The Belly



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As we approach week 38, my wife’s belly has been issued its own zip code.  It swallows shirts and collects dust off of tables.  It attracts, pulling in paint, dirt, and any other substances that come near its gravitational pull.  It’s a force to be reckoned with, fighting zippers and buttons in its quest to be open and free.  It’s round and robust, and it usually arrives a few seconds before my wife walks into the room.

At some point during the 2nd trimester, my wife's body was hijacked, starting with a cute little bump that showed up one morning.  It continued to grow and swell and now it's like a hardened shell. It's like a bumper, coming between us during.....relax, I was going to say hugs.  It doubles as a table, (she makes a mean peanut butter and jelly shirt). 

It makes bending tricky, sleeping difficult, and comfort impossible.  Simple things that I take for granted are out of the question for my wife, like say, tying shoes. It hides things, last night it swallowed a remote control. On a recent trip to Lowes, I thought about suggesting a wheelbarrow for lugging it around, but I value sleeping in the house, and let’s face it, I get away with far too much on this blog anyway.

But through it all, as her belly has swollen beyond anything I would have thought possible, I can’t help but look at it and smile, because I know what's inside, or at least I think I do.  I enjoy talking to her belly, or guessing what body part I’m feeling.  At this stage my wife is ready to be done,as she feels bloated and disgusting.  But I think its sexy.  My wife, her belly, and our child.