Twenty Two Plus Weeks

At my midwife appointment yesterday, I was twenty two weeks (plus four days) but my uterus was measuring [at least] twenty-four weeks!

According to Chris, this doesn't mean my baby is unduly large or anything like that. I think things just stretch out a lot faster the second time around. I hope so. I'm scared of delivering a giant baby.

Last I checked, I was up nine pounds. I think this photo makes me look a little smaller than I feel (angling the camera down away from the overhead light will do that).

I mostly feel pretty good, but I've slowed down climbing stairs. And I am getting stomach aches pretty frequently, especially after dinner. Nothing to do but climb into bed... sometimes by 8 pm.

I'm excited that in just over a week, the baby will be officially (if minimally) viable. Of course I don't want her born any time soon but it's crazy to think that it's even possible. That a bunch of cells thrown into my body could turn out a real living person. Wild.

More Photos

Holiday card contender number one. 0396

Holiday card contender number two -- 0407. I like that it's more direct of her face, though I love the light on her hair in the first one.
(What would it look like with less tree showing?)

Love the composition. 0275

0348 Another option for the FB reveal. (See below for the alternative -- PLEASE someone tell me how I can freely move photos around on Blogger!)

Love: how secure she is being loved.

Don't love: my back fat. Could we crop this? This would be a private photo, not for a card.

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LOVE how joyous and free she looks.
Don't like how I like like I'm straining to hold onto her.
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Versus the original favorite for FB reveal, 0496.

More Photo Comparisons -- Tea Party (it helps to see them laid out together). For photos at home.

0060. I love how we look so absorbed in each other.  

0067? I love how we are looking at each other. So much love and delight.

This (069)? It's starting to grow on me. A lot.

Or this? (055)

Twenty One Weeks Belly Shot

Feels like I'm getting bigger every day!

And some good news: my Materniti21 was negative for Trisomies 13, 18, and 21! 

Cookies

Guess which cookie Calliope made?

Only a tiny little spoon works for mixing an enormous bowl of flour, salt, and baking soda.

Obviously.

Comments From Calliope

"Mommy, why do dogs pee and poop on the street?"

"Well, have you ever seen a doggy use a potty? They don't know how to use the potty so they have to go pee and poop outside."

"Oh! Dogs don't have belly buttons because they don't know how to use the potty yet!"

(Made perfect sense to her, anyway, if not to me.)

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Lying on the couch together and looking at her small legs next to my longer ones.

"Mommy, someday I'm going to have big feet like you."

"Yes, that's true."

"And I'll have hair on my tushy!"

"Yes, that's true, too."

"And I'll have a really big belly button like you!"

(Well, my sweets, only if you are unlucky enough to end up with an umbilical hernia like me, as a result of pregnancies with you and your sister.)

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"Calliope, sometimes pregnant women -- that is, women with babies in their bellies -- get tummy aches and have to take tummy medicine (aka the tropical flavored Tums I take that Calliope is enamored with).

At 6:15 the next morning, a Saturday, of course, 

"Mommy, the baby in my belly needs medicine!"

Sigh. 

Fall Photos, Age Three

A few of my favorites from our recent photo shoot. I'm so glad we did it in the park -- Calliope had a blast with our tea party and with running around. I love our photographer! (IM me if you are in NYC and looking for an affordable photographer who is a sweetheart to boot. She does gorgeous maternity shots, too, for late in pregnancy.)

Please vote on your favorites... for both a holiday card, for my wall (framed), and for my [hopefully tasteful] FB reveal of my pregnancy.

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0496 

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