8/29/2004
My Birthing Experience
3:50am
I knew intuitively that Aidan would start his arrival in the early morning. This was the time I always seemed to wake up during my pregnancy.
Sure enough, my little gentleman started contractions at around 3:50am, as I slipped under the covers from my 3:30am nature call. I wasn't sure if they were contractions, because they just felt like little cramps. I started getting excited when I realized that in 3 hours, I had about 5 of these little bumps in the night. My MIL, who was staying with us, was probably awake by now, since she always woke up very early in the morning. I wanted to run out there and tell her, "He's coming", because we wondered excitedly for weeks how he would start his entrance into the world. However, DH was sleeping peacefully and I couldn't dream of telling anyone else before him. So try as I might, I did what my midwives suggested, "Get some rest in the beginning, you're going to need your strength for later".
7:30am
I did nap, but was so excited that I found myself waiting for hubby to wake up. When he did, I told him the good news. So, no, it wasn't like TV where I say, "Honey, it's time!!!" and we start a mad rush to the hospital. Instead, we knew that this was just the beginning of a long marathon. In fact, I still wasn't quite sure I was in labor because the cramps were so slight.
8:30am
MIL and I huddle around the breakfast table talking excitedly about baby's birth. This is it! The cramps were not going away and were getting a bit stronger. I can't believe today is the today! DH has just come out from his home office and has declared that he is going to work from home today. I happen to have my weekly appointment at Special Beginnings at 2pm today. MIL is visiting from Puerto Rico and doesn't drive a stick-shift, so either I'd have to drive or DH will. I'm glad he's staying home. It all seems excessive, because we don't know how far along I'll be at 2pm, but going to work seems like a big risk since it would take DH an hour to get home.
11:10am
My water has not broken yet, and I'm thankful. I've been praying that my water would not break until later because they say it's much more painful then. I call David, the midwife on duty to let him know I've been having contractions. The plan is for me to come to my regular appointment, unless something changes.
12:40pm
I am so happy that DH decided to stay home. There is no way I could have driven myself to the birthing center. My contractions are really coming together now. The neat thing is that I started with a strong contraction every 45 minutes and 2 very minor contractions every 15 minutes between the major contraction. The contractions started evening out so that they were all getting stronger and converging together.
The contractions are 3 minutes apart and are lasting 50-60 seconds. Owwwwwww.....
MIL and I have been timing each contraction and DH had to remind me that I didn't have to time each one, just get a time once each hour.... I couldn't help it though. I'm an Industrial Engineer by trade. Guess I'm used to time studies!!!
1:20pm
This is it. I can't hold out anymore for my regular appointment, so we're off!!! The birthing center is less than 10 minutes away and I probably had 3 contractions en route. I brought my labor bag, just in case.
1:40pm
"Hi, I'm here for my 40th week checkup and I'm also having contractions every 3 minutes!"
As I get examined, I hope and pray that I've dilated enough. I can't even think about them sending me back home. I'm ready to go!!! Thankfully, David checks and I'm at 5cm, already halfway there! Woo Hoo!!!
I'm here in my beautiful suite (bedroom #2) and getting started. I tried laying on my side, but that felt horrible. DH begins counterpressure massage as I kneel by the bed. This, I realize, is a God-send. Unfortunately, DH needed a cigarrette break, leaving poor Kathy, a petite nurse-midwife in training to attempt the counterpressure. DH was gone for one contraction and it was a killer. The counterpressure massage made a big difference! Ironically, I brought all kinds of snacks and a few bottles of Propel, since I didn't want to starve. One sip of the Propel and I made a mad dash to the restroom with the heaves! So, throughout my whole labor, I sipped water and ice chips instead! (I hate puking, so I was afraid to eat or drink). Kathy told me to take a sip of water after each contraction. I never had such a hard time drinking water!
5pm ish
The birthing chair at the birthing center is truly awesome. It is a wooden rocking chair, with props for your feet and a removable center piece in case baby is ready to come out! I actually started sitting in a simpler labor chair, but then I tried this rocker and it was wonderful. I found myself falling into a deep sleep between contractions due to the fatigue. I continued my breathing exercises to work through the contractions as they came. My MIL could not believe how relaxed I was. Kenya, my nurse, or Kathy, would come around every half hour to check our vitals. Invariably, someone would start a conversation with me, but when a contraction started, I just closed my eyes and breathed through it. It didn't matter if I was talking or if someone else was talking to me. I just shut out the world and focused on counting while I breathed. I couldn't count as high as 8, so I just counted to four twice, two sets for each inhale and two sets for each exhale. I had no sense of time. Later, my MIL recalled that I was contracting for 90 seconds and the time between contractions was like 45 seconds. Unbelievable! Those in between times felt great as I slumbered.
The amazing thing is that the contractions felt like a ball scrunching in my stomach. I will never forget that feeling. First the light squeeze, then it would get harder and harder. It was like my body was hugging the baby.
7pm ish
Woo Hoo!!! David says I'm 7 cm dilated and we can get the tub ready. I took his advice and waited until 7-9cm to get in the tub. That way, the water would soothe the pains of active labor. If I was in the tub sooner, I'd get relief from contractions, but wouldn't have help once active labor started. It was all a fog then, but as I remember, the warm water was filled, there were candles and the lights were off and the boom box was moved into the bathroom, playing my 4Him Walk On CD. Very soothing...
9cm
The contractions are getting fierce now, but my water has not broken. Kathy can actually see it when I contract! Strangely, she gets up and leaves the room. Then David gets up and leaves the room. Where are they going???? I need them now! I had just lived thru an excrucriating contraction and my midwives are abandoning me???
Well, when Kathy comes back, I seriously start thinking about getting my water bag lanced. I'm already 9cms and my contractions don't seem productive anymore. She says, "I think it's a good idea, in fact, I went to get the hook". She turns back to David, who returned, to get his opinion and he smiles like the Chesire Cat and shows me his hook! They were thinking the same thing!
The Wall
After my bag was lanced, this is where I hit "the wall". The pain was really excruciating now and I didn't think I could go anymore. Kathy and DH were very supportive. Everyone was cheering me on now. I started the low bear growl grunt and started to bear down. It was the most amazing feeling. My body just knew to push. It felt like an urge to really, really, really go to the bathroom. After a few contractions, I thought I was feeling "the burn", so I was trying not to push. I kept thinking, "OK, you can work through this". Then the real burn came. It knocked the wind out of me! Now, I know why they tell you to keep breathing!!!
I had felt baby's head before, and it felt like a hairy walnut. But now, when Kathy asked me if I wanted to touch baby's head, I was in too much pain. I just wanted to push and get him out!! I don't know how many contractions I had, but I estimate that I was in active labor for one and a half hours.
I felt baby come out and felt his arm hang on as he came out. (He was born with his fists in the air and still sleeps like that to this day!)
Aidan just glided out of me and into the tub. He was placed on my chest and he was the most amazing sight. I'll never forget all that beatiful dark hair and his little hand. My DH got to see Aidan come out and it's something he will never forget. MIL was there also, and it was her first time seeing a baby being born. I cried, DH cried, we all cried. It was undescribably awesome.
Hut-Two!!!
OK, David says I need to get out of the tub quick before the placenta delivers! So, I'm helped up with Aidan, we're wrapped with towels and led to the bed. I could feel the umbilical cord still dangling from inside of me to Aidan. In bed, I start shivering!!!! I'm freezing, but it feels so good to have Aidan in my arms. I think he warms me up as much as I warm him up! Kathy tells me to push one more time and with little effort, the placenta comes out. Compared to the pain from before, it actually feels kinda nice....
Aidan is awake and very alert. His eyes are open, at least for a little while and he catches little snatches of sleep here and there. He's perfect and beautiful.
The Mad Dash...
3:50am
I knew intuitively that Aidan would start his arrival in the early morning. This was the time I always seemed to wake up during my pregnancy.
Sure enough, my little gentleman started contractions at around 3:50am, as I slipped under the covers from my 3:30am nature call. I wasn't sure if they were contractions, because they just felt like little cramps. I started getting excited when I realized that in 3 hours, I had about 5 of these little bumps in the night. My MIL, who was staying with us, was probably awake by now, since she always woke up very early in the morning. I wanted to run out there and tell her, "He's coming", because we wondered excitedly for weeks how he would start his entrance into the world. However, DH was sleeping peacefully and I couldn't dream of telling anyone else before him. So try as I might, I did what my midwives suggested, "Get some rest in the beginning, you're going to need your strength for later".
7:30am
I did nap, but was so excited that I found myself waiting for hubby to wake up. When he did, I told him the good news. So, no, it wasn't like TV where I say, "Honey, it's time!!!" and we start a mad rush to the hospital. Instead, we knew that this was just the beginning of a long marathon. In fact, I still wasn't quite sure I was in labor because the cramps were so slight.
8:30am
MIL and I huddle around the breakfast table talking excitedly about baby's birth. This is it! The cramps were not going away and were getting a bit stronger. I can't believe today is the today! DH has just come out from his home office and has declared that he is going to work from home today. I happen to have my weekly appointment at Special Beginnings at 2pm today. MIL is visiting from Puerto Rico and doesn't drive a stick-shift, so either I'd have to drive or DH will. I'm glad he's staying home. It all seems excessive, because we don't know how far along I'll be at 2pm, but going to work seems like a big risk since it would take DH an hour to get home.
11:10am
My water has not broken yet, and I'm thankful. I've been praying that my water would not break until later because they say it's much more painful then. I call David, the midwife on duty to let him know I've been having contractions. The plan is for me to come to my regular appointment, unless something changes.
12:40pm
I am so happy that DH decided to stay home. There is no way I could have driven myself to the birthing center. My contractions are really coming together now. The neat thing is that I started with a strong contraction every 45 minutes and 2 very minor contractions every 15 minutes between the major contraction. The contractions started evening out so that they were all getting stronger and converging together.
The contractions are 3 minutes apart and are lasting 50-60 seconds. Owwwwwww.....
MIL and I have been timing each contraction and DH had to remind me that I didn't have to time each one, just get a time once each hour.... I couldn't help it though. I'm an Industrial Engineer by trade. Guess I'm used to time studies!!!
1:20pm
This is it. I can't hold out anymore for my regular appointment, so we're off!!! The birthing center is less than 10 minutes away and I probably had 3 contractions en route. I brought my labor bag, just in case.
1:40pm
"Hi, I'm here for my 40th week checkup and I'm also having contractions every 3 minutes!"
As I get examined, I hope and pray that I've dilated enough. I can't even think about them sending me back home. I'm ready to go!!! Thankfully, David checks and I'm at 5cm, already halfway there! Woo Hoo!!!
I'm here in my beautiful suite (bedroom #2) and getting started. I tried laying on my side, but that felt horrible. DH begins counterpressure massage as I kneel by the bed. This, I realize, is a God-send. Unfortunately, DH needed a cigarrette break, leaving poor Kathy, a petite nurse-midwife in training to attempt the counterpressure. DH was gone for one contraction and it was a killer. The counterpressure massage made a big difference! Ironically, I brought all kinds of snacks and a few bottles of Propel, since I didn't want to starve. One sip of the Propel and I made a mad dash to the restroom with the heaves! So, throughout my whole labor, I sipped water and ice chips instead! (I hate puking, so I was afraid to eat or drink). Kathy told me to take a sip of water after each contraction. I never had such a hard time drinking water!
5pm ish
The birthing chair at the birthing center is truly awesome. It is a wooden rocking chair, with props for your feet and a removable center piece in case baby is ready to come out! I actually started sitting in a simpler labor chair, but then I tried this rocker and it was wonderful. I found myself falling into a deep sleep between contractions due to the fatigue. I continued my breathing exercises to work through the contractions as they came. My MIL could not believe how relaxed I was. Kenya, my nurse, or Kathy, would come around every half hour to check our vitals. Invariably, someone would start a conversation with me, but when a contraction started, I just closed my eyes and breathed through it. It didn't matter if I was talking or if someone else was talking to me. I just shut out the world and focused on counting while I breathed. I couldn't count as high as 8, so I just counted to four twice, two sets for each inhale and two sets for each exhale. I had no sense of time. Later, my MIL recalled that I was contracting for 90 seconds and the time between contractions was like 45 seconds. Unbelievable! Those in between times felt great as I slumbered.
The amazing thing is that the contractions felt like a ball scrunching in my stomach. I will never forget that feeling. First the light squeeze, then it would get harder and harder. It was like my body was hugging the baby.
7pm ish
Woo Hoo!!! David says I'm 7 cm dilated and we can get the tub ready. I took his advice and waited until 7-9cm to get in the tub. That way, the water would soothe the pains of active labor. If I was in the tub sooner, I'd get relief from contractions, but wouldn't have help once active labor started. It was all a fog then, but as I remember, the warm water was filled, there were candles and the lights were off and the boom box was moved into the bathroom, playing my 4Him Walk On CD. Very soothing...
9cm
The contractions are getting fierce now, but my water has not broken. Kathy can actually see it when I contract! Strangely, she gets up and leaves the room. Then David gets up and leaves the room. Where are they going???? I need them now! I had just lived thru an excrucriating contraction and my midwives are abandoning me???
Well, when Kathy comes back, I seriously start thinking about getting my water bag lanced. I'm already 9cms and my contractions don't seem productive anymore. She says, "I think it's a good idea, in fact, I went to get the hook". She turns back to David, who returned, to get his opinion and he smiles like the Chesire Cat and shows me his hook! They were thinking the same thing!
The Wall
After my bag was lanced, this is where I hit "the wall". The pain was really excruciating now and I didn't think I could go anymore. Kathy and DH were very supportive. Everyone was cheering me on now. I started the low bear growl grunt and started to bear down. It was the most amazing feeling. My body just knew to push. It felt like an urge to really, really, really go to the bathroom. After a few contractions, I thought I was feeling "the burn", so I was trying not to push. I kept thinking, "OK, you can work through this". Then the real burn came. It knocked the wind out of me! Now, I know why they tell you to keep breathing!!!
I had felt baby's head before, and it felt like a hairy walnut. But now, when Kathy asked me if I wanted to touch baby's head, I was in too much pain. I just wanted to push and get him out!! I don't know how many contractions I had, but I estimate that I was in active labor for one and a half hours.
I felt baby come out and felt his arm hang on as he came out. (He was born with his fists in the air and still sleeps like that to this day!)
Aidan just glided out of me and into the tub. He was placed on my chest and he was the most amazing sight. I'll never forget all that beatiful dark hair and his little hand. My DH got to see Aidan come out and it's something he will never forget. MIL was there also, and it was her first time seeing a baby being born. I cried, DH cried, we all cried. It was undescribably awesome.
Hut-Two!!!
OK, David says I need to get out of the tub quick before the placenta delivers! So, I'm helped up with Aidan, we're wrapped with towels and led to the bed. I could feel the umbilical cord still dangling from inside of me to Aidan. In bed, I start shivering!!!! I'm freezing, but it feels so good to have Aidan in my arms. I think he warms me up as much as I warm him up! Kathy tells me to push one more time and with little effort, the placenta comes out. Compared to the pain from before, it actually feels kinda nice....
Aidan is awake and very alert. His eyes are open, at least for a little while and he catches little snatches of sleep here and there. He's perfect and beautiful.
The Mad Dash...
4/01/2004
Well Gang,
Baby has arrived and things have just been too hectic, so I'm only 2 weeks late in reporting the great event!
Aidan was born on March 17th at 8:40pm. He's been a joy and that trite description of motherhood of "I can't explain how it feels, you just have to go through it" is too true.
When I get a chance, I'd like to post about my birthing experience, which was truly awesome. For now, Aidan is napping, and I'm going to catch a nap myself before he wakes up!
Thanks for reading about my pregnancy journey. Now, the real fun begins...
Baby has arrived and things have just been too hectic, so I'm only 2 weeks late in reporting the great event!
Aidan was born on March 17th at 8:40pm. He's been a joy and that trite description of motherhood of "I can't explain how it feels, you just have to go through it" is too true.
When I get a chance, I'd like to post about my birthing experience, which was truly awesome. For now, Aidan is napping, and I'm going to catch a nap myself before he wakes up!
Thanks for reading about my pregnancy journey. Now, the real fun begins...
3/15/2004
* 4th baby shower
* DMIL visiting
* contractions and false labor
* stretch marks
* glider
* DMIL visiting
* contractions and false labor
* stretch marks
* glider
39wk
Well Gang, I have 4 days until baby's due date! I'm definitely getting excited about baby's impending arrival! (I'm so excited, that I'm up again at my usual 3:30am wake up call...)
First, I'll have to post a few things that have happened since my last post:
I have to share something funny that happened at my 3rd baby shower on 2/29/04 (leap day!). After opening gifts and such, DH whispered over to me and said, "Honey, you're bleeding. Maybe this is your bloody show?". He'd noticed some staining on my rear. Obviously, this was quite an embarrasing and potentially dangerous situation! So, I went to the ladies room to check things out. I didn't feel anything and I wasn't having any contractions, but I was starting to get nervous. Unbeknownst to me, two of my mom friends also noticed the staining and followed me to the bathroom. As I got in there, they asked if I was OK. We had to laugh, because the stains actually came from me sitting on a plate that had chocolate icing on it!!!!!! Whew!!! A quick washing of the "spots" in the bathroom, and the "staining" was gone! Whew!!!! Talk about a scare!!!
On that same day, one of my childbirth classmates had her baby!!! My classmate's baby came 4 weeks early and she brought baby to class the next Wednesday (3/3/04). It was actually perfect, because it was the last class and it was about caring for a fussy newborn. Instead of a dummy, we had a live prop!!! Baby Anne was very cooperative as our instructor proceeded to show us the Karp method of soothing a fussy baby. It was amazing, by utilizing "The 5 S's", the instructor was able to calm baby down, even though she was not the baby's mother and had never handled her before. Then we watched a video of Dr. Harvey Karp, a noted pediatrician who taught the 5 S's: Swaddling, Side-Lying, Shaking (gently), Shushing and Sucking. It was amazing to see him transform fussy babies into relaxed cutie pies. In the video, nervous parents who had a tough time with their babies, watched in utter amazement as Karp soothed their babies and stopped their crying. I got so excited, I couldn't wait to try this "method" on Little O, once he enters the world! I know it won't necessarily be the "magic pill", but I feel more confident about caring for baby with a gameplan now.
The rest of us initiated classmates wanted to know how our classmate's birth went. She killed me, because she said, "Well, I started having contractions at about 2 in the morning. Then, after church..." I'm thinking, "Wow, she went to church when she was in labor???!!!" I was amazed!! Her labor stopped and started throughout the day and she finally had that baby at about 7pm, after being in the hospital for 4 hours. Not bad!!!! And she was getting around with baby pretty good in class!!! I wouldn't mind a labor like that!!!
Well, it's still early. There's still so much to write about, but I'll have to take it up later. Gotta rest while I still can....
Well Gang, I have 4 days until baby's due date! I'm definitely getting excited about baby's impending arrival! (I'm so excited, that I'm up again at my usual 3:30am wake up call...)
First, I'll have to post a few things that have happened since my last post:
I have to share something funny that happened at my 3rd baby shower on 2/29/04 (leap day!). After opening gifts and such, DH whispered over to me and said, "Honey, you're bleeding. Maybe this is your bloody show?". He'd noticed some staining on my rear. Obviously, this was quite an embarrasing and potentially dangerous situation! So, I went to the ladies room to check things out. I didn't feel anything and I wasn't having any contractions, but I was starting to get nervous. Unbeknownst to me, two of my mom friends also noticed the staining and followed me to the bathroom. As I got in there, they asked if I was OK. We had to laugh, because the stains actually came from me sitting on a plate that had chocolate icing on it!!!!!! Whew!!! A quick washing of the "spots" in the bathroom, and the "staining" was gone! Whew!!!! Talk about a scare!!!
On that same day, one of my childbirth classmates had her baby!!! My classmate's baby came 4 weeks early and she brought baby to class the next Wednesday (3/3/04). It was actually perfect, because it was the last class and it was about caring for a fussy newborn. Instead of a dummy, we had a live prop!!! Baby Anne was very cooperative as our instructor proceeded to show us the Karp method of soothing a fussy baby. It was amazing, by utilizing "The 5 S's", the instructor was able to calm baby down, even though she was not the baby's mother and had never handled her before. Then we watched a video of Dr. Harvey Karp, a noted pediatrician who taught the 5 S's: Swaddling, Side-Lying, Shaking (gently), Shushing and Sucking. It was amazing to see him transform fussy babies into relaxed cutie pies. In the video, nervous parents who had a tough time with their babies, watched in utter amazement as Karp soothed their babies and stopped their crying. I got so excited, I couldn't wait to try this "method" on Little O, once he enters the world! I know it won't necessarily be the "magic pill", but I feel more confident about caring for baby with a gameplan now.
The rest of us initiated classmates wanted to know how our classmate's birth went. She killed me, because she said, "Well, I started having contractions at about 2 in the morning. Then, after church..." I'm thinking, "Wow, she went to church when she was in labor???!!!" I was amazed!! Her labor stopped and started throughout the day and she finally had that baby at about 7pm, after being in the hospital for 4 hours. Not bad!!!! And she was getting around with baby pretty good in class!!! I wouldn't mind a labor like that!!!
Well, it's still early. There's still so much to write about, but I'll have to take it up later. Gotta rest while I still can....
3/06/2004
38 wks
I guess I'm making up for lost posts... so here I write again! Baby has been doing the wave for quite some time now, and it is amusing to see my belly rumble around. Sometimes, he'll poke out, but I haven't been able to distinguish whether it's a hand or a foot. I think usually, it's his butt!
2 weeks ago, at one of my midwife appointments, I was having Braxton-Hicks contractions! I didn't feel them, which was the cool part, but my belly was as hard as a rock! The midwife palpated on my left side for a bit and said, "Yup, that's a contraction alright". Then, I could see the left side relax and the right side started to tighten. It was really amazing! The midwife confirmed it, "Oh, yeah, here comes another one. Your uterus is getting ready!". It was so wild. I could feel a little bit of pressure, but it was not painful at all! Maybe that will be a good sign for labor! Never hurts to dream a little....
I'm also excited to say that I finally accomplished a dream since I've been home. I entertained a few friends with a fondue party on Friday 2/27!!! It was a great motivator to clean up around the house and to spend time with some of my stay-at-home mom friends. I used a "fake it, don't make it" recipe for the cheese fondue and it was soo easy! I also had a reverse fondue, which was simply heated salsa for dunking cubes of cheese and chicken. Then, the piece du resistance, the chocolate fondue!!! An easy WW recipe and I was on my way! The funny thing is that I turned on the wrong burner to make tea and the chocolate fondue was boiling in the pot.... I still couldn't mess it up. When it cooled down, it had an even thicker, richer consistency than before. We gorged ourselves!!! Also, the neat thing is that some of my friends did not know each other, but we all got along famously. Everyone really connected and it was nice to see. There were moms at different stages of mothering, (I of course being the only mother in-utero!) and we had a blast. I even took out my fine china and had places set. It was informal, I just used the best dinnerware for fun.
I'm certainly no professional hostess, but if you are looking for a low-maintenance party, fondue is the way to go. Everyone is bound to like something, it's fun and a good ice-breaker to share a common bowl together. And face it, if my friends are raving about my food, there must be something to it!!!! LOL
I guess I'm making up for lost posts... so here I write again! Baby has been doing the wave for quite some time now, and it is amusing to see my belly rumble around. Sometimes, he'll poke out, but I haven't been able to distinguish whether it's a hand or a foot. I think usually, it's his butt!
2 weeks ago, at one of my midwife appointments, I was having Braxton-Hicks contractions! I didn't feel them, which was the cool part, but my belly was as hard as a rock! The midwife palpated on my left side for a bit and said, "Yup, that's a contraction alright". Then, I could see the left side relax and the right side started to tighten. It was really amazing! The midwife confirmed it, "Oh, yeah, here comes another one. Your uterus is getting ready!". It was so wild. I could feel a little bit of pressure, but it was not painful at all! Maybe that will be a good sign for labor! Never hurts to dream a little....
I'm also excited to say that I finally accomplished a dream since I've been home. I entertained a few friends with a fondue party on Friday 2/27!!! It was a great motivator to clean up around the house and to spend time with some of my stay-at-home mom friends. I used a "fake it, don't make it" recipe for the cheese fondue and it was soo easy! I also had a reverse fondue, which was simply heated salsa for dunking cubes of cheese and chicken. Then, the piece du resistance, the chocolate fondue!!! An easy WW recipe and I was on my way! The funny thing is that I turned on the wrong burner to make tea and the chocolate fondue was boiling in the pot.... I still couldn't mess it up. When it cooled down, it had an even thicker, richer consistency than before. We gorged ourselves!!! Also, the neat thing is that some of my friends did not know each other, but we all got along famously. Everyone really connected and it was nice to see. There were moms at different stages of mothering, (I of course being the only mother in-utero!) and we had a blast. I even took out my fine china and had places set. It was informal, I just used the best dinnerware for fun.
I'm certainly no professional hostess, but if you are looking for a low-maintenance party, fondue is the way to go. Everyone is bound to like something, it's fun and a good ice-breaker to share a common bowl together. And face it, if my friends are raving about my food, there must be something to it!!!! LOL
38 wks
So far, baby is still enjoying the womb. Smart boy! I must admit I'm getting a little nervous as we approach the big day, but I'm trying not to think about it. I'm trying to take more naps and rest up a bit and just assume that baby will not come too soon.
We have really been blessed by the outpouring of love for our baby! DH had a baby shower at work and got the most thoughtful gifts from his colleagues. I also heard from some of my former co-workers and they are planning a little get together with me also. My church family also threw a baby shower for us and that was really nice! We've had a total of 3 baby showers thus far! I am humbled by the generousity and love shown to us by others.
I keep forgetting to mention Valentine's Day, so I'll finally post here about it. DH got me the most romantic card. It read, "For a Special Mom". I choked up when I got it. What a sweetie pie!! What can I say, I have an awesome hubby who is already a great Daddy!
Spring is here and I am loving it!!! I'm already mentally ready for it. Today, I walked to my favorite gelato place and enjoyed the 50 degree weather. Baby and I chilled out while I read a book and watched the pace of "downtown" in my neighborhood (don't blink or you'll miss it). It was cool to see families together, bike riders out and about and people just enjoying the day. I'm already set for when baby comes around. We will be tooling around the neighborhood with my almost new, top of the line, second hand stroller!! Hey, for $16.50 at the Salvation Army, it was a steal!!! Don't get me wrong, I would not have minded a new stroller. But, the latest models all feature the detachable infant car seat, which we really don't need since we have a convertible car seat. I also wanted something light and nimble, but sturdy enough to carry a good amount of stuff. When I saw the blue Graco, with the handle that goes backward and forward at the Salvation Army, I knew I found my ride. It's perfect. The stroller has a large basket on the bottom, allows me to switch the handle bar so that baby is facing me or facing out. It fits an infant or a toddler and is not encumbered with a lot of frilly extras. This is exactly what I was looking for. A little Febreeze on the outside and a good machine washing for the removable cloth parts and we are in business!! Oh, and did I mention, the thing folds easily with a push on the lever with your foot and it stands on it's own when folded. The newer strollers couldn't do any of this stuff! They are clunky, drop on the floor when you fold them and can't stand on their own. And the only way to have baby facing you is to get the infant car seat!!! Ha!
Next post, I'll have to write about my contractions.....
So far, baby is still enjoying the womb. Smart boy! I must admit I'm getting a little nervous as we approach the big day, but I'm trying not to think about it. I'm trying to take more naps and rest up a bit and just assume that baby will not come too soon.
We have really been blessed by the outpouring of love for our baby! DH had a baby shower at work and got the most thoughtful gifts from his colleagues. I also heard from some of my former co-workers and they are planning a little get together with me also. My church family also threw a baby shower for us and that was really nice! We've had a total of 3 baby showers thus far! I am humbled by the generousity and love shown to us by others.
I keep forgetting to mention Valentine's Day, so I'll finally post here about it. DH got me the most romantic card. It read, "For a Special Mom". I choked up when I got it. What a sweetie pie!! What can I say, I have an awesome hubby who is already a great Daddy!
Spring is here and I am loving it!!! I'm already mentally ready for it. Today, I walked to my favorite gelato place and enjoyed the 50 degree weather. Baby and I chilled out while I read a book and watched the pace of "downtown" in my neighborhood (don't blink or you'll miss it). It was cool to see families together, bike riders out and about and people just enjoying the day. I'm already set for when baby comes around. We will be tooling around the neighborhood with my almost new, top of the line, second hand stroller!! Hey, for $16.50 at the Salvation Army, it was a steal!!! Don't get me wrong, I would not have minded a new stroller. But, the latest models all feature the detachable infant car seat, which we really don't need since we have a convertible car seat. I also wanted something light and nimble, but sturdy enough to carry a good amount of stuff. When I saw the blue Graco, with the handle that goes backward and forward at the Salvation Army, I knew I found my ride. It's perfect. The stroller has a large basket on the bottom, allows me to switch the handle bar so that baby is facing me or facing out. It fits an infant or a toddler and is not encumbered with a lot of frilly extras. This is exactly what I was looking for. A little Febreeze on the outside and a good machine washing for the removable cloth parts and we are in business!! Oh, and did I mention, the thing folds easily with a push on the lever with your foot and it stands on it's own when folded. The newer strollers couldn't do any of this stuff! They are clunky, drop on the floor when you fold them and can't stand on their own. And the only way to have baby facing you is to get the infant car seat!!! Ha!
Next post, I'll have to write about my contractions.....
2/28/2004
37wks
Woo Hoo! As of this past Thursday, I am now officially full-term. Although I can be a little stiff when getting up in the morning, or after I've been sitting for a while, I feel incredibly blessed knowing that I do not have a lot of back pain! I credit a lot of it to the fact that most of the weight that I've gained has been baby, boobs and my thighs. (Man, my thighs are huge!!!). Also, Pilates teaches you how to carry your weight and strengthens your back, so my limited progression back into Pilates (and the stuff I did before pregnancy) has really helped! Even now, when I do feel a bit stiff, I can do some Pilates stretches, find my "neutral" position, and get instant relief! The human body is an amazing thing! Truly, I am fearfully and wonderfully made! Psalms 139:14
Our childbirth class this past Wednesday night was a bit comical. My instructor got a call on her cell phone. One of her clients (she's a doula also) went into labor, so she taught as much of the class as she could until the couple came to the birthing center. We then saw a video and left the class early. Although I was a bit bummed, we were all happy to have the little break, since the class goes from 7pm to 9pm. It was neat though, because we discussed post-partum issues, such as depression, symptoms of post-pregnancy that some women don't know about and caring for the mom after the big event! A lot of these issues are not typically dealt with in childbirth classes, and I've been impressed with my instructor's level of detail. Hey, with an 8 week course, the content should be meaty!!
Speaking of the big day, I am excited to tell you where baby and I hope to meet face to face for the first time. You can check out my birthing center at www.specialbeginnings.com. I'm priviledged to know that this birthing center is the most comprehensive center for midwifery, natural care and women's care available in the state of Maryland. You have got to check out their website. I feel like I'm visiting someone at home when I go to my appointments. The staff info is out of date, but take the virtual tour. I'll be in room #2!!! I'm so excited!
Well, it's early so I'm going back to bed. My body must be practicing for baby, because I always wake up at about 330am every day. (It's Saturday, so I woke up at 530 this morning). I try to go back to sleep, but if I'm just tossing and turning, I'll just get up and do something. Sometimes, my most productive time is those early mornings. Thank goodness I don't have a "job" to go to, because I'm a mess in the mornings after my little "nightly sessions". I'm trying to just stay up for no more than half an hour now. On my next post, I'll have to tell you about my fondue party!
Woo Hoo! As of this past Thursday, I am now officially full-term. Although I can be a little stiff when getting up in the morning, or after I've been sitting for a while, I feel incredibly blessed knowing that I do not have a lot of back pain! I credit a lot of it to the fact that most of the weight that I've gained has been baby, boobs and my thighs. (Man, my thighs are huge!!!). Also, Pilates teaches you how to carry your weight and strengthens your back, so my limited progression back into Pilates (and the stuff I did before pregnancy) has really helped! Even now, when I do feel a bit stiff, I can do some Pilates stretches, find my "neutral" position, and get instant relief! The human body is an amazing thing! Truly, I am fearfully and wonderfully made! Psalms 139:14
Our childbirth class this past Wednesday night was a bit comical. My instructor got a call on her cell phone. One of her clients (she's a doula also) went into labor, so she taught as much of the class as she could until the couple came to the birthing center. We then saw a video and left the class early. Although I was a bit bummed, we were all happy to have the little break, since the class goes from 7pm to 9pm. It was neat though, because we discussed post-partum issues, such as depression, symptoms of post-pregnancy that some women don't know about and caring for the mom after the big event! A lot of these issues are not typically dealt with in childbirth classes, and I've been impressed with my instructor's level of detail. Hey, with an 8 week course, the content should be meaty!!
Speaking of the big day, I am excited to tell you where baby and I hope to meet face to face for the first time. You can check out my birthing center at www.specialbeginnings.com. I'm priviledged to know that this birthing center is the most comprehensive center for midwifery, natural care and women's care available in the state of Maryland. You have got to check out their website. I feel like I'm visiting someone at home when I go to my appointments. The staff info is out of date, but take the virtual tour. I'll be in room #2!!! I'm so excited!
Well, it's early so I'm going back to bed. My body must be practicing for baby, because I always wake up at about 330am every day. (It's Saturday, so I woke up at 530 this morning). I try to go back to sleep, but if I'm just tossing and turning, I'll just get up and do something. Sometimes, my most productive time is those early mornings. Thank goodness I don't have a "job" to go to, because I'm a mess in the mornings after my little "nightly sessions". I'm trying to just stay up for no more than half an hour now. On my next post, I'll have to tell you about my fondue party!
2/23/2004
36wks
Wow, only one more week (4 days, actually) before I'm considered full-term!!!
So many neat things have been happening lately, that I hope I can share the highlights:
eBay: I'm an eBay fiend. Unfortunately, I haven't sold anything (no new listings) in a week and a half and my spending money is gone! I did buy some cloth diapers and have subsidized that purchase with eBay payments that were sent via check or money order. But now, I'm $43 bucks in the hole since I just won another set of cloth diapers. Gotta start selling more stuff!! I also needed a few more nursing bras as well and am slowly acquiring some nursing tops.
The nursery is practically ready!!!! The furniture finally came in and we had it delivered last week. This weekend, you should have seen me and DH try to put the darn crib together. It's a sleigh bed deal and the curved post of one side was really hard to put together. There's a small gap, but it's barely noticeable. After 2 hours, we had only gotten the 2 sides assembled and the back side. Sheesh! It was a nice surprise to find that on Sunday, 2/22, after coming home from church, DH surprised me with the finished product!! What a sweetie!!! Now, the room is officially Little O's bedroom. What a transformation!!! I still have some computer stuff and work files that I need to get rid off, along with a few plastic bins, but basically, the room is ready. I just need to hang up the valance, maybe get a few pix, wash the clothing and sheets to welcome baby boy! Woo Hoo! I promise to post pictures on my website when the room is ready.
We got our last sonogram at 34wks on 2/9/04. Baby is healthy and we got it on tape! Ironically, the picture quality at 34wks is worse than at 30wks because it's pretty crowded in there. It's hard to get a clear shot of the face, etc, without an arm or umbilical cord blocking things, so the video looks a little murky. Still, it is neat to have moving pictures of Little O! Dr. said that this would be the last sonogram, since everything is looking good. I'll have to come back to show him Little O in the flesh, since he's been such a nice doctor!
I've updated my pix on the web. My hair and belly are both growing at warp speed!!! Luckily, I finally got a hair cut last Thursday. Oh, and did I mention? I got my first professional manicure and pedicure on Friday, 2/20!!! Woo Hoo!!! This was courtesy of DH's Christmas present to me, a gift certificate to a local nail salon. What a treat! I don't think I'd get a manicure again (I'm just a low-maintenance kind of gal) because when I got in the car and put my seatbelt on, I smudged 2 nails!!! Ackk!!! I just got a French manicure on my actual nails.... no dragon lady stuff.
The pedicure was a different story! The nail salon has a pedicure spa - a little tub for your feet!!! So, between foot soaking, massage, and a pedicure, I was in heaven!!! My toe nails are now a beautiful bright red, a good focal point during labor, yeah, that's it! I would definitely get a pedicure again. In fact, I had $15 of my gift certificate left, so I may schedule another pedicure in the next month!
Wow, only one more week (4 days, actually) before I'm considered full-term!!!
So many neat things have been happening lately, that I hope I can share the highlights:
eBay: I'm an eBay fiend. Unfortunately, I haven't sold anything (no new listings) in a week and a half and my spending money is gone! I did buy some cloth diapers and have subsidized that purchase with eBay payments that were sent via check or money order. But now, I'm $43 bucks in the hole since I just won another set of cloth diapers. Gotta start selling more stuff!! I also needed a few more nursing bras as well and am slowly acquiring some nursing tops.
The nursery is practically ready!!!! The furniture finally came in and we had it delivered last week. This weekend, you should have seen me and DH try to put the darn crib together. It's a sleigh bed deal and the curved post of one side was really hard to put together. There's a small gap, but it's barely noticeable. After 2 hours, we had only gotten the 2 sides assembled and the back side. Sheesh! It was a nice surprise to find that on Sunday, 2/22, after coming home from church, DH surprised me with the finished product!! What a sweetie!!! Now, the room is officially Little O's bedroom. What a transformation!!! I still have some computer stuff and work files that I need to get rid off, along with a few plastic bins, but basically, the room is ready. I just need to hang up the valance, maybe get a few pix, wash the clothing and sheets to welcome baby boy! Woo Hoo! I promise to post pictures on my website when the room is ready.
We got our last sonogram at 34wks on 2/9/04. Baby is healthy and we got it on tape! Ironically, the picture quality at 34wks is worse than at 30wks because it's pretty crowded in there. It's hard to get a clear shot of the face, etc, without an arm or umbilical cord blocking things, so the video looks a little murky. Still, it is neat to have moving pictures of Little O! Dr. said that this would be the last sonogram, since everything is looking good. I'll have to come back to show him Little O in the flesh, since he's been such a nice doctor!
I've updated my pix on the web. My hair and belly are both growing at warp speed!!! Luckily, I finally got a hair cut last Thursday. Oh, and did I mention? I got my first professional manicure and pedicure on Friday, 2/20!!! Woo Hoo!!! This was courtesy of DH's Christmas present to me, a gift certificate to a local nail salon. What a treat! I don't think I'd get a manicure again (I'm just a low-maintenance kind of gal) because when I got in the car and put my seatbelt on, I smudged 2 nails!!! Ackk!!! I just got a French manicure on my actual nails.... no dragon lady stuff.
The pedicure was a different story! The nail salon has a pedicure spa - a little tub for your feet!!! So, between foot soaking, massage, and a pedicure, I was in heaven!!! My toe nails are now a beautiful bright red, a good focal point during labor, yeah, that's it! I would definitely get a pedicure again. In fact, I had $15 of my gift certificate left, so I may schedule another pedicure in the next month!
2/11/2004
34wks
Well, the babies are starting to pop out now! An online friend, (actually the owner of the GON site that I moderate for) had her baby girl 2 weeks early (1/29/04). And my cousin and his wife just had their baby on Sunday, 2/8, the same day as my oldest nephew's birthday. Woo Hoo! I'm next in line since I only have 6 more weeks to go! Trust me, even though I'm excited to meet my little boy, I'm in no rush to have this baby just yet. I'm enjoying all this ME Time! It's funny too, because every one else is having girls, so the boy is going to have a nice harem to choose from. Ha, ha, ha.... Just kidding. I may let him start dating when he's 30.
I'm still keeping busy, but I've noticed lately that I do need a nap in the afternoons now. I don't know if it is because I have events scheduled on Monday and Wednesday nights, or if baby is just requiring more energy out of me. Maybe it's a little of both. Anyway, when my head start to droop, I feel no guilt about taking a nap. After all, once baby comes around, my naps may be fewer and farther in between!
I must document that I did what many pregnant women do - I fell!!! That's right folks, I performed a beautific swan dive in the sleet and snow as I was getting the car seat inspected. Praise God I fell on my side. Except for my jeans getting soaked and feeling a little jittery, I was OK. I don't think anyone saw me, but I was holding an umbrella and flip! - I just lost it. It was sleeting and ice was forming quickly on the sidewalk. It wasn't funny then, but I am laughing out loud now just thinking about it.
In order to cope with that traumatic event, I stopped by the Barnes & Noble and had me a nice hot chocolate, an apple cake and a Rice Krispies treat. While my pants dried, I played word games on my PDA and just relaxed for a while. Ahhhhh.... they even served me the hot chocolate in a ceramic cup. No plastic utensils here! After this, I spent the rest of the day running errands. I didn't even call the midwives about my fall until the next day!
The weird thing is that back in the car after my seat inspection, I just took some time to rub my belly and soothe Little O. After all, he must have been shaken up too! I said, "Mommy is sorry she fell". I was overcome with emotion as I referred to myself as Mommy. I just sat there as tears of joy escaped my eyes. What a tremendous blessing a child is!
The mushies happened again as DH attended a Navy-Lehigh basketball game on Saturday (his birthday!). I can't explain it. At half-time, there was a jump rope group that provided entertainment. The kids were all grammar school age and it was neat to see them double dutch, swap ropes and perform complicated jumping routines. Although I didn't totally lose it, I had a lump in my throat. I just sat there thinking about our little boy and how we'd be taking him to sporting events and club activities. These kids could have been hanging out at the mall but they were here doing something fun, healthy and productive. It was just cool to see. I know, I'm a basketcase.
Is this how it's going to be? Will I cry every time I see a Sylvan Learning Center commercial? Alas, it could be worse.
I could be devoid of emotion, or like those folks that "hold it in". No thanks, I'll take the rollercoaster instead. It's much more exciting, even with the low points.
On a more comical note, I must tell you about our shopping experience for strollers and play pens. After researching strollers online, I had a pretty good idea of a few strollers that I wanted. But when we tried them out in the store, DH didn't like any of them! They all closed easily enough, but they'd end up falling on the floor. A lot of them were either too bulky (Eddie Bauer, yikes!) or too flimsy. So, the search goes on.
Playpens were another story. I decided that I needed a bassinet/co-sleeper thing, but I wanted something multi-functional. I settled on the beautifully priced Graco Jackpot Pack 'n Play. It cost about half of the other ones and functioned as a full size bassinet, travel crib and play pen. Now that's what I'm talking about! The online reviews were very positive as well. So, DH and I did a trial run at the store. Could we knock this thing down and build it back up again easily? Knocking down was no problem and the playpen was compacted without a hitch!
Rebuilding was another story. We tried for at least a half an hour and could not get the sides to snap back in place. Even with my 2 college degrees and DH's computer programming savvy, we could not figure this thing out! Frustrated and disappointed, we decided to give up and let the store professionals clean up our mess. I thought this thing was going to be such a good buy! We could have tried other playpens, but we were just too fried. As I got the mattress to put back in, I noticed that there were detailed instructions on the underside of the mattress. This was a veritable gold mine, since we were not able to find them before!! A quick read and we discovered that the sides would never snap in if the bottom was fully retracted. D'Uh!!! A few modifications in our methods, and we had that baby back into a crib in no sweat! Whew!!! Confident with our new-found skills and because we did like the playcrib, we bought it. Woo Hoo!
Well, the babies are starting to pop out now! An online friend, (actually the owner of the GON site that I moderate for) had her baby girl 2 weeks early (1/29/04). And my cousin and his wife just had their baby on Sunday, 2/8, the same day as my oldest nephew's birthday. Woo Hoo! I'm next in line since I only have 6 more weeks to go! Trust me, even though I'm excited to meet my little boy, I'm in no rush to have this baby just yet. I'm enjoying all this ME Time! It's funny too, because every one else is having girls, so the boy is going to have a nice harem to choose from. Ha, ha, ha.... Just kidding. I may let him start dating when he's 30.
I'm still keeping busy, but I've noticed lately that I do need a nap in the afternoons now. I don't know if it is because I have events scheduled on Monday and Wednesday nights, or if baby is just requiring more energy out of me. Maybe it's a little of both. Anyway, when my head start to droop, I feel no guilt about taking a nap. After all, once baby comes around, my naps may be fewer and farther in between!
I must document that I did what many pregnant women do - I fell!!! That's right folks, I performed a beautific swan dive in the sleet and snow as I was getting the car seat inspected. Praise God I fell on my side. Except for my jeans getting soaked and feeling a little jittery, I was OK. I don't think anyone saw me, but I was holding an umbrella and flip! - I just lost it. It was sleeting and ice was forming quickly on the sidewalk. It wasn't funny then, but I am laughing out loud now just thinking about it.
In order to cope with that traumatic event, I stopped by the Barnes & Noble and had me a nice hot chocolate, an apple cake and a Rice Krispies treat. While my pants dried, I played word games on my PDA and just relaxed for a while. Ahhhhh.... they even served me the hot chocolate in a ceramic cup. No plastic utensils here! After this, I spent the rest of the day running errands. I didn't even call the midwives about my fall until the next day!
The weird thing is that back in the car after my seat inspection, I just took some time to rub my belly and soothe Little O. After all, he must have been shaken up too! I said, "Mommy is sorry she fell". I was overcome with emotion as I referred to myself as Mommy. I just sat there as tears of joy escaped my eyes. What a tremendous blessing a child is!
The mushies happened again as DH attended a Navy-Lehigh basketball game on Saturday (his birthday!). I can't explain it. At half-time, there was a jump rope group that provided entertainment. The kids were all grammar school age and it was neat to see them double dutch, swap ropes and perform complicated jumping routines. Although I didn't totally lose it, I had a lump in my throat. I just sat there thinking about our little boy and how we'd be taking him to sporting events and club activities. These kids could have been hanging out at the mall but they were here doing something fun, healthy and productive. It was just cool to see. I know, I'm a basketcase.
Is this how it's going to be? Will I cry every time I see a Sylvan Learning Center commercial? Alas, it could be worse.
I could be devoid of emotion, or like those folks that "hold it in". No thanks, I'll take the rollercoaster instead. It's much more exciting, even with the low points.
On a more comical note, I must tell you about our shopping experience for strollers and play pens. After researching strollers online, I had a pretty good idea of a few strollers that I wanted. But when we tried them out in the store, DH didn't like any of them! They all closed easily enough, but they'd end up falling on the floor. A lot of them were either too bulky (Eddie Bauer, yikes!) or too flimsy. So, the search goes on.
Playpens were another story. I decided that I needed a bassinet/co-sleeper thing, but I wanted something multi-functional. I settled on the beautifully priced Graco Jackpot Pack 'n Play. It cost about half of the other ones and functioned as a full size bassinet, travel crib and play pen. Now that's what I'm talking about! The online reviews were very positive as well. So, DH and I did a trial run at the store. Could we knock this thing down and build it back up again easily? Knocking down was no problem and the playpen was compacted without a hitch!
Rebuilding was another story. We tried for at least a half an hour and could not get the sides to snap back in place. Even with my 2 college degrees and DH's computer programming savvy, we could not figure this thing out! Frustrated and disappointed, we decided to give up and let the store professionals clean up our mess. I thought this thing was going to be such a good buy! We could have tried other playpens, but we were just too fried. As I got the mattress to put back in, I noticed that there were detailed instructions on the underside of the mattress. This was a veritable gold mine, since we were not able to find them before!! A quick read and we discovered that the sides would never snap in if the bottom was fully retracted. D'Uh!!! A few modifications in our methods, and we had that baby back into a crib in no sweat! Whew!!! Confident with our new-found skills and because we did like the playcrib, we bought it. Woo Hoo!
