Birthing Eve

Hi 

Tomorrow is the big day. I feel pretty prepared. But, how can anyone feel totally prepared for something that is going to change their life forever? We had our house cleaned today--which feels great. I took Frida on a walk around the neighborhood with a new appreciation for sweatshirt hoods considering it wasn't before I glanced in the mirror on the way out I remembered I am bald! I ran in to another woman with a dog and a baby in a stroller and uncharacteristically stopped her to ask her how she got her dog to be so well behaved while walking with the stroller and within five minutes she knew I had cancer, was pregnant, being induced tomorrow and freaked out. Her name was Nicki, lives in Lagunitas and did not run screaming from my presence--she even gave me her cell number so we can take baby walks together. But, she also told me her dog slept outside the first week the baby came home. Yeah, if anyone knows me and my dog, Frida is NOT sleeping outside. Then I puttered and finally got my act together to get out of the house (found a nice black wool cap) and in to Fairfax where my dad installed a new battery in my car, gave me a greasy hug and an eyeful of tears. We danced around the horribleness of everything and he made jokes about the various people driving by his mechanic shop (I think he knows everyone who lives in the town of Fairfax) and that's about as deep as it got. Nina met me there with Amara and we went to that little hippy clothing store Culture Shock on the hunt for scarves--not good. And then, I had my first and unfortunately ONLY pre-natal massage by a wonderful woman, Lois Langevin-King. I am kicking myself for not doing that every week. Felt great. Room was warm, she had great energy and I sunk right in to it. And now I am home. And kind of freaking out. So I think I will take a shower, pack my hospital bag, and watch Project Runway and act like everything is like it is all the time. Except tomorrow I am having a baby. Above are photos of the baby's room (obviously). Note the dresser without knobs. Greg took care of that while I was at the massage. So we are good now. Phew! Those pictures on the wall are from a calendar Greg got me years ago (like 8 probably) that I have been saving for my 'baby's' room every since. It's weird to see them up there just like I always imagined. Now if I can just imagine a smooth labor, a speedy recovery, no more cancer for the rest of my life, a calm dog, world peace and make it happen in that same way....

xo

Ro