Two Weights Off Our Shoulders

This morning, we all drove down to Maryland (just over an hour) to meet another midwife. She came highly recommended by a friend who recently had a HBAC (home birth after caesarean) with her. She also knew Brynne and Deren, the wonderful midwives who attended Owen's birth - which earned her bonus points even before we met ;-). I was very pleased with her approach to care and specifically pleased to know that she believes "babies come out" a sentiment that Deren shared with us at our first meeting and to me an important way of looking at birth.
I have met with four midwives over the last few weeks, and no others would attend a breech home delivery, only one would attend a twin home birth, and one would not attend a home birth after 42 weeks. To be fair, two of the midwives were CNMs (certified nurse midwives) who must operate under strict protocols to maintain their licensure as well as their working relationships with back-up doctors. And to be clear, in all likelyhood, we will have one baby who comes head first before 42 weeks - most of them do even without intervention. But I want to establish care with someone who will help us have the safest and best birth we can have by maintaining good health throughout pregnancy and staying at home for birth unless we all decide that the baby or I need medical intervention. Ultimately, there is just a deep sense of comfort and trust that I think it is important to feel with a home birth attendant, and I felt that with her.
Owen enjoyed exploring the toys in her office and checking out her yard, and Abram caught bits of the conversation while keeping an eye on the monkey. Owen also liked looking at a set of pictures of how big the baby is now and how big it will be when it is ready to be born. Afterwards, we had lunch at a little Indian restaurant before heading back to PA. On the way, we talked and decided that Karen was right for us. It is a big relief to know that we have found someone we trust to attend the birth of our baby.
On the way home, we also put a deposit down on an apartment. It is in a pretty large older complex, is smaller than our current apartment and has carpet rather than wood floors. However, it has direct access to the outside (making grocery unloading and getting to and from the car much easier as well as quick and easy trips outside with Owen), has great reviews on the internet from past and present tenents, has a pool that will be open for the summer, has a small playground near our apartment and borders a large county park with lots of space to run and a playground area, is slighly less expensive than our current apartment, has a larger kitchen, and has its own washer and dryer. Abram will still be able to bike to work when it is nice. We think it will be a good move to make and have arranged to move in July.