For all its annoyances, I have been enjoying being pregnant.

On occasion I find myself impatient, just wanting her to get here already so I can meet her.  But most of the time I'm perfectly happy being right where I'm at.  I like having her inside of me.  I giggle when I rest the laptop on my belly and she starts kicking at it, like "Hey, it's crowded enough in here without you smooshing me!"  I like feeling her wiggle and tickle and move, even when it hurts.

And yet, I have never heard a mother wistfully say that she misses having her child inside of her.  It must be that much more awesome to have them on the outside, because I think I will kinda miss it.

We will never be as close as we are right now, when we share a circulatory system...



(Yep, I finally went and got maternity photos taken.)

Posted by: Sarah at 09:06 AM | Comments (17) | Add Comment
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1 *Gasp*

That is LOVELY! 

Posted by: airforcewife at January 21, 2010 10:14 AM (uE3SA)

2 Yay!  I am so glad you are doing so well and enjoying it!

Posted by: wifeunit at January 21, 2010 10:19 AM (4B1kO)

3 GREAT pic!  I can see the smile on your face...and she looks beautiful

Posted by: Laura, A Military Mom at January 21, 2010 10:19 AM (oLHZ3)

4

That is a wonderful picture!  

I'm surprised you've never heard anyone say that. I LOVE LOVE LOVE being pregnant. I have terrible pregnancies (I get so sick the entire pregnancies I have NEVER gained a single pregnancy pound, I was on bedrest for 19 weeks, etc.) and I would do it again, if another baby were in our futures.

Having them in your arms is amazing. I would choose that over being pregnant, but there are times when I miss having them inside me. It's the single most amazing thing I've ever done.

Posted by: Amber at January 21, 2010 11:05 AM (facQk)

5 I wonder what the other photos in your session look like.

I've never seen a pregnancy photo like this one before. So simple and effective. And reminiscent of iPod ads, even though you don't own one!

Posted by: Amritas at January 21, 2010 12:52 PM (+nV09)

6

What a great picture! 

I LOVED being pregnant both times and find myself missing it once in awhile.  I enjoyed having my kids 'all to myself' tucked away inside, feeling all of the elbows, kicks and flutters.  Now that mine are 14 &12, I'd like to put them back in so it will be quiet around here

 

Posted by: Jen in NY at January 21, 2010 03:40 PM (VpUT1)

7

Oh, FABULOUS picture!!

 . . . I think I've only heard mothers wish the baby was back inside, when it was to keep the baby safe and protected from all the dangers of the world . . .

Posted by: Lissa at January 21, 2010 04:55 PM (eSfKC)

8 Sarah, I've got to admit, my first pregnancy I felt a bit like I'd been invaded by a parasitic alien. Of course, I was also clueless. I'm glad for every day I got with our second little one. I'm so glad you're able to enjoy this time. *So* glad. . . .

Posted by: Lucy at January 21, 2010 08:16 PM (YNvUz)

9 I think you're right, having them on the outside sort of overshadows what pregnancy was like... but I do remember distinctly how odd it felt after my daughter was born, almost lonely!

Posted by: dutchgirl at January 21, 2010 10:24 PM (Yg8bq)

10 I missed being pregnant, and having to share the babies with the World, for 9 months, they were all MINE

Posted by: awtm at January 21, 2010 10:37 PM (MEke+)

11 Beautiful picture!  You look serene and happy and huge! 

Posted by: Mary at January 22, 2010 12:03 AM (/hR4y)

12 Okay, you're totally that skinny preggers chick in my labor class! I'm jealous as I stare at my big buddah tummy. Biyatch!   Kidding!!!!

Posted by: BigD78 at January 22, 2010 05:54 PM (W3XUk)

13 I miss being pregnant. I miss the "secret" that my babies and I had. Only *I* knew when they moved, kicked, hiccuped, etc. unless I chose to share with others. I miss knowing that, for 10 months, they were mine and mine alone (there's that only child attitude shining through). I miss being pregnant. So much so that I would be willing to consider being a surrogate for someone who needed one.

Posted by: HomefrontSix at January 22, 2010 08:33 PM (2vZeF)

14 Love the picture. 

I do miss being pregnant sometimes, when I get irritated that I have to "share" the kiddo with somebody.  When she was first born, I'd watch her move around and think how just a few days ago, I'd be the only one who knew that she'd done anything. 

Posted by: Ann M. at January 22, 2010 08:41 PM (+GQ3g)

15 I am envious of what you have, with your husband, and a child on the way...

Posted by: Miss Ladybug at January 22, 2010 10:27 PM (vqKnu)

16 Great picture. It reminds me that I once worked with the daughter of a cellist who, before she was born, used to kick (audibly) the back of her mother's cello in orchestra rehearsals. She grew up to be a cellist as well!

Posted by: Piercello at January 23, 2010 11:34 AM (ALcm4)

17 I go away for a couple days and all these good & photogenic posts pop up!  This photo is great! 

You will treasure these photos.  I wish I had thought to do something like this where it was more artsy.

Can't wait to see all of these. 

Posted by: Guard Wife at January 23, 2010 12:27 PM (5hZjj)

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A due date is as sketchy as redeployment...

Posted by: Sarah at 08:25 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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We went to look at the litter of puppies when they were just 11 days old.  Once we had chosen Charlie, we kept visiting him on the weekends until he was finally eight weeks old and we could take him home.  And I always hated to leave him and eagerly awaited the day we could have him for keeps.

I feel the same way every time I get to see my baby.

I had another appointment today.  My mother is also still in town, having gotten stuck here while trying to avoid of all the global warming across the country.  So my favorite ultrasound tech gave grandma a quick peek at baby.

She's growing, especially in the cheeks.  (And since these things are basically rorschach tests, I made a little drawing of her face beside it so you can tell what you're looking at.)



I had been feeling spry up until a few days ago when I hit a major wall, and now I know why: she's getting big, and I have a knee in my ribcage.  I have finally hit that usch part of the end of pregnancy; I'm tired, sore, and chock full of baby.  I ate lunch today and then threw it up in my mouth in Target afterwards.  There's just no room.  When I sit, she's up in my ribs.  When I stand, she's sitting directly on my bladder.  I finally understand what people mean when they say they're really uncomfortable and ready to be done being pregnant.

And I have two months left to go.

Two more months before I can take her home for keeps.  And squeeze those cheeks.

Posted by: Sarah at 05:53 PM | Comments (16) | Add Comment
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1 By the ninth month I was constantly munching because my husband is 6'2" and I am 5'1" and I was huge!  A "meal" meant I had acid reflux for the next 2 days.

Posted by: Tracey at January 11, 2010 06:41 PM (x+F0t)

2 Hooray for global warming! Grandma wouldn't have seen her granddaughter without it!

The Peanuts-like drawing helps. Now that I can see her face, she seems really real.

Did you notice that about seven weeks passed before you could take Charlie home ... which is almost two months? At least those seven weeks weren't physicially usch. Or as we would say in English, ouch!

And squeeze those cheeks.

And she'll eventually squeeze you back!

Posted by: Amritas at January 11, 2010 07:04 PM (cs8bo)

3 How awesome!!  So glad grandma got hooked up, yo!    Your tech is a super kindhearted person.

Posted by: wifeunit at January 11, 2010 07:15 PM (4B1kO)

4

Reading about someone else's pregnancy, it goes by much faster.  I'm sure that's comforting.    It was at this point in my pregnancies when I remember feeling so powerful and special and particularly connected to all women throughout time.  It is a singular experience and despite all of the changes in modern life and the trappings of modern pregnancy (like ultrasound), the feeling of that baby inside you hasn't changed.  Apparently I get contemplative while pregnant.  Plus, I actually liked being pregnant.

I can't remember if you're working or not, but when the serious nesting urge kicks in, remember to sleep a lot (or whenever you can) and get your feet up!

I didn't get a chance to chime in on what to buy, but along those lines, I highly recommend (depending on your home layout) having a portable, mini diaper changing station in addtion to the main one.  We kept a basket with diapers, changing pad, wipes, butt cream, an extra onesie, and receiving blanket in the family room next to the rocking chair.  Very handy.  Also, sleeping on a towel or washable, absorbant pad will save you from washing your sheets everytime something leaks (be it a diaper, breast or sanitary pad).  Hope that wasn't TMI, but it will save you some laundry in those early days when sleep is at a premium.

Enjoy the anticipation of meeting your daughter.  And I for one will vote for you morphing into a mommy blogger.  Please?

Posted by: Christa at January 11, 2010 07:32 PM (2qSbp)

5 ADORABLE. Sarah, I remember feeling the same way - sitting was uncomfortable, standing was etc. I remember thinking "I cant get any bigger" but did. I knew it was bad when I was outgrowing my maternity clothes...Only a few more weeks!!

Posted by: keri at January 11, 2010 08:24 PM (dtvJC)

6 Lols about the drawing...I sooo needed that before W "interpreted" for me.

Posted by: calivalleygirl at January 11, 2010 09:35 PM (XkiVB)

7 I never felt that way with either of our kids.  Weird.  My wife, on the other hand...

Funny thing--if you can do it, push back on the offending protrusion.  Sometimes, they will push back too!

The Mrs. says frequent position changes are the name of the game.

For a real treat, swallow pop rocks. 

Posted by: Chuck Z at January 11, 2010 09:36 PM (bMH2g)

8 *hugs*  If it would make the next 8 weeks go by faster, I'd count them down with you.  Heck, I might just do it anyway in hopes of it making a difference

Posted by: Susan at January 11, 2010 09:36 PM (EU2Wl)

9 chock full of baby!!!!!!!

Posted by: MaryIndiana at January 12, 2010 03:14 AM (ZzRNC)

10 She is beautiful. The last couple of months went by so sloooww for me. I hope they move quicker for you.

Posted by: Tressa at January 12, 2010 10:30 AM (yY6P+)

11 Congrats! And soon you can chew on noses and smell that luscsious sweet baby smell that only newborn + wipes + baby wash + hugs + snuggly blankets/clothing can smell like ... like new puppy smell but BETTER. 

Posted by: Darla at January 12, 2010 11:35 AM (XvIN7)

12 Sssoooo that's what GIRLS look like! So happy for you and that Grandma was able to see her!  Be sure and sleep, sleep, sleep because it won't be long and a night of sleep will just be a memory

Posted by: Laura, A Military Mom at January 12, 2010 03:30 PM (oLHZ3)

13 She's beautiful.  It's amazing too, because they really do look like those pictures once they're out and you can make the comparison.  Sometimes babies drop a little before the end, and it becomes either a little more bearable or worse.  Here's hoping she shifts and gives you a little relief...

Posted by: Ann M. at January 13, 2010 12:32 AM (+GQ3g)

14 Ann is so right--sometimes when I look at Ian's profile, even though he's almost two, I can see that ultrasound at 20 weeks.

And ChuckZ brings up a fun thing, too: I used to be able to "tickle" Ian's feet when he pushed out with them.  He would lodge a shoulder on my left hip bone and stretch so his foot was almost visible just under my rib cage, on the right.  I could rub his foot with my finger, and he'd twitch or withdraw--or kick back!  Totally an "Aliens" moment.  I had to keep pushing his feet back down when he did that. 

He didn't like his space encroached upon, either.  He actually pushed me away from a counter when I was leaning on it while doing dishes.   He's still pretty sensitive about things around his feet.  The kid can KICK!   He'll play soccer someday.

Posted by: Deltasierra at January 13, 2010 02:12 AM (/Mv9b)

15 Going swimming helped alleviate the "I can't breathe but I really have to pee!" scenario that played out daily for the last 2-3 months of my last pregnancy. Little Man was long and I am not, therefore he was in my ribs and on my bladder at the same time and there were days where it would have me in tears. Swimming helped me feel a little less...stuffed. But "chock full of baby" is a wonderful thing So is "for keeps".

Posted by: HomefrontSix at January 16, 2010 05:04 AM (2vZeF)

16 Yep.  About 7 months, I remember feeling very "full of baby", and then at about 8  months, he "dropped" and I had room to eat again.  And boy was I hungry.  All the time.  Until the last month, when I was soooo ready to be done, because he'd refilled back up all the space he'd relieved when he dropped.  But my little guy was 97th percentile size-wise.  I hope your little girl is a little less huge, for your comfort's sake.   Enjoy these last couple months of independence; now that my son is here, my life revolves around him, and I don't always get to do what I want when I want.  And see any movies you want to see in theatres, 'cause you'll have to get a sitter for any movies you want to see for the next year or two, at least.

Posted by: leofwende at January 16, 2010 01:46 PM (28CBm)

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The vivid pregnancy dreams are quite amusing.  Several times I've dreamt that I have a transparent stomach, that I can see inside and see the baby.  I guess that's a high-tech kangaroo pouch!  I'm always dreaming that I get to see her.

But recently I've begun dreaming that she's born, but she's a different species.  About a week ago, she was a kitten.  Last night she hatched from an egg as a chick.  And both times, this has seemed completely normal.

Last night's dream was so vivid and detailed.  My husband made it home from Afghanistan.  A few hours later, I laid an egg, which we watched and held until a little beak broke through the shell.  We helped remove pieces of shell and found a little yellow chick inside.  And it was our baby!  There was nothing odd about it.  We were talking about how we needed to swaddle her tight so her chicken legs don't flail about, and I started crying.  I looked at my husband and said, "We did it.  You made it home and then she was born.  We finally did it."

Right sentiments, wrong species.

But the really funny part of the dream was when I positioned the empty egg shell so that I could take a photo of it to put on my blog for all of you to see...

Posted by: Sarah at 09:08 AM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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1 Were you sitting in a nest when you laid an egg?

I'm waiting for fish. Or better yet, invertebrates.

Who's to say these nonhuman offspring don't mutate into humans over time? Maybe you started off as an animal. But which one?

Posted by: Amritas at January 02, 2010 09:59 AM (ke9P1)

2 Ah! And instead you'll have to beat your husband to let you hold your precious baby girl! Do you have Dibs! word already planned out?

Posted by: Darla at January 02, 2010 01:28 PM (XvIN7)

3 I don't think I ever had animal dreams, but I did have dreams where I took the baby out so I could hold it, then put it back in so it could finish growing.  Don't ask me how -- my dream didn't show that part!

Posted by: Deltasierra at January 03, 2010 01:17 AM (/Mv9b)

4 I wonder if you are unconsciously open to dream suggestions, like having a velociraptor.

Posted by: Deskmerc at January 03, 2010 02:56 AM (pYOXQ)

5 They sound like cool dreams, weird but cool, because it doesn't seem to matter the species of baby - you just sound happy in your dreams.

Posted by: Mare at January 03, 2010 04:44 AM (HUa8I)

6 Ain't the subconscience a strange thing?  And though I'm sure we all are on the edges of our seats to see the first 'out of the pouch' picture, um, I for one, don't really need to see the placenta.  Not every dream is meant to come true you know.  Just sayin'. ;o)

Posted by: MargeinMI at January 03, 2010 09:56 AM (H10z5)

7

Your dreams gave my day a "happy" smile It won't be long and you will be holding that little one!

Posted by: Laura, A Military Mom at January 07, 2010 04:48 PM (oLHZ3)

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