I have my fair share of headaches right now because I just started a NEW JOB!  I had the opportunity to take a long-term sub position for a local school counselor and couldn't pass up the chance to earn a little extra dough before bambino #2 as well as trying on the whole WORKING MOM routine.  After 3 days of work, I can say that it feels really good to be back in my professional role, Zel has already grown a lot in terms of not being the center of attention and learning to share, and that I cherish my few hours with her even more than before.  I can also say that given the choice (ie a world where money doesn't exist), I'd choose to stay home with my little dumpling.  But, it's only been THREE days, so I'll report back to you later!  For now, I'm aghast to tell you that I haven't been lazy or napped or read a novel ALL WEEK!  ahem...

Side note:  my new coworkers probably think I'm a freak 'cause one of my first "get-to-know-you" questions is always:  "so what are you serving your family for dinner tonight?".  I mean, I had trouble getting a healthy(ish) dinner on the table when I was home, now I'm COMPLETELY AT A CULINARY LOSS!  Thank goodness this job is just about the length of my 2nd trimester.  My family would have starved during the exhausting 1st trimester!

Ok, so you want to know WHO WON THE WHAT A HOOT HEADBANDS?  Many thanks to the talented Lauren who has patiently waited for this contest and now for results.  Thanks to everyone who entered.  I have SO many more awesome giveaways and ideas for this blog... stay with me... it'll come :)

Out of 18 entries (Mary Beth had to comment twice and so I counted her 1st one for the entry :)... LUCKY NUMBER SIX won the cornucopia of WHAT A HOOT HEADBANDS!  WAIT ONE DOSH GARN SECOND... KATRINA AGAIN!?!?!  She won my last contest!  Oh, my sister is going to be leaving me a LONG voicemail of complaints (she's entered EVERY contest I've hosted and never won!).  Oh well, good things come to those who wait :)

As you (probably, you faithful readers, you!) know, I'm expecting BAMBINO #2!  I'm about 13 weeks along and looking forward to the end of that nausea... any day now... .  The pregnancy is SUCH a different experience from my first.  With my first, I was so excited and thankful to be pregnant, that each pregnancy symptom was seen as a blessing, an affirmation of my pregnancy.  I am trying to keep this perspective, but more often than not, I find myself thinking "thank goodness this is my LAST pregnancy"  (hubby will be scheduling a certain procedure soon after the healthy arrival of #2).  Pregnancy is HARD... and it is the best gift in the entire world.  I thank God that I am a woman.

Another big difference for me is geography.  With pregnancy #1, I lived in Oregon.  I attended a prenatal yoga class and met other like-minded women.  I seriously considered going to the gorgeous birthing center in town, but then opted to let my family practitioner deliver my baby in the small, rural hospital where my husband worked.  I was so supported.  It was so intimate.  It was a wonderful birth experience.  Everyone who worked with me during my labor and delivery read my birth plan and followed it.  In fact, when I was pushing and ask my Doctor for some pain medication, he calmly waited for the contraction to stop and then asked me if I meant it and explained my very limited options.  A very unique experience in our western world of trying to control labor and delivery with medications, metal devices, beds...  I am very thankful.

Now I live in rural NW Pennsylvania.  I love it here.  But I do not love the corporate hospital or the lack of options pregnant women have.  In fact, every woman here has 2 options:  Use the hospital and get whichever OB is on-call OR .... what... OR WHAT?  The first few months of my pregancy were filled with that question.  You cannot have an easy labor and delivery if you are not comfortable with your surroundings and the people supporing you... I HATE the hospital here.  I HATE the fact that I might have met the doctor who will be supporting me, or I might not.

Then Tara's book arrived...  I have now hired a midwife and am excitingly preparing for a home birth!  Below is the review I wrote months ago when I finished reading this book (the first time).