Week 36 and my body is starting to feel strained. Here's a list of my complaints, just for the record:

1. Sore feet, especially in the morning. They feel like little vienna sausages and my heels hurt to walk on. Generally feel better after I've walked around and shifted some of that pooled liquid.

2. Weird upper back and neck ache. Don't think it's a result of sleeping funny, as it doesn't feel tense in the mornings, but rather the evenings. I've tried putting a tennis ball between me and the wall to roll it out, but Stef's fingers seem to offer more relief.

3. Difficulty getting out of bed. All that extra weight makes things tricky. Also try to be careful not to twist in a way that could injure my back, rip my stomach muscles or hurt the baby! On top of this, attempt to do it all very quietly as to not wake up Stef who has to work early!

4. Swollen puffy eyes. I still have my vanity, what can I say. Also can't see my crotch, therefore can't shave my bikini line. Will have to try using a full length mirror or rely on Stef. Not sure how much I trust him though, think he's a bikini line virgin.

5. When the baby does his/her sun salutations. It's not really a complaint, more kinda freaky and exciting. I'm just afraid sometimes that he/she will break a rib or kick a hole through the membrane. Not sure if there's a case of any baby doing this anywhere, maybe I've just seen Aliens too many times.

6. Bending down to pick anything up off the floor, tying shoe laces. Uggs are my friends right now. I don't care if they accentuate my cankles.

7. Numb hands in the morning. This startled me at first, waking up with completely numb hands, but I've got used to it. It doesn't seem to make a difference what position I lie in, I still wake up with unusable digits.

8. Being a full on cry baby. I cry at the thought of my dog getting old and no longer being interested in playing with his annoying squeeky toys. I cry at the anything to do with birthing. Anything.

There you have it. I'm sure if I thought of it a bit more, I could come up with an even longer list, but hey, why dwell on the negative? I realize all my feelings and symptoms are not that different or unusual, but they certainly are different and unusual for me! I don't care how many billions of women have given birth throughout history, I never have!

I just waddled my ass up to the local elementary school to vote in the federal election. Of course I didn't vote for the Conservatives. I wonder if all those mothers out there on maternity leave who voted for Harper realize they have the Liberals to thank for their full year leave? It's been over ten years now since Paul Martin and his Liberal majority government passed legislation that changed maternity leave from 6 months to a year. This would've never happened with a Conservative in power.

Of course there are still problems maternity leave in Canada. The fact that we only receive %55 of a maximum $40,000 salary should be reviewed. Salaries have gone up since the legislation passed. It also seems there's a underlying sexist attitude that assumes that this %55 is a sufficient amount because in the majority of households the father is the primary breadwinner. In many cases, this simply isn't true. But even with these shortcomings, maternity leave is a hell of a lot better than it used to be. Can you imagine leaving your little tot after only six months in order to secure your job? No more breast milk for them! No more mid morning cuddles or watching them learn how to crawl! It's going to be hard enough to leave them after a year!

And by the way, I didn't vote Liberal either.

Bright and early, I went for my ultrasound at 9. Or should I say "we", as I grabbed Stef from work on my way. Of course I was a little apprehensive about it. My driving, in fact, sucked. Stef made sure to point that out.

As usual, we made sure to tell the ultrasound technician that we did not know the sex, nor did we want it revealed today. She was nice. And forthcoming with information, she told us exactly what we wanted to hear - that our baby wasn't a runt! With plenty of amniotic fluid to pad her/his little body to boot! Thank the baby gods!

But I have to say, I really wasn't that nervous because this past week I really feel like I've grown. Or should I say "he/she" has grown because according to all I've read, it is the baby packing on the pounds at this point, not me. In celebration I dropped Stef off back at work, went for a hearty jaunt in Stanley Park, then ate a big greasy breakfast, followed by a chocolate cupcake.

I am now at 33 weeks. Tomorrow I have an ultrasound to check the baby's growth. Apparently, two weeks ago at my last doctor's appointment, I measured a little on the small side. I guess she was a little concerned, but overly so, otherwise she would have sent me in for an ultrasound the next day. Right?

Just ate half a snickers on my deadhead between Panama City and Cancun. The sugar has woken her up. She’s dancing about, kicking her arms and legs with chocolate joy. Regardless of this junk food, I think I’m still hiding my pregnancy remarkably well; a little baggy top is all it takes. My days however, are obviously numbered. But as it stands right now, I’ve had no offers from strangers to help me put my bags in the overhead bins or give up their seats on public transport.

I am now 25 weeks pregnant, or 6 months. It’s been months since my last post! Between teaching, flying and rubbing my belly, I’ve done very little documenting. But now I’m not just a bad blogger, but a bad mother! Isn’t part of writing all this down so my son/daughter read this later in life? Let the parenting guilt begin!

I try to picture a little boy running around, but it doesn’t feel right. My ‘maternal instincts’ say it’s a girl, but that might just proof of my single-minded personality. Instincts can be wrong I guess but my gut is saying otherwise.

Overall, this pregnancy’s been a breeze (where’s the wood?). Other than a bit of nasal congestion that seems to have cleared up, I’m feeling fine. Starting to feel a bit heavy, a bit of tossing and turning at night, but other than that, I’ve got energy. Went to pre-natal yoga last week for the first time and after ten minutes, wished I’d started earlier. It took me about 5 minutes before I using my towel to wipe my face of tears. I’ve always found yoga a bit of a mental trip, so I guess I shouldn’t be shocked that it would make me well up. Goddamn Tim Hortons ads make me cry. But it’s nice to have that energy focused so I’m going to try my best to attend as many classes as possible.

From now on, I will try to be a better blogger and a better mother and at least post once a week. Goodnight from Cancun with a belly full of shrimp quesdilllas and a craving for a coke that I will resist with all my will. The mini-bar prices are just ridiculous.