Belly Rubs

This is a conversation I've had with numerous people over the past few months, and I'm just waiting for it to happen to me. What's up with people feeling the need to rub a pregnant woman's belly? Am I Buddha?! I can understand a close friend wanting to touch you or even a not so close friend. But when complete strangers or just aquaintances feel the need to come up and start invading personal space, I have a problem with that! My friend Jen and I (she's prego, too) have discussed many times the need for t-shirts with slogans such as "I am not a petting zoo" or "Hands Off!" to ward off would-be touchers. Maybe that would help. But then again, maybe not. Someone who's bold enough to come up to put hands on a perfect stranger may not feel the need to heed such slogans - or just not notice them at all! :) I've realized I keep my purse in front of my belly most of the time and that's kept people away - I wonder if I'm doing it on purpose but subconsciously or if it's just what I've always done. Hmm . . . .

Peanut is now officially around 2 lbs and about a foot long or so (crown to rump length). The weight will more than triple between now and birth due to baby fat! Wow! This is the only time putting on that kind of weight that fast will be healthy and acceptable! :) The count down is going quickly - 27 weeks on Friday - I can't believe it! The closer we get, the more scared and excited I get. Yikes!

A Crazy Week/Weekend

Last week and weekend were a little on the interesting side as we took an unexpected road trip! JJ's dad Larry had a heart attack on Wednesday night, so we headed to Illinois at 10:30 p.m. to go be with family. When we got there, Larry greeted us with a smile and looked really good, which was a miracle! God sure does watch out for all of us and worked amazingly through the situation. He's feeling great and only had to have one stint put in after angioplasty. He was so lucky and looked great when we left on Saturday. Thanks for all the prayers and encouragement you sent his way - prayer makes all the difference! My amazing colleagues filled in for me while I was gone - no sub for one of the days! - and the kids were great. The first thing they asked was, "Is the baby ok?!" Good to know I've got such amazing kids!

Peanut behaved well and got a little fiesty during the days - more than usual since I'm usually up walking around all day and don't notice him/her moving much! I'm just now starting to feel a little uncomfortable, but it's not usually until the evenings. People are telling me my belly is cute but I just feel fat! :) ( I know that's shallow!) My students are really funny - they tell me they can hardly tell I'm having a baby (I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not . . . !).

Here we go again . . .

I'll get the first one I wrote on here from some lovely soul who was able to access it . . . thanks to all of you who let me know about the problems!

We went to the doctor yesterday for the 24 week check-up and all was well - yippee! Every good doctor's appointment is another prayer answered. It seems so funny to go in for a "tummy check" and go through everything for five or ten minutes of the doctor's time . . . but I know it's necessary.

It's so funny to think that we're going to be parents in just a few short months. We were at Target last night and I couldn't resist buying a little onesie that said, "Instructions Not Included." That's pretty much how I'm feeling right now! I asked JJ last night about all the "what if's" I'm feeling - What if I don't know how to put clothes on my baby? What if I drop it?! I'm so used to pretty much being "in control" of my environment, so this new uncharted territory is somewhat difficult for me. But I'm so excited, and I know Jeromy is, too. The summer is going to go way too fast, so I want to enjoy it. I'm hoping the baby holds out until the actual due date (Aug. 17 - my mom's and JJ's dad's birthday) so I can reap the benefit on the school end of things! Although the plan is to take the baby to the state fair - baby's first cheese curds . . . !