In All Things Give Thanks

OK, I'm in a cranky, uncomfortable mood right now. In order to capture these miserable days for posterity (and in case I start thinking about #3), here's my rant...

I had a terrible night's sleep last night. Baby Girl was moving all over the place. I call her a flopping fish. You know the visual image of a fish flailing on the dock--its head flopping from side-to-side while the tail flops from side-to-side in the other direction? That's what it felt like. She was hitting me down low in my pelvis at the same time as she was poking the top of my uterus. I am thankful for the active sign of life inside me.

I'm at the point where I have very little free real estate in my belly. Baby Girl and all her gear is squeezing every inch she can. This includes the space where my bladder used to go. Now my bladder is able to swell to the size of a walnut--max. As a result, I have to pee every 20 minutes. It's very repetitive, "Time to make the donuts" (a subtle 80s reference for those of you who remember the commercial). I'm thankful that Baby Girl is growing and I'm apparently staying hydrated. Oh, and for Charmin Ultra Soft.

If I don't drink water (in order to avoid peeing so often), then my braxton-hicks start up. I'm torn. Do I put up with multiple trips to the commode or fake contractions? They're both a nuisance. In the end, I opt for staying hydrated. I'm thankful my body reacts to let me know I need to stop and rest.

It's HOT; I'm HOT. It's been in the high 80s the past few days here in SA. That's ridiculous for February--especially if you're pregnant. I feel like I'm hitting early menopause. I'm always fanning myself like a little old lady with her church bulletin. I'm thankful that we have central air conditioning.

We're in the final countdown and Baby Girl is putting on the last few pounds for survival in the outside world. The latest testament to my roundness? It's getting very uncomfortable to cross my legs when I sit. I am thankful I don't wear skirts.

I'm exhausted. I was falling asleep reading my son Nate his naptime books today. I truly couldn't keep my eyes open. I tried the old "read one sentence from each page" trick to make the story progress faster, but Nate's getting to the age where he caught me on a few pages and made me go back. I need a 20-minute power nap at about 2:00 these days. I'm thankful Nate stays in his room for "quiet time" on days he decides he isn't going to settle down for a nap.

OK, like I said, I'm having an off day--feeling big and hot. Maybe I'll post some pictures so you can commiserate. And then we can always hope tomorrow is a better day. ;)