37 1/2 Weeks

This is what I look like this week, at 37 1/2 weeks pregnant. However big I look, I guarantee you I feel bigger. I have very regular Braxton-Hicks contractions (sooo not "false" contractions, let me tell you), skin so itchy and raw that I can't sleep, and lots of pressure and soreness in places I won't mention or describe. I am a poster-child for the pregger waddle and move at a rate of speed not unlike that of a turtle, and that's when I'm booking it. God forbid I make the mistake of getting down on the floor; getting up again is a struggle of mammoth proportions. My hands are swollen, my feet are flat. I'm done. Aria's Itsy Bitsy Yoga instructor told me that the mark of readiness for labor is when 30hrs of it starts to sound good. Bring it on, I say. Let's get this party started. Whenever this little lady is ready to make her appearance, I'm happy to have her and the sooner, the better.

You Know You're Very Pregnant When...

Facebook friends will have read many of these already, but for those less technologically inclined, I thought I'd post here as well.

You know you're very pregnant when...

...your husband has to help you get your socks and shoes on b/c you can't reach your feet (bring back flip flop weather!).

...the maternity clothes start to get too small in the belly.

...the lady that makes your coffee and that you see at least a couple times a week and has your drink memorized says upon seeing you for the first time this week, "Wow, that baby is getting big."

...people at the local street festival stop in their tracks to say "You look like you were ready to pop yesterday!" and then you have to explain that you in fact have a few more weeks to go.

...people stop making eye contact, instead approaching you with eyes firmly affixed on your massive belly and the greeting, "Hi. Has your baby dropped yet?"

...you lose your pen, look everywhere around you knowing you just had it, then stand up and see it fall out from under your big baby belly. Beware: This same thing can happen with cell phones, small toys and towards the end, the occasional book.

Family Portraits

 

"Mommy" by Aria

Chalk on Chalkboard

"Aria & Mommy" by Aria

Chalk on Chalkboard

Note that the toddler's self-portrait

is larger than the portrait of Mommy. 

Coincidence or is there a deeper meaning there?

"Daddy" by Aria

Chalk on Chalkboard

My Cuties

Can I have some wine with that cheese?

Posing at the Park

Aria has never posed for a picture in her life...until now. Suddenly last Thursday everything changed. No longer was she too busy running and moving and jumping and spinning. She saw me with the camera, I asked her to stop and smile and...SHE STOPPED AND SMILED!!! I couldn't believe it. Just look at these beauties! Gorgeous pics of a beautiful girl and not at all blurry from the camera's inability to keep up with a zooming toddler. We were at the park and she was loving the motorcycle-bouncy-thingy, so proud she could make it move and shake and climb up it herself. She was happy to show off. Here are a few of her cheesiest, cheeriest moments:

I love that grin!

Our Little Artist

My mom is amazed at Aria's artwork and often tells those she knows about what a burgeoning artist we have on our hands. I've been told others don't always believe that Aria can draw faces at 2 (when are they supposed to start drawing faces?) but it's true. For weeks, all the images she drew were similar - faces with eyes, ears, cheeks, hair, chin, etc - and she'd tell you what and who she was drawing as she did it. Here's one example:

Faces by Aria
June 16, 2009

And another earlier version of her faces:

Aria's Chalk Drawing of Shelby
March 26, 2009

Favorite Moments of the Summer

Aria's First Caterpillar
May 2009
We saw this caterpillar as we were waiting for friends on the Hill.
I explained we had to be very gentle with it so Aria let me put it on her arm, then calmly watched it crawl on her, so interested and quiet.

Our First Backyard
July 2009
This was taken only days after we moved to Takoma from the Hill.
Aria and I were outside playing with bubbles and
enjoying the space and freedom a backyard affords us.

Aria's Big Finish
July 2009
This is the same day, as indicated by the outfit.
Aria was singing and here is performing her "big finish" as we call it.

Shadows
August 2009
Aria and Mommy out for a walk on a sunny, hot August day,
admiring our shadows.

Silly Sad Faces
August 2009
Aria and Daddy pretending to be sad.