32 weeks

Originally uploaded by JenSmith1

After I went in for my 25 week check up and was put on bed rest for premature dilation, I have been counting down the weeks until I reach 34 weeks gestation. This is when the doctor says Haley could be safely born (no extended stay in the NICU), just that she would be a smaller baby–this is fine with me since Patrick was born at a hefty 10 pounds 12 ounces. God bless his poor mother who decided to go through a natural birth with that Christmas ham (as I affectionately call my husband.) I’m just hoping that Haley weighs a nice 6 1/2-7 pounds like I did when I was born.

I’m now at 33 weeks with one week to go, and the doc’s say that, while I’m still 2 1/2 cm dilated, I’m holding strong and everything looks really good. If I can make it another week, I’ll be able to go back to work again. It’s exciting but still kind of sad. Working at home definitely has its benefits: I have a 5 second commute, I get to wear PJ’s every day, and I’m in a much more comfortable environment. I do need to build up some kind of aerobic stamina again though. All this sitting around has made me completely out of shape–stairs are now the bane of my existance. It’s bad when your heart continues to beat at an accellerated rate 5 minutes after climbing a flight of stairs.

Haley’s definitely enjoying her stay at Hotel McCaffrey–I’ve gotten much rounder in a short period of time lately. Two weeks ago at my doctor’s appointment, I found out that I gained 3 pounds in a week–hello Christmas ham! I blame the Superbowl…there were too many delicious goodies that I couldn’t pass up! That being said, space is running out in her home. She’s taken on a liking to jabbing me in the sides with either her elbows or knees…I can’t decide which it is, but it’s sharp. There will be times when I’m sitting on the couch and she elbows me in the side and it surprises me so much that I gasp and scare Patrick. Of course, he finds this incredibly hilarious. It’s not so much that it hurts (though it’s not the most comfortable feeling) it’s just really strange to have the distinct feeling that someone inside is trying to stretch out and is taking my entire abdomen with her.

Happy 33 weeks! Let’s try to make it at least one more…

There is something about a pregnant belly that causes people to flock. No, I take that back, it causes women to flock. You never see men walk up to a woman, squeal, then proceed to rub her stomach excitedly and ask, “Oh look at you! You’re just glowing. How far along are you?” That man would immediately get clocked in the face by the woman’s purse. Women, though, have a built in instinct to find pregnant women and immediately begin to rub their stomachs. These women could be your aunt, close friend, or even just someone you ran into at the Wawa while you were picking up a bag of Fritos. They all have to do it, it’s instinct. I don’t blame them, when there’s a pregnant belly, you immediately imagine a cute little fat baby inside and want to touch (when really the kid probably looks like a little 3-inch alien with see-through skin who just finished growing lungs half an hour ago.)

It doesn’t really bother me, but I can see how some women who aren’t particularly touchy people go into hibernation the minute they find out they’re pregnant in order to keep other women from rubbing their “little miracle” every five minutes. “Where’s Anna? I haven’t seen her in about 9 months.” “Oh, she’s over there…with a baby.” I have been reading What to Expect When You’re Expecting, and it suggests that if unwanted belly rubbing happens, you should just look at the other person and smile and rub their stomach right back. I would like to meet the women who have tried this to see if they have black eyes. I’ve accepted the fact that it’s just how it is. Women react the same way to puppies and ripe fruit.

The real goal is that women want to hold the baby. Now. They think that if they continue to rub the stomach, this will cause the baby to grow faster and make his appearance in a week, instead of waiting the full 9 months. Personally, I think the kid has a pretty good situation going on in there and would probably stay in there longer if he could. He gets to float around in a cushy waterbed, eat all day, and gets rubbed every 5 minutes. I think I would do that all day if I could. Who wouldn’t? Except people wouldn’t think that our baby fat is as cute after all those meals.

I’m personally glad that I’m starting to get a little stomach. I finally have proof that there’s someone in there. Before having my first ultrasound, there was really no proof to convince me that I had a baby growing. I was still the same pants size, I hadn’t gained weight, and I had no fits of throwing up or cravings for sour cream and gummy bears. The first time I saw my little baby moving around, it just gave me a sense of awe…and freaked me out a little. It’s just weird to know that there’s someone in there who is constantly moving around and growing body parts, but I can’t feel anything. I guess I wouldn’t really want to feel a leg sprout though, talk about freaky.

I still haven’t gained any weight, but now my new little bump proves that yes, I have been telling the truth about this whole baby thing. Before when I told people that I was pregnant, they just stared at my stomach thinking, “right, I look bigger than that after I eat lunch.” I have to say though, I think I have the good end of the deal so far. I’m four months pregnant, I still do not own a pair of elastic pants, and I have yet to make my husband leave the house at 4 in the morning for my latest craving. And from all the belly rubbing, I know that I have about 153 different people willing to babysit.