one year ago today

A year ago today was my last day at home with Emmett still in my belly, though I didn't know it at the time, nor did I know he would be an Emmett.  I had tied up all loose ends at my job almost a week prior, and I was at home waiting.  I was dreadfully uncomfortable, dealing with a sore back, constant heartburn, and having contractions on and off, regular and then irregular, all mild and painless.  That had been going on for days. 

My mind was so distant and unfocused, I couldn't concentrate on anything requiring a constant attention span.  TV and reading were no good.  I eventually discovered in the last couple of weeks that jigsaw puzzles were the key for me.  They kept me occupied without requiring too much thinking or focus.  I sat at the table for hours in that last week, bouncing on the ball and doing puzzles.  Mike would join me and keep me company whenever he had time. 

We got out of the house occasionally, going for drives or for short walks, but mostly we waited.  We did the puzzles.  Mike was very patient with the doing of the puzzles all the time.  And we listened to music.  Waayyy back when, I requested ideas for a labor playlist.  I said I would follow up with what I ended up deciding, but I never did. 

I just started scanning through my iPod and the iTunes store and went with whatever songs jumped out at me and seemed like they might work.  As it turns out, the playlist has served us well.  I listened to it constantly during the last couple of week before Emmett was born, and I listened to it on and off during my full day of labor before I finally requested the epidural.  It worked well for me.

It doesn't end there, though.  I noticed after Emmett was born that whenever we played that music, the music he heard all the time before he was born, he would settle down.  To this day it calms him, and it has become Emmett's playlist.  If I have him in the car by myself for a trip, I will usually put on that playlist so he'll settle down and sleep in the car.  It is remarkable.

In case you are curious, here is my list (in no particular order; I always listen to it on shuffle):

Lying in the Hands of God - Dave Matthews Band
Keep Holding On - Glee cast
All I Want Is You - Juno soundtrack
Down to the River to Pray - Alison Krauss (O Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack)
Bella's Lullaby - Twilight soundtrack
Besame Mucho - Andrea Bocelli
All You Need Is Love - Beatles
You're My Home - Billy Joel
Blowin' in the Wind - Bob Dylan
Pie Jesu - Chorus Angelicus
Colorblind - Counting Crows
Tiny Dancer - Elton John
Only Time - Enya
Breathe - Faith Hill
Your Song - Elton John
To Make You Feel My Love - Garth Brooks
The Way I Am - Ingrid Michaelson
I'm Yours - Jason Mraz
Lucky (feat. Colbie Caillat) - Jason Mraz
Carrigdhoun - Captain Mackey's Goatskin and Stringband
Imagine - John Lennon
Give Yourself to Love - Kate Wolf
I Am a Rock - Simon & Garfunkel
Cecilia - Simon & Garfunkel
She's My Kind of Rain - Tim McGraw
It's Your Love - Tim McGraw
Come Away with Me - Norah Jones
No Air - Glee cast
Don't Stop Believin' - Journey
Both Sides Now - Joni Mitchell
Crash Into Me - Dave Matthews Band
Fly Me Away - Annie Little
Godspeed (Sweet Dreams) - Dixie Chicks
I'll Take Care of You - Dixie Chicks