Birthing Class 101

Last Sunday I went to my 8 hour birthing class.  After that 8 hours, you are supposed to know EVERYTHING you need to know about popping out a baby...Not sure if that is the case, but I feel better about it.  God designed my body to do this...I just have to keep reminding myself of it.  Then, I am going to ask Eve why she decided to eat that fruit in the garden...I bet she is apologizing to every woman who has birthed a child for all eternity.  

So, to simulate a contraction, we stick our hand in a bag of ice...It is supposed to put stress on the body and you are supposed to work through breathing through the cold.  We did this for a LONG time...I think the instructor was secretly laughing at us.  

I got better at it as time went on....It was nice, because I got some breaks and during those breaks Melissa had the job of rubbing my back, playing with my hair, and walking me through the "relaxation steps."  I know during labor I will be the one going through the pain, but I felt a little bad for Melissa, because all she did during that time was do things for me!

(notice the baby face down in the pelvic bone in the back..I think it is hilarious that is just sitting on the chair)

Melissa and I danced...It was nice, however, I am quite tall and I don't think we did it right.  Ideally, you are supposed to be able to lean on your partner with your head on their shoulder.  That didn't work out well for Melissa and I.

But, we were still happy :)  Look at our cuddles!

Thank you Melissa for being the best friend EVER!  Coming to a birthing class all day, asking questions (so I wasn't the only one) and taking pictures of the silly things we did was fun!  

When I get bored, I annoy the dog...

I sometimes put him in outfits....This one was bought in the $1 at Target....It has pockets for all of Gus' things.

Then I put him in the stroller...He didn't like that.  I thought about strapping him in, but that wouldn't have been fun for either of us.

Thankful...

Today has been the best day of pregnancy so far...Several things happened that just made my day:

1. I woke up this morning NOT feeling tired (that could have been a combination of the new "noise sleep machine" that was bought for baby Abby or because I went to bed at 8:30 last night).
2. I woke up to Abby moving all over the place
3. She kicked all day - today is the first day I have really felt like we have been, "connected"  Some people say this happens instantly with their baby, some people say it happens the moment they get to hold their little baby...For me, it happened today...I actually talked to her like she was there today. (Maybe I am a bad mom, but I don't talk to my stomach that often.)
4. Three kids in my class today gave me "oh so gentle" hugs (I get hugs all day long, but these ones were different) they reminded me that, "yes, there is a baby growing and they can all see her and we are going to be careful around her."
5. I saw one of my old parents and when I told her when I was due she said, "Oh my gosh, you are due that soon?"  You look so small.
6. A teacher in our school saw me today and said, "How is our beautiful, pregnant, mom doing today?"  (She really made me feel beautiful, and I am going to leave it at that, because I don't want to cry...Good tears of course).
7. Today I ran...It was s.l.o.w but I ran...The weather was perfect, no wind, sun in the sky, and just clean, crisp air.

Today has been the best pregnant day so far.  I am so thankful that God blessed us with this precious life.  He truly is amazing.

1st Grade is Challenging...

My challenge for the day....Interpret this section of writing from a first graders journal:


"frsh they made bons tree branch, second they madke wigwam adu stit and boke"


Yes, I am a first grade teacher, and I was able to figure it out!
"First they made houses out of tree branches.  Second they make wigwams out of sticks and bark"


(We are learning about the Woodland Indians and writing paragraphs using topic sentences, first, second, third, and concluding sentences.)

High five my belly!

Monday I was letting my kids out for lunch recess.  I usually walk them almost all the way to the door outside, and then stop and let them finish the way all on their own....Partly so I can watch the back of the line, partly because I don't like standing by the freezing cold air coming in from outside.

Anyway.  My kids are all bundled for the cold.  As they walk outside they all start passing by me, holding their hand out to give me a high five.  But they aren't giving me a high five, they are all rubbing one hand across my belly, as to give my belly a high five!  Valerie witnessed it all and started laughing out loud.  Those kids are too funny.  It completely threw me off!  They didn't slap my belly by any means, they just gently slid their hand across it!  They didn't even talk or say anything...Like it is completely normal to slide your hand across a teacher's bulging stomach.

It's December!

It is December....Sometimes the months feel like they are flying by and sometimes they feel like they go by slowly.

Just 9 days till our half-way point for this deployment.  Not that we are counting (I am not going to pretend that for the last week I have thought, "What can my facebook status be on December 11?  I want it to be clever, funny, and a little sarcastic."  

Christmas will soon come and go.  I am learning and working to enjoy each season of my life.  This isn't easy.  But, life isn't always easy and honestly, we are not here to live an "easy" life.  We are here to live in relationship, learn from each other, grow and change.  Sometimes the "hardest" parts of our lives are where we grow the most.

I am just thankful I can do it with a sovereign Lord standing next to me saying, "I do love you Carey and I am watching out for you and your family.  Nothing is greater than me." Keep reminding me Lord, I need it.

29.5 weeks

Had a baby shower today with work friends.  I am overwhelmed...I work with some pretty amazing people.