I’m pregnant. In a bikini. On the Internet.

I figured that if I can feel okay putting my barely-clad body and fully exposed baby bump on the World Wide Web (meaning anyone in the world can see it), I’m taking a giant leap towards feeling comfortable walking around the beaches of Mexico in my swimming suit.

After consulting with you and endlessly debating the topic with myself, I opted for a two-piece swimming suit. But, I opted for a bit more coverage on the bottom, because when I get pregnant, it shows in all the B’s: Boobs, Belly, Butt. So, since my ass is also pregnant right now, I got a skirted bikini bottom. It was challenging to find one that was somewhat cute rather than 100% matronly. I found this one at Eddie Bauer.

Here’s what the bikini looks like on the swimsuit model. Who is not pregnant. And has probably worked out a few thousand more times than I have in the last year.

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And here is what that swimming suit looks like on a woman who is 4 months pregnant.

Yes, I stood far away from the mirror on purpose. It’s my version of air brushing.

I’ll also be armed with 3 beach cover ups while traveling, just in case I start feeling self conscious about the belly. However, I’m happy to say that as this trip comes closer, I’m making dramatic shifts towards not worrying too much about my bod right now. I’m pregnant. What else can I, or anyone else, expect to see besides what’s in that mirror? My concern about the belly has more to do with other people’s comfort level with seeing it, not so much my own.

Thank goodness I finally have the swimming suit figured out, because I’m now entering that crazy Mom About To Leave Her Baby mode where I feel compelled to make a thousand lists on how to care for my daughter to give to the people (her grandparents) who spend just as much, if not more, time with her than I do. I’m one of those people who gets all stressed out before a trip, running around buying things I think I’ll need, packing and repacking and obsessively making To Do lists. And then as soon as I get to the destination, I immediately realize I freaked out for nothing and vow to never do it again, but always do. In other words, when you combine my pre-vacation stress syndrome with the idea of leaving one baby while another one grows in my belly, you can imagine what a delightful person I am to be around right now.

• ← My belly’s first live TV appearnace
• Forget Barbie and toy trains, buy new kitchen gadgets instead →