Thank goodness for exercise buddies – both the furry and human kind.
I’m experiencing signs that labor could be imminent (but my due date is a week away, and such signs can also indicate I’ve still got days or weeks to go, so who knows….). I’ve made it my personal mission to move as much as possible. All the natural birth books, Bradley Method, and my midwives agree: exercise can help ‘move along’ labor. Sounds worth a shot to me – plus, I should still be exercising anyway since I still feel up for it.
James the pup got me to go on a walk – maybe a mile and a half? – and DadHTP and I went swimming on my lunch break. I did about 650 yards in the pool; much like last time, I intentionally dialed it back from my pregnancy normal of 900 yards. The goal is not to wear myself out! But it was so nice to have buddies to exercise with; I probably wouldn’t have made it without them.
Regardless of whether my efforts will ‘work,’ getting up and moving was a very nice break from all the desk time. I’m working on a bunch of writing projects – it’s nice to look at something other than a screen for a while.
Onto tonight’s eats…
Dinner was a-maz-ing.
I’ve been in a bit of a dinner rut; this meal was the perfect solution. And it was very easy to make.
Simply:
Sliced and roasted small yellow potatoes (coated in a bit of olive oil) for 30 minutes at 300 degrees.
Mixed potatoes with drained black beans, fresh salsa (the kind you get in the produce section, not from the shelf <—so much better), and pumpkin seeds.
Scooped mixture on top of raw baby spinach.
And for dessert….
I’m not sure what I’m having, but if the Husband knows what’s good for him, he’ll be bringing something sweet home (ah, the disadvantages of being a one-car family… sweet tooth cravings are not as easily filled).
Aaaaaand just as I got ready to hit publish on this post, the Husband arrived with a pint of ice cream. Husband for the win!
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{ 41 comments… read them below or add one }
My baby was born at 38 weeks 5 days gestation and I went into labor naturally. Just because it’s your first pregnancy doesn’t mean you’ll go late!! good luck, caitlin!
Mmmm! That dinner looks yummy. I gotta make it soon!
You are getting SO close! Where did the time go? I’m so excited for you.
Lovin’ your potato salad. I’ve been eating roasted potatoes like crazy lately and can’t get enough. They are the perfect comfort food and so satisfying.
I’m almost 34 weeks and VERY curious what signs of labor you are experiencing!
Good for you on staying active.
Without being too TMI, I’ve been losing my mucus plug for a week and the baby has majorly dropped. Tons of Braxton Hicks too. My whole bump looks different. Lots of pelvic pressure. Also I was 2 cm and 80% at my last appt. although that doesn’t mean much!
Congrats!
I lost my mucus plug with my 2nd baby about a week before I had him, so it could be close!! But with my third one I was dilated 3 cm for three weeks with no change. Lol! So anything could happen.
And good job hubby! The only thing better than seeing your hubby come home after work is seeing him come home with some ice cream in his hand!!
My plug came out the day before I went into labor. hope baby HTP comes soon!
Ack! I can’t believe you’re getting so close. I hope I can stay as active as you’ve been able to when I”m pregnant!
What’s the plan if you go into labor and are home alone? I realize that’s a nosy question…I’m just interested/excited about your 1 car family decision and living in the ‘burbs (I live in and love them also)!
Im planning on laboring at home for a long time anyway so depending on the Husband’s work schedule, I may wait to call him until he’s done with patients or call right away. If there’s an emergency then I can always call my Dad. He’s only 5 miles away. The hospital is only 15 minutes away!
so exciting that you’re baby could be coming any day!
Exciting! Try to get some rest!
Go Husband!! Any man coming home with ice cream is a good man indeed. Apparently Ben & Jerry’s came out with Greek Yogurt ice cream (or, I guess, Greek Frozen Yogurt?) recently and it sounds delicious.
Any day now!!! My first was 6 days early. My second 10 days early.
Loosing your plug is a great sign… can’t wait to hear the great news!!!!!
Both my 1st and 2nd were born at 38 weeks, and they both came *very* fast. I intended to labor at home for as long as possible with both and with the first, I ended up not getting to the hospital until I was fully dilated, ready to push! I recommend not waiting till quite that point, haha
You’re going to do great!
such an adorable pup!! awww:) and your dinner looks delicious! i love those potatoes! thanks for sharing!
Yes, the fresh salsa is definitely where it’s at!
Every time I check your blog, I’m waiting for the “omg, it’s time” post haha. So close
Well, I was going to say that if you hurry up & have him (or her) within the next hour, he will share my Daddy’s birthday (YAY!). I then realized that it’s an hour later your time, so probably too late…UNLESS events have transpired that we don’t know about yet!
In any case, your dinner looks & sounds fantastic!
Hahaha love the e-mail! Emergency sugar cravings ftw
Your pregnancy seemed like it flew by! Not long now
I keep checking to see if you’re in labor because my firstborn’s due date was right around yours, and she was born on June 3rd after 4 days of labor, so….it could be any minute!
Oh god. Four days of labor?!
How exciting. That you have the energy to keep on moving is a super sign of your great health!
The potatoes look great! I almost thought they were olives!
Beautiful meal and so glad you still feel up to exercising! I’m not sure what I would do if my body didn’t want me to exercise!
It’s getting so close now!
(My girlfriends and I always bet on things like the sex, date and weight of the baby that our friends are expecting, then whoever wins the bet uses the moneys to buy a present to the new mummy… a sort of productive gambling! 
)
Had a dream about you last night (weird, I know!) and dreamt that BabyHTP is a girl and born on the 15th June… shall we bet?
Haha okay, it’s a bet!
We totally SHOULD have had an online baby pool! (Although I would have lost, as I keep predicting too early.)
Lucas got the ice cream gchat message this week…at 21 weeks.
I’m not stuck at home but I *am* indulging in major “but I’m pregnant!” demands.
Wow I can believe how fast your pregnancy flew!
I just LOVE your note to your hubby! Classic.
I don’t know why, but this is the first time I think I fully grasped the concept that you are about to have a BABY! Haha, it’s weird, because obviously you’re so pregnant, but I think it finally just clicked that BabyHTP will be out and about in the world in a week or so. So exciting!
haha I know what you mean, I feel the same way a lot of the time.
Had a dream last night that you had a baby girl and named her Adele. LOL.
Awww!
How exciting that you are feeling/seeing signs of labor! And way to go with all that exercise still. That’s awesome.
Last night I walked with a friend & came home almost in tears. It’s 90 degrees here & it is hard to not push hard! I was too exhausted though. Anyway, I keep having to learn that lesson, so hearing you say that the point is not to exhaust yourself is a nice reminder to me! Also, I’m going to join a gym with a pool today to follow in your lap swimming footsteps. At 28 weeks it sounds better all the time. Especially after you’ve said it is the only time you feel like your normal self. I am so excited to hear about Baby HTP’s arrival! Any day now, & you’ve done an amazing job of preparing your body for a wonderful birth experience.
Thanks for sharing along the way!
I can’t wait to make that dish! I love that I can always count on finding good veg dishes on your blog (among so many other things)!
Kristien is the JAMMMM
Have you lost your plug yet? With all of my babies, when I lost my plug labor followed less than a week later.
So exciting! Getting closer and closer
Well done you for keeping up with the exercise so late in your pregnancy! Keep it up =) Oh, and yay ice-cream!!
Soooo very excited for you & for baby HTP’s arrival! I don’t know why but I’ve got a gut feeling its going to be a little redheaded boy