henna belly
April 2, 2009
during our last birthing class, a woman was in labor at the center and one of my midwives invited us to sit in the back living room to “just take it all in”. the woman in labor was in a closed room 10 ft away and said it was fine with her for us to sit there. she was at 7 cm then. the baby (in my belly) started moving like crazy the second we walked back there. when the woman’s next contraction started, she was moaning-singing-om-ing, can’t really explain her sound. it sort of took my breath away and i felt like i was on some ocean waves with her. it was incredible, intense and emotional. soon, i’ll ‘know’ what it’s all about.
by the end of our class, the woman had her baby. the center is such a vortex for new life, and you could certainly feel the buzzin that night. our teacher marcy ended the class series by talking about parenting. we had zero time to talk, and she laughed for a moment as she paused to think of what she wanted to say about parenting with only one minute time. her single thought was really profound and has stuck with me every since: one of the best things parents can do for their child(ren) is to STRIVE. strive to be better people, strive to learn more and grow. that when our children see us doing this, it will inspire them beyond anything else.
my good friend beth painted on my belly yesterday. (like my ‘smiling’ belly button?! hee) she henna-ed one big, blooming lotus for Baby and two small lotuses (for patrick and me). maybe it will be a sort of mandala to focus on during labor. plus, it seemed like a beautiful way to celebrate my full moon belly. hmmm, i wonder if this little one will hold out till the full moon…
i’ll be keepin’ ya posted…i also want to say thanks for all the sweet emails and comments. they have meant a lot to us! xo jenny
13 Responses to “henna belly”
Leave a Comment
© 2012 jenny sue kostecki-shaw · coloredsock@mac.com · 575 586 1726
April 2nd, 2009 at 4:42 pm
That’s really cool. I got the cards that I won in your giveaway – they are beautiful! Thanks again!
April 2nd, 2009 at 7:51 pm
i liked ‘thrive’, on a miniretreat here oncampus tonight it was somewhere mentioned that ‘life is not about surviving, it’s about thriving’, which i guess is so true.
I am pretty amazed to see how big your belly has grown. I can’t imagine you are having that on your body. how must it have felt to have that grow over time. well i will never be able to feel that, but just see and wonder!!! it’s a beautiful gift for women i would say…
take care
much love
April 2nd, 2009 at 7:52 pm
my bad, it was strive, but i guess any would mean the same.
April 3rd, 2009 at 4:36 am
What a beautiful and amazing bump that is! I love the drawing! Happiness and peace to you now during this joyous time.
April 3rd, 2009 at 5:01 am
A wonderful complete and arty belly :D and I am really happy for your Travelin’ Eye!
April 3rd, 2009 at 6:37 am
One of my favorite things is a big pregnant belly, but yours is especially beautiful, even before the henna painting! :)
April 3rd, 2009 at 6:39 am
I love that parenting advice. Sounds so right on.
And look at your belly! It’s certainly bigger now! I love the lotus love. :)
April 3rd, 2009 at 6:49 am
Hey Jenny, the “ocean waves” part really got me. And the yoga “om” breaths. That is like the dream I had about you with the ocean references. Interesting.
April 3rd, 2009 at 7:35 am
Hi Jenny,
I just wanted to say hi. Wow, what a beautiful baby belly! You must be so excited!! I have a wonderful almost 4 year old girl, kids are so amazing. May you have the most beautiful birth experience :)
-Amy (from illustration academy circa 1996)
April 3rd, 2009 at 8:05 am
Amy!! no way. it is so so nice to hear from you! julie, doug, vic and kevin and i have all stayed in touch and have wondered what happened to you. you have a 4 yr old daughter! i’m so happy for you. are you living in PA? are you doing art at all? we’ll have to catch up… thanks for saying hi and for the sweet birth blessings! xo jenny
April 3rd, 2009 at 8:08 am
i’m glad y’all like the belly pics. i just love staring at the lotus bloom, such a sweet meditation right now. i would really LOVE to paint henna on friends’ baby bellies sometime!!
April 6th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
Jenny, I just keep on checking in for your big news. I’m so excited for how your lives are about to change & can’t believe it’s going to happen any day now! You are in for a wild and wonderful ride!!
April 7th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
That is so cool, really love the henna on the baby belly.