COOL STUFF FOR BABY

Click on picture for a closer look at our new baby gadget courtesy of Carebear and Chief ( my parents)!

Being Biblical at Week 36

Okay, I guess those of you who have been reading this know that the whole gaining weight thing has been one of the hardest things for me… Especially since I really wanted to be one of those stick moms with the basketball bellies… Instead I am the “Happy Buddha” shaped preggie wondering if she will end up like Jabba the Hutt! Okay, so maybe I talk about this too much, but it is quite disconcerting.

Today I accidentally picked up a shirt I wore last year… I thought I had a doll shirt in my drawer. Everything I wear now has to have so much fabric—and gathers and elastic. I am seriously concerned that I will be wheeled to the hospital in a toga made from my king size Snoopy sheets.

Seriously, I had to not only take off my rings, but my two sizes bigger pregnancy ring, and now I have to leave off my necklace because what used to hang so delicately on my chest is now a strangling choker! Ahhhh!

But, nevertheless, I believe God himself sent me a little encouragement this morning. As I was looking in the mirror looking at my pudgy lips I remembered that the Bible said that Mary was GREAT WITH CHILD. So, the mother of Jesus is described in the gospels as “GREAT” not “expecting” or “cute” or “glowing.” The Word of God calls her GREAT. I would like to believe it means GREAT BIG with child. That would put me in some good company I suppose. I mean it has to! The inn keeper may have taken one look at her sitting sideways on a swayback dying donkey and realized the cot in the living room wouldn’t hold. Who knows…? But, I am glad that God left that part in to speculate about… because I am now somewhat more bravely “great” with child.

BTW: The artwork above is by one of my favorite artists and musicians from the Dallas area, ramsie Schick,... Check out more of her stuff by clicking the image.

Week 35 and Contemplating...

So, here we go. Today was my last regular appointment before my "weeklies" begin. My nursery is nearly done, I am planning on packing my suitcase next week, and both me and the baby seem to be right on track for a late May date with destiny...

I am ready.

However, during the last few weeks I have begin to worry that maybe I am a little obsessed with pregnancy. I wonder if my family is truly interested in the number of antacids I ate today. I wonder if my husband is really listening as I read to him aloud the chapter on breastfeeding. I am fully aware that there is no way they find these details as interesting as I do, but nevertheless, it's what is in my head-all the time!

I am beginning to wonder if there is really anything else in the whole worth contemplating besides babies and birthing babies, and feeding babies, and teaching babies, and baby names...

(Sure, I am aware that there is a war going on, and that a bunch of people are upset about immigration reform, and so on.) Really, I am truly concerned about the world at large and all the horror and beauty co-mingling everywhere. I mean it.

But who could blame any preggie for being a little "baby/pregnancy centric"? Especially for a first child, I mean, next time it will be 'old hat', right?

But for now, how can I not be in a constant state of awe?

How terrible for me to not recognize what a brief and strange time this is.

My favorite quote about being a mom is this: To choose to be a mother is to forever have your heart go on walking around outside your body."

Something about that quote scares me...

My cousin Brandi who had her baby 2 weeks ago says she misses being pregnant a bit. She used the word "alone" to describe having her body all to herself. I think she is lonely in her body a little... I think I will relate.

But for now, I am not alone in my body. An unpredictable little spirit will be born in an unpredictable way and live a life that I can neither control nor plan.

Wow!

I will not apologize for being too wrapped up in this process.

In just a few days, it will be over. I will but down my pregnacy guides and pick up parenting books. I will pack away my maternity clothes and try to squeeze back into my regulars. The late night gymnastics in my belly will be over, and a whole new sort of life will begin...

Another favorite quote: "90 percent of the world is asleep, the rest live their lives in a constant state of amazement"

My wish is to be amazed, be passionate, be aware in whatever stage of life I am in.

I will savor this time and whatever comes next...

Even if it makes me a little irritating.

WOMANHOOD~ brilliant author unknown

Women over 50 don't have babies because they would put them down and forget where they left them.

One of life's mysteries is how a 2 pound box of candy can make a woman gain 5 lbs.

My mind not only wanders, it sometimes leaves completely.

The best way to forget all your troubles is to wear tight shoes.

The nice part about living in a small town is that when you don't know what you're doing, someone else does.

The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight because by then, your body and your fat are really good friends.

Just when I was getting used to yesterday, along came today.

Sometimes I think I understand everything, then I regain consciousness.

I gave up jogging for my health when my thighs kept rubbing together and setting my pantyhose on fire.

Amazing! You hang something in your closet for awhile and it shrinks two sizes!

Skinny people irritate me! Especially when they say things like, "You know, sometimes I just forget to eat." Now I've forgotten my address, my mother's maiden name, and my keys. But I've never forgotten to eat. You have to be a special kind of stupid to forget to eat.

A friend of mine confused her valium with her birth control pills. She had 14 kids, but she doesn't really care.

I read this article that said the typical symptoms of stress are: eating too much, impulse buying, and driving too fast. Are they kidding? That is my idea of a perfect day.

I know what Victoria's Secret is. The secret is that nobody older than 30 can fit into their stuff.

The Count Down Continues...

New Baby Brenden

My cousin Brandi had her baby about a week ago... Just wanted to add his picture for family bragging purposes... Isn't he beautiful?

How to Keep Ankles from Swelling...

Because I have had the typical "Cankles" that preggies get, I have descovered that wearing socks can keep ankles trim and lean. However, the socks can cause strange deformities to the lower leg area (see photo). On the bright side, if we preggos must settle for a humpty dumpty figure instead of the illusive hour-glass shape, then perhaps we can have hour-glass ankles.

For more fun with your marshmallow feet, simply wrap your lower legs in strips of fabric leaving gaps as you wind from big toe to knee. Then, take a few laps around the living room and BINGO!--you've got candy cane feet!

Or, for a more daring look, criss cross your feet with rick-rack or twine for a sunburst or snow flake pattern.

Don't cry about it, have fun with it. And then, send me pictures!