Still waiting...

Ahhh...yes, the waiting game continues. I'm thankful for the quiet, the extra time, the peacefulness, the long sleeps, the pre-labor contractions. All in purpose to ready the mind and body for the journey to come.
I am painting my earth mother painting I have been visualizing this whole time. Feels so good to have hours to devote to creative projects. And everyday I am enjoying them like they may be the last (for awhile at least).
The functional preparations are nearly complete. I can honestly say we are ready when the baby is ready. Tomarrow is the 'official' due date as determined by my doctor, and the 2nd is the due date as given by the midwifery center. If the baby is still whithin after that, we shall implement the age-old techiniques we've been hearing all about:
pressure points, massage and nipple stimulation, walking, dancing, lovemaking and riding mechanical bulls.
Grammy Linda will be here a week from Tuesday already! I am so excited to be surrounded by so many loved ones, whether in spirit or physical form. We already feel so much love.
So...I'm betting the next blog will feature the newest member of our family.
Stay tuned my friends!!!
much love, blissful blessings
Not-so-Little Mama LeeLee

Belly Cast!!

Wu-hoo! We got our belly casted!! I'm glad we made it this far, because as of three this morning, I thought this could very well be labor day instead of belly cast day! I woke up with pretty strong contractions (compared to what I had been feeling at least) and was up til about 6:30 breathing thru them wondering if they are the real ones or not. Well, after going back to sleep for a couple hours, the went back to the mild ones, so I don't think the real thing is here QUITE yet.

So instead we got to do the belly cast as planned! We had a beautiful circle of friends over to help create it. Candace (who painted baby belly on Halloween) and Simon from Sundance, Serene and Lakota (our 5 year old little buddy), Heather, Jeannie and Ali.



Papa got some video and we got lots of pics. And now, drying with flowers all around it, is my beautiful pregnant belly to look at always. What a special memory we will have of this time. We may paint it later on, but for now, I enjoy the sun shining thru it and seeing my mama body on display.

I'll let the pics do the talking...

The Waiting Game

I am officially on my maternity leave from work. The first day was a strange one! Maybe it's because I have more time to pay attention to my body, or that I'm not moving as much as I do at work...but it seems like overnight my body went into preparation mode for the labor. I'm much more aware of that crampy feeling that could be those pesky Braxton Hicks contractions, or a lead in to the real thing! I'm trying real hard to get tons of rest, for one because I'm trying to kick a cold that's been hanging on, and also, the obvious...very little "full-nights-sleep" ahead.

Two nights ago I had a dream that I went into labor today. My mom and sisters were in town and we all went to the birthing center together. I had one of those huge rolling suitcases overpacked with who-knows-what. We arrived and walked past the birthing group I was supposed to be attending. My favorite midwife was working! But all the bedrooms were being used so we had to go down to the basement to give birth! Not a nice cozy basement, but this musty old 'that 70's show'' style basement with ripped up furniture and a moldy smell.

Hmmm...I'm not going to read into that one too much...I'll take to good from it, like my family will be with me in spirit, and that perhaps Patricia my favorite midwife will be on call when the time comes. Luckily I don't think the birthing center has a basement.



A 'self-portrait' taken in the bedroom mirror. Note the belly, and papa in the background.

KC and I both have a strong feeling that baby is going to be an early arrival (start your bets now!) In the mean time, I am using my time wisely, multi-tasking around the house organizing and cleaning. My logical mind is trying hard to get everything checked off that preparation list, get all ready for when baby is here and logic is far away and it's just babymoon time.



Slowly I am falling into that trance that must be compared to the calm before the storm. My cozmic mind is pushing the logical one aside and allowing me to just be in the moment and space of my fullmoon body, to reach in and connect with the bright glowing light within me, growing brighter each day. I want to start a painting to go over our bed based on a sketch I did several months ago. KC and I are going to create an alter to help create an umbrella of love, abundance and good health around us as we settle in as three this winter. This will also help me to stop worrying too much about finances and the 'what-ifs'...to just melt into our positive intentions and know that we will all be taken care of by the universe. This child knew the right time to arrive and it is now and meant to be.

BLESSED BE!!!!

The official count is ten days...we all shall see very soon!
Thank you for keeping us in your thoughts and you shall all be hearing from us soon!

Baby's First Halloween Costume!

My last public performance was last night at the World Cafe with us Lumi's and the Conjugal Visitors (who were just voted BEST acoustice band in Eugene) Well, I couldn't go out with out a bang, so decided my costume would be the baby...painted onto my belly, with it's own costume. It was quite a success and was wonderful to see the little on undulating right along with my movements!


Here are some pics of how it all went down:

My friend and co-worker Candance was the artist, using a growth chart we were given at the birthing center. Baby is just entering the 9th month, so that's the one we used. She did an amazing job!!!


We did two sets that night, so two costumes. Here is number one, kind of a "Mists of Avelon" theme.





Costume number two was a bit more playful. We were more in gypsy/vaudeville more, dancing live to the Visitors music. Ali and I were studly men, and Lila and Jeannie were the frilly ladies. We actually whipped out some 'ballroom dancing' fusion. I thought it was fitting to be a man in my condition!

Harvest Time

We've had sucha beautiful fall here...an unusual amount of sunshine for the Willamette Valley has brought out more colors than I've seen in a long time. We've been very lucky!

Here are some pics from the Middle Eastern Dance Guide of Eugene's Fall Festival. It was quite a busy day for me! Luminessah taught a workshop in the morning, I then volunteered at the festival, performed a solo in the afternoon, and then performed with our troupe in the evening show!


We got these awsome eyelashes as a trade from a workshop we did last month. They were actually more comfortable to wear than some of the smaller ones I have.


The evening performance ended up being one of our best ever. It was a great way to end a really long day.


Here is some of the harvest abundance at Sundance.

We all made little pumpkins to display in the produce department.


Every year we get a giant pumpkin and have a 'guess my weight' contest. winner gets to take the pumpkin home if they can figure out a way top do that. This year, we're weighing in at 357!! (The pumpkin, not me!)


Randomly, this house was towed down our steet last Sunday. It was quite a sight to see...invloving many police officers on motorcycles, many worker guys, and the moving of street signs and trimming of trees.