39 Weeks

As this pregnancy reaches it's end (most likely the birth will be sometime within the next seven days), my body is definitely feeling it. Turning over in bed at night is very difficult - walking to the bathroom in the morning more often then not causes my lower back to radiate pain and my legs feel like they're weighted down, as I am waddling like a severely overweight penguin. Moving in general is slow, putting on shoes is difficult, getting back up from being on the floor even more so.... everything is a challenge. But, a challenge that leaves me smiling. Inside I feel this little life that moves around, hiccups, and who I wonder if s/he has an idea of what is soon to come.... leaving the only world s/he has known.

I watch the 10-day weather report and wonder if the weather will be favorable to deliver outside when labor starts. We're having an odd year this year, Seattle has yet to reach 75 degrees - rain is immense - the weather is also often questionable. The weather report the night before may have said rain, but there will be a surprise moment of sun that decides to stick around for the rest of the day. I really do hope to deliver outside, but also trust that this baby will know the right day to come on. It's relieving to know that I am trusted to choose where to deliver, and have already discussed with the midwives (they have said) what will need to happen if it's too cold outside for the baby after birth (all is fine if the baby's body below the neck is in the water, but when it's time to cut the cord and come out the baby will need to quickly go inside with daddy while I finish and end up inside myself).

I have been working a lot outside. Shoveling and hauling rock and dirt to finish filling the trim around the house - planting a few remaining plants, and weed wacking. I love being outside and the work seems to keep my body and spirit strong. At the end of the day my body feels exhausted, but inside I feel alive and vibrant. I am thankful to have things to do outside. I remember a few weeks ago when I took about a week off... I felt weak starting back up again. A strong body (so long as work isn't over-done) also helps to lead to an easier labor and delivery :)

Although the time of delivery is drawing nearer, along with keeping up with being active with yard work outside I've also been working with students (two so far, a third to start shortly) as much as possible - not only because of the pending delivery, but also because of the rain that seems to be near daily right now. Catching a moment of sun seems to be the goal. Yesterday I was working with one of the students on Aaleyah, and chose to see how much Aaleyah remembered about ground driving as well as where her confidence stood with it. My legs were so slow :) Pregnancy is quite the experience!