Body Malfunctioning

Being pregnant has interesting side “benefits” like nearly passing out. And before you panic (mom), I was in the safest possible place - the doctor’s office. I got my little examination and sat up to get ready to go and the blood just drained away. My lovely doctor Helen just laid me back down and rolled me onto my side, very calm and comforting, and continued to talk about… something. I was still trying so hard not to pass out (and make that buzzing sound in my head go away) that I missed most of her conversation. It must have showed on my face because she said something about me looking a little pale and told me to roll to the other side. Ahhh, there’s the blood. Lovely stuff. Silly baby cutting off my circulation.
Ooooh and now my feet are all swollen too! They look like deformed vegetables! I can't stop giggling. I wish I had my camera.

Call to Battle

I stayed home yesterday (preparing myself, right?). After watching a bunch of movie previews (Paprika! Yes, please. Must I wait until June? Michele?), I took a long nap in the sunshine with my cats, read, cleaned the kitchen, made dinner, and watched the first two episodes of Trinity: Blood (sadly, it was not worth it).
On Tuesday we had our final birthing class and with all the techniques and advice she gave us I find myself rather looking forward to giving birth. Weird or what? If you know me, then you know that is just an amazing thing for me to say. I have been terrified for so long. Think about it though – who really wants to try pushing a watermelon through a hole in their body? But, strangely, we are designed for it. And if we let go of all inhibitions – perhaps the toughest part – women get to do what most men in the western world can’t… transition. John and I were talking about this the other day. Modern men don’t get a right of passage.
I’m not necessarily talking about transitioning from child to adult. The line is certainly blurrier than in the past (Is it graduating from school? Getting the first job? The loss of virginity?), but we basically know when we are adults. The right of passage was a test of capability. It acted as a gauge of self-worth, of the ability to survive, and as a bond to others who underwent the same test (Yes, I know what you went through. Let’s drink.). Men, perhaps, need this most of all. I don’t know why.
Thus the appeal of military training, of the solitary trek across the Rockies, the obsession with extreme sports?

Belly Time

For those of you desparate to see my bulge/buddha/cage-of-the-tummy-rumbler:
You'll have to tilt your head. I'm too lazy to do this properly (and food is waiting!).
Not the most flattering pictures but, as you can see, I'm well and very much into comfort clothes. Get ready now! 6 more weeks!

Aye Matey! That thar's a baby shower! Rrr!

I should start off by saying that I've never been to a baby shower. Never-the-less I was really hesitant to go to one, particularly one in my honor because, you know, everyone stares at you and stuff. Besides, I think I've seen some on TV and they didn't look pleasant. There was a lot of pastel.
But I've got great friends. Friends like Holie, who hates girlie girls and pastel. And friends like Kristen, who is super creative. And, of course, I've got a husband who, when surrounded by his friends since middle school, becomes 12 and entertains us all.
My mom took most of these pictures. Holie and Kristen were amazing and pulled this together last minute so she could be there. It was a good, exhausting day.
The guys got into the spirit pretty quick:Baby pirate flag cake!Kristen made a pirate pinata! She took a quite a beating before giving up her treasures (notice the transition from small baton to bat?). I also have a great video but, sadly, I do not know how to upload videos on this blog. If you want to see John decapitate the boat, email me!Dan, Mike, Sabre, and Steve looking thrilled as I open gifts. Now, don't you wish you were there to see the house with most of the walls ripped out and exposed wires and caution tape?The Ben collective discussing something very piratey I'm sure.Um, a gay pirate?