My midwife came to the house today for my prenatal appt - *that* was very cool. We scoped it out and decided where to set up the birth tub, went through the home birth kit I had ordered (at her recommendation), and decided that we're pretty much prepared for the birth! Yay!
Aeryn is head-down and ready to go, and I'm a fingertip dilated and 50% effaced. So Jill (midwife) said I'm definitely gearing up, and might have this baby in the next couple of weeks. I would actually be really happy if the baby came a few weeks early this time - I'm very uncomfortable now and get exhausted easily, which is getting to be a big bummer.
In contraction news, the regular contractions died off mid-morning yesterday, and have since just been normal Braxton-Hicks ones. In other words, I have a contraction whenever I move. :P Fun! But, they're not as uncomfortable as the others, so it's fine. I was worried I was going to have to deal with those other regular ones for the next few weeks, so I'm relieved it's not looking that way.

I dropped off a batch of mini Blessing candles and some Blessing Kits at the Psychic Eye this morning, and discovered that a lot of the inventory I delivered last week already sold! So that was cool. Then I got home and had a message on my answering machine from a couple that is opening another new age store in town in the next few weeks, and they want to carry Glow Diva candles in their store too! So I'm meeting with them Monday morning to go over the details. I'm really jazzed, considering THEY called ME - wow!

See why I need to have some energy???? :D

Last night I started having lots of contractions, but they are pre-labor or Braxton-Hicks. Man, these are *strong* though! They wrap around to my back and everything. I started contracting with Rhiannon two weeks before she was born - they were 7 minutes apart for a week, then they stopped. I hope these don't go on for a freakin' week (and they're only 5 minutes apart), it's only been 14 hours or so and I'm ready for them to stop. Either stop, or get this show on the road! Argh! With Rhia, my water finally just broke, then active labor started. It was great, because then I knew that was "it", there was no guesswork. Although experience is nice, because this time I do know it's just prep work. But these are a lot more uncomfortable than the ones with Rhia. I'll check in again if anything changes. I have to get my butt to Target today and pick up the rest of the supplies I'll need for the birth! Yikes!

I realize it's been a long time since I've written anything on here. I'm still out here, gestating away. I only have about 5 weeks of this pregnancy left! I am a bit shocked, it seems like it just flew past. I'm getting really excited to give birth again, and to meet Aeryn. She is a MOVER - always wiggling and kicking. And I think she's going to be a night owl like the rest of us - she really gets going around 2am.

A few weeks back I started having major back muscle spasms and issues. That led to a hideous migraine and several chiro visits, and I'm back to the point where I can deal with the pain. But I'm still not doing that great, and I can't sit for very long periods of time, which means that my computer time is now strictly for business for the most part. It also means I've fallen way behind on my goals for Glow Diva - I have nowhere near the inventory I had hoped for because I have to sit down to make candles. So I'm a little bummed about that. In fact, just a couple days ago I had to face the fact that I'm not going to be able to have a booth at our local Pagan Pride Day on Sept 10. I'm disappointed, but a little relieved to have let some of the stress go. I'm due to deliver in 5 weeks, and I would have spent the next 3 totally stressed out trying to prepare for it since I'm so far behind now. Oh, and I'm planning on having Bean's 3rd birthday party the following day. (!)

I also hadn't done anything to prepare for Aeryn's imminent arrival, so this weekend we've been doing some work. Her cool little bed (off eBay) is all set up in our bedroom now, and we created a little sitting/breastfeeding area with 2 rocking chairs and an old end table. One chair for me, and one for Beaner. We're going to get her a new baby doll to be presented when Aeryn is born, so she can have her own baby too. I ordered a new sling, with a matching one for Bean. She's going to be so cute - she loves playing mama already, so I want to make sure she can spend time with me doing things with her baby that I'm doing with Aeryn. I'm hoping it will ease the transition somewhat. Anyway, I pulled out her old newborn clothes yesterday and got them washed and put away, too, and ordered my birth kit recommended by my midwife to prepare for my home birth. I've also discussed a backup plan with a friend in case I have to transfer to a hospital at some point, so I'm feeling like I'm getting ready for this whole thing.

I'm starting to plan Bean's birthday party now, too. We're going to have it a couple of weeks before her birthday, since Aeryn is due just 2 days after her actual birthday. I've also had to scale back my plans for that, but I don't think Bean will care. Some friends, a pool, birthday cake... fun times for a 3-year-old. :) It's also been fun shopping around for presents. :)

I think that's everything that's new with me (well, that I can remember right now anyway!). Bye for now!

MoveOn is taking out an ad in President Bush's local newspaper in support of Cindy Sheehan, the mother of a soldier killed in Iraq who is camped outside Bush's ranch in Texas asking for a meeting with the president. They'll publish the number of signers and the best comments in a full two-page spread in the newspaper nearest to Crawford (The Waco Tribune Herald) while Cindy holds her vigil. Can you sign and spread the word before the 3:00 PM Friday print deadline?

http://political.moveon.org/meetwithcindy/

"Creationists make it sound as though a 'theory' is something you dreamt up
after being drunk all night."

Isaac Asimov
1920 - 1992