When my husband, very gently I might add, asked me when pregnant women “start showing” I took it to mean that I have finally reached that point in my pregnancy when it is starting to become obvious. (More so to those who know I am in the family way, whereas others may just think I have taken to eating my own body weight in cookies.) The only thing that keeps me comfortable with my new shape (beyond knowing that I get a cuddly baby out of the deal) is the fact that I have kept my actual weight in check. This morning as I prepared to take a shower I was startled by my own reflection. Suddenly there was a stomach where there wasn’t one (well, as big of one, anyway) before. I promptly pulled out my scale, climbed on and braced myself for the numbers to stop climbing. I peered over my burgeoning belly to breathe a sigh of relief: I have only gained three pounds since I found out I was pregnant. Whew!

Not to mention that I have personally become very aware of my stomach these days. Whether I am leaning against a counter or trying to bend over, suddenly things feel very…different. I notice every single bump or graze against my skin as if it were a mortal attack. And don’t even get me started on trying to keep my clothes looking presentable over the thing. I am pulling my pants up and my shirt down with every move I make. Going to the bathroom is torture. You mean I have to re-adjust everything all over again?!

So in coming to grips with the Stomach-That-Won’t-Stop, my next step in acceptance is providing photographic evidence. Since I am without any proper camera at the moment (my Nikon has been sent back to the factory and my dad borrowed my old digital camera), I am reliant on Simeon’s camera phone (his is better than mine). But here you are, my first belly shots at 17 weeks: