Bumpdate: 38 weeks, 2 days

Yes, I'm in my underwear. No, I don't mind.

Hopefully you don't either?

Or Clay?

I think biscuit bubba might be a little lower today. She's definitely pushing some...things out of my body.

I should have titled this post: Getting Too Intimate With Amy.

We'll leave it at that, good people of the world. But hopefully a sign that things are hap-happening!

And now, a bath for my aching back. (Pray I don't eat the bath salts, my new pica obsession.)

Bumpdate: 37 weeks, 2 days

My belly now looks like this:

  Which makes my mood look like this:

Harumph!

Bumpdate: 36 weeks, 2 days

At this point, I don't think there's much new to be said about my gut.

It's large, in charge, and something-something a barge.

Lately, when I talk to people (read: strangers) they boom: "ANY DAY NOW, AY?" Although not always so Canadian. And then I disappoint them - there are heavy sighs - by saying I'm still a few weeks away from my due date. Like, they want this baby born rightthen, as I'm ordering my chai and hiking up my pants.

I've got zero idea when this biscuit is making her arrival, but I'm still putting my bet on making it to February. She hasn't dropped yet and while I'm getting a few more Braxton Hicks contractions here and there, she seems pretty cozy in the tum.

Plus, I really (really) want her daddyo here for the labor/birth without an airport rush involved - and all of that will be completely avoided if we can cruise to February. So! While I know all those January people out there with secret (or not-so-secret) wishes that she come on their birthday mean well, I'mma gonna go ahead and say - don't do it, biscuit!

And c'mon. Isn't it obvious that she's an Aquarius like her mama? Cue Hair soundtrack.

Bumpdate: 35 weeks, 3 days

Shirts don't cover my belly anymore. Beware, early preggo people! Garments you once laughed at for being "ENORMOUS"? You will dwarf them.

But really, dude. Is this thing for real? We keep saying it's like a prosthetic belly at this point - it's that big and...separate? I've decided to have a little talk with Mother Nature: How about we unstrap the belly at night and put it in a little growing pod? Then I strap 'er back on in the morning and do the heavy lifting during the daytime. Yes? No? Thoughts?

So the biscuit is still definitely baking furiously. I think she might be a ballet dancer like her mama with all the stretching and turning that goes on in there...ALL DAY LONG. Love her bum to pieces, though, and glad she's having fun with all my...parts.

To think! Just a few more bumpdates and then she's outta there! Muah. We can't wait to meet her.

Bumpdate: 34 weeks, 2 days

I basically can't roll over without assistance.

(And please par-don the mess; as I mentioned, we're in the midst of a decorating/organizing overhaul.)

Still feeling pretty good, though sleep can be very hard to come by. I've been popping half a Unisom the past couple nights, which helps me keep my eyes shut - but also makes for a groggy preggo come morning time. Nothing a little caffeine won't fix. Yup, Baby C! You're growing on drugs and caffeine. Yum yum!

With the ringing in of the new month/new year/new decade, it's really hit home how close we are to a biscuit in the basinett. As in...next month. As in...maybe this month if she gets any antsier.

Let the thumb twiddling begin!

Bumpdate: 33 weeks, 3 days

I've got no idea if these are even looking any different week-to-week at this point, but here we are! Bumpalumping along. Hope ya'll had a great Christmas, if you do that sort of thing, or just a relaxing day off if that's more your deal. I cooked us some brekky (first time making biscuits in celebration of the Biscuit - they were okay, but a little burnt on the bottom...tips?) and we opened our lovely presents and lounged around and enjoyed the view and talked with our fams on the phone and ate too much (I also made scones? wha?) and napped. It was a good day and holy what-the-what? Our last Christmas without a kiddo. Woh.

Biscuit's still been moving a lot a lot a LAHT lately so that can make eating/sitting/sleeping/living a leeeeeeetle uncomfortable at times. Lately, she's been going especially psycho during movies. We saw Avatar (fun! goofy! be sure to do it in 3D!) and she moved the entire 2.5 hours. Then last night we watched Inglorious Basterds (two big thumbs up) and she was elbowing (?) me the whole time; these super sharp pokes that wouldn't quit. So. She either can't get enough of the ceen-ima or she really hates James Cameron and Quentin Tarantino. I'll ask her in a few weeks.

THAT'S RIGHT. A FEW WEEKS. Gulp. And yay!

Bumpdate: 32 weeks, 2 days

Double shot!

The front angle always weirds me out, so I thought I'd let you share in the weirdness. That "cute" little "extra" belly button up top? Oh, that's where my pierced hole never filled in. Things they don't warn you about when you're 19 and ready to get wild.

Still feeling pretty good, but I just don't know how there's anymore room for her to grow. She moves CONSTANTLY and with SERIOUS DETERMINATION. Like she's trying to bust her way out of my belly button. Or hip bone. Or ribs. I talk a lot about wanting to avoid induction, but seriously? By the time 40 weeks rolls around I'm pretty sure I'll be begging them to pull this baby OUTTA ME.

Bumpdate: 31 weeks, 2 days

Happy Friday!

I like to call this ensemble my Stage Manager for Community Theater Outfit. Baggy black sweatpants and a matching turtleneck? Check! Just add a headseat, a marked-up Our Town script, and a self-important attitude -- and I'm complete!

Oh and stuff in the background? BABY THINGS. Lots and lots of BABY THINGS. I want to eat them.

Also, sometimes I like to look at myself from the front and do poses because I like to look unpreggo for five seconds. (Sidenote: If you don't know me in real life, this is how I like to stand when I'm hanging around. It's a little harder when knocked up.)

And now! Now, I must find somewhere to go so I can wear my new rain boots in the drizzle. Lates!

Bumpdate: 30 weeks, 2 days

And who are my my co-stars this week? Why, our new car seat and stroller combo and a very cute Ken doll business model husband! Hello, nifties!

Chick mag-net.

(Apologies for the ghostly lighting. It's 100% fog-covered outside and makes it all spooky inside.)

Last night, Clay came in late from the airport. I was already nestled in bed, pretending insomnia wasn't rounding the corner, and soon heard him fumble into the darkness, exclaiming: "Ohmygodastroller!" when he saw its outlined shadow in the adjoining room. Just wait till the breast pump arrives...

But seriously, folks. Can you believe we're in the 30's now?!

B-a-n-a-n-a-s.

Had my monthly check-up yesterday (which will now be an every-two-weeks check-up because, well, it's just that time) and all looks great. Heartbeat is happy and strong, belly measuring right on schedule, pee and blood pressure are problem-free. My Braxton-Hicks contractions are on a totally normal schedule now, which is a relief. I still get them a few times a day, but that's actually a good sign at this point - shows the bod is warming up for the big event. (Do I really have to do that? I ask myself ten times a day. Yes. Yes, I do.)

In closing, I remember my buddy Nik wrote a post this spring when she reached 30 weeks, about finding a carton of cream with an expiration date AFTER the baby's due date. This means that we, too, could find such a dairy product right now. N-u-t-s.

Bumpdate: 29 weeks, 2 days

Hello, franz! Hope you had a lovely Gobble Day. Ours was very quiet, but quite nice. I made corn bread and turkey chili in the slow cooker, cuddled with mah man and mah lady, and watched a bunch of Monk on Hulu. It was cozy and sleepy and good for my belly.

Which, by the way, is doing just fine. Wednesday's ultrasound showed my cervix is long and closed, there's lots of amniotic fluid up in there, and the baby is happy dappy. (And, may I say, cuuuuuute?) My belly still likes to get tight at night, but I'm learning that's just what I (and lots of other preggos) do. I drink a lot of water and put up my feet a lot and we're all good.

P.S. Look how HIGH my belly is getting! Breathing is getting interesting. Her feet live in my RIBS. Bam!

Bumpdate: 28 weeks, 2 days

A new studio locale! Hangin in Missouri, visiting with our buddies, Steph (a midwife! I made her poke my belly last night to find the bum) and Jonathan. Everyone but me and the bump is at work.

And we've got snacks!

(Look close for my new, fun, pink stretch mark! Yip!)

Bumpdate: 27 weeks, 2 days

And yes, I'm in my undies.

Bumpdate: 26 weeks, 2 days

Can't tell if you can tell, but apparently there's been some sort of belly change this week. Multiple people in the past few days have said WELL NOW YOU LOOK PREGNANT.

Oh do I?

I think the difference is that even under clothes, this thing is getting serious. All business all the time.

The weirdest change is calculating what I can and can't fit through. Like the small spaces between parked cars or tables at a restaurant. And of course I always err on the side of not-caution. And then wine glasses are falling or I'm suddenly contemplating calling Triple A to get me out from between these Saabs.

25 weeks, 2 days

Yes. I ate a person.

"Sleeping" didn't happen too much last night. I went from mildly-stuffed-up to cannot-breathe-through-nose-while-horizontal and my back has been in bad shape. It's just so hard to get comfortable; I'm starting to understand why preggos end up sleeping upright in chairs. Sad puppy dog face.

So I'm kickin it at home in my pjs. Sad to be missing the Halloween costumes at work, but hoping I can fool my bod into some zzzz's when it least expects it.

Onward ho!

Bumpdate: 24 weeks, 2 days

Horizontal stripes, baby!

(Thanks, Christie and you're welcome, Eric for taking this shirt out of your house.)

According to Billy the Doorman, told to Clay the Spouse, it "looks like she's gained 7 pounds since Saturday!" WHAT OF IT, BILLY.

But here's the thing. Extra l-b's or not, I'm feeling good lately. I can eat foods without dying, my roly polyness makes me giggle, and my mood is, at times, bordering on euphoric mania. Oh, hormones. Whattapal!

Oh AND. AND! Guess what came in the mail yesterday? (Last part in a sing-songy voice, please.) These puppies!

Yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum. YUM.

Bumpdate: 23 weeks, 2 days

It's getting hard to tie my shoes, guys. Which is why I made the executive decision to do away with ties and ordered moccasins yesterday. Please don't shame me if by the end, I'm grocery shopping barefoot.

Bumpdate: 22 weeks, 2 days

Please ignore my gaping mouth - I've got a cold and can't breathe otherwise. Of course, I'm always a little shocked at my appearance, too. Let's just say shaving is getting...athletic.

Bumpdate 21 weeks, 2 days

My Buddha belly and Buddha.


-- Posted from my iPhone

Bumpdate: 20 weeks 2 days

Work bathroom! Huge belly! All very sexy!


-- Posted from my iPhone

Bumpdate: 19 weeks, 2 days *Now with better picture*

*Post-edit: For some reason, last week's picture looks bigger than this week's. Um wrong. I'm suddenly HUGE now, much more than last week so...blame me and my awful iphone skillz. Back me up here, Clay? On second thought - please don't.*

Writing this in a cab so I'm using the "1974" setting on my camera app to lighten up the shadows.

Overslept like woah, but zzz I needed it.

Almost exactly halfway to b-day/d-day, people.

Woot! Or, on the other hand, AH!