Dropping the Baby, Reprise

Ok, so this is the photo I posted last week, questioning whether the baby had dropped:

However, I suspected that it might have appeared that way because it was the first photo I've taken in awhile without my maternity belt, which holds up my belly and takes pressure off my back.  So, the next day, we took another picture with the belt on, to see if my belly still looked low.

It's definitely up more than in the previous picture, but is it still lower than before?

It's hard to tell in this shirt. I haven't noticed the other signs of the baby dropping, such as "lightening." I'm still hungry a lot, and I still get out of breath quickly.  But anyway, does it matter?  Baby will come when he or she comes, right?  Here is this past week's photo:

Dropping the Baby

Over the past two weeks, two people have suggested that it looked like Baby was dropping.  Really?  I couldn't tell anything.  I figured I was probably just getting bigger.  So, I can't say for certain, but I think Baby might have really dropped last night.  Or be in the process of dropping.  I don't know how it works; I'm waiting for a midwife to call me back.  Tell me what you think.  This is from a few weeks ago:

...This is probably about 2 weeks ago:

...And this is from last night (I'm just 35 weeks):

At first, I thought my belly might just be a little saggy because I'm not wearing my super-sexy Gabrialla Maternity Support Belt (which has been miraculous in saving my back, but does not look nearly as neat and tidy as this one):

Not me.

But then I've been having some cramping all day that suggests something might be different.  Now, I'm going to tell everyone not to worry; that, from what I read, Baby can drop anywhere between 2-8 weeks prior to labor (I'm hoping to be right in the middle of that), and the first is usually farther out.  However, I am freaking out because I AM NOT READY FOR THIS BABY TO BE HERE. I just ordered a cradle mattress today!  I still have 2.5 weeks left of work to do!  We have to paint clouds on the ceiling of the nursery, wash baby clothes, and pick out cloth diapers!  Just typing those last three sentences gave me heartburn.  That, or the big bowl of chili I had for lunch. 

I've had several firm discussions with Baby about how he/she needs to stay in my belly for at least three more weeks.  We'll see how well Baby listens.  :-)

Birthin' Babies

I've been rolling around a post in my head for awhile about my desire for a natural, unmedicated childbirth, but haven't quite gotten to it.  But the fact that I've been tearing up over a stranger's pending birth experience since yesterday has inspired me to finally get this out.  This internet stranger, MODG, has been hoping and trying fervently for a VBAC (vaginal birth after c-section), and despite her best efforts through diet, acupuncture, etc, it looks like she will have to have a scheduled Cesarean next week.  Her heartbreaking account and expression of her desire for a natural childbirth really resonated with me, and while it really captured my feelings, I still want to articulate it for myself.

(This could be a long one!)

Roadside Find Into Barnyard Treasure

Kevin's parents magically find all sorts of treasures on the side of the road.  We've been offered a sewing desk and concrete forms, just off the tops of our heads.  I don't know if it's a New Jersey thing, or if his parents just have the right kind of luck.  In any case, their most recent find ended up being a real treat for us: a changing table.

Kevin and I never planned on purchasing a changing table - we have an old, low dresser that we planned to paint and put rails on to upcycle into a changing table.  When they found this beauty on the side of the road, though, we knew it would be easier and nicer than our idea.

After a little research, Kevin's parents discovered that this changing table is actually part of the same collection as our crib!  You can't really tell from the photo (maybe a little on the front left rail), but it's pretty banged and scratched up.  That was okay, though, because it needed to be painted white to match the crib, anyway.  Kevin's parents were nice enough to paint it before they came down this past weekend to help us with the nursery.

We popped on some custom knobs I ordered from Etsy:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/PATRINASPLACE

And, voila!

Kevin and me and the changing table

Kevin's parents and the changing table

We're still going to paint that old dresser white, and just use it as a dresser.

By the way, do not be thrown off by the blue room!  It's blue, like the sky, not like a baby boy!  That's not to say that we are not having a boy; just that you shouldn't think that we know something you don't.  If you haven't guessed, we're doing a farm animal theme.  More pics to come as we actually get the thing together, but if you want a better idea, check out my Pinterest board.

Meanwhile in Columbia, MD...

Tuesday's election and this image:

reminded me that I wanted to write a post about the Virgin Mobile Free Fest that my friend Danielle and I went to last month.  The only reason I wanted to go was to see Ben Folds Five, but there were a two other acts that Danielle wanted to see, and luckily, they were on right before and right after Ben Folds.  It ended up being a lovely, sunny autumn day and I enjoyed all of the performances.

Now, what does that have to do with the legalization of recreational marijuana in Colorado?  Well, anyone who has been to the venue that hosted Virgin Mobile Free Fest knows that you would be hard pressed to attend a concert there without catching at least a whiff of the sweet herb.  I can tell you that I've never been to one, and Virgin Mobile Free Fest was no exception.  Luckily, especially now, it's never been more than a passing sniff, which makes me chuckle, but I've never experienced any effects from it.

But here's the funny thing.  Late in the afternoon, as Danielle and I started packing our things to leave, a young woman, probably in her early twenties, turned around and said something to me.  I thought she said, "Are you guys leaving?"  I was a little befuddled, because she was sitting literally four feet in front of us, and I couldn't imagine why our spot would be more appealing.  I decided what I heard didn't make sense, so I asked her to repeat herself.  Turned out she was asking, "Do you have any weed?"

I just looked at her, bewildered, shook my head, and said, "No," laughing.  Because:

1. If you've ever met me, you know that I don't exactly give off a pot-smoker vibe (or do I?), especially now that I am a working professional in my mid-thirties, and not to mention that:
2. I was, at the time, very (I think) obviously seven months pregnant. 

I will say, though, that I was flattered that she thought I was so hip that I might just be stashing some Mary Jane in my Vera Bradley bag.  Either that, or she was really desperate.

Anyway, here is what about seven months pregnant looked like, if you're interested:

Not at the concert.