The notes get fuzzy here. Even with time, the journaling got pushed aside. It’ll happen to the best of us.

While I was dialing work back and nesting, I was still moving at a pretty good clip for most of the time leading up to baby’s due date.

We didn’t talk about birth plans with others, and it was a challenging path to walk, but we trusted our doctor implicitly. As I understand it, with my age and the baby looking great, we were to set a date for induction for many reasons that made sense. Not because it was ‘convenient’ or better for the hospital. I think there’s a general misunderstanding between many moms-to-be and their providers that could be overcome with good communication. I had a great team that wanted to position my delivery and the baby for our best chance at success and I believe that. I could advocate for myself, ask questions, and gain clarity on the logic and process.

Funny enough from my home yoga studio I knew a doula, but she couldn’t go forward with me timing-wise. She referred me out to someone that ‘turned me down’. For real. An email that was like, we’re not a fit. At the time it felt like being dumped or worse, I was so hurt. After the fact (hindsight being what it is) thank goodness. We had our own angels with us.

For the rest of my pregnancy we:

nested so hard. Built furniture. Arranged and rearranged.
I threw a baby shower in Austin where I spoke to a room full of women and thanked them for their part in my life, and charged them with having a part in the baby’s. I was proud of that. Oh and we did that while hubby had covid. Thumbs-down emoji on that.
Took my mom and mom-in-law to a bonus ultrasound and scan. Since I’m old, the moms didn’t have our fancy tech when they had babies. Very cool to show them their future grandbaby. Highly recommend.
I worked. I ate pizza. I did yoga. I napped hard. I did my face and hair and took a million bump photos. I went out to the lake in a bikini. It kind of felt like doing both the most and the least possible to maximize these last new moments of time on my terms.
We had company. We did a maternity shoot. I flew to a client’s work conference. Flying pregnant was a delight. I flew to MI again too, and it’s just somehow so nice to be pregnant in very public places and see kindness all around you. People love life and the hope of new life don’t let them fool you.
I sat out in the sun. A ton. Walked barefoot to practice grounding.
We went on lots of dates as a couple.
We started a countdown. Loved updating the chalkboard every day. SO funny counting down to something you can’t imagine. Or understand. Soon a thing will happen. We do not know what it will be like, not at all. Yay!
A couple of our best friends welcomed their baby right before us. <3
More bump pics. Can’t stress this enough. You’d think I was an influencer. Or that I was going to post them, ever. I didn’t, not really.

I think it was about 3 days before, my bestie whom I’ve known since I was 17 flew in to help. Gave the cats love. Fed us, and helped around the house. Got us all packed up. Took the photos for us. The day before, walked me a full mile around the mall while my feet started PLUMPING up. And then it was time.