What a difference a week can make! Last Thursday, I went to bed and on Friday, I woke up with a bump! And I'm not even joking, it's a real, bonafide baby bump! Which meant, of course, that I had to go shopping. It kind of makes me sad, buying maternity clothes. Mostly because I think that the stores rip you off because pregnant ladies really don't have any other option. It's not like you can run around naked, you actually have to buy new clothes. I tried a maternity consignment store that I found in Hopkins, and the minute I walked in, I knew I'd made a mistake. The entire place smelled like feet and body odor. I know I sound like a brat, but I toughed it out and spent a few minutes poking around the racks and discovered that people were selling tents from the 1980s as opposed to anything that would be considered stylish today. So, I will say that I made a solid ten minute effort before scooting out of there. I had better luck at Gap, which now has a maternity section - at least the one in Southdale did. So, here we are at twenty-three weeks, wearing some of my new wardrobe:
This week, the baby weighs about 1.5 pounds, and is as big as an ear of corn. Which sounds really good and I would like to eat one this weekend. Or twelve, it doesn't matter. His facial features are almost fully formed right now, although he still needs to work on gaining weight, which I'm given to understand happens mostly in the third trimester. He is bobbing and weaving all over the place. Last night, I actually thought I could feel him pounding on my right side. Like he had his fists up and was hitting a punching bag over and over again. His hearing is fully developed now, and he can hear most of the noises that I hear on a daily basis. I have long conversations with him, telling him about all the exciting things that will be happening in the next few months. I tell him about his family, what we're going to do when he gets here, what the weather will be like, just really mundane stuff. I know that must seem weird because I probably sound like Charlie Brown's teacher to him, and he can't even understand what I'm saying, but it comforts me to know that he's there. I find myself anxious and waiting to feel the first raps on my belly in the morning, telling me he's awake.
Because the belly is growing at a rapid rate (seriously, can you believe the difference?!?) I'm feeling some definite growing pains. Sometimes, my skin feels like it's too tight and I'm finding it harder and harder to get out of a reclined or slouched position. The rapid growing has also made this mama tired, and it's a miracle if I'm up and awake (or at least not in bed) by 8:30 every night. But that's okay, it won't last forever.
Last week, I went up and looked around at some day cares, and I couldn't believe what they have to offer. One had BABY YOGA (as if this kid is going to be able to do anything other than corpse pose for the first three months of life), Spanish lessons, sign language...I couldn't believe all the stuff there was. Another center made me think that you just drop your kid off and pick him up exactly where you left him eight hours later (I got out of that place in a hurry). I've still got to go look at a few more places before Jeff and I make a final decision, but it will feel good to have that crossed off the list, at least.
We're going to the cabin this weekend with some good friends of ours. The height of my ambition this weekend is to take a five hour nap. And eat some corn. We'll see if I can achieve my high reaching goals.
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