New this week in Baby Land ...

I decided the pictures of my belly should be somewhat controlled so we can determine if I am actually getting bigger or just bloated from the 50 cookies I might have eaten that day. My favorite striped shirt happened to be what I was wearing for the first pic, so it just seemed like I should remain consistent with attire. It's a stretchy shirt too...which will certainly help in the coming month's pictures.

Of course, that fateful day may come when a wardrobe change may be completely necessary. Either that or I will only squeeze into this shirt for the belly shots (not at all like the ones one might take in Daytona Beach during Spring Break) and laugh about how gigantic I am while Robbie assists in freeing me from the confines of a too-small prisoner-esque top.

Okay, enough about the stupid shirt. 

People have been commenting at work about how I already have the "pregnant waddle." What they don't know, and what I probably won't take the time to explain to them is I am stiff and sore and my lower back is killing me. My body is compensating for the pain and lack of flexibility, so quack on that. After about three of the waddle comments I decided it was time to get acquainted with the prenatal yoga DVD sister-in-law Kim gave me. 

It didn't go very well. I was highly distracted by the odd shape of the yoga master's thighs and the soothing, calm voice she was using to instruct yoga-goers made me laugh and mimic causing more distraction. During the meditation portion you're asked to place your right hand on your heart and your left hand on the "growing child inside your womb." After overcoming a fit of giggles, I did as said and then all I could think about was the Frosted Flakes in the pantry and how my womb really needed a hearty helping. I quit after about 10 minutes and felt really good about this encouraging step towards becoming a healthy, spiritually whole Mommy. And those Frosted Flakes tasted sooooo good after such a vigorous work-out.

"Baby Brain" has officially settled-in and I have been forgetful to a fault. It's as though my brain is incapable of contemplating Motherhood and {enter daily task here} all at the same time. It's so bad I can't even think of a personal example of Baby Brain to share with you. 

I've been experiencing more insomnia and a couple of nights ago I promptly awoke at 4:00 am. I laid in bed for the longest time trying to think of something better to do than lay there wide awake. I rolled over to my back and that's when I felt it.....a strange sensation of something (other than my bowels) moving in my belly. It took me a little while to realize what it was and that's when I decided I had found something else better to do. I got up and quickly Googled *baby moving at 16 weeks*. Sure enough the "fluttery" feelings women described having sounded exactly like what I had been feeling. It's a nice confirmation of life.

My anxiety is ridiculously high right now and I am nearly convinced (a) there is no possible way I can have (in the purely literal sense) this baby and (b) there is no possible way we can survive if I don't work. I have no solutions and no clear picture of the future and this scares me and keeps me up at night. I am trying to work on this murky side of my pregnancy and I imagine in the end it will all come together nicely and possibly with some kind of ribbon attached, but presently I am convinced it will look more like a flaming package on my doorstep. I know....don't worry.....I will bounce back from the madness. Usually always do. 

Robbie is amazing and the best possible support I could have ever hoped for during my pregnancy. He is so excited about finding out the sex of the baby and seeing the next ultrasound. He has been very, very busy at work and has had his own stress to deal with, and yet, through it all, he remains even and confident and humorous. I hope these attributes remain even with sleep deprivation!

Well, that wraps up the latest in baby news. I imagine the next couple of weeks will fly by with the holidays and then the big reveal will occur. It will be really nice to start referring to the little person by name and not by "It."