When I was a kid, I spent hours flipping through old photo albums of my family’s history. My brothers were much older than I and my family had lived in Germany before I was born, so I was fascinated to see the past and hear the stories. I’m still fascinated by pictures. They tell the stories of what has been and what is and maybe even what will be.
Happy Anniversary to us! We’ve known each other for four years now, and we’ve been husband & wife for two years. {You can see last year’s First Anniversary post here.}
Autumn is a subdued, settled season for me. The slide from red to orange to brown and then the slump into gray mellows me into contemplative, introverted, creative solitude. How apropos that I should be having my first child during this season as it affords me the luxury of misty mornings, crisp afternoons, subtle evenings; I relax and rest and quietly nest and wait in our little abode on the hill.
I often look myself in the mirror and say, “I can’t believe you’re having a kid. You’re still a kid.” Alas, we are all children when we have children. It seems that is just how God designed it to be. When I was a kid, I really liked to dress up and… imagine that… I still like to dress up! I guess because I never grew up, haha. I’ve been finding new ways to wear outfits with this third trimester belly. Amazingly enough, there are only four more weeks left until Baby Girl’s due date. I wouldn’t be surprised if she delays her debut, so it actually could be seven more weeks till we get to meet her. Ah, C’est la vie. In any case, it seems it’s a gradual change of season from warmer to cooler, and I am still getting by with a few non-maternity sweater tops from last year’s wardrobe and some of my favorite maternity staples.
Last night I went up to the next town over for an Essential Oils presentation at my Chiropractor’s office; even though I overslept my nap hour, I did make it in reasonable time and found the session to be very helpful. This presenter was focusing on the proper and most effective use of oils for emotional needs, which I found to be beneficial for me as I’d like to use a few types to calm myself and focus my mind during labor. More on that in another post … After that little shindig, I dropped by Target for a look-through of their crib linens and curtains. I had been intending to buy all the nursery linens from this company that I discovered via Etsy, however, I finally decided the collection of items would be way more expensive than necessary. They are things that we would certainly reuse with other babies, but I wasn’t sure that was the financial investment I should make at this time. Since we are renting our home, I felt it best …
As you may already know, I love to read books and articles and blogs and magazines and Facebook newsfeed… the only things I don’t like to read are political propaganda and depressing stories.
So Autumn is here and as my engineer astronomy-enthusiast father likes to remind me with the change of season, “The Autumnal Equinox will take place and then it will be officially Autumn. I will be happy to announce it to you the day it happens.” Thank you, Dad, for always staying in synch with the forces of nature, as it were. I am sort of “in touch” myself here on the other side of the mountain.
Our chiropractor always says when we leave his office, “Have an awesome day!” Well, today, we have indeed had an awesome day. Nothing climactic. Just a simply lovely day.
So, how pregnant am I, anyway?
A close friend of mine recently asked me about my choice to give birth at home. I know many women who have given birth with a midwifery practice, but I also know many who have given birth in a medical facility. Contrary to what some may assume of my philosophy, I do not believe that giving birth naturally or in the home is the “right” way to deliver a child; rather, I believe that birth is a matter of personal choice and conviction and should be considered wisely and informatively.
