love.

Jenny is sweet enough to throw me a shower this weekend with some of our old Acsys/Accountants Intl. co-workers. Can't wait to catch up with these ladies! In the meantime, I just wanted to share the saying that's on the invitation. Love it!


The Greatest Gift
Today the doctor confirmed what my heart already knew: I am carrying a child. This is a joy unlike any other. It is too amazing for science and too wonderful for words.

Today a stranger in an elevator confirmed what my body already knew: My child is becoming obvious. "When are you due?" As I answer, maternal pride wells up from within. It is too complex for science and too new for words.

Today a strong kick confirmed what my mind already knew: I hold within my womb a human being. Another kick follows as if to say, "I am a real, live person". It is too spiritual for science and too precious for words.

Sally A. Powell

Fun stuff.

Wednesday I went to the midwife. This was the first appointment where Tad wasn't there, but no way around it because he's in fire rookie school for the next six weeks. It was normal appointment in that I had a list of questions and Anjili and I talked for about 20 minutes. I told her I would be really surprised if she doesn't attend the birth because I've seen her more than anyone else there! Three weeks before at my last appt. bb was still breach so I was eager to find out if anything had changed so after we chatted she felt my belly -- the head was down! That was great news... I was surprised I didn't feel all that movement of the 180 degree turn but I had no clue. I was so excited when Anjili said she was going to do a quick ultrasound to make sure. Too bad it lasted less than 30 seconds... she just said "yep, there's the head, there's the butt and there's the feet". Much different than my 20 minute ultrasound at See Baby! The only other news from this appt. was that I had lost a pound. She didn't say anything about it, probably because I'm measuring fine. Tad was worried but I told him as long as the baby and my belly are growing then I don't care if I gain another pound in the next 9 weeks!

That night Tad and I went to Atlanta Medical for the Midwife Meet n' Greet. It's mainly for people who are thinking of using them so there was a Q and A session and a maternity ward tour (which is why I wanted to go). Tad and I are incredibly lucky that we've gone to Intown Midwifery from the beginning. There were several women there who were in their third trimester who decided to transfer because they were unhappy with their OB. Tad even said "we have to make sure we have all of our kids with them". It makes me happy he loves them as much as I do!

I'm still feeling pretty good, just get worn out easily and I'm always hot (to be expected this time of year in Atlanta regardless of whether you're pregnant or not!). I pretty much take lukewarm showers and I still feel light-headed so I sit down to brush my teeth and put on my make-up in the morning. The past several nights I've been waking up at around 2:30 and stay up for an hour to an hour 1/2. It's pretty annoying. I'm never uncomfortable but sometimes I'm hungry so I eat something with protein in it and then lay back down. My mind is super busy with thoughts of pregnancy, labor, and work so it takes a while to fall back asleep. The baby is most active during this time too so I have a feeling he or she arrives I'll be up at the same hour. :) I'm thankful that the nausea is minimal. On average, I probably get sick once/week but it hits me all of a sudden. Sometimes it's when I brush my tongue in the morning and other times it's completely random (like on Thursday when I drank some water with lime and had the sudden urge to vom). I'm used to it now.

We decided on a doula, the amazing Shari Aizenman.

Lastly, my first baby shower was yesterday. Jess and Becky hosted at Jess' house and I must say, it was one of the best showers I've been to with lots of yummy food and awesome decorations! I have some pretty wonderful friends too... bb got tons of stuff! Here are some of my favorite pics:

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This week we have the water birth class at North Fulton on Sunday. It's required by Tenet to labor/deliver in the water. I was planning to take it at AMC, but when I called last week to register they said the next available slot was Sept. 1st. Whoops, procrastinated on that one! I thought that was cutting it a little close to my due date so I just decided to go up to Roswell to take it. On Saturday, Jenny is throwing me a shower with some of my old Acsys co-workers. I'm looking forward to catching up with them!

Article

One of the best articles I've read... makes me feel good about the decisions I've made so far:

Reducing the cesarean rate for first-time mothers

30 weeks down, 10-12 more to go. :)

Can't believe I'm 30 weeks already! God willing I will make it full term so that's why I put 10-12 weeks more! A doula I spoke with told me that the average first time pregnant woman goes until 41 weeks and 2 days. I'm reminding myself of that stat often so when September 10th comes around (or the 18th for that matter) I won't be disappointed that there are no signs of labor! My widwives will let me go to 42 weeks (but after 40 weeks I'll start seeing Dr. Bootstaylor for fetal monitoring to ensure the baby is still doing well).

We're in full blown preparation mode, in terms of birthing this baby anyway (I need to get my butt in gear with finishing the nursery - the tree wall decal is NOT on the wall, I still haven't decided on bedding for the day bed, I need to buy a crib mattress, the amazing crib skirt that Tad's mom made isn't on yet, I need to go back to Michael's to finish my bird houses, order prints from etsy that I want, and on and on and on). But what I HAVE been doing is signing up for an independent birthing class (8/13 is the big day), reading books and articles to prepare (currently tackling Birthing From Within, with Ina May's Guide to Childbirth and Ricki Lake's Your Best Birth to follow). I even have one on the way from the library for Tad to read: The Birth Partner: A Complete Guide to Childbirth for Dads, Doulas and All Other Labor Companions. Of course, he doesn't know it yet but I look at him with sweet eyes and say it's important to me maybe he'll look at it. I'm kidding.

We've also met one doula that I REALLY like. She came over last week and talked to us for almost 2 hours. I promised myself I would meet at least 2 before making a decision so I'm still looking at folks... So not too shabby on the preparation side. I know planning an unmedicated birth with no preparation is silly because I'm not trying to fool myself that this will be the hardest and most empowering thing I've ever done if it works out. (Which is another thing I've realized - I can make all the plans in the world, but at the end of the day, the baby determines what will happen and that may be a cesarean delivery, who knows!)

But Tad and I are getting excited and most of our conversations are around the baby, how we envision labor, life changing when the baby gets home, the dogs adjusting, maternity leave, childcare at GP for Kids, etc. etc. etc. It's kind of hard not to talk about when you have this massive belly around, a baby flipping and kicking 24-7, peeing 20 times/day, and my hips hurting from the ligaments stretching and preparing. :)

One thing I am super excited about is our baby growing up at Buckhead Church and having them dedicated there. When Tad and I started going there 5 years ago, I remember thinking I couldn't wait to have a baby so they could go to Waumba Land (the pre-school space). :) We are blessed to go to such an awesome church, no doubt. Speaking of being blessed, I really want to put the lyrics of this song in the nursery:

He is jealous for me, Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us oh
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all

He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.


We are His portion and He is our prize
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes
If grace is an ocean, we're all sinking
So Heaven meets earth like a sloppy, wet kiss
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest
I don't have time to maintain these regrets
When I think about the way He loves us.
(David Crowder Band)