41 weeks & we hike

41 weeks gestating. And to be perfectly honest, I had thought our New One would have arrived Earthside by now. I had thought that perhaps Arlo’s late arrival (read here: The Fortieth Week & I am Feeling Feelings) was due to certain environmental stressors present around his birth… I have done big, big work both in the spiritual realms and the earthly realms to create a clear space for Analee to arrive Earthside in our home, in a sacred place of peace and calm. And yet, still she nestles. Though I feel beyond ready spiritually, physically, emotionally. Though our home is ready, stocked lovingly with the supplies for our birth. 
As I mentioned in my last post, my body is doing work, yet not quite the work I expected. Josh and I joke that I must have a very cozy womb for these wee ones to enjoy. While my body does its instinctual work, my mind has been spinning. The work my mind does is not quite at productive as that which my body engages in. Each day is a journey in presence, an uphill journey it seems at most times. My mind tries to spin me out to places of desperate impatience, doubt, anxiety, and even some fear. So I do what I can, I use mantras a lot, I try to focus on the moment, sometimes I just distract myself. Other times I get into my body in whatever way feels the best… Making love if the space and time is there, being silly and seeing if I can hoop at 41 weeks (I can), letting Arlo play with my hair.
Today we woke and found that Missouri has blessed us with yet another unseasonably warm day. I felt drawn to the outdoors, to the medicine of the woods, sky, moss, waters, and crunching leaves. We packed a picnic lunch and set off to hike for a bit.
We had not really intended to hike quite as far as we ended up hiking… We made it all the way around this very large (27 acre) lake near by our small town. We estimate it was probably about a two mile hike. It felt good, real good, though I have a feeling I’m going to be pretty sore tomorrow. Arlo hiked quite a bit by himself, and rode on Josh for the remainder. We all came home exhausted but happy, and took delightful naps.