[*Anna*]

I am 25 weeks now. Feeling baby all the time! We're in the slope downhill now and I can see the end. Its now 2009 and baby is due 3.5 months from today!!!! So excited!

I ordered my Hypnobabies last week and its going to be delivered next Tuesday. I downloaded 3 tracks I found online so I'm listening to those right now, to get aclimated and all

And I found a Doula!!! I meet her in a week or two! She is finishing her certification to become a doula and needs 1 more birth!! Her name is Megan and I am super excited!!! Its free and she knows all about Hypnobabies and is a studying to be a nurse too!

AND now- some very neat news.... I'm going to study to be a Doula!!! I found a class I'm taking starting in Feb-Mar for 5 weeks. I have all the requirements and have been reading and working with the trainer here near where I live. I am soooo excited and have been so passionate about natural child birth and breastfeeding and I can't wait! I have been in such a rut with work and have been looking for something I would love to do!!! I know it will be hard, after the baby is here- with nursing and all- but I will plan the births when baby girl is 6 months or so and I'm pumping Woo hoo!!! Eventually I want to start going to school to be a nurse midwife. I haven't started to look into that yet, but I think that would be perfect when my kids are in school I have about 5 yrs to work on that. And DH is super supportive and excited - he knows how excited I am and its soooo great to see him happy for all this!!!

And- my most exciting news... DH and I are leaving on Monday to fly to Fort Lauderdale until Friday!!! We got our flights for $70 for both of incluing all taxes and fees!!! Through Spirit, they had an $8 each way fare plus tax!!! And we rented a car for $150 for the week and are driving 4-5 hours to Key West and staying there for the week! I've never been to Key West, been all over Florida except the Keys. DH loves the keys and is super geeked!!! So this will be our Baby Moon!!! I'm sooo excited! I need to find my bikini, since I can still fit in it, with a little belly We have a trip planned for mid February to go to Vegas, but that doesn't count as a relaxing "babymoon" type vaca, DH is playing in some big poker tourney and I'll just be reading by the pool. So relaxing for me, and he'll be working

Thats about it for now!

May I ask where you d/led the hypnobabies tracks? I'm very interested if you wouldn't mind sharing please?

How exciting you're looking into being a doula!! What a fantastic job that must be!!

[*Anna*]

May I ask where you d/led the hypnobabies tracks? I'm very interested if you wouldn't mind sharing please?

How exciting you're looking into being a doula!! What a fantastic job that must be!![/b]

Thanks Fi

Here is where I got 2 free tracks... one is an intro, very nice description, and the 2nd is a Relax one. Both are about 30 mins.
http://www.enjoybirth.com/Free-Hypnobabies-Tracks.html

The 3rd one I paid for- $15... but its worth it. From Hypnobabies, its for the preggo mama who needs some help and relaxation and hypnosis to help fall asleep. I always have had a hard time falling asleep, so I've listened to the 30 min track for 3 nights now, and love it! Put it all on my ipod and listen after I'm all comfy and not bothering DH with it at all! (called Peaceful Sleep Now for ALL- there are many more too!!!!)

http://www.hypnobabies.com/mylink.php?id=4058

I have a feeling the first 2 are the ones I have but saving them to see! Thanks for sharing!!

[Mars]

Glad all is going well and cheers to your upcoming trips! Sounds like a lot of fun.

[niknok]

I'm excited for you about your doula and midwife plans. That's wonderful! Have a blast in Key West. A nice warm babymoon will be just what you need. Can't wait for photos!

[Resi]

I think you will be a great doula. My lived in FL for a few years. She said that Key West had the best food she ever had. Everything was very fresh. I'm sure you will have a lot of fun and it will be nice to get some warm sunshine.

[thepinkleprechaun]

How awesome that you can take classes! I doubt we have anything like that around here although I know there are several doulas in the area.

I had heard people say that every woman should have a doula and I was skeptical until I had my natural birth. It was totally worth it! I don't know if I could have even gotten through it without breaking down and going for an epidural if I didn't have a doula. Well...it might have been too late for the epidural by the time I wanted it, but still! I know she would have talked me out of it if I had even thought to ask lol!


And have fun on your vacation!

[*krista*]

You are just full of exciting news, aren't you??! Goodness! That is a really cool idea, training to be a doula. I think it would be a really cool profession. What do you have to do to train?

And I really, REALLY want to see lots of pics from Florida! We are still trying to figure out where we want to get married, but we know it will be somewhere tropical, so we need all the pics we can get. That is going to be so much fun. I love tropical vacations (then again, who wouldn't). Have tons of fun!

[lauren in hi]

Such an exciting update! I can't believe you're only a couple of weeks behind me...time is just flying by! Great news about the doula & your plans to become one & then a NMW...you'll do great. And what a great deal to go to FL...have loads of fun!

[JediRach]

Everything sounds amazing! I am so happy to hear everything is working out. Have fun on your trip!

[Garfieldbear]

You are so lucky, I would love to be a doula....but I don't have any nursing background. Definately follow your dream....and I am happy that baby is doing well Oh, is your husband a poker pro? My husband is really into that stuff.....

I think it is pretty awesome you will be a doula! Very exciting. And your babymoon sounds soooo nice!

That is so great Anna!!

DH is a professional poker player? My DH used to play pretty seriously, so did his best friend. Does he play Texas Hold Em?

[**Jenn**]

That's so awesome! You'll make a great doula! And that trip sounds so lovely--have a fantatic time!!!

[*Anna*]

Thanks girls

Kristap-there is a long list of requirements to become a doula... first is a 16 hour training class- mine is broken into 5 nights of 3.25 hours each. Then some online reading and testing and becoming certified in lactation consulting and postpartum care, then applying to DONA, then working with 3 mom to be's prior to their births, attending their births and writing a paper on each, and I think there are a list of required books that need to be read. I think thats it, I may have forgot something... I already read a few of the books, and am working on the lactation consulting class now.

And yes DH plays alot of texas hold em... he's not a pro though! He was in the WSOP in 2006 in Vegas. He plays in alot of the invited tourneys too in Vegas.... we've been there abut 5 times in the past 2 year. he wanted to do one in March, but I'll be 36-37 weeks, and I said no... so we're going in February and it'll also be our anniversary week too!

[soImarriedAnerd]

You are so lucky, I would love to be a doula....but I don't have any nursing background. Definately follow your dream....and I am happy that baby is doing well Oh, is your husband a poker pro? My husband is really into that stuff.....[/b]

You don't need a nursing background! Actually I think its better NOT to because then you don't think to clinical.

Anna can you eat some Key lime pie for me while your in FL???!!! With picture of course!

[alicenwonderland]

Doula training sounds sooo interesting. KUP on that! Glad to hear the baby is doing well!

[*Anna*]

You don't need a nursing background! Actually I think its better NOT to because then you don't think to clinical.

Anna can you eat some Key lime pie for me while your in FL???!!! With picture of course!
[/b]

Key lime pie... I've never had it.... is it good.