"mommy's big belly"

I guess it's true when women say "every pregnancy is different". Case in point: this time, I have the protruding belly button, a belly that is growing straight out in front of me (as opposed to last time, I "grew" hip-to-hip), I'm carrying very low and most days feel like he's going to fall completely out if I climb the stairs to our bonus room one more time. Regardless, I am so excited to have this baby, partly because I'm completely OVER being pregnant, but mostly because I'm aching to hold my precious boy. Not to mention, it will also be nice to end Sofia's constant reminder that my belly is "SO big, Mommy!". Yes, I know it is, my sweet girl.

One of the first "guilt trips" I've experienced as a second-time mom was whether or not to get maternity portraits. I had it done when I was pregnant with Sofia...back when I thought it was fun to pick out maternity clothes, when I was enjoying the chance to have big boobs and awesome cleavage (no one told me those great jugs would eventually "sag and drag" when it was all said and done). But this time around, I was less than motivated. Still, I felt guilty for capturing the first pregnancy and not the second. So instead of doing anything formal this time, I compromised and had Gayle snap a few pics for me to have 'on file'. I know I'll be glad that I have these to look back on...and to someday use as ammunition when I wave them in front of my teenage son and say those classic words every mother has uttered, "Look at this - do you have any idea what I went through for you?!"