Oh, those O'Mamas love their Blessing Ways! You can read all about what a Blessing Way is on my post about mine :) This time, we celebrated Anjalika, Karen & Gabriel (they are all due within the next couple of months!) with henna belly painting by Nisha and the traditional birthing bracelets. A couple of nursling came out to party with their mamas, but my Lily was at home with her Daddy :) It was such a fun and warm evening with loving focus on three extraordinary women....and their blessed bellies.
I'm actually in a pic..in the middle with pals Stephanie & Anja...THANKs Melanie! Lovely Anja, Gabriel & Karen
My due date with Lily has come and gone. I'm sitting here 41 weeks + a few days pregnant...into my FOURTH trimester :)
I physically feel great...no aches or pains, minimal swelling in my feet. I'm good...but emotionally, I'm a little tired. I've been pregnant for a while, and have really enjoyed my pregnancy, with all it's roller coaster dips and drops. The spotting in the first trimester and anemia in my second and third seem so far in the past...it's almost surreal.
Daryl has been amazing! So supportive and pretty much perfect. My friends and family have also been so very wonderful. Everyone has given me the space I need without overly making me feel pressured to 'have the baby already'. I was part of the most beautiful Blessingway...just ready to use my birthing bracelet already :) The henna was gorgeous! My comadre, Andrea, took some super fab maternity shots that you can see here, here and here. Daryl and I have even made a belly cast like we did with Mia. I just need to gesso, sand and paint it up....
My Dr. has been warm and helpful, but now that I'm a little past my due date, he's kind of itching for an induction. So, along with waiting for our sweet little Lily to make her debut, we're having to take non-stress tests every 3 - 4 days to make sure Lily isn't in distress. I'm thrilled to do that... I get to hear her heart beat and mark down her little/big kicks and movements. I even got to see her sweet/squished face via ultrasound. We go in for another NStest tomorrow...and I know the Dr will want to schedule an induction for the end of the week...when I hit 42 weeks. From what Daryl and I have read, at that point, the cervix may just need a smidge of a nudge to get going. I hope Lily is born before that.
I'm ready to meet her, hold her...just look at her for hours. I want to rock and pat her...hear her lil newborn cries. I can't wait for her to look at me while she's trying to focus on her mamas face. I know I'll miss her being in my tummy, feeling her kicks, but I'm ready...ready to meet our new love.
Here are some pictures of Mia and I snuggling...resting....waiting :) and then some cute videos of Mia already torturing her lil sis with zerberts.
Last week, I ...along with four other pregnant O'Mamas, were celebrated with a Blessingway in our honor. We were surrounded by beautiful strong women and made to feel like goddesses. We picked out designs that spoke to us, and the talented Nisha drew the designs on our big pregnant bellies with henna. I chose a lily on the right side of my tummy, b/c, well, my baby's name is Lily, and she's been primarily on my right side...or that's where I can feel her most...and then three hearts symbolizing Mia, myself and Daryl...our family all together on my belly :)
Then our own individual birthing bracelets were created for us. Each O'mama had a bead for every pregnant mama...they told us what it symbolized and their well wishes for our laboring. It's something that touched me deeply and I'm sure will bring me much comfort and strength when it's time for Lily to come.
Here's a little piece of an email I sent to a very dear friend about my experience...
'Sorry so long to get back with you. I've not been feeling quite like myself this past week...not into blogging either. After the Blessingway, I think I fell into something good, but deep and introspective. I wasn't ready to even think about giving birth. I just loved having her in my tummy ...moving, sleeping, kicking stretching. Something about that night changed me into thinking about Lily & my birthing experience. I'm not frightened, but aware and thinking a lot. KWIM? Even Daryl said I've been quiet :) I'm not depressed b/c I'm still doing things that I wouldn't do when depressed. Just introspective :)'
Our blessingway was also blogged about by Andrea and Sara. I love their perspective of it. I blogged a little about the henna last week. I feel like I have something profound to say, but all I have are feelings...not many words. So, all those O'Mamas close to my heart probably know how much I appreciate them, all they are and how much love and support they've given and continue to give me. I can't say enough about Heather, Andrea, Gale and Sharon...my fellow pregnant mamas....I love that we've pretty much been through all of this together...my first time, I was so alone...you give me strength, make me laugh and I love you.
My Birthing Bracelet
Sharon being decorated by Nisha
my finished belly
Andrea's belly Gale's belly Heather, Andrea, Nisha (with a scarf tucked under to be her own little pregnant belly!) me, Gale and Sharon The pregnant goddesses: Heather, Andrea, Me, Gale & Sharon
I'm still trying to gather my thoughts and process shots for a proper post of the Blessingway held in my and four fellow pregnant O'Mama's honor...in the mean time, here are some sweet shots of Mia adoring her mama's glittered (pre-wash off) henna baby belly...now the design is a beautiful amber color...I promise to post more about it all :)
I'm actually in a pic..in the middle with pals Stephanie & Anja...THANKs Melanie!
Lovely Anja, Gabriel & Karen
