I'll start with a funny story. Last Thursday, we were laying in bed starting to talk about names. Jeremy put his hand on my belly like usual and the baby gave a really good wallop. Jeremy's reaction was "Wow, he must really be going to town on that little pecker" I started laughing SO hard that it actually hurt. I rolled to my side thinking it would help but it didn't. I had tears coming down my face from it hurting but continuing to laugh at myself b/c laughing hurt. It was a vicious cycle.
Friday was fine and good, even took off work early. Talked to mom who stopped by the local cloth diaper shop and found all sorts of nifty things. She has been encouraging of this decision since she CD me too but had NO idea of the new CDs out there. Since Friday, she has been on a ton of different sites learning everything she can. I think I have created a monster!
Sadly, Friday we also found out that a close family friend of Jeremy's family took his own life. He was our flower girl's grandfather and like a 2nd dad to Jeremy growing up. It was a very sad day and will be again Wednesday at the funeral. Jeremy has been asked to play Taps on his trumpet. I hope it helps him say goodbye. Mr. Fountain was a good man and his void will be long reaching.
My grandfather also had to be taken to the ER Friday. He had a colonoscopy that day and when he got home, couldnt pee. They cath'ed him and drained 30 oz!! He seemed to be fine though and will follow up with his doctor today.
Knowing we were going to have to leave town but not knowing when, we got a lot done this weekend. Saturday we ordered our glider and stroller. The glider is all upholstered and I think it will be very comfy. It was a little more than we wanted to spend but I kept hearing over and over that the one thing people wish they spent more on was a comfy chair. So, we went with it. It will be able to transition to the rest of the house too. Now, hopefully it won't look like it hogs the room. Oh well if it does... haha We made a final decision on the bedding too. Haven't purchased it yet but at least the decision is made.
Sunday we went to mass, which the baby either loved or hated. Moved the entire time. Went to Lowes and got fertilizer and got it on the lawn. We feel so official now as new home owners! Went to a bird show that ended up getting me upset so we left. Why would you bring a plucking bird to a loud show??? Like it isnt clearly stressed as it is? Then we saw people trying to sell hatchlings with clearly deformed beaks. Those babies need a home with special care, not just some joe-schmo. Anyway, I was very upset.
Lastly, we have gotten down to the business of picking names. I will save that for another post.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Monday, April 7, 2008
Let the swelling begin!
Last Thursday, 21 weeks 3 days, I came home from work and put my feet up. I looked down and saw what I was hoping not to see: sausage toes. Damnit! The tops of my feet were swollen too. Nothing tragic, just not what I wanted to see. My mom was swollen like a balloon with me so I have been praying I didnt get like that. So far, I am no where even close. I can tell a little in my neck and wrists but again, nothing someone would look at and give me a wide-eyed OMG reaction.
As of today, 22 weeks, I am up 10 pounds. I am ok with that weight so far. At a pound a week, I could look at 30 pounds total but I also know I have been eating a lot of crap. If I can make the switch from canned to fresh or frozen peaches, that would be huge. Im not really watching the scale, more out of my normal curiosity. I have weighed myself daily for years. I am down to about 2x a week in an effort not to think about it as much.
We ordered the crib this weekend, the bottom one on the picture below. It was on a better sale than we were expecting so we went for it. We got it in a classic chestnut finish since it appeared to go with the majority of bedding choices. We are still stumped in the bedding department but at least we have some time there. The crib takes 3 months-ish to come in so we had to get a move on since I start my 6th month today.
As of today, 22 weeks, I am up 10 pounds. I am ok with that weight so far. At a pound a week, I could look at 30 pounds total but I also know I have been eating a lot of crap. If I can make the switch from canned to fresh or frozen peaches, that would be huge. Im not really watching the scale, more out of my normal curiosity. I have weighed myself daily for years. I am down to about 2x a week in an effort not to think about it as much.
We ordered the crib this weekend, the bottom one on the picture below. It was on a better sale than we were expecting so we went for it. We got it in a classic chestnut finish since it appeared to go with the majority of bedding choices. We are still stumped in the bedding department but at least we have some time there. The crib takes 3 months-ish to come in so we had to get a move on since I start my 6th month today.
Today also starts our birth prep classes. They will be for the next 6 weeks from 7-9pm at the birth center. We are excited to get started and should get a lot of our questions answered. I think the more time I spend at the center, the more relaxed and comfortable I will be when the day comes for the birth. Somehow, starting classes and ordering a crib makes this little guy pretty real. Not that the kicks dont, but in a way he is still a mythical creature inside me. Having a plan for his arrival and a place for him to sleep means he is real! Its very exciting and scary at the same time.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
The heat of pregnancy
I am officially hot all of the time now. I didnt think it would effect me as I am usually pretty cold-natured. Sunday night, about 2am Jeremy got up to go to the bathroom. He came back to bed to find I had stripped myself and was sprawled out on top of the covers. I woke up enough to beg him to turn the fan on. Like a good husband, he did and went back to bed. In the morning, I saw the AC had been set at 72 and I was still roasting. So now poor Jeremy has to sleep in long sleeve shirts and socks just to stay somewhat warm.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Spa Day
I had to share my pics from before I left for my spa day a couple weeks ago. I decided that I would be brave and show my pale belly in a bikini at the pool. Until I put this on, I dont think I realized how much my tush and chest had grown. I will continue to wear a bikini this summer but I think I might go find a bigger size =)
"Did you see his pecker?"
If you dont know by now, we are having a baby boy!! We had the ultrasound on the 27th and although we had a hard time getting to see his face, he showed the rest just fine. No doubt about it! When my MIL called her mom to tell her, MeeMa asked if she was sure, did she see his pecker. OMG, how funny is that? This woman is soft spoken, never anything off color and I never would have expected this phrase out of her mouth. Too funny!
We started our registry at BabiesRUs but have a lot of revisions to make. Shopped some this weekend and bought him his first oxford shirt. Preppy I can handle =) Found out that the airplane bedding we were leaning towards is being discontinued and if we buy it its a final sale. I wouldnt mind so much if we could see it first but being an on-line only thing, its hard. We have to figure it out so we can get the crib ordered.
Jeremy felt the baby move last night for the first time. I know he wasnt expecting to feel it because his face just lit up when he did. Normally I have to point out where the movement was but last night he told me where he felt it. He fell asleep with his hand on my belly. I love it. It has to be hard for the father since they cant really experience anything. At least this helps him to be connected more.
Our birth classes start next Monday. We are excited to get started. Its going to be nice since its just us and one other couple. It will be at the birth center too so if we have procedural questions, we can have them answered in the space. The new center is amazing. The rooms are bigger and each has its own tub. At the last place, the 2 rooms were connected by a bathroom with the only tub. If 2 women were laboring at the same time, one had to use an inflatable tub. I think seeing the center helped Cheryl to be more on board and get it. She kept commenting on how calm it was and how unrushed everyone there was. I know she was supportive of our decision regardless but I really think this helped ease her mind.
Our house has been a revolving door of guests for the last week so we are going to enjoy having a nice, quiet night to ourselves tonight.
We started our registry at BabiesRUs but have a lot of revisions to make. Shopped some this weekend and bought him his first oxford shirt. Preppy I can handle =) Found out that the airplane bedding we were leaning towards is being discontinued and if we buy it its a final sale. I wouldnt mind so much if we could see it first but being an on-line only thing, its hard. We have to figure it out so we can get the crib ordered.
Jeremy felt the baby move last night for the first time. I know he wasnt expecting to feel it because his face just lit up when he did. Normally I have to point out where the movement was but last night he told me where he felt it. He fell asleep with his hand on my belly. I love it. It has to be hard for the father since they cant really experience anything. At least this helps him to be connected more.
Our birth classes start next Monday. We are excited to get started. Its going to be nice since its just us and one other couple. It will be at the birth center too so if we have procedural questions, we can have them answered in the space. The new center is amazing. The rooms are bigger and each has its own tub. At the last place, the 2 rooms were connected by a bathroom with the only tub. If 2 women were laboring at the same time, one had to use an inflatable tub. I think seeing the center helped Cheryl to be more on board and get it. She kept commenting on how calm it was and how unrushed everyone there was. I know she was supportive of our decision regardless but I really think this helped ease her mind.
Our house has been a revolving door of guests for the last week so we are going to enjoy having a nice, quiet night to ourselves tonight.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Business of Being Born
Last night, Nancy and I watched this documentary on the status of maternity care in the US. Its the one produced by Ricki Lake and it focused on home birth. Overall, it was worth the time to watch. However, I have to say I am somewhat disappointed in their approach. Im my mind, every woman should have the opportunity to have the birth she envisions for herself, whatever that may be. This film made anything but home birth out to be wrong and scary. I dont agree with that. I mean, yes, I like that they brought up many stereotypes about those that home birth and the safety or lack there of involved. They showed how prepared midwives are when they attend a birth and how they are ready to do what needs to be done for mom and baby. BUT, they also made it out that a hospital birth has to be a traumatic event full of procedures that the mother doesnt need or want. This is not the case in many situations. Yes, there are plenty of interventions that snowball and lead to higher c-section rates and what not. I dont disagree. But many of those mothers request/expect the interventions. (ie pitocin, epidural etc)
I know someone who went to the hospital and had her epidural as planned. She had the birth she wanted for herself. Why is that wrong, bad or traumatic? Just because its not something I choose for myself does not make it a bad decision for someone else to make. Nor should it be wrong or looked down on for me choosing a birth center. Lots of women go to hospitals and have a fully natural birth. While they may have to speak up a little more and be bigger advocates for their desires, they get the birth they want. At the end of the day, that is all anyone could hope for. I just dont see what is so wrong about that.
What I do find fault with is the lack of informed consent that goes along with these interventions. I don't care if you get to induce at a day of your choosing but at least understand what the natural progression of labor should be and how drugs like pitocin interfere and can often lead to other interventions and eventually a higher risk of C-section. Same applies to an elective C. Go for it, but understand that it is major surgery. I feel like many women research their strollers and bottles for safety at a higher level of scrutiny than they do their options during birth.
I just feel that women should have options open to them and that is where I agree with the film. So many women just go to the hospital because they think "its just what you do". Nothing else could possibly be safe since there isnt a "doctor" there. This insinuates that the mother has not thought out her options in the event something goes wrong. Midwives are trained professionals. They arent just a hack with a pair of gloves. They know when to transfer to a hospital and how to screen patients throughout the pregnancy. In the case of a home birth, they make sure where the nearest hospital is. If the situation isnt safe, other plans are made. In my case, I know where I would transfer and like that they have a NICU. Just in case. I dont see where I am less responsible than the woman who chooses to go to an OB in a hospital.
Overall, I dont think this movie will have a great impact or change anyone's mind. If you are pro-home birth/ out of hospital birth, it will reaffirm your feelings. If you are pro-hospital, it will make you angry at how they portray things. I happen to agree that most women are experiencing unnecessary interventions and that with a little education many could be avoided but until women stop wanting the procedures, nothing will change. Until then, its not up to be to judge them for their choices nor do I expect to be judged for mine.
I know someone who went to the hospital and had her epidural as planned. She had the birth she wanted for herself. Why is that wrong, bad or traumatic? Just because its not something I choose for myself does not make it a bad decision for someone else to make. Nor should it be wrong or looked down on for me choosing a birth center. Lots of women go to hospitals and have a fully natural birth. While they may have to speak up a little more and be bigger advocates for their desires, they get the birth they want. At the end of the day, that is all anyone could hope for. I just dont see what is so wrong about that.
What I do find fault with is the lack of informed consent that goes along with these interventions. I don't care if you get to induce at a day of your choosing but at least understand what the natural progression of labor should be and how drugs like pitocin interfere and can often lead to other interventions and eventually a higher risk of C-section. Same applies to an elective C. Go for it, but understand that it is major surgery. I feel like many women research their strollers and bottles for safety at a higher level of scrutiny than they do their options during birth.
I just feel that women should have options open to them and that is where I agree with the film. So many women just go to the hospital because they think "its just what you do". Nothing else could possibly be safe since there isnt a "doctor" there. This insinuates that the mother has not thought out her options in the event something goes wrong. Midwives are trained professionals. They arent just a hack with a pair of gloves. They know when to transfer to a hospital and how to screen patients throughout the pregnancy. In the case of a home birth, they make sure where the nearest hospital is. If the situation isnt safe, other plans are made. In my case, I know where I would transfer and like that they have a NICU. Just in case. I dont see where I am less responsible than the woman who chooses to go to an OB in a hospital.
Overall, I dont think this movie will have a great impact or change anyone's mind. If you are pro-home birth/ out of hospital birth, it will reaffirm your feelings. If you are pro-hospital, it will make you angry at how they portray things. I happen to agree that most women are experiencing unnecessary interventions and that with a little education many could be avoided but until women stop wanting the procedures, nothing will change. Until then, its not up to be to judge them for their choices nor do I expect to be judged for mine.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Bedding
Thoughts on any of the following? I am generally not a big theme person for nurseries but a couple of these caught my eye. Crib will either be dark wood or white.
Beach Cottage cutesy for a girl.
Caitlyn without canopy of course. tone down a lot
Early Bird
Julia Jeremy said he likes purple on the dark crib.
Sally Seahorse maybe a bit over the top but I like the colors.
Posy I like the simplicity
Airplanes Jeremy isnt sold but for an airplane theme, I like that it isnt too kitchy.
Brady Another plane theme.
Pinwheel I adore these colors.
Town and Country I love the black and white toile.
Waverly again the black and white toile
Beach Cottage cutesy for a girl.
Caitlyn without canopy of course. tone down a lot
Early Bird
Julia Jeremy said he likes purple on the dark crib.
Sally Seahorse maybe a bit over the top but I like the colors.
Posy I like the simplicity
Airplanes Jeremy isnt sold but for an airplane theme, I like that it isnt too kitchy.
Brady Another plane theme.
Pinwheel I adore these colors.
Town and Country I love the black and white toile.
Waverly again the black and white toile
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