Adventures in Pregnancy: 29 Weeks
12 May 2014
And so we have arrived at the stage in pregnancy when people smile at me and congratulate me and ask me when I am due. Hurray! Also, the baggers at the grocery store really want to make sure I’m okay taking them to the car myself. And I am, for now, but I will ask for help when I need it. (Also, major thanks to Hillary for lending me this maternity dress, which is one of the few things I can still fit into!)
I have had a gentle inauguration into the third trimester so far. I would not say that I had any great burst of energy in the second trimester, but now I am definitely more tired than I was then. Oh well. Also, I now have a new nightly companion: heartburn. It is unpleasant…but so much more pleasant than some other things I’ve experienced already (ahem, entire first trimester, I’m talking about you). The baby is still rocking and rolling in there, which is really sweet to feel. My mobility is still very good except on the occasions when he drops his entire body to the bottom of my uterus. And then, my friends, I waddle.
It was a big weekend for us: we bought a car! It’s a new-to-us Honda Accord. Given that we are still driving the Honda Civic I bought when I was 16, I hope we’ll have a good long time with this one too. Eric worked really hard to prep for the inspection and negotiation, and he did the most amazing job. I was seriously impressed. I said a few things here and there, but he really had it under control. We feel great about the car and the price we negotiated, and we’re happy to be able to cross this off our list. Now to install the carseat!
It was also a really special weekend because we celebrated Mother’s Day as parents for the first time. I didn’t have any expectations at all–I hoped that maybe Eric would buy me flowers (and he did!), but otherwise I hadn’t imagined anything special. Eric also gave me a card from our baby, and it made me cry profusely. It was the sweetest, sweetest thing, and I will treasure it forever. It was a total surprise, which made it even more moving.
Speaking of moving, our parish usually honors mothers on Mother’s Day, but I never paid too much attention to it. Until now. At mass the priest offered a special prayer for us, and then invited us to come up and receive a flower. I was already crying–finding my place in the long line of mothers and grandmothers and great-grandmothers and women throughout all of time who have loved and nurtured their children is enough to knock me off my feet. And I was just so grateful. I have wanted to be a mom for as long as I can remember. I dreamed for years and years about being married and having a family. When I was younger, I imagined that this would happen right away, and while I am older than I imagined I would be, I would not change a thing. Being able to get pregnant is a gift. Having a healthy pregnancy is a gift. Being in a good place in life to welcome a child is a gift. And having a loving and caring and supportive partner to share it with you is a gift. Every single one of them is priceless. As I was walking back to our pew with my flower in my hand, my eyes fell on Eric, smiling so sweetly and proudly at me, and I just absolutely lost it, the way I lost it right before I walked down the aisle at our wedding: tears that are just a rushing well of joy overflowing, tears that express gratitude better than any words can, tears that hold the greatest hope and happiness for the future.
I am looking forward to years with finger-painted Mother’s Day cards and picnics in the park and years when Mother’s Day will coincide with graduations, and years (deep breath) when I will hopefully get to enjoy my children and my grandchildren. And I’m even looking forward to the years when my children might rather be off with their friends than hanging out with me, because Mother’s Day will always make me remember this weekend, this wonderful time of waiting and celebrating, the last weeks of our first child remaining a beautiful mystery, before we can stroke his soft skin and hear his newborn cries.
May 12, 2014 @ 04:07:35
I’m so glad you had a wonderful first Mother’s Day. Eric and baby Bellm are the best! And I look forward to my first grandparents day this year.
May 12, 2014 @ 22:30:55
Thank you so much! They are the best, totally! And I am looking forward to that too–isn’t it the day after my birthday?
May 12, 2014 @ 04:57:44
And now I’m wiping tears here on this end. What a beautiful and moving essay. We continue to pray for the three of you in this time of preparation and anticipation.
May 12, 2014 @ 22:31:37
Thank you so much! And thank you for your sweet card, which made me cry too! I’m so grateful that our baby has such sweet grandparents waiting to greet him!
May 12, 2014 @ 05:06:39
So sweet and moving.
May 12, 2014 @ 22:31:47
Thank you so much, Sandi!
May 12, 2014 @ 05:06:57
You look so beautiful!! and tried my best to hold some tears while reading…I’m at work and it would have been a bit embarrassing 🙂
Hooray for these last few months.
May 12, 2014 @ 22:32:20
Thank you so much, Marina! You are the sweetest! And happy last few months to you too! I hope soon you will be on maternity and can rest!
May 12, 2014 @ 05:14:06
You continue to amaze and inspire me with your deep insights into what life is all about. Love you Cameron!
May 12, 2014 @ 22:32:48
Thank you so much! You are so sweet! So excited for you to become a grandmother…any day now!! Love you too!
May 12, 2014 @ 06:38:57
“Still one of the few things I can fit into.” Ha! You have so much bigger to get 🙂 You will giggle at that sentence when a muumuu is the only thing you can get into (or, the only thing that you want to get into).
Your description of your Mother’s Day was so sweet. I’m glad things are going so well!
May 12, 2014 @ 22:33:46
Ha, I know, you are so right! I am going to get much bigger, and some muumuus definitely need to be acquired! Thank you so much for your sweet comment! And a belated Happy Mother’s Day to you and all your precious boys:)
May 12, 2014 @ 09:54:21
What a wonderful time, for sure!
May 12, 2014 @ 22:33:58
Thank you! It was awesome;)
May 12, 2014 @ 13:50:04
how sweet to be included in the celebrations! Rest when you need it and get work done when you feel like it, all will be well 🙂
May 12, 2014 @ 22:34:19
Thank you so much, Karen! Happy Mother’s Day to you too!
May 13, 2014 @ 08:00:56
Yes honey, you have only just now begun to grow! You have GOT the mothering gene, and what lucky people your little Bellms will be. And their Dad is already teaching Baby Bellm #1 to make Mommy a Mother’s Day card! As usual, he knocked it right out of the park. Kisses to all!
May 15, 2014 @ 16:49:15
Thank you so much! You are so right, Daddy has got it all taken care of:) In growing news, I saw a few muumuus at the thrift store the other day and was tempted to buy one…but they just looked so hot to me! Perhaps I will just spend the next few months in a bathing suit!