staying home
I really thought that I would be bored staying home. But so far, I feel like I have been busier than when I was working. I have been cooking for Jerry...which is huge, because I don't cook, I bake...not cook. But so far, no disasters. I have been working on the house. Not that I can move big things, but I can organize and hang stuff. I went grocery shopping by myself. This was weird as it is something we usually do together. I felt almost like I was eating out by myself. I got the plates, cups, and napkins for our cookie social on the 10th. That will be next weeks project. I will be making lots-o-cookies and a cola cake! mmmmmm....ANYWAY, my point is that I have remained rather busy. I need to get to the gym to swim or walk, but I haven't done that this week. I am more concerned with the house getting unpacked and situated. I will go at least once next week! My parents are coming in three weeks!!! WAHOO!!! It's amazing that they will be here and then a month later they will be back. I can't believe we will have a little one so soon! Speaking of which, I went with my friend Rachel to a childcare center I used to read to when I worked for a different department in the library (she works there now) and the center is going out of business. The owner (who is the sweetest woman ever) let Rachel and me come over and pick through all the stuff she is selling. Rachel got lots of stuff. She is planning on keeping a couple kids after her baby is born. I got a few toys and a crib and brand new mattress! The crib has been only a few times and the mattress has never been used. We got both for 75 bucks! The crib turns into a toddler bed as well! It's not exactly what we wanted, but it is something.
My cousin brought my crib up over Thanksgiving but lots of hardware was missing, so we needed to get something. We are now set. I need a breast pump and a couple bottles. But baby stuff is taken care of!
Okay, well the washing machine repair guy is here repairing our washer. Boy is he a grouch! He came in and looked at the detergent we use and immediately said that was the wrong kind. I turned the detergent over and there was the HE symbol. He was like "well it usually says it one th front." I told him my parents have a front loader and I was aware of the type of detergent we could use...thanks. I must look like an idiot. I know that it's early and all, but customer service has a place in my book and people should look into it! I was awfully nice at 7:15 this morning when he called for directions...he could try to be nice considering this is his JOB to fix stuff!!!!! Okay, enough. (By the way it was the drain pipe that wasn't hooked up properly... go figure... at least it's under warranty and I don't have to pay for this guys attitude...)
Okay, I'm almost done with the painting in the nursery....back to work!
December 05
what do you mean I'm having a baby?
So our birthing class went on a tour of the hospital yesterday. Talk about a wake up call. I got home and totally freaked out. It made it all so real. I mean I have been to the hospital before and visited new moms, but wow! Side note: We learned that December is a busy month because people want to be induced to have their baby as a tax write off. How cynical. ANYWAY, the rooms are nice enough. I mean really am I going to care about room decor whilst trying to get a wiggle worm out of me? Today I had a doctor's appointment. I really like our doctors. The practice has four women in it. All of them are all about supporting what ever decisions we make and giving us all the information we need. Of course my health and the baby's health come first. We will take our birth plan the next time we go.I must say, though, during our tour a nurse came and spoke with us. She went through the whole shpill about staying in the hospital for 24 hours after the baby is out and told us we couldn't check out AMA when we wanted to go. I personally am all about staying 24 hours and making sure the baby is healthy and I am ready to go. But there are some people in the class who are adamant about leaving as soon as possible. They were getting really upset. My point of view is that the nurse is required to say things like that. It keeps them from getting sued from yuppy rich people that check their baby out AMA. I mean really come on. To each their own, but if they felt like what the nurse said was a scare tactic, what do they call the first class we had? I mean according to the first class I am going to give birth to a child with no brain cells. Jerry brought up the point that it's only a scare tactic is you believe it is. I guess if you all about "organic" everything, then I can understand how being in the hospital could make you nervous. However, I am all about gaining knowledge to make sure I am going to be a good mom and know what the heck I'm doing. I, of course, want my baby with me to room in, I want to breast feed, I want to know that my baby is healthy. I will not give my baby the hep B vaccine. I think that's going a bit overboard. But pricking his little foot to have tests run is fine. I mean the teacher kept saying we could go to the ped. after the baby, but then in the next breath she says we shouldn't be doing much moving for the first two weeks. They will still have to prick his little foot in 10 days and it will still hurt...
Sometimes I feel like this class is so anti-medical profession. I personally trust that my doctors have our best interests in mind. We go in for another ultra sound on Wednesday...sure hope I don't hurt the baby's ears (yeah they told us that...whatever! In fact a chiropractor came in and told us that ultrasounds were radioactive...sigh) anyway, I am excited to see our little guy. He has got to be huge! his legs are sure powerful! He is jamming away right now....Maybe I am giving birth to the first male rockette?
Okay, I am off to make the dough for our cookie social this Saturday!
December 07
ultra sound
we had an ultrasound today. everything is fine. the kidney problem has resolved itself. we found out that our baby is about 5 pounds. they said they couldn't tell how long he was, though i thought they could if they knew the femur length. anyway, we are glad that he is okay. the ultrasound tech said that the profile looked just like jerry... she is the third person to say this...hmmm....i'll leave it up to you to decide! of course finding a picture of jerry is a bit hard, but maybe this one will do....
December 10
sweet success
We had our first annual Christmas cookie social today. All the baking realy paid off. People from Jerry's work and some of our friends stopped by. It was lots of fun. I ate way too many cookies and ended up eating eggs and bacon for dinner to balance out all the sweets with some protein. This morning Jerry and I busted our butts to clean the house and hide the boxes and junk that still doesn't have a place. No one was allowed to open the closets or look in the garage. There are cookies that were very popilar and ones that will not get made next year, but that's how you learn right? I think that everyone had fun. It was the perfect amount of time (2 hours) and everyone cleared out by 4. Very nice. Maybe in the summer we'll have a BBQ that can go longer, but I wouldn't want everyone inside for much longer. Outside has so much more room.We both talked with our folks tonight and everyone seems well. Good luck to Mama Jones on a potential job with a school!!! WAHOO!!! My folks will be here in a mere 11 days. I can't beleive that Christmas is just 2 weeks away! I have one more gift to get and then I'll be done. I did most of our shopping on-line this year, so I didn't have to deal with the crowds. This last one though I will have to go out. I just have to remember to be patient and not rush.
Next Friday is my last day at the library. I told them they could call if they needed a sub through the end of the year, but I'm just not sure I could do it. I admire the women who work until their water breaks, but I was beat this past Friday. Everyone at the library looks after me and makes sure I am not on my feet all day, but I think emotionally it is harder. You deal with lots of people who are annoyed or angry at something they don't think is fair and they yell at you and hang up on you and I feel like the whole time I am fighting not to cry. I refuse to be mean to people, but that doesn't seem to matter. For example, this one woman called me to renew 4 children's books she has out. I went to renew them and the renewal limit had been reached. (You can only renew things 3 times.) She proceeded to get angrier when I wouldn't check the books in (this is on the phone you see) and then check them back out to her card. She didn't understand why she needed to be present and shy she needed to have the books. She also claims that she didn't know that there was a renewal limit and that she never received any literature about the library's policies. I mean did she really think that we would just let her continue to keep the books indefinitely? She ended up hanging up on me after yelling a bit. I remained calm and apologized for and inconvenience that I really wasn't sorry for. I mean it's not like she was reading four 3000 page books. She had had these books since October 9th. None of them is longer than 20 pages. If your kid likes them that much maybe you should look into purchasing these books!
ANYWAY, it's getting harder to deal with these people and it's getting sadder to see how many homeless people come into the library for shelter as the weather gets colder. Also, I'm ready to be at home and finish the stuff that needs finishing before the baby comes. I swear I am going to go to the gym at least once this week and swim...hopefully....
Wow I've rambled for a long time ...it is way past bed time....night night
December 13
big belly
well in case you thought there is no way that i could get any bigger...HA!! i just added a new belly pic. we are 33 weeks and 4 days today. i can't believe we have less than 7 weeks to go. all i dreamt about last night was being in labor...never had the baby in the dream...just really long labor. needless to say that i woke up exhausted.my friend rachel called this afternoon and we went out and ran some errands. it was really fun. i am glad we are preggers together. she is really reassuring to my franticness about becoming a mom. i'm glad we met!
okay, that's really it for now. jerry made yummy pork chops and stuffing and veggies for dindin...yummmmmy!
oh yeah the only picture i took of the cookie party was just of the little snow people i made...anyway they were cute. and i love our christmas tree. i think it's very pretty!
okay food.....
almost chirstmas
Jerry is off shopping at the mall. Our car needed inspecting amd he wanted to make sure we got it in before the new year when the inspection prices will go up. We are really hoping the car will make it for another year or so. There are definite set backs to having only one car, but we work it out. It helps that Jerry only works six miles from home and he can leave when ever he needs too. Anyway, he decided that he was doing all his shopping in person and not over the web, so while the car is getting inspected he is going to shop. He said he wouldn't be long...HA!
So I am still in my jammies and I think I will make some cookies to have around the house when my folks get here.Yesterday was my last official day at the library. I almost called in. Thursday night the baby got the hiccups at 4:30 in the morning. This is usually not a problem except that his head is right against my pelvic bone (this one is really ready, he hasn't changed positions in weeks except to kick and tickle and flop from left to right...very alien like) SO whenever he hiccups my whole pelvic bone shakes... Not a pleasant feeling really. So then I couldn't go back to sleep. I got up and peed and swayed and lay in bed forcing my eyes shut for two hours. I finally got up and ate at 6:30 and then took a long shower. Jerry (whom I did not disturb...what a nice wife I am...) got up and told me to call in pregnant. I immediately started crying (ahhh pregnancy hormones) and told him I couldn't since it was my last day. So I went in and stayed the whole day. Though I think that the staff was relieved that it was my last day. I really think they thought I might go into labor at any minute.
One of the women in our birth class was due yesterday. Our teacher said she would e-mail us as we each had our babies. I feel quasi-prepared for this birth. I think the biggest thing I have to remember is to relax and breathe. Jerry is so good at staying calm and that in itself is calming. I checked out 3 books from the library. They are by Dr. Sears and his wife (a nurse) and they are really good at explaining everything and giving the pros and cons to ALL situations. I refuse to feel guilty if I end up getting the drugs, but I have faith that I make it through. Anyway, what I was going to say about the books is if anyone out there that's reading this and is pregnant, they are the best books I have read so far.
My goal this weekend is to write our birth plan. My next doc appt. is on the 28th and I would like to be able to talk to the doctor about it then. It sorta hit me yesterday that really I could have this baby anytime and he would be healthy. I would (of course) prefer he stay nice and warm for at least another month.
So, this has not been about Christmas at all. My parents are coming in on Wednesday!!!
They will be here for at least a week. It will be good to see them and for them to be here. The weather is supposed to be nice. Warm for them. They had bad ice earlier this week and are supposed to get ice and snow tonight and tomorrow. Our weather is so weird. Today 55 tomorrow rain and 44. Then by Wednesday back to the mid to upper 50s. Ahh December at the beach.Okay, I need to make cookies or I won't do it....
December 17
holiday controversy
I know that I have already written once today, but I am a little annoyed by this whole "holiday" bull. First of all if you are that insecure in your beliefs that someone saying "Happy Holiday's" is offensive, then you need to re-examine what you believe in. Secondly, maybe I missed it but is there somewhere in the Bible that states that the meaning of Christmas is found in shopping at Walmart? I mean really is that what Christmas is all about? Consumerism? I mean really, get a grip. Is it such a slow news day that we have to hear about how we should boycott stores that have "Holiday Sales" instead of "Christmas Sales". I really wonder if how Christ feels about "putting the Christ back into Christmas" by shopping. This is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. I try to never presume that everyone I see on a daily basis is a christian. I mean I guess some people can tell by looking at you if you celebrate Christmas or not. We have friends who celebrate AGG day (Annual Gift Giving Day). I seriously doubt they are offended when people say Merry Christmas to them though they choose not to celebrate "traditional" Christmas. I mean are we going to change Santa Claus back to Saint Nicholas? This is getting as frustrating as Halloween and all the horrible things that apparently happen to little kids who go trick or treating. Get a life. You don't want to go shopping because they say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas"? Go for it! I am sure that Target and Walmart will be crushed. But in the mean time maybe we should think about what Christmas really means and what it has become. I enjoy giving presents at Christmas just as much as the next person and I am sure that I will not stop shopping anytime soon. But really before you go off on something take a look at what you are really bothered by. To really "put the Christ back in Christmas" shouldn't we all stay home and get rid of all our symbols of Christ and go out and help the needy? Or attend a birth in a stable? While we're at it, why don't we look up the edimology of the word "holiday". It comes from the Old English word haligdaeg meaning "Holy Day". hmmmm... In case you were wondering Chirstmas comes from Old English as well: Cristes maesse meaning Mass of Christ. So those of you non-Catholics out there need to run out and join so you can go to Mass next Sunday and literally put the "Chirst back in Christmas."December 21
wiggle worm
if the movement of our little one is any indication of how mobile he will be after birth, boy are we going to have our hands full. i know it's just because he's getting bigger and there is less room in my tummy, but man he can move! i've been playing a little game with him and his foot. it's really bizarre to be able to actually see his foot through my skin. anyway, i tap his foot and he'll tap back. it's rather entertaining.yesterday i went with my friend amy to this mothering meditation at her church. it was just four other women and myself. i was the youngest and the only one without children. the woman who led the group is getting ready to be ordained. she had some great prayers ad poems and readings. it was really peaceful and nice. i felt very welcome. i also felt that much of the stories were related to me and our little one. it was very nice. i think it is so important to not only read books and what not about bringing a child into the world, but to also hear other people's stories about birth and raising children. it's really neat. it also helps me to realize that i can indeed do this and with any luck i won't screw up too much. i feel that with jerry by my side we will be fine and will raise a wonderful child.
my parents are coming today!!!! i need to go clean, though it shouldn't be too much.
jerry's getting ready to leave for work, so i must be off to give him kisses...
December 25
Merry Christmas
What a great day! It has been raining since about 4:30 this morning, but it is super warm outside. Yesterday we sat outside and I even got a bit of sun on my chest and shoulders. What odd temperatures for Christmas. Oh well I can't really complain. Last night we went to the 9:00 Christmas Eve service and it was very nice. We came home and went to bed. The rain and a thunder storm woke me up this morning but I stayed in bed until 6:40 and then got up and put the french toast mom pre-made last night into the oven to bake. So after everyone had breakfast (taking WAY TOO much time) we went in to open presents. My parents got me a boppy!!! Very exciting. Jerry got me two new board games, a statue I have been lusting over at World Market, and (the sly boy) a MP3 player. All very nice indeed. Jerry had already guessed his presents except for socks. He got slippers from mom and dad and I gave him the socks and a flat screen monitor for the computer. It was a very nice Christmas and I feel extremely lucky to have gotten such nice gifts. We have come a long way from our first Christmas together, wondering if we could pay off the credit cards, to not ever using credit cards. Sure we have debt, but it's mostly college loans. I also feel very fortunate that my parents came down to visit. They are so excited to be grandparents. Next weekend we will go up to visit Jerry's folks. I understand they had a very nice Christmas as well. We are very very lucky to have family that love us very much! Mom was just saying we should make a list of all the things that will be different next year. We probably won't be able to sit through a whole meal without a little fussing. There will probably be toys (did you know they actually sell just boxes for kids to play with because that's thing most kids go for first?) all over the floor. The tree will probably be tied to the wall and no ornaments will be on the lower branches, because if he's not walking he'll be pulling up for sure. But even through this listing and laughing, I can't wait! I think it'll be great! And I think Jerry and mom and dad are just as excited!I am trying to finish knitting a hat that mom wants before they leave. I think that if i put my mind to it, I can finish it by tomorrow sometime.
It is really hard for me to believe that really any day I could possibly go into labor. It's just wild! It's even odder to think that within a month we could have a baby in our house....WOW!
Okay, so I can't think about that too much, it freaks me out a little.
So Merry Christmas to everyone out there. I hope that yours was as Merry and special as ours!
December 29
it's about that time
We went to the doctor's yesterday. We gave them our birth plan and they thought it was great! Always a good thing. We love our doctors. They are really kind and totally involved. They will work with us to make our birth what we want. She told us yesterday that we could feasibly have a baby within the next two weeks. EEKKK!!! She also said that more than likely we would not be able to go past our due date. Our baby is rather large. I am measuring just right, but the baby's head is farther down than where they measure from and he is taking up pretty much all the room in my tummy. If we go past our due date I could feasibly have a ten pound baby! This is not a bad thing, but I would rather not go through that at all. He has a strong heart beat and is healthy. I have been sleeping lots more than I normally do. I think my body is getting ready for this whole ordeal. We got a bassinet last night to solve the whole where is the baby going to sleep for the first few months dilemma. So now he can sleep with me or Jerry. We sleep separately because of Jerry's snoring.We also choose a pediatrician. We went to this new parents meeting and we really liked this guy. He is very knowledgeable and seems to be very open to new ideas and whatnot. He made a lot of really good points and took time to answer any questions. He is the only full time doctor in the practice and he will only hire one more full time doctor. So it's nice to have that checked off our list.
The only thing we still have to purchase is a diaper pail. We'll do that today or tomorrow and then Jerry just needs to finish the changing table. The nursery is done!
So I am off to walk and do some laundry and then maybe take a nap. We'll keep you posted!
