Pregnancy is a lesson in humility for me.
Some women walk around having gained 20 pounds at 40 weeks. They look like stick figures with watermelons under their shirts. These are the women that can surprise you from behind, because you can’t tell that they’re pregnant until they’re in profile. These women don’t have stretch marks, varicose veins, or big behinds. Their faces are never puffy and they always have the energy to put on makeup and do a little something with their hair (which probably looks perfect straight out of the shower). Their houses are spotless and dinner is on the table at 5:30 each night.
I am not any of these women.
I know that I will never fit the image of the cute pregnant woman. I have stretch marks (both old and new), varicose veins, and a big behind. My face is always puffy and I don’t remember the last time I put on makeup for an everyday activity (the answer to this is probably ‘never’). My house is a mess and I was overly excited last night to have started a simple dish for dinner at 4:30 and finished it by the time Matt came home at 6:30, because it is exceedingly rare for me to have finished dinner by the time Matt gets home.
But last night? Last night I discovered that I have cellulite on my shoulders. You read that right: CELLULITE ON MY SHOULDERS. How does one get cellulite on their shoulders, you might ask? I haven’t the foggiest notion, but I do know that those women with the watermelon bellies, slender faces, and unchanged behinds can bite me.
I think you are beautiful.
You’re my mom. It’s your job.
They don’t have Matt or Liam – you win!!
I think you’re beautiful, too.
And a terrific Mom.
And very courageous to even consider a 2nd pregnancy, for which the Grans are eternally grateful.
I second the comments of the other grandmother.
Thanks, y’all. Contrary to the impression I apparently gave with this post, I’m not having a continuous pity party over here. I’m simply a hot, hormonal, frustrated pregnant woman who can’t wait to have this baby and put this stage of life behind her. Having another fantastic baby is priority #1, but frustration #1 is definitely what my body does to create fantastic babies. Fingers crossed we’ve got a 39-weeker in here!