Baby Bump Wednesday: Week 26

This is the last week of the second trimester, a week we have officially decided that woah, holy crap, we need to get MOVING with the buying and preparing and getting ready for the baby stuff. Like, pronto. We just got our crib bedding in the mail (Thanks Bridge, for being my surrogate house while we were gone!) and it's starting to feel real. Which is exciting and frightening all at once.

The baby is now about 14 inches and a pound and two thirds. This week's food comparison? An English Hothouse Cucumber. Whatever that is. He's putting on more fat, the uh, family jewels are heading on down, and he's practicing "breathing" by sucking in a little amniotic fluid. Some sites said that we might even be able to hear his heartbeat with a stethoscope, if we had one.

I am still in bed, perfecting the art of laying on my left side, with occasional bouts of walking around and peeing. It's slow going, it's nearly 11 pm and I haven't decided if I'm going to work tomorrow, Thursday, but am leaning to the "no" side. Today I was able to sit up / walk around for a good thirty minutes, but then spent the next hour or so breathing through the pain. It feels ridiculous staying home when I'm not sick, I've never been hurt this way, practically bedridden. I've joked a bit with a few people about how lovely bedrest sounds sometimes, being forced to sit in bed and do nothing (read: not be at work) but two days of this and I'm done. There's only so much reading and channel surfing I can handle. Poor me, wah, next time? Do not attempt things you know you shouldn't do. I'm filing it away, that's for sure.

Most of this past week was spent at Lake Powell, and we had a fabulous time. My family and I have been going to Lake Powell every year for at least the last 15 years, and this was the first time that I literally did nothing. I am very used to helping out with every facet of the trip, loading and unloading, helping dock the houseboat, gasing up the boat and waverunners, etc. etc. etc. and this year I did next to nothing. I think the only thing they let me carry were the foam noodles we use for floating in the water, which weigh about as much as a feather. I pretty much sat, swam, and tried to stay cool, which was difficult this year, as it was insanely hot. Even the water was unseasonably warm, the temperature closer to what it's like in September rather than late July. The nights were especially uncomfortable as the temperature stayed close to 80 degrees, but wet towels and water bottles helped us all get through. Mostly. It was fun to be with my family, and my two sisters spent a large amount of the time cooing, talking, and touching my belly in hopes for a kick or two.

Speaking of which, the kicking has gone from little butterflies and barely there kicks to full on jabs and punches that can be seen now, quite clearly. He seems to have kicked it into high gear in the last few days, maybe because I'm doing a lot of lying around instead of lulling him to sleep by walking around. I'll be reading and suddenly stop because he's moving so much, dancing it seems, and sit and watch my belly for a good five minutes, and laugh. I can't help it, it's so strange to see my stomach jump from side to side and up and down, and have it be completely out of my control. It's definitely the strangest thing I've ever felt.

On our way to the airport on Monday my family and I stopped to see my cousin's new little boy, born while we were in Lake Powell, and I can't even begin to describe how it felt to sit and hold him and look at him. I've held a bazillion newborn babies, but this was different because it really hit me that soon, very soon, I would have my own little boy to sit and hold and admire and enjoy. I couldn't stop staring at him and all his perfect tiny little features, and kept thinking about how there was a little boy like that inside me, with little ears and fingers and toes just like his. It made me excited and nervous and freaked out and totally and completely happy. I can't wait to meet him.

The best shot I have, lovely bruise and all, since my belly is still uh...larger than it should be. I'm still waiting for things to go back to normal, and enjoying a lot of cherries and fiber supplements in the mean time. Yeah for me! You are so jealous! I am so hot right now! Also, the swim suit may have to go soon. It's getting a little too tight. As you can see.

Comments

[sarah]

I'm glad you had fun with the fam-but man, what a way to end it! Feel better soon!

[Kjersti]

I'm so sorry to hear about the muscle strain that's keeping you down! I hope you're up and around again soon! And I can't believe how far along you are, I'm so excited for you! I know exactly what you mean about getting to sit and watch your belly dance, it's halarious! I love you! I hope I get to talk to you again soon!

[Liv]

Yea for family vacations!! I hope you're back in motion soon.

[Abby]

Sorry you're still chillin' in the bed, yo. I hope that you recover soon. Yeah, I was wondering about the swimsuit. I was going to be jealous if you were able to wear it your whole pregnancy. It still looks hot, though!

[Katie]

Feeling your baby move inside you must be the best, albeit weirdest, feeling! I can't wait to experience that.

[Heather]

I say stick with the suit until it is pulling at the seams! You can't go switching the ensemble on us when we've made it thus far. ;) Feel better! -love!