Things I've learned and noticed...

• This child is making me thirsty, all. the. time. I could guzzle water non-stop and still not be satisfied. I have to take a glass of water with me to bed, and every time I get up to go to the bathroom, I have to come back and drink a few gulps before I can fall back asleep. This is probably why I have to get up to go to the bathroom a minimum of 3 times a night. It's a vicious cycle.

• Speaking of sleep...it's starting to stink. My belly pulls on my back, making it ache. My pillows suddenly seem deflated and not shaped right for my neck and shoulders. And I really dislike sleeping on my left side. Fortunately mom bought me a wedge pillow to support my belly. It's still uncomfortable, but it's helping the pain in my back.
  
  
• My fingers are slowly getting puffy. This is the worst at the end of the day/early evening, when all of a sudden my hands feel very hot and like they are swelling rapidly. This is causing my rings to get tight -- and due to the fact that I wash my hands numerous times a day, coupled with having eczema, this is causing a rash to form on my finger, under my rings. Pleasant!
  
  
• No matter what I eat, it's going to make my stomach rumble and gurgle and feel gassy for the remainder of the day. This is also pleasant.
  
  
• So many women are pregnant! I never used to notice pregnant women out in public, unless they were obviously about to pop. But now? I feel like I'm a pro at preggo's. But I'm still worried about slipping and asking someone "when are you due?" when they may just have had a big burrito for lunch. So I just stare awkwardly and try to figure out how far along she might be in my head.
  
  
• No matter how many maternity clothes I buy, I still feel like I have nothing to wear, or I end up wearing the same few items constantly. Wait...I might have had this problem pre-pregnancy, also...
  
  
• I miss my waist. Yes, the same waist that I used to look at pictures of myself and go "wow...I look fat". Now I look at those pictures and go "wow...I looked good!" *sigh*
  
  
• Registering for wedding gifts was overwhelming. There was so much pressure to register for things we needed, that were nice, all while making sure they were going to be affordable for whomever was purchasing them. Registering for baby gifts is a whole 'nother level. Not only is it stuff that you've never used/seen/heard of before, and don't mind the fact that you have no idea what it does, you have to keep in mind that this stuff is shaping another human being's LIFE! God forbid I register for the wrong orthodontic pacifier and my son end up with buck teeth! I may or may not have had a mini-meltdown in Buy Buy Baby.
  
  
• I'm completely blessed to have a husband, family, and friends who are so helpful, complimentary, and generous. And even further blessed to get to experience all of the above -- no matter how unglamorous pregnancy might be -- because when I see his sweet little face in February, it will all be worth it. Gas and all.