3-2-1...blastoff!

Is Monday really the 19th and I'm due to give birth in 3 days? Did I really surpass my 9-month mark this week? Will contractions begin while I am driving my car, walking through aisle 5 of Safeway or sleeping soundly (for one of the last times) at night?

My words to describe what I am going through is excitement and nervousness. Not knowing the sex, I have never been more elated and anticipatory about something to come. To hear our baby's first cry and then discover if we're blessed with a son or daughter will be the most fulfilling, exciting news of my life! Everything leading up to it is what I am trying to concentrate on right now. My formula for calming the mind: massages, cranial sachral, meditation and phone consultations with my doula and dear friend, Nurse Beckie Merce.

Beckie and I talked last night about what to expect, how to prepare and keeping things in perspective. It felt good to get my fears out on the table. I told her about my intense dreams lately concerning hospitals and large bodies of water (symbolism = life). Hearing her say that Swedish Ballard is a non-hospital hospital with an intimate, community environment made me feel so much better. Then she jumped right into labor coach mode, pumping me up with a reminder that I have a high pain threshold and push myself to the top of Mt. Rainier. I can see her and Justin now, "push, push, breathe, push, push, breathe". The analogy of Mt. Rainier has come up before in preparation and Justin says he will bring our favorite, we-made-it-to-the summit treat, Nutter Butters. I'm so lucky to have these two by our side!

Justin officially started the "Free Baby Arnold" campaign this week. I told him we have to hold off because I have a house to sell in Fremont in the next few days. Fortunately, I have been working hard and getting around albeit slow, but at least, I am moving. Oh, and it looks like an offer will roll in, so that is a huge relief. I asked the daddy-to-be to jump-start the campaign come early next week. Then again, if I go into labor and give birth on Father's Day, I can't think of a better gift for a man who will be an unbelievable daddy.