G’morning.
Did I ever mention that I honestly believe I was a Golden Retriever in my past life? Well, now you know.
(via witanddelight)
Saturday beauty.
Drove to Wisconsin on Friday night for a weekend home that went by much too quickly. I arrived late on Friday, greeted Dad and went to bed almost right away because I was tired from a long week at work. At 29 weeks, I think I’m getting to the point in my pregnancy where something as wonderful as sleep is becoming uncomfortable, so I didn’t rest all that well in my familiar bed but a soothing thunderstorm and a golden retriever kept me company throughout the long night.
I woke up early the next morning to get ready for my best friend Courtney’s bridal shower. Dad took good care of me and asked what I wanted for breakfast, offering to go get me whatever I wanted. I told him a cup of coffee and some peanut butter toast would hit the spot, and he delivered it to the bathroom as I hurried to finish my hair. He asked, “Do you have vitamins? Make sure you’re taking your vitamins…” Normally I might grumble, but I appreciated this and it warmed my heart to know he wanted to make sure I was taken care of.
As I put on my makeup, I wondered if the bride-to-be was nervous for her shower, what she was feeling like, and couldn’t believe that just days, or maybe even hours apart from one another, she would be getting married and I would be having a baby. I drove to her house, next to the old house I grew up in, to pick her up because her family was already at the site of the shower getting everything ready for her arrival. She answered the door and looked beautiful as ever. As I helped her with the zipping of her dress, she told me how shaky she was feeling after too much coffee and a whole bunch of adrenaline running through her body. The shower was perfect and fit her just right; very simple but elegant with lots of light gleaming through the windows onto the tulips that graced each of the tables. Following the shower, all of the bridesmaids went to Courtney’s house to hang out for a bit. There was lots of baby & wedding talk, thoughts for the future, and relections of the past…how much we’ve all grown and changed, and in many senses, have stayed the same.
Back at my house, Mom was just getting home from visiting everyone in New York. Dad, her, and I went to dinner. We talked about her trip, how each of their grandchildren is changing and has a personality that seems to further evolve with each day. I heard stories of Everly chasing Arthur around the Brooklyn apartment, and was told that Arthur loves avocados even more than I do. It made me miss them and look forward to the next time we can all be in the same place again. Every time we come together, it seems that another big change has taken place since the last time we reunited. As my dad would say, it’s pretty ‘wild.’ The next time, there will be a whole new person for everyone to meet.
Sunday morning was one of my favorite parts of the weekend. I woke up to a big slobbery, fluffy head resting on my bed, insisting that it was time for me to get up. I patted the mattress and she hopped up, noodling her body in a way that would allow her to be as close to me as possible. We lay there for a few minutes until I decided it was time to go downstairs. Dad made coffee, turned on some bluegrass (hence, the song posted with this entry), and we all sat in the family room, each of us either on a computer or reading the paper. Mom was texting back and forth with Kelly which always provides for some entertainment so we had some laughs. We then began exploring some baby blanket making ideas on the internet, and decided we’d make a trip to the fabric store later that day. It was just a nice, relaxing morning that was made all the better because it was at home.
Power Yoga by Candlelight
We’ve already taken a birthing class that was fantastic in the sense that it changed the way I’m viewing this entire experience, and it provided me with a feeling of empowerment, a new confidence that I can actually do it. Then yesterday I had an appointment with one of the midwives at the hospital and she told me that preparing for birth is almost like preparing your body for a marathon, it requires conditioning and training via walking, prenatal yoga, belly dancing, just moving. And, having just entered my third trimester, I told myself that if I’m going to “train,” it’s now or never…because what good is it if I feel mentally prepared but my body says otherwise? So. Tonight I took a power yoga class by candlelight. It was the first time I had really engaged myself in any exercise other than walking in..well, a long time. I walk in, and the yoga teacher is pregnant. Go figure! It was fate as I was the only pregnant person (to my knowledge) in the class, and she was able to help me alter some of the poses to accommodate my growing belly.
It felt so refreshing, like I was falling into my old self again. Not that I haven’t been feeling like my real self, but it felt good to do something for me with the intention of bettering my self. I’ll be going back…
A day in the 25th week of pregnancy.
Coworker #1: “You’re SO BIG!”
Uhhhmm, thanks?
Coworker #2: “So, are you counting down the days until you erupt like a volcano?”
You know that it’s actually a baby that comes out, right?
Coworker #3: “How are the kegel exercises going? I’ve heard pregnant woman have to do those.”
You must think we’re like, really close. But no, you’re just really creepy.
Thank God it’s the weekend.
I was desperate. The baby made me do it.
Get into the groove with me, Marcel!
When you’re 5.5 months pregnant, your Saturday nights turn into you watching “My Best Friend’s Wedding” in bed for maybe the 200th time in your life. And I’m perfectly okay with that.
And ugh, this scene. Gets me every time. When the music starts and she’s pleading, “Choose me. Marry me!” Tears.
video via mickeysavereign
This blog is going to only be about food from now on. Or at least it seems to be heading in that direction.
Paid my third visit to Native Foods in Bucktown with Ira on Thursday night. I had the Very Veggie Wrap with some lavender lemonade, and she, the Scorpion Burger with sweet potato fries. We shared the Crunchy Kale Salad. I want to go back again and again.
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
Feist
—Islands In The Stream- with Constantines
Islands in the Stream
One of my favorite Dolly Parton songs covered by Feist and Constantines
“You do something to me that I can’t explain
Hold me closer and I feel no pain”
Yogurt Avenue on Clark St. in Andersonville = Yogurt Heaven.
Went there during lunch today with my coworker and doula-to-be, Ira. It’s always nice to leave the morning behind and walk in the sunshine, to come back refreshed with a belly full of cake batter frozen yogurt topped with cookie dough and chocolate chips. We shared in baby talk as I wondered aloud about what my birthing experience might be like when the moment comes. 125 days or so left.
I had one of those weekends in Wisconsin where I didn’t want to leave. The weather has been unseasonably warm, it felt just like summer. Being with family makes me feel warm, safe, and surrounded with love. We did so much in two short days.
Saturday: Left Chicago sunshine for Milwaukee rain. Spent the morning talking with my sister & Bryan while Everly napped. When she woke up, it was like a new little girl walked up to me. She was walking tall, talking, playing mom to her little baby doll. Just like my sister warned me, she is 15 months going on 15 years, and she knows it. I loved hearing her say my name, “KAY-TEE!” We got in the car, stopped for a coffee, and were greeted in Fond du Lac with sunshine and warm weather. Surprised my mom and dad, as I didn’t tell them I’d be coming. It was the best feeling.
Mama made stuffed chicken with broccoli and carrots for dinner. Mom had found a recipe for S’mores cookies on Pinterest so we whipped those up as well. Grandma came over, and Everly entertained us all throughout the meal with her silliness. After we cleaned up, us girls put on some motown music and played a couple games of SkipBo, a staple in our house. Grandma won first, then Kelly. We would’ve played more but visions of frozen yogurt from A&W, and we were getting tired. As I inhaled a dish of root beer fro yo with rainbow sprinkles, we shared in our typical style of humor that can only revolve around ice cream at A&W. That night I had the luxury of sleeping with the bedroom window open and the breeze put me to sleep.
Sunday: Woke up to Kelly Little (Everly) squawking away in the early morning. Not wanting to miss any family time, I went downstairs, had some cereal and coffee, perused the Sunday ads. We spent some time out in the sun on the deck, blowing bubbles for Everly. Lucy looked like a giant ball of blonde fur as she pranced around, trying to smack the bubbles with her big mouth. Lunch was one of my most favorite meals in the world: turkey brats with Mom’s hasbrown potatoes and baked beans. Dessert at Gilles was a given, and I savored a marshmallow jimmie sundae. Then we set out to run errands, in search of maternity clothes, and added to my registry since I didn’t know where to start. All of us exhausted, we piled in the car and headed for Milwaukee, and I eventually made my way back to Chicago.
I didn’t want it to end. The fresh air is like none other, and being with those I love most seems to put me in my natural element. Wisconsin, I’ll be back soon.
