6:45 a.m. Wake mommy up by banging on her face like it's a bongo drum.
6:46 a.m. Smile and giggle, then pounce on mommy's face in a combo baby bear hug meets sloppy puppy kiss like I've missed her SO much, even though I've been right next to her for the past 6-8 hours, so she can't be mad that I was banging on her face.
7:01 a.m. Finally kick/wrestle/pinch/do weird baby yoga poses, all while nursing, enough that we get out of bed.
7:02 a.m. Play around in the bathroom while mommy does her morning stuff. Unroll the brand new roll of toilet paper, then shred it into umpteen bajillion pieces while mommy showers and is hollering something about making it snow in the bathroom. It's ok, "NO" isn't relevant when she's in the shower and all soapy. Bang on the shower door, giggle and squeal. Open the toilet and drop in some of my bath toys and my toothbrush. Splash around in there a bit. Uh oh, she jumped out of the shower even though she's soapy!...
7:21 a.m. Wail in protest that mommy won't let me play in the potty, refuses to pick me up, AND she got back in the shower... the NERVE.
7:28 a.m. Continue said protest wailing while mommy gets dressed even after she determined that I was neither hungry nor dirty, didn't have fever, offered me several super awesome toys that I proceeded to THROW and/or kick, and ruled out every possible itchy/scratchy/pinchy/poky possibility. Ooooooooh, the coveted iPhone! Wait... is this a distraction tactic....
7:45 a.m. Drat. It worked... Once again, I have been defeated. It is not possible to gnaw through the otter box. However, it does make a different noise when you bang it on the floor than it does when you bang it on the cabinet... and on the tub... and on the shower door... and on the potty... and mommy squeals when you bang in on her foot!
8:15 a.m. Come back inside after taking care of my furry siblings that live outside. I love patting/banging on them. Time for breakfast! Hmmm... how many puffs can I stuff in this crevice between the cushion and the high chair while mommy makes herself an egg... How far can I fling a spoonfull of yogurt... How much banana can I stuff in my cheeks... and then spurt out... ok, I'm done. I'M DONE. ALL DONE!!! LET ME DOWN!!! NOW!! DOWN, WOMAN!! If I had the motor skills to unlatch my bindings I'd do it myself!
8:43 a.m.Wobble around the house stumbling precariously towards anything sharp/pointy/hard and see how fast mommy can run.
9:11 a.m. Stack blocks and then knock them over. Repeat. Fill up my tupperware bowl with blocks/balls/other small objects that fit. Attempt to put large objects in the tupperware. Discover they do not fit. Throw them. Useless. Stir objects in the bowl with my golf club. Dump bowl. Whack mommy with the golf club. Repeat. Mommy is impressed by all of this. She thinks I'm very smart.
9:19 a.m. Impress mommy more by showing off my baby sign language. Get rewarded with milkies!
9:28 a.m. Wail every time mommy attempts to do anything besides play with me and/or watch me play, especially if she's trying to work on the computer. Start this procedure as soon as I wake up. Repeat this throughout day.
9:32 a.m. Make sure that doing the "milkies" sign still works. Yep. Proceed to nurse for all of 43 seconds.
9:41 a.m. Scatter goldfish from my snack cup all around the living room, ensuring they get coated with dirt, rug fuzz, etc. Then put all 20 of them in my mouth. Hold them in my mouth for awhile to create goldfish slime paste. Spit that in the floor. Step in it. Sit on it. Then slap it so it makes that awesome splarpt slopt splipt sound and gets little bits of goldfish goo everywhere within a 3 ft. radius. Wipe my hands on the couch. While mommy tries to clean that up, empty the basket of socks she was folding while I taught myself all about the intricacies of decorating with goldfish glop.
10:04 a.m. Adamantly refuse to allow mommy to do any work on the computer. Since she insists on doing other productive stuff, "help" her unload the dishwasher, scatter the clean folded laundry off the couch all around, lick the back door while I "pet" my cats "through" the glass, put a dead bug in my mouth, spit out the bug and smear it on the back door glass for the cats to see, etc.
11:15 a.m. Play a fun game with mommy where we pick up all the toys and throw them at the toy box as fast as we can until they're all in there. I think this is HILARIOUS. Empty the toy box again while mommy changes the laundry. Repeat the filling the toy box game while intermittently squealing like a rabid monkey and howling like a coyote and wobble-running laps around the living room. Head butt the squishy part of the couch and fall down screeching like I'm being eaten alive by vampire bats. I get dramatic when I'm sleepy.
11:37 a.m. Demand milkies. RIGHT. NOW. Pass out cold.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
More than the gobble
I saw this the other day and thought it was perfect for Thanksgiving. I don't know who it's by...
"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for."
I have MUCH to be thankful for.
"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for."
I have MUCH to be thankful for.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Saying it out loud doesn't make it so...
Life moves fast... intent to do something--or not do something--doesn't mean it that's how it will work out. Sometimes that intent gets trumped... often by a screaming baby.
I said, "I'll keep up with my blog. I won't get behind."
I mean, come on, I'm a stay at home mom. I'll have time. HA. We all see how that turned out. (It's LITERALLY been 1/2 a year since I last posted.)
What I've learned:Babies One baby can take up more time than you will ever have.
I said, "Gross. Who does that?! He's a kid, not a baby bird!" I had just watched a lady at the park bite a little piece of food off and then give that little piece from her mouth to her little kid to eat.
Fast forward approximately two years to me, in the parking lot at HEB, trying to ensure that my kid will be agreeable during our sprint race for groceries, biting grapes into three pieces and feeding them to G.
What I've learned: Teeth are readily available tools that are probably cleaner than the random leftover fast food plastic knife in the floor of the backseat. They are perfect for cutting up food to stuff into your kid.
I said, "Nah, we don't need an extra outfit."
What I've learned: It's a phenomenon. Leave home with an extra outfit for you and baby and you won't need it. Leave home with only what you have on, and something that came from a baby oraface WILL end up ALL. OVER. IT. And it will likely smell awful. Trust me future moms. Keep a clean(ish) t-shirt in the car.
I said, "I'll just carry him."
What I've learned: Using a public restroom while holding a baby, and ensuring that no part of said baby comes into contact with any part of said public restroom, AND getting your pants back on straight and buttoned/zipped is a tricky task. Then there's the hand washing. Never go shopping alone (or with people you don't trust to hold your baby while you go pee).
I said, "The baby should sleep in his own bed. It's safer."
I know it's hard to imagine, me being so sweet and all, but I turn into a vicious, snarling beast when sleep deprived for multiplenights weeks months in a row.
What I've learned: Nursing a baby every 2 hours (or less)ALL NIGHT LONG 24/7/365 will make things you once thought ridiculous become extremely practical.
I said, "I think I'm going to love being a mom."
What I've learned: I absolutely do. Even in sleep deprived beast mode.
I said, "I'll keep up with my blog. I won't get behind."
I mean, come on, I'm a stay at home mom. I'll have time. HA. We all see how that turned out. (It's LITERALLY been 1/2 a year since I last posted.)
What I've learned:
I said, "Gross. Who does that?! He's a kid, not a baby bird!" I had just watched a lady at the park bite a little piece of food off and then give that little piece from her mouth to her little kid to eat.
Fast forward approximately two years to me, in the parking lot at HEB, trying to ensure that my kid will be agreeable during our sprint race for groceries, biting grapes into three pieces and feeding them to G.
What I've learned: Teeth are readily available tools that are probably cleaner than the random leftover fast food plastic knife in the floor of the backseat. They are perfect for cutting up food to stuff into your kid.
I said, "Nah, we don't need an extra outfit."
What I've learned: It's a phenomenon. Leave home with an extra outfit for you and baby and you won't need it. Leave home with only what you have on, and something that came from a baby oraface WILL end up ALL. OVER. IT. And it will likely smell awful. Trust me future moms. Keep a clean(ish) t-shirt in the car.
I said, "I'll just carry him."
What I've learned: Using a public restroom while holding a baby, and ensuring that no part of said baby comes into contact with any part of said public restroom, AND getting your pants back on straight and buttoned/zipped is a tricky task. Then there's the hand washing. Never go shopping alone (or with people you don't trust to hold your baby while you go pee).
I said, "The baby should sleep in his own bed. It's safer."
I know it's hard to imagine, me being so sweet and all, but I turn into a vicious, snarling beast when sleep deprived for multiple
What I've learned: Nursing a baby every 2 hours (or less)
I said, "I think I'm going to love being a mom."
What I've learned: I absolutely do. Even in sleep deprived beast mode.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
How Not to Accomplish Your Weightloss/Fitness Goals
Set totally outlandish goals to accomplish in a ridiculously short timeframe. Then follow these steps:
1. Start with a hearty love of all things food.
2. Rather than cease food consumption when full, harbor a tendency to overindulge due to "deliciosity" or desire to "not be a waster".
3. Have a particular weakness for, and inability to refuse: pie, cake, cookies, candy, bread, pasta with thick creamy sauces, etc.
4. Tell yourself that your body "just isn't ready" to workout. If this is actually true due to illness, injury, or a medical condition (like a c-section), continue using this reasoning far beyond it's validity.
5. When beginning a new exercise routine, tell yourself it's "ok to take it slow". (if you plan to work hard, then on the days you slack off, at least you just take it slow. But, if you plan to take it slow, when you slack, you're basically then doing nothing.)
6. Be diligent with exercising for the first 6 weeks of the 9 week program, then in the 7th week, get really busy and allow yourself to "fall off the wagon".
7. To aid in the accomplishment of #6, rationalize on a daily basis a current or impending weather condition that prevents you from doing your outdoor exercises: too hot/cold, too windy, too sunny, possibility of precipitation, etc. To utilize this tactic even further, use the baby as a scapegoat: "too hot/cold/windy/etc. for the baby."
8. Buy an exercise DVD for days you do #7. Leave it in the wrapper... Indefinitely.
9. Go grocery shopping at sam's, have every intention to only select healthy items. End up purchasing a 5 pound bag of reece's peanut butter eggs, or other seasonal junk food. Put apples and other healthy snack choices in the back seat, scarf peanut butter eggs all the way home "before they melt".
10. Eat before bed or during the night because "nursing the baby so often makes me really hungry!" If this is actually true for you, refer to #2.
Then repeat... :)
1. Start with a hearty love of all things food.
2. Rather than cease food consumption when full, harbor a tendency to overindulge due to "deliciosity" or desire to "not be a waster".
3. Have a particular weakness for, and inability to refuse: pie, cake, cookies, candy, bread, pasta with thick creamy sauces, etc.
4. Tell yourself that your body "just isn't ready" to workout. If this is actually true due to illness, injury, or a medical condition (like a c-section), continue using this reasoning far beyond it's validity.
5. When beginning a new exercise routine, tell yourself it's "ok to take it slow". (if you plan to work hard, then on the days you slack off, at least you just take it slow. But, if you plan to take it slow, when you slack, you're basically then doing nothing.)
6. Be diligent with exercising for the first 6 weeks of the 9 week program, then in the 7th week, get really busy and allow yourself to "fall off the wagon".
7. To aid in the accomplishment of #6, rationalize on a daily basis a current or impending weather condition that prevents you from doing your outdoor exercises: too hot/cold, too windy, too sunny, possibility of precipitation, etc. To utilize this tactic even further, use the baby as a scapegoat: "too hot/cold/windy/etc. for the baby."
8. Buy an exercise DVD for days you do #7. Leave it in the wrapper... Indefinitely.
9. Go grocery shopping at sam's, have every intention to only select healthy items. End up purchasing a 5 pound bag of reece's peanut butter eggs, or other seasonal junk food. Put apples and other healthy snack choices in the back seat, scarf peanut butter eggs all the way home "before they melt".
10. Eat before bed or during the night because "nursing the baby so often makes me really hungry!" If this is actually true for you, refer to #2.
Then repeat... :)
Monday, March 21, 2011
Dewberries
I can't help but be filled with growing anticipation and excitement.
The pastures are sprinkled white, like a patchy dusting of snow. Warm spring breezes whisper promises of sweet ripe fruit, plentiful for the picking.
Visions of cobbler and jam dance in my head as Garner and I scout out the best patches for picking.
The pastures are sprinkled white, like a patchy dusting of snow. Warm spring breezes whisper promises of sweet ripe fruit, plentiful for the picking.
Visions of cobbler and jam dance in my head as Garner and I scout out the best patches for picking.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Kids (& babies, apparently) Say the Darndest Things
Over the holidays, and while deer hunting, Sutton kept telling us things that Garner was "saying".
"Garner said he saw a deer. Yea, over there."
"Garner wants to open presents. He told me."
I, of course, thought to myself how awesome it would be if toddlers/little kids could translate baby babbles... Or can they???
So this past weekend, while in Angelo to visit and go to rodeo, Sutton told us more things his baby cousin "said":
"Garner said he wants:
-his boots on.
-some milk.
-his boots off.
-to get in/out of his chair (carseat).
-to sleep.
-me to hold him.
-to wake up and play.
-to go to sam's.
-to go get GG.
-to drive my up-down.
-to sit with me."
-etc.
"He does?"
"Yea, he told me."
It was all pretty funny, but this was the funniest:
Sutton: Lala, baby Garner said a bad word.
Lala: Did he now? Well, he shouldn't do that, should he.
S: He said s*#%! That's a bad word.
L: Sutton, are you supposed to say that word?
S: grinning mischievously, shaking head "no"
L: What does mama do when you say that?
S: innocently,"Nothin'"
L: Does she swat you? (She does!)
S: innocently,"noooooooooooooooooooo".
The moral of the story: little kids may or may not understand baby babble, my 4 month old may or may not have a potty mouth, and toddlers lie.
"Garner said he saw a deer. Yea, over there."
"Garner wants to open presents. He told me."
I, of course, thought to myself how awesome it would be if toddlers/little kids could translate baby babbles... Or can they???
So this past weekend, while in Angelo to visit and go to rodeo, Sutton told us more things his baby cousin "said":
"Garner said he wants:
-his boots on.
-some milk.
-his boots off.
-to get in/out of his chair (carseat).
-to sleep.
-me to hold him.
-to wake up and play.
-to go to sam's.
-to go get GG.
-to drive my up-down.
-to sit with me."
-etc.
"He does?"
"Yea, he told me."
It was all pretty funny, but this was the funniest:
Sutton: Lala, baby Garner said a bad word.
Lala: Did he now? Well, he shouldn't do that, should he.
S: He said s*#%! That's a bad word.
L: Sutton, are you supposed to say that word?
S: grinning mischievously, shaking head "no"
L: What does mama do when you say that?
S: innocently,"Nothin'"
L: Does she swat you? (She does!)
S: innocently,"noooooooooooooooooooo".
The moral of the story: little kids may or may not understand baby babble, my 4 month old may or may not have a potty mouth, and toddlers lie.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Highlights
Ok, so bear with me as I learn to use my new blogger app. We don't have Internet at home anymore, so I'll be posting via my iPhone... And I'm still figuring things out.
Here are some of the highlights of the past few months. Yes, almost entirely related to Garner and what he's doing, because realistically, my world is now all about him. Some of them will probably turn into posts of their own... someday.
November 2010
-42 Weeks pregnant
-induction
-29 hours of labor
-November 11, 12:30pm, Garner Charles Chapman delivered via c-section, 9 lb 13 oz, 22.5 cm long
-obviously (especially to those following my earlier posts) not the birth we wanted, but nonetheless, the exact outcome we wanted: a perfectly healthy, happy, beautiful baby.
-4 days later, the most miserable hour I've ever spent in a vehicle
-home at last
-the joys of new parenthood and recovery from surgery
-getting acquainted with baby
2 Weeks Old
-Thanksgiving at our house with Grandma Dida, Pawpaw Larry, and Aunt Shannon
-Demonstration of just how far a diaperless infant can shoot poop across a room, onto a wall and everything in the vicinity between infant and said wall
-weight: 10 lb 5 oz
5-7 Weeks Old, December 2010
-slept 5 hours overnight for the first time
-first bottle
-smiling and coo-ing frequently
-went to Oklahoma then San Angelo for Christmas holiday
-first deer hunting trip
January 2011
-2 months: 13 lb 7 oz
-reaching toward and swatting at toys/objects/faces
-trying to giggle
-studies, sucks, & chews fingers
-loves to go outside
-first flyfishing trip to the Guadalupe
-started going to storytime at Rockdale Library, getting better at getting ourselves together to go places (grocery store, etc.)
-still not very productive around the house, most days we're doing good if we both get a bath and manage to have supper at least started when Jason gets home
February 2011
-3 months: 16 lb
-all smiles, giggles, and wiggles
-Superbowl party at Lazy K
-roll from back to side all the time, sometimes from back to tummy
-HATE tummy time
-first cold :(
-started C25k
-getting more productive at home, now that we've pretty much mastered basic mommy and baby stay-at-home-alone survival, we can usually get dishes and laundry done, sometimes some general tidying, and we're working on adding in some basic house cleaning. We are very good at playing, inside and out, and making sure we get our walk daily.
Things Garner loves
-mommy (and daddy)
-outside
-watching dogs and kitties, and more recently, touching them
-baths, being naked
-standing, playing in the jumperoo
-our new all terrain stroller
-blowing sloppy, slobbery raspberries
-cooing, gooing, and squeaking, along with other generally cute indistinct baby noises
-being held/carried
-putting everything I grab straight in my mouth
Here are some of the highlights of the past few months. Yes, almost entirely related to Garner and what he's doing, because realistically, my world is now all about him. Some of them will probably turn into posts of their own... someday.
November 2010
-42 Weeks pregnant
-induction
-29 hours of labor
-November 11, 12:30pm, Garner Charles Chapman delivered via c-section, 9 lb 13 oz, 22.5 cm long
-obviously (especially to those following my earlier posts) not the birth we wanted, but nonetheless, the exact outcome we wanted: a perfectly healthy, happy, beautiful baby.
-4 days later, the most miserable hour I've ever spent in a vehicle
-home at last
-the joys of new parenthood and recovery from surgery
-getting acquainted with baby
2 Weeks Old
-Thanksgiving at our house with Grandma Dida, Pawpaw Larry, and Aunt Shannon
-Demonstration of just how far a diaperless infant can shoot poop across a room, onto a wall and everything in the vicinity between infant and said wall
-weight: 10 lb 5 oz
5-7 Weeks Old, December 2010
-slept 5 hours overnight for the first time
-first bottle
-smiling and coo-ing frequently
-went to Oklahoma then San Angelo for Christmas holiday
-first deer hunting trip
January 2011
-2 months: 13 lb 7 oz
-reaching toward and swatting at toys/objects/faces
-trying to giggle
-studies, sucks, & chews fingers
-loves to go outside
-first flyfishing trip to the Guadalupe
-started going to storytime at Rockdale Library, getting better at getting ourselves together to go places (grocery store, etc.)
-still not very productive around the house, most days we're doing good if we both get a bath and manage to have supper at least started when Jason gets home
February 2011
-3 months: 16 lb
-all smiles, giggles, and wiggles
-Superbowl party at Lazy K
-roll from back to side all the time, sometimes from back to tummy
-HATE tummy time
-first cold :(
-started C25k
-getting more productive at home, now that we've pretty much mastered basic mommy and baby stay-at-home-alone survival, we can usually get dishes and laundry done, sometimes some general tidying, and we're working on adding in some basic house cleaning. We are very good at playing, inside and out, and making sure we get our walk daily.
Things Garner loves
-mommy (and daddy)
-outside
-watching dogs and kitties, and more recently, touching them
-baths, being naked
-standing, playing in the jumperoo
-our new all terrain stroller
-blowing sloppy, slobbery raspberries
-cooing, gooing, and squeaking, along with other generally cute indistinct baby noises
-being held/carried
-putting everything I grab straight in my mouth
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Coming Soon...
Much has happened since my last post! But not to fret, loyal readers! I promise to update you soon on all that has transpired!
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Patience....
Fair warning... this post is a bit lengthy.
Yes, we are still pregnant. Yes, our ESTIMATED due date (note I said ESTIMATED not expiration) came and went. Yes, believe it or not, it is ok. No, there is no intention or plan to induce at this point. "What the?" you say. Keep reading...
First, we have a lot of faith.
Faith in ourselves. That we are intelligent, responsible, educated, highly informed people who have put LOTS of time and effort into learning and researching and making the best, safest choices for our baby in our particular circumstances. We have not wandered blindly through our pregnancy, nor are we un- or under-informed about our current "overdue" status. We are constantly weighing the benefits vs. risks of our options as our pregnancy progresses and will act accordingly. Right now, there is no medical indication that anything needs to be done. I am healthy, baby is healthy. So, we are making every effort to have patience. No two marriages, no two women, no two pregnancies, no two babies, and no two births are the same, thus, there are no medical protocols that fit everyone (contrary to common perceptions and medical practices). Our choices may not be right for you and visa versa, but I urge you, educate yourself, and be your own advocate.
"If you don't know your options, you don't have any." Diana Korte and Roberta Scaer, authors of A Good Birth, A Safe Birth
Faith in our care providers. A wonderful, caring group of Ivy-league educated professionals who educate, advise, and advocate rather than dictate. They combine a strong belief in the natural physiological process of pregnancy and birth with the safety-net of western medicine. They practice medicine based on current, modern research findings rather than standard protocols implemented long ago and though thought safe a the time, many of which have been found to NOT be safe or beneficial, or only so in very specific circumstances, NOT across the board or for the sake of convenience.
Faith in our doula. From her website: "A doula is someone who supports pregnant/laboring women emotionally, physically, and with sound information during her pregnancy and the birth of her child. A doula assists in educating a pregnant woman with knowledge of risks and benefits allowing her to weigh her options when it matters most. As your doula, I am your assistant and advocate, I will impart information and make sure your wishes are met, but will not make decisions for you. Whether you want to birth at home, in a birth center, or in a hospital, I will work in harmony with you and your caregivers to ensure that you, your family, and your baby are well cared for. A doula may not make diagnoses or perform medical treatments or techniques." She has been an invaluable addition to our team of caregivers because of her wealth of knowledge and information, and because she has no other agenda than to take care of us. She has no obligation to anyone but us, not the hospital, not the doctors, her only priority is supporting us through this process.
Faith in God, nature, and the natural process. Baby will come when he's ready. Women have been delivering babies via spontaneous, natural labors for thousands of years. In fact, depending on your age, many of our mothers, and most of our grandmothers did so successfully. Only fairly recently has intervention and intensive management of pregnancy and birth become so popular. Unfortunately, if you look at the statistics, and look at the outcomes (maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality, i.e. injury and death), societies that believe in and practice care based upon the natural process have significantly better outcomes than those who practice high-tech, intensely managed, highly interventionist care--like is prevalent in the US. Does modern medicine save lives of mothers and babies? Absolutely. Do MOST mothers and babies need "saved" from the "perils" of pregnancy and birth? Absolutely NOT. The research, literature, and facts are there. What you choose to seek, see, and to believe is up to you.
Now, on to the business of being "overdue".
From Henci Goer's "The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth"
"A better term than overdue would be the medically correct postdates. "Overdue" implies that going past your due date is a problem, rather like overbaking a cake. On the contrary, inducing for exceeding your due date is a textbook case of how mainstream obstetric care keeps narrowing the definition of normal until practically no one fits, which then creates the "need" for intervention. True, a small percentage of women don't begin labor when they are supposed to. And, yes, placentas are not made to last forever. Still, mainstream postdates management has little scientific basis.
Up to the late 1980's, conventional obstetric wisdom held that if pregnancy continued two weeks past the forty-week due date, either labor should be induced or some sort of periodic testing of fetal well-being should be done. Nonetheless, induction [not testing] became the norm."
"There are problems with the due date itself. You may be surprised to learn that the conventional forty-week pregnancy length is completely arbitrary. It was established by a German obstetrician in the early 1800's. He simply declared that a pregnancy should last ten moon months, that is, ten months of four weeks each. However, when researchers in a 1990 study followed a group of healthy, white women, they discovered that pregnancy in first-time mothers averaged eight days longer than this."
"In addition, ultrasonography, the current standard for assigning due dates, does not reliably do so accurately."
"It gets worse. While even the forty-two week limit isn't sound, in recent years the "time's up" date has backed up to forty-one weeks, and then forty weeks. " Thus "first-time mothers are not only NOT "late" at forty-one weeks, they haven't even reached the average pregnancy length."
Ok, Laci, we get it, so maybe you aren't medically "overdue"... but still, why not induce? Lots of people do and everything turns out fine. Get that little man here because we are all dying to meet him!!
Well, here's the deal. The day I found out we were pregnant, my world almost altogether ceased to be about me, and began revolving around what's best for this baby. It wasn't a conscious shift, it just happened, and for awhile, I didn't even realize it.
The Cascade Effect: a vicious cycle, why we are choosing to avoid interventions if possible.
It's all about chance. Even if something has only a small percent chance of negative effect, meaning most people who use it turn out fine, I don't want to be that small percent affected negatively. So, by choosing to avoid unnecessary intervention, I reduce my chance of negative side effects from that intervention to zero. If it turns out we need it... ok. But why risk it if we don't need it?
Every intervention (i.e. things like continuous fetal monitoring, iv's, disallowing food/drink during labor, inductions, pain meds, episiotomy, cesarean, etc.) comes with a surprising and scary list of possible risks and negative side effects. I won't get into all of them, you all know how to google. The bigger problem is what's called the Cascade Effect: one seemingly harmless intervention has a side effect, that requires another intervention to fix it, that has another effect, that required another intervention.... you get the idea... that eventually leads to cesarean section. Cesarean section... MAJOR SURGERY-the most common major surgery in the US-that comes with a whole host of possible negative side effects including increased chance of maternal or fetal death! Ok, yes, it sounds dramatic, but it is true.
Inductions increase the risk of fetal distress leading to cesarean, problems that are then attributed to the baby's condition rather than their real cause--the induction itself. Unlike the natural process in which contractions begin slowly and then increase in duration, frequency, and strength, induced contractions start out long, strong, and frequent posing the risk of compressing the umbilical cord (among other potential problems, like failure of the induction altogether), and viola, fetal distress, that can lead to c-section. Natural, spontaneous labor allows the mother's and baby's bodies time to produce pain blocking endorphins and other chemicals and hormones to cope with the stress and pain of labor. The human body comes fully equipped with impressive coping mechanisms. Induced labor doesn't allow this and the body's coping mechanisms can't keep up. Leading to use of pain medications and all of the potential side effects they carry with them (again, you can google), often leading to what? You guessed it, fetal distress, and c-section.
Do these scenarios always come true? Of course not. Are they common enough to be cause for concern? Yes.
The bottom line.
We are not crazed radicals who are refusing necessary medical care. We have great doctors and support people and are planning to deliver in a state-of-the-art hospital fully equipped and prepared to handle any complications. I am healthy, baby is healthy, and we are being monitored closely for any problems that could arise. If things change, our plan will change accordingly. The goal is to have the healthiest happiest baby we can, and part of achieving that goal is to minimize risks, and especially to avoid choosing options that increase risks. We are excited to welcome our little man into the world and can't wait for his arrival, and are 1000% confident that we are making the best possible decisions for us and our circumstances!!
Am I huge and uncomfortable. YES. Enough to take unnecessary risks. NO. So... until his debut... patience. :)
Yes, we are still pregnant. Yes, our ESTIMATED due date (note I said ESTIMATED not expiration) came and went. Yes, believe it or not, it is ok. No, there is no intention or plan to induce at this point. "What the?" you say. Keep reading...
First, we have a lot of faith.
Faith in ourselves. That we are intelligent, responsible, educated, highly informed people who have put LOTS of time and effort into learning and researching and making the best, safest choices for our baby in our particular circumstances. We have not wandered blindly through our pregnancy, nor are we un- or under-informed about our current "overdue" status. We are constantly weighing the benefits vs. risks of our options as our pregnancy progresses and will act accordingly. Right now, there is no medical indication that anything needs to be done. I am healthy, baby is healthy. So, we are making every effort to have patience. No two marriages, no two women, no two pregnancies, no two babies, and no two births are the same, thus, there are no medical protocols that fit everyone (contrary to common perceptions and medical practices). Our choices may not be right for you and visa versa, but I urge you, educate yourself, and be your own advocate.
"If you don't know your options, you don't have any." Diana Korte and Roberta Scaer, authors of A Good Birth, A Safe Birth
Faith in our care providers. A wonderful, caring group of Ivy-league educated professionals who educate, advise, and advocate rather than dictate. They combine a strong belief in the natural physiological process of pregnancy and birth with the safety-net of western medicine. They practice medicine based on current, modern research findings rather than standard protocols implemented long ago and though thought safe a the time, many of which have been found to NOT be safe or beneficial, or only so in very specific circumstances, NOT across the board or for the sake of convenience.
Faith in our doula. From her website: "A doula is someone who supports pregnant/laboring women emotionally, physically, and with sound information during her pregnancy and the birth of her child. A doula assists in educating a pregnant woman with knowledge of risks and benefits allowing her to weigh her options when it matters most. As your doula, I am your assistant and advocate, I will impart information and make sure your wishes are met, but will not make decisions for you. Whether you want to birth at home, in a birth center, or in a hospital, I will work in harmony with you and your caregivers to ensure that you, your family, and your baby are well cared for. A doula may not make diagnoses or perform medical treatments or techniques." She has been an invaluable addition to our team of caregivers because of her wealth of knowledge and information, and because she has no other agenda than to take care of us. She has no obligation to anyone but us, not the hospital, not the doctors, her only priority is supporting us through this process.
Faith in God, nature, and the natural process. Baby will come when he's ready. Women have been delivering babies via spontaneous, natural labors for thousands of years. In fact, depending on your age, many of our mothers, and most of our grandmothers did so successfully. Only fairly recently has intervention and intensive management of pregnancy and birth become so popular. Unfortunately, if you look at the statistics, and look at the outcomes (maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality, i.e. injury and death), societies that believe in and practice care based upon the natural process have significantly better outcomes than those who practice high-tech, intensely managed, highly interventionist care--like is prevalent in the US. Does modern medicine save lives of mothers and babies? Absolutely. Do MOST mothers and babies need "saved" from the "perils" of pregnancy and birth? Absolutely NOT. The research, literature, and facts are there. What you choose to seek, see, and to believe is up to you.
Now, on to the business of being "overdue".
From Henci Goer's "The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth"
"A better term than overdue would be the medically correct postdates. "Overdue" implies that going past your due date is a problem, rather like overbaking a cake. On the contrary, inducing for exceeding your due date is a textbook case of how mainstream obstetric care keeps narrowing the definition of normal until practically no one fits, which then creates the "need" for intervention. True, a small percentage of women don't begin labor when they are supposed to. And, yes, placentas are not made to last forever. Still, mainstream postdates management has little scientific basis.
Up to the late 1980's, conventional obstetric wisdom held that if pregnancy continued two weeks past the forty-week due date, either labor should be induced or some sort of periodic testing of fetal well-being should be done. Nonetheless, induction [not testing] became the norm."
"There are problems with the due date itself. You may be surprised to learn that the conventional forty-week pregnancy length is completely arbitrary. It was established by a German obstetrician in the early 1800's. He simply declared that a pregnancy should last ten moon months, that is, ten months of four weeks each. However, when researchers in a 1990 study followed a group of healthy, white women, they discovered that pregnancy in first-time mothers averaged eight days longer than this."
"In addition, ultrasonography, the current standard for assigning due dates, does not reliably do so accurately."
"It gets worse. While even the forty-two week limit isn't sound, in recent years the "time's up" date has backed up to forty-one weeks, and then forty weeks. " Thus "first-time mothers are not only NOT "late" at forty-one weeks, they haven't even reached the average pregnancy length."
Ok, Laci, we get it, so maybe you aren't medically "overdue"... but still, why not induce? Lots of people do and everything turns out fine. Get that little man here because we are all dying to meet him!!
Well, here's the deal. The day I found out we were pregnant, my world almost altogether ceased to be about me, and began revolving around what's best for this baby. It wasn't a conscious shift, it just happened, and for awhile, I didn't even realize it.
The Cascade Effect: a vicious cycle, why we are choosing to avoid interventions if possible.
It's all about chance. Even if something has only a small percent chance of negative effect, meaning most people who use it turn out fine, I don't want to be that small percent affected negatively. So, by choosing to avoid unnecessary intervention, I reduce my chance of negative side effects from that intervention to zero. If it turns out we need it... ok. But why risk it if we don't need it?
Every intervention (i.e. things like continuous fetal monitoring, iv's, disallowing food/drink during labor, inductions, pain meds, episiotomy, cesarean, etc.) comes with a surprising and scary list of possible risks and negative side effects. I won't get into all of them, you all know how to google. The bigger problem is what's called the Cascade Effect: one seemingly harmless intervention has a side effect, that requires another intervention to fix it, that has another effect, that required another intervention.... you get the idea... that eventually leads to cesarean section. Cesarean section... MAJOR SURGERY-the most common major surgery in the US-that comes with a whole host of possible negative side effects including increased chance of maternal or fetal death! Ok, yes, it sounds dramatic, but it is true.
Inductions increase the risk of fetal distress leading to cesarean, problems that are then attributed to the baby's condition rather than their real cause--the induction itself. Unlike the natural process in which contractions begin slowly and then increase in duration, frequency, and strength, induced contractions start out long, strong, and frequent posing the risk of compressing the umbilical cord (among other potential problems, like failure of the induction altogether), and viola, fetal distress, that can lead to c-section. Natural, spontaneous labor allows the mother's and baby's bodies time to produce pain blocking endorphins and other chemicals and hormones to cope with the stress and pain of labor. The human body comes fully equipped with impressive coping mechanisms. Induced labor doesn't allow this and the body's coping mechanisms can't keep up. Leading to use of pain medications and all of the potential side effects they carry with them (again, you can google), often leading to what? You guessed it, fetal distress, and c-section.
Do these scenarios always come true? Of course not. Are they common enough to be cause for concern? Yes.
The bottom line.
We are not crazed radicals who are refusing necessary medical care. We have great doctors and support people and are planning to deliver in a state-of-the-art hospital fully equipped and prepared to handle any complications. I am healthy, baby is healthy, and we are being monitored closely for any problems that could arise. If things change, our plan will change accordingly. The goal is to have the healthiest happiest baby we can, and part of achieving that goal is to minimize risks, and especially to avoid choosing options that increase risks. We are excited to welcome our little man into the world and can't wait for his arrival, and are 1000% confident that we are making the best possible decisions for us and our circumstances!!
Am I huge and uncomfortable. YES. Enough to take unnecessary risks. NO. So... until his debut... patience. :)
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
If I wasn't us, I'd be super jealous of us.
That's what I told Jason yesterday evening as we filled our bowls with seconds of homemade red beans and rice with shrimp.
It really is the little things that make life great. A perfect, cool fall evening complete with gorgeous sunset. Supper by the fire in the backyard... a backyard that you can have a fire in. Leaving the windows open and the a/c off. Sunrise walk... well, ok, waddle... with the dogs. Enjoying what are sure to be the last calm, quiet days I have left for a very long time.
I am truly, truly blessed.
It really is the little things that make life great. A perfect, cool fall evening complete with gorgeous sunset. Supper by the fire in the backyard... a backyard that you can have a fire in. Leaving the windows open and the a/c off. Sunrise walk... well, ok, waddle... with the dogs. Enjoying what are sure to be the last calm, quiet days I have left for a very long time.
I am truly, truly blessed.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
38 Weeks & Awesome Shower
Less than two weeks to go. WOW! I am excited, anxious, and nervous all at the same time! The doc told me Monday to make sure my bag is packed and the car gassed up because it could be "go" time any day now!
I mostly feel ok still. My hips and pelvic bones ache almost constantly, but according to the doc, this is good, it means he's descending and getting ready to go! My feet and legs look like tree trunks, also due to the added circulatory constriction caused by his dropping lower, but the good news: not long to go! and, up until now I've been very lucky and blessed to have very few and very minor discomforts.
Thank you again to all of the wonderful ladies (and their male counterparts that helped!!) that hosted a baby shower for us this past weekend. It was tons of fun, and so great to get to see and visit with everyone! The food was awesome, the decorations were perfect, I think that's THE best diaper cake I have ever seen, and the cake was SOOOOO good! Thanks also to everyone that came and brought us something special for baby Chapman, he's not even here yet and already spoiled! There will be pics to come! I didn't take any, but there were several cameras around!
I mostly feel ok still. My hips and pelvic bones ache almost constantly, but according to the doc, this is good, it means he's descending and getting ready to go! My feet and legs look like tree trunks, also due to the added circulatory constriction caused by his dropping lower, but the good news: not long to go! and, up until now I've been very lucky and blessed to have very few and very minor discomforts.
Thank you again to all of the wonderful ladies (and their male counterparts that helped!!) that hosted a baby shower for us this past weekend. It was tons of fun, and so great to get to see and visit with everyone! The food was awesome, the decorations were perfect, I think that's THE best diaper cake I have ever seen, and the cake was SOOOOO good! Thanks also to everyone that came and brought us something special for baby Chapman, he's not even here yet and already spoiled! There will be pics to come! I didn't take any, but there were several cameras around!
Monday, September 20, 2010
Crazy? Maybe. Happy about it? Definitely!
**Caution: In parts of this post I get up on my soap box and rant. If you don't care to hear it... then stop reading!
At 31 Weeks pregnant I fired my original Obstetrician--not recommended at near mid-third trimester. I'm sure that she's a perfectly good Doctor, just not the Doctor for me. Our attitudes and philosophies towards pregnancy and birth are DRAMATICALLY different, and I soon learned, unfortunately due to the way most doctors are trained, that my attitude and philosophy towards pregnancy and birth are very very different from most doctors, and honestly, most women. I'm not judging other people's choices, I'm just telling you what I feel is right for me. Pregnancy is not a disease, and thus should not be treated like one--doctors are generally trained from the perspective that women and pregnancy are broken they have to "fix" it. It is a natural physiological process that has been happening-without doctors and tons of drugs-FOREVER--doctors are generally not trained in the "natural" process. Contrary to what this doctor told me, I believe that most women and their bodies, when prepared adequately (Note that most women are NOT prepared adequately if at all), ARE physically and mentally capable of handling pregnancy and birth with little or no intervention. Don't get me wrong, I do believe that high quality prenatal and delivery care by a professional is a necessity, their job is to watch for, catch, and treat anything that does go wrong, and that drugs and interventions can be a good thing and do have their place. I know that there are situations in which intervention saves the lives of moms and babies. My major disagreement or complaint about the mainstream system is its gross overuse of all these interventions based solely on convenience or "standard protocol" with little to no regard for the possible side affects for moms and babies. Most mainstream doctors are not practicing and adjusting their practices according to the research, many it seems are still using practices that the research is not finding beneficial at all (or even safe!), and much less so when used for every woman, regardless of medical necessity. The general attitude is that if an intervention has a side affect, it's ok, because they can treat that side affect with another intervention, and if that intervention has a side effect, it's ok, there are more interventions that can be done... it's a vicious cycle. Most women, who trust their doctors' knowledge and skill, just as I did going into this pregnancy, are never told about all of the things that could go wrong with interventions and all the added risks they are choosing to take when they have elective interventions. All too often, women are encouraged to choose intervention for convenience. Dr: "I have a tennis lesson to get to, so let's just go ahead and do that c-section". Why would doctors, the people who are supposed to take care of you, encourage you to choose MAJOR SURGERY when, in many cases (obviously it is necessary sometimes), there is a safer alternative, or it's just as safe to be patient and do nothing! Women are not being told that they have a much smaller chance of things going wrong if nature is allowed to take its course. Being patient and allowing the process to happen is inconvenient. Most women are told about interventions, "Don't worry, it's safe." or "You just leave that up to me." I, however, was not satisfied with this kind of blatant evasion of my questions. Had it not been for my desire to research and learn all I can about pregnancy and birth, and the support from both my super awesome husband and my super awesome doula, (and my rebellion against being told that "women can't do that") I too would have simply followed in line with all the rest. Again, no judgment intended, just expressing my opinion.
So, in my frustrating quest for a new doctor in the B/CS area that would have a "less interventionist" philosophy (and take my insurance), I came up empty handed. All of the doctors/practices that I researched and/or visited with had alarmingly high rates of induction, cesarean, and episiotomy (one doc had an 80% episiotomy rate! yikes!), and I learned that both hospitals in B/CS also have intervention rates well above the state averages, and standard protocols that are not conducive to a non-interventionist birth. Not a good sign. Yes, I know that plenty of perfectly healthy, happy, babies are delivered here and in similar hospitals with similar doctors all over the US, but that still does not make it the right situation for us. Plenty of our parents rode around unbuckled or in the backs of pick-ups most of their childhood and turned out fine... that still doesn't make it safe.
When in doubt, what do I do? Google! And... viola! Where else but good old Austin, TX would I find the answer to my prayers. A practice with both doctors and midwives, with a strong non-interventionist philosophy (they only use interventions when truly medically necessary), that works with a super supportive LDR unit at a nationally acclaimed, top of the line, state of the art hospital. AND is only a little further from our house than B/CS. After perusing their website for awhile, talking to one of my best friends who lives in ATX and delivered her youngest son at the same hospital, getting rave reviews from all questioned including friends and friends of friends in the ATX area, I called to inquire. After brief conversations with a couple of nurses and one of the midwives explaining my situation, I was approved for and encouraged to transfer and I was set up for a consultation appointment the very next morning! What a whirlwind!
It was wonderful! I had no idea the true extent to which I was displeased with my original doctor until I visited the new one! Jason went with me the second time, and we attended the hospital tour and the meet and greet with all of the doctors and midwives with this new practice. They all openly share the same philosophy of care, and since they work in a collaborative model, we will meet and get prenatal care from all of them, and be guaranteed that (at least) one of them will be present during my birth (much different from the "Only if I'm on-call" approach by my first dr).It's been so refreshing to be treated like a person experiencing a wonderful thing, not just a chart that needs some drugs and procedures assigned to it!
I could go on and on (and would be glad to, all you have to do is ask!), but long story short, I am pleased and confident with the decision we have made!
Interested in learning more about any of this?? Here are a couple of great, eye-opening books that I read and would definitely recommend! Especially to moms! (I have them if you'd like to borrow!)
The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth-Henci Goer
Ina May's Guide to Childbirth-Ina May Gaskin
At 31 Weeks pregnant I fired my original Obstetrician--not recommended at near mid-third trimester. I'm sure that she's a perfectly good Doctor, just not the Doctor for me. Our attitudes and philosophies towards pregnancy and birth are DRAMATICALLY different, and I soon learned, unfortunately due to the way most doctors are trained, that my attitude and philosophy towards pregnancy and birth are very very different from most doctors, and honestly, most women. I'm not judging other people's choices, I'm just telling you what I feel is right for me. Pregnancy is not a disease, and thus should not be treated like one--doctors are generally trained from the perspective that women and pregnancy are broken they have to "fix" it. It is a natural physiological process that has been happening-without doctors and tons of drugs-FOREVER--doctors are generally not trained in the "natural" process. Contrary to what this doctor told me, I believe that most women and their bodies, when prepared adequately (Note that most women are NOT prepared adequately if at all), ARE physically and mentally capable of handling pregnancy and birth with little or no intervention. Don't get me wrong, I do believe that high quality prenatal and delivery care by a professional is a necessity, their job is to watch for, catch, and treat anything that does go wrong, and that drugs and interventions can be a good thing and do have their place. I know that there are situations in which intervention saves the lives of moms and babies. My major disagreement or complaint about the mainstream system is its gross overuse of all these interventions based solely on convenience or "standard protocol" with little to no regard for the possible side affects for moms and babies. Most mainstream doctors are not practicing and adjusting their practices according to the research, many it seems are still using practices that the research is not finding beneficial at all (or even safe!), and much less so when used for every woman, regardless of medical necessity. The general attitude is that if an intervention has a side affect, it's ok, because they can treat that side affect with another intervention, and if that intervention has a side effect, it's ok, there are more interventions that can be done... it's a vicious cycle. Most women, who trust their doctors' knowledge and skill, just as I did going into this pregnancy, are never told about all of the things that could go wrong with interventions and all the added risks they are choosing to take when they have elective interventions. All too often, women are encouraged to choose intervention for convenience. Dr: "I have a tennis lesson to get to, so let's just go ahead and do that c-section". Why would doctors, the people who are supposed to take care of you, encourage you to choose MAJOR SURGERY when, in many cases (obviously it is necessary sometimes), there is a safer alternative, or it's just as safe to be patient and do nothing! Women are not being told that they have a much smaller chance of things going wrong if nature is allowed to take its course. Being patient and allowing the process to happen is inconvenient. Most women are told about interventions, "Don't worry, it's safe." or "You just leave that up to me." I, however, was not satisfied with this kind of blatant evasion of my questions. Had it not been for my desire to research and learn all I can about pregnancy and birth, and the support from both my super awesome husband and my super awesome doula, (and my rebellion against being told that "women can't do that") I too would have simply followed in line with all the rest. Again, no judgment intended, just expressing my opinion.
So, in my frustrating quest for a new doctor in the B/CS area that would have a "less interventionist" philosophy (and take my insurance), I came up empty handed. All of the doctors/practices that I researched and/or visited with had alarmingly high rates of induction, cesarean, and episiotomy (one doc had an 80% episiotomy rate! yikes!), and I learned that both hospitals in B/CS also have intervention rates well above the state averages, and standard protocols that are not conducive to a non-interventionist birth. Not a good sign. Yes, I know that plenty of perfectly healthy, happy, babies are delivered here and in similar hospitals with similar doctors all over the US, but that still does not make it the right situation for us. Plenty of our parents rode around unbuckled or in the backs of pick-ups most of their childhood and turned out fine... that still doesn't make it safe.
When in doubt, what do I do? Google! And... viola! Where else but good old Austin, TX would I find the answer to my prayers. A practice with both doctors and midwives, with a strong non-interventionist philosophy (they only use interventions when truly medically necessary), that works with a super supportive LDR unit at a nationally acclaimed, top of the line, state of the art hospital. AND is only a little further from our house than B/CS. After perusing their website for awhile, talking to one of my best friends who lives in ATX and delivered her youngest son at the same hospital, getting rave reviews from all questioned including friends and friends of friends in the ATX area, I called to inquire. After brief conversations with a couple of nurses and one of the midwives explaining my situation, I was approved for and encouraged to transfer and I was set up for a consultation appointment the very next morning! What a whirlwind!
It was wonderful! I had no idea the true extent to which I was displeased with my original doctor until I visited the new one! Jason went with me the second time, and we attended the hospital tour and the meet and greet with all of the doctors and midwives with this new practice. They all openly share the same philosophy of care, and since they work in a collaborative model, we will meet and get prenatal care from all of them, and be guaranteed that (at least) one of them will be present during my birth (much different from the "Only if I'm on-call" approach by my first dr).It's been so refreshing to be treated like a person experiencing a wonderful thing, not just a chart that needs some drugs and procedures assigned to it!
I could go on and on (and would be glad to, all you have to do is ask!), but long story short, I am pleased and confident with the decision we have made!
Interested in learning more about any of this?? Here are a couple of great, eye-opening books that I read and would definitely recommend! Especially to moms! (I have them if you'd like to borrow!)
The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth-Henci Goer
Ina May's Guide to Childbirth-Ina May Gaskin
Has it really been three weeks since my last post???
It appears that it has... lots to update!
Only a little over a month to go before the arrival of Baby Chapman (who is still nameless)! Wow!
I am officially unemployed as of last Wednesday! Yay! I have however, been keeping myself quite busy. Jason has been accusing me of nesting, but I say I'm just doing all the things I've been going to do since we moved in here (i.e. cleaning out the weird boxes of random junk that no one knows why we kept and moved in the first place!). I'm also packing away all my work stuff to be stored, reorganizing to make room for baby stuff, and just generally purging the house of the random useless junk. Ok, so maybe I am nesting a little... but I've sure been giving my golf cart a good workout hauling stuff to the dumpster! And, I've learned, that roomba is a floor's best friend!
Went to Angelo last weekend for a wonderful baby shower hosted by my sisters, two cousins, and one of my very best friends. It was great! Great food, great friends and family to visit with, and of course, great baby stuff! Thanks everyone! I did learn however, that riding in the car for that long at 7 1/2 months pregnant is not fun.
35 Week bUmPDATE
How far along: 35 Weeks, 1 Day
Total Weight Gain: +35... I feel like a big BEAST!
Stretch marks: only a few little ones!
Symptoms: my. hips. hurt.
Sleep: so-so, between my hips keeping me awake, and getting up to use the restroom every 2-3 hours. Not much longer though!
Best moments this week: 1. Cash-dog sniffing my belly and then sticking his ear up against it like he's listening to Baby. Hahaha! 2. Two words: Caterpillar cake.
Movement: all the time
Food cravings: Mexican food
What I miss: Not planning every outing away from the house around where the good pit-stops are.
What I look forward to: Dr. appointment Wednesday
Weekly wisdom: Smile, people will wonder what you're up to!
Only a little over a month to go before the arrival of Baby Chapman (who is still nameless)! Wow!
I am officially unemployed as of last Wednesday! Yay! I have however, been keeping myself quite busy. Jason has been accusing me of nesting, but I say I'm just doing all the things I've been going to do since we moved in here (i.e. cleaning out the weird boxes of random junk that no one knows why we kept and moved in the first place!). I'm also packing away all my work stuff to be stored, reorganizing to make room for baby stuff, and just generally purging the house of the random useless junk. Ok, so maybe I am nesting a little... but I've sure been giving my golf cart a good workout hauling stuff to the dumpster! And, I've learned, that roomba is a floor's best friend!
Went to Angelo last weekend for a wonderful baby shower hosted by my sisters, two cousins, and one of my very best friends. It was great! Great food, great friends and family to visit with, and of course, great baby stuff! Thanks everyone! I did learn however, that riding in the car for that long at 7 1/2 months pregnant is not fun.
35 Week bUmPDATE
How far along: 35 Weeks, 1 Day
Total Weight Gain: +35... I feel like a big BEAST!
Stretch marks: only a few little ones!
Symptoms: my. hips. hurt.
Sleep: so-so, between my hips keeping me awake, and getting up to use the restroom every 2-3 hours. Not much longer though!
Best moments this week: 1. Cash-dog sniffing my belly and then sticking his ear up against it like he's listening to Baby. Hahaha! 2. Two words: Caterpillar cake.
Movement: all the time
Food cravings: Mexican food
What I miss: Not planning every outing away from the house around where the good pit-stops are.
What I look forward to: Dr. appointment Wednesday
Weekly wisdom: Smile, people will wonder what you're up to!
Friday, September 3, 2010
Googling
The inner-workings of my brain are a mystery... even to me...
Is it my love for learning?... is it my weird (sometimes morbid) curiosity?... is it just a complete fascination with the worlds of information available on a whim via the internet phenomenon called Google? Why I ponder seemingly useless, irrelevant, information is beyond me. Who really knows. In any case... here's a little sample of some of the smorgasbord of things that pop into my head, often with no apparent stimulus, on any given day, that I proceed to Google:
*Please note that none of these are intended to be rude, insensitive, or otherwise offensive. I am genuinely curious...
Is it my love for learning?... is it my weird (sometimes morbid) curiosity?... is it just a complete fascination with the worlds of information available on a whim via the internet phenomenon called Google? Why I ponder seemingly useless, irrelevant, information is beyond me. Who really knows. In any case... here's a little sample of some of the smorgasbord of things that pop into my head, often with no apparent stimulus, on any given day, that I proceed to Google:
*Please note that none of these are intended to be rude, insensitive, or otherwise offensive. I am genuinely curious...
- Do small people (dwarfs, midgets, etc.) have smaller toilets in their houses? If not, logistically, how does that work? step stool?
- How big is a baby armadillo?
- This one is courtesy of my sister: What happens to fish when lightening strikes a body of water?
- What does whale poo look like?
- Do elephants really have excellent memories?
- Are unicorns considered wild or domestic?
- Ok, I get how a blind kid can SEND a text message... but how can he read the response??? I'm not being rude, it's a legitimate question!
- Clarify herd vs flock. Lots of buffalo (don't fly)=herd. Lots of cattle (also do not fly)=herd. Lots of pigeons (fly)=flock. Lots of geese (they fly too)=flock. Lots of sheep (fly? no)=flock? hmmm...
Monday, August 30, 2010
32 Week bUmPDATE
How far along: 32 weeks, 1 day
Total Weight Gain: +30
Stretch Marks: I discovered a few... but they are small!
Symptoms: nothing new except my hips get achy
Sleep: usually pretty good, sometimes hard to get comfortable
Best moment this week: finally getting the picture for his room in a frame without breaking the glass... I guess third time is a charm!
Movement: all the time, less big movements and more squirming and wiggling
Food Cravings/Aversions: macaroni and cheese... yum.
What I miss: having some heat tolerance. Poor Jason is going to turn into a popcicle!
What I look forward to: visitors this coming weekend! Angelo the next weekend!
Weekly wisdom: Listen to your intuition... it may be trying to tell you something important.
Total Weight Gain: +30
Stretch Marks: I discovered a few... but they are small!
Symptoms: nothing new except my hips get achy
Sleep: usually pretty good, sometimes hard to get comfortable
Best moment this week: finally getting the picture for his room in a frame without breaking the glass... I guess third time is a charm!
Movement: all the time, less big movements and more squirming and wiggling
Food Cravings/Aversions: macaroni and cheese... yum.
What I miss: having some heat tolerance. Poor Jason is going to turn into a popcicle!
What I look forward to: visitors this coming weekend! Angelo the next weekend!
Weekly wisdom: Listen to your intuition... it may be trying to tell you something important.
The Bump
So... I've been a bit of a slacker with the photos. What can I say? I'm a busy girl!
Week 27
Week 31
Week 32
Only 8 more (give or take...) weeks to go!
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