Simply the best!

Wow, we're in our 37th week! I say 'we' because I've become increasingly aware of how much I've seen this as my pregnancy but it's not. It's Joel's too, he just doesn't carry the baby. He does however, carry me... a lot! Sometimes he literally carries me but he's increasingly helping me up from sitting down, bending over for me, reaching up for me, waiting for me and most of all encouraging me.

I've had a lot of supportive people making sure I'm okay but from the moment we found out, Joel has been a fully devoted parent. He was excited even before we took a test to confirm we were pregnant when I expected he'd need some time to get his mind around it all. He was the one who said I shouldn't work during the pregnancy, and to make it possible he changed his job situation. He's always thankful when he walks in the door and can smell dinner cooking and he never complains if I'm just now getting the energy to get it going. There are several times when he's offered to run out just as we're settling in for the night because I mentioned that a certain food sounds good right now. I think we've only done that once for a Frosty but he always means it.

He didn't just show up to register with me, he made it fun for both of us by stopping to pick up Starbucks and having opinions on things. (He also picked a few of his own items for the baby which is why we have this on there!)

He's paid attention to details he would normally care less about and on nights when I'm having a hard time falling asleep he'll rub my back or play with my hair to help me relax no matter how tired he is.

There's no simply way to explain who he is to me and how wonderful of a husband he is. Joel's attitude and commitment towards me, his family and our baby is the most compelling reason why I know we're going to love this adventure. Yes, things will be hard and things will go wrong but it's hard not to be excited when my partner is simply the best there is!

"Can I pop?" and other queries

I'm 32 weeks pregnant. That means there's only 8 weeks until my due date. That also means that if the baby comes a few weeks early like I've been hoping, I'll be able to breathe with full lung capacity in 6 weeks!

Yup, the breathing just keeps getting harder. About a month ago I discovered the only way to put my shoes on quickly was to hold my breath while I bent over. About 2 weeks ago I realized my lack of motivation to weed simply comes from a lack of ability to sit on the ground and bend over at the same time. Two nights ago we were watching Chicago Code and I dropped the remote control. To get it myself would have required me to:

1. Lay down sideways (bending)

2. Roll off the couch (bending)

3. Stand up straight before (believe it or not, this too requires me to bend to be able to get straight)

4. Doing a very ungraceful pregnant-lady plie (definite bending)

5. Stand up straight again so let my lungs get a fill then finally

6. Sitting back down on the couch

By the time all this would be done, I would be gasping for breath and there would be no need for the remote as all 4 minutes of advertisements would have been done and the show back on. Thank goodness for a husband who's more than willing to help with these usually-menial-now-slightly-traumatic experiences.

Yes, occasionally I have a flare for the dramatic but not in this case. Avoiding bending is simply a matter of survival right now.

You see, my stomach has extended as far out as it possibly can. There is no possible room left in there for it to be pushed forward. Because of this, I have started to grow sideways. Yup, sideways.

In spite of the baby taking up extra room on my sides, it has decided there's something about being below my belly button that it doesn't like. So it keeps it's body right about level with it- putting it's arms and legs up into my rib cage. My lungs especially enjoy this during the now-regular 4am stretches that include an extra amount of fist and foot pumping. I find myself waking up gasping for air, as one does when it's lungs get punched repeatedly.

Once I got beyond morning sickness, I've had a pretty easy pregnancy. When people try to keep me from doing daily tasks, moving things or picking things up, my mantra has been "I'm pregnant, not an invalid"... until now. Several times a day my questions about who this baby will be get interrupted by logistical questions like "The baby still has to grow. Does that mean it'll just get tighter living quarters for these last few weeks or does that mean I'm gonna pop? CAN I pop? " and "I heard this baby's supposed to begin moving lower so I can breathe? Will it do this soon so I can bend again or is this baby going to have my defiant streak in it and decide to not move lower at all despite what EVERY medical advisor says? Do I remember how to bend?"

Not so graceful, I know, just like my plies right now. But there will soon come a day when the questions will be answered or won't matter anymore. Because I'm holding our son or daughter and breathing just fine.