July 15, 2000:
Twenty Six Weeks
I figured I'd better start adding some belly shots! I couldn't get one of me smiling, so I chopped off my head in a pregnant vanity rage.
July 16, 2000:
Twenty Six Weeks, One Day
Well, I've been getting out of the house a bit more and really enjoying it. I went to a meeting yesterday and then to dinner last night. It was just enough to wear me out.
Hilary is doing well at camp, we even got e-mail form her. Benjamin and Isaac are having fun but occasionally stop to ask about her. So overall, my stress levels are down as well.
We bought some things for the baby and it's seeming more real. As I got up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night I had this realization that I had to labor once again. While I know it will be awesome and moving, it's still scary, even for an "old timer" like me. Labor is just such a powerful thing to experience. It leaves you completely in awe of yourself, the baby, life and nature.
Baby is now kicking hard enough for everyone to be able to see it, even through my clothes. Some days I feel relatively small compared to my pregnancy with Isaac and other days I feel as though the skin on my belly won't stretch another inch! Having light belly massages with lotion really helps cut down on the itching.
July 17, 2000:
Twenty Six Weeks, Two Days
Can you believe I fell down the stairs again? I am such the klutz lately. I swear both my feet have turned against me... I'm fine and so is baby, just a bruised rear, but I feel so stupid.
Bought a new maternity dress today for a wedding this weekend. This is not a fun time to be shopping for clothes, although I have to admit that in the last 9 years pregnancy clothes have been much better than in the past.
We're getting ready to go to class tonight, our third childbirth class. It's always fun and tonight we really start getting into the fun stuff - labor!
July 20, 2000:
Twenty Six Weeks, Five Days
It's been a fairly low key week for me, but busy. Isaac is really enjoying the pregnancy or maybe it's that I'm enjoying him enjoying the pregnancy. The other day I told him the baby was kicking and I suppose he misunderstood me. He hopped on the couch and put his feet on my stomach and was getting ready to kick the belly! It was pretty funny. Every night before bed he wants to read two books he calls "baby stories." One is the story of a new baby being born and the other is the story told from a little brother's perspective as he watches the homebirth of his sibling. It's very sweet that he even acts interested. I really expected nothing from him.
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Photo reprinted with permission of Robin Weiss.
