Thirty-Three Weeks

Things are going pretty well. I woke up one night this past week, repeatedly, with pain in my back and hips. Pain I didn't have when I went to bed. This was the conversation I had with myself.

"Wow, that's some kind of pain!"

"Yeah, I know, crazy!"

"Where did it come from, you think?"

"I don't know! It's weird that it wasn't even there when we went to bed."

"Right??? You think we could be in labor?"

"Wow, labor!"

"I know, wouldn't it be trippy???"

"Totally! Only... wouldn't there be.... CONTRACTIONS if we were in labor??? Because this pain is pretty steady, and contractions would be starting and stopping."

"Ohhhh.... Yeah, good point. I guess we're not in labor."

"Oh well. In that case, I reckon we should go back to sleep.

"Sounds about right. G'night, then."

"G'night."

(Yes, I really do have conversations with myself.)

Lentil did a crazy stretching or bouncing up and down thing today, such that I felt pressure at the top and bottom of my uterus at the same time. It felt pretty odd. She's also taken to bouncing on my bladder at random times, which feels quite disconcerting.

I keep getting this rib pain, but only my right side, which is actually quite bothersome. But I haven't had to resort to Tylenol yet.

My ankles are looking a little better today -- I've been spending time flexing my foot back and forth, with the thought that perhaps it would aid circulation, and it seems to be working. I also read that lying on my left side would help with this, so I've been trying to favor that side... who knows, maybe that is having an effect? Or maybe it's all just a fluke. Yesterday's standing around made things pretty narly (?sp) looking down there. Maybe my long walk through Prospect Park today helped, too.

And in non-pregnancy news... yesterday I went for a "hike" (a half mile each way) with my new gardening friend, Mylinh, and her friend Jess. We took Metro North along the Hudson River (spectacular views!) to Croton on Hudson. It's a nature preserve with a beach tucked into a little nook off the river. What we didn't know was that there was a huge music festival going on there this weekend.

Reading the line-up made my heart hurt, but at $85 a ticket, it didn't make sense to buy one, given that we would only be there for a couple of hours.

(In case you can't read it, the line-up includes Arlo Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Dar Williams, Indigo Girls, Suzanne Vega... some of my favorites! And yes, they are playing to a certain demographic... the one that can afford to live in Westchester! I heard the haunting sound of the Nields singing, too, while we were walking around... they aren't a big enough name to make the poster, apparently, which makes the line-up all the more impressive to me!)

We had a beautiful time swimming and hanging out on the beautiful beach, and I promised myself that I will be back next year for sure, baby in tow! I'd love to make a SMC Father's Day Weekend tradition of it. Anyone else want to go?

(This spot would also be wonderful for camping and hiking on other weekends... there are lifeguards on duty, and beautiful trees, and no doubt beautiful nature trails as well. The beach would be perfect for little ones. Indeed, there were lots of them there. And check out the backdrop of the Palisades across the river!)

God, I love summer! (Nine more days of work!!!)