I am 9 days away from my due date and aside from the exhaustion and general aches and pains (which are to be expected) I can't really complain too much. I've been having some contractions (or "surges" as we say in Hypnobirthing language) for the last week or so and I have to say that it's fun to feel my body working to get ready for this baby to be born. I didn't really have any contractions with Ocean until labor began so I'm enjoying the sensations of preparation this time.
We took the hospital tour at St. Joe's tonight and can I just say HOLY COW... those mother/baby rooms are ridiculously tiny. There's no room for a visitor, much less a husband to stay there. And NO showers in the rooms?! Oy. We will definitely have to focus on getting me the hell out of there ASAP after giving birth.
Our house is coming along quickly (it's painted!) and we're hoping to be in by February, but it could even be sooner than that... fingers crossed!
Because our apartment lease is up shortly, and therefore to avoid renting month-to-month, we are moving in with my wonderfully generous and accommodating parents this weekend and will be there until our house is completed. I have to say I'll be glad for the assistance and the company once the baby arrives... Ocean has such a special relationship with his Mimi and Papa and it will be good for him to have in-house spoiling while I'm tending to the needs of his new little sibling.
And while we're on the subject of my little man, I've really been treasuring this time I have with him before the baby arrives. We were playing outside the other day after it had rained; Ocean was stomping, jumping and rolling in the puddles on the sidewalk and just having a great time. I was watching from a few feet away, feeling such love for him and at the same time such sadness that he will be my "one and only" for just a short time longer. By the end of our play time I was wiping away tears because he just has no idea how much his life is going to change in the next couple of weeks... and I wish I could communicate to him how special he is to me, right now, as my only child. People keep asking me if I'm worried that I won't be able to love another baby like I love Ocean, but that's not the case. I KNOW I'll love this baby as much as I love him and it makes my heart ache a little to know that I won't be feeling that love for ONLY him anymore (if that even makes sense). These are probably just crazy ramblings of a highly emotional pregnant mommy so thanks for indulging me.
Thank you for all the emails and phonecalls to check on me... if I don't get back with you right away I've been crazy trying to pack up for the move so please be patient and be assured that I am very grateful for everyone's love and care for me. =)
11.01.2007
9.30.2007
prayers, good vibes, whateva
You know, I would love to be the perky, happy, glowing pregnant lady... but I've come to grips with the fact that I'm just NOT. While I am fortunate that my body is (clearly) capable of baby making I simply don't enjoy being pregnant.
I'm tired, y'all, and my hips are aching. My son is sucking the little bit of energy that I have left and I'm waking up seven times every night to pee. I have fallen three times in the past two weeks and have given up trying to eat well because I just don't have time. On top of everything else, my maternity clothes no longer fit and I honestly don't care that the bottom of my belly usually hangs out of my shirt. It's actually more comfortable that way because 23.5 hours of every day I feel like I'm going to DIE from heat exhaustion and the breeze feels quite nice.
In that vein, I've decided it's in everyone's best interests that I have this baby in four weeks. I can't make it 6 weeks to my due date but by week 38 baby should be nice and baked so let's get some happy thoughts going for the last week of October. Pray, do a baby dance, whatever you got. Let's get this party started!
I'm tired, y'all, and my hips are aching. My son is sucking the little bit of energy that I have left and I'm waking up seven times every night to pee. I have fallen three times in the past two weeks and have given up trying to eat well because I just don't have time. On top of everything else, my maternity clothes no longer fit and I honestly don't care that the bottom of my belly usually hangs out of my shirt. It's actually more comfortable that way because 23.5 hours of every day I feel like I'm going to DIE from heat exhaustion and the breeze feels quite nice.
In that vein, I've decided it's in everyone's best interests that I have this baby in four weeks. I can't make it 6 weeks to my due date but by week 38 baby should be nice and baked so let's get some happy thoughts going for the last week of October. Pray, do a baby dance, whatever you got. Let's get this party started!
9.14.2007
today's life lessons
LIFE LESSON 1: Breyers Ice Cream is pure crap. CRAP. Ben and Jerry's is significantly more expensive but there is a very good, very delicious reason for that. It has substance. It is not fluffy. It is WORTH the extra money. Just in case you ever need to make a decision.
LIFE LESSON 2: Toys do not belong in the living room and now I know why. I got off the couch to go into the kitchen, stepped on a little plastic widget and the next thing I knew I was sprawled out on the floor with bruised knees. I'm not sure of two things:
1. How in the world I didn't land on my belly. It is huge and I fell forward. Somehow I rolled slightly to my left and ended up on my side instead of on my stomach. Close call... thank you little baby Jesus.
2. How in the world Phil was able to refrain from laughing until he made sure I was okay. He said he wasn't going to laugh at his pregnant wife falling on what looked like her stomach but I don't know how he didn't think it was hilarious. I mean, after the searing pain in my hips and knees started to wear off even I was laughing through my tears. When it comes to people falling my motto is laugh first, ask questions later.
LIFE LESSON 2: Toys do not belong in the living room and now I know why. I got off the couch to go into the kitchen, stepped on a little plastic widget and the next thing I knew I was sprawled out on the floor with bruised knees. I'm not sure of two things:
1. How in the world I didn't land on my belly. It is huge and I fell forward. Somehow I rolled slightly to my left and ended up on my side instead of on my stomach. Close call... thank you little baby Jesus.
2. How in the world Phil was able to refrain from laughing until he made sure I was okay. He said he wasn't going to laugh at his pregnant wife falling on what looked like her stomach but I don't know how he didn't think it was hilarious. I mean, after the searing pain in my hips and knees started to wear off even I was laughing through my tears. When it comes to people falling my motto is laugh first, ask questions later.
9.06.2007
when to say when
A quick little funny:
This morning Ocean and I got home from the grocery store right at nap time. When he's tired he has a difficult time controlling his emotions, as do most toddlers. We came in the apartment but because he wanted to stay outside he decided to express his displeasure by screaming and then headbutting my legs. I bent down, looked him in the eye and said the standard, "Ocean, you do not hit mommy. If you hit again, you will get a time-out." He nodded his head and ran into the hallway, where we "do" time-outs. I walked into the hallway and he was sitting, facing the wall with his legs crossed! I sat down behind him and counted to 30 as we always do and he just sat quietly, leaning against me, truly taking a time-out. At the end of the 30 seconds he smiled, gave me a kiss and went to find his stuffed duck, completely calm and centered.
I guess even babies know when they've lost control and need a break in order to get themselves together. I could probably learn a thing or two from this kid...
This morning Ocean and I got home from the grocery store right at nap time. When he's tired he has a difficult time controlling his emotions, as do most toddlers. We came in the apartment but because he wanted to stay outside he decided to express his displeasure by screaming and then headbutting my legs. I bent down, looked him in the eye and said the standard, "Ocean, you do not hit mommy. If you hit again, you will get a time-out." He nodded his head and ran into the hallway, where we "do" time-outs. I walked into the hallway and he was sitting, facing the wall with his legs crossed! I sat down behind him and counted to 30 as we always do and he just sat quietly, leaning against me, truly taking a time-out. At the end of the 30 seconds he smiled, gave me a kiss and went to find his stuffed duck, completely calm and centered.
I guess even babies know when they've lost control and need a break in order to get themselves together. I could probably learn a thing or two from this kid...
8.27.2007
michael vick and the american diet
***Warning: This is totally a soap-box rant that includes some graphic content regarding factory farms. You will want to stop reading here if you are easily offended or take things personally, because that's not my intent. For you thick-skinned brave souls.... carry on.***
A lot of people are pretty pissed at Michael Vick right now and rightfully so. I mean, the guy was involved in some really heinous acts against innocent animals and he pretty much deserves to have the book thrown at him.
While I would love to place all the blame on Mike and his cohorts I have to wonder what influence our culture had on his decision to commit such violent acts against these dogs. Every year 27 billion animals are violently slaughtered by the same- and even more inhumane- means as those pit bulls. Each day at factory farms around this country thousands of pigs, cattle, chickens and turkeys are hung, electrocuted, beaten, slashed and boiled alive before being cut up or ground up, neatly packaged and shipped to your local supermarket… but that story won't make the front page of CNN.com anytime soon. Why is it acceptable for us to torture certain animals but not others? And why do we feel justified in passing judgment on Michael Vick over our bacon breakfast, turkey sandwich lunch and steak dinner? Do dogs feel more pain than farm animals? Are they smarter? Sweeter? Cuter? Why do they get preferential treatment and protection under American laws? I'm genuinely curious.
Do I think this lets Vick off the hook? Absolutely not. Do the crime, do the time. But there are plenty of other people (corporations) that allow this atrocity to happen on a much larger scale every day and we the people support it and turn a blind eye. Why?
I don't judge anyone for how they choose to live their life. I'm not against meat-eaters, I'm against factory farming. 99% of my friends and family members are meat-eaters and it doesn't bother me one bit. What bothers me is the way that we have turned life into a commodity, and the double-standard that's been created for the animals that will never have any option for their lives other than to end up on someone's dinner plate. I fault the government for that, not the consumer. Much like the dogs in this case, who were bred solely for fighting, and were killed when they didn't live up to a certain man-imposed standard, there are billions of animals this year who will never have a purpose other than death. And that breaks my heart while infuriating me to the core.
A lot of people are pretty pissed at Michael Vick right now and rightfully so. I mean, the guy was involved in some really heinous acts against innocent animals and he pretty much deserves to have the book thrown at him.
While I would love to place all the blame on Mike and his cohorts I have to wonder what influence our culture had on his decision to commit such violent acts against these dogs. Every year 27 billion animals are violently slaughtered by the same- and even more inhumane- means as those pit bulls. Each day at factory farms around this country thousands of pigs, cattle, chickens and turkeys are hung, electrocuted, beaten, slashed and boiled alive before being cut up or ground up, neatly packaged and shipped to your local supermarket… but that story won't make the front page of CNN.com anytime soon. Why is it acceptable for us to torture certain animals but not others? And why do we feel justified in passing judgment on Michael Vick over our bacon breakfast, turkey sandwich lunch and steak dinner? Do dogs feel more pain than farm animals? Are they smarter? Sweeter? Cuter? Why do they get preferential treatment and protection under American laws? I'm genuinely curious.
Do I think this lets Vick off the hook? Absolutely not. Do the crime, do the time. But there are plenty of other people (corporations) that allow this atrocity to happen on a much larger scale every day and we the people support it and turn a blind eye. Why?
I don't judge anyone for how they choose to live their life. I'm not against meat-eaters, I'm against factory farming. 99% of my friends and family members are meat-eaters and it doesn't bother me one bit. What bothers me is the way that we have turned life into a commodity, and the double-standard that's been created for the animals that will never have any option for their lives other than to end up on someone's dinner plate. I fault the government for that, not the consumer. Much like the dogs in this case, who were bred solely for fighting, and were killed when they didn't live up to a certain man-imposed standard, there are billions of animals this year who will never have a purpose other than death. And that breaks my heart while infuriating me to the core.
8.19.2007
beauty and the beach
We got home last night from a wonderful beach vacation. Ocean quickly got over his aversion to sand and had a blast digging, knocking down the sand castles we built, and watching his Papa fish in the shore break. As for me, since the physical changes of carrying a life don't always feel like the most desirable I thought I would be so self-conscious being in a swim suit while hugely pregnant but it turned out to be very much the opposite... I've actually not felt prettier while pregnant than I did in all my lycra-laden pregnant glory. There was something so natural and beautiful about being in the powerful presence of the ocean while myself being in the most organic and ethereal state of humanity. The only way I would have felt more empowered is if they made body boards with cut-outs for pregnant bellies.
Now that we're home and settled (and semi-recovered from the late flight with a very tired toddler), I have a lot of catching up to do so please be patient with me as I get back to everyone who has emailed or messaged me in the last week. I'll also be posting some beach pictures as soon as I can get them uploaded.
Now that we're home and settled (and semi-recovered from the late flight with a very tired toddler), I have a lot of catching up to do so please be patient with me as I get back to everyone who has emailed or messaged me in the last week. I'll also be posting some beach pictures as soon as I can get them uploaded.
8.01.2007
touchy feely
Last week someone told me that children are our greatest prayer and I think that begins during pregnancy. There's something within all of us that hopes each new person will bring something great to the world... who wouldn't want to be a part of that, if only for a fleeting moment with a gentle touch?
With that in mind, I know a lot of pregnant women despise people touching their bellies... I am not one of them. I am cynical and crabby and mostly miserable to be around these days but when someone becomes so enamored by the magical mystery of a new life hidden in the body of a woman that they can't help but to reach out and connect with that energy... how can I not receive that as a blessing? Everyone desires a connection with something greater than themselves and the essence of creation is life's most profound mystery.
So hands on my belly don't bother me. More than that, I appreciate the blessing for both me and my baby. Touch away!
With that in mind, I know a lot of pregnant women despise people touching their bellies... I am not one of them. I am cynical and crabby and mostly miserable to be around these days but when someone becomes so enamored by the magical mystery of a new life hidden in the body of a woman that they can't help but to reach out and connect with that energy... how can I not receive that as a blessing? Everyone desires a connection with something greater than themselves and the essence of creation is life's most profound mystery.
So hands on my belly don't bother me. More than that, I appreciate the blessing for both me and my baby. Touch away!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)