Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

Seems Mama G. has been absent from the blogging world and now it's time to play catch-up. Apparently, my burgeoning belly has decided yet again to grow overnight. Yesterday, just YESTERDAY, I had a couple of women tell me they couldn't believe I was five months pregnant. My belly was actually used in the same sentence with the word "tiny". What the hell? Whose belly was she looking at? It certainly wasn't mine. My belly hasn't been tiny since the second grade. It certainly wasn't the half-basketball thing it is today. I am proud. I saw myself in the window and thought, hey! That looks pretty damn good! I even tried sucking in and 1. It hurt and 2. It can no longer be done. The belly is there to stay for the next few months.

My little gymnast has also been quite the busy bee...Just last week, baby was somersaulting through my belly. No joke - the sonogram showed my little monkey barreling through my tum tum like a bull in a china closet. My little ten inch treasure (yes, it's doubled in a month!) was using my bladder as a trampoline. No wonder I have to pee at the sight of a liquid! I have to say, I did peek at my little one's goodies and frankly, despite my skills as an ultrasound technician, I saw nothing. Weird, I know. I'm glad I didn't see anything - and glad the tech was kind enough to say, "I'm not even going to focus on your baby's bits - if you don't want to know, I don't want to know". Lovely lady that Beth.

And I have officially reached slow down mode. Apparently the elliptical machine (which I thought was so simple) causes cramps and jogging feels like a bowling ball rolling around in my gut. So, walking & pilates it is. And I'm now moved up to official pregnancy status in pilates as I will be using the wedge - which by the way is covered in a delightful "cloud" fabric. I can no longer sleep or rest on my back. Of course, "sexual intercourse is permitted in the missionary style, if comfortable, however should last no longer than 20 to 30 minutes". First of all, 20 to 30 minutes is plain absurd and secondly, the so-called "horny stage" has yet to kick in, so I think we're doing ok in that department. However, we can talk about sleeping. I love to sleep and frankly, hate to be interrupted during my slumber. Apparently, laying on the left side is better for circulation which is unfortunate because frankly it hurts the hips. I wake up and walk to the bathroom like a 400-year-old woman. I have taken to surrounding myself with pillows during the night. Thank you Target for the 2 new "firm" queen size pillows to place around my hiney and belly. Soon I will have to move to the guest room so I can spread out my plethora of pillows. I have yet to figure out a comfortable arrangement, so I will keep looking for the perfect sleep solution. I think I need one of those remote control beds that allows you to sit up - then I can beat heartburn AND sore hips in one shot! Woohooo! Have I reached middle age?

Besides those minor setbacks, I feel like I am finally starting to realize my potential for looking and feeling pregnant. Add that to the fact that I can now feel baby moving on a reagular basis is starting to make reality set in in a big way. Being pregnant is awesome and sadly, I am already halfway done!