This time last year, I looked like this.
My maternity leave had already begun. In fact, I took almost a full month off before Penelope arrived. I was certain that she was going to come before her due date, so I thought I was only taking a week or two, at most, off before she arrived. Looking back, I am thankful beyond words for that month. I was highly impatient, but I still enjoyed the waiting very much. What a gift that time was. If you are pregnant, and can manage to do it, I highly recommend taking off as much time as you can before your baby arrives.
I spent my days sleeping in till whenever I wanted, leisurely having breakfast and then going for a long walk. I would eat again and do some nesting around the house and then take a nap. Eating, nesting, napping, resting, relaxing, walking, that is all I did for an entire month!
Once a week, I went to prenatal yoga and afterward met up with my friends at New Leaf for dinner. I treasure those moments so much.
I rented the entire collection of Mad Men and watched it ALL. Every time I watched an episode I needed to have a glass of milk and some cookies. I ate a lot of cookies and milk (and good stuff too, but man, I really craved milk and cookies!)
I will never again get that time back and I will never again be childless and have all the time in the world to do whatever the hell I want. I guess, except for one day, when I my children are grown and have left my nest.
The countdown to Penelope's 1st Birthday feels very much like the countdown to her arrival. The weather is the same, I feel like nesting, cleaning, creating, and tending to my garden. I feel like slowing down and waiting, trying to soak up these last few weeks of her babyhood. Remembering where I was this time last year. Just yesterday, we went to St. Mark's Wildlife Refuge and saw the butterflies coming in and it seemed like a blink of the eye that we did that very same thing, last year, except Penelope was in my belly still and this year she was carried on the back of her Papa as we hiked around.
I think in honor of her Birthday countdown, in the coming weeks, I will share some more pictures of what I was doing this time last year, so stayed tuned!
What a beautiful picture!! I hope you have that in a big portrait in your house. It is so unreal how fast this has all gone by. Everyday since about a week or so before HC's birthday I have been thinking about what I was doing last year this time. Who was visiting, what I was feeling and doing. I still can't believe it all. Look fwd to more pics and stories of this time last year for you :)
ReplyDeleteso sweet! I loved those yoga/dinner dates at New Leaf... those days will never be here again. So beautiful now that she is here, can't wait for her birthday celebration.
ReplyDeleteHi, I follow along with your blog and wanted to ask where you did prenatal yoga. I am desperate to find one! The only classes I have found are both around 5:30 and that doesnt really work. Do you know of any others? Thanks so much! love your blog!!!
ReplyDelete@Ali.. Thank you! We do! We have two in the master bath. I was wondering if the feeling would continue after her birthday too. I hope I just remember all the good stuff and not the traumatic nursing stuff.
ReplyDelete@Julie...well maybe when Felix and Penelope is Sasha's age and we are pregnant again, we can do something similar!
@Rebecca...I would recommend doing whatever you can to make it work for your schedule. It is so worth it. For your body and mind but also for the camaraderie of being a room full of pregnant women all going through the same experience. If you really can't make it work, look for a gentle yoga class and ask if the teacher is trained enough to know what poses are contraindicated for pregnancy. And so glad you like the blog, thank you for telling me!
That is a gorgeous photo... and post :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photo!!! I love looking back at my pregnant belly photos and remembering that special time fondly. It's hard to believe that my DS is 9m old alreay. This time really does fly by. My special day I think will be Christmas. DH and I went down to Wakulla for Christmas eve and enjoyed one last mini-vacay away from home (but close enough that we could get to the hospital if need be). We spend the day watching old Christmas movies and enjoying the beautiful weather. Quin was born 15 days later. Oh how different this Christmas will be! Joyfully present and happily reminiscent.
ReplyDelete