From the Peanut Gallery- Week 23: The Mango

Mmmmm, a delicious tropical fruit...oh, no, wait- a baby.

I'm the type of person who always likes the bad news first, followed by the good news to leave me on a high note.  SO, in that spirit, we'll begin this week with a rundown of the not-so-pleasant pregnancy stuff.

1. The belly.  For multiple reasons.  First of all, stretch marks are creeping up all over the place.  Now, I knew I'd get these, so they didn't come as a shock.  (By the by, did you know that stretch marks are hereditary?  So don't waste your money on expensive creams and oils that claim to prevent these atrocities, 'cause they ain't gonna work.)  But still, not the prettiest thing to look at!

Also, I am feeling a little like an animal, or at the very least a man, with the fur that is officially growing there.  There is a new covering of fine hair all over my belly, and it's totally bizarre.  Not really sure what to do about it, so I just let it be.  I am most certainly not going to get into the habit of shaving my stomach, so I guess I'll just live with it and hope that it goes away after the baby is born?  

2. The restless legs.  I also knew to expect these, as I was already a sufferer of Restless Leg Syndrome before I got pregnant.  But I had it under control with regular visits to the chiropractor.  Now it's making its way back into my life.  Grrr...  Time to up the frequency of my chiro visits, I guess...which incidentally will probably help my always.aching.back.

3. The anxiety.  Yes, still just stressing about things to buy, things to clean, things to organize, things to do.  It's officially NOVEMBER.  That means the holiday season is here.  That means time will fly.  That means the next time I blink it will be 2011...the year our baby is born...WHOA.  

And now onto the awesomeness that is pregnancy.

1. The movement.  And what a difference a week makes.  J no longer has to push down into baby's space to feel his ninja kicks.  They can just be felt now.  Easily.  And all over the place.  It's funny to think about how much room he must still have in there, when I feel like my entire abdomen must be full of baby.  Case in point: in the span of 10 minutes last night, J felt kicks waayyy over on my right side, then down low in the center of my belly, then right above my belly button.  Little man is a mover and a shaker!

And another awesome/creepy thing: this movement can not only be felt, be seen.  Yes, that's right.  This week was the first week I was actually able to see my belly move along with baby's kicks.  I get this little jump on my tummy when baby kicks hard.  I am absolutely fascinated by this, and sometimes just lay down on the couch and stare.  Then I relentlessly ask J, "Did you see that?  How about THAT?  And that one?  That was a BIG one!"

2. The bump.  Yep, I am still loving it.  And everyone notices it now.  Strangers ask me when I'm due, and people are extra nice at the grocery store.  Never have people been so insistent that I need help loading my goods into my car.  One day they even told me to pull my car right up front so I wouldn't have to get wet in the rain whilst unloading my wares.  (For the record, while I think it is so very kind that people offer to help in this way, I have never taken anyone up on it.  I'm pregnant, not an invalid.  I can't even bring myself to park in the "Expectant Mothers" spot in the parking lot.  Of course, give me a couple more months and we'll see how eager I am to load the car up myself.) 

3. The connection.  It's there.  I have some serious love for this baby.  Instead of imagining all of the things that pregnancy will bring, I am now imagining all of the things that motherhood will bring.  I am starting to dream about what baby boy will look like, hoping that he gets his daddy's eyes.  I am looking at the cutie clothes we have, and picturing dressing my son in these outfits.  I am imagining J changing a diaper (hee hee).  I am imagining falling asleep on the couch with the baby on my chest (my absolute FAVORITE).  I can't wait for all of these magical moments.

This week, the peanut has been busy working on those lungs.  Blood vessels are making their way here and there, ensuring that baby will be able to breathe on his own when he is born.  His senses of hearing and movement have become increasingly keen this week, as well.  So when I dance around the house and sing at the top of my lungs while cleaning house, he knows it.  I guess I should be more careful!  :)