Time moves on, as time will....

The past several weeks have been such an internal whirlwind. The outsider would say,

Well, that's not a lot going on in life. You just wait.

To which I'd retort -

I know it's not. But inside my head, you see.....

I guess what I'm saying is that I have so much going on internally right now, in a good way; so much to get ready for, so much to think about, so much to anticipate.

I feel blissfully overwhelmed and undeniably happy. Life is good.

We've started our childbirth classes and we've been very pleased so far; they're focused on natural childbirth with the usage of Birthing From Within techniques.

The instructor is an ICEA certified Doula (non-practicing) and a midwifery student. She's very knowledgable, personable, and groovy. The room where the classes are held is so warm and inviting; a bellycast and beautiful mirrors hanging on the wall, diffuse lighting, blankets to sit on and a lunar calendar on the back of the bathroom door. The full moon in September is the 7th; 8 days from Frog's EDD - hmmmm.

Partner is doing lovely...we're almost 34 weeks now and so anxious to hold our baby.

But in due time.

MIA

I promise I'm still around....

I've taken to writing my entries with *gasp* a PENCIL before I transcribe them to the blog. For some reason, the keyboard and the unfriendly glare of a computer screen is inciting a bout of writer's block in me.

A more thoughtful post is soon to come - I know you ALL are shaking with anticipation!

The Countdown

Thirty one weeks, and we don't trust ourselves to remember half the things we need to do before Frog arrives. Because of our combined lack of long (and short) term memory due to baby brain, we've compiled a list of things that need doing while we're sitting around waiting.

1) Tour Birthing Center:
We actually did this today. We have a very small hospital, and thus a very small women's center. Being small definitely has it's advantages - nice labor and delivery rooms with cozy post partum rooms complete with fold out futons for sleep-deprived Omos to stretch out on (Shew, and here I thought I was going to have to bring a sleeping bag!) There may even be a chance that we'll be the only ones delivering when Frog sproings into the world.

We totally rocked the nurse's worlds when we told them we were planning a waterbirth. Apparently they've never done one and tried to tell us they couldn't; that is until we pulled out, "WELL, JOANNA TOLD US WE COULD!" (Joanna being our midwife.) Needless to say they'll be discussing this with her and if there is anyway possible we'll get what we want. If not, it's still a very nice birth center with very nice people; and birthing balls!

2) Detail van:
We got a new van about 3 months ago. It's not *very* gross, or even what I'd call dirty. It just needs a quick vacuum and whatnot. The hardest thing about this is going to be scrounging up the fifty cents to do it - *looks through sofa cushions*

3) Purchase diapers:
We're cloth diapering. However, we thought we'd use 'sposies while in the hospital since trying to teach the OB nurses how to use a Snappi isn't really high up on my Things I want to do right after my baby is born list. We need to run down to the co-op and buy some Seventh Generations since no dioxin infested THING is going to touch that precious bum, even for 24 hours.

4) Install Car Seat:
This is scary, maybe even scarier than becoming a mama. I mean, does anyone REALLY know how to install these things at a 45 degree angle?!! Wish us luck.

5)Pack Bags:
Low down on the list, but still something we need to do. Robe, CHECK. Coming home outfit, CHECK. Coming home outfit for Mama, CHECK. LOTS AND LOTS of Diet Soda and chocolate for Omo, CHECK. (Hey, something's gonna have to help keep me awake, right?)

6)Appropriate another dresser for nursery:
Our child is undeniably clothed until the age of 6. Small Nursery. 'Nuff said.

Not too bad really. Being the super-mamas that we are, we’ll have it all done probably by the end of next week....after all, you ARE talking about the women who had the entire nursery done even before the baby was conceived.

We like to be ready. *smile*

Home Sweet Home

I'm in love with my home.
Seriously, you have no idea. This is the first home I've owned and after living for a year or so in the most crap-tastic apartment you could ever imagine, I'm in heaven.
My partner moved into this place about five years ago; about three years before I came along ( I refer to that time as PM; pre-Mary). I happened into it on accident, the house being the icing on the cake that was the most perfect woman in the world.
Now all that aside let me tell you a bit about this house.
It's a cozy little three bedroom with white siding. It has beautiful vines that climb up the railings along the porch. Our house is OLD - being birthed sometime between 1906-1912...and with being this old comes all sorts of little quirks.
One could describe the inside of our house as very Tim-Burton-ish (and I have). For those of you who have seen The Nightmare Before Christmas or the new Charlie and the Chocolate Factory you know what I mean. Our floors are uneven, the ceilings are low, and some of the doorways are less than parallel and perpendicular to the ground. It gives the whole inside of the house a lopsided look if you glance at a room just right.
The pipes are old. The widows are drafty. It doesn't retain heat all that great in the Winter. However, it's charming to me.
Nothing makes me happier than coming home to this house after a day at work and sitting down to talk to Meagan about our days. I love those old windows because they don't make windows that big or that numerous in houses anymore. I even love all the water leaks.
I grew up in a house much like the one we have now and truth be told it was much older with many more serious problems. I look back to my childhood and I have SO many wonderful memories about that place. I don't remember how cold it was in the winter; I do remember my dad waking up every morning to start the coal stove (yes, a stove that ran on COAL - in 1985 even!) and the love that he did it with. I don't remember the drafty windows; I do remember how much fun my Mom and I had when we put the plastic up to keep the chill out.
I guess what I'm saying is that it doesn't matter what is wrong with your house as long as it's your home. It isn't stain resistant carpet or new appliances that make you feel comfortable, and those aren't the things that your child will remember once they've grown up and gone to do whatever it is that kids do.
I know our Frog will love our house as much as I do. I just hope they like Tim Burton movies.

Shoutout

My thoughts are with

THESE LADIES

as they welcome their little Baby G into the world.

YOU BETTER POST PICTURES!