The Pregnant Life

Today I am 33 weeks pregnant. I have a month to go until I'm considered "full term" and 7 weeks until my due date, July 7.

Here are some things I've learned, encountered and experienced so far.

The Questions: 
I thought I was asked the same questions over and over when I was engaged to be married... pregnancy tops that a thousand fold. I feel like a broken record saying the following things over and over:

-Yes I am pregnant
-July 7
-A boy
-Yes I'm excited
-Yes Mike is excited too
-Getting there, but they say you're never really ready
-First name is decided but still working on the middle name (I've come to realize this is a VERY nosy question to ask and will refrain from asking pregnant ladies this question from now on. It's very personal and really none of anyone's business)
-Feeling pretty good, although it is becoming increasingly difficult and uncomfortable to do normal things. (...this is my quick and polite answer)
- Thank you, yea I've been pretty lucky so far, it's all going to the belly (...this is really just a complement and I should be grateful. But I suppose you get sick of saying anything after a while)

Things that are harder to do: 
Now that I've gained about 25 pounds which is all projecting in mass from my abdomen, the following tasks have become quite difficult:

1. Getting up: from a chair, a couch, bed, the floor, out of a car. When I get up too fast or awkwardly, I end up straining some ab muscle/ligament/tendon thing that ends up really hurting- which brings me to my next difficult task...

2. Moving: My stamina for walking is just pathetic. I'm legitimately concerned that I am not in good enough physical condition to give birth. I get so winded and wiped out from walking the 4 blocks from the train station to the office (although it is uphill) that I wonder if I'll be able to open the door to the building when I get there. Then of course is the back ache, hip pain and knee soreness that accompanies the windedness that makes my morning commute just a real pleasure cruise.
*Not to mention, my pregnant lady "waddle" is emphasized by my already bowed legs (which i think are becoming more bowed from the new weight gain)

3. Bending over: Putting on shoes, socks, pants, undies, etc is a bit of an ordeal. I either have to sit on the edge of the bed and cross my foot up onto my other leg (like a chubby grandpa) or sit on the floor. I can't just stand, bend over and step into pants anymore because I tip over due to aforementioned 25lb bulk that is precisely between my arms and my legs causing my center of balance to cease to exist.

Random acts of crying:
I've always been a bit emotional but lately it's been harder to keep it contained. Most notably, the other day I was watching Beyonce live in concert on TV.  She was so cool, and strong and awesome and inspiring...it made me cry. Yes, Beyonce singing "Single Ladies" put me over the edge.
Just imagine what hail storm of emotion will be unleashed when this little guy actually comes out and I see him for the first time.... oh jeez here come the waterworks again. NEXT TOPIC QUICK!

The Bathroom. My new home:
Holy cow do I go a lot. I counted the other day, it was in the 30's including the trips throughout the night.

Also, in public restrooms, I have a hard time shutting the stall door because my belly gets in the way. So, I've started using the handicap stall...because yes this counts as a handicap now.

The other weekend I was laughing super hard while sitting indian style on the floor in the nursery watching Mike bewilderingly put up a curtain rod over what he considered a window too tiny to bother with a curtain. And while laughing so hard, maybe a little pee came out.  I also sneezed the other day and maybe a little pee came out then too.

Shout outs!
On that arduous walk from the train station to the office I've been the recipient of some wonderful comments from the local Tenderloin homeless.
"It's almost time!"
"It's too hot to be walkin' around lady!"
"You gon' have yo baby today!?"
"You have a safe delivery now ma'm"
"Congratulations!"


In all honesty though, I really can't complain. I've had a pretty smooth pregnancy and I know many others have it much more difficult- God love ya!