The Due Date

Today is our due date. All of the pregnancy emails I receive are saying it's the end of the pregnancy- and one has even gone so far as to send info on taking care of a newborn opening with "Welcome to parenthood!" Yeah, I wish.

Last night Stephen bestowed his permission for me to have the baby after 11 am this morning. So, we now have a go ahead from Dad... and my mom requests that we get it done before the weekend because she has a work thing on Monday. So I guess we'd better get going.

First of all, a statistic: Only 5% of babies are born on their due date. Of the people I've met who did have babies on their due dates, all followed by saying they were induced. I've no idea what the actual spread is nation wide... but I'm pretty sure there is no hope for us.

That said, I will mention that starting last night I've had some pretty extreme tightness in my lower abdomen, though only a couple of noticeable contractions. Otherwise it's a pretty constant pain. I'm starting to regret planning a full day of distraction for myself (all of which is out of the house). However, some of it will hopefully speed along the launch of labor and baby.

First on the list is seeing Leslie, my acupuncturist (so I'd better make this a quick post). Given that we're now very much full term, Stephen has given the go ahead, and I am more than ready to meet this baby, I will be instructing Leslie to please, please, please! push every baby button- especially the big red one marked "eject." Fingers crossed. Next we're going to spend time with my favourite Mr. Mom, Darryl, and five-month-old Alice. Maybe thinking and seeing babies will be helpful. Then, assuming labor hasn't started, it's off to my last day of work at the college until after my baby break. Then, if labor still hasn't started, it's off to Indian Curry with my mom. This will supposedly induce labor. I have no plans tomorrow, other than the midwife and then the chiropractor, so please can I have a baby now?!

I know it's ridiculous to think I can make it happen. I'm sure women all over the world beg and pray for labor with no results at all. However, one can dream! I really don't want to wait until next week. I still have in my head that the end of this week is the time, so I'm happy to help push it along.

Come on Baby! We're all waiting for you!

Also, as mentioned before, I've been ravishingly hungry- second trimester style- for the last few days. Anyone know if this is a good sign of labor preparation? I'm hoping so because this is very much unlike me. I feel like I haven't eaten in days!

P.S. I finished my thank you cards- I was really quick on about the first half and then somehow the last few weeks have just vanished. So, some people should already have one. Others are in the post... or likely you haven't gotten one yet because I don't have your address. This includes several people who I know don't read this blog, like Stephen's Aunts. I'm working on it. Oh well... hopefully they'll make it out soon- preferably before the baby announcements get sent!

I'm making lists of things we [Stephen] need to remember when it's Baby Time. Included amongst those lists is that of who wants to be notified that labor and/or birth has occurred/is happening. I'm honestly not sure who to put on this list so I'm asking for your help. Please let us know if you would like to be on that list.

We are not likely to contact anyone other than immediate family if either or both of these events occur in the middle of the night. If you want to know no matter what the hour or the day, please let us know. I'm not guaranteeing anything, mind you, as I'm not likely to be in charge of this and Stephen is likely to be distracted... however, if you have your name on the piece of paper to which Stephen and/or my mom will be referring then your chances are much better.

Thanks from us.

[Poll #1060657]

Why I hate Evites

I'm so frustrated today. Things are not working smoothly. I feel like I'm getting behind even though I've been working most of the day (other than a three hour excursion to Seattle to drop off the house guest and go to Glazer's), and yet nothing is getting done. For the last several days I've regretted at least 60% of everything I've said and haven't said. I've decided that I talk too much and will be remedying that immediately (following this post, of course).

I thought I would be proactive and try to get something accomplished to adding in guests and sending out the baby shower invitation now that Lisa, our hostess, had given approval. Note: We were sending it from mine so people would recognize the email address and not assume it was spam. Well... Evites suck. It didn't appear to have sent it since I got no confirmation so I hit the button again and still nothing. I went back in to check it and then it showed two identical events on the My Invitations, neither of which were drafts. So... logically I assume that hitting the button twice had sent two invitations and that I should delete one of them to reduce confusion. So I went into one of them to cancel the event and send the "oops" email update to the guests. Embarrassing enough, right? No. When it refreshed they were both gone. I deleted the entire baby shower, and now there is no draft invitation.

I deleted the baby shower.

I'm so frustrated that right now I'm inclined to leave it deleted. I hate Evites. I think they're tacky, although less expensive, yes. I understand the convenience given that our hostess is in California and the prospect of mailing is certainly more of a hassle for her. I guess I'm just old fashioned and like pretty paper invitations and hand addressing things. I'm not the hostess so it's not my call, but the website is so frustrating and unresponsive! I can't get a hold of her right now. I can't just resend because the whole thing is gone.

Do we really need a baby shower? Of course we don't. Does anyone? No. But Lisa is not going to happy about this.

I'm too hormonal for all of this. I have a headache. I'm hot. All that Zen I worked on all day is absolutely obliterated at this point.

Stephen keeps wanting me to stop and just lay down or do some other relaxing thing... but I still haven't successfully accomplished anything other than unloading our house guest in Seattle. How am I supposed to relax when nothing is done? How can I sit there and idle when there is so much to do? When I have clients waiting for things? I can't. I don't do that.

Can I have a do-over please?

Edit: Apparently, if you hit the back button enough times do-overs do exist. So... it's been resent. I think it says I'm the host even though I'm not. I've tried to fix it, but it doesn't like me.

So far, sqidgyfishlove (aka Steve) has RSVP'd that he is coming. This is probably a good thing since the shower is for him, too.

So I guess this means the day is saved. But I still hate Evites.

Well... 8 weeks to go until the due date. This likely means another 9 1/2 until the birth.

Stephen got hired on full time at the place he's been contracting which means we now a new insurance plan. He was happy and anxious to stop paying out of pocket for the Cobra Plan (continuation of our original insurance through his last employer) and I've been apprehensive about dropping the Cobra ever since he suggested just not paying for it back in July. Turns out all of that apprehension was completely founded. Call it woman's intuition. This new insurance plan does not cover the midwife. It will not pay for the birth - unless something goes wrong and we end up at a hospital. I, for one, am not ok with that.

So, I'm at work at the college right now. It's my second to last day before we have a five week break and there is really no certainty of any hours after that as the college is trying to cut funding (go figure). I'm really freaking out right now. I'm really trying not to lose it at work. Edit: Just talked to my boss and we will get some hours, but as per usual there are a certain amount and he leaves it up to us to divide them between us... so it's really dependent on how generous everyone else will be as to how many hours I get.

I've called the midwife just to double check with them and they do not work with this new provider at all. They said they are happy to bill our previous insurance for everything up until the 1 August when our insurance changed. Our next appointment there is Wednesday when they are going to talk to us about how much this is going to cost out of pocket for the remainder of our care including the birth.

We've already lost our vision coverage and are having to pay for my new contacts out of pocket this month. We haven't bought the carseat yet (they're supposed to be available this week at some places and later in the month at others- so that's what we've been waiting for). We haven't bought a breast pump. We've been putting all of this off until this month or next (I've been pushing for sooner rather than later, but in the end it's really not my decision).

I'm really not ok about the idea of having to change away from our Midwife. I would sooner have the baby at home by myself than go anywhere near an OB. All I need is someone to catch the baby and the afterbirth, cut the cord, and we're good to go, I think.

Maybe another job isn't such a bad idea after all... legalities aside do you think anyone would hire a woman at 8 months pregnant?

Half 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:

• 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?

The Cure are playing at Key Arena (which has chairs) the day before the baby is due. I really really want to go. I would so love to see the Cure! My midwife always says that first babies are 8 days late, statistically speaking- and her receptionist said she thought that was awesome when I said I was thinking about going. I have known about this since last week and it's really driving me crazy. Should I go? Even if I went into labour during the concert, wouldn't be some sort of wonderful sign from the gods? The Baby does love to wiggle to music. And how horrible would it be to sit at home knowing that I'm missing it... only to find the baby really does come a week later? I have been saying that, boy or girl, I would dress it up for Halloween as Robert Smith next year (this year may be pushing it). I got a little velvet jacket for it and everything! (I'm a loving Mum, can you tell?)

And besides, if the baby comes before that... well I'll just sell or gift my tickets and it won't be an issue... unless the baby goes to the Cure concert anyway... hmm.... getting out is good for babies after all...

[Poll #1022877]

This is the last post of the night, I promise!

I 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 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.

Topic of the Day: Is it a Boy or a Girl? Actually the real topic of the day is what if it's a boy... what to name the thing?!

Stephen likes Italian names. I like Scottish, Irish, sort of trad English names... and things that are a little different/less common/more unique than most of what we're coming up with and those being suggested.

We could use some suggestions from the more creative of you. We really like what deathboy and Liz chose to name their boy, Corben. Of course we would not use it, but we're happy to hear some other similar or even rejected names as a source of inspiration.

I like things like Ewan, Cullen, Aidan and other ridiculously long winded things. Stephen likes Italian names including Angelo, as well as Brian, Andrew (which I will accept as a middle name and is Stephen's middle name), and ... other things.

[Poll #1005012]



If it is a boy, it may look like this:( I'm going to get in trouble for this )

Disclaimer: Anything we ultimately choose is absolutely nothing person with regards to where it came from, or to do with social/political/family obligations of any kind. We reserve the right to ignore or use any and all advice. There will be no taking offense if your name is not considered for any reason.

Thanks :)