39 weeks and 2 days! AKA Shhh, Daddy's Sleeping

So, while Raendi takes a well deserved nap, I decided to take a nice bath to soothe my sore back (overdid the nesting today I think!) and then take a 39 week belly pic. Please excuse the blurry focus. :)

We picked up a gorgeous old fashioned rocking chair for the front room on freecycle.org yesterday. The previous owner received it when she had her first baby 23 years ago and was happy to pass it on to our growing family. Good Karma for all! We spent the afternoon with the Creegans at their pool, the last Saturday before the Kidlet arrives as just a twosome at their pool. While the weather felt like early September, the pool was 85 degrees and heavenly. Taking the weight off my body by floating is certainly a lovely thing also!




With my due date not for another week or so, I'm still hoping that I'll go early. But, honestly, the due date they gave me is pretty spot on by my calculations. Looks like another few days at least of being pregnant and a quiet house. In some ways I'm going to miss being pregnant. It's been a miraculous thing that my body has grown this little person, provided all it needs and my job has been too take care of myself. Perhaps this is a reminder for the next stage of motherhood to be sure to continue to take care of myself?

G'night all, time to chill.




Making the decision to have a child - it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. Elizabeth Stone

The Blog-o-sphere

So, throughtout the time we've been expecting the Kidlet, I've been reading this blog: www.Dooce.com. Heather is funny, honest, and willing to call something meaningful that is such. She posted the third part of her labor and delivery story recently and I sat on the couch, laughed out loud and cried reading it.

One thing she said about her labor and delivery and a natural childbirth experience really hit home:
"I did it. I totally did it. And I couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe how lucky I was to be able to have this experience, that nothing went wrong. That they didn't have to intervene. I know that. I know there was a lot of luck involved. I know how lucky I am.

But I'm also so damn proud of myself for conquering this challenge, for doing the work and having it pay off, and having lived through that kind of pain, having gone into that place inside Jon's palm, I now have a new perspective on life. Yes, on life. It's just changed everything, I can't deny it.

She changed everything."

We are 9 days away from the Kidlet's due date and the most I seem to be able to do in a day is a few essential things and then wait and prepare. When talking about her decision to have a natural birth, Heather writes about some people who compare the pain of a root canal to the pain of childbirth, you get pain meds for a rootcanal, right? Why not for this too? And then she says that it's like comparing giving life to someone to a ... tooth. And I'm there with her. At 3am after my 5th bathroom run, I lay awake in awe and wonder at the sheer enormity and miracle of this experience. At some point soon this person I've been growing inside of me will come out, perfect in his or her imperfections, beautiful and wonderous and independant and soulful. I am in awe of this process. And I believe that this next part, delivering this baby, deserves the same amount of reverence in my book which is why I'm going in with all sorts of tools that bring me closer to the experience rather than keep me separate from it.

I feel prepared, not that I know what will happen finally or have any control over what happens, it's the bit of risk that make it worth it somehow. But I feel prepared to go into this experiece with enough knowledge and practice to be able to be present. And I can't wait to meet our little one. Whenever you are ready Kidlet, we are.

Finished Nursery

Alas, I have been lax in uploading pictures of the nursery. Here is the final product!


Changing table and supplies.









Curtains!













Crib and bookshelf.













Play table and such...













Rocking chair and the Kitten who still thinks all the hubbub around the house is for her. ;)

Lightening

So, it's called lightening when baby drops into place in the pelvis. And it's true that it's easier to breathe and the heartburn lets up. I feel like I can eat a real portion of things without feeling like I'm full up to my collarbone. And the sensation of taking a deep breath is heavenly. But, honestly, who put the bowling ball on top of my pelvic floor? I can barely walk without feeling like the Kidlet is gonna just drop out. And speaking of the darling one, he/she is super active today after taking a rest yesterday. Lots and lots of movement, kicking, hands in my hips, head turns in my cervix, the massive roll that is buttocks moving across my belly. "I know honey, you are cramped in there. It won't be long now!"

The Waiting Game

At the OB appointment this week my Dr said that I'm 1cm dilated and 90% effaced. She said that I might go this week but will most likely still be pregnant at my next appointment next Tuesday. All I know is that my heartburn is less today than it has been, baby is still very very low, and I feel like I only have a short time to get all the last minute things done. I changed my hair appointment from next Wed to tomorrow, just in case.
And I feel ready. Peaceful even. Raendi's been wonderful. He has installed both car seats and has been such a great help with bringing me food and cold water for my feet.
So, we wait and try to stay cool. :)

Long Overdue and 37 Weeks!

So, for pictures of the bathroom renovation go here. Otherwise it's finally Summer here. Hot and muggy and thunderstorms in the vicinity. I'm starting to nest. With the bathroom finally done and the tragic saga of the truck complete, we will hopefully have no more drama until the kidlet arrives. Meanwhile, the urge to fold, clean, and sort is overwhelming at times. The kidlet is sitting low and I'm feeling all sorts of new sensations which tells me that we are both getting ready for the big day.

Has it really been a month since I last updated?

With the bathroom renovation, a cold I had, and the sad demise of the family truck it's been a busy few weeks. I'll have pictures and stories this weekend since the bathroom will be finished. YAY! For now, I'm almost 37 weeks, belly is big, and health is good. ((hugs)) to all.