Napping

I have taken a nap every afternoon this week so far. I've been teaching in the mornings, and I just can't quite make it through the day as easily any more without laying down to recharge. I come home, I make myself an avocado sandwich, and I curl up with the cats for at least 40 minutes. They are enjoying this almost as much as I am. I think that maybe my body is preparing me for having a napping newborn around who also needs to crash out in the afternoons.

I was so tired after teaching today, and carrying a bag of groceries home from the store was what pushed me over the edge. I think that I have to accept that there are no more full days in my schedule - only half days. I don't know how all the other women out there do it. I don't know, maybe it would be easier if I only had one job instead of three that I'm patching together. Even though I'm not working full-time hours, it takes a lot of effort to make sure that I'm not dropping any balls. Naps are the linchpin holding it together. I'm lucky I've been able to come home and take them.

28 Weeks

Today is the first day of my third trimester. I'm entering the beginning of the end. I celebrated by going to prenatal yoga with my dear friend Victoria, who is REALLY beginning the end, as she is going to give birth any day now. I was in class with several women who were at 37, 38, 39 weeks and who probably won't be in class next week because they'll have their babies. It made me feel like I'm still very far away from that stage, but all assure me that I'm much closer than I think and that this trimester will fly by much quicker than the first two did.

I have felt very very lucky to have girlfriends (and a sister!) who are sharing pregnancy-times with me, and I am particularly grateful for the community of women I've met through my yoga classes. Even though I may never see most of them outside of class, it has really been special to gather together and talk about what is going on each week and really appreciate how unique and different each pregnancy is. Best of luck to Victoria as she leaves the land of pregnant women and enters the land of mothers!!! I'm not too far behind!So, here's a little picture of me at 6 months and Victoria at 9 as we left yoga this morning...I'm feeling pretty good, but I'm in the middle of a growth spurt that is giving me some extra strain. I'm sure I'll adjust soon. And as Zach says, "Of course it's going to hurt a little - you're 6 months pregnant." Yes, I am.

Preparing

We had our first Childbirth Ed class last night, and Z and I were bombarded with pictures of effaced cervixes, mucus plugs, birth canals, and stretched perineums. I would be lying if I didn't say there was a moment when I thought, "Umm...thanks, but I think I'll pass." I am on a one-way train here, folks, and there is no getting off.

That being said, it is kind of amazing and inspiring to think about all the things my body knows how to do without me knowing how to do a thing. It can grow a placenta, it can make my uterus expand to 40x its regular size, it can decide when contractions need to start and, completely without my help, it will push a fully-grown human being out. We didn't really do anything except sprinkle in some fertilizer. All those cells have split, all those organs have developed, all those brain synapses have formed, all those muscles have stretched without me doing a thing except eat and trying not to stress out too badly.

Laugh Button

When I laugh, my belly button pops out. I think it's hillarious. Zach thinks it is a little creepy. Pretty soon, though, it will just pop out all the time.Believe it or not, it feels even funnier than it looks.