For the Record

It's been hot. Not it's-summer-let's-swim hot, but the-babypool's-a-hottub hot.

I don't like to complain about a miracle (pregnancy), but since I've been third-trimester pregnant in the summer twice before, and both times seem to have forgotten the resulting discomfort, I've decided it's time to write. it. down. If I am ever again tempted to get pregnant in November, I commit now to read this first.

At one point, the local weatherman was saying that it hasn't been this hot since August of 2007 -- the month Noah was born. The two weeks before Noah arrived, the temperature reached over 100 degrees every day.

But then, a couple weeks ago, the weatherman gave up on that comparison. Lately it's been the hottest Nashville has ever seen since they started keeping records.

I've always been a cold weather girl. It's in my blood: my relatives vacation in Massachusetts. Living in the South, I miss snow, dread July/August, and wouldn't mind a few more rainy days. And that's when I'm not pregnant.

At 37 weeks, I sweat in air conditioning. It takes 2 seconds for me to get hot and about 30 minutes to cool down. I got irritated last night with Josh because I couldn't stand watching him put a blanket over his legs. I thought about just staying at church yesterday rather than having to take the boys out to a hot car and waiting for it to cool off. I've been serving frozen vegetables with dinner so long now, that I think my boys will be surprised the next time someone offers them hot green beans. Last week, I actually considered cutting off my own ponytail to get the hair off my neck. Step away from the scissors...away from the scissors...

And it's not just that I feel hot. It's that the heat makes me feel sick. Most evenings, it has sapped my energy and left me a nauseous, crampy mess. It's possible everyone feels that way at 37wks - I wouldn't know - but I'm guessing not to this extent. I drink lots of fluids, but that just sends me to the restroom every 3 minutes instead of every 7 - which has its own set of complications...

If I were a better hermit, I suppose I could avoid it all. We do have a marvelous new HVAC, and I am INCREDIBLY thankful for it. I've thought many times about the thousands of deaths that accompanied summer heat waves in past centuries. I know there are so many reasons to be grateful - including the fact that I am still pregnant with a healthy baby. I am. Really.

But I'm no good as a hermit, so I cannot avoid the heat entirely. And I think it's affecting my brain. Saturday, I put in a movie at 9am to give us a reason to stay in, but by the time it finished at 11, I was stir-crazy. So I took the boys to the free craft at Home Depot, assuming it would be inside on July 7th at 11:30am under 102 degrees of direct sun.

Then I made a crucial mis-step: I parked and walked in with the boys BEFORE checking the set-up. They saw the fabulous toy trucks being built out front, on the pavement, under the sun, before I did. Let me just say, it's a good thing they love those trucks. I nearly sweat blood to help them build those trucks. We are keeping those trucks for a long time. On the mantle.

But seriously, I can dwell on my little rant for the moment, because there is hope for me yet. The forecast this week includes highs in the EIGHTIES for the first time in forever. I could've kissed the guy who told me that. (Actually, I did. It was Josh.) AND I plan to have this baby as soon as possible, which means I can look on those with September due dates with sympathy and inner exultation that at least we started this whole process in November and not at New Year's. Dear Lord have mercy and bless the hot little hearts of those who still have two months to go. And please, please help me remember that next winter.