40 weeks, and I wait

I reached 40 weeks of pregnancy today. I have not reached 1 day with two daughters, though, because this baby seems to be very content in her habitat and reluctant to join us in the outside world. I have done my research and know the average second pregnancy actually lasts 40 weeks and 3 days, but that is small consolation when you are as distended and bloated and uncomfortable as I am at this stage in the game. I am even running out of things to do. As I mentioned last week, I have mopped, MOPPED, all the tile surfaces in my house. I considered doing it again today, but that passing fancy passed.

I have finished my last novel:

And I have finished knitting a blanket that I can't wait to use in newborn photographs with this mystery child of mine:

Without anything better to do, I decided to torture myself by comparing a pair of pre-maternity jeans to my current jeans. Aside from the extra fabric for my enlarged rear and thighs and the huge belly panel, they are just about the same. Right? And will I ever fit back into those "regular people" jeans? Will I know how to operate a button and zipper?

The view from above is startling, with very few topographical features. Basically, all you see is baby. No feet. No legs. I am a womb.

So, in lieu of other activities, I spend as much time as possible with my swollen feet propped up, gazing at a body that is vaguely me but not completely mine. I know pregnancy can't last forever, but the waiting is the hardest part...

I ♥ Faces Contest, Week 42 :: Halloween Dress Up

Growing up, Halloween meant homemade costumes: Amelia Earhart, complete in my dad's oversized flight suit and a pair of swim googles; a tube of toothpaste to accompany my sister the toothbrush who was adorned head to foot in red tights and red leotard with straws sticking out of her head; or a Wonder Woman costume with cotton balls glued on as earrings. I have to commend my mom's creativity in making three costumes each year for my sisters and me.

If it hadn't been for the creative impetus provided by my good friend Karyn, my daughter might have gone without a costume for her first two Halloweens. Karyn suggested we make the kids chickens. She swore it was easy. And she was willing to make the hats. Say no more, I am game! The costume really was so easy, I actually recycled it and used it two years in a row. My husband says she cannot be a chicken for a third year... But she is such sweet poultry!

Head on over to I Heart Faces and see some other fun costumes and share your own picture!

39 Weeks

Since I don't have a pictoral snapshot to share, I am going to share a verbal snapshot of my life at 39 weeks pregnant:

1. I am still able to shave my legs, albeit with wild contortions, but the superstitious side of me says that if I am too well groomed for delivery, this baby won't come early.

2. Mopping my kitchen floor, a task that has been on my to-do list for many moons, was accomplished yesterday. I managed to break the mop in the process. I am undecided if this is a sign of nesting or just a procrastinator who finally did the chore she likes the least.

3. The Yankees lost Game 5 of the ALCS versus the Angels last night. So there is no game tonight as they travel back to New York. So I can have this baby today and won't interrupt my husband's availability to watch Game 6, which airs Saturday evening. I want to be accommodating wherever possible...

4. Waiting for this baby is as close as I will come in my adult life to the anticipation of a child for Christmas morning. Despite the fact that she is growing within me, I have absolutely no say about when she will decide to come. I am a passive carrier at this point and it is nearly driving me insane.

Why Grandma's are Great :: Harker Heights Children's Photographer

As I mentioned in my previous post, we have been going to Sweetberry Farms for three years. Other than buying a homemade ice cream made fresh with berries picked at the farm, we have never spent any money during these outings. (I am cheap. I acknowledge this. But really, what one or two year old is not fascinated by looking at goats and pumpkins? And that is free!) But this was the first year that my mom came with us.

So my daughter was treated to face painting. And she was so proud of her ice cream cone adornment. Well worth the $5.00, I confess. I am glad Grandma was along to spoil my child.

Pumpkin Season! :: Central Texas Photographer

I love Fall. I love the drop in temperatures, the change in foliage, the vitality to the air. Much of this I have to relive in my memory, as Central Texas doesn't really enjoy a nationally acclaimed Fall Season. However, almost every year, we find a slice of the northeast in Marble Falls, Texas at the Sweetberry Farms. This year was by far the most realistic Fall experience, complete with drizzling rain and cool temperatures. As we made the 1.5 hour drive out, we knew the weather was not ideal, but the fact that I may give birth before the next weekend rolls around prompted us to give it a shot anyway. The rain and my oversized belly conspired against my photographic efforts, but bathtubs and bins full of wild varieties of pumpkins look festive and full of Fall, no matter how you manage to get the shot.

I ♥ Faces Contest, Week 40 :: Excitement

So many events in this life are exciting: birthday parties, weddings, births of babies, or, if you are a three year old, nearly anything new you see! But for Army wives who have seen husbands leave for more than a year at a stretch, one of the greatest excitements is the day the men return and the family is again complete. I have been very lucky to be able to hide behind my lens on more than one homecoming occasion and "snoop" on these spectacularly emotional reunion moments.

I Heart Faces is celebrating Excitement this week. Come on over and enter your own slice of life's excitement!

What's in a name?

We haven't shared the name of our coming baby with anyone. Partially to surprise folks and partially because we hadn't figured out the middle name. Until 10 pm last night, I thought we at least had the first name. I found out I was wrong.

At 11 pm, after thumbing through the As, Bs, and Cs of our trusted baby naming book that worked so well with our first daughter, we were no closer to an answer. Today I worked my way through the rest of the alphabet and narrowed down my choices to about five first names and three middle names. Later this evening, in those spare moments of alone time after the kids are in bed and before we have both fallen asleep, I will present my list to my husband. And I will learn how odd my taste in names is.

We will need to put some more time and effort into this process. I really don't want to get mail for Female Rivera...

My sweet baby...cat?

Our cat has taken a shine to the baby's room, ever since we moved all the furniture around. He had taken residence upon the changing pad, but after I took the pad cover off, washed the mounds of fur from it and refused to put it back on, he has moved to a more comfortable location. I guess this sheet needs to be washed again...soon...

Smell the roses

I know I need to savor the quiet moments now, when I do have time to stop and smell the roses. I will preserve this beauty here so I can come back and look at it when all the petals have fallen and winter is upon us. And I need to see something naturally wonderful.