I Felt It

So today might be the first day that it all seemed very real to me. Sure my body is changing, growing and my hormones out of whack, but sometimes I get used to how things are moving along that I sort of forget that I am pregnant. I still do a lot of things that I always have and work just as much as I did. People around me don't have trouble reminding me (not that I don't want to be reminded) by rubbing my belly, asking me questions, yelling "don't lift that", or "be careful". It is very comforting to have that many people surrounding me that I know care so much. I stare at my ultra sound picture all the time. It is very hard to envision that baby growing inside me. It often times feels so surreal.

Until yesterday.....Cam and I went out for breakfast at a nearby diner. I don't get to go out for breakfast often as I am always working during breakfast hours. Cam and I finally had the day off together so we decided to go out. After finishing a large meal of banana pancakes, sausage, pemeal bacon and eggs, I sat back and rubbed my full baby belly.
As I was circling my tummy, I felt something. It felt like a heart beat, only not quite the same. I put one hand on my heart and one on my stomach. The beats were not synchronized. I knew it had to happen sometime soon. People have been asking me for weeks. Did you feel it yet? Feel anything today? Nope. No and Nadda. I was starting to get worried. The doctor said between 18 and 20 weeks you should start feeling movement. Well I am into my 20th week now and I felt it! FINALLY! Now I feel like I have a real connection with my baby. I felt it. Next is kicking I guess. Let's hope I don't have a soccer star on my hands.

The Medicine Man Told Me So

I waitress at a resort restaurant in Ontario. Yesterday morning while serving breakfast, I went to approach a table, say "good morning" and pour coffee but before I could open my mouth, the gentleman at the table interrupts me and says "It's a Boy." I am at a point in my pregnancy when in my work uniform, you could sort of tell that I am pregnant but would still be a little scared to ask because I might just have a big belly and could be very offended that someone thought I was pregnant. So he proceeds again, " I know that its a boy." I stood there in confusion. I kind of cocked my head to the side and said, "okay." He then told me that he was something along the lines of an aboriginal medicine man. Well, I have had a strange suspicion since the beginning that I am having a boy but this takes me one step closer to believing. We are not finding out the sex of our baby before hand, so until the day that our baby is born, you are 50% right medicine man.

MAYBE!

Rub the BUDDHA's Belly for Luck!

Well I may not be the Buddha, but my belly sure gets rubbed enough. It won't bring you luck, or riches, or help you pay off your debts, but for some reason complete strangers feel compelled to rub your belly once you start showing as an expectant mother. I guess nobody feels they have to ask to rub a statue of the Buddha so why should they ask a pregnant woman? If I just approached a bald man and proceeded to rub his shiny head, would that be okay? Absolutely not! I would probably be slapped or at least abruptly asked to stop. I guess it's just one of those things that come with having a baby. In order to carry a child,you must accept that you will have your belly frequently rubbed by friends, family and of course - perfect strangers.

The Buddha also has a very keen sense of fashion. Well I guess not Buddha himself, but a girl named Ashley Stearns, founder/designer of Buddha Belly Maternity.

"Buddha Belly Maternity's goal is to provide young and stylish moms-to-be with maternity clothing that is comfortable, affordable, current with industry fashion trends, and most of all, makes women feel confident and proud to show off their new "Buddha Belly!!""

Thank you so much Ashley for giving the rest of us hope. After coming across your website, I now see that it is still possible to be fashionable, trendy and definitely a HOT momma-to-be.