Scissorina

Here we are at the end of week 34.  :-)

Well, I am certainly feeling pregnant!  The little dude moves around a lot despite his increasingly cramped quarters.  He seems particularly fond of camping out behind my ribs.  At least that’s what it feels like he’s doing!

If you want to know the truth – and this is going to sound nuts – as uncomfortable as I am getting and as excited as I am to meet this guy, I can’t help but feel like I am going to miss this!  I’ve gotten used to feeling him breakdance in there and I enjoy those quiet times when I lay down and it’s just him and I…. and I talk or sing to him.  I know there is amazingness on the horizon when all this can be done ex-utero!  But, I do love having him this close to me – safe and warm.

Lucky may be a strong word.  

All those pesky third trimester symptoms that I thought maybe I was lucky enough to avoid seemed to show up this week.  I suddenly got reeeeeeally uncomfortable, my emotions have been all over the dang place and sleep is now as elusive as a double rainbow.

But, as always… something came along to lift my spirits and get me back on a positive track.  This week it was a big something!  My amazing sisters and Mom organized the most ridiculously adorable, love filled baby shower on Earth – in honor of our itty bitty buddy.

I’ll link to some photos once I get my hands on them (I was having way too much fun to snap pictures myself!).  The entire soiree was woodland themed – just like the nursery! – and included games called “Oops, My Water Broke!”, “Pin the Handmade Diaper on Baby Kam’s Butt” and “Build a Baby Kam”.  Again… photos are really necessary.  The whole party was amazing and it was such a treat to hang out with all the girls (including my bestie Danielle and my beloved Great Aunt Nan who flew in from Long Island!) for the afternoon.  I feel so so so lucky to have all these incredible people in my life – and it melts all my insides to know that our little guy is arriving to the world already loved so dearly.

See?  Frown turned upside down.  Not that I’m less uncomfortable or sleeping any better…. but it’s hard to stay down with a weekend like that.

About 6 weeks to go!

Okay, y’all.  We are getting there!

Eight weeks to go!  We have a few weeks off before our last classes we’re taking (breastfeeding, infant cpr and all that good stuff), so we’re taking this time to put the finishing touches on the nursery – and I’m taking this opportunity to indulge in a little preggo R&R.  I treated myself to a massage this weekend and a haircut to boot!  My friend Lauren is an amazing stylist and helped tame my crazy mane back into shape.  (In the ATX and looking for a fantastic experience?  See my girl Lauren at Paloma.  Do it!)

In crafty news, Steve and I are collaborating on a homemade ottoman, I’m trying out a DIY baby carrier idea, Steve is refinishing a rocking chair and I’m knitting another sweater (for next Winter…. hee hee.  It will be a while before it’s sweater weather again!)  Hoping to have some goodies to post here later in the week.

Overall, I’m still feeling good – although, I have to admit that I’m starting to get a little less comfortable…  I find I have to take more breaks than I used to.  A little frustrating at times for someone who is used to constantly moving and doing something.  Guess this is Mother Nature’s way of making me slow down and take care of myself!  :-)

Developments this week:

- My body really wants to waddle all of the sudden.  It’s taking a lot of effort to walk like a normal human being.  I seem to be intent on walking like a duck instead.

- Sleeping isn’t too much worse… but it’s getting harder to get in and out of bed!

- We took a baby care class and I learned that SteveKam rocks at swaddling and sucks at changing diapers.  Hehe.

- The nursery is soooooo close to being finished.  Working on a couple last pieces of furniture we are making/refinishing and then it’s just the last touches!  Hoping to have it ready by the time my Mom visits in another week.

Ouch.

This week…. this week blew.  It was tough and emotional.  It was hard to watch events unfold in Boston from so far away.  It’s a city I’ve spent a lot of time in over the years… a city where I have a ton of family and friends living.  To see one of my favorite places in the world attacked was heartbreaking.

But, as always, you can see the bright spots if you only look for them.  Boston is full of heroic, caring people and they showed their stripes this week.  As terrible as it was to watch Monday unfold, you did not have to wait long to hear the stories of bravery and selflessness that remind us how resilient we are.

So, with that… I thought of ignoring this week’s happenings in our bump photo… but screw that.  It happened.  I’m wearing my well traveled Sox hat with pride.  I’m wishing I was home to give some peeps I love some great big hugs – this is as close as I’ll get this week.

Okay – super busy, exciting week around here, people!

My youngest sister got engaged to her longtime sweetheart.  We are so excited for Caitlin and James, we can hardly contain ourselves around here.  :-)

SteveKam returned home Monday night and I was beyond relieved to see him.  We had a mellow Tuesday and then spent Wednesday night downtown watching my sisters Caitlin and Mary perform their recital for an improv class they just finished.  (Really – Caitlin could do this for a living.  Some of her characters had me rolling.  At the very least, this girl could write some killer comedy skits!  Are you listening, SNL?)  Was very proud of them both – the guts it takes to get on stage in front of a big room full of people?  More than I’ve got!  They did a great job and it was super fun to spend a night doing nothing but laughing.  :-)

Thursday night, we caught Jurassic Park before it headed back out of theaters.  It was glorious.  That movie is a McNally family classic, to which all 4 of us daughters know every single word.  In 3D?  And IMAX?  Yeah.  It was pretty super.  We’re wondering what the baby heard in there…  If he comes out with an innate and unreasonable fear of being hunted by velociraptors, I guess we’ll know why.  Or maybe he’ll become a paleontologist.  Time will tell!

With SteveKam home, we attended the second half of our childbirth class together and it was great.  I am feeling so positive about our choice of doula after being with her in class for a couple of Saturdays.  She’s a really great person and I have a lot of confidence in her experience and knowledge.  :-)  I’m also starting to feel really upbeat (although admittedly nervous at times!) about the birth.  I think it’s going to be really important for me to maintain a positive attitude and to make time for myself to get – and stay! – centered in the next couple of months.  Yoga needs to come back into my life on a regular basis.  No more excuses!  I’ve been walking every day and started to track my protein to be sure I’m getting plenty as we head into this last stretch.

Working on a couple of blankets for friends whose babies are either just arrived or on their way (yay!)…. as well as knitting a little hat for our guy.  I’ll have some crafty updates to share soon!