Watching lots of National Geographic tonight

Stomach definitely got bigger today.

When will I start feeling kicks???

Had the weirdest dinner: sauteed garlic/arugula in vegetable broth, homemade mac and cheese, and a sweet potato. I don't know.

Slightly Un-ladylike Observations

Just making a note about how weird it feels to grow really fast in one particular area (ie: your stomach). I feel again like I'm bursting at my stomach seams. Good thing my mom got me cocoa butter!

I'm also starting to "enjoy" pretty regular backaches- I read that about this time, your posture and backbone shift around to accommodate the growing midsection and backaches are a common and unavoidable side affect. Awesome.

Less than 2 weeks til we find out the sex!! I cannot wait.

We are now a sweet potato. Goodbye forever, Turnip Week.

Also, since we're being honest, I realized something pretty funny but also not lady-like to confess, so please proceed with caution. It makes me laugh whenever I think about it- a few weeks back I kept noticing how I would wake up with a big bulge on my left side. I would make Stuart feel it because it was so bizarre and so lopsided. I thought it was the baby...but (sorry to be gross) I think it was just my bladder in it's new position. Whenever I would get out of bed and use the bathroom, the bulge would strangely disappear. I had thought the baby just readjusted, but after several times I realized... It cracks me up every time thinking about it!

Autumn Turnip Dance Parties, 2010

Greetings from an Autumn Sunday.

This really has been one of the best Charlotte autumns that I can remember. Probably because I was expecting to be disappointed by the lack of real 'autumn' here in the Piedmont, but the leaves and beautiful mystery in the air have really delivered all the autumn charm that I adore. Thank you, Year 2010.

One sad thing about being with-child the past few months: I really can't dance. I just can't. It's mainly from the sharp decrease in energy, but I also think something is going on with my coordination and balance that just really disables me (more than usual, that is). I amuse myself by trying anyway, and ending up with weird anti-climactic robot moves or gentle (boring) 60's sways.

It's times like these when you can make up stories like: "Oh yeah, before getting pregnant, my stomach was so flat" or "I used to be such a great dancer" or "Of course I never ate this much before...". Really you can blame anything on being pregnant if you want. But you might start sounding like a fake, and also a flake.

I haven't made much talk about the produce comparison for Baby C this week.

It's a turnip.

This is definitely the least endearing of all the produce-baby size comparisons I've come across. Especially when you see the picture they provide on my baby app. Hopefully next week will be something more lovable. Speaking of lovable, after hearing the heartbeat this week for the 2nd time ever, our baby proved to be every bit as lovable as you could imagine. It sounded SO CUTE beating at 140 bpm's in there!!! My thought was, "It's so laid back, just like us!". I imagined I was picking up on it's personality through the heartbeat. Maybe it will be a sweet, easy, perfect little baby who only cries on occasion and always cuddles and smiles...haha. I'm sure my older sister could provide a nice wisecrack right now.

A really fun discovery this week is being able to feel where he/she is nestled in my stomach! I notice it the most when I first wake up. One morning I woke up on my back and it was ONLY on the left side. My right side was completely flat (just like pre-pregnancy, duh...). You can really feel it and it is so funny!! Sometimes it's nestled high, sometimes low. I love finding it and feeling it's firm little self. It feels sort of like a hampster through the skin.

Oh and one last thing. I read somewhere that as of the past week or so, it can actually hear us now! So the other night, I went along as Stuart played a worship night with Josh Baldwin. I had a little "moment" when I thought, "this is the first time it's hearing it's dad play bass!! And it's hearing me sing for maybe the first time!" I got a little emotional for a minute.

That's about it friends. Thanks for following my journey! Now I'm off to clean the house up from last night's 'dance' party.

just growin' a kid here

Hey guys.

Hope you are well. Guess what? Today I felt like my stomach was bursting at the seams. I can just picture my frustrated little one like, "Mooooom I need more spaaaaace" and pushing my skin away from it with it's tiny see-through hand. Thus, the 'bursting' feeling.

Last night something funny happened. I was feeling down (hormones...) and I didn't really know why. I took a REALLY long bath- at least an hour and 15 minutes. I felt relaxed afterwards, but still a little down. I have a theory that hormones catch up to you sometimes and you just physically need to cry. I wasn't thinking about my theory, but started crying anyway. Then I tried to get dressed and saw my HUGE self in the mirror and it freaked me out a little. I laid on the bed and cried some more.

Pregnancy crying stories always make me laugh looking back on them. PMS cries aren't so funny but with pregnancy, to me it's ok to laugh. Later.

Tonight I feel like I might never do anything again, like fold those clothes that have been sitting in the dryer since Sunday.

Ovens don't move from your kitchen, so it's ok if my 'bun' and I don't move from this couch while we are simmering tonight. Little avocado child.