Ummmmmmmmazing

I started prenatal yoga yesterday and I think I have a new addiction.

I have ALWAYS wanted to get started in yoga. I really wanted to do it when I was pregnant with Carter, but couldn't get out of work in time. This time, with all the physical pain and weakness I've been dealing with its become absolutely necessary. Probably knowing that I would procrastinate my way out of ever going, Russ bought me a mat and gave me the money and all but pushed me towards the door.

Art of Yoga studios in Paseo has a prenatal yoga class each week at a great time. Don't have to rush to get there. I was a little surprised at the number of pregnant women there. As I was parking I could see them coming from all directions..it was a little Alfred Hitchcock-esque. There were women there that were due last week, some due tomorrow, some my stage, some brand new preggers...all sizes of bellies...it was really neat to think of all these little babies silently kicking around in all these bellies in one room.

So we get into the large yoga room and I find a spot and unroll my new mat. I'm watching all the experts intently so I can mimic how they set up and what they get and what they brought and how they sit....I hate that "new girl at school" feeling sometimes, especially when there is a lot of unknown procedure involved.

They started with a birth-story from one of the instructors. She just had her second child and opted for the 'home birth.' Which is REALLY interesting to me. Her husband and her Doula just chilled at home and delivered a baby. I think a few midwives were present when things were progressing, but it sounded really relaxed...Flashbacks to screaming and crabwalking over my mother while a little asian man directed "yoo fiting yosef wowa" ... I found myself mentally taking notes of her detailed story of calmness and ease of childbirth...This makes two stories I now know of that proves it can be done without areal suspension harnesses.

Then we got the yoga kicked off. All the poses were pretty basic, but really helpful. I didn't find myself unable to get into any of them. I had a hard time holding a few that required thigh strength, but I pushed myself through it. Most of the time, since I was in the back, I was able to watch the other girls and see how they get into them, until one time when we had to turn and i was facing the wall, I was that clumsy chick at Incahoots with my head turned to a 180 trying to get through the steps of the electric slide....Then at the end we had a relaxation time, that involved lights out and I seriously almost fell asleep..it was great.

All yogying aside, Gracyn is well. She is super active and getting bigger. I have been eating like a mad women. I crave stuff, but nothing weird. Mostly salty stuff, or sometimes sweet stuff. Just depends on my mood. I've noticed I've had more mental energy lately and my mood is stabling. I've been able to keep up with housework and not want to trim off Russ's head with my laser beam eyes. I still find myself needing a quick nap during the day. Sometimes I come home at lunch, or sometimes I chain Carter to the recliner with a bag of frozen peas and pop in Thomas the Train. (DHS disclaimer, J/K!) Carter has begun phasing out his naps during the day...always working in two directions..story of my life.

Time is flying by! I am at 26 weeks ( I think) Russ closes on his house at the end of the month and we've got a pretty good plan to be prepared for December. At this point, I fear the entire month more than I do child birth...In fact, I might opt for the epidural just to get me through Gracyn's birth, Christmas, Carter's birthday, being unemployed, and snow....

And now all of a sudden the dream about the Anaconda living under my christmas tree makes sense...

Inhale through nose...release your breath through the mouth with a slight hummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

namaste