I am one of those people who don’t do well when underslept; I get cranky, short and completely scattered. It was no surprise to me, then, after two nights of waking up with Yonah that I felt like an overturned mobile home in after a Kansas hurricane. I considered skipping my meeting and session with Elana but at the last minute kicked myself out the door. When I got back, my beloved husband took over Yonah duty so I could have a delicious two-hour nap to set myself right again. I have also officially called off my Monday Chabura because shlepping out at night is just getting too hard for me. It is so uncomfortable for me to go into hibernation mode — I get a buzz from lots of activity and social interaction — but I also know what happens if I push myself too hard, and it ain’t pretty.

I had a some really encouraging conversations last night with two midwives and a doula (birth coach) to find out some more information about home birthing. It sounds like a monumental experience that takes a lot of bravery, especially in the medically-obsessed culture we live in. Women have been taught that giving birth is a dangerous experience that requires medical intervention, like an illness or an injury. The philosophy behind home birth is that women were created specifically to have babies and with minimal guidance and encouragement, they can do it on their own. I’m currently seesawing on the idea. I wanted to do it with Yonah but I was too nervous about it since it was my first birth. This time I feel like I might be ready to try it, though the prospect of ruling out the option of painkillers is a scary one. I am all for natural birthing; research shows that it is the healthiest option for babies and mothers. But my last labor was 19 hours long and I never would have gotten through it without some help. So we’ll see.

My father arrives in six days and I am really excited to see him. Incidentally, his visit coincides with my birthday and the first day of Channukah. The little girl in me is happy to have him here to celebrate with me and hopes he’ll spring for a present or five. Speaking of which, ’tis the season for Channukah present shopping. I am completely at a loss as to what to buy my husband; unfortunately telling him that brewing his second child is gift enough doesn’t fly. Thankfully, I live in the Mecca of Judaica stores (is that a contradiction in terms?) so I should be able to find something that tickles his fancy.