Loving My Belly

It's New Music Tuesday in this Bug's life.

Once a month I get paid a small amount to listen to a lot of recent music and translate my feelings into as few words as possible. PJ Harvey, Radiohead, Adele... not a bad start to an afternoon.

Today also marks the first day I've worn my new Belly Band; A foot-wide lycra tube that I would quite probably have worn as a mini-skirt as a teenager, but now covers the gaping button of my jeans, keeps me from buying maternity trousers, and provides a suprising amount of comfort up to my ribs.

The band has made me realise 2 things. 1) I understand for the first time why high-waisted trousers are so comfortable and 2) for the first time I actually like my belly.

As a child I never had an issue with weight, but still I always had a belly. Beach shots are of the blonde, grinning girl, squinting into the sun in a multi-coloured one piece - all skinny legs and round tummy; usually holding up something I'd found, like some sea-weed or a dead crab. As an adult I've been able to either hold my tummy in or dress it down, but it's always been there... not so much sexy hour-glass but homely cottage-loaf.*

Now, for the first time, I can look at my round and growing belly with affection instead of wistful embarrassment or even shame. There's no thoughts of "time to cut our bread again" or "I really should go to the gym", just affectionate strokes and wonder at the magic that's knitting together this perfect human I'm honoured to carry for a few more months.