39.5" and counting

Oxygen Deprivation - First stage?

This is it right? I think I've officially entered the suffocation stage and who knows how much longer it will last or how much worse it will get. The baby is right under my ribs and pressing on my diaphragm so it's hard to get a full breath even with my best posture. I get winded just having a conversation, lol. I don't have any real news to report. I'm just here to tell myself that somehow I'm surviving pregnancy (most likely because I don't have a choice at this point) and that any day now, my formerly cute little innie belly button is going to pop to the outie position ... its seriously on the the verge and no amount of pushing it back in will stop the inevitable. When it pops do I get to be done?

This Pregnant Girl's Reading List

I'm told that most first time mommys to be read like fiends. I'm no different. I've been reading fiendishly on and off (as the cranky tummy has allowed) from the beginning.

In the beginning I read "What to expect when your Expecting" and "The Girlfriends' Guide to Pregnancy." Seriously, I had no idea what to expect or from pregnancy or childbirth and these were very informative. "What to Expect" was especially useful on a scientific level while "Girlfriend's Guide" was more personal and humorous.

A few months ago a switched gears. I spend less time reading about things that could go wrong, medical interventions, and medicated birth and A LOT more time reading about successful natural childbirth, positive reinforcement, relaxation, and stress management. I've read all or part of the following and found them very calming for the most part.

"Babycatcher" by Peggy Vincent
"Ina May's Guide to Childbirth" by Ina May Gaskin
"Spiritual Midwifery" by Ina MAy Gaskin
"Childbirth Without Fear" by Dr. Grantly Dick-Read
"Hypnobabies Home Study Course" by Hypnobabies
"The Birth Partner" by Penny Simkin
"The Doula Advantage" by Rachel Gurevich
"Birth Outside the Box" www.givingbirthnaturally.com

Only time will tell if any of these books will really make an impact when the big day comes, so I plan to post a recap after the fact. Will they help or will I throw it all out the window when I'm in the moment? Please don't answer that question. Positive reinforcement says I'm not wasting my time, so I'm doing my best to ignore the naysayers. If you want to give me advice, just tell me that I can DO IT!

Counting

I'd say I'm at the counting down the weeks stage, but I think I've been there from the beginning. Although it's a fascinating and very educational experience, it's also been pretty uncomfortable to have my body hijacked as a baby factory. So, the due date is 9 weeks from yesterday, but of course I won't be sorry if the boy checks out of Mommy Motel a little early.

Schrodinger is also looking forward the the check out. He misses the long full nights of sleep where he could stay in the same spot ALL night. Now he gets to relocate every time I change positions. He's taken to sleeping on my belly, propped against the body pillow for part of most nights (until I roll him off to turn over) which is fine as long as the pointy bits face away from the belly. Last night he actually got up and turned around after the baby kicked him. I would have laughed out loud if I hadn't been worried about waking The Scoot.

I never thought I'd get a body pillow, but it's turned out to be this former tummy sleepers best friend. It lets me feel like I'm sleeping in about the same position as I did on my stomach without actually rolling onto my stomach which, incidentally, isn't very comfortable.

Believe it or not, sometimes I'm still surprised by my own proportions. Sometimes I'll get out of bed in the morning and look in the mirror and realized I'M HUGE. Then later I'll open doors or cabinets into the belly because I'm just not used to having it there.

And finally Pregnancy for Posture! There's nothing like baby parts under the ribs to keep a girl sitting up straight. I have yet to figure out what "part" is responsible or even if it's the same part every time. Sometimes I've sworn it was a foot but other times, it seems much bigger - a backside maybe? I do have to say the weirdest sensation so far has been parts migrating across the belly. It's rather like being tickled from the inside and has actually made me jump.

Two months seems so soon and yet so far away.

You're Crazy!

That's what one woman said when she saw I'd lugged this 7 month pregnant belly to the top of Multnomah Falls.



While Scott was in Packwood, WA auto-cross racing our Honda Civic I met up with my USU Geology field partner, Torrey Copfer, and his family, Melissa, Jesse, and Jacob, to hike to the top of Multnomah Falls in the Columbia River gorge. Luckily five-year-old Jesse wanted to hike fast and rest A LOT and two-year-old Jacob walked very slowly when he wasn't riding in Torrey's child pack and I was able to make it up the very steep 1 mile trail to the top of the falls with breath to spare. I had a great time getting to know Melissa better and meeting the kids. I got to chat with Melissa about kids, pregnancy, and childbirth (go figure) and reminisce with Torrey about all the great times we had working on our Geology undergraduate degrees. As an added bonus, I got some exercise! Our round trip excursion was only about 2.5 miles and lasted nearly five hours, but that did include a long lunch at the top and plenty of play time for the boys. I'm ready to vegetate for the rest of the night, but the outing was well worth it.

I was pleasantly surprised that several of my pictures turned out halfway decent and especially proud of myself for remembering to take the camera.

This is a view of the middle part of the Falls taken from the main bridge.


Here's a close up of the great blue heron you can't see in the previous photo.


And the view from the bridge looking down the lower part of the falls.


This was taken from the platform at the top of the falls, looking back up the river at a small waterfall just before the brink of the main cascade.

Insightful

Thanks to The Onion for providing such insight into my life and to The Scoot for pointing it out to me ...

Capricorn (for the week of August 17th 2010)
"In a complete reversal of conventional wisdom, you'll find that you do in fact have to be crazy to work at your job, and that no, it doesn't help."
-- The Onion

"That's your horoscope for today -ay -ay -ay -ay -ay. That's your horoscope for today"
-- Wierd Al Yankovic

Freaking Out!

Look at these people. Don't they look nice? I bet you wish they were your neighbors. Maybe they are! Everyone needs neighbors that look this nice. Do you know what happens when nice normal people experiment with Apple computers?

******************** WARNING!!! ********************

The images contained below are very DISTURBING and should not be viewed by those with weak stomachs.

******************** WARNING!!! *********************

They develop a taste for BRAAAAAAIIIIIIINNNNNS!


and sometimes resemble Aliens


and more Aliens


and you you guessed it ... even more Aliens.


They spend too much time in photo booths


And sometimes develop super hero complexes


Quick! Flush them down the toilet and stop the madness.


Friends don't let friends use Apple computers



This important announcement brought to you by Emarie, Scott, Marie, Seth, and Steve's Macintosh. Pristine images adulterated by Apple on July 27th, 2010.

You too could be abusing Macintosh right now! Why wait?