10 days after giving birth, I was able to venture out in the neighborhood.  The weather was great –  57 degrees and it’s only February 1st!  I broke out the Moby and Parker and I hung out at Clinton Park on the swings for a little bit, then went to the supermarket to pick up a few groceries.  Hanging out in the park was fun, except I think it’s good to get to the park before 3 pm when school lets out – as there were some teenage girls hanging out at the swings as well.  I know I sound like a priss and I’m pretty sure I hung out at the swings when I was a teen too but now that I’m a mom I realize how nice it would be to have the kiddie playground exclusively for the kiddies.  Speaking of which, it took me a while to find the entrance into the kiddie park – I’ve always steered clear of it to avoid looking like a stalking pedophile and instead would creep/stalk the periphery of the dog park.

It’s strange learning this new social system of mommy hood.  Do I have to say hello to other mommies as if our babies are Volkwagons?  Or do I just give the nod of approval to only certain moms that have similar gear to what I have?  Ugh, I already hate making eye contact with people in general on the street – but it seems especially difficult to purposely avoid eye contact with other moms!  I did say hello to one mom walking in the park, but her child was toddler sized and if not for her child I’m pretty sure we’d have nothing in common!  *Sigh* am I mean?

At least Parker was snug and cozy the entire time we were out and she got a little sun too!

Born on January 21st.  Mama and Papa are in love.

Update on the birth story to come, but short story is: water broke -> tried no meds -> tried epidural and pitocin -> had c-section -> gave birth to lovely healthy baby and mama is doing great and St.Lukes Roosevelt Hospital Labor and Delivery Floor is the best.  The cowlick on Parker’s head is from the knot that formed because she wouldn’t budge past the pelvis from her face-up position.   Grateful for my wonderful husband and awesome doula.  I feel so lucky!

The last week or so before I become a mommy!!

Right now I’m playing the waiting game till my newborn arrives.  Too bad I didn’t take a weekly belly photo but there are so many belly photos out here on the web and it’s not like mine is that much different.  I basically look the same except for the belly.

Things I’ve done this week since maternity leave has started:

- Able to sit in the car while waiting for alternate side street parking to open up.  During this time I sit in the car for 1.5-2 hours and work on a baby quilt I’ve been trying to finish since December.

- Got a mani/pedi from Bliss spa thanks to Phil and his work!  Painted my nails in a light cotton candy pink.

- Started playing Bejeweled Blitz excessively.

- Napping a lot with the cats.

- Ordered 4 inch Rag & Bone booties on sale at Barneys (plus an additional employee discount) with the firm expectation that I’ll get to wear these after pregnancy.  My feet haven’t swollen up too much but I have been wearing size 7 Born shoes the entire past 6 months in order to stay comfortable.  Hopefully my feet will fit right into those size 6 R&B’s next month…

- Some walking around, some food shopping but nothing excessive.

- met with our doula, sit on yoga ball, do laundry

Things I still have to do:

- Make sure labor bag is complete.  I think all I have to do is make sure we have cookies/treats to give to the staff at the hospital.

- Pack stuff in the apt – we’re moving again in a month!!

- Practice labor moves like stretching and belly dancing.

I kind of wonder what I’d be doing if this was a staycation and not just me waiting for a baby to arrive.  I kind of feel like I’d be doing pretty much the same stuff but a whole lot faster and with less moans and grunting?

Things I can’t wait to do again after pregancy:

- Working out and exercising.

- Going back to my normal wardrobe.

- Eat sushi

- Drinking alcohol

Things I will miss about pregnancy:

- Random strangers being nice and concerned

- Sleep bombs (napping excessively) without guilt

- Feeling the baby move in the belly

I wonder what else I’ll think of once our baby arrives.  Phil and I are super excited and it’s strange to be in this waiting period, since we kind of have to hold our excitement in till the baby comes.

One of the things I did for the Shower was make cake pops with the amazing help of Blowuprobot and XM (bassist in Backlights).  They did a ton of work to make this shower a hit (have I mentioned that I love being pregnant?)  XM also made really delicious cupcakes.  She’s also known to make mummifed pigs in a blanket.  Anyway, they did a lot of research into this cake pop business and we spent the day before the shower making them.  I think they came out pretty good, although someone said that they kind of tasted like Luna Bars, which actually do taste okay but maybe not in the context of dessert.

Putting cake pop batter into the cake pop shape maker (much more sanitary than squishing baked cake into a ball by hand as per blowuprobot's insistence)

After being baked for 6-7 minutes

Cooling on the racks

Blowuprobot handmaking decorations while balls cool!! She's amazing!

Cake balls ready to be decorated

XM coming up with some sketches for decorating

At awe at how much one or two dots of eyes can change something from 'meh' to 'amazing!'

We made so many pops and they looked so cool!

Half eaten pop. Pretty good!!

Hanging out. Tee bone said that he was able to complete a game of Battleship while drinking Stumptown coffee w/whiskey the whole time. That is baby shower success!!!

More food from Fresh Direct (definitely recommended) and a tray of XM's animal themed cupcakes with her handmade table decorations!

More handmade decorations!

The bathroom!

Right after the shower, we rushed to Pianos in the LES to play one last Backlights show before we take a break for the baby. Badass!