Goin' to the Chapel

Ok, don't be mad if we didn't tell you, but we got married on Friday! Yep, I'm officially a Chaplin, and when little butternut pineapple cantaloupe is born he won't confuse the bureaucracy by having a mom with a different last name (and isn't not confusing bureaucracies what life is all about?) To be honest, initially part of me was a little... unsettled at the fact that I was going to be getting married while so obviously pregnant, but I realize now that this was exactly the way it was supposed to turn out. Josh and I aren't 'wedding' people and we never would have done the conventional church and reception thing anyway. All the important elements were there: family and close friends, beautiful weather, and good food too. (Ok, I definitely got some snide looks from some of the other brides walking around as they looked me up and down with that got-him-just-in-time-eh? sort of look, but really who cares? Them bitches be jealous!)

I really had a fantastic day, and the city hall process was pretty painless. It was kind of fun actually because the city clerk's office sort of feels like a european train station, plus there's brides and grooms everywhere, and it was a bit of an adventure because we had to pass through several stages of the process including running across the street to get a special waiver from an invisible judge so that we could avoid the 24 hour waiting period between getting a marriage license and having the actual ceremony. It really didn't take much time and wasn't boring for a second - like regular weddings sometimes are (if I've been to yours, I didn't mean that one of course). We got some great photos and then had an amazing delicious lunch afterwards and aside from my family who were there in spirit with their blessings, we had the perfect intimate celebration with the special people in our lives and that's what made it just right for us and I wouldn't change a thing.

Next summer we'll have a bigger party to celebrate with everyone else we missed out on sharing this event with, but in the meantime we've got a baby on the way!

Seriously, it's getting huge!

Ok, really now, this belly is growing voraciously and I still have 5 whole weeks to go! I just feel bigger and bigger every week, the only thing that's shrinking are my wardrobe options! Baby is about 4.75lbs. now and about 18" long, and would have a fantastic chance of surviving outside the womb if he were to be born now - although, like a slightly undercooked dinner - we want him to roast in there just a little bit longer.

He's a cantaloupe this week :)

How's mama feeling? Well I'm starting to 'puff out' meaning my fingers are all swollen and actually hurt if I make a fist and my feet too - even flip-flops are uncomfortable! My beautiful opal engagement ring DOES NOT fit anymore (thanks Josh for taking your sweet time and allowing me just two brief weeks of actually wearing it, grr) but I've chosen an expandable replacement ring to hold its' place (you know, just in case some hot young stud thinks to hit on me, it'll be the ring that'll tell him I'm taken). The heat is not helping either, although I'm glad not to have to worry about heavy coats and layers. Should I go on? Sleeping is even more uncomfortable these days and I'm now having epic dreams about having to pee and not being able to find a bathroom - a practical daily fear manifesting as a nightmare. Do me a favor and appreciate the next time you're able to drink a tall glass of something and not have to plan your outing around staying near a bathroom for the next 45 minutes (and the next 45 minutes after that).
Buuuuuuut... aside from all that, I think I'm doing pretty well and I think my daily yoga stretching really helps to prevent unnecessary aches and to keep my mind calm and clear. I'm leaning more and more towards the home birth thing and getting really excited for the birth, I think it'll be amazing and wonderful and quick and transformative and I can't wait to hold my little cantaloupe in my arms.

In other baby news, I have a new baby sister!! Paulina Mogilevsky was born today, on the first day of summer, to my dad and stepmom. Happy Birthday!

What's a little rain at a shower?

Oh my busy little bees, such sweet friends I have, and so creative - those baby magnets were adorable and now I've got twins on my fridge! I had a wonderful shower with great words of wisdom, adorable gifts, delicious food, and of course great company. It was doubly awesome to have friends from various different facets of my life all enjoying each other's company as they were brought together to celebrate a joyous occasion and share mutual love for, well, me!

It's not very often to see such a thing and it's even a bit strange to have all these puzzle pieces from different scenes fit together to form a beautiful picture of friendship and support - ok, i'm getting weepy-eyed now, and very cheesy with my imagery, but seriously I had a great time and thanks to all who came :)

Pineapple heartbeat :)

Ok, here's what we're looking at here on this metamorphic belly: the large lump on the left is definitely a butt, and the little quick flicks on the right side are foot kicks. It's weird to see my stomach ripple so water-like but it is full of fluid after all. And make sure you have your sound on to hear the heartbeat!! We recorded it last time the midwife came over, mini-josh played his first show! (it's totally normal that it's so fast by the way)



And in case you're wondering what fruit/vegetable we're up to, it's a pineapple!

Team Baby!

Well, here's the team, 4 pairs of hands to welcome this little guy into the world. It's all about communication and teamwork if I want to avoid the drugs and with just 6 weeks to go we'd better get comfortable and get ready for the ride, GO TEAM BABY!

I'm progressing well and whenever my midwife feels and listens to the baby she always says 'this is a good baby' which is always great to hear. His heartrate is perfect, and so is mine, and he's very active and responds to her touch. This baby is just growing and growing and is already at about 4lbs. and yes still on track to being an 8-pounder! I just hope he doesn't get stuck on the way out. But despite the fact that baby is looking healthy and I've gained over 25lbs., due to my pre-pregnancy slender physique it is still a bit of a concern that I'll go back to being underweight after the birth and I need to start increasing my calorie intake to beef myself up for having adequate physical energy to be a healthy breastfeeding mama. So, protein shakes here I come! Feel free to embrace your inner grandma if you see me and offer me a snack, though it's more difficult to eat large filling meals due to a compressed stomach and frequent heartburn, I'm supposed to be 'grazing' which basically means eating small amounts of food many many times a day, like a cow.

Another thing that was brought up with this last visit is that I'm a good candidate for home birth, due to my healthy progression, balanced emotional state, and comfortable communication with my support team. It's something I hadn't given serious thought to previously because I just thought a hospital setting is the best for 'just in case.' Plus, they've got that tub. However, the hospital does come with a certain level of intervention, even when a midwife is present, and since I'm going to labor at home for as long as possible perhaps I'll change my mind and won't want to leave? Just to be clear, it wasn't brought up in a suggestive manner as if my midwife herself would prefer that method, it's just something that was put on the table as a possibility and I'll be free to decide when the time comes. When labor begins 'the team' will come over as I'm progressing and we'll see how things go, it will simply be an option we can opt to take if I'm handling contractions well and don't feel like getting into a car for twenty minutes. My midwife will have all necessary supplies on hand, we have a backup hospital that is very close, and she is fully capable of conducting the initial assessment of the baby and submitting any necessary paperwork. The thought of just me and Josh being able to bond with the baby as a new family in the comfort and privacy of our own home is quite appealing. Anyway, no decision has been made, we're going to wing it and I feel confident it will all work out beautifully either way.

A tight squeeze and maternity leavzz

So, just a little update, baby is approximately 3.75lbs and about 17" long! Apparently I'll be gaining about a pound a week now and 1/2 of that is going right to baby to make him plump and ready for survival outside the womb. This pic shows what a tight squeeze it is in his studio apartment. His lungs are still developing but the rest of his body is pretty well formed by now, this morning I felt a breathing-like light rhythmic movement and hiccups are a daily event. Maturity of the lungs is actually what creates the chemical signal to begin the labor process, sort of brings new meaning to all those 'breath is life' yogis.

As far as mama, I'm doing ok, heartburn is a recent addition to my discomforts but otherwise it is the heat and humidity that is the most annoying, well that and having to work. Sleeping can be so uncomfortable between peeing, aches, random hunger, heat, etc., that having to get up and be alert and perform all day long can really get exhausting. That's why when the weekend rolls around all I really want to do is stay home and relax. So quit inviting me to do things you able-bodied summer people!

I also recently met with my HR department about maternity leave and I'm pretty bummed that all I get is 12 weeks - which already includes any unused vacation or personal time - and only 6 weeks are paid!! This is really sucky because not only is that not enough time for bonding but it means if I'm really feeling overwhelmed towards the end and want to take my leave a week before I'm due, that's one week less that I'll have with the baby after he's born. The U.S. maternity leave policy is really among the worst and that's because it is treated as 'disability' and not a unique and necessary time in an individual's life. The person and the body are viewed so robotically and it's all about 'loss of productivity' in the corporate model... anyway, I won't get into it, it just sucks. But I'll have to go back to work for financial reasons and I'll have to keep working right up until I go into labor. Oh well, gotta work with what you've got, I'm still happy to have a job and I'm sure we'll find a way to work it out.

Pediatrics

Woo-hoo! I can finally cross a big to-do off my list, we found a pediatrician! It's a russian doctor, and no this isn't a case of cultural nepotism but more of a geographic coincidence. Dr. Tatyana happens to be located nearby and covered by my insurance, and the fact that she was professional, knowledgeable, and friendly sealed the deal. We'll be seeing her within just a couple days of baby's birth. Also, we sure lucked out with location because our two downstairs neighbors happen to both be pediatric residents with one year left before certification. That means if ever there's an emergency, or just a general question that can't wait, I can just hop, skip, on down one flight of stairs and see a professional! You're in good hands lumpy :)  (that's what I'm calling him lately because when he's active and I look down, all I can see and feel are big and little lumps popping out and moving around, I think that he thinks he's ready to come out and explore the world already - just a little more time in the oven!)