Cold Spaghetti

Paul and I have been participating in a community, parent-lead effort to start a Reggio-Emilia inspired preschool in Uptown New Orleans. The dream is about to be reality; by the time we get back to the city with Kate, Will should be able to start at his new school.

Today, the school policies, procedures, and release forms arrived. The Abeona House release has to be the coolest, most positive child-related document I’ve ever seen.

THE ABEONA RELEASE

I release my child, ___, into the care of the loving staff of the Abeona House Child Discovery Center.

I am fully aware that my child will participate in the following:
– Making mud pies
– Dancing wildly
– Looking for and playing with bugs
– Eating sugary birthday cupcakes
– Laughing hysterically
– Thinking deeply
– Getting wet
– Making friends
– Playing with glue, paint, clay, plaster, and wood
– Building with sticks, toothpicks, shoeboxes
– Getting new hairdos (sans scissors)
– Stretching…mind, body, and ever-beautiful spirit

In essence, participating whole-heartedly in CHILDHOOD.

I have read the Abeona House policies and procedures outlined in the general information guide and fully comply with them.

Signed: (Will’s very happy parents who wish they too, could enroll)

Food, usually something I find exciting, has been anything but for the past few weeks. Everything tastes bland, nothing strikes me as interesting, and I have had no preferences (a very rare occurance). But today things got a little interesting. I had a Commander’s Palace lunch today ($7 at the Farmer’s Market and placed in my hands by Chef Tory himself — bargain!) It was a dirty rice and BBQ chicken with some kind of super-deluxe-special marinade that can only come from a 5-star world-class place like CP. Normally I don’t eat meat at all and the few times I have had meat, chicken is not what I usually chose. But it was the first food I’ve been even remotely interested in for the past few weeks and I’m really happy I did. If we had more time this week, I’d be gunning for Paul to take me someplace awesome (like Bayona!) It’s good to know that I can still perk up to good NOLA eats.

Today is 36 weeks and 3 days. My body is definitely showing signs of labor preparation.

– Energy. I’m tired. Exhausted, really. Completely and totally wiped out. (And a bit cranky.)
– Kate’s Position. I think she’s dropped. There is a ton of pressure in my pelvis and a few times a day I wonder if she’s going to stick a hand out of my butt to wave to the world.
– Heartburn. Still some heartburn, particularly in the evening.
– Cramps. Fairly frequent, but very irregular Braxton-Hicks. (I’m really surprised that these bother folks so much. I find them very mild and go away quickly with a little bit of movement.)
– Food. All food seems bland and un-interesting.
– Mood. Tired, overwhelmed, mildly excited about meeting the baby but hoping that she’ll wait until Paul gets more stuff done around the house!

On Sunday, Andrea and Leigh Ann, two of my friends from our PhD cohort, held a baby shower for Baby Kate and I! Eva, Hongyun, and Gina rounded out our department and were joined by my Mom, Aunt Sandy (long-time family friend) and Will. Andrea and Leigh Ann decorated Andrea’s apartment with baby clothes that included my Mom’s christening gown (which I also wore), a baby sundress of mine, and one of Will’s newborn jumpers. We decorated onesies and socks with fabric paints (fun!), opened generous presents filled with beautiful baby girl clothes and accessories, ate strawberry shortcake, and enjoyed Will’s entertainment. (Baby Kate also brought him presents, compliments of Aunt Sandy and my Mom!) It was wonderful fun and we are now very well stocked in baby clothes for Kate — hooray! (photos below compliments of Hongyun!)

I’m preparing my birthing supplies and need some help.

— Anyone have suggestions for good music to labor by? I’m not sure what my mood will be. We’re trying to prepare a number of CDs of different types. What artists/albums/songs would you choose/suggest?

— After some rest following delivery, I must eat a “reward meal” before leaving the birth center. Anything I want, provided that either we bring it to heat up there or can get it at one of the many restaurant choices. Lately, food has been bland and dull to me and I can’t get excited about anything, so I am at a loss. What would you choose/suggest?

Please help us figure out when Kate is coming! We’ve started a “Baby Pool” — one that doesn’t require you to give your email address, etc. Just go to the link below, register your guesses, and you’re done!

http://bebepool.com/babykate

Impressive? OH YEAH.

My happy guys — happy because Mommy made them BLACK MOONS! Yummy!

Look Mom! All done!

When will Kate be born?? We need some input.

Our tools:
– I am exactly 35 weeks and 6 days today (Friday, April 7th).
– I am 40 weeks on Saturday May 6th (my technical “due” date).
– In our family, birthdays tend to repeat. My Mom’s birthday is April 29th. Paul’s is May 5th.
– Pregnancy is considered “term” after the 38th week. Anytime from week 37 and week 43 is game for my delivery. And yes, as long as baby and I are fine, my provider would be okay with me delivering as much as 3 weeks after my “due” date.
– Unless I go into labor before a week from tomorrow (April 15th), I will be a VBAC birth delivering in a birth center with a midwife. Birth will start naturally with minimal intervention (and as a VBAC, I cannot be given drugs to induce labor due to risks to the uterus).

Who can help us out here? We have a ton of projects and things to do before she comes, so it would be great to have some thoughtful input. What is your guess for Kate’s birthday?? (We’re contemplating a prize for this one — so post a guess in comments!!)