Closer and Closer

We met with our midwife last night and she checked me again...this time 70-80% effaced and 2 cm dilated. I can tell we're getting very close. When I stand up I feel so much pressure from his head and sometimes I can't even walk it hurts so much! I remember feeling very different in the days before Sam arrived and this is similar. I checked my self on Sunday and lost part of my mucus plug in the process, but was very easily able to find my cervix all squooshy and ripe and tell that I was at 2 cm, so I wasn't too surprised at what the midwife had to say last night...very cool!

We're meeting with our doula tomorrow night for a last pow-wow about the birth and a massage! Send good birthing vibes my way.....

Nesting

Yesterday a group of women gathered at a local cafe to give me a baby shower. It was more traditional, in a sense, than the mother blessing I had last weekend...though it was still a wonderful afternoon. Each woman was asked to tell the story of how she met me and what about me spurred them to want to get to know me better. It was hard to listen to all these fantastic women tell me how fabulous I am!! The stories were all so varied yet, the reasons they wanted to become friends with me were all quite similar. Aside from having children in common, many of the women said that they love how open and accepting I am. I was so happy to hear that! They were also very thankful for the attachment parenting group I have established...they spoke of how important the group has become to all of them. Hearing that made me the most happy! I have wanted so much to create an AP group here that allows attachment parenting families to have the support and comradery that I found in my AP group in KS.

After receiving all the baby goodies yesterday I moved into major nesting mode today! All I have wanted to do is get diapers situated and clothes all washed and put away. We needed to figure out a new place to store diapers so there was enough dresser space for clothes and that was more complicated than it should have been! This is the first time I have felt the nesting urge and it feels good and I am now beginning to really realize how close this baby is to arriving.

Mother Blessing and the Belly

On Saturday, four of my very closest girlfriends, gave me a mother blessing. It was amazing. When pregnant with Sam I had two traditional baby showers. They were fun and, I think, necessary, being that I was about to be a first-time mama. This ceremony was perfect the second time around. I was able to appreciate the spiritual aspect of becoming a mother. I had no worries about needs for the baby, or fears about the birth...just the afternoon to focus on the meaning and passage in becoming a mother again. Poems were read, feelings were shared, tears were shed, beads for a birthing necklace were blessed, a meal was shared...it was very calming, restorative, and empowering.

I am a willow tree, strong yet fluid...graceful...

I can bend with the wind but my roots are tough and indestructable.

Opening to birth my child is flowing through me from the ancient water of life fully nourished by my body.

My body is strong, but flexible...it is my friend, it knows how to open, as "she" has been opening for all humanity.

I am friend to my body.

I love her as a dear old friend.

I nourish myself.

I shall birth safely, freely, openly like a flower blooming among my trusted loved ones.

I am the willow, flexible, beautiful, resilient, endowed with the power to surrender to the wind rustling through my branches.

38 1/2 weeks

Progress

I met with the midwives last Thursday and I was 60% effaced and not quite 1 cm dilated! I was surprised to be effaced that much, though it all means very little to me at this point. I just don't feel like he's quite ready to come yet. I have been enjoying my reflection lately, all round and womanly. My belly is so round this time (see below). I can see the difference and I certainly feel the difference!! (Wow, I look a lot older now, too!)

Sam at approx. 35 weeks Arlo at 36 weeks

Recent Events

A few recent events...some happy, some not:

On Friday, Jennifer Reese, my yoga instructor and new friend, died in a tragic car accident due to icy roads. She was 38 years old with 2 teenage daughters. She had been my yoga instructor for the past year and had been very excited about this new baby. She was wonderful in helping me make adjustments to my asanas as my body changed throughout the pregnancy. In the last month, she had bought a building to open her own yoga studio. Though we saw each other little outside the yoga studio, when I did see her it was as if we were the best of friends. She had such brilliance and spirit about her. I am quite shocked and sad about it all. Tonight there will be a private memorial with the yoga class. I plan on going, though I am nervous about it.

On a happier note, Sam peed in the potty all by himself on Saturday for the first time! It was so nice to finally see him do this and he was so proud! We celebrated with lots of hugs and high-fives and you could see him hold his head a little higher! It hasn't happened since, but he is starting to tell us when he needs to go. I can tell we are getting much closer.

Waiting...But Not Just Waiting

We have been back from CA for a week now. The market has ended and the waiting begins. On Saturday I will be 37 weeks and from that point on I can go into labor and have the baby at home until December 16, when I will be 42 weeks and will then be transferred to the hospital. I am not worried about that happening at all. I have the most confidence in my body and in nature and I know this little guy will come when he is ready.

So what have I been doing to keep busy while I wait?

• cleaning the house...not just surface cleaning or scrubbing, but organizing...it feels good.
• playing with Sam as much as I can while we are still a "one child" family.
• washing baby everything!
• getting the crib together, the dresser ready, the diapers organized...etc.
• buying the appropriate home birth supplies, washing, sterilizing and storing them.
• finishing my Christmas shopping.
• printing labels for birth announcements and Christmas cards and labeling and stamping envelopes.
• wrapping Christmas gifts and getting boxes ready to be shipped, so when the time comes anyone can drop them off at the P.O.
• knitting and sitting with Sam and lots of movies.
• baking pies and freezing them for Thanksgiving.
• enjoying the fabulous Fall weather and tree colors.
  

Of course this list is a "still in progress" list that is not complete, but it will be within the next few weeks. I don't feel rushed, but I am glad that I have things to do while I wait.

Sam was a viking for Halloween! We felt that it suited his personality in the sweetest way. It was a fun collaborative project to make the costume. Matt's mom helped and provided the great fur fabric. He had a blast running around in it, growling and being cute. We took a Halloween train ride with our friends Stacy and Jaadyn and then walked down one cul-de-sac near our house for trick-or-treating. It was more than enough for all of us! The amount of candy was incredible for 10 houses and I was pooped by the end of the walk. Sam stayed true to his Viking theme and charged into every home yelling "more candy please!" everytime a door was opened! He finally got the idea by the end that it was much more polite to stay on the door step and say "Thank you!" The folks were very understanding and everyone loved his little costume.

California

We left Wenatchee on Saturday afternoon, spent Sat. night in Redmond, OR, tried to see Crater Lake on Sunday morning, but couldn't because of fog, cleaned up Sam's puke after a bit of carsickness...and eventually rolled into Davis yesterday evening around 7 p.m. It feels very good to be here as an entire family. Matt is with us and with NO work to do, we are enjoying each others' company. A nice stroll to the park with Jake, the elderly family dog, a great mexican lunch, Sam napping....we are having a nice day.

No real plans to speak of other than a day trip to San Francisco and I will meet up with the Davis Farmer's Market manager at some point to talk about market things....just a nice slow visit. Perhaps a trip to the Sacramento Zoo will be worked in...we'll see!