Halfway there

Hey, so I went to San Francisco! It was the perfect balance of tourist-vacation stuff in the mornings and naps and Harry Potter watching in the evenings. This is why I love my friends.

While I was there, my friend Beth asked me if I kind of high-fived or gave other pregnant women a secret glance when I passed them in the street. I've thought about this more than once, because I LOVE seeing other pregnant ladies out there and I feel this instant bond with them -- I want them all to be my new friends. But I've never said anything or waved or high-fived them because 1) I don't want to assume that someone's pregnant when in reality I have no idea, they could just be gestating a baby made from Wendy's Frosties and Safeway frozen pizza (which I would fully support, BEEN THERE), and 2) I don't want to seem like some strange person insistent on talking to them about their potential pregnancy, you know, in case they can't tell that I'm pregnant too. I have a couple of outfits that I think minimize my pregnant state, and I was careful to wear one of them (a ruched sweatshirt) on the plane to minimize the possibility of being drawn into a never-ending conversation with my seat mate (that didn't work, since he point-blank asked me if I had kids. After he showed me his iPad, his iphone, and said "I'm the type of guy who's going to talk to you whether you want to read your book or not!"). So, you know, I just don't want to seem like a wierdo.

Don't worry about that, Bethy kindly told me. I am pretty sure people can tell. 

Yeah, I guess she's right. Secret's out, huh? 

I thought I was looking extremely pregnant MONTHS ago, and now I look back at those pictures and my god, I cannot believe how skinny I was.

 

We visited the sea lions while we were in San Francisco, and on the educational placard next to their hangout on Pier 39 I learned that it's called "hauling out" when these 1000-lb beasts heave themselves out of the water and onto the docks. That's now the term that I use to refer to my getting into our very high bed at night. And also getting off the couch. Or out of my office chair. Someone should install a little ladder for those sea lions, is what I'm saying, because this shit is HARD.

(I cannot believe I am going to continue getting bigger for 20 more weeks. Hold me.)

I really and truly feel pregnant now, if I didn't before. The fact that my body has decided I should experience every pregnancy symptom known to womankind is helping with that. Heartburn! Bleeding gums! Constipation! Headaches! Insomnia! Eyebrows that grow faster than I can pluck them! The most painful zit I've ever had in my life... on my shoudlerblade! 

 Oh, but also, there's this:

 

For the first time in my life I have nails! On my fingers! They grow back faster than I can bite them and more miraculously, I no longer feel the need to pick at my fingers. That alone, friends, is enough to make the heartburn and headaches and the... bathroom issues worth it. That and the tiny (and some not-so-tiny) baby thumps. God, I never would have thought I could love getting kicked in the bladder so much.

Comments

[RA]

Yikes, that plane seatmate sounds terrifying. In other news, look how you (and Blob) have grown! :)

[Kristabella]

WHY ARE PEOPLE ASKING YOU IF YOU ARE HAVING TWINS?? You're perfectly pregnant and look adorable??

[HollowSquirrel]

Happy halfway! Oh dude, lots of dumb people will say lots of dumb things to you -- get used to it the further along you get, the stupider the "observations" and questions will be. It's like THIS ISN'T TV; I'm a normal REAL pregnant person carrying one baby to term in a healthy way. SUCK IT.

Your nails AND hair look so lush and fabulous!

[mieke]

Jen you look fabulous

[Janssen]

I know just what you mean about thinking you look huge and then looking back and being like "I was TINY!" I was certain at thirty weeks that I'd hit the limit and wouldn't really get any bigger (hint: I was wrong).

[beth]

Your hair is looking especially great!

I'm gonna go haul out off this couch to wash the dishes that i left in the sink all weekend. And some witch or wizard sent me some awesome magic pink rubber gloves so hopefully it will be a more fun than normal.

[Life of a Doctor's Wife]

You are SUCH a cutie!!! And yay for long fingernails!

Also, as long as we're yaying things, yay for being halfway there! That's an exciting milestone.

[Isabel]

Oh OPH, you're looking AWESOME. I can't believe your half way there. (Time goes by so fast when it isn't you!)

Ever since I had Rerun I give women the "how are you" look after they've given birth vaginally. Because now I know and I feel horrible for them.

[Megan]

I am the same way - I kind of want to have a pregnant woman handshake because I feel like we are in some sort of sisterhood. It's silly, but I'm glad someone feels the same way! Love finding your blog - 20 weeks is exciting!

[Audrey]

You're such a cute pregnant lady! I love it!

I was looking back at pictures from earlier in my pregnancy last night and thinking "Damn, I was skinny!" While I'm not sure I look officially pregnant yet (my belly could easily be mistaken for the result of a Q-Doba burrito binge...which I may or may not have had), I do feel like I've got an awful lot of belly for a baby that's only the size of an avocado right now.

[Stephanie]

God. I feel like I need to just walk away from the wheatables. I was feeling pretty good about myself until the last few weeks. I think something inside juat gave way and said well fuck it I am packing on some pounds right now. And seriously the seal analogy is so perfect. How the hell am I going to get off my couch in a few weeks?

[Frema]

Jen, you look wonderful! Seriously.

Also: 20 weeks! Are you going to find out the sex?