24 Weeks

(And one day.)

My twin skin has pretty much filled out, so I finally feel okay about taking a bare-belly shot.

Until I took this photo, I didn’t think I looked or felt any smaller than I did when I was carrying the girls, but comparing the belly pics of the same week, there’s definitely a difference.

Speaking of skin and bellies, though, I understand something about pregnancy that didn’t quite gel for me before: Just because you got stretch marks with one pregnancy doesn’t mean you’re done. I knew I was getting new stretch marks, but I didn’t know know, you know? I’m thinking the weakened skin must be actually just as, or maybe more, prone to getting more stretch marks the second time around. Oh, I just LOVE being a woman sometimes!

Anyhow, I’m feeling physically good. No aches or pains to speak of. I feel the baby a ton these days. Light kicks have turned into decently strong jabs. I can feel definite limbs — the sharpness of a heel or elbow as my little girl turns over in her watery home. I think I’m starting to feel hiccups too. From her, not me.

Whenever I remember that I’m  pregnant and get twenty seconds to think about it, I actually get a little excited for the baby. Sure, I have natural worries about how she’ll fit in, what she’ll be like, how she’ll sleep and eat and so on. But I’m starting to have some faith that everything will work out fine, or as fine as it can, and I just need to focus on enjoying this pregnancy and the final months I have left with just Elise and Althea.

That said, the pregnancy is dragging. A blessing right now that we’re about to move (more on the house nonsense later), but generally pretty lame. The first time around was full of novelty. This time, I just want to get to the end.

Other general stats: I’m up almost nine pounds now. After my next OB appointment, I’ll have to do the glucose tolerance test, which I plan to pass this time because having gestational diabetes last time sucked. Interestingly, unlike the last pregnancy, I don’t smell weird or have any other manifestations of excessive hormones. I also don’t have much of a linea nigra this time, either. My stomach muscles, which never came back together after the twins, are split about three inches apart now and it’s pretty uncomfortable to sneeze or cough because it feels like my uterus is going to burst through my skin.

Meanwhile, my boobs and skin look pretty amazing so . . . hey. I’ll take it.