Comforts

The following things are bringing me peace in some small way during the last few weeks of this pregnancy. They are random, as are most things that a pregnant woman wants or needs no matter where she is in her gestation process. ;)

Exhibit A) Knitting

Shocking I know. It really is helping though. I'm currently working on making this simple (aka easy for preggo brained mama) sweater. It's a free pattern and really just a lot of garter stitch and then piecing together. I'm using Lion's Brand Jiffy in El Paso which is proving to be a really beautiful colorway. If this turns out well I think I'll make another in a purple or sage color. It's evidetntly important for this baby to be clothed in those colors a lot, judging by what we have in her wardrobe so far.



Exhibit B) Tacos

Every pregnant woman has cravings and food aversions. It's only natural. The first four months of this pregnancy were absolutely miserable for me thanks to morning sickness. The WORST morning sickness I've had out of all of my pregnancies and really when I was pregnant with Ben I thought I was dying because of the morning sickness I experienced. The bout of it this time made the first trimester with Ben seem like a spa treatment. So, when I was finally able to start eating and keep food down - well it was liberating. NOW, I'm at the end of the pregnancy and though I get hit with some very mild queasiness sometimes, I find myself starving almost 24/7 and I'm always, always hungry for Tacos. I don't know what it is. I'm not a huge fan of them when I'm not pregnant and I didn't have them at all when I was pregnant with either of the boys, but this time around, they are the go-to food. To the point that I have: put off taking a much needed nap to cook tacos; made my children an entirely different dinner so that there would be enough taco shells (soft only please) to satisfy my craving; stopped at the local mexican restaurant after an appointment with my midwife at 11am to get tacos; am looking forward to a trip to the same restaurant chain (just different location) this Friday more than the event that I'm going to before hand that should really be my priority. Some people might say it's a problem...I'm not one of them and neither is my midwife so who cares? I'm getting plenty of protein and I'm not eating processed food. I'm not stopping at Taco Bell people, I either make my own or go here. And I recommend you do the same! Their burritos rock my world also!



Exhibit C) Ice Cubes - Copious amounts of Ice Cubes.


For about a month now I've had this need to chew ice cubes. I have no idea why, I don't know if it's a sign of some illness or underlying nutritional deficiency or proof that I really am losing it. All I know is that it satisfies some odd urge and makes me happy. I can also gurantee that Tim will be out on the porch when I go into labor breaking up ice cubes into smaller pieces that I can crunch happily while getting through contractions.




Exhibit D) Mrs. Meyers Clean Day - Lemon Verbena to be specific

I blame this obsession entirely on my midwife and have told her so. She had the handsoap at the birth center a few months ago when I went to visit and I fell in love. They smell SOOOO freaking good I cannot describe them to anywhere near their true worth. Also, they make a million other products such as dishsoap, multi-purpose cleaner and laundry detergent. After raving about them at said appointment one of my midwives informed me that you can buy them at Target. Godddddammmnn!!! That's far too accesible for me and our bank account. So, on my way home I stopped at the Target near the birth center and bought the dish soap and the hand soap. One in Lavender and one in Lemon Verbena. Since that first purchase, a Target has opened just 5 minutes from our home and we have visited it frequently for many things other than Mrs. Meyers but I end up buying at least one of her products every time we go. The smell of the Lemon Verbena is just beyond comforting to me - I can't figure out why but it's easily my favorite smell in the world right now and I wish that I could infuse it into my entire home some way. Oh, and maybe most importantly it has replaced the need to scrub the sink, tub and other surfaces with Commet. The products are made with essential oils and are Phosphate free so that alone makes it safer than Commet. All of their products also come in other scents like Geranium, Basil and Sweet Pea. Also - while looking up the website to link to it I discovered that they sell baby products online. SHIT!!!! This is NOT good information for me to have. Hmm, wonder if they would donate to a mom about to have a new baby so that she could write about the products on her blog....



Exhibit E) Sleeping Baby Productions Ring Slings

I cannot rave about these Ring Slings enough!!! I first found Jan's site when I was pregnant with Nate (almost four years ago now, yipes!) . My sister in law and I were pregnant together and I was curious about slings and babywearing. My SIL sent me a link to a great section of Jan's site where you can use her patterns to make your own slings. I fell in love with Jan's work and her site and how friendly and accesible things were. I didn't end up buying a sling from her then for financial reasons but wish now that I had. In any case, fast foward a bit and I attend my first La Leche League meeting and after a few more meetings I meet Jan - THE JAN from Jan Andrea On The Web and I'm totally flabergasted that this amazing lady actually lives in my community!
Since that time I've bought four of her slings and two of them expressly for this baby. The latest one came today and is beautiful beyond description and ohhh so comfy. I will post a picture of it when I have a camera that works again (I broke ours accidently on Friday and am awaitng a replacement). I put the sling on tonight and tried in vain to get Nate to let me wear him. He's accutely aware that he's 3 now and does not want to be worn in anything unless he's really feeling the sleepies. I WILL get him in it though at some point, or one of his babies because I don't think I can handle having it in my house, not being worn for another 2-4 weeks when this baby might arrive. It feels like an insult to the sling itself and Jan to just let it hang in the mudroom awaiting use. Anyway, if you are pregnant or have a friend, sister, co-worker who is PLEASE visit Jan's site and purchase a sling for yourself or said person. Her slings are the most comfortable around and her prices are unbeatable. The only negative thing I can think to say is that she has so many fabric choices for the sling and tail accents that you may have a hard time deciding what to buy. :-)