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Ewan is 2 weeks and 4 Days.
Oct. 30th, 2007 12:10 pmQuick Post.
Me: Tired. Exhausted. Headaches. Love my son. Frustrated with the house. Stir Crazy. Still Tired. Getting the hang of it? Maybe not. Behind on correspondence. Misshapen. Not healed. Cluttered. Need Facial. Need Haircut. Clothes don't fit. Ready to get back to work. Worried about leaving Ewan too soon. Frustrated with family. Trying to be a good mum. Trying to be a good wife. Calm. Hungry. No concept of time whatsoever. Having a hard time putting down the baby.
Ewan: Bigger. Alert. Smiles. Giggles sometimes. Very talkative- much more so in the last week-ish. A little pudgier. Likes to swing. Likes to move. Likes to be read to. Dislikes diaper changes when wet. Warming up to baths. Sleeps on my chest. Does not like to be put down. Still has goopy eye. Feeding better. Eating constantly. Makes mummy tired. Makes mummy cry- happy tears, frustrated tears. Probably close to 8lbs but we'll find out tomorrow. Played with Dad today. Getting to know dad. Growing into his clothes. Growing so fast. Hair and skin so soft. Love his smell. Likes singing. Looks good in darker colours- blue, green, black. Looks ill in yellow. Has dad's toes. Has mom's nose. Has a belly button. Has mum's scowl. Has mum's dimples. Scratches. Likes to suck. Prefers pinky fingers. Enjoys many types of music. Angel.
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squidyfishlove: Supportive. Trying to adapt. Working. Tired. Halo 3. King of the kitchen. Sleeping alone. Trying to like his son. Getting there.
Me: Tired. Exhausted. Headaches. Love my son. Frustrated with the house. Stir Crazy. Still Tired. Getting the hang of it? Maybe not. Behind on correspondence. Misshapen. Not healed. Cluttered. Need Facial. Need Haircut. Clothes don't fit. Ready to get back to work. Worried about leaving Ewan too soon. Frustrated with family. Trying to be a good mum. Trying to be a good wife. Calm. Hungry. No concept of time whatsoever. Having a hard time putting down the baby.
Ewan: Bigger. Alert. Smiles. Giggles sometimes. Very talkative- much more so in the last week-ish. A little pudgier. Likes to swing. Likes to move. Likes to be read to. Dislikes diaper changes when wet. Warming up to baths. Sleeps on my chest. Does not like to be put down. Still has goopy eye. Feeding better. Eating constantly. Makes mummy tired. Makes mummy cry- happy tears, frustrated tears. Probably close to 8lbs but we'll find out tomorrow. Played with Dad today. Getting to know dad. Growing into his clothes. Growing so fast. Hair and skin so soft. Love his smell. Likes singing. Looks good in darker colours- blue, green, black. Looks ill in yellow. Has dad's toes. Has mom's nose. Has a belly button. Has mum's scowl. Has mum's dimples. Scratches. Likes to suck. Prefers pinky fingers. Enjoys many types of music. Angel.
squidyfishlove: Supportive. Trying to adapt. Working. Tired. Halo 3. King of the kitchen. Sleeping alone. Trying to like his son. Getting there.What Day Is It Again?
Oct. 24th, 2007 01:20 pmOutlook says it's Wednesday the 24th already. How in the bloody hell did that happen? I swear it must be last week!
Ewan is almost 2 weeks old, and I think we're sort of getting settled in. Today I'm trying to get a few things done because I can't take any more of this resting crap. I feel lazy- and that's no good. I do realize that if I don't rest then I won't heal, but a girl can only take so much. So, Ewan is trying out the sling so I can type a little bit. I have 4 pages of a bigger update in draft on the laptop... I'll post it at some point.
Yesterday we went to our 2 week postpartum visit at the midwife. She checked out Ewan- he's good. She checked out me- I'm good, including my stitches, with which I was a little concerned. I've lost 20lbs of my pregnancy weight... still 14 to go. Apparently this is a good thing, but I was really hoping it would all be gone. Alas, I think I know where the rest of it can be found- most of it is in my bra... the rest is sitting on my hips. BAH! Freakin' mom body.
Oh yeah... I'm a mum. Weeeeeird.
Ewan's weight experienced the usual drop following birth. The bench mark is to regain weight and return to birth weight by two weeks. As of yesterday, Ewan weighed 7lbs 2oz, so he's a little ahead of the curve. He's definitely been eating enough! This means that nursing is triumphant. We had some major troubles with that for the first week, but I think we're getting the hang of it... mostly. Stephen and I both think he's getting/gotten his first growth spurt. He already looks bigger and I think he's put on a little more baby pudge- namely in his cheeks. He's already growing up! *sob* Ah well... it probably wouldn't hurt him to grow into the newborn sized clothing. He's still a little guy.
Sadly, Ewan got his first heal prick yesterday. He took it like a man, but I didn't enjoy it. So I guess we're getting the PKU after all.
Other than that... Ewan is super cute. He shows off his dimples pretty regularly. I found his ticklish spot on his neck and he seems to like a little bit of tickling. I definitely like the very near giggling. He also has semi ticklish feet. I think he and I are getting along pretty well. He likes sleeping on my chest and I don't like putting him down so that's working out alright. He really enjoys classical music (though right now we're listening to the bleepy stuff). He still keeps me up a lot of the night, but we're getting better all around.
squidyfishlove has had to go back to work this week, so it's been a bit harder for me, but we're getting the hang of it. I don't think I could have survived last week if Stephen had been working... somewhat literally. I've had to be on extreme rest to get these stitches to heal and I'm still bleeding. There is a very direct correlation between the amount of bleeding and the amount of rest I get. I spent the last two days pretty much hanging out on the couch and watching movies with Ewan and so was doing a little better- until I started running up and down the stairs last night and trying to get ready for company (there has a been a lot of that too). Today I'm trying to find a balance. I can't stand to sit on my arse anymore, but I don't want to end up with an infection. I actually have antibiotics here if I need them because I had a fever and some yucky symptoms at the end of last week, but I have held off on starting them because my stomach has been bad enough without allowing those to strip my system. No thank you. Eating is hard enough as it is. Especially since we've been living off of pizza for the last three days... I'm so glad it's gone. Thankfully the pizza was offset with a box of SUPER JUICY pears, apples and other goodies from Harry and David, sent by aunt Linda, uncle mark, and cousin Adam. (THANK YOU!) I wish I could just ask for a glass of juice and have it magically appear again like I was getting so accustomed to with Stephen free.
He's really kicked in with the housework- I've been pretty impressed. He won't let anyone touch the kitchen- it's his area. I haven't done a single load of laundry since Ewan was born- I also can't find a lot of things, but oh well. Mom has been over here and there, but she mainly just gets to hold Ewan while I sleep or hang out and make food for me while I feed the little dude. The few days she's been able to come over have been really good. Now that everyone is back to work, except for me, and it's been a couple of weeks, I'm trying to adjust to life with baby. It's weird. I don't know where the time goes. It seems like I'm constantly feeding and changing him, I'm still pretty tired. But I really enjoy him being around all the time. It makes me weepy- in a good way. I fear I've gone soft.
Things I would like to do, however: get an entire night of sleep, feel truly rested, put on make-up, spend some time on skin care, ride my motorcycle!, clean everything, frame some things, hang some things, go visitkevbonium in Portland, go have some really good coffee, go snowboarding, etc.
Ewan is almost 2 weeks old, and I think we're sort of getting settled in. Today I'm trying to get a few things done because I can't take any more of this resting crap. I feel lazy- and that's no good. I do realize that if I don't rest then I won't heal, but a girl can only take so much. So, Ewan is trying out the sling so I can type a little bit. I have 4 pages of a bigger update in draft on the laptop... I'll post it at some point.
Ewan Updates
Yesterday we went to our 2 week postpartum visit at the midwife. She checked out Ewan- he's good. She checked out me- I'm good, including my stitches, with which I was a little concerned. I've lost 20lbs of my pregnancy weight... still 14 to go. Apparently this is a good thing, but I was really hoping it would all be gone. Alas, I think I know where the rest of it can be found- most of it is in my bra... the rest is sitting on my hips. BAH! Freakin' mom body.
Oh yeah... I'm a mum. Weeeeeird.
Ewan's weight experienced the usual drop following birth. The bench mark is to regain weight and return to birth weight by two weeks. As of yesterday, Ewan weighed 7lbs 2oz, so he's a little ahead of the curve. He's definitely been eating enough! This means that nursing is triumphant. We had some major troubles with that for the first week, but I think we're getting the hang of it... mostly. Stephen and I both think he's getting/gotten his first growth spurt. He already looks bigger and I think he's put on a little more baby pudge- namely in his cheeks. He's already growing up! *sob* Ah well... it probably wouldn't hurt him to grow into the newborn sized clothing. He's still a little guy.
Sadly, Ewan got his first heal prick yesterday. He took it like a man, but I didn't enjoy it. So I guess we're getting the PKU after all.
Other than that... Ewan is super cute. He shows off his dimples pretty regularly. I found his ticklish spot on his neck and he seems to like a little bit of tickling. I definitely like the very near giggling. He also has semi ticklish feet. I think he and I are getting along pretty well. He likes sleeping on my chest and I don't like putting him down so that's working out alright. He really enjoys classical music (though right now we're listening to the bleepy stuff). He still keeps me up a lot of the night, but we're getting better all around.
squidyfishlove has had to go back to work this week, so it's been a bit harder for me, but we're getting the hang of it. I don't think I could have survived last week if Stephen had been working... somewhat literally. I've had to be on extreme rest to get these stitches to heal and I'm still bleeding. There is a very direct correlation between the amount of bleeding and the amount of rest I get. I spent the last two days pretty much hanging out on the couch and watching movies with Ewan and so was doing a little better- until I started running up and down the stairs last night and trying to get ready for company (there has a been a lot of that too). Today I'm trying to find a balance. I can't stand to sit on my arse anymore, but I don't want to end up with an infection. I actually have antibiotics here if I need them because I had a fever and some yucky symptoms at the end of last week, but I have held off on starting them because my stomach has been bad enough without allowing those to strip my system. No thank you. Eating is hard enough as it is. Especially since we've been living off of pizza for the last three days... I'm so glad it's gone. Thankfully the pizza was offset with a box of SUPER JUICY pears, apples and other goodies from Harry and David, sent by aunt Linda, uncle mark, and cousin Adam. (THANK YOU!) I wish I could just ask for a glass of juice and have it magically appear again like I was getting so accustomed to with Stephen free. He's really kicked in with the housework- I've been pretty impressed. He won't let anyone touch the kitchen- it's his area. I haven't done a single load of laundry since Ewan was born- I also can't find a lot of things, but oh well. Mom has been over here and there, but she mainly just gets to hold Ewan while I sleep or hang out and make food for me while I feed the little dude. The few days she's been able to come over have been really good. Now that everyone is back to work, except for me, and it's been a couple of weeks, I'm trying to adjust to life with baby. It's weird. I don't know where the time goes. It seems like I'm constantly feeding and changing him, I'm still pretty tired. But I really enjoy him being around all the time. It makes me weepy- in a good way. I fear I've gone soft.
Things I would like to do, however: get an entire night of sleep, feel truly rested, put on make-up, spend some time on skin care, ride my motorcycle!, clean everything, frame some things, hang some things, go visit
kevbonium in Portland, go have some really good coffee, go snowboarding, etc.Tags:
Project Pollywog: 40 Weeks, 3 Days, 10:26
Oct. 11th, 2007 10:25 amWhat a horrendous night!!!
So, that nasty egg concoction was not well digested by my body. The Castor Oil was not well received. Starting around 1am I was getting contractions, and by 1:30 they were coming hard and strong and three minutes apart and lasting about 1m 20 secs, on top of constant tightness. That was crazy no fun. Stephen was a champ and very helpful through that section, especially the part where I expelled the Castor Oil Eggs and goodness knows what else into one of the handy foot soak tubs I purchased for doing pedicures withto_rei_shi. That was a $1.56 well spent!
Given this, we called Darlene. I was pretty out of it. I was clinging to the counter at this point, managing to talk, but not that well. Seriously not fun. So... we decided to hold off the on the second does a little while long- I think it ended up being after 4am before I managed to really make it back to bed and stay there for longer than about 10 minutes at a time. 10 minutes in bed, 45 in the bathroom. GAH.
But... I had some show at 3:27, according to my log, and then more just before 4am. This means to me that those horrible contractions were doing something.
The good news is that after about 4:30 or 5 the priority switched to sleep- which we both desperately needed. At 9:45ish, I was getting up to use the loo again and felt rush of fluid, so I froze thinking maybe I'd soiled myself, but moved again and more fluid which I couldn't stop with Kegels. Then at 10:08 more fluid... and since then about 1 TBSP just about every time I move- so it looks like my water really has broken.
Stephen has been sent out to bank and to collect my thyroid Rx refill... so while he's gone, I'm trying to get contractions going on their own (which will work better when I actually get up and start moving more- right now I'm just wiggling in my chair). If they do, we go with it. If they don't then I do the second round of terrible Castor Oil via the chocolate milkshake. I think I'll do the milkshake anyway- something cold and creamy (soy creamy) sounds really good on my shredded intestinal tract. I'm thinking yoghurt is going to be high on the list of edibles as well...
However, we made a run to the Co-op last and got a lot of really good food. I have fresh radishes, yams, the BEST apples ever- almost as good as the huge one I got in Germany near Blenheim- two big jugs of organic apple juice, pear juice, the shampoo and conditioner I love, and generally healthy, yummy goodness. I shall masticate it and love it all (in little bits at a time of course, I really don't eat that much)... and hopefully it will all stay put.
So anyway... we're still not in consistent active labor but I think we're on our way to getting there. Baby is still moving around... can't believe we're going to meet our little peanut soon! I washed everything last night... so lots of clean, soft clothes and blankets await baby!
The Grandma's have been alerted and will be arriving later this afternoon.
I wonder how long this is going to take... will we have an 11th or 12th baby? Probably 12th.
K Stephen, hurry up! I'm finally hungry again.
So, that nasty egg concoction was not well digested by my body. The Castor Oil was not well received. Starting around 1am I was getting contractions, and by 1:30 they were coming hard and strong and three minutes apart and lasting about 1m 20 secs, on top of constant tightness. That was crazy no fun. Stephen was a champ and very helpful through that section, especially the part where I expelled the Castor Oil Eggs and goodness knows what else into one of the handy foot soak tubs I purchased for doing pedicures with
to_rei_shi. That was a $1.56 well spent!Given this, we called Darlene. I was pretty out of it. I was clinging to the counter at this point, managing to talk, but not that well. Seriously not fun. So... we decided to hold off the on the second does a little while long- I think it ended up being after 4am before I managed to really make it back to bed and stay there for longer than about 10 minutes at a time. 10 minutes in bed, 45 in the bathroom. GAH.
But... I had some show at 3:27, according to my log, and then more just before 4am. This means to me that those horrible contractions were doing something.
The good news is that after about 4:30 or 5 the priority switched to sleep- which we both desperately needed. At 9:45ish, I was getting up to use the loo again and felt rush of fluid, so I froze thinking maybe I'd soiled myself, but moved again and more fluid which I couldn't stop with Kegels. Then at 10:08 more fluid... and since then about 1 TBSP just about every time I move- so it looks like my water really has broken.
Stephen has been sent out to bank and to collect my thyroid Rx refill... so while he's gone, I'm trying to get contractions going on their own (which will work better when I actually get up and start moving more- right now I'm just wiggling in my chair). If they do, we go with it. If they don't then I do the second round of terrible Castor Oil via the chocolate milkshake. I think I'll do the milkshake anyway- something cold and creamy (soy creamy) sounds really good on my shredded intestinal tract. I'm thinking yoghurt is going to be high on the list of edibles as well...
However, we made a run to the Co-op last and got a lot of really good food. I have fresh radishes, yams, the BEST apples ever- almost as good as the huge one I got in Germany near Blenheim- two big jugs of organic apple juice, pear juice, the shampoo and conditioner I love, and generally healthy, yummy goodness. I shall masticate it and love it all (in little bits at a time of course, I really don't eat that much)... and hopefully it will all stay put.
So anyway... we're still not in consistent active labor but I think we're on our way to getting there. Baby is still moving around... can't believe we're going to meet our little peanut soon! I washed everything last night... so lots of clean, soft clothes and blankets await baby!
The Grandma's have been alerted and will be arriving later this afternoon.
I wonder how long this is going to take... will we have an 11th or 12th baby? Probably 12th.
K Stephen, hurry up! I'm finally hungry again.
Tags:
Project Pollywog: 40 Weeks, 2 Days
Oct. 10th, 2007 12:11 pmFeel the rhythm, feel the rhyme, get on up, it's bobsled baby time!
There is nothing like going in to something like a midwife appointment at this stage in the game and hearing just what you wanted to hear.
After all of my efforts this week- Acupuncture, Thai Curry for lunch yesterday, walking for an hour with Darryl and Alice, "Indian Hot" Vegetable Curry for dinner last night, and thinking wide cervical thoughts- it turns out that we are in fact getting somewhere. Not only have I had some intermittent contractions and a lot of tightness, but I am, in fact, 3 cm dilated! My cervix is about 1 cm thick and the baby is at -1 Station (which is pretty good). I think the baby was quite surprised to get poked in the head for the first time EVER. Imagine its confusion.
So, the only not great news is that my blood pressure has crept up a little bit further, but that turns into good news because give that my cervix is favourable, Darlene doesn't want to wait until next week and possibly jeopardize our home birth. Basically we're looking to have a baby tomorrow or Friday. To accomplish this I have to find some happy balance between walking, controlling my urge to clean the whole world, and getting plenty of rest and then take 2oz of Castor Oil tonight at 2200, and another 2 oz tomorrow morning at 0400.
Mom has been alerted. The Mother-in-law has been alerted. Stephen's boss(es) have been alerted. I'm officially done with work for a while (other than photography stuff which never really stops). The house could use a last once over, but other than that we're pretty much there. The plan is to spend the afternoon with Charlotte and allow myself to be pretty much distracted with things until Stephen gets done with work for today. The plan then is to hit the co-op and get the last minute food items we may need in the next few days... and other than that, the plan is to spend some time together with just the two of us.
It's odd to think it won't be just the two of us again... probably not ever, really. Our lives, our relationship, we are about to change permanently. It's even more odd to know that these changes, this huge life event and everything that entails is just staring us in the face. We are a family- now more than ever. That's a pretty amazing feeling.
This morning I was so uncomfortable and rather grumpy with being uncomfortable... now I'm more excited than I know what to do with. I'm standing on the edge of a cliff overlooking a vast ocean- the winds of change are blowing across my face and my toes are wrapped around the edge of the sheer rock. I have my arms out just waiting to jump... and hopefully fly. Then, from the beautiful sunset on the not so distant horizon, a little butterfly flutters up and lands on my nose.
What a crazy ride.
Watch this space.
It Begins | 40 Week Midwife Appointment
There is nothing like going in to something like a midwife appointment at this stage in the game and hearing just what you wanted to hear.
After all of my efforts this week- Acupuncture, Thai Curry for lunch yesterday, walking for an hour with Darryl and Alice, "Indian Hot" Vegetable Curry for dinner last night, and thinking wide cervical thoughts- it turns out that we are in fact getting somewhere. Not only have I had some intermittent contractions and a lot of tightness, but I am, in fact, 3 cm dilated! My cervix is about 1 cm thick and the baby is at -1 Station (which is pretty good). I think the baby was quite surprised to get poked in the head for the first time EVER. Imagine its confusion.
So, the only not great news is that my blood pressure has crept up a little bit further, but that turns into good news because give that my cervix is favourable, Darlene doesn't want to wait until next week and possibly jeopardize our home birth. Basically we're looking to have a baby tomorrow or Friday. To accomplish this I have to find some happy balance between walking, controlling my urge to clean the whole world, and getting plenty of rest and then take 2oz of Castor Oil tonight at 2200, and another 2 oz tomorrow morning at 0400.
Mom has been alerted. The Mother-in-law has been alerted. Stephen's boss(es) have been alerted. I'm officially done with work for a while (other than photography stuff which never really stops). The house could use a last once over, but other than that we're pretty much there. The plan is to spend the afternoon with Charlotte and allow myself to be pretty much distracted with things until Stephen gets done with work for today. The plan then is to hit the co-op and get the last minute food items we may need in the next few days... and other than that, the plan is to spend some time together with just the two of us.
It's odd to think it won't be just the two of us again... probably not ever, really. Our lives, our relationship, we are about to change permanently. It's even more odd to know that these changes, this huge life event and everything that entails is just staring us in the face. We are a family- now more than ever. That's a pretty amazing feeling.
This morning I was so uncomfortable and rather grumpy with being uncomfortable... now I'm more excited than I know what to do with. I'm standing on the edge of a cliff overlooking a vast ocean- the winds of change are blowing across my face and my toes are wrapped around the edge of the sheer rock. I have my arms out just waiting to jump... and hopefully fly. Then, from the beautiful sunset on the not so distant horizon, a little butterfly flutters up and lands on my nose.
What a crazy ride.
Watch this space.
Where was I? *Ahem*
That was a much needed and much restorative nap, btw.
( Midwife Appointment, Part 2 )
( Butterfly Day )
That was a much needed and much restorative nap, btw.
( Midwife Appointment, Part 2 )
( Butterfly Day )
Project Pollywog: 38 Weeks, 5 Days
Sep. 29th, 2007 07:12 pm
38Weeks4Days
Originally uploaded by NicoleRaine
This is me yesterday in the mirror at Mom's B&B. Loverly, isn't it?
Definitely not my favourite view of myself, though I suppose I will have to hurry up and take some arty-er shots of myself before the belly isn't there anymore. It's probably the only time I'll have one.
Having only one shot at something can be really disconcerting sometimes. I really hope I'll be a good mum.
In other news, we have just about everything checked off the list of "needs" for baby's arrival. I say just about because I'm probably forgetting something but I hope not. The other side of that being that some of these things are ordered, paid for and supposedly shipped but have not arrived yet. Diaper bag, breast pump, more Snappi fasteners, and the Combi Activity Rocker (which I got on Ebay for less than $40 with shipping!) are all in the post. My baby slings arrived today. Just a couple of things left and I think we're there. However, I think the bare essentials are taken care of. We have diapers. We have me (the food source), the midwife is paid for, our car seat is installed in the car, baby has clothes ready and waiting, and there is definitely a lot of love ready.
Our Baby Diaper Service delivery arrived Wednesday evening. So, we are now well stocked with cloth diapers and have even figured out how to fold them thanks to The Diaper Hyena's Diaper Folding 101, and of course Google for getting me there. So far we've gone with the "Newspaper Fold" which is pretty straight forward and seems to work well with our pre-folds. And before this I didn't know what a "pre-fold" was!
So... we've tested them on my doll, Jennifer (given to me by Santa at my second Xmas), who is a little bigger than new born sized but I think we've got the gist of it. We put in the liner, which we may or may not need in practice, then fold on the cloth diaper, then use the Snappi's (which rock, btw- no bloodied fingers here!) and finally the diaper cover. Now all we have to do is stick a squirming newborn in there, add poo (and copious amounts thereof) and I think we're set. :-)
Stephen is ecstatic about the poo, btw. Oh, I'm sorry, it looks like I've gotten some sarcasm on you. Let me just wipe that off for you. My apologies.
Ah well... I'll have to talk more about what Occipital Posterior means pretty soon since it's the last thing to worry about until the baby is born.
Yay of the Day
Sep. 24th, 2007 11:58 pmStephen running face first into the bathroom door. :)
It'll cure what ails ya.
It'll cure what ails ya.
Project Pollywog: 38 Weeks
Sep. 24th, 2007 09:18 amStephen took a couple of profile shots of me on Saturday... now I just have to get him to hand them over and post.
We are definitely getting close now. It's odd to answer the "how long do you have question" with "oh, two weeks." That's two weeks until the due date, by the way. Realistically, it could still be up to four more weeks before baby makes an appearance, but I sincerely hope not. The dull, menstrual like cramps continue to plague me, as so some of the stronger ones. I really hope, fingers crossed, that this will make for a smooth laboring process.
It's started to occur to me that by 12, 16, 18 hours in to first stage labor that I might become a bit anxious if we haven't hit transition yet and don't know when we will do. I really hope I'll have the stamina for this. I've been sick on and off this last week and fighting hard not to be. (Of course I would wait until nine months pregnant to get ill, right?) Being ill makes me want the baby to come out so that 1) I'll be more comfortable, and 2) my body will be free to amount a full immune attack and make me better once and for all. However, laying there wishing labor would just start may not be the best move as I would starting from a state of exhaustion and imagine this would make everything harder. It is from this the notion has sprung that it might be a lot longer and harder than I can currently comprehend.
Oh, and as a side note- last night I still got the "you're not that big" thing. What's wrong with just saying, "you look healthy" or some other generality?
( Read more... )
( Early Mornings and Final Preparations )
Ah well... time will tell all and everything will work out. We're really almost there. It's all so surreal!
Edit: Ah Peanut! Mom is sick with random flu and doesn't want to infect me... so I guess I'm on my own again.
Anyone want $20 to help with me scrubbing tubs, vacuuming the stairs and reaching things I can't reach right now?
We are definitely getting close now. It's odd to answer the "how long do you have question" with "oh, two weeks." That's two weeks until the due date, by the way. Realistically, it could still be up to four more weeks before baby makes an appearance, but I sincerely hope not. The dull, menstrual like cramps continue to plague me, as so some of the stronger ones. I really hope, fingers crossed, that this will make for a smooth laboring process.
It's started to occur to me that by 12, 16, 18 hours in to first stage labor that I might become a bit anxious if we haven't hit transition yet and don't know when we will do. I really hope I'll have the stamina for this. I've been sick on and off this last week and fighting hard not to be. (Of course I would wait until nine months pregnant to get ill, right?) Being ill makes me want the baby to come out so that 1) I'll be more comfortable, and 2) my body will be free to amount a full immune attack and make me better once and for all. However, laying there wishing labor would just start may not be the best move as I would starting from a state of exhaustion and imagine this would make everything harder. It is from this the notion has sprung that it might be a lot longer and harder than I can currently comprehend.
Oh, and as a side note- last night I still got the "you're not that big" thing. What's wrong with just saying, "you look healthy" or some other generality?
( Read more... )
( Early Mornings and Final Preparations )
Ah well... time will tell all and everything will work out. We're really almost there. It's all so surreal!
Edit: Ah Peanut! Mom is sick with random flu and doesn't want to infect me... so I guess I'm on my own again.
Anyone want $20 to help with me scrubbing tubs, vacuuming the stairs and reaching things I can't reach right now?
Project Pollywog: 37 Weeks, 5 Days
Sep. 22nd, 2007 12:30 amThis one is for all of you who tell me "Oh! You're not that big!"
Well... I am now. The Ellie Belly seems to have suddenly exploded into hugeness this week. This is not surprising considering that the up-and-down space available is totally used up. Bending in any direction, including simply leaning to one side or another, is not only extremely uncomfortable, it's damn near impossible. I do believe the kid is now going very much in the out direction. I'll see if I can get Stephen to take a picture of me tomorrow... but geese do I feel gigantic. Note: this doesn't mean that it is advisable to agree with me... and I know there are certain people saying "you always were."
Last time I checked I could still see my feet, but maybe I should check again.
It's past midnight and I'm avoiding going to bed. Why? Because it's so difficult to get comfortable that I almost don't want to try. The midwife says I'm not to recline as we're still trying to get baby to roll over and face the right instead of the left, so I'm forced to sleep on my side. For some reason sleeping on my left side, the advisable one for multiple reasons, is the less comfortable of the two possible sleeping positions. I have taken to creating a pillow nest, which Stephen despises, and seems to work a little better than some of the other options. But ... still not comfortable. This is true to the extent that by the fourth or fifth time I've woken up to go to the loo, around 6am, I lay there not wanting to bother trying to get back to sleep. I've been spending a lot of mornings wandering around the house, going down for juice or otherwise just staring at the ceiling. I suppose this is all good practice for feeding around the clock.
I never thought I would be looking forward so much to sleeping on my stomach or my back. I have always been a side sleeper, but this is a different ball game. Baby got heavy and it pulls on the muscles/connective tissues of my abdomen and sides. It's also killing my back. Amazingly enough, laying down is the most uncomfortable position for me. I find this pretty surprising. Now with two weeks to go until the due date, I'm finally finding myself wishing for labor. It's only now that I really feel big and pregnant.
Ironically, I've been wearing my pre-pregnancy trousers this week and they're so much more comfortable than any of the maternity clothes that I have. Fair be it, they are totally unzipped and held up by my Bella Band (invaluable thing that it is), but they fit everywhere else. They, unlike all the maternity trousers, are not made for short women. It's so nice not to be high-watering it, although that may be appropriate now that the rains and autumn have arrived.
It's really feeling like autumn now. This change in the weather is something I've been waiting for to signal that we're close to baby time. Funny that it's come just as we hit full term. The days seem drastically shorter. I'm finally sleeping with a blanket again (first time in months). I'm also getting to layer and wear sweaters- which I love. I'm so not a summer person, and I'm very happy to see it go. This transition is so marked this year. Of course this is possibly the most significant change in seasons I will ever experience. Going into this new year (Celtic, that is)I will be a mother.
I'm really looking forward to baby coming. It feels like it's pretty cramped in there and I wonder how long it will wait until the magical proteins or whatever are released and signal that baby is ready for the oxygen world. We are armed and ready. We are armed with things that I wish we never had to buy (and couldn't do with a straight face). Our home birth kit is here as well, the basket of classic home birth items (all from out check list) is stocked and ready to roll, and all we need to do is finish cleaning up the bedroom. It's a lot closer but more cluttered than I'd like it to be. Also, the bathroom could use some deep cleaning but somehow I haven't been too excited to get down on my hands and knees to scrub anything. Shocking, I'm sure.
The Green Room is put together and peaceful. Although, Stephen has, as of today, turned on the television and hooked up the cable, so it has been invaded. However, this is still likely to be a nice, quiet tea and sitting room, and likely where I'll nurse a lot of the time. My glider/rocker fits wonderfully in there and I'm very happy with it.
Well... I guess I'll go fight the bed. We all need rest.
P.S. I have been getting a lot of random food cravings again, although I have not been able to indulge them. They come and go very quickly, but it's sort of funny... I'm really feeling full circle in many ways. I blame my trousers.
Well... I am now. The Ellie Belly seems to have suddenly exploded into hugeness this week. This is not surprising considering that the up-and-down space available is totally used up. Bending in any direction, including simply leaning to one side or another, is not only extremely uncomfortable, it's damn near impossible. I do believe the kid is now going very much in the out direction. I'll see if I can get Stephen to take a picture of me tomorrow... but geese do I feel gigantic. Note: this doesn't mean that it is advisable to agree with me... and I know there are certain people saying "you always were."
Last time I checked I could still see my feet, but maybe I should check again.
It's past midnight and I'm avoiding going to bed. Why? Because it's so difficult to get comfortable that I almost don't want to try. The midwife says I'm not to recline as we're still trying to get baby to roll over and face the right instead of the left, so I'm forced to sleep on my side. For some reason sleeping on my left side, the advisable one for multiple reasons, is the less comfortable of the two possible sleeping positions. I have taken to creating a pillow nest, which Stephen despises, and seems to work a little better than some of the other options. But ... still not comfortable. This is true to the extent that by the fourth or fifth time I've woken up to go to the loo, around 6am, I lay there not wanting to bother trying to get back to sleep. I've been spending a lot of mornings wandering around the house, going down for juice or otherwise just staring at the ceiling. I suppose this is all good practice for feeding around the clock.
I never thought I would be looking forward so much to sleeping on my stomach or my back. I have always been a side sleeper, but this is a different ball game. Baby got heavy and it pulls on the muscles/connective tissues of my abdomen and sides. It's also killing my back. Amazingly enough, laying down is the most uncomfortable position for me. I find this pretty surprising. Now with two weeks to go until the due date, I'm finally finding myself wishing for labor. It's only now that I really feel big and pregnant.
Ironically, I've been wearing my pre-pregnancy trousers this week and they're so much more comfortable than any of the maternity clothes that I have. Fair be it, they are totally unzipped and held up by my Bella Band (invaluable thing that it is), but they fit everywhere else. They, unlike all the maternity trousers, are not made for short women. It's so nice not to be high-watering it, although that may be appropriate now that the rains and autumn have arrived.
It's really feeling like autumn now. This change in the weather is something I've been waiting for to signal that we're close to baby time. Funny that it's come just as we hit full term. The days seem drastically shorter. I'm finally sleeping with a blanket again (first time in months). I'm also getting to layer and wear sweaters- which I love. I'm so not a summer person, and I'm very happy to see it go. This transition is so marked this year. Of course this is possibly the most significant change in seasons I will ever experience. Going into this new year (Celtic, that is)I will be a mother.
I'm really looking forward to baby coming. It feels like it's pretty cramped in there and I wonder how long it will wait until the magical proteins or whatever are released and signal that baby is ready for the oxygen world. We are armed and ready. We are armed with things that I wish we never had to buy (and couldn't do with a straight face). Our home birth kit is here as well, the basket of classic home birth items (all from out check list) is stocked and ready to roll, and all we need to do is finish cleaning up the bedroom. It's a lot closer but more cluttered than I'd like it to be. Also, the bathroom could use some deep cleaning but somehow I haven't been too excited to get down on my hands and knees to scrub anything. Shocking, I'm sure.
The Green Room is put together and peaceful. Although, Stephen has, as of today, turned on the television and hooked up the cable, so it has been invaded. However, this is still likely to be a nice, quiet tea and sitting room, and likely where I'll nurse a lot of the time. My glider/rocker fits wonderfully in there and I'm very happy with it.
Well... I guess I'll go fight the bed. We all need rest.
P.S. I have been getting a lot of random food cravings again, although I have not been able to indulge them. They come and go very quickly, but it's sort of funny... I'm really feeling full circle in many ways. I blame my trousers.
Project Pollywog: 37 Weeks
Sep. 17th, 2007 12:12 amThing 1: We are now full term and allowed to have a babeh whenever it decides it's ready to come out.
Thing 2: Stephen has just been sent on only the second midnight grocery run of the entire pregnancy- and for the same thing I sent him for the first time, I might add. Apple Juice. I want apple juice... that and Ocean Spray White Grapefruit juice. Mmmm vitamin C.
Monday is not likely to be fun as I think we can officially say we're both ill. Welcome autumn!
Oh... and as a bonus...
Thing 3: Babeh will not stop poking me in the magical hip nerve of d00m! OUCH. "Lay on your left side," they tell me. Yeah... that puts little fingers in destructive places. But at least Wiggles is well wiggly this evening and apparently having a grand old time routing around in my pelvis.
Oh well... before we know it I'll be posting that I am having contractions... and then that I'm officially a mum. How surreal, strange, crazy, weird, etc is that?! Is this really happening?
I shall ponder this whilst I await the delivery of my delicious and nutrition juice... and I don't mean the kind I will shortly be producing.
Thing 2: Stephen has just been sent on only the second midnight grocery run of the entire pregnancy- and for the same thing I sent him for the first time, I might add. Apple Juice. I want apple juice... that and Ocean Spray White Grapefruit juice. Mmmm vitamin C.
Monday is not likely to be fun as I think we can officially say we're both ill. Welcome autumn!
Oh... and as a bonus...
Thing 3: Babeh will not stop poking me in the magical hip nerve of d00m! OUCH. "Lay on your left side," they tell me. Yeah... that puts little fingers in destructive places. But at least Wiggles is well wiggly this evening and apparently having a grand old time routing around in my pelvis.
Oh well... before we know it I'll be posting that I am having contractions... and then that I'm officially a mum. How surreal, strange, crazy, weird, etc is that?! Is this really happening?
I shall ponder this whilst I await the delivery of my delicious and nutrition juice... and I don't mean the kind I will shortly be producing.
Pollywog Blog: 33 Weeks, 6 Days
Aug. 26th, 2007 01:58 pm
Happy Husband
Originally uploaded by NicoleRaine
Stephen was very nice and wonderful... and (mostly) cleaned the kitchen out of anger this morning. He also made me eggs.
They were good and spicy eggs. 4 of them. Take that pregnancy diet.
He had a burger.
This post was brought to you by Praising the Husband for a Job Well Done(tm).
Project Pollywog: 33 Weeks, 3 Days
Aug. 23rd, 2007 12:01 amBefore I go to bed, I have to come back and say that I've calmed down quite a bit.
Should anyone decide to come to the baby shower, now that the Evites really have been sent out, please understand that we really are appreciative of support and really excited about the baby. The later point is really the important one. Somehow the squishy looking, round baby on the invitation really reminds me of that.
It's active time right now. Baby seems to really move and shake around midnight- every night. It is most active now. My tummy is changing shape and moving. I can see kicks and twitches. It's all very tangible and very cool. Once I find and charge my digicam we may attempt to take some video of the movement. However, somehow the baby seems to know it's being watched and usually stops when anyone else is looking. So, fingers crossed.
We can actually feel the baby's head and sometimes hands and feet. You can follow its shape up my belly and around to the baby's round little bottom (which is currently on top). Sometimes you can find feet, though I never attempt to grab them or anything ridiculous. I do wonder if we might be bothering baby by squishing in near its face, so I tend to try to rub its back and feet. I'm looking forward to doing that when baby comes out. I'm also looking forward to baby no longer having access to certain very sensitive nerves that run from my pelvis to my legs, but that's another story.
So, my final thoughts before bed:
Even though I think I'm funny shaped and look terrible, it's all for a good cause.
Almost all of the baby belly protrusion is pretty high on my abdomen, so fingers are further crossed that it's an Ellie. I must remember this everytime I look in the mirror and think I'm hideous.
The only trousers I really liked and thought were even remotely flattering are too small to fit around my belly as of this week. :( I guess I'm relegated to the baggy yet comfortable and looking even more horrible than before.
Heartburn means baby will likely have a full head of black hair and be a little Eskimo (the not PC term for the Inuit peoples) Baby like I was.
I had a dream last night that the baby was out side and I was holding her (because it's a girl, says my brain and my gut but we can't say for sure). She was a little smaller than I expect to see at birth but very healthy and responsive. I knew she would need to go back inside and that I only had a little while to play with her. She had a yellow diaper that had a ton of writing on it (warning and usage labels and what not). When she wet it, a message appeared saying that Couvage or Le Couve had occurred. "Attention: Le couve..." blah blah blah can't remember the rest. Couvage is occurring now... and there is only one definition of couver that deals with germs that might really indicate soiling, but who knows. Apparently my brain thinks it knows French. Anyway... she was a very sweet little girl and I hope I get to have more dreams.
I need to get back on a better sleep schedule and this isn't helping.
Stephen is getting very impatient with me. So I guess it's time to go.
No matter how crazy and hormonal I get, how much complaining I do (namely about feeling out of control), I really am happy to be pregnant and am really excited for baby. I'm just not very good at expressing that sometimes- especially in person when asked/prompted.
Should anyone decide to come to the baby shower, now that the Evites really have been sent out, please understand that we really are appreciative of support and really excited about the baby. The later point is really the important one. Somehow the squishy looking, round baby on the invitation really reminds me of that.
It's active time right now. Baby seems to really move and shake around midnight- every night. It is most active now. My tummy is changing shape and moving. I can see kicks and twitches. It's all very tangible and very cool. Once I find and charge my digicam we may attempt to take some video of the movement. However, somehow the baby seems to know it's being watched and usually stops when anyone else is looking. So, fingers crossed.
We can actually feel the baby's head and sometimes hands and feet. You can follow its shape up my belly and around to the baby's round little bottom (which is currently on top). Sometimes you can find feet, though I never attempt to grab them or anything ridiculous. I do wonder if we might be bothering baby by squishing in near its face, so I tend to try to rub its back and feet. I'm looking forward to doing that when baby comes out. I'm also looking forward to baby no longer having access to certain very sensitive nerves that run from my pelvis to my legs, but that's another story.
So, my final thoughts before bed:
Even though I think I'm funny shaped and look terrible, it's all for a good cause.
Almost all of the baby belly protrusion is pretty high on my abdomen, so fingers are further crossed that it's an Ellie. I must remember this everytime I look in the mirror and think I'm hideous.
The only trousers I really liked and thought were even remotely flattering are too small to fit around my belly as of this week. :( I guess I'm relegated to the baggy yet comfortable and looking even more horrible than before.
Heartburn means baby will likely have a full head of black hair and be a little Eskimo (the not PC term for the Inuit peoples) Baby like I was.
I had a dream last night that the baby was out side and I was holding her (because it's a girl, says my brain and my gut but we can't say for sure). She was a little smaller than I expect to see at birth but very healthy and responsive. I knew she would need to go back inside and that I only had a little while to play with her. She had a yellow diaper that had a ton of writing on it (warning and usage labels and what not). When she wet it, a message appeared saying that Couvage or Le Couve had occurred. "Attention: Le couve..." blah blah blah can't remember the rest. Couvage is occurring now... and there is only one definition of couver that deals with germs that might really indicate soiling, but who knows. Apparently my brain thinks it knows French. Anyway... she was a very sweet little girl and I hope I get to have more dreams.
I need to get back on a better sleep schedule and this isn't helping.
Stephen is getting very impatient with me. So I guess it's time to go.
No matter how crazy and hormonal I get, how much complaining I do (namely about feeling out of control), I really am happy to be pregnant and am really excited for baby. I'm just not very good at expressing that sometimes- especially in person when asked/prompted.
Project Pollywog: 31 Weeks, 1 Day
Aug. 7th, 2007 02:14 pmI'm feeling cramping and not so great today. If I weren't at work, I believe that I would spending much of the day on the floor. I've been getting somewhat light headed, and was quite dizzy last night. I'm blaming Denny's food, but I'm hoping it's not a sign of anything worse than that. Also, it's raining today and there have been a lot of sharp shifts in preasure this week which has been definitely effecting my ears and drainage- so while we're at it, let's blame that too.
As long as this isn't Pre-eclampsia or something, I'm alright.
Either way, with all the back up in my neck, I think that a visit to the chiropractor or a massage would be a wonderful thing. Also, I'm really wanting to do yoga right now. That's what my body says it needs, but again, alas, I am at work- and I shutter to imagine the eyebrows I would get.
Catching up a little- I've had a rough week. I'm not sleeping very well. I've been ultra moody and really not had much of an appetite despite making myself eat. I'm getting pretty sick and tired of being tired. Worst of all though, I've not been as nice to Stephen as I could be, and I think I offended Mom yesterday. Sometimes I've been really short for no reason, other times I've just been angry with Stephen (and for some reason not wanting to let that go), other times I just cry. I cry over stupid things. I've definitely wanted to be left alone. And of course, my motivation to work has been somewhat down, which is never good.
So, welcome to 8 months pregnant. My apologies to everyone around me. Sometimes I really don't seem to be able to help it and I don't know what my problem is.
As long as this isn't Pre-eclampsia or something, I'm alright.
Either way, with all the back up in my neck, I think that a visit to the chiropractor or a massage would be a wonderful thing. Also, I'm really wanting to do yoga right now. That's what my body says it needs, but again, alas, I am at work- and I shutter to imagine the eyebrows I would get.
Catching up a little- I've had a rough week. I'm not sleeping very well. I've been ultra moody and really not had much of an appetite despite making myself eat. I'm getting pretty sick and tired of being tired. Worst of all though, I've not been as nice to Stephen as I could be, and I think I offended Mom yesterday. Sometimes I've been really short for no reason, other times I've just been angry with Stephen (and for some reason not wanting to let that go), other times I just cry. I cry over stupid things. I've definitely wanted to be left alone. And of course, my motivation to work has been somewhat down, which is never good.
So, welcome to 8 months pregnant. My apologies to everyone around me. Sometimes I really don't seem to be able to help it and I don't know what my problem is.
Project Pollywog: 31 Weeks
Aug. 6th, 2007 05:30 pmHalf an hour left of work. Then it's off to Babies R Us with Mom so I can purchase a crib bumper, about which Stephen does not care. Stephen is ok with bubble wrapping the baby and giving it a snorkel thereby making all safety items unnecessary and obsolete... until diaper changing and feeding come into play. Bet you didn't think of that one, didja!? So... instead of bubble-wrapping the baby, or making a crib bumper out of Duct Tape and ... what did you suggest Stephen? an old sheet or something... I'm going to pony up a whopping $30 (of his money) and buy one.
So what else is going on? I'm trying to make the list of invites for the Baby Shower to give to miss hostess,redcanoe. I don't know who to invite to this thing! I've been so bad at keeping in touch that I almost feel like I shouldn't invite people because they're likely to think we just want more presents, which is not at all the case. We don't have room for them. Ah well... I don't expect most people will want to come. I expect they'll see Baby Shower and head for the hills. Also, the plan seems to be Evites, but I'm not sure I like that. Oh well. It seems maybe too informal? I don't know. And I don't know how many people really check their email anymore (some a lot, obviously, but it's the locals that I never email with of which I have no clue). Oh well... I guess if people come they come and if they don't... well we'll have a lot of cake all to ourselves.
Other things to report: I am dead tired. I'm having a hard time sleeping at night (which is normal from here on, annoyingly) and then waking up too early. If I go back to sleep I end up having CRAZY dreams that keep me bed too long. And I need a nap now. Well... I suppose in somewhat of a good way, I have work at the college tomorrow, two days next week, and then five whole weeks off whether I like it or not (and the answer there is not). This is great for getting done house work and taking naps, but it also will mean I never leave the house. Oh well... more naps it is then. But not today.
And that pointless update is all you get for today.
Topics I need to remember to cover in the near future:
Other than that, folks, we have about nine weeks to go. That's all. Time... well, it's flying. So excited to meet the baby!
Last minute addition:
I've gotten to sit here at work today, with my feet sort of propped up, and see my belly change shape while the baby rolls around. That is pretty interesting, and I find it quite enjoyable. It's getting bigger, that's for sure. The literature suggests it could be 3.5 - 4 lbs. this week. And it's likely double again before it's born. Crazy, eh?
So what else is going on? I'm trying to make the list of invites for the Baby Shower to give to miss hostess,
redcanoe. I don't know who to invite to this thing! I've been so bad at keeping in touch that I almost feel like I shouldn't invite people because they're likely to think we just want more presents, which is not at all the case. We don't have room for them. Ah well... I don't expect most people will want to come. I expect they'll see Baby Shower and head for the hills. Also, the plan seems to be Evites, but I'm not sure I like that. Oh well. It seems maybe too informal? I don't know. And I don't know how many people really check their email anymore (some a lot, obviously, but it's the locals that I never email with of which I have no clue). Oh well... I guess if people come they come and if they don't... well we'll have a lot of cake all to ourselves.Other things to report: I am dead tired. I'm having a hard time sleeping at night (which is normal from here on, annoyingly) and then waking up too early. If I go back to sleep I end up having CRAZY dreams that keep me bed too long. And I need a nap now. Well... I suppose in somewhat of a good way, I have work at the college tomorrow, two days next week, and then five whole weeks off whether I like it or not (and the answer there is not). This is great for getting done house work and taking naps, but it also will mean I never leave the house. Oh well... more naps it is then. But not today.
And that pointless update is all you get for today.
Topics I need to remember to cover in the near future:
- The Craziness of the last week.
- Bradley Birthing Classes.
- Shooting a wedding in July.
- Stephen and bath toys.
- Sewing and other projects with Mom
Other than that, folks, we have about nine weeks to go. That's all. Time... well, it's flying. So excited to meet the baby!
Last minute addition:
I've gotten to sit here at work today, with my feet sort of propped up, and see my belly change shape while the baby rolls around. That is pretty interesting, and I find it quite enjoyable. It's getting bigger, that's for sure. The literature suggests it could be 3.5 - 4 lbs. this week. And it's likely double again before it's born. Crazy, eh?
Tags:
Pollywog Blog: 30 weeks, #2
Jul. 30th, 2007 08:55 pmSo... Stephen is pretty great. He may not let me sit on him because apparently my belly is not a pillow, it's a bowling ball (his words not mine), but he did put the crib together while I was at work today.
Yay! It's rickety and I'm not entirely convinced it's safe, but it's in one piece!
I have provided yet another camera phone pic for your viewing pleasure. I guess this means we just need a couple of accessories (a crib bumper, bed skirt, and a twilight turtle) and we're well on our way to uber cuteness. Huzzah.
Edit/Note: We are planning to make another go at sturdying the crib and probably lowering the mattress- we, of course, would not use it unless we thought it was really safe. And, we are aware that there is a level of user error and McGuivery going on here as we had to take our best guess at what we needed, and that may not have been entirely correct.
Yay! It's rickety and I'm not entirely convinced it's safe, but it's in one piece!
I have provided yet another camera phone pic for your viewing pleasure. I guess this means we just need a couple of accessories (a crib bumper, bed skirt, and a twilight turtle) and we're well on our way to uber cuteness. Huzzah.
Edit/Note: We are planning to make another go at sturdying the crib and probably lowering the mattress- we, of course, would not use it unless we thought it was really safe. And, we are aware that there is a level of user error and McGuivery going on here as we had to take our best guess at what we needed, and that may not have been entirely correct.
Pollywog Blog: 27 Weeks, 5 Days
Jul. 14th, 2007 01:29 pmI gave in. I'm dying my hair. The fumes are killing me. This may not have been the best plan... but I do so hate my brown hair! It's such a shame that paying someone else to do it is so expensive.
Well... what's new? We've signed up for Birthing Classes. Due to a great many factors, we've decided to go with the Bradley Natural Childbirth Classes, taught in S. Everett by a woman named Lynnette. They are more expensive than hospital classes but we feel that the value is worth it. These classes are actually designed to help and prepare us for a better, safer, healthier birth with as little pain as possible (namely by teaching us to handle it). This is a twelve-week series which will end one week before our due date... that means we're getting close!
We start classes this Tuesday and I'm actually somewhat excited. The idea of labour is still somewhat surreal and I think that by physically attending these classes and beginning to really prepare, it may help the whole concept sink in more so and feel more tangible. I'm also hoping this will be a bit of a bonding experience forsquidgyfishlove and myself ( or a huge disaster, fingers crossed). So yes, first class this Tuesday and then we'll be attending on Sunday afternoons for the duration of the classes. Pros of this are not rushing to get there after work, and we're taking it with just one other couple which should mean that it's less stressful and intimidating (since neither of particularly like the group of strangers scenario). The con is namely that it eats up our weekends somewhat, as it is 3-5 Sunday afternoon... but I think if we still want to plan a trip to Portland to see kevbonium that we should be able to make up our class.
During a stop off at Baby Style (I LOVE this store- and have registered there), we picked up a couple of books for Stephen: Crouching Father, Hidden Toddler: The Zen of Fatherhood (or something like that) and The New Dad's Survival Guide: Man-to-Man Advice For First - Time Fathers (This one comes complete with Army dad in some swanky slippers and a helmet.) I'm glad he's found a couple of books to read on the subject that he seems to enjoy. And, to my benefit- one of the books tells him that when cute and such gets too much he should get out and use some power tools (or do other such manly things). He decided to give this a shot last night on one of my new cheapo assembly required cabinets, which I purchased to replace an even more cheapo set of shelves in the office, and hide clutter). I think I like this. I wonder what other DIY projects we could set for him? And! Those should be made easier by the month late Father's Day present that he's getting today. You know, smothered in Macho Cheese and complete with bare handed Bear Wrestling and such.
Other than that... my upper back is starting to hurt a lot. Apparently my chest and general frontular area is getting heavier and it's very uncomfortable. I'm not pleased by this in the least. Also, I've rubbed the skin off of my toes and re-sprained my wrist. It's really hot and my I'm very tired of feeling that (and the stickiness). Good thing I'm shooting a wedding tomorrow, solo. What a wonderful plan that was! Oh well... let's hope it turns out well. I would hate to anger a bride.
More on photography later... for now I must go and wash this horribly wretched smelling chemistry from my hair.
Someone please remind me to post pictures of the Photographer-Mom's Dream Diaper Bag and proof of super-double-extra nerd points earned by moi.
Well... what's new? We've signed up for Birthing Classes. Due to a great many factors, we've decided to go with the Bradley Natural Childbirth Classes, taught in S. Everett by a woman named Lynnette. They are more expensive than hospital classes but we feel that the value is worth it. These classes are actually designed to help and prepare us for a better, safer, healthier birth with as little pain as possible (namely by teaching us to handle it). This is a twelve-week series which will end one week before our due date... that means we're getting close!
We start classes this Tuesday and I'm actually somewhat excited. The idea of labour is still somewhat surreal and I think that by physically attending these classes and beginning to really prepare, it may help the whole concept sink in more so and feel more tangible. I'm also hoping this will be a bit of a bonding experience for
squidgyfishlove and myself ( or a huge disaster, fingers crossed). So yes, first class this Tuesday and then we'll be attending on Sunday afternoons for the duration of the classes. Pros of this are not rushing to get there after work, and we're taking it with just one other couple which should mean that it's less stressful and intimidating (since neither of particularly like the group of strangers scenario). The con is namely that it eats up our weekends somewhat, as it is 3-5 Sunday afternoon... but I think if we still want to plan a trip to Portland to see kevbonium that we should be able to make up our class.During a stop off at Baby Style (I LOVE this store- and have registered there), we picked up a couple of books for Stephen: Crouching Father, Hidden Toddler: The Zen of Fatherhood (or something like that) and The New Dad's Survival Guide: Man-to-Man Advice For First - Time Fathers (This one comes complete with Army dad in some swanky slippers and a helmet.) I'm glad he's found a couple of books to read on the subject that he seems to enjoy. And, to my benefit- one of the books tells him that when cute and such gets too much he should get out and use some power tools (or do other such manly things). He decided to give this a shot last night on one of my new cheapo assembly required cabinets, which I purchased to replace an even more cheapo set of shelves in the office, and hide clutter). I think I like this. I wonder what other DIY projects we could set for him? And! Those should be made easier by the month late Father's Day present that he's getting today. You know, smothered in Macho Cheese and complete with bare handed Bear Wrestling and such.
Other than that... my upper back is starting to hurt a lot. Apparently my chest and general frontular area is getting heavier and it's very uncomfortable. I'm not pleased by this in the least. Also, I've rubbed the skin off of my toes and re-sprained my wrist. It's really hot and my I'm very tired of feeling that (and the stickiness). Good thing I'm shooting a wedding tomorrow, solo. What a wonderful plan that was! Oh well... let's hope it turns out well. I would hate to anger a bride.
More on photography later... for now I must go and wash this horribly wretched smelling chemistry from my hair.
Someone please remind me to post pictures of the Photographer-Mom's Dream Diaper Bag and proof of super-double-extra nerd points earned by moi.
Happy First Anniversary to Us!!!
Jun. 23rd, 2007 11:50 amCan you believe it's already been one full year? I can't. Where does time go? On the one hand it feels very much as it should be and somehow like it's been longer. On another hand, we still look at each each and declare, "wow, We're Married!" on an almost daily basis. We were just discussing in the kitchen the other day as to whether or not we expect this will continue on for years and years. We somewhat expect that baby may change that.
And then there is the baby! We don't waste time, as you may have noticed. Married for one year, and pregnant for half of it. This may seem a bit quick to most minds (and I would and have said the same of others), but we've been talking about it for a couple of years. Two years ago in late summer he told me in two years we could have one. So, in my mind, that actually puts us pretty much on schedule. Coincidentally, this baby is due just five days past the second anniversary of losing the first one. I imagine that time will be sad (and I will cry because the hormones command it) and also wonderful simultaneously.squidgyfishlove has always assured me that our little butterfly would come back. Ok, now I am crying.
I don't want to ramble through this post the way I usually do so I'll do my best to make this succinct.
I will not say that this first year has been perfect. It has, as we were told to expect, been hard. But it's also been very good in many ways. I think our communication, though a constant work in progress, is much improved. We've recognized the need and value of being a team. We even made a stupid hand-shake thing and goofy "Go Team Terhune" thing (which none of you will ever see).squidgyfishlove has said this week that he expects the second year will be harder. I'm sure it will bring a bouncy baby bundle full of new challenges and wonders. I'm really looking forward to it.
Other than that, we're watching each other change. I've been told, as of yesterday, that I look older. I'm having fun poking at the almost 31 year old, married, father to be's newly acquired sympathy weight and he's worried about losing his hair. All the sudden it's easier to picture us much further along in life and I'm really trying to take as many mental snapshots of us now as possible. Of course, I'm always happy to take pictures with something more tangible as well... and I hope to have them for a long, long time.
Other than that, thank you again to the people who have been around to support us and be our friends. Thank you again toandyravensable and poggs for making the journey to be with us last summer. We miss you all the time. And thank you to those who are and will be putting up with us (and especially me) as we deal with, to the best of our abilities, finishing a hormone loaded pregnancy and becoming parents. Of course you must come and see the cutest little baby ever (yes, I'm that confident) when it's born.
Thank you.
And now... some pictures. :) These may include such lj types as:andyravensable, poggs, kevbonium, squidgyfishlove and ebonyraine, to_rei_shi, screepy, kt_bob, rjp, kiernyn_keroac, and a whole lot of other non lj types. Happy Scouting.
( A little sentimental reminder of where we've been... and yes I'm crap for not sending copies! I still need to... argh )
That's a lot of pictures... but be rest assured... there a lot more than that. :)
And then there is the baby! We don't waste time, as you may have noticed. Married for one year, and pregnant for half of it. This may seem a bit quick to most minds (and I would and have said the same of others), but we've been talking about it for a couple of years. Two years ago in late summer he told me in two years we could have one. So, in my mind, that actually puts us pretty much on schedule. Coincidentally, this baby is due just five days past the second anniversary of losing the first one. I imagine that time will be sad (and I will cry because the hormones command it) and also wonderful simultaneously.
squidgyfishlove has always assured me that our little butterfly would come back. Ok, now I am crying. I don't want to ramble through this post the way I usually do so I'll do my best to make this succinct.
I will not say that this first year has been perfect. It has, as we were told to expect, been hard. But it's also been very good in many ways. I think our communication, though a constant work in progress, is much improved. We've recognized the need and value of being a team. We even made a stupid hand-shake thing and goofy "Go Team Terhune" thing (which none of you will ever see).
squidgyfishlove has said this week that he expects the second year will be harder. I'm sure it will bring a bouncy baby bundle full of new challenges and wonders. I'm really looking forward to it. Other than that, we're watching each other change. I've been told, as of yesterday, that I look older. I'm having fun poking at the almost 31 year old, married, father to be's newly acquired sympathy weight and he's worried about losing his hair. All the sudden it's easier to picture us much further along in life and I'm really trying to take as many mental snapshots of us now as possible. Of course, I'm always happy to take pictures with something more tangible as well... and I hope to have them for a long, long time.
Other than that, thank you again to the people who have been around to support us and be our friends. Thank you again to
andyravensable and poggs for making the journey to be with us last summer. We miss you all the time. And thank you to those who are and will be putting up with us (and especially me) as we deal with, to the best of our abilities, finishing a hormone loaded pregnancy and becoming parents. Of course you must come and see the cutest little baby ever (yes, I'm that confident) when it's born. Thank you.
And now... some pictures. :) These may include such lj types as:
andyravensable, poggs, kevbonium, squidgyfishlove and ebonyraine, to_rei_shi, screepy, kt_bob, rjp, kiernyn_keroac, and a whole lot of other non lj types. Happy Scouting.( A little sentimental reminder of where we've been... and yes I'm crap for not sending copies! I still need to... argh )
That's a lot of pictures... but be rest assured... there a lot more than that. :)
Project Pollywog: 23 weeks, 5 days
Jun. 17th, 2007 08:20 amHappy First Father's Day EVER to squidgyfishlove!!!
And may I also accompany that by a public thank you for mowing the lawn and being a pretty great husband.
Love ya, babe.
By the way, I was planning to buy you man toys (power tools), but didn't realise they were so expensive... I'll have to save better for your birthday. Sorry! :(
squidgyfishlove!!!And may I also accompany that by a public thank you for mowing the lawn and being a pretty great husband.
Love ya, babe.
By the way, I was planning to buy you man toys (power tools), but didn't realise they were so expensive... I'll have to save better for your birthday. Sorry! :(
