An Epic 12 Years

Yesterday marked our twelfth year together as a couple. It's remarkable how much mental and physical territory we've explored since we were those little eighteen-year-olds. We've lived in eight different houses together, hiked 2,000 miles (at least, at once), explored and traveled and worked together to become best friends, an incredibly strong couple, and now very eager parents. Today we're in our thirty-third week of pregnancy and it's the wildest adventure so far.

When it comes to hosting parties, I can be a little obsessive and frantic, so it was the greatest gift that our friends Jenny and David hosted Togetherfest, our annual summer family gathering, at their farm. This year we kept it small and cozy. The weather was fantastic, the kids ran through a sprinkler, caught frogs, picked berries, and played with baby goats while the grownups drank my dad's homemade wine, nibbled Jenny's homemade goat mozzarella, and made J&D's 11 month old son Josiah giggle. The belly was very social–I think everyone got to feel the baby kick or hiccup or wriggle-roll, including the twins who were especially excited to feel their cousin-to-be.

We asked for advice, stories, and wishes. One of the most practical and humbling bits of advice we received had originally come from our friend's pediatrician. "You're going to do the best that you can, but inevitably, you're going to drop the baby. And it'll be okay."

The belly is big and strong and seems very soothed by all my time in lakes and pools, the best place for this big 'ol mama body in the 100 degree heat we've been having. I think the water must be great for me, too. No persistent aches or pains or even swollen feet, just a lot of extra gravity!

The belly got to "meet" its brand new cousin Leo at his brother Desmond's first birthday. It's fun that these cousins will be so close in age at our gatherings. And we wonder what the belly thought of it's first in-utero cinematic experience when we saw the last Harry Potter in 3D. Maybe it will have some subconscious sense that in the end, love prevails over evil...or maybe just more of a taste for movie popcorn.

I was completely and utterly taken off guard when my coworkers spirited me away to a surprise baby shower last week. Sweetest of all were the onesies they each decorated in their own unique way. It's awesome working with creatives!

We found a wonderful place called the Path of Life Sculpture Garden in Windsor, VT. The sprawling 14 acre farm field holds several different art installations, each representing an aspect of life, from birth to rebirth. Along the way we puzzled through a hedge maze in Adventure, ate ripe berries off the bush at Forgiveness/Joy where we heard the wind singing in tall bamboo, rested with a giant Buddha in Contemplation, and relaxed in a hammock by a shady stream in Respite. We'd love to return again when our little one can enjoy it, too.


Jay's made great progress on our baby room, having just finished the plastering, painting, ripped up the old pink carpet, and put in a new cork floor. With a hypothetical 8 weeks to go, we have to get serious about acquiring our stuff, painting a mural, sewing a baby quilt, and other nesting essentials.

Jay has just brought me french toast in bed, so as much as I'd love to keep rambling about thunderstorms, our peaches ripening on the branch, blueberries waiting to be picked, and dreams of breastfeeding a baby girl, the stomach prevails.