Size Does Matter

Regardless of your stance prior to pregnancy about whether or not size matters, you quickly learn during pregnancy, that size does matter.

From your first doctor's appointment, you are keenly aware of your size as revealed by the scale. You are expected to gain weight, of course, but not too much weight.

Then there are clothing sizes. You are the same size you were pre-pregnancy, but now in the maternity section of the store...at least in the beginning. (And yes, as in your pre-pregnancy life, your sizing depends on which brand.) By the end of the pregnancy, maternity section or not, you are a larger size then you were in the beginning.

As your appointments become biweekly, then weekly, your belly is measured and recorded in your file, noting your size progression. The size of your baby is estimated in simple terms - small or big. (As in, 'Elizabeth, you have a small baby in there.')

But the most important size of all, as I am acutely aware of this week, is described in centimeters and followed by the word, 'dilated.' (As in, 'Elizabeth, you are 2 centimeters dilated.')

And although I am very aware of the fact that I could hang out at 2 centimeters for weeks, I am excited because it indicates I am that much closer to labor, which means I am that much closer to meeting my sweet girl.

Behind closed doors, on carnival rides, and fishing trips aside, during pregnancy, size does matter.

T-Minus

So when should the official countdown begin? From the day you find out you're pregnant? At the start of your third trimester? When you begin your weekly appointments?

Well, I know I am pregnant (ha!), I am in my third trimester and my weekly appointments started this week...so let the countdown begin.

T-Minus 24 days

Random with a Capital "R"

Seat warmers are in my new car - WOW. Toasty buns, specifically, MY toasty buns, are my newest favorite thing.

More than 3 co-workers have commented that I am moving slower down the hall these days...I have no doubt "the waddle" is in my near future.

They could film Seinfeld in my kitchen - I have 8 boxes of various cereals. At what point should I be concerned - 9? 10? 11 boxes? And who knew Cocoa Krispies on top of vanilla ice cream was so delish? Um, yum...

Before I grasped that Halloween was five weeks from my due date, I had thoughts of being Mike Wazowski from Monsters, Inc. (thanks Nelle!) but, well...really? That would have required, oh I don't know, E-N-E-R-G-Y. Ha!

The Lactation Station at Rex hospital makes me think of Schoolhouse Rocks! Dare I write lyrics? If it's a double dog dare...

For those days after my sweet girl is born when I am doubting every fiber of my being as to whether or not I am a good mom, I have a list of shows to watch to reassure me - any of the "Real Housewives of [INSERT CITY HERE]" series; "16 and pregnant" on MTV; "I'm Pregnant and...[INSERT ANY NUMBER OF ABSURDITIES HERE]" on the Discovery channel; the first half hour of any episode of "Super Nanny;" and reruns of "Married With Children."

I am sleeping much better these days...now that I realize I am simply expected to take naps through the night, not actually sleep through the night, it has been much easier to handle.

At my last appointment, the nurse informed me that the doctor would check to see if I am dilated at my next appointment. Wait - what?!

On a last random note - be kind to every pregnant woman you encounter. At some point during her pregnancy, around week 35, the baby flips and positions her head directly on her mommy's bladder. And when the baby moves, the bladder is headbutted. [I'LL GIVE YOU A MINUTE TO PROCESS THAT FACT.] Ironically, this is about the same time the baby is packing on the pounds, adding to the pressure on mommy's bladder. Did I mention this is week 35 in my pregnancy?

Random with a capital "R,"
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