We are a day away from week 35 and our doctor said after week 35 if Finn decides to join us, they won't try to stop labor. That's tomorrow, people! Holy moly! I have a feeling she's going to be early but not that early! I am planning for two weeks after her due date just so I'm not bummed if October 9th rolls around and she hasn't made an appearance yet!
We started our birthing classes on September 15th and Monday we completed class #3. We skip next week (Labor Day, which I find hilarious!) and then two more and we're done. Crazy to think that our last class will be on week 37 which is considered full term!
We have had mixed feelings about our experience with the classes. We both started out really excited to be attending...it felt like one more thing to check off in preparation and something that meant we were close to meeting our little one. I was disappointed to find that the information we went over was just a repeat of things I've already learned from the books and online resources I've read. Much of the information she was sharing was outdated...even to the point of her saying, "I know this is really old and I'm not sure how much of it is still relevant" in reference to facts and figures. For $65 a couple to attend, couldn't someone update the handouts they were giving us?? She has been teaching the class for a really long time and seems to have a hard time straying away from the information she's always taught in the way she's always taught it.
Another issue we've had with the class is her choice of descriptors for the coaches in the room. Everyone is either mom or dad or wife and husband. Occasionally she'll say "coach" in lieu of dad or husband which is a little better given that not every support person in the room is a dad, husband or man! My favorite is when she says "dads or whatever/whoever/the other person in the house." Some women have female coaches, one woman has two friends as coaches because her husband is deployed, some couples aren't married. And then there are Jen and I which really throws her for a loop. We are the only gay/lesbian couple in the room and most times Jen seems to fall into the whatever/whoever/the other person in the house category...it happens so often Jen says she is going to change her name tag to "whoever". I'm going to talk to the instructor after the class is over and let her know that maybe she could update her materials and partner descriptors for future classes. Jen and I don't mind talking to people about our experience or answering their questions about our life together. But it's kind of a bummer to feel like we have to educate people because they don't want to make an effort to be more inclusive. We for sure aren't the only lesbian couple in Corvallis having a child and it would be nice to feel a little more included in the class or "valid" for lack of a better word.
Other than class we're starting to work on our birth plan, have begun packing our bag, working on last minute room details and are trying to go on lots of dates. Our goal is to get her room finished this weekend and her clothes washed and put away. We're making another trip to Target tomorrow to get some final items and are so grateful for all of the Target gift cards we've received! They sure help with all the last minute tidbits we are remembering we need. :)
Our date nights are a fun break from the working and planning. :) Earlier this week we had some dinner and went to explore the Borders store closing sale together. It was nice to have a chance to just sit down and catch up with each other over dinner. We're trying to check in as much as possible about how we're each feeling about Finn coming to join us but also how we're doing as a couple and individuals...making sure we're feeling good and on the same page with things. Last night after dinner with some good friends we went to see the play version of "Steel Magnolias" at the Albany Civic Theater. We love doing that kind of thing and it was so much fun! We even saw another couple from our birthing class...I guess we're not the only ones trying to go on as many date nights as possible! ;)
Upcoming items:
Wednesday: Meet and Greet with the pediatricians in our medical group.
Thursday: 35 week check up
Friday: Our last ultrasound! We're so excited to see her one more time!
Also on Friday, round two of our maternity photo shoot with our friends Kassy and Ashley of Double Rainbow Photography. We'll post more about the photos soon!
Off to work on all of those "to-do's"! Until next time!
Love, Shannon, Jen and Finn
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