EDD: Aug 12 per US date at 5 weeks, Aug 2 per LMP. I'm putting my money on Aug 13.
Name: Alessandra "Ali"
Age: 36
Location: Portland, OR
Family: husband Mark, daughter Anyanka
Baby's Gender (hopes or guesses): At this point, after a lot of roller coastering, I'm pretty much back at ground zero, which is, don't know, don't care.
Names you like: Unusual ones.
Birth Plans/Preferences: Midwife attended homebirth planned, with a waterbirth option.
Strangest craving/aversion this pregnancy: I don't really have unusual cravings/aversions during pregnancy. I'm pretty much a devout "everything in moderation" girl normally, and as an "older and wiser" second timer, I've chosen to re-evaluate a lot of the food "no-no's" this time and eat what makes sense.
Hobbies/Interests: Rowing, trail running, cooking, knitting, sewing, travel...those are the ones that come to mind immediately.
Occupation: Certified Athletic Trainer, working at a university part time; do-it-yourself-er taking care of recently acquired rental properties part time; mom
How you met your SO: We went to high school together. We first connected as friends when I very briefly dated his best friend when I was a senior. We became best friends, and began dating a couple of years later. We'll be celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary on July 2, and have been a couple for 17 years.
How you ended up at MDC: It seemed to fit me better than the "mainstream" baby site i followed during my first pregnancy. I think I first came here looking for advice on co-sleeping and extended nursing with my first.
About this pregnancy: My DH and I swore we were having only one child. I had an IUD placed when our DD was 4 months old. We were shocked to get a positive pregnancy test on Dec 1, when I tested because I was 5 days late and couldn't come up with any other good explanations. The pregnancy couldn't be located on our first ultrasound, and we were afraid of an ectopic. The IUD was successfully removed in the first few days after finding out, and a second ultrasound a week later found a safely ensconced 4w6d embryo when I thought I'd be 6w4d. After a lot of initial panic, we've settled into a really good place and are deeply looking forward to meeting this determined little person who has defied our best attempts at planning. I'm working with Hypnobirthing techniques to help me relax and embrace delivery a little better than with my first. I was petrified of tearing, which made me afraid of actually birthing. I did have a 3rd degree tear, but I survived, and I'm trying really hard to let go of fear, and just focus on being open to the whole process. I had a pretty great first birth, all in all, only 7 hours, and am anticipating a wild ride this time.
Rightkindofme: Trip has been cancelled. I decided I'd be more relaxed by FINISHING things here, than by taking a break. I need to have time to nest and relax, and losing three weeks to travel and a camp first week of July seemed incredibly stressful with things looming over us still. I'll have to send you a check and have you ship stuff up here. Or wait until AFTER the baby, when we can relax and take a trip down there!
(Subtext: do you know when your trip will be yet?)
Follow Mothering