the last box!

I know this may be silly, but every time I look at the baby counter at the top of the page it's a huge reality shock. And even though I look frequently enough, it never seems to be 'old news.' I was shocked to see last week that our baby was finally in the last box!! I just got home from a doctor's appointment. He's in the right position ... but that's about as far as it goes. I'm dilating to a one. No other progression. Looks like he's content to hang out for just a little while longer. And in some ways, I am grateful for that. It allows me time to be reflective ... and here's what I've been thinking about lately.

Amusing milestones I reached through this pregnancy:

1. There is a pair of jeans that I still wear to this day only because of the miraculous capibilities of a belt. I cannot button these jeans - as with many other articles of clothing - but even worse is the fact that I can't even zip any part of the zipper. I wear them quite often, and it's all because of the belt. Amazing.

2. Whenever I poke my belly, or lean against my desk, or exert any kind of pressure on my stomach I feel him move around to try to get comfortable again (at least that's what I think he's doing!). It's fun to play games with him and make him move around in his increasingly smaller home. I figure that if he's making my body look the way it does, the least I can do is have fun with him!

3. I have been rather stubborn at times to continue any form of indepence, but I finally reached the point this past weekend of needing Ryan to tie my shoes. In any normal circumstance I really try hard to accomplish little tasks like this by myself - just because I'm pregnant doesn't mean that I'm incapable! But when we bundled up to go outside in the snow, with all the layers (even though I couldn't zip or button up my snow pants), it was just too painful to bend over. Sad, but true. And I hope it won't happen again.

4. It is a rare day while at work I do not spill food on myself. This belly seems to attrack all kinds of attention, and stains are no exception! Since I sit at a computer all day long, I always have some kind of food out which somehow makes its way onto my shirt. Soup days are the worst!

5. Normally the comment "you look tired" is never a good thing (it obviously means you're not looking your best!); but someone said that to me last week after a night of tossing and turning and I gladly accepted it as a compliment! It's hard work carrying a baby, and it was nice of that person to acknowledge my efforts. :)

6. While playing soccer in high school, my friends and I used to joke that our shin guards made us look like we had 'cankles' - or in other words, there was no definition between our calves and our ankles. Sadly, I have come to know this term more intimately than ever before. Ryan and I joke that sometimes I look like I have 'thankles' ... but that might be one of those you-had-to-be-there kind of jokes!

7. I've had a handful of people say to me, "Why, you're all baby!" Previously, I translated this comment in my head as nice way of saying "Holy cow, you're huge! That belly's about to explode!" I have always just agreed with the person and tried to keep the conversation going. But today, while at the BMV (that's Buckeye jargon for DMV) as Ryan and I finally succumbed to turning in our prettier licenses for ugly Ohio ones, one lady in particular made this comment, and elaborated to say that I would have the baby and be back in a bikini by the beginning of summer! (little does she know ...) As we continued to talk, I realized it was a compliment to have someone say that I'm "all baby" - and I've been ignorantly agreeing with all of these compliments the whole time! Oh well ... it's nice to get a good laugh in once in a while. :)