Hanging out with kindred spirits...

There is something to be said for hanging out and chatting with other homebirthing mothers-to-be. I've recently befriended a woman who is a great example of someone who had a wonderful water 1st birth at home. I popped in for a cup of tea and a long chat, while our dogs played merrily together. Even in 'natural birth' support environments, we voluntary home birthers are certainly in the minority, so it is heartening to meet and click with like-minded women amongst pregnant women in general...

A Lullaby for my baby...

The Three Four Lullaby copyright Ginny Webb, July 2006

I wanted to write you
A sweet lullaby
Beamed down from heaven
In three quarter time
To send you to sleepy
Dreamland every night
So I'll sing you The Three Four Lullaby

1 is for Baby, to help you to rest
2 is for Daddy, who thinks you're the best
3 is for Mummy, who's always close by
To sing you her Three Four Lullaby

A Picture of Me (Pre-Pregnancy)...

I'm off to antenatal aquarobics at Fremantle pool, for another crack at some pre-labour exercise. I know that, when I arrive, the other women will roll their eyes and say "you still here?":..

And sure enough, they did. One of the other women who was due after me has already had her baby (early Sunday morning) ! I'm still not panicking- my midwife is due for a checkup any minute, after which I will go for a massage with my favourite doula, who reckons some pressure point work can do miracles.....

Passionfruit knows no seasons...

D and I are amazed that the 'Nelly Kelly' grafted passionfruit vine is as established as it is, only six months after planting it against the front limestone wall and that it is still putting out new tendrils in July! Perhaps it has been warmer and more humid overall this winter than I realize, even though it seems that temperatures have dropped at night? We have had more than our usual quota of sunny days. The rest of the vegetable garden is fallow, apart from self-seeded greens (random lettuces and spinach and parsley) which very thoughtfully popped up near the edge (it having become too arduous and treachorous for me to climb up onto the garden as my belly has gotten bigger with babe) and some self-seeded tomatoes in a nearby seedling planter. They are all thirstily drinking up the torrential rain as I type and doubling in size daily.

They say that in early parenthood it is important to learn to 'love the weeds'! The limestone 'cliff' is certainly weed-bound- I can't safely get up there and D has been doing so much else, on top of working still. I hope that with the aid of slings and 'baby-wearing' of different kinds, I might be able to garden with bubs in tow....

Let it rain...

Wow! The rain is amazing. July Perth deluge. My tum is taut with a baby about to be born. It is toast and baked potato and tea and stew time of year, nesting and cosying up and staying warm and indoors time...

I wonder when Bub-a-lugs will make the awesome journey? Today is my so-called 'due date', but I know that this process has its own time, follows its own course...Everything feels ready, the room, the tub. My body is ripe and the fridge is full. The midwives are poised. Sometime, sometime in the next week or two...