Sleepless in Seattle

With the hot weather here (108 degrees) and my growing belly, it's been tough to sleep. So this seemed like the ideal weekend to take a mini "Babymoon" trip to Seattle. Plus, it coincided with our joint anniversary with the Army. They've recognized me as a Cornelius and as one of Bob's dependents (it's always glamorous verbage with the Army) for seven years now.

We stayed in the Seattle Westin. I do love the Westin because of the Heavenly Bed. It really is heavenly- usually. The mattress is magical, the sheets are fantastic, and there are pillows of every imaginable size, shape, and density. And I usually relish my sleep at a Westin.

Pair the Heavenly Bed with air conditioning and I thought I'd sleep like a rock. But I did not. It's tough to hurl your belly from one side to another when you flip over. Confession: I always thought ladies who complained about this were perhaps a tad prone to exaggeration. Nope. If you turn too quickly, it feels like your belly is being ripped off your body. And I do mean ripped.

Despite the lack of sleep, we had a lovely time. We visited the Seattle Art Museum (SAM) and took the Seattle Underground Tour. It turns out Seattle used to be about 15 feet lower than it is now. So you can take this walking tour to see the original level of the city. You might think it's just a big basement, but it's more like an underground ghost town. -Worth taking the tour. We ate a delicious dinner at Chez Shea... maybe the best fillet I've ever had in my life! Oops, and raw fish for an appetizer. Maybe a little dangerous, but super amazing.

And what is a celebration without a couple of gifts: a hand-made copper bracelet from the market (7th anniversaries are traditionally celebrated with copper), a bottle of Bulgari Rose perfume. -Now I can stop wearing it only at the Duty Free shops in the airport. It's tough to find! And beautiful flowers from the market. The best thing about the market is the flower section. That enormous bouquet cost $10. -No kidding.

I took Bob to a fly fishing store downtown and hoped to buy him something wonderful. Do you know what the man picked out? This little bottle of something you spray on the flies to make them float! Good thing it's not our real anniversary. I'll have to think of something amazing to celebrate our 7th church wedding anniversary in December. What do they make for men in bronze or copper?

Sleep or no, it was a fabulous weekend in Seattle.

Preparing for (Another) Deployment

Make a Smilebox slideshow

I've been so focused on Margot being born soon, that I've lost a bit of the other enormous thing happening at that time: Bob deploying. Not that it's not important, but I think I'm such a linear thinker that I've sort of pushed it to the back burner. You know: I'll deal with first things first.

But the reality is this: Bob's guys are leaving very soon. I can't divulge dates, but suffice it to say there is very little time left for these guys with their families. I'm oh so thankful Bob gets to stay a little bit longer, and that he will get to be here to see and help little Margot be born.

I am more thankful for Bob than I am for any other thing in my life... and there are more good things in my life than I can begin to count or name. And it does hurt to think of him deploying again and leaving our little family. -Oof, I'm sure it will be harder than ever to leave a sweet little baby and a crying mommy! But we will be strong, as we always are.

Those of you Army wives out there, you know this to be true: this lifestyle is not for everyone, and those of us who make it work prove our mettle daily. So here's to Bob's guys' wives who are facing their first or second or third... deployments in the coming days and weeks. May you know peace and strength.

We're in it together.

Angela's Ashes

You know how there are books on your reading list that you really should read, but you're just not motivated to make it happen? Angela's Ashes was one of those books for me. I even had two copies of it on my shelves... one autographed by the author at a writing fair last year in Seattle.
I read last week that Frank Mc Court died on July 19, and it seemed to me like a good time to finally read this book.

Frank Mc Court was an Irish American. He was born in Brooklyn to Irish parents, returned to Limerick a few years later with his family to escape the Great Depression, and than sank further and further into poverty. The book details his family's struggles: children dying, an alcoholic father who couldn't get his act together to support the family, Frank growing up and supporting his family, etc.

I hadn't read the book because it sounds like such a downer. But I have to say: Mc Court has such a razor wit about him that you find yourself chuckling over the way he describes his misfortunes. It's certainly one of those "if you didn't laugh, you'd cry" situations.

The book was brilliantly written, and I'd certainly recommend it to anyone (especially those of us feeling sorry for ourselves because of minor inconveniences. Like this infernal 103 degree heat... still no air conditioning).

Also notable: Mc Court's book called Teacher Man about his experiences teaching English in city schools. It's fantastic. Especially if you can hear the audio version. His Irish inflection and brogue take it to the next level.

5 Stars to Teacher Man and Angela's Ashes

Bradley Method Classes

Make a Smilebox postcard

So Bob and I have been taking a 12 week child birthing class using the Bradley Method. It's an all natural approach to child birth... no drugs, no episiotomy, etc. To manage the pain instead, you use a birthing tub, physio balls, massage, and so on.

A few things about this class:

• I feel VERY ready to deliver Margot. In fact I'm looking forward to it. I know it will hurt, but I am regarding it as the ultimate marathon experience. One where I get to bring a baby home at the end! The class has taught us so many different exercises that open the birth canal (like squatting. I've been practicing so much I think I could be a catcher on a softball team. My current record for holding a full squat is 7.5 minutes) and the basic mechanics of how birth works. The baby and mommy work together to make delivery possible.
• We're great friends now with the other couples in our class. There were five other couples, and I'm cheering for them and their deliveries... may they be healthy and uneventful.
• Our Bradley Method instructor, Emmy Marcelynas, is now our hired doula (birth assistant). We know her very well after these 12 weeks, and we're confident she will make Margot's birth just a bit more reassuring.
• Finally, it's been fantastic to have a place to go each week (Tuesday nights) where EVERYONE in that room believes it is possible to have a completely natural birth. I can't begin to tell you how many people say to us: "Just you wait. You'll change your mind. You've never had a baby before, so you don't know what to expect. You'll WANT the drugs. I don't know... I wanted natural too, but I ended up having a C-section."

Really, people, do you think we haven't considered all these things? It's completely maddening. I can't think of another arena in life where people tell you you're absolutely wrong about your choices. Can you imagine hearing, "I thought I'd go to college too... good luck with that." "I always wanted to be married to the same man my whole life; it's just not possible." "You've never been 30 before, so you just have no idea what to expect. Take it from me: it's not doable." "I know you've been training correctly for this sporting event for months, but I'm telling you: have an open mind. You might not finish without some medical assistance."

I know Bob and I have never had a baby before, and there are some things that are out of our hands... like a breech position or any other number of things. And I completely am okay with whatever needs to be done to have a healthy baby and to be a healthy mommy. But I wish people would let us strive to achieve our goal without the negativity.

Okay, I guess that's the rant. It's hot here (98 with no air conditioning)... so you'll have to excuse the diatribe. And no matter what happens, if I hear one single person say, "I told you so..." God help me.

The Wednesday Sisters

I saw this book at Barnes and Noble last year- when it was still in hardback. It interested me then, but I thought it might be too silly of a read to pay hard back prices to own. And the library had a mile long wait for it.

So when I saw it in Target last week, in paperback, I knew I had to have it. This is one of those books that takes you completely by surprise by its depth and character development.

The Wednesday Sisters tells the story of five women who meet each other while watching their children on a playground in the 1960's San Francisco area. So much is happening in the nation at that time- Vietnam, Women's Lib, the Hippie Era. And these moms are trying to figure out what that means for them. AND they've started writing together and critiquing each other's writing- on Wednesday mornings. Through all of this, there are births and deaths and infidelity that test and strengthen their relationships along the way.

I thought it might be a quick, light read. But it was deeper than that, and I closed the book not wanting it to end. It's a good sign when you are sad to say good-bye to your new friends in a book. And that is just what happened in this book.

5 Stars.

Baby Shower: Southern Style

Make a Smilebox photobook

More Pregnant Friends

So it turns out: the baby bump might be the hottest accessory this summer. This is my oldest friend, Mindy. We've been friends since 7th grade, and our timing is impeccable.

I met Bob within days of her meeting Tim (her husband).
We were engaged at about the same time.
And now, all these years later, we're pregnant at the same time.
She's due three weeks before me.

So next time I'm home, we'll update these pictures with me holding Margot and Mindy holding Naomi. I can't wait!