Really hot.
I didn't think my size 10/11 feet could get any bigger, but apparently summer + pregnancy has proven me wrong. Thank God for Birkenstocks! I'm not complaining. I said a long time ago that if the good Lord ever granted us the gift of another child, I wouldn't complain about being pregnant. Really, I don't have anything to complain about. My pregnancies have never been a problem. I am still able to do everything I need or want to do, I just do it all indoors right now. Errands get run before noon or not at all and the air conditioning flows freely all day long. I don't even have to go outside to get the mail, that's why God made teenaged boys. : )
If I was tempted to complain about anything it's that all this extra swelling (which my OB assures me is totally normal given our current weather situation, not an indication of anything wrong) means that my plans to crochet Cupcake's baptismal gown have been crossed off my list of things to do. All this extra fluid is causing some crazy carpel tunnel. My wrists ache pretty much all the time and my hands go numb just trying to hold onto a pencil for a little while. Thankfully, I have a bargain hunting SIL and a generous mother who have both offered to help acquire something beautiful for her when the time comes. I know that I could use one of the ones I used for the other girls, but it has sort of become our tradition to give each child their own.
Don't get me wrong... I love the idea of having an heirloom gown that gets passed around to each family member. It's sounds so old fashioned and just lovely! We did not have anything like that in my family so when The Professor was born, having no luck finding a boyish Baptismal gown and having a personal aversion to those little Baptismal suits, I made his out of muslin and decorated it with blue ribbon. Sunshine, being a girl, couldn't wear the same gown because in my mind it was too boyish, so I gave her my Baptismal gown (while pretty, it was far from heirloom). Shortcake arrived as a surprise to us all (her gender that is). Thinking that she was a boy while I was pregnant, I had made her a gown similar to The Professors but with silver ribbon. When she arrived all pink and pretty, in a tearful haze of postpartum hormones, I rushed out to buy her the frilliest, girliest gown I could find. Thankfully, a resale shop in town sold beautiful handmade gowns sewn by an immigrant woman from Portugal so I didn't blow the budget as much as you might think. BigBoy in turn used the gown I had made when I was expecting Shortcake and looked very dashing if I do say so myself. So that's how we ended up in this "tradition" and I intended to keep it going by crocheting the next one. I guess, if I think about it hard enough, another aspect of the "tradition" is that my boys have worn gowns I made while my girls haven't... so there you go! It fits. And I'll just save this yarn and pattern for when I'm not pregnant. It will either be for another child or a grandchild, but it will get done because it's so pretty!
Things might be a little quieter around here for the next few weeks as the kids and I have begun their lessons for the next school year. We are hoping to get a good 10-12 weeks under our belt before the baby comes so that we can take a nice break once she's here. Of course, education happens all the time and she will be our real life "early childhood" class because none of these kiddos knows how to care for a baby and it's high time they learned! We are also going to make one last push towards decluttering and streamlining in these next few weeks so if you don't hear from me much that's what's going on.
Oh my goodness, I so understand! This time last year I was pregnant and hot and miserable, too. I didn't complain on my blog because I knew so many women would trade places in an instant. Birkies were a staple, for me, too.
ReplyDeleteMy midwife recommended the Brewer's Diet for me during pregnancy. She also insisted I eat 2 eggs a day - something about the egg whites helps to draw the extra fluid out of your body.
Have you looked online for baptismal gowns? I bought my last 3 off the internet - a very, very frilly, poofy girl one and two very handsome boy gowns. I don't like the boy suits, either.
I was lucky with all of my pregnancies and was never pregnant in the summer. I'll keep praying that you stay cool!
ReplyDeleteStay cool! One of the positives of a warm weather baby is that you can get outside a lot easier after but in winter, you're stuck inside more and usually get a round of illness. At least, that's the way it goes in my household!
ReplyDeleteAs far as baptismal gowns, I bought my last baby's online from a woman who made it (she used to sewing wedding dresses) and I loved it.
I also had a woman (thankfully I had a very talented good friend) sew my children's baptismal gown. She used the material from the train of my wedding gown. While not a long train, there was certainly enough for an infant gown. It somehow seemed easier to purchase a pattern rather than trying to find "the" gown.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry you are enduring swelling and extra discomfort in this heat. I just looked at the 10 day forecast and almost fainted looking at our weekend temps. This is just absurd.
ReplyDeleteI love your tradition that happened on accident. My girls have worn my baptismal gown and my boys have all worn the same sweater vest because I didn't like the typical boy Baptism outfits either.
Just wanted to say how much I love your blog, Charlotte, and read it (and updates about your family!) with joy. I was in the convent for 5 years with your sister-in-law, and while I'm sure you wouldn't remember me (I've only met you once), I definitely remember how she'd speak of you and your family with pride and joy and I loved hearing about all the fun, creative, crafty things you do; I'm especially grateful I can still keep up via your blog. :) Be assured of my thoughts and prayers as Cupcake's birth approaches!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear about the swelling. That can be so uncomfortable! I used to be a shoe size 6/7. Now I am 8/9. My feet just flattened out I guess with each pregnancy, lol.
ReplyDeleteI'm just so thrilled about your baby! You have a great attitude! The swelling is hard to deal with, though. I get the carpal tunnel so bad each time, so I totally empathize. All the great plans go out the window!
ReplyDeleteCharlotte, God bless you and your little baby girl, and the whole rest of your family too!! what a wonderful time this must be for you all.
ReplyDeleteWow, to hear you talk about making something for a someday grandchild puts a lump in my throat, Charlotte. Too soon! But it will be here...all too soon.
ReplyDeleteJust another perk of homeschooling, isn't it? To be able to get a jump-start on the school year so you can take a break when baby arrives? It's just so family centered. Which means faith centered if your family is as such, which it is.
I can't wait to "meet" her!!!
Oh honey!
ReplyDeleteI'm not looking forward to grandchildren anytime soon!!! I'm just thinking that if I make one of these gorgeous gowns when I'm not pregnant then I run the risk of not having another girl child and ending up with a beautiful unused Baptismal gown. At that point, I would have to save it for a grandchild.
Hi Charlotte,
ReplyDeleteI don't have much time for following blogs but do get around to reading yours occasionally. With one of my pregnancies(summer) I experienced horrible problems with my hands: they would get tingly and numb any time I tried to do anything with them that required them to be above my waist. It was VERY frustrating and annoying. At night I had so much trouble sleeping. I began wearing compression gloves for sleep and often during the day as well. It worked wonders. It is worth a try if the problem is
debilitating enough. Hope this helps. God Bless
Thank you, Beth, for the suggestion! Right now, I'd say it's not debilitating, just annoying. I am still able to do what I need to do, it's just what I want to do has had to be reevaluated. Which is probably a good thing!
ReplyDeleteYou do not sound like you are complaining to me at all! This heat is so oppressive and can turn anyone not pregnant into an instant bear. Stay cool and try to stay comfortable!
ReplyDeleteWell, that was kinda a lot of complaining to 'not be complaining'. But who can blame you? Haha!
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