This week’s ultrasound checked out fine. No, better than that. Turns out though my belly is small, the baby is exactly the size she’s supposed to be for 32 weeks. I’m just wall-to-wall baby; with her head tucked under my left hip bone and her butt under my right ribs. So that was the pinch that keeps nagging me just under my ribs. My stomach organ is actually under my sternum now. No wonder I never feel hungry. The scary thought is that with eight more weeks to go, where’s she going to grow into?? I’m beginning to have nightmares that a foot will protrude from my throat and a hand will jet out from between my legs long before her due date (Aug. 22 for the memory impaired 😉 ). Here are the ultrasound photos that Millcreek Imaging took. I love that place. I had one ultrasound done at HealthSouth in Park City and they were awful- the customer service I mean. It’s tough to describe but at Millcreek they answered all of your questions and concerns, described the procedure as like a football play-by-play and acted happy to have you there. At HealthSouth no one even said goodbye to me as I left. And they take better photos :). See for yourself.

Greetings from Lake Charles, Louisiana! It’s cloudy, rainy and grey this morning but what do I really care when I’m inside a hotel all day?
BTW, flying a puddle jumper, standby, to anywhere longer than 30 minutes away when you’re pregnant is extremely discouraged. Trust me and I’m not huge. The woman next to me had a comparable belly at 20 weeks where I am 30.
Still, my back, butt, tummy all cramped. Those Skywest seats were made for Eva Gabor’s dogs not humans. Hot and hungry- I forgot to feed us much more than a couple of Fig Newtons before take off and all that is offered in flight now are biscotti and raisins. Of course, it would have been much worse had I not even gotten on the flight and had to wait it out at the airport until night for the next available seat. Talk about a sore ass. I got lucky. The return includes first class so I’m looking forward to that.
I’m home next Wed.. Some of you might think I’m silly to travel to the sweltering, bug infested, humid SE state in July in my third trimester but I plan to stay indoors or by the pool, sleep often and show off my new clothes from Prana. (The capris and tops will be worn long after the baby pops as they are stretchable, comfortable, sporty, stylish and way cool. I’ll try to include a flashy pic from the conference). The reason I’m really here is to attend the annual outdoor writers conference. I missed last year’s event and because it’s always so inspirational and motivational I had to come this year. I get to meeting new writers and suddenly my brain’s a tilt-a-whirl with new story ideas and ways to market myself. Plus, the conference paid my way since I’m one of their featured speakers. How could I resist? I guess the mommy card will now be a part of my writing forever so I need to hunt for new ideas. And that’s ok. I want to share what I learn.
My belly’s growing and the doc is a little less anxious. She ordered another ultrasound for me on June 27 just to make sure Sage still has 10 fingers and 10 toes. But the heartbeat’s strong and she moves when she should.
Aside from a glitch the other night, Ryan’s been a doll. I got up to pee at about 2:30 a.m. backed up to the seat and dropped in! I screamed, “God Dammit, Ryan! You left the toilet seat up.” and he woke up cracking up. It was everything I could do to maintain my anger and not laugh too. Although it was funny, I was pissed. He doesn’t wipe the rim down and it was sooooo gross. Why can’t men understand that when we use the toilet 70 percent more than they, we get the say?? Plus, it’s late, it’s dark, I’m tired and I back into the thing. It’s not like I KNOW that the seat ain’t down. Ugh. At first, argued with me and put up quite the fight but the next night the seat was down. That’s all that matters. 🙂

Eleven weeks left and counting. The most incredible part about being pregnant(aside from having an alien grow within you)is that you learn so much about an entirely foreign topic. Like someone about to depart for South America for three months, I’ve delved into every kind of research possible including networking, magazines, TV shows, books, classes and even prenatal yoga. And I’m not a Yoga person; but stretching seems like a good idea at this time.
I walked into class and the teacher asked me if I was pregnant! I had to lift up my shirt to show her my little tummy and prove I wasn’t making it up. I’m small for 7 months but Stef says it’ll be ok. Hell, I’m psyched I won’t be birthing a 12 pounder. Apparently because I’m fit, I tend toward the small side.
Rest easy. I am beginning to show. Especially when I wear tight tops. But it’s all in the stomach. No round face or arms. And the baby’s kicking up a storm lately. At the baby shower, girls teased that I was just pretending to be pregnant to cover up for my boob job. No, I’m really pregnant. The cleavage is just a welcome side effect.
Speaking of the shower- Thanks, everyone for creating such a diverse, unique afternoon of fun. The guests ate, drank (a lot) and were pampered with products from Mountain Body in Park City, massage therapists and Lucy the manicurist. They purchased toys from Polly, the Passion Party consultant, listened to an off-beat woman talk about self-healing and angel spirits and were treated to the acoustic sounds of the Masturbating Hearts. David Baker provided the icing on the cake by appearing in nothing but a shiny green thong. The gifts were great. I went home with five Hefty bags of kids clothes. I’m still in need of bigger items but Park City yardsaling has proven quite effective.

Healthwise, I am doing well. Spent two days last week at Solitude Resort as a featured skier in Cold Snap – a Sci Fi Channel movie about giant spiders that attack a ski area. I’m down to only one pair of ski pants that still fit me. Sigh. But, again, unless I flash bare belly, no one notices. Hiked yesterday in Summit Park and did my stair stepper this evening. Tomorrow, I’ll try to climb. I just got a full-body harness from Petzel to keep the pressure off my tummy.

On my end, I couldn’t be having an easier pregnancy. I’m more than six months and still wearing all of my clothes and not attracting attention as “putting on weight” or being pregnant. Unfortunately, my doctor isn’t so psyched. Apparently, I’m on the small side, anemic and borderline gestationally diabetic. Very scary stuff. The orders are to eat better, take iron supplements and get more rest. The small part, Stef said, is to be expected because I have small hips, waist, etc.
I know that I should be eating better but that reality check shocked me out of my diet of Oreos and French fries. I’m going to turn green; I’ve never had so many veggies in my life. Tonight Ryan and I sat down to spinach salad, steak and brussel sprouts. The first time ever that I’ve cooked brussel sprouts. But I don’t want a stupid or sick baby so I’ll do what it takes. Yesterday’s ultrasound showed a very healthy kid that’s on the small side. Stef needs to get back to me, though, for confirmation.
My baby shower is this Sunday. I’m excited to see everyone but I kind of wish I was bigger to give them something to pat. No one has reached out to try to touch my tummy yet (a good thing since I don’t like strangers touching me). Only Ryan gets to do that. :). Speaking of whom, it looks like he’s 100 percent on board. I didn’t plan for this because I was afraid to be disappointed. But now that he’s actually excited about the baby, I couldn’t be more excited myself. He’s been adorable- making sure I eat right, joining me for my baby sign language class; and we have open conversations about the birth, logistics, raising Sage and what to do if she wants to watch South Park with us. Even his family has been supportive and happy for us. Both his mom and his dad sent me congratulatory cards, ask regularly how I’m doing, and when Ryan called his mom this afternoon, she was out shopping for baby clothes!! I never in a million years dreamed this could happen. Sage is one lucky little girl.

Onto my quick update of the ‘sitch’. Six months this week! I’m still fitting into my size 26 James Jeans cords I got this winter at the Sundance Film Festival. Take a look at the photos shot this morning. Thank the fashion gods for low-rise waistbands! I even wore a Lee Jeans denim mini when Ryan and I dove into the Tavernacle last Saturday night for dueling pianos.
At times I’d like to hold a sign saying, “I’m not fat, just pregnant” but Ryan says no one would even think I look fat…yet. Charming ;). I went to TJ Maxx last week and upped my cup size to ‘C’ . Wahoo! Kristen exclaimed that it looks like I had an enhancement. I’ve been extremely lucky so far- no swollen anything, no debilitating pains, no continuous nausea, no skin breakouts (whew!), no stretch marks, no significant mood swings, no loss of ‘desire’. I feel an occasional wiggle down there that reminds me I really am pregnant. I’m sure that will change in a matter of days but I’m counting my blessings so far.
My spare room will soon become the nursery but because Ryan is living in SLC and not here (he walks to work), we have to double up on the big items. So far, I’ve collected a Peg Perego high chair, Graco Pack n’Play and a handful of kids books from yard sales and my friend Karen gave me some Avent baby bottles, two carseats and some Pooh posters. My collection is growing steadily.
At friends’ requests (because I had no idea people even did this), I registered at Babies ‘R’ Us at Amazon.com but I’m digging the hand-me-downs. Why let perfectly good baby stuff go to waste?? The baby shower is at Kristen’s house at the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon, May 21. Ladies, email me for details if you can make it.