A $2 Bet

At the start of our pregnant journey I said something about my belly button eventually turning into an "outie." Andy said it wouldn't happen to me. "Yeah right!" So the $2 bet was on. The bet stands until delivery day, but at nearly 39 weeks of pregnancy it's still hard to say what happened... I think Andy will technically win because it's not a full outie. Which is incredible to me given how big and far my belly has stuck out this entire time. He seems to know or guess really well on the 50/50 stuff, like gender. So we'll see how his guess holds in one week (the 7th) which is when he thinks bebe will decide to come....a little earlier than her due date.

Other bets I would have lost if we gambled more? Stretch marks. So far I don't have a one, which again, amazes me given that my belly has tracked bigger than average at all appointments. I'll give kudos and thanks to Burt's Bees Mama Bee's Belly Balm and Palmer stretch lotion. Also, I've never been "sick" with morning sickness, never had weird cravings, and according to Andy no mood swings. Overall it's been a lovely pregnancy.

I never expected to have such intense heartburn though. One day I drank heartburn soothing tea, chomped on some Tums AND took a max. strength Zantac (recommended by Doc.), only to have heartburn STILL afflict me that day! I get carpal tunnel pains on my right wrist/hand, and a wrist stabilizer worn while sleeping has really helped. Edema of my feet is ridiculous no matter how much water I suck down. The wedding rings were replaced in Sept. by my Claddagh ring from Ireland, but now my hands wear no jewelry. I can't wait to deflate to a smaller size and hopefully get back to some old shoes at some point!

Of course I'll miss the parts of pregnancy most women do....the baby movements, connecting to new life, letting your belly hang out, indulging in foods you wouldn't normally allow, and I'll really miss Andy's regular contact to my stomach, the kisses and little talks to the belly (of course I can't wait to see him with little girl in person). But at some point we can cuddle on the couch together again!

Andy says he'll miss rubbing belly but he won't miss restless nights of sleep (oh yeah, those have been no picnic). He'll miss watching me grow and says it's been interesting. He agrees that the pregnancy has been good overall. We both won't miss cardboard boxes. What kind of side effect is that? Well, when we've ordered or received packages for all we need to supply for bebe, it generates a lot of boxes from the mail. Thank goodness for the recycling center!

The baby/guest room is a disaster. Or, an organized mess which I understand. We've been waiting on a changing table and crib for awhile and they finally came on the barge this week! We don't need a crib right now as that will be downstairs in her room, but for awhile we'll have her upstairs with us in a co-sleeper. But it's hard to put together a room when major pieces of furniture are missing. So that will be a big task for us this weekend, our last without child probably. As you can see, I just have stuff hanging out and waiting to be dealt with, like bedding and a mattress!

One thing I'd recommend to all mamas-to-be is to check with insurance coverage for prenatal massages and chiropractic adjustments. What an amazing difference it makes for comfort! But almost more importantly, these weekly appointments give me something to look forward, some anticipation for relief from general aches and pains. The mental benefits for looking forward to and then enjoying those appointments added so much to this journey and I rarely thought, "when will this ever end?" Self-care is big time important.
But it is time to move on and bring little girl into the world. Just let me get a haircut and see "Breaking Dawn" in the theater before that very soon day arrives! And I better find $2 to give my husband.

*Amy

Full Term

Hurray! 37 weeks and feeling good about this marking of time. We reached full term during a very snowy Sitka day. We are no means new to snow but given that all last winter we never laid eyes on a shovel and never scraped off our cars, this week of luscious, wet snow brings back familiar wintry tasks and feelings.

Watching Andy shovel (since I can't!), wearing warm gear and taking in the breath-taking snowy scenery makes this winter so far a really great one.  Love it today as the rain will come again and wash it all away.

This past week we had our third and final ultrasound with bebe--just to confirm her position, which IS head-down. What developments in seeing a defined spine, close-up of her mouth practicing breathing by gulping amniotic fluid in and out. Just as we were starting to see her eyes, she flung her hand over her head blocking the view. The technician said it was very dramatic and Andy quipped, "she must get that from her mother." I don't know what he's talking about!  Once again, the photos we took home are no where near as neat as what we saw in real time.

We started the parental-to-be tradition of childbirth classes and have to say so far they're pretty fun! Our instructor is an OB nurse here but a certified midwife in her native Australia. Pretty great lady. And we have 2 doulas-in training attending. Among five other pregnancies in class we've got the closest due date. 

I've been feeling slight movements by my pelvis. Our doc., instructor and the doulas noticed bebe's  slight descent south. The beginning of the end (of pregnancy)! Andy's getting antsy.

*Amy

Anchored in Anchorage

Last month I spent 15 days in Anchorage for work. Time flew by, it was really fun, and I accomplished a lot for the office and myself. Can't beat being in the city during AFN time when people from all over the state travel for the biggest Alaska Native gathering. The opportunity to see, bump into, and spend a little time with friends, acquaintances and "Alaska family" blew me away. I reconnected with so many! It was hard to miss home when you're always surrounded by people special to you.

I've been trying to create my first picture collage but it is an epic fail with major frustrations. I took photos of nearly everyone I got to see but it's just not working out to arrange those photos. So I'll include just a couple although it's a sad representation from what I hoped to post.

While running around Anchorage for work events, presentations and trainings, I also got back out to the Valley, down the Kenai Peninsula for a visiting blitz, and of course shopped for home and Guppy Gorn (and even supplies for Andy's next batch of home-brewed beer).

It was like a big chicken soup for the soul couple of weeks. From meeting two friends' babies, to hanging out with a Nome elder whom I used to meet for coffee up North, and even getting my mother-in-law  from the airport on a layover, it was just awesome.

Here's my amazing Anchorage work crew (well, a couple of former co-workers showed too). They didn't mean to surprise me but they did at a staff lunch that was meant to celebrate bebe and me!

Getting back to home and my husband was quite sweet as well. He even had the house cleaned for me!
*Amy

Fall Time

Early November and I finally got out to track down a deer. In all honesty, I was just as excited to set a skate line for some halibut and and to throw down some crab pots as I was to hunt a deer. My neighbor (Matt) and I put the Cajun Queen in the water and headed out in our quest for local dinner fare. First the skate line went down, then a couple of crab pots, and finally we rowed the dinghy to shore to hunt some deer.

Who would've guessed it as we happened across a fat buck after a short time on land. He was chubby as far as Sitka blacktail go. One 30-06 round, a high five with Matt, and a bit cleaning got us ready for a short haul to the beach and dinghy.

A quick row to the Sea Sport and it was time to check the crab pots. Unbelievable, success in the pots. Local Sitka surf and turf!

The day was more than a success. Maybe next time we'll complete the trifecta and scoop up a halibut on the skate line! Here's to hoping.