21 weeks

I feel him moving all the time now, throughout the day. It is amazing. The other day I was reading, resting the book on my belly. He kicked or punched and THE BOOK MOVED. He's getting stronger by the day and I feel like my belly is growing faster than ever. It's getting firmer and rounder, more goddess-like by the day. I feel great.

I took these pictures this morning:



In other news, we are considering childbirth classes right now. Both educators that have been recommended to us integrate Bradley with other methods, offering the best of everything they've come across as doulas. The classes are a bit pricey, but Jay and I are both really interested in this whole process so we're willing to shell out a few bucks to feel like we're deeply benefiting from a longer-term class series. I've heard good things about a more affordable natural birth class at an area hospital, but those classes always involve a considerable amount of hospital-based information that we don't particularly need (especially since it isn't the hospital I'll transfer to if necessary).

Also, in about an hour I'll be picking up our very first baby purchase: a new Boppy pillow that someone is selling on Craigslist for $2. Can't beat that deal. In case you don't know what the heck a Boppy is, it's this circular pillow thing that you wear around your waist and set the baby on for nursing. It holds the baby up and keeps your arms from tiring, and later it can be used to lay the baby in and keep him from rolling around. You can buy all sorts of fun covers and if I ever suffer from hemorrhoids it will make a great seat. :)

And now for the part that some of you might consider too much information, but in the spirit of full disclosure and the desire to say the things that no one else says about pregnancy, I will now talk about my parts "down there." No one tells you what's going to happen down there, but what used to be pink and somewhat tightly packed is now dark, almost brown, and much larger. I don't particularly care for the way it looks. But for those of you whose spouses or partners might be secretly wondering WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON DOWN THERE, I thought I'd just say that when the books say that things will thicken and darken, they mean it.

Fortunately, in other body news, I have so far kept on track with my weight gain. I've gained 17 pounds - on the high side of the average range, but I think being 6 feet tall and having a larger build means that I get to gain a little more than the median. I don't feel fat anywhere except my middle, and I think the total-body approach of the elliptical machine might actually be toning my arms further than they were before! If I keep working out all the way through to the 200 pound mark, by the time I have this baby and lose all that weight I should be able to run a marathon or something. Or at least a 10 K. :)

Till soon.