April 2008

April 01

Note to Self:

Never ever talk about your child's sleep habits.  It jinxes everything and you end up spending two and half hours fighting a 2 year old to take a freakin' nap.  All the while knowing that the angrier you get the less likely your toddler will go to sleep.  Now you are faced with a choice... wake a child up after only a one hour nap so that hopefully sleep will come easier tonight, but deal with a grumpy PITA kid all afternoon...or let him sleep now and possibly miss part of AI tonight because he's just not tired?  sigh...

NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER talk about your kid's sleep on your blog... or anywhere else for that matter.

April 05

Still knocked up...

Though I feel like it's not going to be much longer.  Mom will be here on Thursday and I think that I will breathe a little easier... or harder if labor starts.

This past week was a good one though I'm over the rain.  I know we need the rain, but man I am sick of being stuck inside.  Twice I sent Elijah out into the back yard with his raincoat and galoshes on to just get out of my hair.  On Tuesday I went a little insane with the cleaning.  I mean, I was cleaning the inside of drawers...can we say nesting?  Wednesday we went to meet a friend at Fit For Fun and totally made fun of some of the moms there whose outfits cost more than all the clothes in my closet... it was just too much.  More power to 'em though I guess.  On Thursday we went to Monkey Joe's.  I've always been a little nervous about going there.  I was scared that an older kid would trample my kid, but it's set up really well and well run.  Elijah spent a good half hour sitting on this little fire engine thingy, but got into the bouncy-jumpy things for a while.  We were there for a birthday party, which was good, because this kiddo worked up a huge appetite.  He ate two pieces of pizza (sans cheese) and a  box of juice and wanted more... He had a lot of fun though!

Oh yeah, on Wednesday we went over and hung out with Rachel.  I got to hold the babies.  They are so freaking cute and tiny!!!

Yesterday we went over to Angela's to drop off a canopy for her yard sale today.  That was fun.  She has a good play area and K.Lo and Elijah played whilst we talked.  It was nice.

Last night though...sigh... First off, the temperature outside didn't go below 70 until this morning.  Our house was sooo hot, so I wasn't sleeping well.  At 1:11 a.m. the fire alarm went off.  We have an electric system that if one goes off they all go off... ummmm, no one else in the house woke up.  It only beeped 3 times, but still.  Fire is one of my bigger fears.  So I got up and checked all the rooms and what not.  Nothing was on fire.  So I got back in bed and then I couldn't sleep... all I could think of was that maybe there was a fire in the attic, what would I do, blah blah blah... So when Elijah walked into my room at 1:30 a.m. I wasn't really sleeping.  I took him in to Jerry and went to the bathroom (big surprise there!) and started feeling a little sick, so I just stayed up and turned on the TV.  When I left Elijah with Jerry, I thought he felt a little hot, but I just thought that it ws just the temp of the house.  At 2 I hear Elijah's little voice calling me, so I tell him to come on out and sit with me.  Jerry brings him in and he's still really hot, I take his temp...101.5...sigh... so out comes the IB.  I tell Jerry to sleep in the back room, since I'm already up and I go lie down with Elijah in the big room.  I take off his shirt to help him cool down...sigh... The child was driving me nuts.  He didn't act sick.  He was figitity and playing with a doll, so I finally took him to his room.  That didn't go over well.  I compromise with rocking him.  By this time it's 3.  I turn on Step Up and Dance and rock the boy child.  He doses on and off, but is still awake.  Finally at 4, I'm about beat and am finally tired.  So I put him bed with me and turn my back on him.  At 4:30, I look over and he's finally asleep.  THEN... I realize I am starving, so I eat a banana and lie down to sleep, except that Grace gets the hiccups...sigh.  She is so far down in my pelvis that my whole hip bone shakes with each hiccup.  I get out of bed and decide that I'll go on and eat some cereal and that way I won't be too hungry in the morning and maybe I can sleep in a bit (Fool that I am!) She finally gets over the hiccups at around 5:30.  I FINALLY sleep.  At 7:30 on the nose, Elijah wakes right up and is UP!  Sigh...  His fever didn't come back until later in the day.  Again, he didn't act sick, just had a fever.  Sigh... I never know what to do in these situations.  Go to the doc?  Wait and see if he develops any more symptoms... let the fever runs it's course?  Isn't it the body fighting something?  he didn't take a much longer nap than usual, and I didn't really get a nap, so I'm pretty tired.  I hope that I can sleep tonight.  Mary the midwife offered to write me a script the last time for something to help me sleep and I'm wondering if maybe I should have taken her up on it.  My hip hurts so bad most nights, that I don't sleep well.  I can only sleep on my right side with some relief or sitting straight up, but that makes it a little harder to breathe...

Not much longer, I know... but I just don't remember being this uncomfortable with Elijah.  Though I carried him farther back and Grace is really right up front.  I shouldn't complain.  I've had a really easy pregnancy.   I'll just be happier once my mom is here.

Okay, enough for now.

April 11

soon?

soooo.... i'm still pregnant, but things are looking positive.  i'm effacing and a little dilated and grace's head is down...way down... mary the midwife said that i would probably be 3 cm by next friday and that i'm effacing nicely... next friday i'll 37.5 weeks which is where i was when elijah was born, so we'll see.  my contractions are sporadic at best, but when i have them i actually feel them, so i guess they are doing something.

my mom is here, so i feel better about the possibility of going into labor.   already i feel more relaxed.  not having to run after a 2 year old constantly is great!

that's it for now i guess.  i know there was more, but i can't remember.... okay... now for some rest!

April 14

Grace's Room -- check

I have finished all but two pictures on Grace's room.  Once again, I used an opaque projector to draw some characters from kid's books on the wall and then painted them in.  Overall I think they have turned out well.

Ollie

Doggies

Nim's Island

Russel The Sheep

The Belly Button Book

I Love My Mommy

Dog's Busy Day

The Peace Book

Happy To Be Nappy

Llama Llama Mad At Mama

 

So there they are.  I have a gorilla from Goodnight Gorilla to do and the green Powerpuff Girl left to do.

Elijah is sick.  He has gotten progressively yuckier over the weekend, so I broke down and took him to the doctor today.  If I wasn't thinking that I'm going to have this baby any day, then I would've waited it out, but I really don't want it on my mind.  But, yeah, he just has a cold.  Oh well, they were super nice.  We so rarely go to the doc.  We hadn't seen this PA since Elijah was 2 months old!  My mom has been great helping out with Elijah and around the house and yard.

Have I mentioned that we got a new mower?  We had an electric one with a cord and that made mowing the outside of the fence really difficult.  We were going to go battery powered, but the price doubled within the past couple of months.  So Jerry went and got us a reel mower.  I have to say that our yard looks really good.  It's lowest cut is only 1 inch, so it leaves a nice carpet of grass on the ground.  It's also the best cut for grass.  I'm just happy that we are reducing our carbon footprint a little bit.  Jerry did most of the back yard and all the front in a little over an hour, not too bad.  If we lived on more than .5 acre, I'm sure we would've been less likely to buy this, but we don't, so there.

Jerry came home to work today, and he did so from bed.  He also has a cold or really bad allergies or something.  These sickies need to not get the mama bear sick.  I'm having enough issues with little feet trying to push through my skin and contractions...I do not want a cold... I might cough and a baby may come out...

Okay, I'm going to add a couple of pics to the album and then go to bed.

April 17

This week

I just want to thank my town.  Thank you for not giving me dirty looks for using the handicap stall since that's the only one I can fit into.  Thank you for not commenting on my size and instead asking when I am due.  Thank you for not giving me a hard time since my belly hangs out over my maternity pants and my shirts don't cover all the belly either.  Thank you lady at The Fresh Market who said that she couldn't tell I was pregnant from the back, though I know it was a lie.  Thank you shoppers for not staring too hard at the mom that is hanging on to the buggy to get through a contraction while her toddler sings an unknown song at the top of his lungs.  Thank you mom for helping out with said toddler and allowing him to play at playgroup, while I sit on my butt and eat yummy snacks and talk to my mom friends.  Thank you Jerry for dealing with the toddler boy at night, even though I am the one that is not sleeping and so would be the better parent to get up if need be... I mean I'm on the way to the bathroom anyway right?  Thank you playgroup moms for bringing the perfect mix of yummy fruit and healthy foods and brownies and cookies this morning and for coming over and chatting to me.

I have needed this this week.  I am feeling very pregnant and huge and sad that NOTHING fits.  I have not needed to be reminded that I am indeed the size of a beached whale that needs to pee every five seconds.  I have needed to take a three hour nap.  I have needed to see my friends.  I have needed to pretend to sleep a little bit.

Tomorrow we go for another check...please please please, at least let there be something happening in this area.  I seriously may cry...

To Grace... my birthday is on Sunday.  There is a full moon on Sunday.  And while I am not one to share my birthday well, and I'm not too sure how much I believe the whole full moon thing... I will happily make an exception for you.  You are welcome to make an appearance at anytime.  I promise to call Mary the Midwife and make sure you are born in a warm and safe environment.  Your dad will be there and your Oma will bring your older brother to come and pat you on the head.  I bet your Opa will even jump in the car and drive down immediately.  I promise that you will like it just as much on the outside as you did on the inside... Love, mom.

Here it is folks.  Hopefully the last of the belly pics.  37 weeks and 2 days:

April 19

she's still in there...

Mary the midwife says sooner rather than later.  Grace's head is farther down (though don't know how that is possible as she already feels like she's halfway out!)  i'm still thinning, but not much more dilating.  I need to relax and not stress about this.  Mary says more than likely before May.  I'm going to go on a walk...

April 20

The big 3-2

Wahoo!  It's my birthday!  No Grace yet...hopefully soon.  Jerry and I got to go see Leatherheads (quite good...) and out for a walk and early dinner.  My mom made me a Boston Creme Pie and babysat for us.  Over all a very nice day.  I gotta say that my kiddo has stolen my thunder though.   Over the past few days Elijah has acquired three new skills.  First, he suddenly has gotten the idea of matching pictures to the pieces of a puzzle without help.  Honestly, it went from him being frustrated that things weren't fitting to putting the whole puzzle together by himself!  Second, he can consistently turn flips.  He's been trying for days and would occasionally get over, but now it's consistent and he uses it as a ploy to not brush his teeth and get ready for bed.   But it's really cool, so maybe we aren't as hard on him as we should be to stay on task.  And third he learned to ride his trike all by himself!!!!!  My boy is growing up!

April 23

When you want a hurricane to come through...

It doesn't.  I guess it isn't hurricane season and all... A really strong low pressure front could be helpful.  The moon's force didn't pull this kiddo out.  I am only 38 weeks pregnant and I could feasibly go the full 40.  I guess I am really paranoid about trying to birth a 10 pound baby.  Last weeks estimate was over 8 pounds...

I have been walking a bit more, though it is not comfy.  Every night I am awakened by contractions that are, how id Jerry put it?... oh yeah, more substantial.  I almost don't want Mary to check me on Friday.  Why is it that the last trimester seems the absolute longest.  Everyday, I wake up and think today could be the day.  I try visualizing the birth, relaxing, walking... Each night, I think oh maybe this contraction will lead to another....and it does...2 hours later!

Okay, enough whining.  She will come out soon... she has too!

Elijah is now a master of the trike.  It's really cool to watch him.  Now he'll talk or sing while he's riding.  At first it was just this total look of concentration on his little face.  He almost looked mad.  But he's really good at it now.  I'm a very proud momma!

My mom has been weedwacking and mowing up a storm.  Our yard will look very pretty while she is here!

We went over earlier this week to hang out with Rachel and the kiddos.  Her mom was there and so my mom got to talk to someone closer to her age and practice holding babies.  It was a good visit.  Elijah did have a bit of a meltdown before going because he wanted to ride his trike.  So we threw it in the car and took it with us.  MR and Elijah had the best time playing together outside.  Elijah pulled MR around on the trike, very freakin' cute!  Erin is almost done with his semester in school and finishes his clinical rounds tomorrow.  I know that Rachel will be happy to have him home a little more.   She is so lucky to have her mom live in town!  I feel really lucky to have my mom here now.  There is no way that Elijah would be out on his trike if it was just me.  He's really good about staying in the cul-de-sac.  He knows he can only go down to the stop sign if Oma, Opa, Momma, or Dado is with him and tells you this 23984987 times on the way to the stop sign.  But it's a good lesson and I'm glad he understands it!

I voted yesterday!  We have early voting set up since our primary isn't until May 6th (one of my projected due dates) I figured I had better get in there and do it.  So voting - check!  I am an Obama Momma all the way.  I'm a little perturbed that Hillary won last night actually.  It freaks me out that if she wins, gets elected twice over, then our country will have been run by 2 families for over 30 years.  It's just odd.  On a mom's board I belong too, someone said they wouldn't vote for Obama because they were scared he'd get killed and it would start a whole black versus white thing.  WHAT?!?!?  Anyone could get killed for any number of reasons.  It would be devastating regardless.  It's just odd.  I never thought about murder as a reason to vote or not vote for someone.  I'm more about politics than I am about color, religion, sex, etc.  I want a candidate that shares some of my political beliefs and one that can, HOPEFULLY, bring change to this country.

This has been a lot of little tangents.  Sorry.  Please send laboring thoughts my way.  Hopefully the next blog will be a birth announcement!

April 28

still here...still preggo

i'm hoping this cold front will do something though.  friday i was 3 cm and 60% effaced... i've been having contractions all weekend that have gotten progressively more uncomfortable.  we'll see.  i've given up holding my breath.

so i'm here.  i'm going to go walk the mall after elijah wakes up from nap and hope that'll do something!  send birthing vibes please!

December 2005

December 01

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!

November 2005

November 09

FINALLY!!!!

We are in our house!!!!!!!  We moved last Wednesday.  We finally got our cable and Internet today so we are here!!!!  It has been really fun shopping for all the stuff we wanted to get for the house.  My mom and aunt came down last Thursday and painted the nursery for us (among millions of other things!!!!) We woke up to a flat tire on Saturday and had to go to the mall to have it replaced.  While we were there we went into Sears and found a front loading washer for half off!!!!  I guess it was fate that took us to the mall...  That was delivered today as well.  Very exciting day off I must say!  Tomorrow I will pick up an opaque projector for a baby's room project and then I have Friday off for Vetran's Day!!!!  WAHOO!!!!  Next week is my last week teaching, then punch guy comes on Wednesday to work on some things wrong with the house, then I take my Glucose Tolerence test on Thursday (no sweets for Erin next week....boooo) and then we leave for vacation next Saturday!  I am so excited to be at my parents' house in the mountains!  If only there was a job for Jerry up there... Oh well, I am very content in our new little blueberry house. Eventually everything will be unpacked (I keep trying to twitch my nose and make things unpack...I've tired the snapping thing too...nothing hangs itself up...stupid Mary Poppins and Bewitched fooling me....) and everything will be perfect.  Until then I am enjoying our weekly trips to Lowe's and having fun learning new skills, such as changing the plug on our dryer to fit the outlet (it only took us 3 hours...BUT we did it ourselves!)
Little Ruckus must really like it here.  He has been super dooper active lately...not a bad thing at all. We went over the first stage of labor on Monday night and we learned how to simulate a contraction.  This is going to take practice, but I really believe I can do this with Jerry's help.  He's really good at keeping me calm.
Okay, enough rambling...time to eat!!!!!!
November 12

the nursery

I started work on the nursery last night.  I got so into it that I didn't get in bed until midnight.  I have to be up this morning, one to feed the beast, and two because the opaque projector I borrowed from the library is due back at 9:00 this morning.  YAWN!  Oh well, good thing it is Saturday.  It's fairly chilly here, but our house has held the heat really well!  Good to know for our electric bill.  Yesterday I had some friends over for milk and cookies.  One of them brought her baby.  She is so cute!  And she's such a good mom.  She totally just let's the kid crawl around on the floor and play with stuff.  It did make me realize that our house is no where near childproof.  At least I had the cleansers up off the floor.  My other friend is pregnant as well.  She is due in March.  I am so glad little Eli will have a built in play group of friends.
I got an e-mail from another friend yesterday.  I knew she and her husband were thinking about moving up north to be closer to her family.  But they put their house on the market and had an offer in 48 hours!!!!  So they are moving on Tuesday!  I can't believe it!  It was so fast.  They have two kids and I am so sad they are leaving, but I understand.  She is going back to the airlines and can be based out of her hometown easier.  Plus there is a built in support system there too.  I hope to see them before they leave.
Today is my dad's birthday!!!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!!!!!  I gave him his present way early but I sent him an e-card today.  I really like thecare2 website.  They have really cute cards and the donate money to great causes daily.  Anyway, we are going to the mountains in one week!!!!  I am so excited to see the family and stuff.  My aunts and mom are giving me a baby shower the day after turkey day.  And our crib is waiting for us up there too!  My friend Rachel is giving me a party at the library on Friday.  Between all these parties and all the eating, I will be surprised to be able to fit through the door!  Oh well....tis the season!
Okay, I had better get dressed and to the library... Oh these are the beginning photos of the nursery!!!

November 19

over the river and through the woods

...to grandmother's (to be) house we go...  I hvae been up since a quarter to 6 thanks to a little kicker I have in my tummy.  I think Jerry was up rather late last night and is rather sleepy.  I waited until 7:30 to wake him up... poor guy.  I will drive as much as I can today.  Maybe I can get at least to the other side of Greensboro.  Our goal is to get up the mountain before the sun is right in our eyes.  I think if we leave within the next half hour this is completely possible.  This is a new experience though.  i'm sure we'll have to stop every hour or so for me to pee.  I have issues with staying hydrated when traveling when I'm not preggers, so this should be an adventure for sure.
Anyway, we are very excited to be on vacation (even though there is a ton to do here...)  My dad is not feeling great, so I can't be around him too much.  Maybe us being here will help, I hope so.
I can't believe we only have about 10-ish more weeks until the baby comes!!!  I'm sooooo excited.  Last Monday the parents at the school had a surprise shower for me and then I had a shower at the library yesterday and my aunts are giving me one this coming Friday.  It's insane how much really cute baby stuff is out there!  We got lots of really nice gifts and I am sure there are even more to come.  The nursery is coming along, but I haven't finished.  I have 8 more pictures to paint and the we need a crib.  Hopefully we will get that this week while we're in Asheville.
Okay, I'm off to finish packing the car and load up sleepy Jerry.  Happy Turkey/Tofu Day!!!  Maybe I can post an entry while on vaca....we'll see!
November 22

vacation

so here we are in black mountain and it is really cold!  today it snowed all day long.  it wasn't cold enough to stick to the ground until this afternoon.  we may get up to one inch tonight though.  then it will warm up to the 40s.  it's rather pretty.  we went to look at stuff for the baby today.  we found a front carrier and a car seat for really good prices.  then we went to the same place mom got our new dinig table and bought 6 matching chairs.  mom said she and dad would bring them down at christmas in the truck so that should be interesting.
my cousin came by with her kids this afternoon.  they are really cute and are always ready to pose for pictures.  we are having thanksgiving day dinner on friday instead of thursday, so it will hopefully be quite here the next couple of days.  so far our vacation has been really nice.
on another note, i got the results of my glucose tolerance test back yesterday...sigh...i am at the high end of normal.  the top of normal is 139 and i am at 139... SO what this means is i have to cut out simple sugars...less fruit and juice and no cookies and sweets...though i am saying that turkey day does not count.  i can also choose to retest in a few weeks.  i think i screwed up the test by eating a protein bar the day of the test.  it has a lot of protein but also has simple sugars in it.  my weight is normal and i am measuring normal, so i think i'm okay.  my mom has been testing my blood sugar.  after eating the other day it was 159..a bit high...but i had just eaten apple cinnamon oatmeal and sweet potato biscuits (yummy!) and a huge thing of juice (100%).  this morning she took it before i ate and it was 79...a bit low, but i hadn't eaten anything since yesterday evening.  i'll get her to take it again before i go to bed.  i have been SUPER good today...
on another note... we went to see harry potter yesterday.  we went in the middle of the day while kids were still in school and shared the theatre with 5 other people.  excellent!  the movie rocks!  that's all i'll say in case you haven't seen it yet, but it was really good i think.
that's it for now... i'll try to write more as things happen..though probably nothing will....this is vacation after all....
November 23

oops!

so i tried to start a new album of just belly pictures, but i accidentally deleted all the pics instead.  now i will need to wait until we get back home to reload....ahhh computers...
we didn't get the snow we thought we would get, but it is still rather cold.  at least the sun is out.  today we may go back uptown to eat at a restaurant called TABLE.  it's run/owned by some WWC alum.  mom and dad said it is very yummy.
otherwise i am taking it easy today!
November 28

home again

we arrived back home on saturday afternoon.  on sunday we went to home depot and priced some things.  we went to once upon a child (a used kids store) and found a hardwood changing table for 55 bucks!  getting it home was challenging, but we made it.  we will refinish it and it will be perfect.  i'm glad we found it.  we were both getting discouraged at the high prices for particle board out there.
anyway, we celebrated thanksgiving on friday so that most of the family could be there.  it was lots of fun and good to hang out with family we only see once a year.  i was given a great baby shower and got very generous and beautiful gifts.  i also ate my fill of food and dessert.  since i barely passed my glucose tolerance test i am back on a strict-er diet.  but we decided that celebration days like thanksgiving and christmas don't count.  i really tried to eat smaller portions at dinner, but dessert i admit i went a little crazy.  there were just so many good things.  i think we had as much dessert as we had dinner food!
so last night we went to the dreaded wal-mart.  we got wall mounted shelves to open up the office a bit more and some curtains we needed as well as black out shades for the nursery.  i wasn't keen on the shelving idea, but now that i see them up, i really like them.  it really opens up the space.  now if we had more guests, we could put the air mattress on the floor in the office.  and the shelves were fairly cheap!  we could have bought a new book shelf for the same price as 6 packs of 2 shelves.once we got the assembly down they were super easy to install.  so the office is almost done.  today i plan on painting two more pictures in the nursery.  i want to finish those by the end of the week.  then we will move onto the other rooms.  the master bedroom is the biggest pain, and maybe it won't be all that bad.  then, of course, there is the garage.  jerry found a huge black widow in the garage yesterday and got a bit upset about it.  he thought it was because of all the clutter, but we live right next to woods, and we haven't been in the garage in over a week...so it was nice and dark and warm... anyway, we need to make a run to the good will and organize the garage for sure!  this to shall happen, but one thing at a time!
okay, i need to write thank you letters and get stuff in the mail before too late!
oh yeah, as soon as i remember what i did with the camera i will put up the other turkey day pic.