I Wouldn't Mind Sleep

Am I in labor right now? Yes. Maybe. The contractions aren't nearly as painful as I recall with my labor with Malcolm (yet). They are painful enough to not allow sleep. So, I sit up with Tony as we watch TV. Amanda is on call for when we decide it's time to head to the hospital. I'm kind-of thinking this is false labor. I don't believe I'm in actual labor yet. Now we just wait and see.

The Second Labor

One of the benefits of keeping a blog for as long as I've had this one - I can look back at my pregnancy progress with Malcolm and compare it to this pregnancy. At my 38 week OB appointment today, the doc said that my cervix is 3cm dilated and 50% effaced and that there is a 50% chance that I could go into labor this week. At first, I thought, "Wow! I can't believe I'm that far along!" And then, I read what my progress was with Malcolm at 37.5 weeks. Yep, about the same.

In many ways, I'd like to be done with this pregnancy. Let's get it over with already! On the other hand, it would be better if I didn't go into labor until next Sunday. Sherry is arriving Saturday evening to take care of Malcolm while we are at the hospital. Plus, Sunny & Chris' wedding is Saturday night and there are also 2 birthday parties that same day. Let's not mention all of the things I'd like to get done around the house...

Now we just wait and see when this little guy is going to make his appearance. Malcolm has made it very clear that he's ready for his baby brother to come out.

To Meat or Not to Meat

When I was in high school, I learned about the impact factory farming has on the environment and how poorly the animals are treated. I stopped eating meat for a couple of years but knew nothing about nutrition and became anemic. I started eating meat again in college and then stopped again 12 years ago. Not only did I stop for the previous reasons, but I also stopped because whenever I ate meat, I didn't feel well afterwards. It was hard for my body to digest, I would become lethargic and would also often experience indigestion. Food is nourishment and is meant to make you feel better and give you energy, not the opposite.

Since moving back to Seattle, there has been a big local movement to provide humanely raised and slaughtered cows, chickens, pigs and lamb. There are several local small farms who provide such meat at the farmer's market. It makes me ponder eating meat again. But then I remember how I felt eating meat that many years ago. If I was experiencing health problems due to my lack of meat consumption, I would consider it. I do appreciate the gorgeous, tasty eggs from the free-range, properly fed laying hens.

However, I'm the only pescatarian in my household. Whenever there is meat at a meal, we always offer Malcolm some but he often doesn't eat it. I did start eating fish again after he started eating solids and he does eat some fish. He's a big fan of chicken nuggets and hot dogs, but those over processed meat products make me shudder. So what's my option if I want my kid (and husband) to eat humanely raised, quality meat? It means I'm going to have to be the one who cooks it. I haven't been able to bring myself to do it until tonight. I grilled out tonight and made my boys hamburgers. Malcolm ate his all up and asked for more. I was worried that it wouldn't be tasty, but Tony said the burger was really good. Was I tempted to try it? No, not really. It didn't look appetizing to me at all. But, I'm pretty proud of myself for getting over the ick factor of handling dead, ground-up cow so I could make sure my boys were eating meat that didn't make me feel guilty.

I was inspired to finally get over the ick factor after reading, The Butcher and the Vegetarian and this blog post. My next venture: making chicken nuggets.