almost 35 weeks...

...and the chances of ray ray surviving if born at this point are 99 percent. yahooey. physically, i feel like i'm entering into the final stretch, no pun intended. i can't imagine growing anymore but have friends who've gained 10 pounds in the last month so who knows. i'm uncomfortable a majority of the day and yes, i have cankles. uugh. clothing options are at a minimum, so forgive me for wearing the same pants 3 days a week. ray ray is doing just fine. kicking pretty often and on track for growth. i think we see dr a every week from here on out. craazy. in 2 weeks he'll be considered full term. we're betting on him coming late, seeing as i made up whenever my lmp was and we're only going by what the early ultrasounds gave as gestational time.

...i've been pretty gung ho on the epidural but watched a video this week of a woman giving birth on painkillers. she didn't have the same participation that i'd imagined for myself. maybe this is just prenatal madness but i'm toeing the line w/ natural childbirth and/or going as far as i possibly can without taking the meds. jala was taken aback by my newfound acceptance of pain. we're going to use a code word so when i ask for the epidural in labor, i really mean it.

...met w/ our doula. she rocks. seems pretty laid back and supportive of whatever kind of birthing experience we want to have. my fave part of having a doula (besides the support) is that she rights a birth narrative after its over. i just like that we can call it "a birth story - by xena, princess doula."



...the babymoon was awesome. a much needed respite from the anxieties of having a kid. home is a constant reminder of our things to do list and it was loverly to just chill out for a couple days. the rain was incessant but no matter. we watched the ocean from each room of the cottage, painted, played scrabble and jala made the yummiest ribs. can't wait to go back, though next time the family will be a little bigger.