Mothering Sunday

As the last of things on our "Two Months To Do List" get crossed off, I realize that I now have no more excuses not to give in and relax as much as possible before this baby comes. Before I had our first, I took vacation time off from work 1 week before my due date, and another week following that. I remember feeling both peacefulness and anxiousness during those 2 weeks, but am still so thankful for that time all to myself. During this past week I've also been finishing up random projects like helping a friend plan her summer wedding, re-organize our office, clean anything I can think of, stock the house with necessities, and make this below playlist of songs for labor. 


Part of our Hypnobirthing training encouraged us to play music during labor, so for our first birth I made the typical playlist of relaxing songs by Yanni and Enya. Come labor, it took about 5 min. of listening to that for us to realize that slow-paced music was just not going to work for us. Having recently discovered Ingrid Michaelson earlier that summer, I told Bart to switch up the iPod. We listened to the 10 songs that I had of hers on repeat for about 7 hrs. and kept getting compliments from all of the medical staff about what great music we choose since labor IS active and upbeat! 


I still have the most magical memories of our son's birth whenever I listen to her and know that I want her music to be present again, in addition to some other catchy (but not too trendy or annoying) songs I've been listening to lately....


Labor Song Playlist:
All the Same to Me....Anya Marina
Planetarium Suite (Adam movie soundtrack)......Chris Lennertz
All Love....Ingrid Michaelson
Be OK....Ingrid Michaelson
Keep Breathing...Ingrid  Michaelson
Better....Regina Spektor
Other Side of the World...KT Turnstall
Breakable...Ingrid Michaelson
The Way I Am....Ingrid Michaelson
Don't Let Me Fall...Lenka
Parachute....Ingrid Michaelson
Shark In the Water...V.V. Brown
Turn to Stone...Ingrid Michaelson
Umbrella....Marie Digby
Better Together...Jack Johnson
Never Know...Jack Johnson
Let It Go...Jack Johnson
Let Go...Ingrid Michaelson


SO, off I go to put up my feet (and probably fall asleep). Food cravings lately have been really strong...my favs are juice or water over lots of ice, applesauce, pickles, ice cream, banana bread, ALL fruit, and chocolate chip cookies. Oh, isn't being pregnant just great. ;)


May you all enjoy a wonderful first weekend of April! I am thrilled for this month and the anticipation of a new family member soon to be entering into our lives. I noticed on my calendar that this Sunday is Mothering Sunday in Ireland and the UK. I assumed it was similar to our holiday of Mother's Day, but looked it up to find out....according to Wikipedia: Mothering Sunday is a Christian festival celebrated throughout Europe and it falls on the 4th Sunday in Lent in reference to Virgin Mary and the "mother church." Mothering Sunday became a day when domestic servants were given a day off to visit their mothers and other family members. It was often the only time that whole families could gather together, since in other days they were prevented by conflicting working hours.

Coincidentally enough, I have plans this Sunday with my mother; lucky me!