So today is the “official” due date but our son seems pretty snug in there for awhile. So until further notice, in answer to your question HAVE YOU HAD THAT KID YET? answer.
I’m going about life as normally as possible for someone with a squashed bladder, and planning without commitment to easy social and business outings to keep my mind off the anxiety of waiting. The overnight bag is packed, the diapers are ready to be filled, and we have everything as ready as possible… today I am looking forward to getting lunch at my new favorite thai restaurant around the corner, having tea with some other Portland business owners, and possibly doing in some final maternity self-portraits at the studio.
Here are a couple of links that I’ve recently enjoyed:
Pregnancy Etiquette: Things You Should Never Say to a Pregnant Woman agreed
I’m generally a social over-sharer, so I don’t mind giving people personal information within reason. BUT: I have been appalled by the autopilot questions people ask a pregnant woman, often in a social situation that makes it extra uncomfortable not to answer — “was this planned?” “were you guys trying for long?” are among the worst offenders, and people don’t think twice about asking that (REALLY?).
I think this one is specific to me, but I also get really annoyed when strangers and acquaintances ask what we’re going to name our son (we’re keeping it secret). I’m fine with friends asking this question as it can be relevant to other baby conversation, but when the Macy’s saleslady fired it off in a series of five other logistic questions I just wanted to punch her in the face. I don’t care to explain my choices to her because she’s bored on the sales floor, I just wanted to browse their nursing tank tops in silence.
While we’re on the topic of pregnancy etiquette, let’s talk about people who have had kids. I understand that many of the choices we’re making may seem naïve and we’ll probably learn the hard way on some things (ok, we’re probably not going to be able to get away with a plastic-free home…) but don’t you dare roll your eyes at me when YOU ASK and I tell you we’re at a birth center with midwives not doctors, and are choosing a more natural birth plan. The typical response is “good luck with that honey.” It’s basically exactly like the women share in this post: People’s Reactions to Natural Birth.
I’m notorious for being a little bit late to just about everything.
My friend Arnold Santos once named it “time optimism” – which means that I always think I can get [a lot more done than realistically possible] in a short amount of time, AND I also act in ways that suggest my commute to whatever location will be hassle-free and devoid of traffic. Sound familiar?
Awhile back I was given the suggestion to “just put on your shoes” (source: Marla Cilley via hp) — when you’re dragging your feet on getting ready or just keep procrastinating leaving the house, the small act of putting on your shoes is committing yourself psychologically to the reality of the situation. This works if you’re supposed to be headed out to the gym, or a social event, or a business meeting. Something about suiting up with the right shoes for the task is enough subtle trigger to get the rest of you going.
I have some other tricks I have used since I was young, like putting together my gear bag and picking out the clothes I will want – the night before. As a non-morning adult, if I have a meeting before my preferred rise-and-shine time (10am is about the earliest I can preferentially be clean and hold a decent conversation) I sometimes put out everything from socks to scarf for the next day’s activity. Limiting morning fashion decisions for my not-yet-functioning brain is a smart choice all around.
Here’s some smart advice from Gretchin Rubin of The Happiness Project. I think she’s the source of the “put on your shoes” trick, too.
Today I have been toying with the idea of taking one day every week to get to Kitchen Zero. To me this means one glorious moment every week when:
dishes are all washed and put away
compost, recycling and garbage all emptied
surfaces cleared and disinfected
floors are swept
food, dishes and pots tidied
I have been in a low energy state for the past several months, and as my pregnancy advances find it progressively more difficult to bend, clean, and keep up with chores. Our house is small enough that losing even one corner to clutter has a big cumulative effect. I think a small weekly goal like this will be enough to keep the energy up and the house a little bit nicer.
How often do you disinfect your counters? Take out the recycling?
We’ve been out and about around the world traveling for the past couple of weeks. We spent 10 days in Jamaica to attend and photograph Crystal and Andreas’ wedding in Montego Bay. We also extended that trip so we could celebrate our wedding anniversary a bit early. Then, we found out that tickets to see my family in Texas on Christmas were going to cost almost $2,000 – and made a last minute shift to celebrate holiday visits two weeks early; we spent this past weekend in Austin and Dallas visiting Granny O and the crew.
With one day between Jamaica and Texas, I managed to get through laundry and a few other things but my plans were derailed when we realized that we couldn’t find the car key. We’re still looking for it.
We can use the car with the backup valet key, but my GPS is locked in the glove compartment and not accessible with said valet key. And it turns out I can’t get anywhere new in my own city without my GPS. Booo!
Then that afternoon when I went to the grocery store to get some things for dinner, I hit a curb and got a flat tire. So yeah, a little bit of car drama. FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS!
I’m looking forward to editing a few final shoots for 2011 this week, spending a second christmas eve alone with my husband (secret yay!) and then spending some time with Ali’s family in California before New Years.
I’ve been reading some pretty interesting articles about simplicity, finances, and holiday prep. To find out more, check out my blog post at 143637.com.
So, I’m pregnant. Fully entered into the second trimester, this is supposed to be the time that I feel the best. No more morning sickness, starting-to-show but not-gigantic belly, and all the joy and anticipation of planning a total life change.
The thing is, I am slow and tired. It takes me so long to leave the house every day I am often late to appointments. I realized on the way to a Feldenkrais session this week that I am grieving the loss of my abilities to multitask. Now, 2010 was my sabbatical year and I made my main goal to “unitask” — I’m actually not in favor of multitasking as a general principal. But I am talking about things like eating breakfast and checking twitter on my ipod. Two simple tasks that don’t usually require specific attention. The thing is, I can’t even do that anymore. When I eat breakfast, I have to sit down at the table and focus all of my energy on getting the food into my mouth. It’s the strangest thing.
And, I have to eat. ALL THE TIME. My acupuncturist (Yes, I have one. No they are not evil, mumsy.), Bridgit actually wrote me a “prescription” to eat whole grains and organic fruits and veggies every two hours.
And that’s how it is. If I don’t eat pretty much any time I notice I am hungry, my entire body slows down EVEN MORE and it takes me eight times as long to do something and I start dropping things.
Yikes! It’s like I am your cell phone whose battery suddenly decides that you need to charge it three times every day just to ensure you have juice when you need to make a call.
“In this world, somehow, an ordinary life has become synonymous with a meaningless life. And so often we are missing what is truly important because we’re on the quest for what is extraordinary… not understanding that in our ordinary lives, in the ordinary moments of our lives, is really where we can find the most joy.”
~ Brene Brown
This post over at simple marriage spoke to me today. I guess I needed to be reminded to connect with and grow out of the deepness of my heart. Sometimes I forget.
I can’t forget to acknowledge Granny O’s birthday email to me! She and I count our birthdays together, a tradition we started when we turned 100 several years ago. She’s a fantastic writer, and boxfulls of her letters have seen me through all stages of my life.
Don your party hat and dance in celebration. Don’t waste a minute for we are now 106 and will soon be 107. I will dance a jig around the breakfast table for you and have croissants in your honor! Love, GO
“Do you ever get lost or confused in shopping centers? Well, they’re designed to confuse and disorient. They don’t want you to know what’s round the corner but constantly to surprise you. Straight lines allow you to find what you’re looking for too easily. Instead, you’re forced to walk past as many displays as possible to increase the chances of an extra purchase. This is based on the Gruen Transfer, named after Victor Gruen who opened the first enclosed shopping mall in the US in 1956. It is the moment when a shopper enters a trance-like daze and is then much more likely to make an unplanned purchase. Shopping centers are designed to bring on the Gruen Transfer as quickly as possible.”
- Neal Lawson, in All Consuming
"the world is wide open, and we're wandering through it."
Welcome to my little life blog! I write sporadically here about things that interest me - debt reduction, Portland, and the wild adventure of discovering lovely things right here in front of my face.
