By Popular Demand...

Apparently for some folks, it's a bit beyond the realm of believability that I would ever be pregnant. Accordingly, there have been a number of requests for photographic evidence of my pregnancy beyond the ultrasounds. I can understand and appreciate the skepticism...getting pregnant was not exactly something I was planning on doing at this time last year. And if anybody had asked me, "Do you think you'll be pregnant this time next year", I would have laughed.

After a long period of procrastination (due primarily to vanity, I'm afraid), I am now going to provide the requested photographic documentation. Due also to vanity, these photographs are only of me from the neck down...I am NOT the stereotypical "glowing" pregnant lady. I am the stereotypical "extremely zitty" pregnant lady. And most of you are aware that I am not photogenic, in general. Needless to say, I'm depriving you of my head shots...I promise you're not missing much. If this isn't enough for you skeptics, I apologize...you're just going to have to take what you're given for now. ( :<

I think this extremely orange shirt makes me look bigger than I really am. Or maybe it just makes me look like a pumpkin. I don't know. But here is the front view:

Right-side view:


And left-side view:

I've only gained about 25 pounds, so most of what you're seeing is all-BOY. And he is going to be a big BOY, too...he should be at about six pounds this week and we're only at 35 weeks. Scary. Am I sure I want to try to do this without pain medication? Not so much...but I'm going to, anyway.

I went to a class on childbirthing today...we watched a video that was interesting but not particularly surprising. I came out of it with the following impressions:

• That some women are drama queens and it's annoying to watch. Screaming, crying, carrying on...I just don't think that type of behavior is necessary. I may be singing a different tune once I'm there. But I really don't see myself that way...I see myself cussing a little (or a lot) under my breath, I see myself moaning and groaning a little bit, I see myself asking the BOY to please hurry it up, I see myself asking my parents to please hurry it up, but mostly, I see myself laughing at myself and my pathetic state. I'm also going to be thinking about the birth part of "Bill Cosby: Himself" and resisting the urge to say, "I WANT...MORPHINE!" ( :<
  

• I'm going to be doing a lot of walking and squatting and sitting throughout labor...I'm going to try to stay as vertical as possible. Because gravity apparently makes things easier for the BOY and ultimately, for me. And that just makes sense.
  

• There is going to be a LOT of ice consumption. I am going to be an ice-munching monster throughout labor. It's going to be kind of scary.

• I am going to LOVE the jacuzzi that's in the birthing room. It's going to be fabulous (under the circumstances)!

• I'm not going to the hospital until contractions get to be about five minutes apart. I didn't realize that some women go to the hospital on their first contraction. That's not going to be me, however...barring unforeseen circumstances. I don't think I'm going to want to be at the hospital any longer than I have to be.

That's about it. It's weird that I've gone from "c-section" girl to "vaginal delivery" girl in the space of a week. I realize, of course, that I may still need to have a c-section if the shit hits the fan. But I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

The BOY should be dropping anytime now...I guess that's kind of an interesting sensation. I think it's going to be happening sooner than later. I've been having some new, weird, cramping pains around my pelvis, and I guess that's an early indicator that the baby is going to drop. But I have a doctor appointment later this morning, so we'll have to see about that.

I may have more to say after the doctor appointment, so stay tuned! ( :