An Ounce of Prevention

So, MP has a lot of studying to do over the next couple of weeks. Classes end this week, and finals begin next week. I knew this when I signed us up for this class. When I told him we'd be sacrificing an entire Saturday - he was less than thrilled, wondering what on earth he could learn about childbirth, "you're the one doing the hard part" he pointed out. Regardless, I put my pregnant foot down and said we had to go.

We arrived at the hosptial right at 8am, and with our two bed pillows in tow headed into a maze of hallways and elevators. The directions just to get to the classroom were almost more than we could handle. We arrived and along with three other couples embarked on our day long journey. The class covered labor, birth, possible interventions, newborn care and more. After our first break, I was delighted to hear MP admit so far, it was indeed helpful. Seeing laboring women in the video helped both of us in terms of visualizing what to expect. I've seen an episode or two of "A Baby Story" in my day, not to mention being lucky enough to attend several births...so this wasn't all brand new to me. But let me tell you - when you're less than three months away from experiencing it yourself, you see it all with a new pair of eyes!

I had also been concerned that a large portion of the class would feel like it wasn't applicable for us, since we're planning on a home birth, but once class was underway, I was glad to be more knowledgeable about what can happen, and feel more prepared should we end up needing to go to the hospital. Also, when we went on the tour of the labor/delivery and postpartum rooms, we both decided that our own bedroom was where we'd feel a lot more comfortable in the labor and delivery process.

All in all, I have to say that I found the day worthwhile and informative. I didn't leave feeling any more or less frightened about labor. How I am going to care for an infant...all the time...and still take care of myself? Now that I am more than a little nervous about. Lucky for me, I am lining up as many helpers as are willing to come out and visit us. I am still reading as many books as I can get my hands on. I'll be attending yet another six week birthing class series taught by my midwife's practice. And, here's to hoping these ounces of prevention will be worth a pound of cure when I am on my nine millionth contraction, or when BBP is inconsolable, or when I don't know how I can manage another three hour feeding/sleeping cycle.

Getting some spring in my step

Man, was this one long winter or what? Looking back, it feels like the sun didn't come out from December through March. Luckily, my memory is short, and the past several weeks of warm and breezy conditions have all but erased from my mind those dreary days. MP and I have been enjoying dinner most evenings right here...


The past few weeks have been spent hanging ferns, spreading mulch, and filling planters in an effort to make our porch and yard a nice place to spend time. I will, for the remainder of my life, aspire to ferns that grow as beautiful and full as those on Gary & Keith's front porch - so please wish me luck in my fourth year of trying! We've also been working on training the dogs to stay on the porch with us as we sit at the table...apparently, our neighbors with small children don't take too kindly to a Tipper and Riley style greeting.

I have also been taking advantage of the nicer weather by going on several hour-long dog walks each week. I had been running regularly up until shortly after becoming pregnant, but somewhere between moodiness, the weather getting cold, my breath getting short, and my belly growing large I lost the willpower to keep it up. I did manage to maintain a yoga practice through the winter, but ever since the sun's been out, I have just wanted to be outside. I hope to keep up the walks as long as I can, even if I have to divvy them up into two shorter ones each day as the weather heats up and BBP takes up even more room in my ever-growing belly. Speaking of the ever growing belly - see evidence below (...and celebrate with me that we're officially in the third trimester!!! Only 12 more weeks to go.)

MP and I welcomed his parents last weekend for a visit, and Grandma came bearing many gifts. She brought clothes new & old for BBP. I can't wait to dress him in some of the same things his daddy wore as a baby. Especially this hat:

(Special thanks to Peter Rabbit for modeling.)

You may be wondering from the picture, but yep(!) that is a feather in his cap. BBP is going to be one authentic retro hipster. Who needs some vintage online clothing site or store, when we are lucky enough to have parents who saved the originals for us?!?! (Note, Nana did the same, only she just had little girl things of mine to pass along. Perhaps one day BP2 will be the lucky recipient of these fashion relics.)

We had a great time showing Grandma & Grandpa Pulle all around CoMo. They were able to see where MP spends most of his time, check out downtown, visit a couple of our favorite places to eat, experience walking around Rocheport, and finally.... the A-Frame at Les Bourgeois. A fantastic time was had by all...

Not only do we find ourselves in the homeward stretch of pregnancy, but MP is wrapping up his 1L year. We expect the coming weeks to fly by, and have much to do yet in preparation for BBP. But first, MP will finish up classes, finals, and a seven week clerkship in Nashville, while I am going to try to get our freezer stocked, BBP's nursery ready to go, and also plenty of rest in anticipation of that which will be foregone in the months to come.

What I got for Easter...

(...that is in addition to the Cadbury's Creme Eggs that the Easter Bunny has not failed to bring me since my childhood)

A great spring break trip to Nashville with the MP. We arrived for a week's stay and were welcomed by warm and sunny weather. It was a fantastic trip, both of us got to have lots of visits with our friends, we both worked, MP did some studying, we got my house cleaned up and ready to re-rent (and rented...YAY), and the most fun of all...we attended our baby shower.

It was such a great time. I really think I have the best friends a girl could ever want. Here are a few pictures...

So sweet of Margaret to host at her home!

Co-hostesses - best a mother-to-be could want

After opening gifts...

A party isn't a party without a good picture of Gary and me!!

My parents, MP, and I.

It's always sad to leave Nashville, but I think we'll be able to fit in one more visit before BBP arrives. (MP sure will since he'll be working there the first seven weeks of summer, but we're hoping I'll be able to join him for the first couple of them.) We arrived home last night to a bunch more boxes, since MP's extended family decided to shower us as well in honor of our Nashville shower. This baby is going to be set for his first few years at least!

I am still feeling great. I feel so fortunate that I really have no complaints so far in terms of the physical aspects of this pregnancy. (Don't worry, I am sure I will be complaining before it's all said and done. Not to mention, you may notice I said "physical aspects"? I am pretty much an emotional basket case, but that is another story!)

The one thing I will say....I can't lie that watching that number on the scale creep up more and more when I still have 14 weeks left to go is just a little bit scary. In some ways, 14 weeks to go feels like a lifetime, but in others it seems like BBP will make his debut before we know it!