due date!

Today is my due date and unless I have a fast and furious labor and delivery, it looks like I'll be passing it. Clearly I need to practice paint ... maybe that will be my activity for tomorrow.

Day 564

Haha, no it is not day 564 ... just two days before my due date and it is not looking like baby Hartley is coming any time in the imminent future. That's ok...we'll definitely have a baby by Jan. 14th (that's when my midwife will induce). So far, I've done a pretty good job not doing too many natural induction methods. It is up to you to decide what I've done and what I haven't done. hehe

Other than that, we have enjoyed two glorious weeks off. We've worked a bit (R more than myself), but for the most part, it has been a great break. R has played a lot of rock band and I have done a lot of sleeping, reading, and cooking/nesting.

We had multiple wonderful Christmases. R and I celebrated on Christmas Eve, we then celebrated with R's parents and siblings on Christmas day, and finally, we celebrated with my family on the 30th. You may not know this, but my bro, A, is the golden boy of the fam. Since he wasn't here for Christmas, it was OK to postpone celebrations (this may also be related to the fact that my mother thinks he walks on water and well, what would Christmas be without the J man). Anyway ... neither here nor there ... or at least for another time.

New Year's Eve was nothing exciting, but we were lucky enough to have friends come over to be lame with us. Although a bit quiet, the food was excellent. We made appetizers, which included bruschetta, wings, baked brie, and 7 layer dip. Cheesecake was up for dessert, but we were too stuffed so we saved it for the next day.

So with that being said, happy 2011!!

I will not do anything to induce labor ...

I will not do anything to induce labor .... I will not do anything to induce labor .... I will not do anything to induce labor .... I will not do anything to induce labor .... I will not do anything to induce labor .... I will not do anything to induce labor .... I will not do anything to induce labor .... I will not do anything to induce labor .... I will not do anything to induce labor .... I will not do anything to induce labor .... I will not do anything to induce labor .... I will not do anything to induce labor ....

(unless we've passed our due date and the p word (pitocin) is introduced in a conversation)

This is what I have learned from MODG.

Things I am thankful for ...

At the tail end of this pregnancy, I feel pretty good EXCEPT I managed to pinch a nerve in my back and it's totally dreadful. Yes, that sounds a bit dramatic, but after months of being active, I am hobbling around like a 90 year old lady. I take that back - my 90 year old gma walked better than this. Anyway, I think I've been feeling a bit sorry for myself, so I decided I need to write about the things I am thankful for in regards to this pregnancy ...

5. Kiehl's lotion, body pillow, sinus rinses, foot baths - all amazing

4. The hormones do make for some great hair :)

3. A great hubs who has done a wonderful job helping out (even after I've had a total breakdown and told him he isn't helping at all ... this has happened more than once, so he's actually a super star for 1. putting up with it and 2. continuing to help)

2. Friends' and family members' generosity - this baby has had nearly everything bought for him/her

1. R and I were able to get pregnant - it's an amazing experience

The "duest"

In my prenatal yoga class, the instructors never say anything about who is the biggest or the person who looks the most likely to "pop" (all clever sayings people love to say to pregnant people that really are kinda awful). Instead, in their hippie like ways, they say "who is the duest?" Being the "duest" is a great honor because you get to choose some of the poses. Well, my day has come. At least once a week, I am usually "in the front of the line" as R likes to say. When the instructor says "Who is the duest?" it is often either me or one other woman due two days before me. She can only make class on Saturdays, so tomorrow evening, it is very likely I will be "the duest" and will definitely be choosing some side triangle and half moon.

Thoughts on being pregnant

I've had friends say they "love being pregnant" and while I think pregnancy is amazing, I can't say I LOVE it. I mean, it is absolutely the coolest sensation to feel the baby move, hear its heart beat, and see it on the ultrasound machine. It's also crazy to think you're growing something that will hopefully grow up to be a good, happy, thoughtful individual that is a blend of you and your partner.

BUT, if you were athletic before your pregnancy, your activity level totally changes. Not that I was a super athlete by any means, but I enjoyed being active. Don't get me wrong, adjusting from running to walking was fun at first, but now, I just crave a run. However, I don't dare do it because I have a low lying placenta and don't want to disturb anything. Also, to be honest, I really enjoy my deep water exercise (no, it's not for old ladies ... well, there might be older people in the class, but they're super stars hehe). I've always done yoga, but last week I noticed some pretty major movement restrictions and have decided I need to go to the pregnant lady yoga class. These are all fine changes, they're just different. With only 11 weeks until this baby is full term, I know this is all coming to a close soon and the REAL changes are about to begin. My pregnancy has flown by and I'm grateful I've had a healthy one. I just wish I could go for a run.

Sundays ...

Sundays are for football ... unless you don't have a TV connection, which we don't and have for the most part survived.

Sundays are also for lounging around, unless you have to run a $$ Target errand for nothing really all that fun and catch up on reading (not the fun kind, the hard to read journal kind).

It turns out my Sunday was also for helping my poor husband administer cortisone cream to hard to reach areas after a biting caterpillar decided to "ride" with him while backpacking and when irritated, bite him approximately 30 times!! (I would have added a picture, but thought twice about asking R to pose for it).

So yes, my Sunday was spent, running a not so fun Target errand, reading not so fun reading, and being a nurse (which I don't mind doing, but did laugh out loud while doing it). I did however also get to enjoy glorious fall weather (yay for the 60s!), go out to lunch with R once he returned from backpacking, bake Harvest Muffins, take the dog for a long walk, and practice yoga. Overall, it was a pretty nice Sunday.

How was yours?