Adventures in Being Myself

It was bound to happen. In my case it is later rather than sooner (thankfully...) As my doctor wrote in the note for my employer, "Paige is experiencing a complication of pregnancy that requires bedrest for the remainder of her pregnancy." Toxemia. A wicked disease for which the only cure is delivery of a baby. In the meatime, it's Game Over. Do not pass go, do not collect $200. Go straight home, lay on your left side, and do not attempt any activity that will elevate your blood pressure. To-do lists, loose ends and plans be damned. This is so not fun, but it could be worse. MUCH worse. To wit: I could be 26 weeks along, instead of 36 weeks. I could be situated in a job without flexibility, benefits, an understanding boss, and technological resources for telecommuting from home. I could be alone, without a loving and doting baby-daddy to cart me to my "social outings" (i.e. weekly prenatal visits) and keep me company. I could have had a challenging pregnancy fro...

For as long as I can remember, Thanksgiving has been about Grandmama's House. My mother grew up in Fort Deposit, a tiny town in SW Alabama, and most of her family still lives in or near there. After she and my father married and moved to Florida, my mother started the tradition of returning to Grandmama's every year at Thanksgiving, to celebrate the holidays. She missed seeing her family at Christmas, but felt strongly attached to the new Christmas traditions we - as a family - shared in Clearwater. So, the Thanksgiving extravaganza was born, and so it continues. This year marks 33 years. As the oldest grandchild, I am clearly the most delinquent for I have missed the celebration twice. In 1999, Peegie and I spent a gorgeous and lovely Thanksgiving week sailing the Exumas aboard Buddy , drinking rum, swimming in gin-clear water, soaking up the sun, eating Healthy Choice turkey from the package and dancing under the stars. This year, I am at home, 35 weeks' pregnant, STRONGL...

I'm actually blinking in this photograph, but Peegie said it looks like I'm in prayer. He's talented with a camera, that man of mine.

I am really looking forward to the final days of 2007. By then, all of my big projects for 2007 will be done...well, sort of, since the actual project of childrearing BEGINS at childbirth, but, still...it will be really fun to enjoy a frosty flute of bubbly and reflect on the year that has been 2007. It's been cosmic and harmonic and weird, all at the same time. Last Sunday marked the finale of the biggest project I've ever done (at least until my water breaks..) In addition to incubating a child due just before New Year, I've spent most of my free time Co-Chairing the 25th Anniversary Taste of the Town...aka the largest fundraiser of the year for the Junior League of Fort Myers. As in, every dollar we need for a year's worth of programming and community projects is raised during a six-hour, outdoor food festival on the first Sunday in November. Yes, it's a lot of work. Yes, I was committed to the project well before learning of my pregnancy. Yes, I am crazy. But, W...

My sister took this photo of Todd and me last night after their trick-or-treating extravaganza. Todd dressed as a pirate for Hallowe'en, but he has not yet mastered the "Art of the AAARRRRRGGGHHH!" as well as his Auntie Paige. He HAS mastered, however, the "Art of Wrapping Auntie Around a Little Finger." Instead of helping Storm Trooper Kyle pass out candy to the trick-or-treaters, Todd jumped into my lap to hide from the "scare-wy" costumes of the older kids. That was just fine with me!

Eight months' pregnant +Co-Assistant Chair of the Junior League's Taste of the Town+Chief of Staff to an overachieving Freshman legislator+ NaBloPoMo for not one, but TWO, blogs=Tipping Point. I pledged to post to my blog at least once each day during November, even if it's just one word. Every. Single. Day. The word for today is "tired." I'm going to sleep.