Bellydonna

My friend Leann spent some time with my belly and her camera. The results are some fancy belly photos. I've loved being pregnant and watching my belly (Simon) grow. Now, approaching 41 weeks, however I'm feeling a little done with the belly. I have to use the handicap stalls because I have a hard (impossible) time closing the doors in the public restrooms. People are starting to stare (I have taken to avoiding eye contact ("Yes, I'm huge, I know!" I feel like saying)). I'm not making enough allowance for my belly and I'm banging it into things. The cat has taken to launching herself, claws out and all, from my belly. I now understand all the bruises, cuts, scrapes and burns that I've seen on my patients. It's as if the body just can't believe it is actually that big, and without whiskers like a cat, can't tell its girth. Soon, the baby will be this side of the belly, and I'll nostalgically look back to "Big Belly Time" and luckily I'll have these great photos to help me remember.

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The Belly with a Mind of Its Own!!!

I've been taking photos of the growing abdomen since about 27wks. It's now 40 weeks and, oh-my how we have grown. As each day goes by past the due date I'm getting a bit more nervous on the baby-size end of things. I'm a midwife, I know that babies are meant to fit and be born. I also know I have what many people kindly call a "child-bearing pelvis", BUT that doesn't make me super excited to give birth to sumo wrestler. I'm sure he'll come when he's just the right size. In the meantime I'll be giving that bowl of ice cream a second thought....right before I curl up with it on the sofa and watch LOST.

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Happy Due Date, Kiddo!

It's official....Simon's due date has arrived. Ok, sure he hasn't decided to grace us quite yet with his extra-utero presence but, hey as I tell my patients, "Baby's don't come with a FEDEX tracking number....we can't guarantee when they are going to show up."

I'm going to celebrate anyway today. It's predicted to be a gorgeous, sunny, spring day here in the PNW. I've got a massage scheduled....it's free pastry day at Starbucks and free cone day at Ben & Jerry's....it will be a lovely day and I'm going to try to enjoy the last days of my pregnancy as this is probably the only time we will be doing this.

Some memorable moments.....

Simon's Eleven Week Ultrasound

Simon's Twenty Week Ultrasound (on my birthday)

The weekly baby newsletters, the ones that tell you what your baby and body are up to, equate the size of the baby now to a size of a watermelon. Yes, this is an image that a woman at term wants to imagine coming out of her body in a few short days, a watermelon. But I guess I have to say, a watermelon is smaller then the baby whale I've been envisioning of late due to my baby's enjoyment of whale song and Hawaiian hula.

Markus is way, way ready and very excited. Though his recent request to change Simon's name to Mario Kart is more than a little disturbing. I've stopped answering this question...logic doesn't seem to have any impact on this argument. He's asked Simon to come on a couple of occasions where he has wanted out of some meetings. I think this is not the way to entice a baby to be born and think we should start using reverse psychology. But then I'm afraid he'll call my bluff and stay in there until he's the size of the Farmer John's Blue Ribbon Watermelon.

Come on out, Simon (except can you wait until I have my massage?), Love Mom

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