Pregnant Farmer Doing Construction!

I love power tools!

4 days!

Still no baby, for those of you who may have been wondering. I have gotten a little cold. I've heard cold or flu symptoms sometimes come on before labor, but I'm probably just a little sick. =)

Amy, one of the farm employees, finished her time with us on Friday. We'll miss her, she was a lot of fun and a great asset on the farm! And then there were three on the farm: Aby and me, and Adam. I will cut back hours quite a bit next week which should feel amazing. Then even if I go a week or more late, I'll be resting more and working less, which is good. But I'll still be active, outdoors, and around people, which I prefer to being home alone nonstop while waiting for the big day to announce itself. I'll keep y'all posted!

9 days!

I can't believe the countdown says 9 days! I remember when it was 100, and I thought that was so little! This is insane. But when?! When will the baby actually come? It wasn't on the full moon like we thought it might be. Tonight? Doubt it. 2 weeks after the due date (I hope not!)? On Halloween? That is what one of the ultrasound technicians said but I didn't buy that. Although a Halloween baby would be fun. I don't think you usually have the baby on your predicted due date (Nov. 4th). Only time will tell....

Can I survive work up until the bitter end? I think so... but it's seeming harder all the time, even when I'm taking it easy. I'm so short of breath and tire easily. And the pubic symphysis pain is really over the top. But still, I don't want to use up maternity time pre-baby. Especially if I were to take off a week before the due date or something, and then go late, I would lose so much time with the baby after. I think I can! I think I can!

Boo! Hiss!

Another less than ideal benefits meeting at work. Time off benefits will be reduced in the next 2 years. And if I go part-time, as I was planning, I may have no holidays off. Even in winter, when a farmer doesn't have quite as much to do on Christmas day as they may during the growing season. But I may still have to go in, or take off and not get paid. Hmmm....

I'm so overwhelmed by all the changes that are going to happen. New baby, change to part-time status, changes in benefits that my employer is enacting. Again, may I say, it is not easy to decide what to do when you're starting a family. Gerard and I both have been working full-time, yet we understand the importance of being with and breastfeeding baby in the early months/years! and want to experience that and enjoy it fully. How to balance these financial needs with new family needs?

And what's the deal with the U.S. apparently being totally behind the times when it comes to paid maternity/paternity leave when compared with industrialized (and some non-industrialized) countries worldwide, in regards to both pay, and duration of time off? A 2010 NPR factoid states that the U.S. is the only industrialized nation that doesn't offer paid leave for parents of newborns, which can lead many new parents into poverty or cause many women to quit their jobs. See other links below.

www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parental_leave
http://20somethingfinance.com/american-paternity-maternity-leave/

Guesstimates

Most people have been saying we're having a boy, based on how I carry, dreams they've had, or just how they feel or what they want.

And a lot of people have been saying my baby will be small b/c I've remained so small. But I still thought I'd have a good 8 pounder or so. I don't know why. Just thought I'd grow a big baby.

Today the midwife gave a guess based on feel... and she said she thought the babe might be 5.5 or 6 lbs! Ha!! That's so tiny! She said it'd be a little bigger by birth, but I've heard that babies don't grow that much more in the last few weeks. I'm not sure I'm really feeling her guesstimate, even though it could make labor easier. That just seems so small!

The other option is that I'm just really good at hiding a bigger baby, which is what I've been thinking. But who knows?! Speculating is fun. Had I gone with my gut, no outside influences, I would have said I thought it was going to be a girl (I think?!), around 8 lbs. and born before my due date. I just asked Gerard. He says boy, 7 lbs., and early as well. We'll keep you posted. =)

Hump Day's Always a Good Day

For those of you who don't know, Wednesday is called hump day b/c you've gotten over the hump of the workweek. You're now more than 1/2 way done! Always a good day in my book.

I wasn't so "down in the dumps" today... and I'll tell you a lot of it has to do with my attitude/mindset, but also how I've slept and the weather. Both were good, last night and today.

Excited to go to my prenatal. And hoping the Phils pull it off tonight, as they weren't able to last night!

False Alarm

I thought I might be going into labor last night; got kind of excited even though I knew it was possibly probably a false alarm. Just some silly abdominal pains or something. Or more painful Braxton Hicks. Tired today, not that thrilled with the world, especially with the dismal weather. I feel like no one understands where I'm coming from/how I feel these days. I just need to stay positive... enjoy my time with Gerard pre-baby, be patient.

We're meeting with pediatrician today... the Birth Center wants you to set up a relationship with a ped prior to having the baby. We'll see how that goes.

Arghh... at the very least I hope the Phils win tonight. That would help. =)

Rainy Cherry Happy

This morning the baby and I weren't really that excited about the rain.

It started out to be such a nice morning, clear, sunny, cool.

It just felt like the rain put a damper on things.

.

But in the afternoon, for some reason, we changed our minds.

It felt like an adventure to go out in my green rainsuit and boots.

And I remembered lots of great rainy walks in the woods

with my mom and brother growing up.

I asked the baby if he/she liked doing what we were doing.

I think it was an affirmative.

.

We were pulling out old tomatillo and cherry tomato plants from the U-Pick.

Even though they're past their prime, there was still good snackin' on the cherries.

And the colors of the Sungolds are just so vibrant,

especially in the rain, things are more vivid.

Amy wasn't as keen on the cold wet afternoon.

But I still had a good time, working quietly at times.

And chatting and laughing with Amy and Aby at times.

I love what I do, even when it's crappy out and I hate it.

And I love my co-workers.

.

And my most of all, I love my little cherry tomato.

Dinner with the Pregnant Farmer

Tonight Gerard is away, so I'm trying to make something healthy-ish for myself (haven't been inspired to cook much on my own lately, or eat much in the way of veggies).

I have created my own dish (barefoot by the way):

Eggplant and green tomatoes in stewed tomatoes with pine nuts and some spices, over some homefries. Side salad of lettuce mix and Asian greens. Pretty healthy, with a lot of farm fresh veggies. Will probably definitely do ice cream with some of the chocolate chip cookies we baked on Sunday too though. No regrets.

Now, I'll put my feet up and watch some "Skins."

Migrant Mother

Still having problems finding photographs/accounts of pregnant farm women. Especially uplifting ones.

These photos (by Dorthea Lange) are from Mar. 1936, at a pea pickers camp in CA. Failed pea crop that year... they were eating frozen vegetables from the field and birds the kids kiilled. Migrant mom, Florence Owens Thompson, age 32, with 7 hungry children.

Feeling lucky to have all that I have. Although this was a long long time ago, many migrant farmers/farm workers and their familes in this country and worldwide are hungry, sick, mistreated, underpaid, etc. I feel blessed that my husband and I are both educated, have job security, good quality of life, and can provide for our new baby. Sometimes I think it's going to be too hard financially, etc. but it's all relative. Gotta keep things in perspective.

Still Head Down!

Another appointment today... our sweet munchkin is still in the right position! So proud of that little one.

.

Sun came out today... that was also really nice. Beautiful day.

Ouch

http://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/ask-heidi/pelvic-pain.aspx


Talk about a world of hurt. I learned about symphysis pubic disfunction a while back, and have been experiencing symptoms, but they're getting worse. Definitely can't put pants on standing up, roll over in bed, etc. I have to try the exercises the chiro showed me.

Was also getting more sciatic pain at work Friday, really sharp pains down my right side and they got so bad at home. Not even walking, just sitting, my leg was just cramping up so bad.

I never knew how physically challenging being pregnant was. Pregnant women deserve a lot of credit, and support. This doesn't mean they have to be babied 24/7, but they deserve a lot of credit and compassion. And babying when needed. =) When I first got pregnant, some people wanted to do everything for me... it made me feel silly, because I was still me, I wasn't sick or hurt. I think it is great how strong I've remained and how much I can still do physically. Pregnant women shouldn't feel like they have to stop doing everything they're used to doing. Just be aware that things will change, often drastically, especially as the pregnancy progresses.

The list of symptoms during pregnancy is endless. Sciatic pain, back pain, swelling, foot pain, hemmoroids, heartburn, fatigue, shortness of breath, constipation, frequent urination, headaches, insomnia, etc. And these are relatively common, not the exception. By the end of the pregnancy, you are circulating 50% more blood through your system. This has a pretty significant effect on the body. Not to mention your hormones are out of control. I feel lucky to have remained smaller, and in shape, but am still experiencing many of these symptoms. I think a lot of people just think you get morning sickness in the first trimester, and then it's all good. Being pregnant is really really hard. HUGE, AMAZING THINGS are happening to, and changing your body. I don't mean to complain, just want to share. Because I was pretty naive about it prior to having gone through it.


Anyway, I still need to take it back a notch at work I think. I have heard, and am starting to realize, how much more difficult this last month can be. Ay dios mio.

On a lighter note, Gerard and I went on a date in the city last night. Celebrating our anniversary belatedly. We went to Osteria for dinner, which was great, and then a movie at the Ritz. It was so fun. We never go on dates anymore, and probably won't anytime soon. I felt beautiful and we laughed so much. I love my baby daddy.

Ways to Describe Me

Yesterday I got called "skinny as a rail" and "tough as nails."

Also I think "strong as a bull."

I liked being called all those things.

Especially the ones that rhyme;

they made me want a song/rap to be written about me.

Any takers?