just a quarter of a pregnancy to go

Welcome to September, one and all. That's right, we're into the -ember months, and before they're done we'll have a little one running around. Well, wriggling anyway.

In fact, he's doing a pretty good job of it already. It is quite amusing (if not a little unnerving) to look over at my spouse in the evening and see the zygote's little fists and feet squirming around doing his very best to make just a little more room in his cozy amnion. And the other day when d.w. was poking at his foot, he actually kicked back. I don't think I've ever heard d.w. yelp before. Very cute, and very funny.

Of course, this means I'll have to wait another two months or so to scold the little guy for kicking his mom...

Anyway, d.w.'s 30 weeks along now, which is certifiably in "holy shit" territory. I know I should be freaked out, but I'm just excited. Ridiculously, giddily excited. So is d.w., which makes me love and respect her more than I ever thought I could. I'm sure with my embarrassing aversion to pain I would have chickened out on natural childbirth long ago. That's the one thing about going the Bradley route; they make no illusions about childbirth being painless or easy.

As a big sign in the "classroom" (actually the converted hay loft of an old carriage house) says: "Labor is hard, and it hurts, and you can do it." I like that. Reassuring and empowering, with no dicking around.

So now we're headed to Chicago for the weekend to see some college friends. I must say I'm more than ready for a little taste of a real city for a couple of days. That, and the masochism of Ikea on a Saturday during a sale. But hey, when you need beautiful Swedish home furnishings of questionable durability, you need beautiful Swedish home furnishings of questionable durability.

Lest you think this is our last out-of-town trip before hatching time, fear not; childlessness is going out with a bang at chez zygote. Next month, when d.w. is fully 36 weeks along, we'll be driving the 1,600 - 1,800 miles (depending on our route) from Iowa to Maine for the Society for Human Ecology annual conference. We ran it by our midwife, whose response was simple:

"Not a big deal. Just remember to take your medical records."

Sounds good to me. Of course, as cartography-obsessed as I am (oh the sweet sweet nectar of GIS), I'll probably map all the hospitals, clinics, and birthing centers within 20 miles of our route, arranged hierarchically using metrics quantifying their congruence with d.w.'s birth plan.

Or I could just stock the car with plenty of paper towels. Either way.

Comments

[Christian]

Finn, you're so awesome.

The French agree.

[Amy]

I just found you a few weeks ago, and as a tree-hugger new mother who lives very close to COA, I can relate to a lot of what you write. Also, enjoy your trip up here to Maine--the tourists will be gone and travelling 36 weeks pregnant isn't so bad. I did it last spring (flew to San Francisco) and had a wonderful time.

[samantha jo campen]

I just has a "D'oh" moment. You emaild me a few days ago wanting to get together since you'll be in Chi-town. You signed it Finn and mentioned D.w. by name but I don't know her name either, but I had NO IDEA that was your real name! I thought you were some cyber-stalker freak man. So, I didn't reply. Grr. I'm at work--maybe you left me a cell # to contact you? I'll see when I get home.

Sorry about that! I feel like an idiot!

[zygote daddy]

Yeah, I kind of forgot about that whole quasi-anonymity thing. Didn't mean to creep you out...

[Papa Bradstein]

The trips sound great, and I'm sure that you'll have fun geeking out on the GIS. Don't forget to map out WiFi hotspots so you can blog along the way. Perhaps you can even set up a Google Maps app that will track your progress by following your WiFi signal across the country. There, that's a nice Labor Day weekend project.

The punching and kicking thing is strange and fun to watch. I can't imagine how it must feel on the inside, although when 3B caught a rib or a soft spot, Mama explained in no uncertain terms how it felt. Most of the time, though, she was totally fascinated and distracted by it, as was I, when I could see it. So happy that you're excited for all that's to come. It's worth every bit of excitement.

[Henitsirk]

Wow ZD, that SHE conference sounds fascinating. I took a few Social Ecology courses at UCI while I was floundering around sophomore year, and nowadays I'm interested in permaculture, sustainable agriculture, co-housing, etc...too bad I went back to being an English major, eh?

Has DW had the old foot stuck in the ribs yet? My son decided to massage my liver for the last trimester!

I think we said holy shit when we had the kid strapped into the car seat leaving the hospital: Do these people realize that we have NO IDEA WHAT WE'RE DOING???

[andrea]

We have made the trek to Maine from Iowa- although we are about 3 hours closer. My god it's far! So worth the drive- where are you going? I have a cousin who teaches in the anthropology/archaelogy department at the U of Maine in Orono (Bangor).
Oh, and my second child was unexpectedly born at 37 weeks. AACK! So, you go ahead and get all of those hospitals mapped out!
Hope the Chicago trip was a good one- if your car wasn't going to already be full of IKEA booty, I'd have you and dw pull off of I-80 - I've got a Burly that's just sitting in my garage, waiting for someone to use. (Someone other than my children who like to pile toys in it and push it around)

[Dad_to_Be]

Of course, you'll have been informed in no uncertain terms of the fact that these last few weeks will feel as long as the rest of the pregnancy put together..?

Good luck with the trip!