Henna

We are so blessed to have such a wonderful support system of our family, friends, our midwife and her apprentices! Our last prenatal appointment included Stephanie (a midwife apprentice) bringing along her henna to tattoo (only temporarily) my ever-burgeoning stomach. In many cultures, henna tattoos are a way to celebrate a big event, such as a marriage or birth. Tattooing both the mother and father is a way to show unity and excitement about the upcoming birth. Plus, the henna typically stains the skin for 1-2 weeks, usually enough to stay on until the baby comes (or so we're hoping)! Our other midwife apprentice, Jen, took many beautiful photos of the appointment. I've included one below.

Midwife update: Baby is doing great and currently head down!



9 Months of pregnancy!

We've officially moved through the 36th week of pregnancy! I'm still feeling great and this lil one is be-bopping around constantly (I can't emphasize this enough). I love it though - healthy and happy. This baby definitely loves his/her daddy already. Garrett enjoys singing or talking to my belly at night and then feeling the reaction... this baby usually jumps immediately to his voice - stretching and jabbing at mommy! There have been a few minimal days of Braxton Hicks and I do think the baby has dropped lower - but we still have a month left!

Any guesses on birth day? Weight? Length?

We'll have one more official picture on 'labor day' but I thought I'd put a recap up here of the last 8 months of pictures!

1 month

2 months

3 months

4 months

5 months

6 months

7 months

8 months

9 months - Chipmunk Cheeks arrive!







Nashville here we come!

Yet again I was reminded of what a wonderful husband I have! Garrett surprised me with a trip to Nashville to visit my friends Mike and Jenifer Campbell. Jen and I have the same due date so we've enjoyed experiencing our pregnancies together, even though it's been long-distance! On our trip down we stopped at the Jim Beam distillery - that place was huge!

The Campbell's took Garrett and I out honkey-tonking Friday night (i.e. live music on the strip in downtown Nashville), and Saturday we decided to watch/listen to a Michigan win (finally) and head to "The Farm" about an hour south of Nashville. During this home-birth process we've done a lot of reading and Ina May Gaskin (Ina May's Guide to Childbirth and Spiritual Midwifery) is an author and leading midwife in the country to discuss the positive aspects of homebirth, based on her experiences as a midwife. In 1971, Ina May, her husband, and 700 other people made the long trip from San Francisco to this piece of property they bought in Tennessee (1,750 acres) - which they named "The Farm." Although Mike and Jen may not be as "crunchy" as we are, they willingly went along to see what the experience entailed!

Entrance to The Farm

Garrett and Mike in front of the Farm Store and accoustic concert space and playground

An old Farm Bus. We're not sure if it's still livable, but it was interesting!

"The Wholeo" a meditation space on the farm - Mike, Jen, Jon Michael (due Dec 14) and Pavel

Disc Golf @ the Farm

We're home now after such a wonderful weekend... I don't see us traveling much more until Baby Spencer comes! Around 30 days left!

Hadley Mae

October 14th was a great day for the Spencer family! Grant and Lindsey started off the next generation of Spencers with the birth of their little girl, Hadley Mae. Garrett and I can't stop by the house enough - she's changing so much and is ridiculously cute! On Halloween when we stopped by, her cousin (the one in my belly) wouldn't stop kicking her!

Uncle Garrett

Uncle Q

Grandpa and Hadley



Uncle Allen



Aunt Wendy & Uncle G





Our Farm Animals

Just thought I'd share a few pictures of our changing farm and happy animals! We're down to only a few cows - all of the calves and the bull will be gone this week! Garrett assures me we'll get them back in the spring once we're better set up, but they'll be missed! Breakfast and dinner (our two remaining piggies) will be leaving their home in a couple of weeks... only chickens and ducks (and dogs and cats) to worry about through the winter.


Gooseyboy and his calves



Mama cows and the calves (pre-weaning)

Breakfast and dinner (the pigs names) eating bananas

Our chickens drink from fine china

 

Egg chickens and cocky rooster up in the yard

 

Kibs & Bobby



Bully