Steve’s mom is out with the girls (praise be!) and Brinley is snoozing on the couch next to me, so I thought I’d write the birth story now, since who knows when I’ll have a free moment again?

Click here to read.

Who wants an update on my cervix? Last one there is a rotten egg!!

Last night I had some maternity photos taken by a generous and talented neighbor. The air was grey, the wind was blowing, and through the course of the stormy evening I was developing stronger and stronger contractions. The night felt magical, as though I were about to embark upon my final labour journey.

I went to bed, convinced I wouldn’t be able to sleep, or at the very least if I did happen to rest I would be roused by the breaking of my water or some intensifying contractions that would confirm the time had come.

Alas, the only thing that woke me up in the night was the usual need to pee every couple of hours and the contractions totally disappeared by morning.

I wish there were a light on a pregnant woman’s belly that shone red when labour symptoms were false and headed nowhere, and turned green when birth was actually nearing the horizon.

Tired, grumpy, and bloatedly yours,

Amanda

Want to see photos of my belly, ready to pop, with each pregnancy? Take a look over here!

What are your thoughts on home births vs. hospital births? Let me know over at UrbanMoms.

If you’re not a Facebook friend of mine, you might not know that I’ve had violent diarrhea for the past four days straight. (What, you don’t use Facebook as a means to keep family and friends updated  on the consistency of your stools?) It’s been awful and I feel drained (ha! I mean that literally) and exhausted and I kind of miss my appetite (we’re usually quite close). And if I hear one more person tell me that diarrhea is a sign that labour is imminent, I am going to go and take my next watery dump on her doorstep. Because that’s a LIE. I actually went to the doctor today and she’s pretty sure I just have a 5-day viral case of The Squirts. If it keeps up, I get to walk into a lab tomorrow with my head held high, clutching some vials of my excrement, and see why I still feel so crummy. Just what a 38-week pregnant lady needs.

I am tired and hot and trying to enjoy these final days with the girls, which would be a lot easier if they would stop fighting and pulling each other’s hair and wanting to TALK TO ME.

The baby’s room is ready, my bag is packed for the hospital, the breast pump is sterilized, the carseat is installed…I am ready! Which means, of course, this kid is going to come two weeks late, right?

In other (slightly less grumpy) news, a local artist we know did a couple paintings of Avelyn from photographs I had taken. Anyone recognize these?

The originals are for sale at Sleeping Giant Winery in Summerland. Kind of cool to see our girl immortalized on canvas like that!

Oh, this girl.

Just for kicks, you should head on over and get caught up on my latest posts at UrbanMoms. Good times! More fun than this bike ride was, I can guarantee it!!

Summer means beach-swollen diapers,

late-night dinners and jammies at Nana’s beach,

swimming until the sunlight’s all gone,

and eating 18 freezies a day.

It’s been a good summer so far. Lots of time outdoors with family and friends, lots of memories, lots of sweatily waiting for this new baby to make her debut.

Is there anyone out there who isn’t itching to see a photograph of me and my big ol’ pregnant belly IN A BATHING SUIT? Didn’t think so.

Beach Bum(p).

I’ve written a couple new articles at UrbanMoms and I’m sure you’ve all been dying for me to link to them, right? Fine. Here you go!

Snip, Tie or Swallow asks when you know it’s time to consider permanent birth control.

Nesting and Resting is all about my lack of preparation for this new baby.

Come on down!