Week 29

Week 29

Big weekend here at the MacDonald house -- We completed what might be considered our largest home improvement project thus far.  OK... we painted a room.  But it turned out just lovely! Thanks, Mom, for helping tape and paint and clean and all that stuff.  It goes so much easier with more hands.  We started Saturday with the ceiling which was just a total joy, by Sunday afternoon the room was complete - trim, ceiling and walls all freshly coated in crispy new paint.  The room is now ready to be put back in order.  It will pull double duty as guest room/massage room -- still trying to figure out what that might look like -- but I think it will be ok.  After all, I will not be doing much massage in there over the next few months. That said, anyone interested in coming for a visit (or a massage), your room is now ready.

On Saturday, prior to getting all Bob Villa on the front bedroom, we went for a tour at the hospital.  We learned all sorts of things, like where to park and enter, what to pack and what we might expect throughout the labor and delivery.  It was wonderful. I am so happy that we chose Saint Joe's. Not only is it the same hospital where yours truly was born, but it has a wonderful birthing center and they let you do all sorts of crazy things to help you through the "tough times". We learned about Hypnobirthing, water-birth and birthing balls. Before you pass any judgment on any of those things, you should know that I am open to any and all things that will help makes things more easy and drug-free -- though I am open to medical intervention and drugs and all that stuff too, as needed.  We shall see what happens and how SHE wants to do it! 

I have officially hit the third trimester -- and apparently the third trimester has hit right back.  I was exhausted all week.  I took several naps, including one right out on the patio yesterday afternoon -- I mean, really -- I fell asleep right on the concrete with no chair or towel or anything.  I'm guessing none of our neighbors saw because it must have looked like I'd been serial murdered, right there in broad daylight.  James continued to chip and scrape peeling paint from the back of the house (another DIY moment of the weekend), which was probably clue enough that I was only napping and not, in fact, murdered.

Last week also marked the first full week of Jamie's new part-time (yet very consuming) job.  While MacBaby and I drift off to sleep each week night, he is up cranking away -- and then up, bright and early the next morning to finish before he heads off to Hamline.  It's been quite a grind so far, but hoping to find a good groove to get us through the summer of baby spending.  He is a champion, and I don't think he knows just how much I appreciate his work.  It's nice to have work from home though.  We miss not getting to chat and watch bad tv together, but it's comforting to hear the clicking of his keyboard while I sit and read my book. 

Much to my delight -- and Jamie's chagrin, It's officially garage sale season! I have not gone totally overboard (yet), but I've already scored some great books for MacBaby.  I am kind of easily skeeved out by garage sale items, so I look at only the nicest things with the least amount of germs.  I have  also been a lunatic searching Craigslist for the past few weeks -- I'm looking for a white crib, a car seat, cloth diapers -- or anything else that might be necessary in our arsenal of baby items. We shall see, I have similar issues with things on craigslist.  Perhaps it's just the whole craigslist killer thing.  Though I am pretty sure people selling baby items are just nice people who are trying to get back some of the money that they've sunk in to their children.

I hope this week brings more lovely weather and perhaps a nap or two.  I am starting to think about life beyond all my massages each week.  It's getting more and more difficult to get up and down off the floor and to stoop over to try and massage someone's back who is sitting in a wheelchair.  I know I've said I would miss my clients, but I really will.  Every Thursday, I give massage to a lady who is a former nun, she does not speak (verbally), but each week wants to know how baby is doing and at the end of her massage she blesses the baby with a little kiss and the sign of the cross.  Some of my experiences are priceless, I could write a book already! I feel so blessed to be the vessel for this new little being growing inside of me. I also feel blessed to be a part of people's lives who are transitioning into the next phase of life (or afterlife) as hard as that can be.