You know you're nine months pregnant when...

- you wake up multiple times a night to pee.

- 4 pillows minimum are required to fall asleep.

- you have a hard time falling back to sleep because you're ravenously hungry. 

- bending over to pick things up is super difficult! [Thank goodness I've mastered the "toe grab".]

- you go through every pen in the house to make sure they all work... because that seems REALLY important at the time. After all you may be able to never do it again when this baby comes out!? 

- shaving your legs is a major test in balance & flexibility... and you have no idea of the end results. 

- tie up shoes and buckles aren't worth the effort. 

- meals take about 3 hours to finish because your stomach is a liiiiiiiiittle smushed! 

- baby kicks now move your whole body & may make you whence. 

- anticipation stinks because you don't want to get your hopes up for an early arrival... but the last thing you want to do is go past your due date!

- people in public stare at you... specifically your ginormous belly!

- you hit that belly on counters, bookshelves, small children... anything. 

- suddenly bathroom stalls have shrunk?! 

- strangers ask you if you're planning to give birth tomorrow...

- sleep sounds so perfect, until you try to fall asleep. 

- you pair cheese sticks with fiber one bars... enough said! ;)

- friends & family start to get nervous when they realize they missed your call... & then you miss their call. Clearly you're in labor! ;) [don't worry guys, we'll text you]

- you stand up & have to wait a second before you can take a few steps... your back & pelvis just should not feel like that!

- waddle? There's no way around that! 

- laughing, coughing, walking & any other "activity" give you Braxton Hicks. 

- the question posed, "are you ready?!" your answer is no longer a hesitant... "I think so? I mean as ready as I'll ever be! I guess" to "YES!" :) [mostly due to discomfort & the realization that you get to hold this baby in your arms so soon!!!]

I really have enjoyed this pregnancy! I am blessed that I have been able to experience this amazing process. My goal is to remember that in these next 4 weeks!