Friday, October 23, 2009

PS

I MISS prenatal yoga! Two weeks without it - I miss the mamas.

Not much to report

A couple weeks ago, I started going to the doctor twice a week to be on a nonstress test, monitoring baby's heart rate and movement. I also have had an ultrasound once a week to continue to monitor amniotic fluid levels. Everything is looking good. Baby is quite an active little bugger, tossing, turning, kicking and pushing along with frequent bouts of the hiccups (taking after her father). I'm feeling good, and just plain ready. I am trying to get all my clients in a spot where I can leave them for a while - they all seem nervous, but they are also all excited for us.

Here are some photos from our yoga class...Blissful Bellies taught by Gloria Overcash at Bodhi Tree Wellness here in Bozeman. Lauren Brown was the photographer (also a pregnant mama).






Monday, October 12, 2009

henna mamas





In celebrating the birth of our baby, a group of yoga mamas joined together for a henna afternoon. Here are some pictures:

Celebrating

On Saturday, I celebrated my 35th birthday. I love birthdays, and I have to admit this one was pretty special.

One year ago, I was laid off from MOSS. My life had turned upside down, and I frankly didn't know which end was up. After slowly moving through the darkness, finding some light, and rebuilding myself with a lot of family and friends' support, I went in to 2009 thinking it had to be a better year. And it has been.

Landing the BioBlitz job and becoming pregnant, I regained a renewed spirit about life. Life is so precious and can be taken from us at any given point in time. Learning what really matters is one of the most precious gifts Emerson could have given me. And I have learned that enjoying life to the fullest, spending time with those you love, and cherishing the moments you are alive is the most important thing in life. It is with this spirit, I will give birth to our second child.

So, when it comes to birth days, I will forever celebrate. It is on this day that mothers and fathers around the globe share in a magical moment. Life begins and life evolves and life changes. There are ups and downs, sidebends and backbends. We are born unto this world and we shall all give thanks for the life we have been given. We are all blessed. And that, my friends, is reason to celebrate.

It's really fun to celebrate my birth day as we approach Baby Graham's birth day.

This all reminds me of the Celebration Song sung at Happening:

For our life together, we celebrate
Life that lasts forever, we celebrate
For the joy and for the sorrow
Yesterday, today, tomorrow,
We Celebrate!

Monday, October 5, 2009

3D


Last week, we had a special 3D ultrasound to take a peek at little Baby Graham. She's adorable (and strikingly looks like her sister). We have a few videos and a couple pictures, but honestly, it was difficult to get this little one to model for us. She likes to have all hands and feet right in front of her face.

I'd Like to Teach the World to...

Over the last eight years, I have lived on a personal mission to teach the world one thing - how important it is for children to learn and play outside.

However, I'm adding to my mission: teach the world (and in particular, our US society) to NEVER ask a pregnant woman if this is her first child (added to that, never ask a woman if she's pregnant, but I would hope we're learning this). Why does it matter? The horrible feeling it invokes for a woman (or man who is the father) who has had the experience of miscarriage, stillbirth or infant death far outweighs the need for the answer.

I don't understand why the question has become such commonplace for our society. If it is my first baby, then what - you have the privilege of telling me what life will be like with a baby (and how dramatically it will change), what I should expect in labor, the joys of poopy diapers and sleepless nights. What? I can honestly say, I cannot wait for my life to change, I will not be going through labor ever again, and I look forward to the sleepless nights and poopy diapers - cause that means my baby is ALIVE!

The question poses so much for me - do I say, Yes, this is my first child (only to be ridiculed with responses such as above) and thus not acknowledging my baby Emerson? Or, do I say, No and leave it at that (which has brought on the, oh, you're gonna be even busier now or wow, you don't look that tired, just to name a couple). Or, do I just lay it out there by saying, no, this is our second and our first died after two days (to leave them with tears in their eyes or a punch in the gut). I don't want to answer with any of these. I just don't want to answer the question. Period.

And I guess, I am going to get it even after our baby is born - is she your only child? How many children do you have? Is she your first born? So, I better just get used to it, but folks, be ready for the gut punch or tears.

In the meantime, I will try to spread the word - just don't ask. Relish in the joy of the current pregnancy or the child in your presence. No need for prying any more.