{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.

{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!

{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

{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

{Eucharisteo: III}

Eucharisteo from a Sick-Room

This week has witnessed a departure from health for this family. Ravaged by a hard strain of the common cold, our living room has been my world. Restless nights, classes missed, coughing fits, husband away on business, and now, an eye-infection... there is no time like the present to be thankful for: 

 

 sunlight to soak up ~ freckles on kitty ears ~ Dutch liquorice to sooth throat tickles ~ a husband to welcome home ~ free movies ~ tea, glorious steaming stuff that it is

 

 

an eye infection that appears to be bacterial, not viral (and the difference is sweetly great, as I can attest from last summer's horrors!) ~ prayers answered 

 the ability to rest ~ kind landlords ~ hot baths and added milky, lavender, jojoba goodness ~ a healthy baby who dances to mandolin and fiddle duets 

 access to clean water, water, water ~ friendly basket meals that cheer a heart and tummy ~ loofah sponges and their scrubbiness ~ family voices ~ a bettered appreciation of health and good sleep...

and lastly, an ode to Pippin-cat who is an ever faithful companion, snuggler and bug catcher, despite his hunger pains at 5.30 a.m. and his propensity to steal the warm spots on the bed.

Am I blessed, or what? 

{Week 29 & A Little Princess}

Week 29

Simply put: the best gift any woman in her third trimester could receive... straight from France, thanks to a kind friend

Sweet gifts from faraway family members: Sophie! 

Something else to look forward to come August: Grandma-to-be's arrival in Deutschland (!!!!!)

Week 29 and its contents:

~ a last trip to the flat-lands before the autumn
~ an official outie for a belly button
~ a beautiful package from relatives in Kentucky
~ Little's new trick: bladder grinding = among the stranger, more uncomfortable feelings in this world
~ another Midwife Birgit visit and a good report: healthy mum, healthy baby. We now have a wee "Popo" (bum) up and a little "Kopf" (head) down... ready to go!
~ the gift of just the right stroller

While sitting on our big, blue couch, the midwife asked us how we feel about the pace of this season. When we both attested to its habit of sometimes being slower than slow then rushing by with a speed that can frighten, she looked us both in the eye and said, "It does that. You both realize that there is always the possibility that within eight weeks time, you could be holding a baby in your arms?" Now my friends, if that isn't a reality shock, I don't know what is. Glorious reality in many ways...

And this reality is building with each passing week. Whether it is a letter addressed to us three, a package with thoughtful contents for our new lives ahead, a small body's almost constant activity that sucks energy away with each twist and kick, early gifts from grandparents, recognizing how to apply present studies to a personal future, discussing birth and labor with the Dutchman before settling into bed o'nights... each of these moments grow upon each other giving us a better picture of what will be. But it isn't enough.

No matter how wide and creative or how vibrant and deep the imagination (and believe me, those closest to me can testify to just how far mine can go!), nothing can help us visualize the exact how, why and whom of the small life that lies within me. Nothing can help us comprehend the miracle that will take place in only a short few months more. We can learn, study, talk to those who have experienced before us, prepare, question...

But in the end, it's just for us to accept and enjoy. And we do.

                                                                                          &

                                                                              {{{{ A Little Princess }}}}

Oom (Uncle) Peter

Saar

It did our hearts good to welcome this little girl into the family and we couldn't be more proud of her. The pressure of her small body in our arms was refreshing and insightful as we look to parenthood. Welcome, Little Saar!

{Week 28}

Week 28

Week 28 (last week) found us in the third trimester... and with this last three month wait came the sudden urge to nest. Six months have gone by with little prepared, little purchased, and a desire to keep moving and going. However, (almost out of nowhere) came the signal to feather down, to settle in, to slow life. 

A full settling in isn't a possibility this coming month with our upcoming move of apartments, but in spirit it shall. These next two and a half months will hopefully hold a calmer pace of life as we continue to plan and prepare for this change of season in our lives... and we are gathering... "twigs and such", building the "nest" and preparing a space for an important little life. It's about time.