Closer to the Edge

Depending on who's counting, I'm either 37 weeks, 5 days, or 38 weeks, three days. I started to include a more happy-faced picture, but this one where I'm squinting probably captures the moment better...

And yes, in fact, this is quite painful-- some of these stretch marks have oozed blood a few times!

The hint of brown there is not from lack of bathing, that used to be my belly button. I am curious to see how my belly recovers this time... this has been a much more physically challenging pregnancy than Galen's. I would consider saying it has also been more emotionally challenging, but in fact almost all of the emotional processing I've done (which has been volumes) has been residual material from Galen's pregnancy that I didn't deal with, so in truth this one has created space to contain and create more emotional health than I had when I started. That's a good thing! Perhaps I'll find the time to expound upon that later. For now we're off to deliver grits and meal to St. John's Retaurant in Chattanooga, TN-- a simply lovely fine dining establishment if you're ever in that area. They strive to buy local organic meat and produce, and we are hoping to supply them with our stoneground grits, cornmeal, and spelt. Mmm.