Something happened recently, very recently. I understand that being pregnant means an ever expanding waistline, I had ‘upgraded’ to the fat pants (you know the ones girls, we keep them around on those bloated days) then I had upgraded to the ‘big girl’ pants (when the fat pants are starting to feel snug) well soon now, very soon I know there’s a new horizon my belly will be dawning on, the maternity pants (cue dramatic music).

I looked down at my belly tonight and it very suddenly reminded me of Jiffy Pop. It started out relatively flat (well… relatively) like the first image of the nice flat silver swirl of aluminum you see there at the top. I started out hungrier and more sleepy then usual, I wondered to myself, ‘When was my last period?’ I peed on a stick *BOOM* hello pink lines. Two more home pregnancy tests later concluded fairly beyond doubt that the kernel in my belly had popped.

Next thing I know I’m tip-toeing into my second trimester and the fat pants have been put away, the big girl pants aren’t looking as good as they did and I’m eyeing the soft, welcoming elastic waistband of the maternity pants.  Suddenly any style concerns fly out the window in the face of total comfort. Suddenly - my tops all look too short, too tight and I feel like the second picture of Jiffy Pop. *Kapow* Then the stewardess voice in my head says, “Welcome to the second trimester ladies and gentlemen. Please fasten your seatbelts loosely. For your convenience 2 gallon jugs of water are located under your seat, snacks will be served later along with Metamucil and prunes.” Deep breaths, I’ve taken this flight before and it’s a familiar path though not without turbulence.

I remember the final trimester of course, it’s the longest of all of the trimesters. That last month inches along ridiculously slowly, you keep waiting for those final kernals to finish their popping but it’s like they never will. You start to tell yourself, ‘I’ll be the only person with a 20 year old in utero.’ But of course that’s not the case…
In the end the pay off is huge (and I will be too) it’s not buttery, yellow  and freshly popped, it’s something far greater. A brand new warm, delicious, little person.