Beach Goers beware

Me and my husband joke alot about my growing frame these days. In the beginning of my pregnancy it was quite annoying, but what else are you supposed to do but laugh at it? He is not mean or anything - it's just that I look very different and the change is rather remarkable.

Yesterday we decided to go to the beach. The Pacific Ocean has finally started to warm up and as I am sweating for Queen and country - I had been looking forward to a jump in the cool waves of southern California.

I have a new maternity bathing suit that I finally got to put on. The back is open and has an expandable strap across the back to accommodate the belly. The top part is halterneck style, orange and white in a checkered pattern, and the body part is navy blue. It looks designed and manufactured in 1972. To me, it is SUPER cute. Very Charlie's Angels.

I put it on and stood in front of the mirror admiring the spectacle. My belly is so big, it is pulling down the suit making my boobs granny like. My thighs are pale and have stretch marks. My tattoo on my left lower hip is sticking out, stretched out like a cruel reminder of my tan triathlon days. I have a farmers tan where my arms look split in two, the lower part dipped in red paint and then sawed together with the upper part again. It really doesn't even look like my body anymore - it just looks like my head is photo shopped on something alien and strange.

I walked into my husbands bathroom where he was standing shaving and putting on his SPF. He gave me a long look up and down. Then he said something I will never, ever forget - with a straight face and dead serious:

"If you weren't pregnant, you'd be Benny Hill"

23 weeks

Yeah!

Went for the monthly check up yesterday at my OB's. I am now 20 pounds plus (8.3 kilos) with 15 weeks to go. The baby is one pound and 15 inches long.

I love the term"You are eating for two". True - it's just that one of us is really little.

Everyone gets old

Our dog Bianca is very sick and is in the hospital with a still undiagnosed condition, but everything is pointing to heart failure.

Bianca is 12 years old and a mastiff mix, most likely English Mastiff and Rottweiler or Great Dane. Tom got her from a shelter when she was 3 months old, she was found in a back alley on the streets of Chicago. I have been her mommy for almost 7 years now.

Dogs are somewhat magical creatures. All they ever want to do is love you and be around you. There is no judgement - only wagging tails, soft velvet ears and loud snoring coming from their beds at night. I've always had dogs, and the one I grew up with passed away at 14. Still - Bianca is a special dog. She may look intimidating with her 140 pounds, but the worst thing that could happen is that she would lick you to death. She loves women. She adores tomatoes. And a couple of weeks ago she gave my belly a big lick - like she knew someone was in there and she was telling her she is exited to meet her.

Here she is with my husband. Keep her in your thoughts.

Love at 21 Weeks

Here is the 4D that we had taken on Friday for our 2nd trimester screening. She is opening her mouth and sticking out her tongue at us. She is healthy, and we do not have to come back to the Ultrasound specialist anymore. All systems go.

Since I saw this picture of our little girl, it's almost like I have fallen in love. I can't stop looking at her. I imagine what it will be like to meet her. What kind of personality will she have? What color will her eyes be, brown like mine or green like her fathers? I see us together on my bike, riding together to the Farmers Market on Saturday mornings to buy fresh fruit, and then we will make a peach pie that we all share for dinner. It may sound so cheesy - but it's like being in love. All the plans you make. Imagining what it is like to hold the other person. Thinking about what they smell like. Looking into their eyes. The butterflies in your stomach.

I wonder if she can feel how much I love her. She is kicking alot, and turning alot. I hope she knows.