Counting it Down - 2 weeks

Yes, I've been miserable about keeping up with this. I am still not sure it was a conscious choice as much as a very busy 6 months. Things are slowing down - should close out most work stuff this week and then I think all there is to do is wait. Wait and order things on-line...I've been on a bit of a spree lately, but all things that were good. Nursing bras, baggus, books, diaper trash cans with biodegradable liners.

I feel great. The minor sciatic pain I was having is gone. I am a bit achy when I get up from sleeping in the middle of the night, but overall, I couldn't ask for me. I did have some sphincter pressure on Friday, which seemed like it could be a sign of something, but then again, everything seems like a sign of something (i.e. labor starting) these days.

We are finalizing our birth plan with our doula, Elena, tomorrow. I am still holding out for being able to do this without drugs. I am a pretty calm person, and think I can breath through it, but then I start to think this is very naive. Then I think, millions of women around the world do this without drugs so I should be able to as well. We'll see. I think part of my objection is to the epidural - the last one I had made me so nauseous and I had queasy. It also didn't take quite right, and while I know that was a fluke, it sticks with me. Finally, I don't want things slowed down because I can't feel anything. I want to feel (she says now - when there is no pain). So, as I said, we'll see.

I think we may have a winner for baby girl. Ripley Annabel Wilson. I hadn't remembered that Annabel was on the list, but I checked today, and it was - from back in October. It has a Baltimore connection for us. Annabel Lee by Poe. And Baltimore has been a pretty important place for us. I think I like it better than Ripley Skye, which would be second. The only drawback of Ripley Annabel is that her initials would be RAW. Not the end of the world and it probably won't change our decision, but interesting to make a note of.

I've been waking up much earlier than usual (made it to 7:15 this morning - 5:30 is more the norm), so maybe I'll get back to this writing stuff. I've been reading a lot of blogs recently, and I think there is a difference in writing blog post you know someone else will read, and writing ones for yourself, like I am doing here. I did start a second blog (Joy in the Mundane), which I think I would open up to others. I have to do some thinking about whether I want to continue both of them, or just one or the other. Keeping up with two and a newborn could be madness.

Off to eat some sweet breakfast treats...