Delving Into The Photo Roll

I've come to find that sometimes the easiest way to give an update about what has been going on in my life is to just open my camera roll and scroll through it.

31 weeks pregnant

If you follow me on Instagram, you have probably already seen the pics from the little photo shoot Mark and I did on our back deck last week. Here they are again for those of you who only read the blog. 

We are having a professional photo shoot taken tomorrow, but I liked these casual no make-up hanging around the house shots too.

Several weeks ago I saw a fox at the end of our road near the edge of the forest. I thought this was the coolest thing and have been hoping to see him again. Last week I walked out the front door to run an errand and there he was again; right across the street! He paused when he saw me and we held each others gaze for a few seconds before he ducked into the storm water tunnel near the road. I creeped over hoping to see him emerge but he was long gone down the tunnel. I'm happy we met again.

Fox tunnel.

Speaking of foxes, this past Saturday was the baby shower. As you might know, the nursery is woodland themed, so Alicia went with that for the shower too. Lots of fox decor and gifts! 

Devil's Tower, Wyoming 

The cake was a tree stump but it totally reminded me of Devil's Tower in Wyoming! I loved it. 

And I must say the diaper cake was the best one I've ever seen! The fox on top is wearing a tie with a fox on it and you can see an invite on the table...more foxes! 

I didn't really take any photos because I was busy enjoying myself. My sister took quite a few, so I'm sure I'll have more to share later. 

I made a mala to wear/use during labor and delivery. I used older beads I've kept over the years from jewelry of past. Rosewood (shields from negative energy), skulls of deer bone (this represents the death of my old identity as I am born into a mother), lapis lazuli (throat chakra; assist in speaking truth, open third eye), turquoise (strengthening stone, good for exhaustion, Tibetans believe it relates prayer to whatever deity is being invoked), Om pendant (the first sound of creation), bells (baby hears them in the womb and again once born. Help to transition.), blue goldstone (master healer, provides courage), quartz crystal (harmonizes all the chakras), Lord Ganesha (The Destroyer Of Obstacles, Bestower Of Success ). I am quite fond of it. 

The Blood Moon was a few nights ago. It was also a full lunar eclipse with great visibility! Mark and I watched from the front yard, and I saw TWO shooting stars during the time we were out there. The next morning I woke to a thick fog rolling over there river. It was lovely. 

And I got a hair cut...I'm growing it extra long so really just a trim. The stylist complimented "the awesome color job" I had to laugh because it is just a three dollar bottle of Sun-In that creates this color. Nice to hear a pro say it looks good though. 

That's it for this trip through the photo roll! Tomorrow we welcome October! My favorite month of the year! 

~ Love & Light ~

It's Prep Time!

Moonbelly 31 Weeks

With only seven or eight weeks left of pregnancy, I have been spending some time preparing the room I plan to labor in. I'm going to use my yoga studio as the primary space, while also spending time on the deck overlooking the river. Here are the things I've been collecting for that fateful day.

Top athletes use coconut water for optimal performance.

Staying hydrated while you labor is super important and I've enlisted coconut water as my ally for that purpose. I'd also like to have some aged barley miso soup ready when the time comes.

The guest bed.

The former guest room is now the nursery, and instead of putting the bed in the basement, we moved it to the yoga studio so I can use it during labor. We ordered a waterproof bed pad to go on it in case my water breaks while I'm lying there. And yes...I was too lazy to make the bed for this photo.

The altar.

My altar is in the studio, and for the past year it has been holding items representing fertility, and birth. A nice focal point to have in the room that was specifically put together to welcome the soul who chose us as parents. When I first assembled it, it was with the intention of getting pregnant quickly and now it will be with me as my baby begins his journey earth side.

Art by Catie Atkinson 

Inspiring birth art by Catie Atkinson will be adorning the room. She is the talented woman who made my pregnancy journal. I love love love her style. Her works can be viewed and purchased at her ETSY store Spirit & Sol.

Yoga gear.

Yoga mats, cushions and blankets to assits in the many positions I'm sure I'll find myself in.

Exercise Ball.

An exercise ball to sit on and rock my hips. This is supposed to help gravity move the baby down. I actually really love this thing and know I will use it a lot even after the birth.

Lavender essential oil.

Organic lavender essential oil for diffusing. Veriditas Botanicals is my favorite essential oil company. The best.

Always need a book.

A book of yoga poses and guided meditations for early labor.

Corn bag.

My neighbor gave me one of those groovy cloth bags filled with hard corn kernels. It can be heated or put in the freezer and used cold. Very helpful little tool.

I also put a fan in the room and will probably have some New Age music streaming off Pandora. Maybe a candle or two. Or, maybe I won't care about any of these things? You can't predict the unknown, but you can plan for your vision. Do any of you have suggestions for things to make labor easier? What worked for or helped you? Ultimately I'll be having my boy at the hospital, but I plan to stay home with our doula as long as possible. I would love any ideas or inspiration you have to share. 

31 Weeks.

~ Love & Light ~

The Mindful Mom-To-Be

The Mindful Mom-To-Be by Lori Bregman.

I haven't been writing any "currently reading" posts over the past seven months because pretty much ALL I have been reading are pregnancy books. And frankly...a lot of them kinda sucked. I thought about doing my top 5 (I've read over a dozen at this point) but most of the books on pregnancy that I really love are classics that everyone already knows about, like Spiritual Midwifery by Ina May Gaskin. I decided not to write about pregnancy books, but then one I had ordered from Amazon showed up. A new book published this year that some of you might not have heard of. And it is really good! My new favorite. The Mindful Mom-To-Be: A Modern Doula's Guide To Building A Healthy Foundation From Pregnancy Through Birth by Lori Bregman. So if you are pregnant or have a friend who is, this is my number one book recommendation.


Lori is a doula out in Santa Monica, CA. and founder of the Rooted for Life pregnancy coaching program. I am a fan of her book namely because I love how the chapters are broken down into months of pregnancy. Each month/chapter contains tips, recipes, exercises and coping advice specific for that phase of your pregnancy journey. She also conveys a more modern and spiritual side that is missing from a lot of the other books I read.


So there it is. My number one pick. I hope I'm not boring you to death with too many pregnancy posts. Thursday I'll be 30 weeks along, so before long you'll only be bored with baby posts! Seriously though, thanks for stopping by and having a read. Eventually I'll get regular with publishing content again, and who knows what the future holds ~ I've been feeling the urge to overhaul the blog or start from scratch. So much change in my life makes me feel called to change up the blog too. Everything in its time.

~ Love & Light ~

My Yoga Works

I haven't had much to say about yoga lately and that's because since becoming pregnant I haven't really been doing any. After the first month, yoga just made me feel sick. To clarify, any position where my head was under my heart made me feel faint and weak. My doctor told me to just skip it and stick with walking and other mild cardio. I didn't argue.


Skip six months down the road (Six months! How? What is this warp speed?) and I find myself in the third trimester of this journey. I feel good, I feel healthy, but I definitely don't feel in shape. With labor and delivery sooner than later, I am feeling a need to up my game and get some strength back.

As luck would have it, I received a free three month subscription promo to an online yoga class site called MyYogaWorks.com. A $45.00 value and they didn't require a credit card number, so no need to worry about canceling after the three months is up. Why not? Surely I could do the most basic class they offered. I signed up, and went searching for prenatal classes.


Not only does MyYogaWorks.com offer prenatal and postnatal classes, but an entire library of Journey Series. This is my favorite aspect of the site. The Journey Series I selected is called Journey To Birth. It is a set of seven classes and you can customize them for beginner, intermediate, or advanced. Other examples in the Journey Series are Partner Yoga, Nap Time Yoga For Moms, Office Yoga and many more.

I'm not gonna lie. Even the beginner sessions have been challenging for me and I have to modify. I've got pregnancy carpal tunnel, so my downward dog is on my forearms, and I double up the blankets under my knees just to do cat-cow. But it is something and for now that is enough. Would I pay to subscribe to the site? I'm not sure yet. I'm a fan of the free site DoYogaWithMe.com and although they don't offer the cool Journey Series, they have a lot to choose from. For now, I am enjoying using a different site and new instructors. If you prefer to do a home practice instead of going to the studio, MyYogaWorks.com might be perfect for you or make a great gift for someone new to yoga. If you check out a class, let me know what you think! 

~ Love & Light ~

As Summer Comes To A Close

August sunset by Tom York Images.

Many of you have children going back to school this week. Sweaters and book bags are filling the stores, and Halloween decor is already on sale at the hobby shops. But, hey! Summer isn't over yet, not until September 23rd. So, although Fall just may be the best time of year according to some (me included), let's not wish our lives away, but practice a little presence, and enjoy summer until it is gone; for surely then we will miss it as winter creeps in.


At six months pregnant in August, my life has consisted of staying inside of my extremely air conditioned house organizing every closet and drawer. To say my seasonal activities are off kilter would be an understatement. I can't remember the last time I spent this much time cooped up inside during the summer months, but my body just can't tolerate the heat right now so I must make the best of it. While I'm stuck inside I've decided to come up with a list of End Of Summer activities. This is my last summer before I become a mother after all, so I plan to take advantage of my solitude and flexible schedule. Below are the things I plan to do as summer dwindles away.

Swimming. Oh, to have my own personal swimming pool! I know what you're thinking...and yes, I live on a river; but swimming in river water in 100 degree heat isn't as appealing as a nice cool indoor pool when you're as big as a house. Besides, not everyone lives by a body of water so my suggestion is to seek out a local public pool. Here in Ozark, we have The OC. Adults swim for 7 dollars, kids for 5. Not exactly cheap for non-members, but it's the end of summer, and a few sessions at the pool won't break the bank. If you enjoy swimming and think you'd be interested in visiting The OC frequently, consider a membership and take advantage of the classes and equipment offered. 

Seasonal Foods. The bounty of summer is such a gift! Take the time to enjoy the foods that are in season before we enter the time of apples and winter squash. This year the only food I grew other than herbs are my tomatoes. The yield hasn't been as plentiful as last year, but still way more than Mark and I can eat between the two of us. Fortunately, a gopher has been helping us eat them--when he ate my hostas though, well that wasn't very helpful! Having a small garden this year hasn't stopped me from enjoying summer's tasty treats. I've enjoyed plenty of peaches, watermelon, cherries, etc. from the market and I encourage you to do the same while you still can! 

Ozark Downtown Farmers Market

Speaking of the market. The Farmers Market will be operating for a few more months still, but as we near autumn, the stands will be fewer and the choices far less. Now is the time to get out and stretch your legs, get some fresh air, enjoy the live music and buy some of those seasonal foods. The Ozark Downtown Farmers Market is located on the square on Wednesday nights from 4-7pm. 

Naps. I am not a napper. I love to nap, it's just that when I do, it usually messes my internal clock up and I know I will be up all night. During my pregnancy I have had insomnia. A night owl at heart, the past six months have been all about late nights in a bath reading, journaling, and movies. My sleep schedule is wack anyway; it is hot as Hades outside and for that I see no reason not to indulge in naps. Sneak one in where you can. Drop the kids off at school, have a big breakfast, watch a guilty pleasure tv show and then nap. Gotta go to work? Nap on the weekends. If you just don't have the time, I get it. I've been there too. Sometimes a nap just isn't going to be a part of your reality. Maybe you'll get to grab an afternoon snooze on Labor Day?

Labor Day Party. For many, Labor Day is the last celebration of summer. Here in the Midwest it means gathering friends and family for BBQ and beer. I'm not entirely sure I'll be up for throwing a big party this year, but I know I'd like to spend the day with some close family and friends, no matter how small or informal. This is a last chance to throw on a sun dress, take in the summer night air,  let the kids stay up late, and enjoy the sound of cicadas and crickets in the air with a cold lemonade in hand and good company at your side. 

Decorate. I'm far from a Martha Stewart for sure! But one of my favorite things to do is decorate for the season. After Labor Day anything patriotic comes down, the big flag on the pole out front, the red white and blue pinwheels in the planters by the stoop and anything else that screams high summer. Now is the time I slowly begin to transition the ambiance toward late summer and fall. Sunflowers are perfect for this time of year. They are cheerful and sunny, yet a fall flower too. They help start to bring in the yellow and golden tones that will be part of the fall color palate starting mid September through Thanksgiving. Now is the time I really enjoy my summer decorations before packing them away for next year. 

Have a beautiful rest of your summer! 

~ Love & Light ~

It's Starting To Look Like A Nursery

I thought about waiting until the room was complete before I shared any photos, but since this is the most exciting thing happening here at Chigger Chalet during July, I'm going to do a progress update.

The tiny room that is now the nursery was originally our guest room. It is the smallest room in the house and should be just enough room for the smallest person in the family.

After painting the walls, the first step was to apply the wall decals. We ordered them from an artist in Limerick, Ireland and after waiting for them to cross the Atlantic to arrive at our door, we had to practice more patience. The instructions warned that new paint should be allowed to dry for at least three weeks before the decals are applied. So, we waited for two more weeks...then finally!

Mark cutting the decals.

The first tree is up!

..

The process wasn't hard but very time consuming!

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After several hours, we finish! 

I love the forest decals! They look even better in person than the photos show. Mark did the hard work while I enjoyed putting leaves, flowers, and birds on the lower branches. 

Next in line was furniture. Once again, Mark did all the work while I sat back and directed where I would like things placed in the room. 

He assembled the crib first and I draped the quilt we bought months ago over the side. The quilt is the inspiration for the entire room.

The crib.

The quilt. 

Woodland birds.

Then he put together the changing station...

Dirty bum station.

And finally the dresser...

A wee dresser.

I still have artwork, wall shelves, a glider rocker, crib bedding, etc. that will need to go in, but with the walls complete and the furniture up, it really feels like a nursery now! I find myself in this room multiple times a day, imagining the precious moments that will take place here very soon. 

~ Love & Light ~

Hop Over To Spellbound Nymphs!

Hey you! Where is the time going? I haven't had much of it to sit down and blog! I did get a post up at Spellbound Nymphs today...that's the blog I am a co-contributor at! Why not hop on over and check it out? SPELLBOUND NYMPHS.

We are making some progress in the nursery and soon I will have photos galore to share. Until then, a quick update:

1. We had an ultrasound yesterday. Baby boy is right on target at 13 ounces and moving around like a trapeze artist!

2. Apparently Missouri is experiencing a monsoon season this summer. The rain and humidity and flooding have been crazy! Gardening is going slow but some things are flourishing. I'll surely update once it dries up some.


3. Mark and I watched the movie SPY with Melissa McCarthy the other night, and I seriously haven't laughed so hard at a movie since Get Smart with Steve Carell. Serious funny. You should see it.

I'll be back soon-ish! 

~ Love & Light ~