I'm Still Pregnant

I mentioned the other day we get a lot of email from friends and followers...  One thing several of you are curious about these days is this elusive baby I've been growing.  Well, despite the fact that I don't write about it much on the blog (this is not going to turn into a "mommy blog" and while we will write about her more once she is here, the focus of this blog will still be sailing and cruising) - we're still doing great and growing our beautiful baby girl, as evidence in the photo above which is me just on the brink of being eight months pregnant (eight months...can you believe it?!). Time flies.

I love being pregnant and I have thankfully enjoyed a beautiful, healthy and very peaceful pregnancy.  I managed to dodge just about every pregnancy symptom in the book from morning sickness to food cravings and I actually think I am more emotionally stable than before.  Being pregnant hasn't hindered my daily life or slowed me down at all (yes, I am aware parenthood won't necessarily come as easily).  I've been eating normal, very healthy meals (lots of soups and all-natural smoothies these days!), I run four miles five times a week, swim, walk everywhere and - in general - just go about life as usual.  Well, aside from the fact that I am drinking a lot less wine these days.

Lots of you have requested "baby bump" photos and up until the past few weeks, there wasn't much of a bump to speak of (which, admittedly had me slightly worried for a while - but I measure "perfect" for where I am in the pregnancy and my midwife assured me that every body is different and each woman carries her own special way).  At six months pregnant I didn't even look pregnant and I still have yet to have a stranger ask me about being pregnant, my due date, or mention this pregnancy at all. However, I am definitely starting to look more "pregnant" and less "thick" so I'll share with you these little pictures of me at 31 weeks taken this morning...

The pregnancy has brought Scott and I closer together than ever and mornings and evenings always include lots of cuddle time with my belly talking to baby girl and feeling her kick and squirm in utter amazement.  Scott makes a point to tell her stories and play her music from my wind-up teddy bear, Corduroy, who sings "This Old Man" and he is also diligently working on perfecting "Rainbow Connection" on the ukelele to play for her.  Many hours are spent dreaming and scheming of what she's going to look like, where we will take her, and how much she will enrich our lives...it's such an exciting time.  Both Scott and I are preparing as best we can by reading lots of books about birth and parenthood and, while we are acutely aware of the fact that we have no idea what we are in for, it feels good to be pro-active.

So - while I haven't mentioned it much on the blog - all is going well over here!  Baby girl is growing, mommy and daddy are as happy as can be and the whole experience has been full of positive energy and love. I feel incredibly lucky and thankful to be able to experience this miracle and even more thankful that I have such a loving and supportive husband by my side to experience it with me.  Our greatest wish at this point is that I give birth to a healthy, happy little baby.  Everything else will just be gravy after that.

Okay, that's enough of the gushiness...

T-minus 9 weeks till we get to meet our little sailor girl!