Big Sisters and 2nd, 2nd Trimesters

12 Weeks + 2 Days

The difference between my first 2nd trimester and my second 2nd trimester has been remarkable.

Not because how I'm physically reacting to the changes that are happening in my body - but that I am different.

At this point in my pregnancy with Harper, I was anxious about everything.

At this point, because of a change of insurance at the turn of the year, and well, life, I have yet to even have my first official prenatal appointment.  (That is being remedied, I assure you.)

One other huge difference, is I've been a professional doula for 5 years!  I now train other people to be doulas!  Birth is a bit less mysterious and terrifying.

So with his being the launch of more musing from a pregnant lady on the internet, hello.  This is more for my unborn child, than for you.  A child, that almost every person who dares has told me its a boy.  Time will tell.

Let That Sh*t Go

Some quick but useful advice I handed out over on my doula blog.   No biggie.  Just let that shit go. 

It goes with this little ditty:

Monday Haiku
Advice to newbies
You gotta let that shit go
No one is perfect

By A Swift Doula

Washington Visit

Photos!

Blogs all over

Hello lovely people. 

Life is being lived over here! 

I have gotten some complaints that I never post on this blog, but let me assure, you it is for good reason!  I am happy to say that my doula work has been keeping me busy!  Part of my commitment to growing my business is to have a blog for my website, and it has only been two posts, but the response has been great! 

If you are curious, take a peek  --->  A Swift Doula Blog

Other fantastic and exciting things in our lives - Mr. Swift accepted a job offer yesterday, and he is already off on his new schedule today!  He appreciates me sharing close to nothing about him, so no details here :)

Harper is also getting excited about starting day care again in September.  She is soooo ready to have close friends here.  For example, we were at Oz Park on the north side today, and she found another 2.5 year old and they held hands, hugged, and pulled each other all over that play ground.  It must be hard being the only little person in the house!

We also just had a great visit to Washington.  I'll try to post some pictures when I find/unpack my cords. 

Enjoy my blog and if you know any pregnant women in Chicago, feel free to give out my name and info! 

Ariel Swift, Birth Doula!  Here is my website if you want to share it! --->  A Swift Doula

Cheers!

Mother's Day Weekend

 I had a surprise mother's day weekend!  I knew my best, grood (good and great) friend Sarah Rupke would be joining me for a long weekend, but it wasn't until the days approached that I realized it would be over mother's day!  It was amazing!

We took in a White Sox game, ate some amazing food, took in the sights of Andersonville, enjoyed Millennium Park, and Osaka Gardens.  I haven't seen Sarah for 2 years, and it was just too freakin' long. 

And it's April

writing a letter to my friend that just went into basic training.  This friend was a boy I used to babysit 15 YEARS ago.  Whoa.

I didn't fall off the planet, I promise! 

We've been living, breathing, and making messes in our apartment.  IN OUR APARTMENT!  It took a bit of time to get all the final kinks worked out, and to have reliable hot water, and to, I don't know, have faith that we were really in our place.  But we are.  And we love it. 
 

We have very few duplo pieces, but it doesn't stop us from having a blast.  Harper is a big fan of making "rwellwe big" towers.

Harper likes to watch the lobsters at the store.  She found other lobster enthusiasts one day.

 

Being new to the city, most of my interactions have been with moms I've never met at parks, and chatting with people in the grocery store.  Two weeks ago I looked for a running group, or something, that I could go to and see some adults that would know me for being something other than Harper's mom, and so far so good.  (Mom, you know what I mean, right?)

 

Cat in the Hat after her bath

Umbrellas = "surprise!" over and over and over and over

 

My doula work is going well, and I've been busy with births.  Most of them are through the volunteer group I'm with, CVD, but I've also booked some independent (read: Paying!) clients.  This doula thing is a marathon, not a sprint, and I'm sometimes with myself for not doing more.  

 

Going shopping at Costco after the park. 

An early spring view from our window out to the lake.

 

I have a super great friend coming from AZ to visit in May, and you can be sure to hear our ruckus (from where ever you are!)  I'm happy we'll have running water, warm weather, and the moving boxes out of our place when she gets here, not that she'd care one iota.  

 

We set up the Lego table from Aunt Mary Jo and it's pretty much the bee's knees.  Lego, forts, jumping.  Harper is putting it to the test.

She likes to do puzzles when she uses the loo.

 

But as you can see from the pictures, Harper is HUGE.  She is getting more independent.  She is speaking more words.  Her Awesome is pretty much at an 11.   

Doing her chore to feed the cats.

Life in the Vortex

 We are not yet in our apartment.  Yesterday we received an update that it would be at least two weeks before the cold water would be working (ie: toilets can flush) and then another 4 to get the hot.  We are rolling with the punches. 

At least this time we aren't getting our hopes up every 3 days that there might be change. 

Harper seems to be fine with all the mess, as it's doubtless she even realizes anything is amiss. 

 There are pictures to color and sticker!  There are light switches to turn on and off!  There are pots to stir!

 In the last 6 weeks, there has been encouraging movement with my doula business.  I am now volunteering with Chicago Volunteer Doulas!  I've also met a handful of women that are encouraging me and helping me navigate this very large birth community. 

 Harper and I took a two day trip to Bloomington to visit friends - above is the only shot that is worth showing from that time. 

 And then the superbowl happened - Go Seahawks!

So, we are still here.  In snowy Chicago.  Perhaps next update will be from the comfort of our heated and water-running apartment!