WWRW: Vol 5

Linking up again with Jessica of Housewifespice

   Currently I'm reading The Blue Jay's Dance by Louise Erdrich a memoir of sorts about pregnancy (mostly her last) and mothering during those first weeks and months.  The book covers a year and includes many observations about the world outside the window of the cabin where she writes in rural New Hampshire.  I'd read some of her fiction before but this is the first work of non-fiction of her's I read, her easy going yet thought provoking style holds true even in the new genre.  It reads almost like a series of short essays which I appreciate as it makes it easier for me to pick it up to enjoy even if I only have five minutes but can be disconcerting at times. Overall a wonderful somewhat poetic remembrance of pregnancy and baby-mothering.

Top of Liam's request list currently is Tons of Trucks by Sue Flies and Betsy Snyder a nicely put-together book about trucks ~ all kinds with just the right balance between words on the page and flaps to lift or textures to feel to make it an enjoyable read together experience.

Please head over Housewifespice for more WWRW

Pregnant Pause: 38 weeks, tales from the sofa

So ~ so far, so good. Monitoring at the hospital went well this morning and while I won't know if I've gained any weight till my midwife appointment tomorrow, my husband and others have said that the bump is looking bigger. Judging by kicks and squirms Cashew is still enjoying her/him watery home.

Overall doing well, making the adjustment to eating more and doing less. My favorite toddler has been wonderfully understanding that mommy now plays blocks lying down and does not at all seem to mind the occasional ice cream runs in the afternoon. Seriously she continues to nap well which allows me to rest in the afternoon and C. has been able to get home a bit earlier in the evening. The weekend brought the great pleasure and blessing of a visit from grandma.

Now that I'm full-term I'm sure that we will discuss at the appointment tomorrow striking the right balance of keeping the baby where he/she is since being inside does not require expending energy maintaining temperature or eating and not pushing past when the placenta is really no longer doing its job. Still having the occasional Braxton Hicks contraction but nothing strong or organized.

So far ~ so good! Looking forward to September and discovering who is joining our family and when our personal 'labor day' is going to be.

Wednesday Wondering: Big Sister Present

In the tradition of Wondering on Wednesday started by Maggie of From the Heart:

My favorite toddler is about to become a big sister (whether she realizes it or not) and so we have been talking about if we should get her something to mark the new status, and if so what? from us or the new baby? Give to her at the hospital or when we come home?

Any suggestions or recommendations?

Pregnant Pause: 30 weeks

Amazingly according to the calendar I am now 30 weeks with less than 70 days to baby debut according the countdown in the side-bar. Personally I'm guessing slightly more as Lisbeth decided (with a bit of nudging) to come ten days after my due date; so odds are good that I will again see another due date come and go ~ thought perhaps not by ten days again.

Movements are becoming more vigorous with Cashew making use of all the space available and no longer quite so focused on my bladder and hips though they continue as the favorite kick points. We have also been able to begin playing the "Guess with body part?" game as different small and large knobs make their way across and up & down my abdomen.

Consistent temperatures in the nineties inching towards the hundred mark has allowed me to fully appreciate pregnancy in the summer. Luckily an air conditioned house and plenty of lemonade and ice cream has helped me maintain my perspective and keep the Braxton Hicks contractions to a minimum.

Beginning to make inroads in preparing for baby's arrival; stored newborn clothes bins have been retrieved if not sorted and newborn size diapers have been bought. Midwife visits scheduled for July and most of August. We continue to read 'new baby' books at bedtime though I have my doubts that Lisbeth will fully understand the concept until a certain new person comes to live in our house.

The view from thirty weeks.

Pregnant Pause: 20 weeks

Yikes! Twenty weeks, how did that happen? It is a little startling to find myself at the halfway point of this pregnancy. Don't get me wrong I am very grateful for a smooth gestations that does not have me counting the days, yet it means milestones sneak up on me.

Continue to feel good with a baby bump which is beginning to become more and more evident depending on what I'm wearing ~ which is more and more an interesting mix of my 'fat' clothes and maternity stuff. Bumps and nudges are now daily occurrences, with the next milestone being when it can be felt from the outside. Several people have asked me what Elisabeth thinks of the coming baby, at this point she has no idea but I'm thinking that as my lap disappears and kicks can be felt she may start to wonder what is happening. C. has suggested that we get some "new big sister" books. Any suggestions??

The ultrasound this week went well, with Cashew growing well and all of the anatomy appearing normal. Much to the frustration of some family and friends the baby did not 'flash' us so exactly what flavor he or she is remains a mystery. I'm grateful that for a little while longer I get to imagine another little girl is joining our family or maybe a baby boy. Fun possibilities to imagine and wonder about.

Pregnant Pause: 19 weeks

With Chelsea's of Roots and Rings permission I am borrowing her wonderful post title and updating on how things are going and growing.

Currently 19 weeks and am feeling good, the queasiness is well past and the heartburn is not too bad yet ~ I did have a 'lovely' night earlier this week (no more tomato soup before going to bed). While I am not consistently feeling wiggles, I am fairly sure now that it is 'cashew'* moving around as oppose to ligament twinging.

Our mid-pregnancy anatomy scan is later this week which raises the question regarding finding out the baby's gender (if the baby is interesting in sharing). We are leaning to not finding out. We did not find early while carrying Elisabeth and that moment of Charlie telling me at her birth is very precious to me. Our nursery which we will be reusing is gender neutral as is most of our newborn clothes.

However some friends and family are complaining that the makes planning very difficult and that waiting is unfair and unrealistic. Is it??

*Because we did not know if Elisabeth was a girl or a boy, during the pregnancy we referred to her as Peanut and this baby is Cashew*

Promotion!

After much consideration and giving her application due consideration keeping in mind her wonderful qualifications and potential for growth in the future, we have decided to grant the title of BIG SISTER to Elisabeth with fully rights, privileges, and responsibility taking effect in

Mid September.

Am currently 17 weeks and happy to report that the queasiness of the first trimester have passed and am awaiting (as is my neglected house) the energy burst of the second trimester.