch as he grows up. I will instill in him how incredible his daddy is. I would consider myself a lucky woman, if in 26 years, I can look at my son's life and see a small reflection of my husband. Here is to the next 16 weeks. I hope it is as enjoyable and as perfect as the first 24 weeks have been. 4 more weeks and we are into the 3rd trimester. It is only a downhill slope from here.