When it is 70 degrees and sunny in the middle of November, you should not spend your day inside. Instead of grocery shopping and cooking all day, I abandoned my normal routine. Christian and I headed to York River State Park outside of Williamsburg. (Cole spent the night a friend’s house, so we had another kid free night/day. I’m just starting to get used to not seeing Cole for a day on the weekend. Just in time to have a baby.)
Before we left the house this morning, Christian did spend some time in the kitchen. He made me a very yummy breakfast – scrambled egg whites with red and orange peppers, spinach, and provolone topped with salsa. Avocado and corn bread were the perfect sides. I ended up cutting everything up and mixing it all together. Not a bad way to start a Sunday.
With full bellys, we head off to the park. Christian biked the mountain bike trails. I walked the hiking trails. For a brief moment, I considered running while we were driving to the park. The thought quickly vanished as soon as my body started carrying my bowling ball belly and 30+ extra pounds along the trail. Walking it was. I walked a little over 4 miles at a snails pace. Since I’m moving slow these days, I made sure I really enjoyed my surroundings. The trail was covered in leafs. I love the sound of them crunching under my shoes. The river was beautiful with the sun reflecting of the water. I explored a few trails and a few paths that may not have been trails. It was a great day to be outside breathing in the fresh air.
Hope you enjoyed your Sunday as much as we did! Not a bad way to head into a 3 day work week and Thanksgiving!
Don’t tell Christian, but I actually miss riding my mountain bike (even though I’m normally dragging my heels whenever we head out.) And I really miss my running legs.
a: richly luxurious or appealing to the senses b: excessively ornate
According to Cole, this creation of his is luscious:
He created this dragon-like creation at my parent’s house last night while I was at yoga. When grandma asked why it was luscious, Cole responded by saying
Can’t you see the lips. They are luscious.
Concerned Mom? Maybe! Cole has been tip toeing around “sexy” conversations a lot. He’s made reference to private body parts a lot lately. He’s talked about Christian and I coming together to make an egg to form a baby (not sure what or who is this source of information, but I’ll take it!). I think it might be time to have a 7-year-old version of THE TALK! He already knows how babies come out. I’m just waiting for him to ask how they get in, and I’m much rather be the one who delivers the news then other kids at school or television.
Chet’s bedroom is slowly taking shape in our house. It’s painted. The closet is organized. I feel incredibly grateful that we haven’t had to purchase one big item for his bedroom.
Crib – given to us as gift from Christian’s parents
Bedding – given to us as gift from my parents
Closet Dresser – used to belong to my grandma. It has been used by my mom, my sister, my niece, and now Chet.
Bedroom Dresser – we have been searching Craigslist like crazy for an old wooden dresser. We haven’t had any luck. Christian’s dad mentioned that he has an actually diaper changing dresser in his closet. He uses it for socks, underwear, etc but we are more than welcome to have it. He can use something else. Although this one is white and I had hoped to bring in some wood elements, I’m more than happy to keep my bank account happy around the holidays. No point in buying something when we can have one.
Book Shelf – my sister had this book shelf in her oldest daughters room and then in the play room. She no longer had a need for it, so she asked if we wanted it. Of course. Why not?
Chet’s room has slowly become a collection of furniture from people who love him already.
I never expected to have some many things given to us throughout our pregnancy. I’ve been loaned maternity clothes and a moby wrap from a friend and coworker. Our neighbors gave us their baby swing. We were overly spoiled at Chet’s baby shower that was hosted by my sister and my mom. The girls at work spoiled Chet by throwing him a surprise baby shower. My sister’s friend is giving me her breast pump (No! I don’t think it is weird to share something that can be sterilized, but I understand if you do.) Christian and I have had to buy very few things. In fact, I think the only things we have bought so far are a few pieces of clothing and the car seat (which was paid for mostly by gift cards given to us).
I feel very fortunate to have so many wonderful, generous, caring people in our lives. I hope I can pay it forward as the rest of my friends continue to have babies….Have I mentioned that nearly EVERYONE I know is pregnant. And they are all having girls except for a few.
Since Christian and I have been so fortunate, I feel like I can spend a little extra adding some great touches to Chet’s bedroom. Since I won’t be adding a wooden dresser to the room, I want to find some great wooden accessories for the walls. We want to find a piece of art work that ties into the five elements theme of the nursery.
I ordered this print for him today from Etsy (Love that website!) Now I just need to find a chunky rough wooden frame for it.
Click the picture to go to Mae Chevrette’s shop – so many great finds!
I still want to incorporate this quote into his room – any suggestions from my crafty friends?
If you want to know how much I love you, count the waves.
I think with some rustic wooden frames, a few natural baskets (in addition to the amazing one my sister gave me), and bamboo blinds, Chet’s nursery will be just perfect.
I’ve never been one to wear jewelry. I don’t have my ears pierced so you will never see me wearing earings. My wedding ring is a family ring that is a simple wide band with a cluster of small stones instead of a focal point. I’m simple. I enjoy being simple. While I rarely wear jewelry, I hardly ever go anywhere without my mala beads. After my 30 day commitment to Blissology this spring, I found my mala beads (or they found me). Christian and Cole gave them to me as my mother’s day present. A few days after they arrived in the mail, I discovered that I was pregnant. Since then they have become a huge part of who I am.
My mala beads go with me yoga. They sit on my mat and absorb the energy of the room. They are a part of my meditation practice. My mala beads have been with me at every child-birth class I’ve attended. My mala beads are at the top of my “must pack” list for the hospital.
I know it is “just a necklace,” but they mean so much more to me than a pair of beads I wear around my neck. They symbolize all the intentions I have set for myself. They are a constant reminder of how I want to live my life, and they are a reflection of the person I know I am. I can’t imagine not having my mala beads with me. I can’t imagine not having my mala beads with me in the delivery room. My mala beads were going to serve as my reminder of why I’m having a natural birth. When I feel like I can’t do it anymore, my mala beads were going to be my visual reminder that I am doing it and that I can do it.
Yesterday I was sitting at my desk at work talking to my mom. Out of no where I heard the beads tumbling to the floor. I looked down and the necklace had broken at the guru stone on the right side. The left side was still hanging in the middle of my chest. I quickly hung up the phone and my coworker Kate came to my rescue. She picked up all the beads for me off the floor (since I’m not graceful anymore). I put them away safely, and I emailed the company in Canada that sent me the necklace.
My initial reaction to the beads breaking was sadness. I love my mala beads. I feel naked when I don’t have them on. I need them. I need them fixed before Chet’s due date because they have to be with me during delivery.
Before I got a response from Tiny Devotions, the idea of restringing the necklace just didn’t seem right. The idea of buying a new one felt even more wrong. The idea of not having it makes me sad though.
The owner of the company emailed me back to reassure me that they would restring the necklace if I’d like them too, but a mala breaking resembles a karma break through.
The history and tradition of mala beads believes that if your mala breaks it represents karma breaking or a breakthrough. (This is not a bad thing, but rather a positive sign of progression.
A very famous and enlightened yogi was wearing one of our malas for several months when it suddenly broke –
“I think this is a good thing she said.” After we explained the energetic links of a mala to karma she related it back to an experience that she had just had where she felt like a massive block for herself had just disappeared – shortly after – the mala representing this block became caught on something and broke.
So what was my karma breakthrough? I’m not sure, but I do know one thing. I was drawn to my mala beads because of the guru stone. The Citrine stone is a powerful cleanser and regenerator that holds energy. It is the stone of prosperity, joy and abundance. It also helps inspire the exploration of possibilities. When I first found the necklace, I was drawn to idea of possibilities. I was searching for joy and abundance. Christian and I were on the fence about having another baby. I wasn’t unsettled on many questions in my life. I was searching for something. I was questioning my own strength. Over the course of my pregnancy, I know I’ve grown a lot as a person. I’ve discovered happiness in parts of my life that I never imagine would be comforting to me. In the past weeks, I’ve found peace with all the pieces of the puzzle that are my life right now. I’ve found confidence with my birth plan, acceptance with my body and what it is capable of doing, and joy in family life. I feel incredibly rooted to my life right now, and that is the only thing I truly want out of life.
Maybe my mala beads broke because I’m ready for the next chapter in my life. I’m ready to discover what is next. My mala beads have carried the energy I needed to get to this point. I need to let go of the importance I’ve placed on this one item, and I need to trust that everything I love about my mala beads is within me.
I don’t think I’ll be restring my mala. It feels like hitting rewind on life. I’m not sure what the next phase of my journey entails although I know it is great and exciting. I know it will make me a better person, wife, and mom. My next set of mala beads will find me just like this set did earlier this year when I was struggling to make sense of defining strength in my life.
Although I don’t want to recreate this set of beads, I don’t want to forget about what they mean to me. I’m exploring ideas of how to repurpose the beads. I might create something to bring with me to the delivery room. I may create a different piece of jewelry, but I think they served their purpose as my mala beads. The next set will find me when I’m ready for it.
I feel like I have finally hit the pregnancy wall.
I don’t like to complain too much or vocalize all my discomforts because I think sometimes they become more of a reality if I talk about them. If I dwell on my back hurting or my fat feet too much, I can get sucked into dwelling on my back hurting and my fat feet. If I focus on the positive, I will hopefully get sucked into the positive.
With that said….my body is tired. I’m uncomfortable. I know all of this has it’s purpose, so I am embracing it for what it is. If I was still comfortable and going about my days as normal, I wouldn’t be mentally prepared to give birth to my baby. My body and my brain are starting to prepare for the crazy labor journey I have in front of me.
On my last long run pre-pregnancy and pre-injury, I tackled 18 miles. It was one of the few long runs I did without my training group. It was just me, my iPod, and 18 miles of road and boardwalk. Although it was a tough run, it was amazing. I carried my body the entire 18 miles without walking, without pacing off someone, and by relying on my support system. That day my dad brought me water around mile 10. Christian also brought me some Gatorade and GU around mile 15. Somewhere between mile 10 and mile 15, everything started to hurt. I was uncomfortable. I was ready to see 18 on my Garmin. I was tired. I kept pushing and focused on one foot in front of the other. I found landmarks to set as benchmarks – to place my magnets. My goal was to get to the Owl Creek Tennis Courts feeling strong. I got there. My next goal was to make it to the Rudee Inlet bridge feeling strong. I got there. Norfolk Avenue and Christian (and Gatorade) where my next benchmark. I got there feeling strong too. Each segment passed and I felt stronger with each accomplishment. By the time I left Christian, I knew I would finish my 18 mile run.
I’m telling myself now that I’m somewhere between mile 10 and mile 15. I’ve truly enjoyed my entire pregnancy. Right now I’m at a portion of the journey where I am tired and uncomfortable, but I’ll get through it feeling strong. This week I’m focusing on Thanksgiving. I’m placing my magnet on next Wednesday when my aunt arrives to spend the holiday with us. This will pull me through to Week 35. From there, I’m focusing on December 1st. We are meeting with our Doulas that night, and I’m beyond excited to create our birth plan with their support. This will carry me into week 36. That following weekend we will be getting our Christmas tree, and I have Christmas baking to tackle. Hello weeks 37 and 38. After that my only focus will be having Chet because it will be time for him to join us in this world. I know I can finish my pregnancy strong because I will have an entirely different race ahead of me at that point: Labor and Delivery of our little man. Pregnancy is the training run. The race is child-birth.
Call me crazy, but I am really looking forward to experiencing child-birth. I want to be strong for that journey, so I know I have to finish this last segment of my pregnancy feeling strong and healthy.
How’s the rest of my pregnancy going?
Running – I’m just trying to stay active at this point. The more I move, the better I feel. I may run some. I may walk some. I may not run at all. I just want to keep moving.
Yoga – Pregnant or not, if you haven’t been to a yoga class…GO! It’s the best gift you can give yourself. I missed class last week, and my body has gently reminded me all week that I need to go every week.
Belly Growth – Seriously Huge. I know I keep saying that I’m running out of room….but I’m running out of room. Feet are kicking me in the ribs. Either the top of his head or his hand is pushing (and occasionally grinding) on my cervix. My stomach has to be at maximum capacity. When talking with a coworker today, he was sweet enough to tell me that I don’t look that big. When I turned sideways, he started to laugh. He kindly said, “oh there is all of your belly. You are huge from the side!” Good thing I like him!
Cravings – Chocolate. Eek! I’ve ate more sweets this week that I have all year. Someone throw away the Halloween candy! (I also googled chocolate cravings to see what vitamins I might be deficient in right now. Chocolate cravings = Vitamin B deficiency. Salmon is a must for dinner this week. Any other suggestions?).
Sleep – Sleep is now hit or miss. I can have a great night’s sleep followed by a horrible night of sleep. Some nights I’m wide awake at 3am. Other nights I sleep through everything.
Pregnancy Observations – My tail bone now aches if I sit too long. My feet ache if I stand for too. The plan is to keep moving. I can’t stay in one place for too long or these annoying pains pop up.
I also did some fun pregnant math last night when I was trying to find logic in all of my discomfort. Prepregnancy I weighed around 120 lbs. As of my last doctor’s appointment I have gained 30 lbs this pregnancy. Although 30 lbs doesn’t seem like a lot to me, it is 25% of my normal body weight. I’ve gained 25% of my body weight over 34 weeks. No wonder I’m uncomfortable (not to mention the almost full grown baby in my belly!).
Whoah Belly!
We go back to the doctor again on Friday! It is hard to believe that there are only 42 days until my estimated due date (which means 40 days until Christmas! Have you started shopping yet?)
Kristy Maute 