39 weeks

I can't help but wonder if this is the last weekly countdown with you in my belly -

growing ever so steadily, my body home to two strong hearts 

beating anxiously for this very moment in time.

I'm taking special notice of each kick and wave that flows through my abdomen, 

remembering exactly how it feels to have you inside me. 

I love you, baby girl. 

See you soon!

a mothers day gift

“My mother... she is beautiful, softened at the edges and tempered with a spine of steel. 

I want to grow old and be like her.” 

― Jodi Picoult

This mother's day is going to be extra special! 

My sweet mom is headed up here this weekend in anticipation of baby girl's arrival.

I am looking so forward to having her company while we wait these last few days...

I've never been more thankful for my mother!

The sun is finally out here in Boston

and who knows...maybe baby girl will be a mother's day gift?!

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers and mothers-to-be out there

and a very happy weekend to you all!

photograph from the glow

still waiting...

“Lesson learned? When people say, "You really, really must" do something, it means you don't really have to. No one ever says, "You really, really must deliver the baby during labor." When it's true, it doesn't need to be said.”  

― Tina Fey, Bossypants

I've been walking a lot, drinking a ton of water, had spicy food and pineapple and a few other things....

any other labor inducing ideas?! I'm trying to be patient and enjoy these last few days, 

but I'm starting to feel discouraged and oh so ready to meet this baby girl already. 

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Its been so rainy here in Boston the last few days,

 but Monday was so beautiful and sunny -

a perfect day to take the diana+ out

[photos taken with the diana+ lens]

38 weeks

A moo moo for two reasons: one, in honor of cinco de mayo, and two because its just about the only comfortable thing I can fit into these days... so baby and I are still celebrating cinco de mayo a couple of days late over here.

I wasn't able to write very much last week...not for a lack of words, but because it was a hard week and I was afraid that if I did sit down to write, it would turn into nothing but me complaining and feeling sorry for myself, which is neither becoming nor entertaining. To summarize, I miss my husband and eating breakfast, lunch and dinner by myself gets to be pretty depressing sometimes. He had to work a lot on Sunday too...and you have no idea how I long for our Sundays together...so it was a pretty big bummer after a long week. But for the record, I am really proud of him and so, so thankful for every little moment we are able to be together. I'm also really thankful for the friends we have made here...I don't know what I would do without them.

Baby and I have started going on long early morning walks. Just as the city awakes, but before the stores open their doors. It proves both refreshing and therapeutic - even if I'm waddling the whole way - and I fall a little more in love with this new city of ours each time.

So...38 weeks...I am officially uncomfortable and ready to meet this baby girl. I literally cannot lift my left leg thanks to a shooting pain that I can't quite describe due to how low baby girl is now and when I stand up I feel like she literally might fall to the floor. AND hello, contractions. They are coming pretty regularly now, but only a few of them have actually hurt...so I'm not getting my hopes up because of them.

But. BUT. After last week's doctor appointment, baby girl's arrival is definitely in sight! And she is worth all the shooting pains and back aches.

Happy 38 weeks baby girl!
(and happy cinco de mayo a little late)

It's finally May!

“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.” 

― Ralph Waldo Emerson

Even though I've hit the "full term" mark, my actual due date isn't for a couple more weeks...so the waiting begins. And as much as it kills the planner in me to not know the exact date we will meet or the color of her hair or the way she will feel in my arms...I feel peaceful, almost prepared (can that be?!)

But as excited as I am to finally hold our baby girl, I don't feel rushed (even though I wanted to cry trying to put my socks and shoes on yesterday). Still, I am loving my multiple daily naps and the time spent alone feeling her kicking and elbowing the sides of my belly. I'll never be this close to her again and I am making a point to treasure every moment I have these last few weeks with her in my womb. 

It hasn't been easy getting used to Mr. D's new work schedule. I miss him so much and I'm anxious about how our life will be with this new little one. I hardly see him and lets face it...its not going to be easy. Still, Ive never been more thankful for this time in our lives and for our little growing family. 

Even though there is so much unknown ahead, one thing is for sure...this May will be full! 

photo here. 

37 weeks

37 weeks...which means I am officially full term! 

Which means...baby girl, you can come any time you want now, ok?!!

prayers answered!

“I pray because I can't help myself. I pray because I'm helpless. 

I pray because the need flows out of me all the time- waking and sleeping. 
It doesn't change God- it changes me.” 

― C.S. Lewis

Our prayers were answered this morning...

baby girl flipped while we were literally on our way to the doctor! Can you believe it?! 

The doctor's appointment went great and we got to see our little girl again.

I am measuring a little small, but its ok because baby girl is weighing in at a healthy 6 lbs 9 ounces. 

I am so thankful for all of the sweet emails and support we have had from friends and family 

over the last several days ...and mostly for my sweet husband who

made this morning one of my most favorite yet. 

Its so exciting not knowing yet when our little girl is going to arrive...but knowing it will be soon.

Every moment we have together is a little sweeter and filled with so much joy. 

Thank you so much for all of your advice, prayers and well wishes!

36 weeks

We are officially 9 months! Some days I feel like I could not be more ready to hold our sweet baby girl and other days it all seems so overwhelming. The anticipation is so exciting and unlike anything I have ever waited for...soon I will meet this little person who I already love so incredibly much.

She is still in a transverse lie position (or sideways) and she only has a few more days to turn around on her own. We are going in for an ultrasound on Wednesday morning, and if she is still sideways, then they are going to have to manually move her (an external cephalic version or breech version). We are all hoping she will move on her own over here...and I've been trying all sorts of silly positions (thank you, Rachel for the spinning babies website recommendation!)...

Here's hoping she turns on her own in the next 48 hours...
Happy 9 months baby girl!

breech.

“The words in this book are all phooey. When you say them, your lips will make slips 
and back flips and your tongue may end up in Saint Looey!” 

― Dr. Seuss

 Happy Friday! 

Please send all the flipping thoughts you can this way. 

We are praying baby girl will turn around by Wednesday...

(I dont blame her...Im not much for being upside down either, 

but like the doctor bluntly said this morning, "you can't deliver her sideways...")

So, this Davis family is wishing everyone a "flipping" good weekend! 

35 weeks

My feet have officially disappeared...but man, oh man can I feel them. 

I feel like my belly has really grown just this past week alone 

and getting dressed every day is getting a lot more challenging. 

Everyone says this last stretch is the hardest, 

and while that is proving to be true...I've also never been more excited. 

We are going to meet our sweet baby girl SO soon! 

one of those days...

“Sometimes, when it is going badly, 

she wonders if what she believes to be a love of the written word 

is really just a fetish for stationary.” 

― David Nicholls

Its been one of those days. My hormonal self has been suddenly pretty weepy today...even the ice cream I had during lunch didn't lift my spirits. 


I had a doctor's appointment this morning and for reasons I can't quite be sure of myself, I arrived a good 50 minutes early to my 8 o'clock AM appointment. Then about an hour and fifteen minutes later, I found myself sitting on the exam table feeling positively homesick - not necessarily for any concrete place...just homesick for familiarity.


The doctor was late because of traffic, so I sat there alone on that crinkly paper with my crazy thoughts for a good 45 minutes. I continued to fight back tears for the next 20 minutes or so after the doctor arrived...and I was relieved to be the only one in the elevator once I left - tears readily flowing. I normally love these doctor's appointments so much, but it wasn't the best today. 


Everything is ok, of course. Baby girl has been kicking up a storm and her little heart is steady and strong as ever. I've actually lost a little weight - not for a lack of eating let me tell you - but everything is ok. 


It's really beautiful outside today and I can't wait to get out and go for a long walk. 
Sometimes thats just the thing I need. 

waiting ever so patiently

“If you are not long, I will wait for you all my life.” 

― Oscar Wilde

Sometimes waiting to meet baby girl seems unbearable. 

We've come so far... and yet it seems like May will never get here. 

So on days like today, I find so much joy in holding her little newborn onesies

and those teeny tiny socks that just seem so impossibly small. 

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy she is still growing safely in my belly, 

but gosh I am so excited to smell her skin and kiss her little hands. 

So today, I've been hanging out by her crib - 

laying out all of her clothes and then refolding them again.

Oh, how I can't wait to wrap her up in my arms. 

today we saw our baby girl and I thought my heart might burst...

“Forget not
that the earth delights
to feel your bare feet
and the winds long
to play with your hair.”
― Kahlil Gibran

 Not only is baby for sure a girl...
but she has pretty little eyelashes and a head full of hair!!!

We had the best time at the doctor this morning just watching her...
My hormone-filled self has been swooning - completely head over heels -
for her and her chubby cheeks all morning.

I truly thought my heart might burst as we watched our baby girl
in complete and wonderful awe.

She is measuring a little over a week ahead
 and already weighs 3 lbs 5 ounces.
Oh my, we love her so much already!

a little nest in the corner of a room.

“None of us knows what might happen even the next minute, yet still we go forward. 

Because we trust. Because we have Faith.”
― Paulo Coelho, Brida

 The guest bedroom is baby girl's space.

Her things gather there in a corner of the room. 

Things that will soon protect her and keep her warm. 

Things that will one day comfort her and make her smile.

Colorful things. Soft things. Gifts from dear friends and family.

 This little one is already so loved. 

Since we don't quite have a home yet as we await our move to Boston - 

reaching out of boxes every morning searching for this or that -

this little space - her space - has become my very favorite place.

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We have a doctor's appointment today! 

I can't wait to hear that little heart beat. 

babymoon

“A writer never has a vacation. 

For a writer, life consists of either writing or thinking about writing.”
― Eugène Ionesco

 I've never been more excited about a vacation than I am now -

waking up that first morning to the sunrise over the ocean

and having absolutely no plans, but to relax and drink in the sun. 

They say it takes a couple of days before your body fully feels like its on vacation, 

but I'm pretty sure I'm already there.

I can think of no better way to kick off this third trimester of pregnancy...

See you next week!! 

Life like a butterfly

“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, 

but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.”
― Maya Angelou

 It has taken time to grow accustomed to the new lines and edges of my body. It truly no longer is just mine.

So many changes in 9+ months time. At first, it took me by surprise. 

But now appreciation and thankfulness is what I feel most  -
coupled with an unrivaled love for the life comprised of and within mine.

All of these changes have taught me a valuable lesson in letting go and acknowledging that some of 

the best memories and greatest gifts are most beautiful 

because of the changes that occurred and were meant to be endured.

Life like a butterfly.

photograph from here.

Lately

“I may not have gone where I intended to go, 

but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.”
― Douglas Adams, The Long Dark Tea-time of the Soul

 

Lately:

• I wake up while the moon is still shining and give thanks for the life tossing and turning in my belly. That is my favorite way to wake up, no matter what time and no matter how tired I am.
• Lucy's new do has her prancing around our yard barking and showing off her figure like never before. 
• Mr. D came home from work beaming because he had had such a record-breaking good day. I've been proudly celebrating every since. 
• I have an insatiable craving for fruit. Blueberries and bananas especially. 
• Baby girl has settled nice and low on my right hip - all one pound and eleven inches of her. She wont move no matter how long I lay on my left side. Next I am going to try swimming...maybe she will float over to the other side?! (I'm skeptical, but the doctor recommended trying it). 
• When I get home from work, I curl up in a chair and read. Taking pleasure in the quiet act of turning each page. Sometimes there is nothing more comforting to me than turning the pages of a good book.
• My eyes water at the smallest of things - joyful or simply beautiful (dont even get me started on something sad). 
• Ive been wearing glasses that I have had a prescription for since the third grade (except in third grade I wore pink rimmed, grandpa-style glasses). My new BonLook glasses are a definite upgrade and its nice to be able to see!
• I take more time. I move a little more gently and sip my drinks a little slower, conscious of the cool water sliding down my throat and the glass against my lip. I turn pages of books a little more carefully - letting my fingers truly feel their surface - and I try to freeze every moment I spend with Mr. D and our growing little family. Savoring every minute.
  
  Lately...I know this is exactly where I need to be. 

days like today

“You know that place between sleeping and awake, 

that place where you can still remember dreaming? 

That's where I'll always think of you.”

― J.M. Barrie

 Even when I sit impossibly still --

I feel you moving about.

And when the day seems terribly long before me

and I want nothing more than to fall asleep in the soft surroundings of my room --

I find great comfort in your presence...

your heart beating in my womb.

It joyfully keeps coming back to you.

photographs by annette pehrsson

19 weeks.

19 weeks. We are so close to being officially half way to meeting baby girl!

I no longer just feel her in the morning and at night, but now I can feel her stretch 

and turn intermittently throughout the day. 

It still catches me by surprise and as my hand automatically reaches for my belly

I let the surreal words "that's my baby" toss and role around in my head 

like the little one inside my womb.

I can't wait to meet our sweet baby girl.

our girl.

“It's a GIRL. It's a little girl, with scrunched-up petal lips and a tuft of dark hair and hands in tiny fits, up by her ears. All that time, that's who was in there. And it's weird, but the minute I saw her I just thought: IT'S YOU. Of course it is.” 

― Sophie Kinsella

As my belly swells and baby girl's little movements become more frequent (or rather more noticeable), I can hardly suppress my excitement. Already I can't imagine not having this belly...this belly I'd dreamed of for years but didn't expect so soon. The moment the doctor wrote, "Hi Mom and Dad, I'm your daughter!" on the ultrasound screen, I thought my chest would burst with joy. I immediately felt so much closer to the little babe growing in my belly...no longer referring to Baby D as "it" but rather "she." We love her so much already.

I can hardly wait to hold her in my arms. This baby girl I already know. 

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We are on our way to New York City for a few days!! Oh how I love this time of year.