Chapter 5 - The growing lovely lady bumps

~July 22, 2020~
When I say I'm starting to feel the difference in my weight, I'm not joking. This morning, I looked down and I could see a sliver of white skin poking out past my large, swollen chest. I check the full length mirror as I get dressed and I don't know how I missed it until now.

My tight shorts are creating a red line across my belly, sitting much lower than normal, and more see-through around my hips and butt, more like how they looked a few weeks ago after Jason stuffed me full of pie and then himself. My swollen chest is spilling out of my black bra. My arms have a small layer or softness added to them. My face is ever so slightly rounder. I grab one of my medium t-shirts and struggle to pull it over my belly. It would be showing an inch or so of underbelly skin if my shorts didn't sit high. It is definitely a tight fit between my chest and bump. I mean, this makes sense but didn't expect SO much at just 4 months. Every morning after daycare drop off I get 2 egg, cheese, and potato breakfast burritos now and usually one is gone by the time I get home. And every weekend and some days after work Jason gets me boba and donuts. It makes sense that my waistline is expanding with my appetite. So I internally slightly celebrate that my pregnancy gain is mostly staying in my belly at least.

I find my old 36DD bra and am surprised it already fits! This bra is 2 cup sizes bigger but almost fits perfectly. After I put back on my now even tighter shirt, I turn to Jason and show him my clothes. He walks behind me, reaches down with our 15" height difference, and cradles my growing globe. It feels so nice, almost like he's taking some of the weight off of me. He pulls my shirt up with resistance from my belly, exposing my way too-tight shorts, pulls the waistband down below my bump and rubs big circles. It feels so nice not being confined. I forget how athletic pants and leggings hold my bump in some. He notices and says, "babe, you've long outgrown these. How haven't you gotten maternity clothes yet? Use the credit card and go shopping. I want you to be comfortable. You're not even halfway and baby has definitely had a growth spurt recently."

"I know, I just thought I'd get as much use out of what I have as I can."

He smirked and said, "well you definitely can't use these anymore. I'm honestly surprised you haven't ripped anything. I'll bring home some more snacks for you today. I see you're making a dent on the snack bowl and I want to make sure you have enough when I'm not home. Keep growing, little baby!" He kisses me and my belly goodbye and goes to work. I go to the restroom to get my measurements.

Gestation: 16 weeks
Weight: 178lbs (+23)
Chest: 46" 36DD? (+3)
Waist: 45" (+12)
Hips" 46" (+2)

Being alone, I get antsy sitting at my desk so I have to get up often and walk around. I've tried going for a walk the past few days but have only made it down to the street corner and back before I got too hot I'm so close to the kitchen that my hands almost always bare a snack when leaving there. It's July and well over 110° outside daily so I'm inside, avoiding the Arizona heat and sun. A walk wasn't even an option for me today.

Because my first prenatal appointment was scheduled farther into my pregnancy than normal, I have also scheduled a 16-week one for today. I didn't have time beforehand to go shopping, so I just went in my tight clothes which felt even tighter after my 2 burrito breakfast. My size really snuck up on me so I'm going to have to go shopping today. Maybe I really am having a boy like people are speculating because I'm so big.

Everything at my appointment went well, my numbers look good even though the nurse once again mentioned a healthy diet and exercise. I'm aware of my weight, but I'm eating pretty healthy. All my weight is baby weight in my belly! The doctor said I'm measuring about a week ahead which isn't uncommon since sizes and bumps fluctuate. I felt so rushed it was almost tiring.

After my appointment, I stop at a fast food place for a veggie burger meal. I pulled into the parking lot of a major department store so I can go shopping after eating. I scarf down my lunch and realized my belly filled up against the steering wheel. I move my seat back a little with difficulty. I reach into the food bag to look for any stray fries and find a surprise cookie instead! The fast food worker must have given me a little surprise! I greedily eat it fast and lick my fingers.

Unfortunately, every store has closed their fitting rooms during the pandemic. In the store I find 2 women's dresses and a pair of maternity leggings. I figure since the leggings are maternity I can possibly go down a size so I grab a small and a medium, and the dresses in medium. They seem stretchy enough to accommodate. I also pick up a 36F bra, the next cup size up, in preparation. My stomach grumbles in the checkout line so I grab the baby a bag of Sun Chips.

When I get home I finish my work in an hour and want to try on my new clothes. The infamous ravenous hunger hits first, though, so I go into the kitchen and start on the "Jason brought home from work" bowl. I only eat 1 snack cake before I go into subconscious eating mode and scarf snacks down before they can run away. I don't count how many wrappers I open until I reached for the empty bowl and my belly touching the cold stone counter shakes me free. I look down and see more of my middle sticking out and my shirt horribly strained. I don't want to ruin it so I take it off. I can feel my belly sigh in relief and extend out a little further. It's hard to believe I can now see anything past my chest, especially since that's grown, too. For the longest time that is what's stuck out furthest from my body. I count the wrappers...10?! How did I eat 10 snack cakes without realizing it? I pat my growing bump and say, "man, you really enjoy living in a huge penthouse, don't you? You admiring what you're doing to your mama?" The firmness under the softness feels nice and warm under my fingers. Maybe I'll wear sports bras around the house now. I think my body is ready, and it'll allow me to see my growth better.

My belly is still rumbling, baby is moving, and I am feeling a little warm so I go to the freezer and dig into a pint of oat milk ice cream. Double chocolate brownie. Like a lot of things in the house, I just grab a spoon and dig in and before I know it I'm scraping the bottom of the pint. The dense chocolate is lingered in my mouth so I have to wash it down with some oat milk in the fridge. I start chugging, holding the carton with one hand and the other on my belly, each swallow extending my girth a little further. I need something else, so I open a large bag of popcorn, a tub of rice pudding, a bottle of juice, a tray of fruit... I just eat whatever I can find like the very hungry caterpillar and before I know it baby is finally satisfied. I rub my heavy, whole belly. My eyes get wide. My stomach got so firm while stuffing myself that I didn't even feel the waistband of my leggings roll down under my more expanded gut. I am in a daze rubbing the mountain of baby bump and fat. All the food sits so heavy inside me, stretching my skin. I can feel my stretch marks getting deeper and expanding again. Maybe this wasn't a good idea before trying on clothes, or maybe it is a great idea because now I can know how they'll fit in a couple of months. My belly jiggles as I comically fail to pull the waistband from under my very gravid gut but stop when I feel like I'm going to throw up. I'm way too full for that kind of movement.

I lethargically clean up my mess to hide the evidence of my gluttony. I step on the trash can peddle and the lid flips open, hitting my swollen hurting belly. I'm not sure if I should be embarrassed or proud. I guess it means I'm eating enough, though.

I try on the small maternity leggings first. I heavily sit on the edge of my bed in my panties and immediately feel the weight of my belly resting on my thighs. It's so warm and noisily gurgling, digesting food. It doesn't come as a surprise anymore because it's been consistently touching for a while now. I take a moment to soak in the feeling, putting my hands between my thighs and belly, feeling it's weightiness rest in my palms. I feel kicking! The proof I need that I'm not too fat yet to feel my baby! I have only felt flutters before but this time was an actual kick or punch. Maybe baby really likes the meal. I rub my distended stomach and tell the baby, "you're going to be getting a lot more where this came from! I'm going to make you happy! I can't wait to visually see your movement from the outside!"

Gaining a belly while pregnant is very different for me than gaining otherwise. I enjoy the feeling of my growing belly and watching how big I can get, and I mentally feel free to enjoy it more now. I think I'm going to get extra helping at dinner tonight.

After I take in the moment, I try to put on the small leggings with difficulty. I can't lean forward (thanks, binge eating) and they get stuck around the bottom of my thighs. I feel how soft and jiggly my thighs are becoming as I take them off (with difficultly) to try on the mediums. Those get up my thighs but I have a very difficult time getting them over my now softer butt. Once I get them up over those lovely lady bumps, I stop and take a breather. I haven't been working out and the baby weight combined with the food is getting me a little winded. I pull the front panel up, tightly covering barely half of my belly. The tag says to buy the same size you regularly wear, which is medium, so these should work for awhile. I leave the leggings on while I try on one of the medium dresses. It's quite stretchy but immediately after pulling it down over my boobs I can already see the fabric straining. I pulled the dress down and look in the mirror. The fabric appears sheer and strained across my growing areas so I take it off. I try on the 36E bra, carefully since my boobs have been so tender. As expected it's a little loose but I wonder for how long? Obviously some of my gains are going to my boobs, and if I keep eating like this between meals I'll blow up in no time. I need to slow down before the food slows me down.

Later that evening I show Jason the outfits and he says everything is way too tight and I should exchange them. He says at the rate I'm growing, I can only wear the leggings or dress for maybe a week before I completely outgrow them. I try to pull them off but my belly is getting in the way, still a bit bloated from my binge 2 hours prior. I sat on the bed as he helps me take the legging off, making my body jiggle in the process. He grabbed the globe attached to me, a hand on each side and just stares. He notices me starting to turn a shade of red. I wonder if he can tell I've eaten like a greedy pig not that long ago....

"You're a beautiful woman, April, and your body is exceptionally great with pregnancy. With Zeke you barely let me see you, but I can tell your body knows just what to do when pregnant. This home you've grown for our child is beautiful and I can't wait to see just how much more beautiful you get, babe. I'm ordering out tonight so put something comfortable on...if you can find anything."

Jason kisses my forehead before leaving the room, leaving me rubbing my belly, feeling loved. Since I don't have many choices, I dig out my large regular clothes until I can get maternity clothes. To my surprise everything I put on fit...but snuggly. I put on a pair of my large leggings and although they were tight around my belly, everything fit fairly well. I didn't want to go buy new clothes if I have some things from when I was fatter still. All the shirts are tight around my belly still but some of them are at least stretchy enough that I can pull them down.

After Jason left to go pick up dinner, which he has been doing more often recently to pamper me, I pull out the one large maternity shirt and one large pair of maternity jeans that I had saved. I am convinced that these are going to be too big. My weight isn't even close to last time; I still have time. I first try on the shirt, pulling it down easily over my large chest and bump...it was a perfect fit, not too tight or too loose. I pull on the jeans easily, no resistance over my rear and pull up the stretchy panel to the bottom of my belly button. The jeans are fitted and very stretchy, more like jeggings. To my surprise it is all well fitted. I decide to wear the shirt and jeans for the rest of the night.

For dinner Jason brings home many large sized portions of Chinese food. "For the baby" is his response when he sees my surprise. We sat in the living room and ate as a family, watching a kid's movie. Jason hands me containers of food so I never need to bend forward from the couch. I mindlessly eat Mongolian tofu and veggie fried rice until realizing my containers are empty. Wait... that was a large portion of each! I frantically look around because there must be more somewhere but after a few seconds I just have to look down at my stomach for the answer. Sticking out a few extra inches, I turn slightly red and reach to make sure my shirt was down.

Jason notices and says, "are you still hungry, babe?" He puts one hand on my belly, rubbing gently. It feels so nice I almost forget to answer.

"Uh, um, no, I'm fine. Those large servings really filled me up as you can see."

"For sure, considering those were actually family sizes," he smiles, still rubbing.

I grow redder and wide eyed, pulling at the bottom of my shirt.

"Don't worry," he says. "Your body knows baby needed the food or else you wouldn't have been able to eat it. So make sure you're eating until you're full this time, okay?"

I sigh and look down at my distended stomach sitting in my lap. I shift to cross my legs and let my belly fall in the new space. Jason puts his hand under the bottom of my shirt and pulls down the front panel on my pants. My belly seems to grow slightly more with the room. I notice Zeke fast asleep on the other couch so Jason carries him to his bed. He returns and says, "where were we?"

Jason rubs our baby's home with one hand and raises a hand with a spoon of cheesecake on the other. "I saw the way you were looking for more, so I know you have room left in there so let's fill that up and make baby happy."

I can't contest, he has me, and I open my mouth to sweet creamy turtle cheesecake, one of my favorite flavors. I don't have to chew much before he brings another spoonful to my mouth. I close my eyes and just let him feed me while both of us rub my belly. A commercial startles me so I open my eyes and realize I've made it through half the cheesecake. My shock made Jason laugh.

"I didn't think you'd have a problem eating some, but didn't realize how much room you still have after such a hardy dinner. This baby must really be hungry! There isn't any space in the fridge for this cheesecake so we're going to have to finish it."

He puts a spoonful in his mouth, trying to trick me into thinking that he's been eating some, too. Before I know it he's shoveling more into my mouth and it's so delicious that it overrides how full I'm feeling. I rub my belly and I feel there's barely any room left; it's so firm and warm. I take another spoonful and can hear obvious digestive gurgles. Without thinking about it I lift my shirt up and continue to rub my belly, wince, and let myself enjoy eating since I didn't last time. I'm supposed to enjoy myself, right?

The cheesecake is gone. Jason's hand hasn't left my warm belly. I feel the bottom of my belly sitting lower between my legs. Without the panel on my pants holding it back, I can feel how heavy and full I am. I heave as Jason pulls me up to go lay down in bed, my belly almost bumping him in the process.

He cleans up the living room as I lay in bed, rubbing my gluttonous globe. My shirt is still up so I examine how high of a mountain I've created. Jason comes in, lays down next to me, and undresses me. We seem to make the most passionate love after a large meal. He can't keep his hands off my belly and is so gentle yet firm. It's almost like he enjoys me pregnant. How come I didn't notice it last time? Will he still love me if I keep eating like a pig?