30 Weeks

Only 10 more weeks to go!

Chris and I took one last weekend trip with some good friends to Big Bend National Park.  This is one of our favorite places.  Probably because it's one of the few places we can drive to living in the great state of Texas, but also because it is a little magical.  There is no cell phone service and very little light pollution so you can often see the milky way (not this time due to a spotlight-esque moon.  Thanks, moon)

There were a couple of challenges in thinking about this trip when 7 months pregnant.  a) How many pillows would I need to ensure I could sleep somewhat comfortably on a camp mat?  b) Would I be up to hiking that often involves changes in elevation (massive ups and unbalanced downs)? c) Would I have to stop every 30 minutes on this 8 hour drive to pee? d) What would I wear?  I only knew two things: 

1. I would try my best and do what felt comfortable
2. I promised not to complain.

After getting there on Friday afternoon, I had elephant ankles, Flintstone feet and sausage toes.  I wish I had taken a picture - it was pretty comical.  I shoved those feet in my boots and took off for our easy hour long hike.  The hike shook off the hours sitting in the car and my feet emerged from the boots squished back into their normal size, albeit with some mushrooming over my socks.

Saturday we had planned a 3 hour hike with a break and another 3 hour hike in the afternoon.  I'm glad we started with the Window Trail as it had the least change in elevation.  I enjoyed going, but it was pretty clear by the end that I was done for the day.  An afternoon lounging around in the hammock reading was just fine with me and it gave my mushroomed calves time to return to normal like my feet.  

Then Sunday we left after breakfast and headed straight home.  I was definitely sorry to leave.  It's probably the last "mini-break" we'll take before the baby comes and the last time our family trip will be for 2.  We are excited to make trips like this work with 3 (we will have to hone our packing skills since we can't pile crap on the baby) but I'm not going to lie about enjoying the ease with which we can just pick up and go.

So now that we took a well deserved weekend off, it's time to finish preparing for the baby in the next few weeks.  I still want to be completely ready for his arrival before Thanksgiving as I am encouraging him to come as soon as possible after 36 weeks.  If he is ready, of course.  

Answers: a) 3; b) not really.  A 3-4 mile hike per day was my limit.  I probably could have done one with more elevation but would have had to take a lot of breaks; c) nope.  Baby is still high enough that he really isn't messing with my bladder too much.  I count myself lucky; d) I'd walk around 1/2 dressed.  I have loose knit pants from Target that are about 4 years old that have become my best friend recently (pictured above) and a pair of button fly shorts (below) that stay up with 1 button done and my belly sticking out.  Yea for long shirts.

Us at the end of the Window Trail

P.S.  I have to add that I am a completely spoiled pregnant lady.  Chris did all of the driving.  He said my belly was too close to the steering wheel and he felt better if I wasn't driving in case anything went wrong.  Honestly I think he just feels safer driving in general (though there is nothing wrong with the way I drive), but I did enjoy the charter bus service to and from the park.