The Spumoni Underground Operation

There's this common idea that Spumoni ice cream has labor-inducing effects. We've been hearing a lot of advice lately to give it a try. And when you've been having strong contractions anywhere between 2 and 60 minutes apart for 5 days straight, had over 5 labor checks in 3 days and been in and out of the hospital with false labor, you heed all the advice you can get.
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Earlier today, Phaeton and I ate at Snooze for brunch after yet another midwife appointment for the week. We walked inside to put our name down.
Host - "Two today? Can I get your name?"
Me - "Yes. Heather. And I have an interesting request."
Host - "What's that?"
Me - "Can we please get a booth, off to the side, not in the open? I'm having contractions and don't want everyone to see it."
Host - "Sure thing. You know what's funny? I've had that request a few times in my time working in restaurants. It'll be about 5-10 minutes for your table."

We were seated in our booth and our waitress greeted us. "Hey guys! I thought the next time you'd be here you'd have another little baby in your arms!"
Me - "Ha! We did too! I've actually been having contractions for 5 days now, so hopefully soon."
Then, she proceeded to tell us about her experience working at an italian restaurant a few doors down. She said that almost 100% of the time, customers who ordered their spumoni ice cream went into active labor within 24 hours.
Phaeton - "We've heard about spumoni a lot lately. Where did you guys get your ice cream from?"
Waitress - "Just across the street at Walrus. But, I think they only sell it to restaurants. I don't know if you'd be able to get it yourselves."

When we left the restaurant, we decided to make a stop across the street at Walrus. I sat in the car and watched Phaeton walk inside, fully expecting him to come back out in a matter of seconds without any spumoni ice cream. A few minutes went by, I had an excruciatingly painful contraction, and out he walked with a brown paper bag and the biggest smirk on his face. He got in the car and said, "Well, that was a weird experience."
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Phaeton had walked in and was greeted by a young girl working behind the counter.
Phaeton - "Hey, do you guys happen to have any spumoni?"
Girl - "What's spumoni?"
Phaeton - "It's something you take when you're in labor and want the baby to come out quicker."
Girl - "Oh, ummmm....??? Let me go ask the Ice Cream Maker."
The girl left the room for a few moments and returned with a confused look on her face - "Are you from a restaurant?"
Phaeton - "Uhh. Yes."
Girl - "Which restaurant?"
Phaeton - "....[awkward pause]....The restaurant that's going to give me some spumoni."
.....{crickets}.....
Even more confused Girl - "Ummm....I'll be right back."
She left again and walked back out with the Ice Cream Maker.
Ice Cream Maker - "Which restaurant are you with?"
Phaeton, sticking to his awkward answer - "The restaurant that is going to give me some spumoni."
.....{more crickets}.....
Phaeton and the Ice Cream Maker just stared at each other for a little while....It sounded a little bit like this-

Ice Cream Maker - "Yeah. We have spumoni."
He opened up a fridge, separate from the other flavors and put the bucket on the counter. He left the room without another word. The girl opened up the container.
Girl - "Whoa."
Phaeton - "What?"
Girl - "There are just so many flavors in here!"
Phaeton - "That's what makes it so powerful. You need to remember this: When you are in labor, you need to eat some spumoni to get the baby out. Can you remember that?"
Girl - "I'm never going to forget this day for the rest of my life.....How much do you want? A pint?"
Phaeton - "Yes, please."
Girl - "Would you like another pint?"
Phaeton - "I won't need anymore until next time."
Girl - "Okay. Enjoy your spumoni."
Phaeton - "Oh, it isn't for me." And he walked out with his brown bag and the biggest, most mischievous grin on his face, like he had successfully performed a secret underground operation for his pregnant wife.

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We'll let you know if it works :)

Daughter of the Year

Today was not one of my finer days of being a Mom. I blame it on feeling 92 weeks pregnant with excruciating leg cramps and feeling like everytime this baby moves inside of me, a watermelon is going to fall out. Meanwhile, I'm also trying to entertain a rambunctious 3-year-old who refuses to nap while my husband is away at work. All I want to do is sleep. But, I would also settle for going into labor so that the watermelon pain would soon subside.

So this afternoon, I had a pregnant Mommy temper tantrum, and unnecessarily sent Adeleigh to "the naughty step". And then I broke down. I didn't know for sure if I was crying because I was in so much pain, or if I was pregnant, or if it was because I felt awful for having snapped at her, or if I was frustrated, or if I just needed a good cry, or all of the above. But my little girl sensed that I needed something and got herself up from the naughty step, walked over to me with a tissue and wiped away my tears. "Mommy, don't be sad. I want you to be happy right now. Do you need a hug and a kiss?"
"Yes, sweetie. I need a hug and a kiss."
She gave me the sweetest hug and kiss, another hug and kiss, wiped away more tears and threw the tissue away in the wastebasket. "Are you happy now?"
"Yes, Adeleigh. Mommy is very happy because of you. I just don't feel well. But, I'm very sorry that I yelled at you."
"That's okay, Mommy. I love hanging out with you. Don't be sad."
I felt a slew of emotions, more happy than anything, and the tears just kept coming. I tried explaining to Adeleigh that I wasn't sad, but that now I was crying because I was happy.
A few minutes later, Phaeton called on his way home from work. In the middle of our conversation, Adeleigh grabbed the phone from me and told him, "Daddy, Mommy is very sick and sad. But, I will take care of her and make her happy again."
So, after a day of questioning myself and how I would ever survive as a momma of two, let alone a momma of one and a watermelon protruding from my stomach, I suddenly realized that everything will be just fine. I'm sure there will be difficult days ahead. And I'm sure that I will have some additional not-so-fine Momma moments. But today, when I was quickly reminded of the innocence and pure, unconditional love that emits from my little girl's heart, I realized why I was so overcome with emotion. I realized that all of the moments and memories, all of the overwhelming feelings and emotions, all of the learning and growth of the last three years that we've shared with Adeleigh, are about to be multiplied.
And I feel ready. Not just physically ready, but for the first time, really ready for this next chapter in our family. So, while today didn't go as ideally as I would have liked, I think I needed today to happen the way it did so that I could get there.

Photo by Jessica Loucks