Bump Watch: Week 27

 

{See the previous belly growth progression photos HERE}

I am finally in my THIRD trimester! Only 11 weeks left to go!!! I can't believe it's almost over. I've been feeling great, for the most part. Except I'm getting BIG! Yesterday my sweet husband lifted me nearly half a foot off the ground trying to pull last years bathing suit up over my belly. Lets just say it was not a pretty scene with me yelling, "Stop! It hurts!" as he tugged while grunting, "I've allll-most got it! Hold still!" with beads of sweat forming on his forehead. The whole crotch of the bathing suit nearly busted open. It was a pretty sexy moment for me, let me tell you. It didn't even go up over my boobs! SO it's safe to say, It's TIME for a maternity suit! (womp-womp!) 
I just bought THIS one & I love it on.

I've noticed that my appetite has increased quite a bit recently though (I ate TWO whole grilled chicken burgers yesterday as Dustin looked on in horror, warning me to SLOW DOWN as I neared the end of my first sandwich. Maybe he was scared he'd have a wife with two stumps instead of hands. He quickly whipped me up another sandwich in an effort to prevent stumps! What'a guy. I've been eating a ton of eggs. I'm craving them like crazy! I went through 2 dozen eggs last week alone. I feel like that's probably normal?...

During our Bradley Method birthing class this week, the instructor said that the penis is like a sword and the vagina is like the sheath of a sword, but most "feminists" would rather refer to the vagina as a "yoni" (she included herself in this feminist opinion of the name). I then politely raised my hand and said, "Actually, I'd rather refer to my vagina as a sheath to my husbands penis, the "sword" because I like the sheath meaning much better. It makes woman's vagina's sound more powerful!" Everyone just looked down at their work books and didn't acknowledge my statement. I guess I thought more woman would chime in and agree?? I don't know what exactly possessed me to object to the "yoni" name for the vagina, but it rubbed me the wrong way and I needed to let the class know. (I make really great first impressions.) The teacher just smiled and nodded and continued on with her point. (My poor husband. I feel sad for him-having to deal with my outbursts. But really, he knew what he signed up for when he married me.) And I felt passionate about expressing my views on the subject. So whatever.

Dustin (and Conrad) are convinced we're having a girl and I'm sort of convinced it's a boy. I still don't want to know though. I feel like the surprise of not knowing will be that extra motivation to get the baby out while I'm in labor. When I was carrying Conrad, I was all out in front and this time, the curve in my back has disappeared and now I'm just round.all.over. Which makes me think it could be a little lady...

I can't get enough of Ina May. Seriously, if you're pregnant, read her books. They WILL rock your world. Her book has been a life saver for me. I feel like every time I seem to hear that little voice that says that I'm broken and won't be able to birth my baby, all I have to do is stuff my nose in one of her books and get my confidence back. I'm learning that a big part of having a successful birth is seeing how the emotional, spiritual and psychological aspects of a woman's heart and mind can hinder her birth and even stop the laboring process all together. The mind and body have to be in agreeance with one another. Through this process, God has been healing and teaching me so much about who He is, and has answered SO many prayers along the way. 

I also feel incredibly blessed to have such a great support system around me. The more I meet other VBAC mom's who have successfully done what I'm attempting to do, the more confirmation I feel about birth being a natural process where when a woman is supported and when unnecessary intervention is not interrupting the act of birth, she is able to trust her body and let it do what it knows how to do.

OH, and I also got to be apart of my friend's home birth this week.
You can check out the photos I took HERE.