Belly

Our family traveled to Savannah last weekend to visit my cousin Lilly at SCAD. She graduates in May, and we wanted to see her in her college setting before then… And my window for traveling is growing smaller and smaller as we get closer to welcoming our baby boy into the family, so it was now or never.

"Well, we are here all together, so I'd like for someone to take a picture of me with the kids where you can see my belly," I told Justin and Lea. In my other pregnancies I always took pictures of my belly growing along the way, but I've failed to do so yet in this pregnancy.  I'd like at least a few pictures where you can see my swollen belly so this little guy can see where he went with me before he came out into the world. When I was little one of my favorite pictures was of my mom pregnant with me at the 1983 World's Fair in Knoxville, Tennessee. I loved the fact that I got to go to the World's Fair within her womb. Well, I asked the kids to come around me to take a picture of my belly, and I got clobbered with hugs and kisses for baby brother! This new little fellow is already loved so much. In fact, one of Silas' favorite things to do is lift my shirt so my big belly is exposed and then lie down on it in a big hug.  He gives baby brother kisses too, which sometimes translates to smearing his snot on my stomach.  As you can see, the above picture was a little unsuccessful at showing the belly, though I'm glad it captures some of the love!

Here you go. Here is our family and our newest addition at 32 weeks gestation.  The kids provide a lot of distraction during the pregnancy, which is really nice considering how uncomfortable I often feel.  I love teaching about birth, I love the miracle of growing a child within my womb, I love the strength I feel as I birth my children... but being pregnant isn't exactly a state I love being in.  It is worth it, but it's difficult, tiring work, and I just wanted to take a moment to be for real about that.

   All three kids got to go with me to my check-up yesterday, which was highly entertaining between their shock at my having to go pee pee in a cup, William's surprise at the pictures in a random brochure he picked up on infant circumcision, Vera getting to hold the doptone to find baby's heartrate, and all of them spinning the leg stirrups and swivel light around in circles on the examination table.  It was the first time I had all three at an appointment with me, and by the time we left Silas was crying to leave and demanding a cheese-stick, William was pretending to be a race car down the hall, and Vera was crying because she didn't want to leave or return the "look and find" book we borrowed from the kid area.  It felt like a zoo.  Part of me felt like the nurses and doctors must have been thinking I was crazy to want to add more to this mix.  I felt like a sign reading "crazy lady" was flashing above my head.  And maybe you do let a little 'crazy' in your life with 4 young kids, but I'm ok with that.  Justin and I are excited about our growing family and how it might continue to grow in the future.  The love and laughter will be in full bloom this spring!