Women for Women

I will start by saying I am exhausted. It's 11:04 p.m. and I don't know how that happened. I'm watching Juliette in the monitor right next to my laptop and, mentally, I am in bed right next to her. As soon as I finish writing this, I will join her. If I start undressing on my way up the stairs, it will take me less than 90 seconds until my head is on the pillow. Ahh..sweet, sweet sleep. (Ignoring the fact that my daughter thinks I am a cat and should just lay there all night with all my nipples available to her whenever she wants them. Good thing she's frigging adorable.)

Before bed, however, I just wanted to quickly say that women rule. We really do. When we band together over something and choose to support one another and help one another (instead of tearing one another down or judging each other), it is awesome. 

Since becoming pregnant, I have joined more "groups" than I have ever belonged to in all my 34 (I mean, 29) years. Some were 'pregnancy groups' with women due around the same time as me. Some are 'single momma' groups with women who obviously have something in common with me. And others are just 'mom' groups based on other common beliefs or traits. I love them all. Complete strangers have made me laugh, cry, and feel stronger than I ever imagined over the last 15 months. These women, most of whom I never have met, have been my go-to support system; whether I ask a quick question from the aisle of a grocery store about which vitamins to purchase, or if I pour my heart out about my world caving in around me before a day in family court, these women are there for me. No questions asked. No judgment. They just respond. They respond with opinions and stories and their experiences - their worlds and hearts and lives are open to me. It's pretty amazing. 

I have learned from these women, these fellow moms, in a risk-free environment. I have tried things I never would have tried and I have become, already, a better mother. Not necessarily because I learned how (and why) to make my own baby food, or because I know I wear my baby the right way, or because I deal better with F - but because they have built me up as a person. As a woman. As a mother. They have opened my eyes to things I didn't know. They have given me choices and research and experiences to back things up. They have built up my confidence so that I can easily handle the "other" people out there with their looks and questions and judgments. ("Oh, you're going to breastfeed right there? In public?" or "Formula and jarred baby food never killed anyone." Or another favorite, "Why don't you let her cry it out?! She'll never learn.")

I would suggest to those "other" people, by the way, to join their own groups. Maybe they'd be happier, more confident in their own ways and less inclined to tear down others. But to women everywhere, I encourage you all to remember that we are a group - we are females. And we must, must, must help one another and build each other up. Many women whom I have never met have made a lasting impact on my life and therefore on my daughter's life - I'm sending a big THANK YOU to all of them right now on both of our behalves. 

Love,
Momeo and Juliette
XOXO

Decorated!!!

Decorated! Tree up! Christmas cookies baked (well at least two different kinds so far: spritz cookies and saltine cookies. More to come)! Not bad for a cranky pregnant lady – and I cooked Sunday dinner yesterday for the fam. My feet were swollen for the first time last night – I felt like a real-live pregnant person. Now that’s one classic symptom I hadn’t had yet (I feel like I have had everything else, classic or not).

I worked a lot over the weekend as well since last week was so slow. I need those hours up – this baby is expensive! Same for today – a boring, work day with nothing else planned. But that’s ok because I am working and looking at my Charlie Brown Christmas tree which Justin carried for me and Adam and Jared helped decorate. I also adore my Pinterest mason jars (yes, I actually made them). They are simple and beautiful (if I do say so myself).

No developments on the baby front other than my impending appointment with Dr. Erhart on Thursday morning. I’m anxious to ask him questions and see what he says about this cholistasis nonsense. Until then, I am absorbing all my baby kicks (of which there are a TON all day long) and counting down til I can meet this little angel. F and I are supposed to get together Thursday night after the doctor so that we can “discuss baby things.” He called and asked for the time after our last talk. No comment. (Until Friday morning. Then I’ll fill you in.)

Going on my BabyBump app all of the time now. I am in the January 2013 group and it’s scary and exciting to read posts from so many women who are due next month having their babies early, going into labor and delivery every day, and scheduling inductions and C-sections. It is really going to happen. Next month. I almost don’t believe it.

Back to work for me. With some spritz cookies to help ease the pain ;)

58 days to go!!! (possibly 37?!)