Today marks the beginning of week 27. Today I gave up my rings. This week has consisted of a continual beating down of any hopes I had to look/feel like a normal human being by the end of this journey. I have varicose veins on my ribcage. I think that says it all. I feel certain that over the next 13 weeks we will all have the chance to gawk at the elephant that used to be Shannon, but at this point, I’m over it. I cannot safely eat any less than I am. If I want Baked Ruffles with my veggie sandwich at lunch, I’m through beating myself up about it. My body is telling me that I need somewhere in the neighborhood of 7 or 8 32oz. Nalgene bottles of water each day (and I won’t be a bit surprised if that number rises as I keep going — by the end of my pregnancy with Liam I was up to 10 per day). There’s no way I’m eliminating that amount of fluid by going the pee route, so it’s just starting to fill my cells and poise itself for being the partial cause of tremendous stretch marks and (apparently) varicose veins. I’ve still got three months, people. This ain’t gonna be pretty. Let’s get this show on the road.
Here I am at 27 weeks in my pregnancy with Liam (This is the best shot of about 8, which says something. It’s clear to me that I had been crying prior to taking the picture. The acne was flaring up, the face was swollen, the situation was getting very uncomfortable, and it shows. It’s pictures like this one and those to come that remind me just how much I love being a mom. I’d have to to be voluntarily (and wholeheartedly) going on this journey again.):
Here I am at 27 weeks in this pregnancy with Baby Girl (Why must I subject you to a bare belly shot when there’s no comparison shot from last time? Apparently I have no shame. That’s all I’ve got.):
That’s all, folks.