Niceness and Bathrooms

I have found that with the exception of my time in California, this pregnancy has been the weirdest social experience. The belly is simply an invite for humanity to comment. I do not own the belly, society does. And this means many things I had never realized before.

First of all, people think they now can speak to you at any time. At first this threw me off. I started to really look pregnant and not so much chubby (or pregnant and chubby) at 17 weeks. Strange things started happening. People would smile at me, they would let me cut in line. In fact a few weeks ago at Facia Luna, while in line for the bathroom (it was a uni stall so the line was long) I was faced with the usual predicament. Long ladies line, no men lines. The men went in and out in 30 seconds flat while I had to wait for some chick to puke up her meal or do her hair or who knows what, all I know is it took a long time. A dude saw my belly and told me to use the men's room, promising he would keep guard for me. At first I took this invite warily thinking of that horrifying story of the pervert looking at ladies butts from the bottom of a latrine, but I realized this was no pervert and took the offer. It is things like this, you just don't expect people to be nice, but when you are pregnant...people want to be nice.

I was stopped yesterday in the mall by a security guard. He was really concerned about my large brace for the cysts. He was convinced that the computer was bad for both my wrists and my baby. He told me to quit using the computer. It was weird.

That evening on the way home there was a metro employee who saw me hobbling from the metro. He told me to take it easy and asked if I needed to cross the street. I told him I did and he offered to stop traffic and let me cross. I should point out that this was not a traffic cop or a crossing guard, no this was a metro employee charged with cleaning up litter and answering questions. So weird.

I am still not used to the idea of being a mother. Although I feel this incredible sense of responsibility impending, I don't feel matronly-yet. At work someone asked me how the momma was. I thought she was referring to my mother, and informed her that she was in good health. Yikes.

Our little girl is kicking a lot. I am finally at 24 weeks (going on 25). This is the minimum age of viability and although I have no intention or wish to deliver early it is really nice to know that there is a chance at this point.

Kicking is so weird. My kicks are still little and I have not been able to distinguish body parts or anything like that but the kicks feel strange. It is almost as if there is a fish swimming inside my stomach. The only way to describe it is when you know something is moving down there and you have no control of it, and it is generally painless. This is such a weird experience, I consider the size of mankind, I am certainly not the first to get pregnant, but there really is nothing that could have prepared me for the emotional and social changes that happen when you are preggers.

Ouch!

Today I had to go to the doctor. Apparently I have a ganglion cyst, it has been waking me up at night. She took a needle to it and tried to pop it. I was grossly facinated. I had to watch. Maybe my calling should have been medicine. I now have to wear an immobilizer brace to get it down again.

I also bought a web cam so my parents and family can see my belly and eventually my child-to-be. It feels like a scene from 2001. Already this computer is displaying HAL like characteristics.

Hawaii

I forgot to post our adventures in Hawaii. It was amazing. We ended up going to Kauai and staying in Poipu. I loved it. We had a lot of fun....our last hurrah before life changes as we know it. Here are some pics.

Cravings

I really haven't been the best at keeping this blog up to date. So I am going to be quick here. First of all, we saw our little GIRL on the ultrasound 3 weeks ago. She is already super cute. I was really surprised it was a girl but I am happy because there is not a granddaughter to be found on either mine or Seth's side. I expect her to be spoiled by all.

We decided to say good bye to Alexandria in hopes of a two bedroom apartment in Arlington. We found a great place with a lot of really friendly neighborhoods in the Courthouse area. This is perfect for us. Seth's commute was cut by more than 45 minutes and he drops me off at the metro, so I don't have to get cold. We love it. The restaurants tempt us often but if that is the biggest problem with the neighborhood, we aren't doing bad.

I have had insatiable cravings. Nothing like chalk or oil or something weird like that but I can't seem to get enough Potbelly's turkey sandwiches. The problem is there is no Potbelly's to be found where I work. It takes me 45 minutes just to get to a Potbelly's from work. My cravings are unbelievable. I also broke my fast of McDonald's. It had been three or four years since I ate there. I wanted some chicken nuggets, they were disgusting. Not only that but since when did McDonald's go from 6 nuggets to 10. I couldn't eat them all. They were disgusting. So, McDonald's may sound good but it doesn't taste good.

So that is about it. We are chugging away, our baby reaches the minimum age of viability this week...which is relieving, but I still have a long way to go. I feel her kicking all the time. I am including a pregnant picture of me for those who keep requesting (although I doubt if anyone reads this anymore).

This is me at 17-18 weeks, I think I was sticking my stomach out...I really look like this now (24 weeks).