Winter get away... oh St John!

Back in my first trimester Andrew had the brilliant idea for us to take a little get away before baby and before belly keeps us from traveling. A bit of a babymoon! Time just for us with little babycentric thought! After some deliberation between one tropical paradise or another we decided on St John, the nearly completely preserved wonderland of the Caribbean! Andrew had gone to Cinnamon Bay when he was 16 and remembered it being incredible and vowing to return one day but with his girl, cuz it's just that beautiful and romantic. We briefly contemplated our accommodations before deciding on the platform tents! Yay, we would be camping!

We set the date, which seemed nearly a lifetime away, and got on with life. And as sure as time flies, the winter getaway was here and before we knew it we were buying an inflatable mattress! Now, just because I'm into camping doesn't mean I want to be cozying up alone on a cot! Beside, I wanted to have some comforts. I can do without hot water, but anyone who knows me knows I hold beds to a high standard!

So there we were, with great anticipation of our romantic, Caribbean get away! We just had our last obligation, the appointment with the midwife and then the next day we'd be loving it up in St John! So we got to the appointment with the report from my last ultrasound in hand hoping all was well. And well, mostly all was well! A few little things to keep an eye on, but nothing that should truly worry us! Except one day before leaving on our romantic get away we were being told no sex! What!? How counter romantic island get away!

Ha, figures! I actually blamed Andrew. We had just had a conversation the week before where I'd asked him if he was less attracted to me because of the many changes going on, to my body, to our lives.... He answered, without thinking, that he'd never really been into fat chicks! He then quickly added, "But, I don't think you're fat!" Well, good! But still, ouch! We had a good chat and then laugh about the many changing things, feelings, coming up in our lives. Yes, lots had changed, me, for one! I'm pregnant, there's a baby growing inside of my body. That's so science fiction it could be a little creepy, if it wasn't so normal and cool of course! There's the fact that we now live together, sleep together and see each other everyday. That curbs ones enthusiasm a little get it on every time one stays the night! And there's general not wanting to hurt the baby, me etc, just weird, awkward, maneuvering to change things up a bit. But the change is good! And the conversation ended of course with a little roll in the hay for old times sake.

But then there we were in with the midwife hearing her say, no sex. In fact, only first base! And it would be 8 weeks until we could run the bases as she so playfully added! That's very sad news to hear, but especially so before one's romantic get away in the Caribbean! It seems my placenta position takes precedent over all others!

Ok, ok but what about our trip!?
It was heaven and all that I'd hoped it would be... sans sexy time, of course. So beautiful and we had the good fortune to have the most coveted spot in the camp grounds. We were mere feet from the beach and slept to the sound of crashing waves and tree frogs every night! It took us no time to adopt island time and we easily fell into an awesome rhythm. Sleep in, yoga on the beach, breakfast at the tent, and then decide....uhm, snorkeling in what is practically a fish tank!, take out the catamaran, go for a hike, day trip to another bay!? Oh, the decisions. We did them all, of course, as the days unfolded. But most of the time we sat in chairs, soaking up sunrays and reading! I actually finished a fictional book! Bel Canto. A lovely read and perfect for the mood I was in.

We ate dinnr every night in town, another ritual that just took shape. Finish beaching it, shower a little, go to the camp ground bar for a drink (me: mango smoothie or virgin pina colada, Andrew: margarita) and then take the taxi on the craziest ride into town.... Never have a sen such switch backs! I never felt bad paying for these cabs, anyone who can navigate those turns deserves great respect! The best was riding the bus back into town one day and watching the driver make the tightest curved I'd ever seen a bus make, and barely make! with inches of wiggle room! Oh, adventure!

Luckily our days moved slowly by and we were able to sped time away from our lives as they are in Philly right now and be completely without an agenda, and deeply enjoying the time we had together. It turns out it was better that I had ever imagined! Even without deflating our air mattress!

I'm an aunt!

Yes, my sister was pregnant with her child, born February 14th, at 3:29 pacific time, 6lbs 9oz. Little Susan Schell is a Valentine baby!

Interview with a Doula

I had the pleasure and great experience of assisting a wonderful friend with the delivery of her baby over a year ago now. It was intense, trance-like, time suspended and each effort was repeated over and over until finally her little boy made his way into the world. I had no idea how I could possibly help when she and her husband first asked me and later she has said she could have never done it without both her husband and myself there. This was my first experience with the role and function of a doula. I was there to provide support and encouragement to both her and husband while the comings and going on the hospital took place.

It was a powerful experience on all levels and I was certain I would want this support as well. A dear friend in Florida is a doula and offered her services, but how to make that happen and work easily was a big challenge for me. So I began to think and meditate on my doula and how I would find her. But how do you even begin to interview a doula, how do you even begin to find one? It felt so right to be there with my girlfriend while she labored, we are friends first. How do you do this with a stranger? Oh boy....

Well, a bit of good fortune shined on us one night at a friend's going away party. We were talking to new parents about their birth experience, which happened to be at the birthing center, and how great the staff was there and how especially great their doula was!!! Ahhh, tell me more. And so I interviewed them and was quite happy with their happiness. I remembered new-dad saying they felt like they now have a friend for life. And well we were all friends one step removed at that party so I felt perhaps this doula was also already my friend, and more importantly this baby's friend. Needless to say, I got her contact info and emailed her the next day!

Shortly following, Brittany came to our house for tea. Friends perhaps but neighbors in fact! She lives on the next block over! Well, that was cool in my opinion. So, there we were having tea in the afternoon sun talking babies, deliveries, and generally getting to know each other. It turns out she also teaches birthing classes and is a lactation consultant. Her rates are very reasonable and she's simply everything I was hoping for. I told her this and that we'd like her to work with us!

First doula interviewed and hired! Wow, soooo much easier than I thought it would be!