2.08.2017

Soft Curves

My second trimester was lovely. I felt great, I slept great, I breathed easy walking up and down stairs, and my bump made the perfect soccer ball shape under my maternity clothes. Most days I forgot I was pregnant. Ok, not really, but I had no complaints. 

And then the third trimester came in with a vengeance. Sleeping has become incredibly uncomfortable. With every waddle I feel the extra weight that's been added. The weeks leading up to when we'll finally meet our little guy seem never-ending. My clothes continue to get tighter, and I feel like a whale most of the time. I've been told more than once that I look like I'm ready to pop. And whenever I tell people I'm not due until the end of March they respond with "oh, you poor thing".

At the gym last week one of the front desk attendants told me I'm a lot bigger than I was with my other two. 

"Thanks! I still have two months," I responded with a fake smile. 

Then I watched as she floundered like a fish.

"But you still look great, like really great! You look so cute! I'm so glad you're here, it's so good to see you!" she said back pedaling her compliment--or insult, I'm still not sure which one it was.

Uh-huh.

I thanked her again, but this time for real. I felt bad that she felt so bad. I know she didn't mean to make me feel larger than life. I ran upstairs--and out of breath--to the elliptical vowing to not stop until I sweated off the pancakes I ate for breakfast that morning.  



When I look in the mirror these days I almost don't recognize myself. A giant bump has taken the place of the abs I worked so hard to strengthen before last summer. My pre-pregnancy toned muscles are softening into the familiar curves I saw with my first two babies. The insecure, selfish part of me wonders if I'll get back down to the weight I was before I had Theo. But then the grateful part of me slaps myself and says, You are carrying life inside of you! What an honor and joy it is that, thanks to God, my body can create life, hold life, and then sustain life. It's really a beautiful thing.

I look at Anna and Theo and see the people they are becoming. Anna with her beautiful, sweet spirit who tells us "I love you" without prompting and Theo who collects rocks and never stops smiling, they were once inside of me. It was their tiny feet poking me in the side and their hiccups keeping me up at night. And now they're in the world making their own decisions with their own personalities and quirks. Pretty soon--and I hope sooner rather than later--we'll meet the tiny one who's made my curves softer, my pelvis writhe in pain whenever I tumble off the couch, and my esophagus burn like H-E-Double Hockey Sticks. But it's worth all of it.


How far along? 33 weeks
How big is baby? The size of a ferret. Baby boy continues to put on fat and his bones are hardening. He is beginning to keep his eyes open while he's awake. I can't wait to see what color those sweet eyes will be!
Total weight gain: 30 pounds
Maternity clothes? Yes
Sleep: It's as good as it can be. I'm getting up one to two times a night to pee and using all the pillows to stay comfortable. 
Best moment this week: I had Anna go with my to my midwife visit this week and she was so excited to hear the heartbeat. As we listened I asked her what she thought and she said, "he sounds like a puppy." So apparently we're having a dog! 
Miss Anything? Wine
Movement: He’s moving so much! I can feel his back and butt on my left side and he kicks off to my right. I feel him punch down towards my pelvis. He hiccups every day and it's the cutest thing!
Food cravings: sweet and juicy
Gender: BOY!
Labor Signs: Braxton Hicks have started. They usually are more frequent when I haven’t had a lot of water or I need to pee.
Symptoms: Hip and groin pain after sitting or lying too long. Indigestion has started and I’ve been taking Zantac once a day, sometimes having to pop a few Tums before bed. I’m not peeing quite as frequently this time around but when I have to go, I have to go now! I'm always congested--it feels like I've had a cold since October.
Belly Button in or out? out
Happy or Moody most of the time: generally happy but the flip can switch at any given time.
Looking forward to: searching for minivans over the next few weeks!

4 comments:

  1. I loved reading this. Mostly because I was like, "Yes! You two?!" Haha! Glad to know I'm not alone in so many things!

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    1. Girl, you so are not alone! Thankfully we both only have a few more weeks before we can be comfortable again and finally hold our babies :) Thanks for reading!

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  2. "...At the gym last week one of the front desk attendants told me I'm a lot bigger than I was with my other two.

    "Thanks! I still have two months," I responded with a fake smile.

    Then I watched as she floundered like a fish..."

    (Tee hee - just wanted to let you know this part made me giggle. And also loved that you stepped into her embarrassment with her later on.)

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