">

So this is a great chance to have some Holiday laughs. In the video above are some of my dear family; Nick and I, my sisters Jill and Jess and my nephew Valin, Jess' son. I thought that this would be a great way to show some of the more important things during this commercialized season while still enjoying the creative thinking spurred by our capital system which can always be counted on for inventive concepts and novelties. I laugh every time.

Baby Boy Belly!

Weight is an interesting subject in our society. IT seems to be the white elephant in the room-not because of the size of the elephant, even though that is humorously a connection, but because of how it is talked or not talked about. As a female, while growing up in this image based culture, weight seems to be an ever present, thought of, compared, and tracked thing. It even helps us decide how stable a person's life is; "look how great she looks, taking care of herself, she's on top of things" or "she's let herself go, must be depressed, has too much to handle". Harsh as this seems to be, at least in the female world, the greeting or conclusion of, "you look great" is a cultural stamp of female approval on so many levels. And yet...weight is something we also know we can't talk about either. You never ask a female her weight. I've been in some conversations where weight has been discussed, and it was a bit of an awkward mess. Nor do you ever ask a female if she is pregnant. We all have our favorite awkward "Are you pregnant" stories flash through our minds. Adding to the mess is the comfy loose fitting outfits in style currently, which makes everyone seem first trimester-ish. So the elephant in the room for me STILL, is my pregnant belly.
I waited so long to become pregnant, that when I finally was, I wanted to yell it out on the house tops. But during the throwing up, exhausted, weak, headache, bi-polar food friend or foe stage, called the first trimester, you have NOTHING physical to show for this near torturous journey. You look bloated...because you are, and that is about it. Then when you enter feeling better, and bigger/ rounder bellied second trimester, you're so excited to say, "See, I am not crazy, there is a reason for the last three and a half months." That's what I thought would happen. For me that was not the case, it seems like I was shocking people when I told them I was pregnant, more so when I told them how far along I was. "Really? No way, you don't even look pregnant!"-if I had a nickle every time I heard that one. If I don't look pregnant then I look...fat? This was a frustrating situational daily occurrence for both parties I am sure. Most women my age, in the current culture I live in, are on there third child, and I am sure, according to everyone's point of reference I should look bigger. Plus everyone loves telling those awkward "Are you pregnant" stories, but no one wants to be in one.
But I am pregnant, and I have grown a belly, I just wanted the world to recognize this triumphant mile stone! My poor husband. I would come out in new maternity clothes and ask, "Do I look pregnant?" What an awful position I put him in. It only took one disappointed look of near tears to tell him to throw everything he has ever learned about what to tell women, and to currently respond, "You do look pregnant, our baby is getting bigger in that belly." Oh the confusion that caused. I still, after five months, nearly six, get people shocked that I am pregnant. I like to think that they are just following social norms and are being polite, but if I don't look pregnant, I don't enjoy the other alternative. I am about to eat this elephant in the room to leave no doubt that I am pregnant! So, to parade, brag and settle an ever bothersome current struggle, I have finally posted belly pictures.

Family, fun, friends and food!

November has been a bit of a bi-polar month for me. The time change in the fall has never settled well for my mind and body, and with being pregnant it was almost depressing. The fact that leaving the house for work and returning home were done in darkness, didn't add to my happy countenance or mood. The transition from being "off track" to going back to school, was also more difficult than I had anticipated. Three weeks of nothing but rest, breaks into a world of school, kids, trainings, and stress...I can see why my body didn't except the change as smoothly as I pushed it. I seemed to be in an isolating slump in which the cold change in the weather only added to my personal retreat.

But did some way HOLIDAY!! Yea! Off to the Wheelers we go! So on the 23rd we left in our little car for our eight hour adventure drive to enjoy the Thanksgiving weekend with my dear family. I am still undecided if I enjoy traveling as a pregnant person. Restroom stops were often, but not for me...Jilly took that role, and as long as I had food...emphasis on the need to have food and beverage, I was good to go. Except for the swelling and bloating...yea that was not a favorite outcome.

Thanksgiving was a blast with my family! We are so funny-it I do say so myself! We were all there, Jess and her beautiful and active family, my loving and giving parents (expressing love by giving of time and food...so much food/love was given that weekend), my Grandpa, for which it was such a treat to have him to talk to and laugh with and Jilly, whose pop culture conscious updated us on the latest movies. We enjoyed each others company, ate wonderful food, we laughed and joked together, ate more wonderful food, we played games and watched the Muppet movie, ate even more wonderful food, debated and discussed, ate much more wonderful food, we even had a fun girls night, eating out at a great restaurant. One neat activity came on Friday when we took the first, non wedding prompted family photo. It was on the stage (how perfectly fitting) and we had a a fun time sitting, smiling, and looking smashing.

I was just happy to look pregnant! I prayed that I would have something to show for my five month journey. Some of my family wont see me till after the baby is born and by then the "cute baby belly" comments will no longer be appreciated. So it was nice to have a tummy, even though a side view is much better then the one showed in this photo. I do think that I took "eating for two" too far. I gained...well lets just say it added up to more than a pound per day during the visit. I hope that most of it was the baby, but my joyous eating habits suggest otherwise. I don't feel guilty in saying I enjoyed every tasteful minute of it. Each day I felt so blessed to be with my Wheeler clan. Just being with those you love and miss can bring so much happiness and joy. I know that sounded like a hallmark card, but the truth of the statement was personally experienced and is currently being missed at the present moment. Now I can't wait till Christmas when we can see the Romriell clan!!