Yesterday we finished a four-week childbirth class taught by one of the midwifery students working with our midwife team. The class featured a nice mix of review information that we already knew or had read, as well as new information and ideas that were great to learn. We enjoyed the small class size of only us and one other couple, as well as the teacher and one other student midwife who also joined to listen, learn, and contribute each week. It was also nice that the class took place only once a week and the series was finished in four weeks, although that did mean that each class time was three hours long. Our teacher always brought snacks and encouraged us to bring food to eat during the class, though, so the longer class time wasn't too draining. And about halfway through each class session we always got up and moving by practicing different stretches, exercises, and birthing positions. Although we had originally wanted to take a Bradley birth class, the lack of Bradley teachers in Maine combined with our move at an awkward time during my pregnancy meant that doing that twelve-week course didn't work out for us for this pregnancy. Hopefully we can take the Bradley class next time. All in all, though, we are very happy that this class, sponsored by our midwife team, started just after we moved here, and that there was room for us to join and learn more about this birthing process that we'll be going through shortly.
Moving on, I've been getting by for church clothes by wearing a loose, flowy skirt and a dress top that has always been a bit large for me, but that I've always thought would be perfect for pregnancy as it's loose and drapey from the bust down. It's been working fine since we left Maine because we've been going to different churches each week while traveling and looking around for a new church family here in California. But I did finally buy my first maternity dress sometime during the past two weeks (featured above). I'm not sure if I'll actually wear it to church, but it's cool and super comfortable, perfect for this hot weather.
Speaking of weather, it's getting pretty warm here. The week we arrived in Folsom was the hottest one of the year to that point, but luckily for us, it cooled down again a bit in the following weeks. This week, though, it's going to be getting pretty hot again, and next week looks even hotter. And this is only the beginning of June. Northerners, please don't complain about winters. In my opinion, even the worst of winters are a hundred times better than weather that is too hot. At least in the cold you can always add more clothes, but there's only so much you can take off in the heat... Thank goodness our apartment complex has a pool! (And for the record, I don't really think I'm more sensitive to the heat simply because I'm pregnant. I still don't get nearly as warm as Jonathan does, and when we turn on the A/C in our apartment I'm the first one to mention when it's getting a bit too cool.)
I've been getting a lot of people asking me what my baby is, girl or boy. When I answer that we're not finding out until the baby arrives, I get some pretty interesting reactions. Some people say something like, "Oh, well that's OK," as if consoling me for not knowing. I find that amusing because it is our choice not to find out, so we definitely realize that it's OK that we don't know yet... Other people say something like, "Yep, that's how it always used to be," or "That's how it was for me back when I had my kids." And a few others (mostly midwives/OBs) are excited to hear that we don't know yet. "I love it when it's a surprise! It's so much fun to find out once the baby arrives," is their usual response. Some people ask me how I can stand not knowing, and honestly it hasn't really been something I've been struggling with. I feel this pregnancy has just flown by and I haven't had too much time to spend worrying about if the baby will be a boy or a girl. Of course I've sometimes imagined the baby being one or the other, but it definitely hasn't been a constant, burning thought. I'm still very satisfied with our decision to wait until our baby arrives to find out what we're having.
Another thing a few people have asked us is if we have a name picked out for our baby yet. When asked that question, we always look at each other, laugh, and respond, "Not yet." Like I mentioned in one of our first pregnancy posts, way back in January, Jonathan and I don't really agree on names. We didn't back when we were dating and we still don't. We do have a very small list of names that one likes and the other admits is fine, but hardly any that we both really like. In the past week or so we have tentatively agreed that one boy's name is fairly okay, but for girl's names, we're still pretty far apart in our ideas. Hopefully actually seeing our baby will give us some ideas or bring our thoughts closer together. If not, I have no idea how we'll ever agree on a name for this little one!
And that's about all of the interesting updates I can think of to share with you at 34 weeks. I'm sure they'll be plenty more in another couple weeks!
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