36 Weeks

As of today we are 36 weeks along! This means that even if I go into labor tomorrow we will (hopefully) be able to have the baby at home, as planned. The midwife and doula came yesterday for our home visit which made this whole thing really...real. As if the pressure on my pelvis or the fact that baby has been head down for the past month doesn't make it real enough. We took a tour of the apartment, discussed supplies, back up plan if for some reason the midwife doesn't make it in time (highly unlikely), birth tub, food, exercises, breastfeeding, and tons and tons of information overload concerning the birth and first few days afterward. I'm so thankful Justin has been able to be at all of the midwife appointments because his mind is like a steel trap when it comes to remembering her advice and instructions whereas mine is...uh, not so present all the time. It's all a blur of information about contractions and stages and relaxation techniques and lists. I feel confident that we've prepared enough that it's all absorbed somewhere in my psyche and beyond that I have the support of people I love and trust and who will be there to support me when the time comes. Baby is measuring right on schedule, great heartrate, my blood pressure is low (has been throughout the pregnancy...I thank my mama's genes and my lack of stress for that), tons of amniotic fluid...everything is good!

The nursery/guest room is rapidly evolving and I promise pictures as soon as I finish redoing the dresser/changing table. I've washed baby clothes up to size 3-6 months; I think all we may need are a couple of newborn outfits...he's not measuring particularly big so hopefully they won't go to waste. The crib now has a mattress with freshly washed mattress cover and sheet, all covered with plush blankets to protect the sheet from Silas hair.

Tangent: That cat sheds so much. It gets EVERYWHERE and is making me seriously considering investing in a Furminator. I've always wanted one because I thought Lucy would enjoy it, but now I want one so I can attempt to get some control over Silas's shedding. To look at Silas and Lucy you would never think the little short haired cat (we think he's always going to be small) would have more of a shedding problem than the big long haired fuzz ball, but there you have it. Any Lucy hair that doesn't end up on her brush can be found in big, easily vacuumed clumps on the bedroom floors each morning after a night of Kitty Death Matches, whereas Silas' finds its way into every nook, shelf, shirt, nasal cavity...ick. Just one more way in which she is my perfect child and he is the bane of my existence.

Fabric for a crib skirt has been ordered and I think all we're really missing is a changing pad and a couple of other baby/nursing accessories I'm not really worrying about...it's not like the store won't be there after the baby is born. It's exciting watching it all come together, knowing it means he'll be here soon.

I think we've (finally) found a church....Treasure Coast PCA in Stuart. Despite our theological differences it just felt like...home, right away, the same feeling I had at Grace Harbor. It's a small congregation with lots of young couples and young families that meets in a pretty informal building, everyone was super friendly and welcoming, the music was great, lots of outreach opportunities, small groups emphasis, etc. We went out to lunch afterwards with a few people and I instantly felt such...relief. It's not perfect, I think the Presbyterian doctrine (which they don't hide or try to gloss over, which I appreciate) will keep us from ever becoming members, but we've been clear with them about what we believe, and they've been the same with us and I think...it would be a shame to sacrifice the fellowship, worship and outreach opportunities for a few doctrinal differences that can only serve to help us grow in our faith and challenge what we believe. Especially since we'll only be here a couple of years. When we told the pastor that we come from a Wesleyan background and had concerns over our theological differences with the Presbyterian church he asked if we were familiar with George Whitefield, a Calvinist contemporary of John Wesley. The pastor told us how after Whitefield and Wesley had separated due to doctrinal differences someone asked him if he expected to see John Wesley in heaven. He replied, "No," and continued, "John Wesley will be so close to the Throne of Glory, and I will be so far away, I will hardly get a glimpse of him." That was a sweet way of putting us at ease, as well as reminding us that these differences don't really matter in the end, as long as our faith is true and sincere.

Stay tuned, pictures to come.