Michelle Smiles

Teaching my children to question authority, except mine.

34 weeks (8 1/2 months)

June22

I haven’t posted a photo in awhile. Why? Because Target never contacted me to rent out ad space on my big empty expanse of stomach. And I feel like a beached whale. So I’ve been avoiding cameras for the most part. I haven’t gotten any public comments about my girth (other bloggers have…those are some stupid brave people to comment out loud about how big someone has gotten) so no one has been harmed. One woman did tell me she had just seen another women who was due the same time as me but that she just looked like she had a big basketball stuffed under her shirt and otherwise normal. I took this to mean that it is obvious to all that I’m an equal opportunity weight gainer – legs, arms, back, face – I’m not neglecting any of them so it isn’t all in my stomach. I decided not to get all hormonal on her about it. She was a size 0 and I could have snapped her like a twig – where is the challenge in that?

No pregnancy news to share. Tessa is still sitting in a breech position as she has been all along. She dislikes the fetal non-stress tests – when they tried to put the monitor over her last week she kept kicking it and moving away. So they did a quick ultrasound instead. She knows daddy’s touch and will immediately be still if he touches my stomach. Sucks for Steve when he wants to feel her but great for me when I want her to calm down so I can sleep. Sleep is still sorely lacking these days. I find it a cruel joke that just before I give birth to a small human that will deprive me of sleep for months, I become so uncomfortable that I can’t sleep a little extra now.

Meredith sent me this photo she took when we had lunch. I didn’t immediately want to burn it so thought I would throw it out here – mostly for my sister’s amusement. This will likely be the last pregnant photo published unless I get so large that I find it comical rather than depressing.

posted under Pregnancy
34 Comments to

“34 weeks (8 1/2 months)”

  1. On June 22nd, 2008 at 11:55 am Amy Says:

    Whatever. You look amazing! Seriously, I am not just saying that as a size 2 in fear for her life (I may be little but I’m scrappy). Pregnancy really does agree with you. Not to sound too cliche but you really are glowing. Of course, it could be sweat.

    Love ya ~ Amy

  2. On June 22nd, 2008 at 12:30 pm Kathleen Says:

    You are soo cute! 🙂 I dont comment much, but I read everyday…and laugh out loud most of the time. 🙂 THanks for sharing your journey to and through motherhood and pregnancy. You look great!! 🙂

  3. On June 22nd, 2008 at 12:55 pm DJ Holly Rock Says:

    Michelle, who are you kidding??? You look great!!! Pregnant women are beautiful:) I can’t wait to see this little girl.

  4. On June 22nd, 2008 at 1:00 pm Stacy Says:

    I think you look beautiful! Amazing! I can barely even see the baby bump there, you just look great! (And I’m SO not a size 2 saying that in fear of my life.) 🙂 Keep up the great baby-making work, keep up the Sabrina cuteness, I can’t wait to see Tessa!

  5. On June 22nd, 2008 at 1:09 pm Muriel Elrod Says:

    you look hot and not just temparture wise….looking good.

  6. On June 22nd, 2008 at 1:14 pm Tina Says:

    You look FANTASTIC!!!!

  7. On June 22nd, 2008 at 2:37 pm Ashley Says:

    You are SO beautiful! That cake looks yummy too!

  8. On June 22nd, 2008 at 3:32 pm Amy from AB Says:

    I think you look fantabulous! Red is a great color on you by the way!

  9. On June 22nd, 2008 at 3:51 pm Julie P Says:

    You look GREAT you are truly glowing!

  10. On June 22nd, 2008 at 4:35 pm Rachael Says:

    Oh, you look great. And, you’re almost done too. Kudos to you for managing pregnancy in the summer. I feel for you.

  11. On June 22nd, 2008 at 4:40 pm Kim Says:

    Seriously – you look great. No beached whale AT ALL. (and I’m probably still bigger than you, so I could take you!!)

  12. On June 22nd, 2008 at 6:39 pm goodbyetoallfat Says:

    You look lovely, Michelle!

    When I saw the title of your post I thought at first it was going to be a scan pic, but the picture you have posted is great and I wouldn’t have thought you were 8 months pregnant.

    Best wishes,
    Sharon

  13. On June 22nd, 2008 at 6:41 pm tonya Says:

    Aww Michelle…you look just perfect! Beauty!

  14. On June 22nd, 2008 at 7:20 pm merifa Says:

    I think you look great! It’s amazing what people will say to a pregnant woman. Don’t they know they’re talking to a cluster of nothing but hormones? One guy asked when I was only a couple of weeks from my due date if I was having twins. When I said no, he actually said, “Really??” I’m sure they don’t realize how they sound, but come on! 🙂 Hang in there and keep looking beautiful!

  15. On June 22nd, 2008 at 8:32 pm juju Says:

    I think you look beautiful -can you email me please – I have a question for you-

  16. On June 22nd, 2008 at 8:37 pm Angie Says:

    You really do look great Michelle!!

  17. On June 22nd, 2008 at 8:39 pm Priscilla Says:

    well i was all ready to be sympathetic til i saw that picture. oh please! you look great.

    i am sorry that you feel like a beached whale, but you sure don’t look like one!

  18. On June 22nd, 2008 at 9:13 pm Meena Says:

    Michelle, please don’t stress about how you look, you really look fantastic!!! I’m sure you feel all overgrown and uncomfortable but you really look great! I’m just so excited for you to be having a baby. However you have them, adoption or bio it’s an amazing experience. I hope you feel as great as you look!

  19. On June 22nd, 2008 at 9:30 pm starfish Says:

    Looking good girl!!

  20. On June 22nd, 2008 at 9:36 pm Ashley J Says:

    I ditto the above… I think you look all cute and “glowy”. You pull off the pregnancy looking GOOD!

  21. On June 22nd, 2008 at 9:39 pm Bobbi Says:

    You look really good. I hate pregnant people who don’t share their weight with their entire body.

    WOW!! Ican’t believe how far along you are. Almost time. I was lucky and never couldn’t sleep!(don’t kill me!!) Hope you get some soon.

    WHat’s really cool is right before you give birth you usually drop a pound or two. IT is great!!

  22. On June 22nd, 2008 at 10:00 pm Samantha Says:

    Many mamas tell me that the lack of sleep in late PG actually helps them cope and get accustomed to less sleep so those first few months are actually easier to deal with. After the shock of bringing j home and suddenly having much less sleep and rest, I could believe that there is some reason to that (in that? grammar check?)

    You do look great, btw.

  23. On June 22nd, 2008 at 10:13 pm Amanda Says:

    I think I might have commented sometime around a year ago, but I’m not sure. I first stumbled across your blog on the AB message boards. I have kept up with it off and on over the last year or so. I was TTC for a little over a year, but my marriage ended in divorce. Anyway- I’m finally finding a new ‘normal’ and something reminded me of your blog. You were so inspiring when I was TTC and considering adoption, I was beyond thrilled to find that you are expecting! And your daughter is gorgeous… of course you already know that. I find people with a witty sense of humor the most entertaining, so your blog keeps me laughing.

    -Amanda from TX

  24. On June 22nd, 2008 at 10:29 pm Rhonda Says:

    You look great girl. It is strange as you get close to the end, you just don’t sleep well, probably preparing you for that every 3 hour night shift!!!! I had one son that had the hiccups every night at 3:00 am during my last month 🙂

  25. On June 22nd, 2008 at 10:54 pm jenn Says:

    What a great picture! You look beautiful.

  26. On June 22nd, 2008 at 10:59 pm Kecia Says:

    You’re a total babe… I reject your comparison to a whale and replace it with a comparison to an elegant (and fashion forward…great necklace) momma.

  27. On June 23rd, 2008 at 6:01 am Soltana Says:

    You look too darn cute!!!

    What a good picture!!

    Don’t worry about the dream… I had some wierd ones when I was prego too… I guess it’s hormones:)

    Have a great day

  28. On June 23rd, 2008 at 6:14 am Cass Says:

    You do indeed look fantastic – what is up with Target and not responding to such an amazing advertising opportunity? Sometimes Target stuns me.

    Our baby girl has the same response to FH’s touch – ZERO response. She goes from an olympic competitor to a grasshopper waiting for the cup to come over her head in zero seconds when his hand hovers over the belly…I just do not get it. Having said that, I sleep a lot better when he’s got a hand on the belly.

  29. On June 23rd, 2008 at 10:01 am Karrie Says:

    I think you look just wonderful!! But I completely understand the incredible amount of discomfort you are in!!! May it be a swift couple of weeks for you!!
    You are in the home stretch (no pun intended) now, BABY!!!
    Best wishes!
    Karrie in IN

  30. On June 23rd, 2008 at 11:24 am emily Says:

    STOP! You look very good at 34 1/2 weeks, just think your almost done and then you will have another beautiful daughter to add to your family. I know this part is not the greatest but I actually miss being pregnant (ask me that when I WAS pregnant and I would have told you you were insane(.

  31. On June 24th, 2008 at 1:43 pm Debbie Says:

    I think you look great.
    That does seem unfair that you don’t get any sleep before you’ll never get sleep again!!!

  32. On June 24th, 2008 at 9:14 pm artsweet Says:

    I have never seen a less beached whale looking pregnant woman. Okay, maybe a few celebrities, but they’re not really human.

  33. On June 27th, 2008 at 8:17 am Jordana Says:

    You look great! Not whale-ish at all and the red suits your coloring. I, on the other hand…

    I suppose I should take at least one photo, but ugh. Not a pretty sight.

  34. On June 29th, 2008 at 12:39 pm Sarcastic Mom Says:

    Neither of the times I saw you did you look large. Granted, I have not seen you in awhile ( 🙁 ) but still. This photo proves that you still just look pregnant, NOT large. I’m really not just saying that to be nice. You look so lovely, Michelle.

    I got quite puffy towards the end. Whenever you feel bad, just look at my shower photo. 😉

    Also, the sleep deprivation during pregnancy is truly evil, isn’t it? I just saw it as a gentle breaking in and preparation for what was to come. You know, instead of going from total rest to none. It’s like weaning you off of comfortable sleep. Hah! 😀

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