Traveling to New Orleans

When it comes to traveling, visibly pregnant women are treated like princesses.

I was able to pre-board my plane.  Then when I mentioned that I was pregnant to the stewardess she: 1) moved us to a comfy exit row 2) gave me extra cookies & peanuts 3) didn't bat an eye when I asked to walk around and use the restroom when the fasten seat belt light was on.  When we got to the hotel they tried to get us a room right away, but couldn't.  So they held bags for us for free, gave us a map of the French Quarter and pointed us in the direction of Cafe duMonde, then offered to phone us as soon as our room was prepared.  When it came time to check in, the desk staff remembered us by name then gave us home-made cookies and free wifi. Once we got settled in, the concierge stopped by with an abundance of pillows, coffee, camomile tea, and creamer.  Everyone has put a smile on our faces today.

In other news, we saw a woman playing a steam calliope on a steamboat.  Also of note: some of the street performers here are incredibly talented, while others are terrible.  New Orleans is a beautiful, wacky place.  Culture seeps out of every nook and cranny - along with ferns and moss.  Between the announcements in French at the airport, to the wide range of wacky accents and the cash-only culture, it feels like we have stepped into another world.  If you want to stay in the US, yet visit someplace quite foreign, New Orleans is the place to be. 

Nerves

This morning I puked for the first time this pregnancy. Puke + diarrhea + Braxton-hicks Contractions all morning = I'm kinda freaking out right now.

There is a reason for this. And it's not just that a banana didn't agree with me this morning.

Excited. Trying to take everything in stride.
This week is THE conference. The one that I have been working toward all year. The one where I present my research. The one where I spend all of my waking hours surrounded by space geeks. The one where, after 3 years of service, I finally get to pass on my presidential duties to another student.

My poster is printed, beautifully trimmed, and ready to go.
Life is good. Breathe in, breathe out.
This afternoon I have a doctor's appointment which will confirm I'm fit to travel. I have a childbirth class in the evening. We then have to cart the bunny over to a friend's house who will be watching her for the rest of the week. Sometime in there I need to pack and make sure all of my T's are crossed.

So much to do, such a queezy feeling.

Rabbit Kisses

This morning I'm cuddling Cinnabunny in bed. She has been "purring" (soft teeth grinding) and licking my cheek for the past several minutes. There is nothing quite like sweet bunny breath and a soft warm bunny body to cuddle in the morning.
In other news, Tom tells me I was sleep-laughing last night. I wish I could remember those great dreams! Pregnancy does funny things.