Our Greatest Adventure

Chapter 11: 27 Weeks & Counting

As my pregnancy edged on, the more uncomfortable I became in my own skin. While I had denied the pregnancy long enough in my first trimester, it was abundantly evident now that I was growing another human inside of me.

At 27 weeks pregnant, Jellybean was about the size of a head of cauliflower and growing at a rapid rate. Each week my belly inched out further passed my waistband to accommodate her growing size, and we were struggling to share the space. My petite frame offered little room to grow, and she had pushed my internal organs up as far as they would go. The only place for her to grow was out.

With each pound she gained, my back bent forward with the pressure. While I was amazed my body could continue to endure such conditions, it was clear there would be a price. At the end of each day my legs would cramp from my toes to my rounded hips, and my back clenched tight under the added weight.

There was nothing glamorous about being pregnant, no matter what the celebrity moms said. Being pregnant was hard. Period.

Most days it was easier to stay in bed then brave the world. I'd attempted to treat my aches with natural supplements, and even went as far as to get a massage. But the relief was brief and by bedtime I was struggling to sleep through the discomfort.

On day four of insomnia, a box as large as me arrived on my doorstep with a note from Jai. It read: "Not that I mind spending time on the phone with you at 2am, but maybe we will all get some more sleep with this."

Inside the box, was a pink U shaped body pillow. It was the most comfortable thing I had ever tried.

"I'm in it right now," I said, when Jai called later that night. "In fact I haven't left it since it arrived."

He chuckled. "Well I'm glad you're enjoying it. Your friend at the baby store here suggested it for you."

"How is Angela?" I asked, remembering the lovely young saleswoman who helped me in Toronto. I had promised to send Jai back in, and I'm glad he had.

"She was quite the individual," said Jai. "She's a fast talker, and I'm not sure I kept up with her at all. No wonder you came back with so much stuff the last time! My wallet was shrinking while I stood there."

I laughed. "Yes Angela does have that effect on her customers, but I have to say everything you bought was probably a necessity."

It seemed impossible there was more stuff to buy, but every time I turned around there was some new item that "needed" to be purchased. There was literally no room in the bedroom I set aside for Jellybean for all the baby supplies I would need.

"Did Miles come over to paint that room yet?" Jai asked, reading my mind.

I bit my lip. "I told him not to. I'm having second thoughts about staying here after the baby is born. There is no room here."

"Well you're running out of time, Love."

"I know, but I just don't think I could raise the baby in this tiny apartment." I sighed. "I've been looking around for awhile now, and I put an offer in on a house in the town over from here. It's a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom house that would be perfect. It has a big backyard, and a nice family room. Best of all the couple wants to move out soon because they already have their retirement home in Florida."

Jai was silent for a moment. "I'm waiting for a but."

There really wasn't a but, it was all just a waiting game now. "My offer was on the lower end of what they wanted. If someone comes in with a better offer, they will probably take it."