Making (Noticeable) Progress

Last week I hit a milestone in my pregnancy... Public Participation. I was on my way in to Sunny Farms, our local version of Whole Foods, and a lady on her way out took one look at me and said "Cute Belly." Then, as I made my way through to get a couple of grocery items I noticed at least five or six other stares and smiles, focused on my belly. So now, as you can see from the photo below (24 weeks and 2 days), my belly has grown to the point where strangers feel pretty confident that I'm pregnant and don't worry that they might put their foot in their mouth.

For the most part, this is fun. It's nice to look pregnant, and not just really chubby. It's also fun to get the smiles and well wishes. I haven't had any creepy people touching my belly yet, but from what I understand, that is to come. On the other hand, I do wonder how I will get any bigger. I mean, look at that torpedo coming out of my belly. There's three more months of growth to come. Where is it all going to go? And those aches I'm starting to feel in my back? Well those are probably here to stay. All in all, I'm still having fun and enjoying the process.
Yesterday Tony took a group of leaders to Seattle for a one-day conference. It was a great conference, talking about transformation and change. Good for personal growth and also our perspective/approach to youth ministry. The day was glorious. To have the weather be in the mid sixties and sunny most of the day was phenomenal (given the snow we had last weekend). We enjoyed a ferry ride back to the peninsula at the end of our day and I figured it was the perfect prego couple photo op.
Then, Dad-to-be, who we will refer to now as "Rico" had some fun posing for the camera (and showing off his manly chest). He is such a goofball and will probably do his share to embarrass our child one day, but we got a lot of laughs out of it. And he was quite pleased to see the picture and realize that it also showed off his favorite belt buckle. (This is one in a series of 4 or 5 that he's bought since Christmas. It's a new obsession, but thankfully harmless.)

Until next time...