We are now officially t-minus one month and COUNTING. Baby girl is due exactly one month from today! I can't wait to meet this little one, see what she looks like, hold her in my arms, get to know her little personality ... This pregnancy has been so different in a lot of ways, but knowing what to expect has been the biggest difference. Of course, I sincerely hope this delivery will go differently than Lydia's. If it does, then it will be a new experience for me. My sister delivered her last baby without medication after studying the Bradley Method so I've been studying it too. After my awful experience with the epidural last time, I'd like to go as long as possible without it--hopefully the whole way. I definitely think that studying natural childbirth has really helped me to understand the process of childbirth a little bit better. I think that EVERY first time mother, regardless of her feelings toward epidurals should make a serious study of natural childbirth. If nothing else, you will gain a deeper understand of how your body works to deliver a child. This is something that I was severely lacking my first time around. I have a lot of regrets about my naivete towards childbirth and I think I was bullied a little bit by medical staff as a result of my blind faith in them. If I had known then what I know now I would have done things a little differently (hindsight being what it is ...). I feel like my "labor and delivery toolbox" is fuller and I'm hopeful that I can achieve the VBAC that I desire!
Down from the soapbox ...
The magic of Christmas has been so very real in our home these past few weeks. It is amazing having a child who is old enough to really "get it" when it comes to the different elements of Christmas: Mary, Joseph, Jesus, presents, Santa, stockings, the Christmas tree, etc. Every night before she goes to bed she requests Christmas songs from the Children's Songbook so I sing them to her and then I hear her singing them to herself throughout the day. We've also been doing an advent calendar where you glue a cotton ball to Santa Claus' bare beard through December 24th. She's been really thrilled to do that every day and it's so sweet to see her getting excited about Christmas! I'm personally so excited for Christmas morning I can barely stand it :)
We had our Christmas program at church today and it was really fun because I got to play my flute! It was actually pretty fun. Believe it or not, I miss playing my flute on a more regular basis. I'm so grateful that my parents encouraged me to play and I'm grateful that I stuck with it. Musical training is something that is undervalued in our education system today and it's really too bad. I feel like my musical talents and training gave me a lot of confidence and a sense of identity as a youth. It was something I was really good at and I think children need to be given something to do that they can work hard and excel at.
Am I waxing philosophical today or what?
Meanwhile, my hubby is really enjoying his break from teaching seminary ;) And, he's really enjoying his job. It's so nice, as a wife, to watch your husband really truly enjoy his work. I'm so proud of him for having the courage to jump into a new career with both feet. His company took us (employees and spouses) out to a Brazilian Steakhouse for lunch last week and then to see The Hobbit the next night. Yes, he works with a bunch of nerds in a small company and it's awesome. None of these boring holiday work parties for us! I enjoyed myself at that work "party" more than I've ever enjoyed a work party, and I barely knew most of the people there. I guess that's saying something.
It's almost the end of the year ... wow, really? We are still working on getting Lydia's new room ready (talk about last minute??). She's moving to the old guest bedroom which has been cleared out and will hopefully be painted soon--by Ben, not me as I could paint about 2 inches before becoming too exhausted. Let me tell you, Ben is THRILLED at the prospect of painting the whole room by himself. Sense the sarcasm? Do you wonder why this project is taking so long? Look no further for your explanation ... I kid, I kid. Truthfully, between work and seminary he really hasn't had a whole lot of time for home projects. The plan is to purchase bunk beds for the girls, but only set one up for Lydia right now. Then we'll set the other one up in a couple of years when this new little lady is ready for a big girl bed. Of course, that time is VERY far off ... for now. Okay, I don't want to think about how fast the time is flying right now. Why do kids have to grow so fast? Lydia already speaks in complete sentences. If it wasn't for her little girl voice, she'd sound like an adult, or at least an older kid. It's crazy. I keep telling her she's not allowed to grow any more, but, you know how well that goes over.
I guess I should stop rambling and go hang out with my hubby. He keeps complaining that I'm "blogging" instead of spending time with him. I remind him that lately I've only been blogging on a monthly basis and so he really has no reason to complain ...
