Belly

I've always wanted to get belly pictures. You know, where you're in the cute pregnant stage (not the evil eye is-she-fat-or-pregnant or the "are you sure you're not having twins, holy crap when are you due stages) and your belly features prominently. But professional photography is so expensive, and it's not really the kind of thing where I want to go to Sears or Target. I mean, Sasha's pregnancy, for one thing, made a roadmap of stretchmarks on my belly. Not the kind of thing I want to show the hoi polloi. However, Cheri takes pictures now! And can airbrush me with Photoshop!

It was not my idea to get these pictures taken. I'd kind of given up on the idea, and it frankly didn't even cross my mind. But Cheri called me up and told me she wanted to get some maternity pictures in her portfolio, and would I be her model. In other words, she acted like I was doing her a favor. Bless her heart. Anyway, she's obviously a genius and got me looking, well, pretty dang good for a pregnant lady!

Baby Belly and Baby Talk

I'm starting to feel really pregnant. Now, I know there's no such thing as "partially pregnant." But there is the stage where you can still bend over and where you can walk up two stairs without pausing halfway to catch your breath. Sadly, it looks like I'll have about three MONTHS more where these things are but a fond memory.

I bought a belly band today. It is supposed to keep you covered if your shirt creeps up, and I think it's great for those G lines that keep presenting themselves too. And maybe people will stop commenting so much about my belly button. I know it sticks out! Stop talking about it! And stop calling it a turkey baster! Geez.

On to the other baby in my life: Sasha. He is having an absolute explosion of talking lately. He's even said two words together a couple of times. I can't remember what they were, but it was very cool. Not so cool was two nights ago when he woke at 1 AM and was inconsolable for an hour or two. Thankfully, Zane was the hero that night and took care of Sasha, because I was not real happy about being up at night. I mean, c'mon, I've only got three months (or a few weeks less?) to sleep through the night IN THE NEXT YEAR. Like I said, Zane was a hero.

Sabrina is fully potty trained, and I love it. Besides no diapers, I love the, "Go get dressed" option. There are days, I confess, where it seems so pointless to dress the kids. I just have to take off their clothes at the end of the day, anyway. And boy do they fight me getting their jammies on! The drawback, of course, is that Sabrina is currently wearing only panties. At one time today, in my defense, she was wearing socks, pants, two shirts, and a dress. None of those were my fault either.

St. George

We just took a trip to St. George to watch Spencer play in a soccer tournament. Not to brag, but first, Spencer's team won the championship, and second, it was in the 50s most days. Take that, Eden!

I confess, the thought of a 5-hour drive while 6 months pregnant with two young kids to a hotel room with little to do for four days sounded GREAT. It really turned out fun, though. I don't want to say the outlets in St. George were ALL the reason I had a good time, but it did help that first day! I totally scored at some of the kids' stores down there. We also drove to Zion, although not into the park because, well, it's $25 and we'd been to the outlet stores. Also, we'd been driving for awhile already and Sasha was telling us he wanted OUT. Zane took us offroading in the Explorer and almost drove off a cliff. He would claim I am exaggerating and had my eyes closed anyway. Whatever.

I'm happy to be home, though. The kids have their own rooms here, which is vital for nap time, and sleeping through the night doesn't come easily when mamas have their "do my kids need me" ears on. It was also great to sleep in my own bed last night. All these advantages, however, waned when I woke up to a snowstorm. Imagine, spring....

Pregnancy

I have been informed my public (that's you) that you have not heard enough about my pregnancy! Well, I am coming up on my third trimester already! I can hardly believe it. I've been told a lot lately I am glowing and have a cute belly. I must be in the cute stage of pregnancy. That follows the "evil eye" stage where people wonder if you're pregnant or fat, and precedes the rude "you're about to pop! Are you sure you're not having twins? WHEN are you due?" stage.

The one thing I really don't like about how I look -- besides the slight weight gain is my belly button. It popped out at, I dunno, two months. People keep saying it's "cute." I think it's the type of "cute" that means "I want to comment on how funny that is, but don't want to be rude" cute. Like, "your baby's head is so cute!" when what you mean is, "that head sure is a funny shape!" or "those ears are so cute!" meaning, "Whoa, do those ears stick out!" That kind of cute. It's weird, it gets bugged by being rubbed by my shirt, and sticks out like an inch. Not cute!

Yesterday I had to walk some students to the library (1/2 mile), stand for two hours, and walk back. Fun much? No. I hurt so much I could only waddle for the rest of the day. I could hardly sit, stand, or walk for more than 15 minutes. I'm thinking in May I won't be taking the PE class off campus.

And in other funny news, I bent over to put Sasha's shoes on this morning, and my poor pants, that had made it through 2 1/2 pregnancies, gave up the ghost. They split, and not at a seam. Right across my butt. In the place that says, "Maybe you should reconsider your pants size." Sigh. I'm sure it's just that the pants are, you know, old. Or something.