What You Should and Should Not Say to a Pregnant Woman

What you really shouldn't say to a pregnant woman...

"You're huge!"  Thank you, I know I'm fat.  

"Are you sure you don't have twins in there?"  Thank you, I know I'm fat.  

"Are you sure your due date was right?"  Either you're saying you think I'm bigger than I should be, or I'm smaller than I should be.  Either way.....

"[Any story about a horrible labor experience]"  Why?  Why are you speaking these words to me?

"Enjoy your sleep (or anything for that matter) now, because soon it will be gone!" Thanks for the encouragement.  

"It hurts so bad, you're going to want an epidural."  Thanks for the encouragement.  

What people should be saying instead...

"I made brownies.  I'll bring you some."

"You look fantastic!  You deserve a brownie."

"Can I buy you lunch, or a brownie?"

"You're going to be a great mom! I made you some brownies."

"You're baby is going to be the cutest little thing ever!  Have a brownie."

"I'm going to stop over and bring you some dinner, and brownies."  

Pregnant and Overdue

Big overdue belly.  View from my feet.

"Yep, still pregnant"

"Nope, no baby yet"

...Still pregnant.  I now understand the so-often read about but never fully grasped plight of the overdue pregnant woman.  Don't get me wrong, I do feel blessed that my uterus seriously rocks and it's keeping this little squishy safe and warm (and ensuring she's nice a plump and harder to squeeze out), but, my baby is still overdue, and I'm still incredibly uncomfortable.  

What do you do with yourself when you're waiting to have your baby, besides clean the house 10X over as you wheeze under your own girth while binge watching Breaking Bad?  

Please, tell me.  

Mental distraction.  That's the key, lots of mental distraction.  Like Netflix, Instagram, re-embracing my blog...  If you're like me, none of your maternity clothes fit anymore, you have a whole new appreciation for being able to climb even one flight of stairs without being winded (Why does my house have so many stairs???) and you're doing everything in your power to not go crazy while waiting.  

...I'm so ready for this baby to come out.  

A lot of women have told me that they're no longer scared of birth by this point, but I've never been scared of it.  "One day of pain" for a cute little squishy to bring home.  

I can handle that, even if it means pulling it out of my left nostril.  

2015's Obsession

I only posted 8 times in the whole of 2015.  I thought about it and I'm pretty sure it's because I became obsessed with the whole baby thing.  Reading everything I possibly could, preparing in every way I could possibly think of.  

It became, well, all consuming and it sort of took over my life.  (I am now officially over due and am starting to drive myself crazy wondering what else I can do...nothing... I can't do anything else...)   

Obsession may not be a strong enough word... I need a 12 step program and the little babe isn't even born yet.  

Vanagon Diaries: Glacier National Park

In August, Chris and I drove the Van to Glacier National Park in Montana.  We spent a week camping just outside the park at a KOA with some of Chris' family.  

Just to be clear, we didn't exactly "camp", we "KOA'd".  

You know you're not really camping when your husbands' 80 year old grandpa says, "There's camping, and then there's KOA".  You said it Papa.  

There was a pool and a restaurant and everything.  

We did use the pool.  

Fun fact:  We were right next to the Glacier Forest Fire, almost the whole time.  It did cause a little haziness, which you'll see in at least half the pictures.  

I should mention that in these pictures, it looks like I had way too much chocolate cake (which is probably true) but I'm also pregnant ;).  Four months at this point.  

KOA'ing In Montana

This is probably my favorite selfie, taken nice and up close with Chris' GoPro.

Favorite Selfie, also a great screen saver.

Chris and Bella in Lake McDonald. 

Chris and Nana 

From Left: Joanne, Steve, Me, Chris, Nana, Papa.  

Our set-up at the KOA.

A Hazy Logan's Pass

Look at that smoke!  Still beautiful. 

At Logan's Pass, playing with the GoPro.

"Oh hey!"

Our One Day of Sunshine

It rained one night and everything cleared up.  We had to drive the Going to the Sun Road again.  

MUCH better view.

Logan's Pass again, and a selfie stick.  

I look a little disheveled, but those mountains!

Avalanche Lake and Trail of the Cedars

Trail of the Cedars is exactly what you'd think it is.  It's gorgeous, as you'll see in a few pictures.  There's also an off shoot of the trail that leads you on a 5 mile (round trip) hike up to Avalanche Lake, which is the result of melted glaciers and melted avalanches.  Pretty cool.  

Cedars!

We mostly hiked side by side, or with me in front,
but every so often I'd hang back to take pictures of Chris.

Hiking Trail.

Glacially melted water rushing down.

Downed trees, the result of avalanches thundering down the mountain.  

My Hunny.

Avalanche Lake.

More hiking tail.

The Forest Fire

The closest we came to the actual fire was when leaving the park to go home.  

Hwy 2 was actually closed the day before because the fire was too close to the road.  If we had planned on leaving then, we would have had to take a 3 to 4 hour detour driving south around of the park instead of through it.  

"Fire Danger Ahead"

This was actually taken on the East side of the Going to the Sun Road,
but it shows very recent fire damage.  

Fire crews were our neighbors.  They'd leave during the day, some would leave at night,
but more and more kept coming. We probably left at a good time.  

The glow that you see just beyond those trees is the fire.  It became increasingly smokey. 

My breathing apparatus. 

It was a fun trip, and we definitely plan on going again.  Maybe next time when there's no fire...

Camping Tips (These would work...probably)

Camping tips and hacks to make your life easier.   Well, maybe not easier...