Adventures in Pregnancy: 36 Weeks
30 Jun 2014
What a difference a week makes! Now that I’m down to only a handful of outfits, it should be easier than ever to tell how much my shape is changing. I think I look considerably more pointy than I did last week, and hopefully this is because the baby has descended a bit. And I have to be honest: I kind of love being this huge. Because I am growing so gradually, I don’t ever really feel like I can tell a difference, until I look in the mirror or see a picture, at which point I think, “Whoa! I am seriously pregnant!” I also kind of enjoy the “pregnant lady coming through” kindness of others.
Miraculously, I am still feeling great. I am certainly waddling, and picking things up off the floor is a thing of the past, but otherwise I feel about the same. Mild heartburn, a bit of increasing insomnia, occasional pains from kicks or punches, but all of this feels very manageable to me. I’ve also started having some Braxton-Hicks contractions, but they don’t hurt at all, and I’m happy for my uterus to get some practice for the big event. My ankle swelling even went down! I think a combination of swimming and drinking even more water than usual deserves the credit, but I will say that I’ve never been happier to see those pointy ankle bones. As far as the insomnia goes, I am usually up for about an hour and a half during the night. This has gotten easier to deal with since I’ve just decided to get up and read rather than tossing and turning. And I am sure it is good practice for the nights ahead! I have not even been feeling especially tired lately–some days I nap for an hour, but never more than that. I am amazed at this eleventh hour burst of energy.
It’s being well spent. This weekend we made a lot of progress on prepping our room and the nursery for furniture moving: consolidating things, clearing them out, getting rid of old stuff. Eric came up with some great space-saving ideas. He has really been on a roll!
We were supposed to have our 36 week appointment on Saturday, but our doctor was called to a delivery. This is totally understandable, but I was super bummed because I was so looking forward to seeing our baby on the ultrasound. But now we’ll go on Thursday and start the long weekend with some extra joy.
We have our prenatal meeting with our doula tomorrow, and two more childbirth classes in our series. I am going to miss those Tuesday nights. I totally adore our teacher and feel like we have learned so much. I am feeling so much more prepared and excited for the birth, and I feel like these classes have been seriously invaluable. Eric and I are also working our way through our birth books and sharing what we’re learning with each other. Every now and again I’ll shout, “Hey, remind me to blow raspberries during contractions!” or Eric will say, “Oh, I am supposed to be practicing squats with you!” I love that we’re working on this together, and so thankful that Eric is such an amazingly intuitive and calming presence in my life. Even practicing for labor with him makes me cry. I’m a lucky lady.
Also! We had our Name Summit and are actively discussing names. We haven’t firmly decided yet, but it’s good to be talking through some ideas and preferences. And I think we were both encouraged that we seem to like the same kind of names. Whew!
This post is so hilariously overdue. I was waiting for good light to take pictures, I was waiting to finish the quilt top, I was waiting to buy finishing materials. And then I meant to post it last night, but abruptly fell asleep at 9pm. Such is the life of a pregnant lady! In any case, I am excited to say that the quilt top is finished! I am kind of amazed at how blanket-like it is already, and I kind of can’t believe I pulled it off. This is definitely the biggest quilting project I’ve ever attempted.
But let me tell you all about my super classy quilting method. I am pretty sure this is not the way it’s traditionally taught, but I just laid out a big sheet of plastic on the floor to set out the pattern of triangles. Then I sewed triangles into squares, squares into strips, and strips into one large piece. Well, that part of it is pretty kosher. But to keep the pattern the way I wanted it, I just took a lot of pictures of the fabric with my phone and consulted them every time I sat at the sewing machine. I think most people just sew the triangles and squares more randomly, but I kind of got attached to the pattern I created, and I liked doing it that way.
And so I have a bunch of pictures on my phone like this one. Whatever works, right? I have so enjoyed the process. I think that my favorite part of making anything is watching a ton of little pieces of something turn into one big awesome piece. There is a lot of instant gratification with quilting. A stack of triangles becomes a stack of squares, and suddenly you’ve got strips and then a whole quilt top. Sewing the triangles was a little bit tedious, but I loved every other part of it.
This week Hillary and I (and one sweet twin) went to the Big Fabric Store to get the rest of the supplies and for general merriment. I was thinking of getting a yellow for the backing or binding, and then was thinking of getting some kind of subtle pattern, but then I saw this Kona turquoise and knew it was the right one. I loved this vibrant green thread too. The 
both suggest buying fabric to make your own bias tape for your quilt. I can see that this would be very valuable if you wanted to use a pattern or something beyond the range of bias tape offerings. However. That is a lot of cutting in straight lines and a lot of ironing. Those are my least favorite parts of quilting (but I would take ironing over cutting any day–I’m just not very skilled at it!). I decided that since this is my first quilt, and I have a baby coming in a month (!!), I would cut myself some slack and use some bias tape. Luckily, I found some in a cheerful color that I loved. (Of course, there is more thread and bias tape–just showing off the colors here). It’s important to me that the quilt look vibrant and joyful, and I’m glad I was able to find colors that feel that way to me.
I have a little bit of repair work to do on the quilt top (a few seams need reinforcing), but after that I’ll be laying out my quilt sandwich (top, batting, backing), pinning, and sewing! I can’t wait to hold this soft and chunky blanket in my hands. And I can’t wait to watch our little boy play on it or snuggle up with it when he gets a bit older. One of my favorite things about it is that it’s so imperfect. That said, I’m amazed that it still looks so good, given how many spots there are where the triangles don’t match up evenly. Who knows, maybe those wonky corners will become his favorite parts. And I hope that it will be of help someday in teaching him that there’s value in things that are made by hand, things that show the imperfect traces of their imperfect maker. And I hope it will help with another lesson that’s close to my heart: if you’re having fun, you’re doing it right.
A warning: this will be a photo-heavy post because there is just so much awesome to share! And I want to brag about the many talents of my amazing friend Hillary, who threw the shower for us. Look at this adorable display! And also, I just want to remember as much as I can about this special day, which I can only describe as completely luminous, filled with love, and one of the happiest times I can remember. We are so lucky to have such wonderful people in our lives!
The coasters were a total surprise, and I think everyone’s were specific to them. Ours featured Memphis, San Francisco, and Russia!
These are a few of the magnets. Aren’t they awesome?! Hillary has promised to show me how to make them.
We had been planning and working on crafts for the shower for a few weeks, and on Friday we went on a huge Costco run to get the food. I had no idea she was planning anything else, and I have no idea how she found the time to do it on top of the regular party prep, but feast your eyes on this: a customized scrapbook station for the baby!
This just totally blew me away, and I was so incredibly touched by it. The pages all had maps and travel themes, and the scrapbook (in the briefcase) was so perfect. I treasure every page, and it is so sweet to have these wishes for our baby. I can’t wait to show them to him someday!
Hillary’s girls made pages too, and they were so very sweet.
But let’s rewind to the beginning of the party! Here is the spread, but only in part. There was so much more, and I am not ashamed to say that I ate a LOT of it.
This is the lemonade stand, next to the girls’ playhouse in Hillary’s glorious backyard.
A certain princess enjoyed stomping on the shadows of the lanterns.
Our awesome friends Jack and Juliette, who we are thrilled to have as our baby’s godparents.
Hillary suggested that I sit in this chaise lounge and hold court as queen, and I was happy to oblige. Some kind princesses even lent me their wand.
Revelers enjoying the beautiful backyard.
I wore this beautiful white dress that Hillary lent me. Two ladies in white! Isn’t she lovely?
The present pile! Please note that awesome Katie made us a decorative newspaper baby, complete with umbilical cord. I loved it.
Everyone came inside for the (sweetest ever) champagne toast (and sparkling water for me), and the girls got to feel the baby move.
All our beautiful friends, and my favorite in-home art gallery on the left.
We received so many thoughtful and lovely gifts, and the girls were my expert helpers in unwrapping. They made me laugh too. A lot.
A new addition to the baby’s library.
And fox pajamas!
After present time, I was really hot from sitting in the sun, and Carmen gave me her seat, which was directly in front of the air conditioner. Pregnant ladies love a good arctic blast. (I am sorry that Eric isn’t in any of these pictures–he was the photographer!)
After the festivities, Eric and I and Katy and Kostas stayed for some afternoon relaxation. The girls just fell in love with both of them, and I cannot blame them one little bit.
Proof that Danny is always, always making me laugh.
These are my people. I love them so much. I always thought that the term “shower” referred to a shower of gifts for a baby or a bride-to-be, but what I understood after Saturday is that it’s really a shower of love. I was just totally awash in gratitude and wonder that we have so many incredible people in our lives, and that they all love our sweet baby so much, even before he’s here to charm us with his little smiles and laughs. Each person who came made the day so special, as did everyone who was there in spirit. All I can say is thank you, thank you, one million times thank you. Thank you for loving me, thank you for loving Eric, thank you for loving our sweet son. I am more grateful than you’ll ever know.
I am writing this post in the afterglow of the most wonderful weekend. Our dear friends Katy and Kostas came down from Berkeley to stay with us, and we had the baby shower at Hillary’s on Saturday. I will share shower pictures tomorrow, but honestly, it was just so overwhelmingly wonderful. So many fantastic people, so much love in one space. Everyone who was there means so much to us, and we had such an awesome time catching up with them, eating delicious food, and laughing about anything and everything. It touches my heart so much that so many people love our little baby even before he is here with us.
My ankles are definitely swollen this week, but getting better some days. Walking helps, as does swimming. We went to the pool today, and as I glided like a blimp into the wall, I told Eric that I felt like a hippopotamus. But a graceful one! I am slooooow, but I feel like breaststroke is very helpful for the swelling. And this is very convenient because it is the only stroke I can still do. The funniest thing to me is that there isn’t anything physical about this pregnancy that has really bothered me yet. Well, I was not a fan of the first trimester, but I love my big belly, and I don’t mind a single pound I have gained. My arms are thicker, and my face is fuller, and I do not mind in the slightest. But when I noticed that my ankles were swollen, it just totally weirded me out. I called my mom and told her that I have Shrek feet! And she laughed. After I broke a pair of my flip flops this week, I bought a new pair at Walgreens for $3, and they make me feel like I’m walking on a cloud. So comfy! And, by the way, given the direction my feet are going in, I decided to go ahead and take off my rings, before it’s too late. Eric said to watch out, since hitting on pregnant ladies is a big thing. Ha!
Also, I finally broke down and did some maternity shopping to add to my meager collection of things that still fit me. Ironically, my constantly falling-down maternity jeans now fit me, but…it is way too hot for jeans. I got this black and white dress and a good handful of shirts to go with my skirts and shorts, and I hope that will hold me, at least for the next few weeks, after which: muumuu time!
One year ago today I was checking my email over breakfast as usual, when a familiar name popped up in my inbox. There was an email from Hillary, whose blog I knew and loved. I had read about her adventures with her adorable twin girls, and, gasp, had figured out that she lived in Pasadena. I was hoping to meet her, and I always secretly looked around for her when I went to the library, a location I knew we both treasured. The email was so sweet, offering to give me some craft supplies she wasn’t using anymore. I have never been one to turn down free craft supplies, but I was mostly so excited to meet her! We arranged to meet at the library (of course!), where she gave me a huge bag full of goodies and some gorgeous tomatoes from her husband’s garden. And I got to meet the sweetest and most brilliant four-year-olds in the world (now five-year-olds!)
There are people you meet later in life and wish you’d always known, and that’s definitely the case here. I kind of can’t believe we’ve only known each other for a year because we are already family, and I can’t imagine my life without her, or her wonderful daughters and hilarious and kind husband, who also happens to be an amazing cook. She’s my favorite thing in Pasadena. You know the kind of friend who makes everything fun? Like even a Costco run or a cleaning session? That’s the kind of friend Hillary is, and I thank my lucky stars for her.
Blissful is definitely the best word for these past three years. I can’t type that without smiling. Being married to Eric has been the most fun I have ever had in my life. What other adjective could you use to describe getting to hang out with your best friend every day? I still jump up to hug him when I hear his key turn in the lock. He’s my favorite.
Well, this has been a big week! Big being the operative word here, of course. (Yes, I am totally wearing the same dress I wore last week. It is my most beloved tent. Don’t fear–I wash it! Often!) We had our hospital tour on Wednesday, and it was awesome. The hospital is really lovely and calming, but more importantly, everyone was so nice and so supportive of natural birth. The hospital actually has some policies in place that make it easier to have a natural birth if you want one, and I was so excited to hear about them. The rooms in labor and delivery are just huge, and there’s a private garden for women in labor to walk around. Um, that is amazing.
And we won this tiny t-shirt for our baby in a raffle. Honestly, it was just such a pleasant experience, and we feel very positive about where we’ll be delivering. That is worth its weight in gold. Or in anything else of value. Like strawberries. Or peaches. Or really cold water. Those three things are my currency these days.
This weekend we took a quick little trip about an hour south for our anniversary. It was great fun, and I will write more about it this week for sure, but I had to share this picture. We ate dinner at the same restaurant 
I am really used to working from home. Grad school will do that you, and a dissertation will drive it home (ah, those cold mornings I spent researching at my kitchen table in Berkeley, with a hat on!) Writing, the kind of writing I do now, lends itself well to this way of life too. Over the last ten years, I’ve become so comfortable and cozy at home, putting together rhythms and routines that work for me and switching them up every couple of months when they get stale. I love getting out and about, but home is my base, a place of books and warm Earl Grey (in a few months!) These past few months have been busy ones, though, and every day there are places to go: checkups and appointments, grocery runs and other household errands, and all manner of baby prep. Also, I would probably go crazy if I didn’t get to hang out with Hillary at least twice a week. So these days, a whole day at home is a rarity. It happens once every few weeks, and I love it.
Okay, okay, I know this doesn’t look like much. BUT it is one of my favorite things to eat of all time. I am baffled that I haven’t put it on the blog yet. We just learned on our hospital tour that we have access to a fridge and freezer and can bring whatever we want to eat after delivery…so I think I will be bringing this. It is just so lusciously delicious. The spice mixture is so absolutely perfect that it should be patented (not by me, of course). The sauce is so exquisite that I always scrape up whatever’s left in the bowl with pita bread (naan would be even better). I double the recipe every single time I make it. And tripling it doesn’t seem like a bad idea either.
It’s also a remarkably easy dish, one of the first ones I made back when I was learning to cook. There’s a little bit of chopping, a little bit of measuring, and then the heat does the rest. I love this dish for its depth of flavor and subtle heat (not enough to cause a pregnant lady heartburn, and that’s key). I hope you love it as much as I do. Sorry again for the lack of process photos. The chopped ginger and peppers are so pretty, but I am getting too HONGRY while cooking to stop and take pictures!
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