Say What?!!!!!?

If you will all just take a gander to the right side of the screen, you will note it says I still have over 2 weeks left to go. Not so bad...right? WRONG! Especially when your doctor just told you your baby is still face up (not down like she's supposed to be...she's already being rebellious)...and I'm only 3 cm dialated. Oh wait...there's more. Here's the kicker: she already weighs 9-10 lbs. WHAT?!? How could someone with my small frame grow a child that is a fatty? Again...I blame Reed, which my doc said I am totally justified in declaring. She also said that mama's size and diet has nothing to do with baby's size...which is why it's okay she's a tubby (at least I know I didn't contribute to her girth). She did make me feel better though by assuring me that fat babies are indeed cute--a phrase I have always cringed at and shoved in my bank of ludicrous thoughts--and when I see her and she looks like me, I will just fall in love with her. Didn't I already say I love my doctor? I'm glad she didn't just roll her eyes in disgust at my "I don't like fat babies" comment and exit stage right quickly. Anyway...I'm having a huge baby and that's that. Moving on...
I have passed all of my master's exams with flying colors (who ever came up with that phrase...honestly?) and will graduate December 17th unless I have spontaneously combusted by that point. Thanks for caring.

Whoa!

1. I am so sick of drinking water!
2. I think I look pretty good for 8 months pregnant...that's humble...right?
3. I am uncomfortable doing anything.
4. Sometimes, I think she's going to fall out...so much pressure.
5. No stretchmarks as of yet...gulp!
6. Love every minute of her daily calisthenics even though it occasionally frightens me that she may be having a spasm.
7. I cannot wait to see what she is going to look like.
8. I am starting to get really nervous about the whole labor thing.
9. Heartburn sucks!
10. I can't wait to see Reed with her and raise her together with him.

Fancy Toes!

I finally got my first pedicure. It was lovely. I highly recommend it...and I will be doing THAT again in the near future. My friend Sandra went with me. Here are our toes...

Here are our faces...

Me at 7 months and 1 week, or 29 weeks, or with only 1o weeks and 6 days to go. Whichever you prefer.

"You have a beautiful belly"

The other day, one of my co-workers told me I have a beautiful belly. I thought how nice a comment that was, even though it was coming from a guy. I guess he could have said, "Hey you cow, your belly looks pretty fat today," but he didn't. It totally made my day, too. I always feared that I would retain a ton of water and my face would break out into one giant zit when I was pregnant. Luckily, I have been able to ward off such nonsense. But I still have 3 months to go...so I'd better find some wood to knock on QUICK! In other news, I have just completed my first 4 weeks of school teaching my new middle schoolers. Even though most days are pretty similar, each day brings with it new and interesting "items of business" shall we say. Sometimes these items are pretty down right hilarious. Not so hilarious however are the moments when one of my students decides he is going to throw a big bowl of chocolate pudding across the kitchen in protest of cooking-time and then yells at himself while I make him clean it up. Okay...that last part falls into the 'hilarious' category. Oh...kids! Also, I have just signed up for my master's exams and will be taking my orals October 1. So, please don't curse my name or think bad thoughts about me until after that date...for I shall know it was you. I will finally be done with stupid school in December. I have been going to school now for 10 years (my fault, I guess). I could have been a full-fledged doctor by now. Well, almost. Anyway...to close, here are more pictures of me and my "beautiful belly" at 6 months. Just FYI: I am now 6 months, 3 weeks and counting...

The Best Birthday Present Ever!!!

Yesterday I got to spend an entire 1/2 hour with my baby girl. What a great birthday present! That's right...we're having a GIRL!!! The doctor knew we wanted a boy, so she looked real hard for a penis, but to no avail. Oh well. That's just more incentive to try again. It's just going to be very hard to choose a name now. Reed and I had already agreed on a name we both liked for a boy. Now, we have to start all over. Reed doesn't like the name I want to choose for our girl...but who's doing all the work here? Oh, that'd be me. Who's gonna bring this baby into the world? Oh, that'd be me. So I think I'm entitled to have dibs on the name...right?? Maybe if I convince him to let me name this girl, I will let him name all the other kids whatever he wants. That shows you how much I like this name I chose. Anyway...back to my joyous 1/2 hour birthday present. I am simply amazed at not only nature and God's beautiful creations in action, but the technology we have now to see it happen. I saw just about everything you could see on a human...and she was perfect. Everything was developing normally and she just looked so perfect. She moves around a lot too. It was fun to see her mouth open and close and her arms and feet move right in front of me. It didn't really hit me just how amazing an experience that was until later that day at home. During the appointment, you are so focused on what the doctor is saying and what you are seeing, and then of course the big revealing of the gender. It's hard to really soak it all in and realize what you are priviliged to be seeing. But once I let it all in and was able to concentrate on it, it was the best feeling ever. My first baby. I am already in love with her.

Reed and Jen and then...

Reed and I were thrilled when we woke up the other day to this...




He was in our backyard stealing some shade. Guess we'd better put those screens we bought in the openings in our wall now. This sucker was over 4 feet long and looks as though he's staring right at me in this picture. Reed discovered him (luckily, because he didn't have a rattle) and ran upstairs to share the joyous news with me. I threw some clothes on and hurried downstairs. Reed was a little upset that I just waltzed outside to find it with seemingly no caution at all. Especially because in other news...





I'm pregnant!! I figured it was okay to tell now because:

1. It's getting too hard to hide it and


2. People are probably wondering why I'm "letting myself go" and


3. I'm 4 and 1/2 months





So there ya go. I will finally breed. Watch out world!!!!!!


We'll find out on August 6th that it's definitely a boy...cuz that's what I want!