Additional Belly Castings on Flickr

This photostream is pretty cool-check out all the designs she's used to paint the belly.

Belly Casting (Amy's 1st) Sports theme
Originally uploaded by Hope's art

Plaster Cast of Belly 39 Weeks 5 days

I'm off work now, and it's so nice! I've been cooking and freezing food for post-baby, running errands, planting mums in containers in the back, cleaning house, and try to walk a bit each day. This evening is prenatal yoga--maybe (hopefully?) my last class. Tomorrow is a prenatal visit and I scheduled an at-home massage. Mom flies in on Sunday, and hopefully baby will come along before she leaves on the 2nd of November.

Last night Danette came over and we made a plaster cast of my torso. It's drying here in this picture. I'm thinking of a few ideas for it..and am accepting suggestions. :)

• Halloween costume for Micah
  
• paint it navy blue, drill little constellation-type holes in it and light it from behind
  
• paint it with a henna-type design
  
• make it waterproof,hang it on the wall and have plants growing out of the top
  
• flip it over and use it as a fruit bowl
  
• use it as a slightly inappropriate centerpiece during a dinner party
  

Plaster Cast of Belly 39 Weeks 5 days
Originally uploaded by lauren buckland

New Arrival?

No, not yet, junior has not arrived. But I wanted to share one of the half dozen pictures I've collected of cute things. Rather than use a candle, or a rock, or a peacefull image to focus on while in labor I'm going to have a whole bunch of pictures of really cute things that make me feel giddy. I'll report back and let you know if it works.

Cute Kitten
Originally uploaded by lauren buckland

Still Pregnant

I'm due in ten days, so I shouldn't be hoping to go into labor soon, but I am. Micah predicts next Monday. My last day of work is this Friday. Tonight I led a public meeting in Orinda for their Bicycle, Trail and Walkway Master Plan that I'm managing. Came home all invigorated from the meeting and am just now winding down enough to go to bed.

Real Round Belly - 38 weeks

This is probably the most surreal view of my larger-and-larger belly. I gained 1 pound this week, 3 pounds the week before. I'm just now beginning to want to stop being pregnant. It's kind of like wishing for Christmas to come, except with shortness of breath, inability to pick anything up from the floor, aching hips keeping me up at night, and exhaustion.

Real Round Belly - 38 weeks
Originally uploaded by lauren buckland
Oh, and here's some pictures from the baby shower.

Pica, Status, Baby Shower

Ever heard of pica? It's common in kids and pregnant women--a craving for inedible or strange things, like dirt, ice, baking soda. I'm pretty sure I have a mild form of it--I really like the smell of Pine Sol, roof tar and fresh asphalt. I discovered my cravings as they were repaving the street in front of our work building. They don't know what causes it, but it tends to be related to an iron deficiency. And women who had it as kids are more likely to have it when they're pregnant. I think I may have had pica as a kid--I remember standing in the car exhaust breathing in the fumes because they smelled so good. Plus I did (still do) really like the smell of mildew.

In other news, my doctor seems to think I'll be on time or maybe a bit early. Micah leans over to my belly several times a day and tells junior that he should just stay in there for a week and a half longer so Daddy can get his job applications done.

And, lastly, my neighbors Else and Emily threw a wonderful baby shower for us! Else's sister decorated the house, and we had a lot of our friends come for a potluck brunch. Micah's parents came down from Humboldt for the day. It was great to see everyone, and I'll post photos soon.

Things are Coming Together

We're close to ready. Some items that we've gotten done recently:

• Purchased used glider on Craigslist ($200 for $500 glider, great deal)
• Looked at rugs for office/baby room
• Got permission from our landlady to use a spare dresser she has in the garage (Micah's dresser will be the changing table)
  
• Found a doula in training who needs one more birth before she can become certified and will interview her soon
  
• Took cats to vet for a flea bath and nail trimming (they are so much happier now)
• Calculated how many days a week I have to go back to work in January (4 at my current salary, possibly 3 if we're really budget-conscious, I get a raise or we find low-cost daycare)
• Ordered diaper service
• Got references for about 15 home-based daycare centers in Berkeley near my work
• Researched breast pumps and decided on one
  
• Signed up for baby CPR and first aid classes
  

It's been a lot of work. Especially while working full-time, ok more than full-time, and not getting enough sleep at night. (Stress, aches and pains and a highly compressed bladder will do that to you.) Surprisingly, I'm not too overwhelmed. I think it helps that I'm still listening to the relaxation CD that came with our hypnosis class, and it works wonders. When Micah gets the chance to read a script to me, that is also very nice.

Saturday we have a little pre-baby birthday party brunch that my backyard neighbors are organizing. Super sweet!