Tuesday, June 25, 2013

{Week 33: Of Courses & Showers}

Week 33
 Week 33 was all about preparation. It held the „Geburtsvorbereitungskurs” (birth preparation course) as well as a baby shower held by sweet women from our church among other plans and life choices. Such busy-ness is prone to sap energy and makes for a tired father and mother-to-be. Baby Frinsel however, is completely unaffected and continues in a happy, stretching, kicking state!

The best part of this whole week (weariness aside) with all its many arrangements and plans, was the great realization that our Little is coming soon. This whole weekend was a celebration of a new little life whose birth day is not so very far away...


{„Geburtsvorbereitungskurs”}


Two nights of the course were spent Mums only as we spared the men the nitty-gritty. They joined in for the last two day sessions, midwife Birgit leading the way (might I add, with superb dramatizations of a woman in labor!). Breathing techniques were learned and chosen, birthing positions practiced, procedures taught, questions asked... Despite our foreign American/Dutch-ness, there was a sense of community in the little group of six couples founded in our common bond: bellies and babies! Focusing on German birthing terminology for six hours can be hefty, but vocabulary was gleaned for future studies and connection-building and the Dutchman and I both picked up necessary terms that we will be using during the labor and delivery. Now, with this course under our belts, the material list in our hands and the final planning meeting tomorrow, we are... well almost... prepared to meet Baby dear.



{Baby Shower}

The kind ladies of our church honoured Baby and I this past Sunday with a woodland-themed shower. It was such a lovely time and it was marvellous to unexpectedly have this feminine, North American expectation of mine fulfilled! After we got home and admired the gifts, the handsome Father-to-be declared himself ready for Baby's arrival: right now.

Just six weeks or so more, impatient, dearest husband, sir.










Friday, June 21, 2013

{Just Flowers}

Just flowers, just because. 



Thankful for eyes to: delve into ruffled peony depths, 



 gaze upon tigered iris stripes,



swim on waves of tulip colour,



 soak in sun-dappled poppy-transparency...


If only such grace and purity could be humanly replicated.

Oh, to know better the mind and thoughts of their Artist!

Monday, June 17, 2013

{Week 32}


Week 32
In this swirl of time:

~ an almost non-stop, healthy flurry of bounces and flips that efficiently siphon energy from the mother-ship
~ a belly-button that persists in poking out through t-shirt material at innocent passerby's
~ the last baby-sitting job after a long, successful career of 15 years in preparation for the biggest Baby-sitting job of my life
~ Baby's favourite music so far (by reaction): bluegrass & salsa (he/she stood still at the sound of Andrea Bocelli's golden tones in 'Verdi'... Perhaps in astounded, pure appreciation? There is no way a young philistine lies within this womb!)
~ my handsome Dutchman's first Fathers' Day!
~ planning, planning, planning
~ an upcoming baby shower to celebrate the coming of Little F.
~ part 1 of a four-part birthing "crash course" held by Midwife Birgit 
~ the continued favourite side of wee Cranberry: the right

 
A German chew for future gums
An evening with the ducks
Father-hand

Monday, June 10, 2013

{Week 31}

Week 31

Week 30 was the silent week. The week of illness, exhaustion and from an honest (however pregnant) perspective, survival. The Dutchman was gone away for business in the land of Cadbury and Union Jacks and while he worked, Pippin-cat, Cranberry and I camped out on the couch bed, recuperating.

Week 31 has held the busy-ness of getting back into life. The sun has shone at last, giving energy and hope where its rays fall and the world has come alive under its touch. I too, have been said to "blossom" even though that unfurling is wholly Baby's doing.

With this specific growth there are days when the gravity of the world seems to be held within the cradle of my hips and I can't imagine getting any bigger or stretching any further. But truth! This can and will happen. There are two months left, dear people! How fast and yet how slowly the days
shall slip by....




For future wee wrinkled soles and crunched-up toes... homemade loving