Hubby-poo are frantically trying to get ready for the arrival of Acorn. The house is almost in shape - just gotta get the guest bathroom loaded up with baby stuff now that the master is all but done. But it's ready enough to where we could handle having a baby here with no real problems.
We are so eager to meet our girl. If you asked me at any point before the last maybe 4 or so weeks, I would have told you that I want her to wait until her due date because I am enjoying pregnancy so much (despite the Boar's Head Ham feet). But now that she's enormous, and now that I'm all but ready, and now that my work to-do list is winding down (and I'm starting to drift into a 'who cares?' sort of place), I have had enough of pregnancy.
We decided we wanted her to come in June, but I think that ship has just about sailed. The thinking is that if she is born in early July, she will hear, 'oh, you were ALMOST born on the Fourth of July' for the rest of her life (unless, of course, she is actually born on the fourth). Born in June, no worries. Why do we think people would say that? And why do we think it would be annoying? Well, people say it with her due date as it is, and we both find it annoying. Of course, both Hubby-poo and I have a very low tolerance for annoying people (he is much better at hiding it than I am). Surely the Acorn won't fall too far from the tree.
But the point is that we are getting ready. I am pretty much packed (just a few small electronics / chargers / etc.). Today I stuck a bottle of bubbly in the fridge so it's chilled for our trip to the hospital, and we chose a celebratory bottle of wine (one from our baby-making trip to Fredericksburg). I still need to toss in the baby book pages, but I need to protect them somehow, since we don't have the cover yet (since it will be customized).
The other thing we did was make our call list. We also made a text and e-mail list. Sorry, but *most* of you are on the text list (or even the Facebook list). Even just considering family and the closest of friends, we have a crap ton of people to call. And if they answer, they will be long conversations. So we are leveraging technology. It's not because we don't love you. It's just that we'll be really tired and want to play with our baby :-).
But now we are about to take a walk to the grocery store. Yes, it's freakin' hot out (not as hot as it has been, but it's humid as a Jersey swamp!). But I'm making an effort to get my baby moving. Maybe if we walk long enough I will get my June baby after all!
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Friday, June 25, 2010
38w1d - My Progress
I think I forgot to tell you that I was 1 cm dilated at my last appointment. As of today's appointment - STILL 1 cm. :-/.
I was hoping for a bit more progress than that. Especially in light of the fact that my doctor wants me to deliver my giant, 89th percentile baby! But today she didn't seem as concerned as she did two weeks ago, and doesn't want to induce next week anymore. Now she wants to take another ultrasound on Friday (if I make it that far!).
I wish that work was slowing down. But it's not. I transitioned most of my projects, but the one that I have not yet transitioned is going full steam. I'm back in the pilot plant next week (in theory), and I'm doing a whole bunch of analytical work in the coming week. I won't have any numbers back to do anything with them, so I won't be doing any of the number crunching (which is SO my favorite part!). But somehow I don't think I will miss it when I'm home with my girl.
I really do feel great right now, though. I had some trials the last two weeks, but now I'm doing a whole lot better and am feeling pretty comfortable again. The only major concern I have is that I'm still gaining weight. I think I have gained about 42 lbs so far! That's too much, especially considering I was a bit overweight to begin with. But I'm trying not to stress about it. I eat fairly well most of the time. I will worry about getting back to my fighting weight after the baby is born. I'll never be grad-school skinny again, but I would love to get back to wedding-day shapely :-).
I was hoping for a bit more progress than that. Especially in light of the fact that my doctor wants me to deliver my giant, 89th percentile baby! But today she didn't seem as concerned as she did two weeks ago, and doesn't want to induce next week anymore. Now she wants to take another ultrasound on Friday (if I make it that far!).
I wish that work was slowing down. But it's not. I transitioned most of my projects, but the one that I have not yet transitioned is going full steam. I'm back in the pilot plant next week (in theory), and I'm doing a whole bunch of analytical work in the coming week. I won't have any numbers back to do anything with them, so I won't be doing any of the number crunching (which is SO my favorite part!). But somehow I don't think I will miss it when I'm home with my girl.
I really do feel great right now, though. I had some trials the last two weeks, but now I'm doing a whole lot better and am feeling pretty comfortable again. The only major concern I have is that I'm still gaining weight. I think I have gained about 42 lbs so far! That's too much, especially considering I was a bit overweight to begin with. But I'm trying not to stress about it. I eat fairly well most of the time. I will worry about getting back to my fighting weight after the baby is born. I'll never be grad-school skinny again, but I would love to get back to wedding-day shapely :-).
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
37w6d - There's no crying in... oh hell
Pregnancy has lead to the enhancement of two of my most opposite character traits - the fact that I'm a bad-ass, and the fact that I'm a HUGE cry baby.
This morning, I had to go down to UT Southwestern Medical Center for work. When I go there, I park in the visitor's lot (obviously, since I'm a visitor). Well, today there was a wait. It was full. But people were evidently leaving, so I was waiting. So as not to block the road in both directions, our line formed on the road across from the entry gate (which could accommodate a 2-car-deep line before spilling out into the road). Well, a space was created in the gate-line. I was about to turn in, but a car (with no turn signal) was coming from the other direction. Since I was turning and he was not, I let him go. Except that he then SNUCK into the line! Jackass!
So I started honking my horn (my pansy-ass Prius horn). When he opened his window to try to take a parking ticket, I started yelling all sorts of choice things to him. He heard me. He didn't acknowledge me. But I yelled at him in his stupid red pick-up truck with his stupid Jesus sticker (I'm pretty sure that Jesus would NOT cut in the parking line).
Before I went to use my microscope, I left a very harsh letter on his car. I don't know if he cared, but I really hope I hurt his feelings and made him feel like the asshole that he so clearly is.
Then, after I was done with my microscopy, I was walking back to my car. I started thinking about Acorn. And then I started to imagine the sounds she would make. One of those sounds was a cry. And just thinking about my baby crying made me SO SAD. It was all I could do to not burst into tears on the drive home. Even thinking about it now makes me want to cry. I better get used to it, because babies cry. A lot. Sometimes for no reason. Of course, if she ever cries due to sadness / pain / etc. I am pretty sure I will lose it!
This morning, I had to go down to UT Southwestern Medical Center for work. When I go there, I park in the visitor's lot (obviously, since I'm a visitor). Well, today there was a wait. It was full. But people were evidently leaving, so I was waiting. So as not to block the road in both directions, our line formed on the road across from the entry gate (which could accommodate a 2-car-deep line before spilling out into the road). Well, a space was created in the gate-line. I was about to turn in, but a car (with no turn signal) was coming from the other direction. Since I was turning and he was not, I let him go. Except that he then SNUCK into the line! Jackass!
So I started honking my horn (my pansy-ass Prius horn). When he opened his window to try to take a parking ticket, I started yelling all sorts of choice things to him. He heard me. He didn't acknowledge me. But I yelled at him in his stupid red pick-up truck with his stupid Jesus sticker (I'm pretty sure that Jesus would NOT cut in the parking line).
Before I went to use my microscope, I left a very harsh letter on his car. I don't know if he cared, but I really hope I hurt his feelings and made him feel like the asshole that he so clearly is.
Then, after I was done with my microscopy, I was walking back to my car. I started thinking about Acorn. And then I started to imagine the sounds she would make. One of those sounds was a cry. And just thinking about my baby crying made me SO SAD. It was all I could do to not burst into tears on the drive home. Even thinking about it now makes me want to cry. I better get used to it, because babies cry. A lot. Sometimes for no reason. Of course, if she ever cries due to sadness / pain / etc. I am pretty sure I will lose it!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
37w5d - World's Most Giant Baby, and a few other things
Sort of like the World's Most Giant Doctor on Scrubs, but not quite.
At my 36 week appointment (nearly 2 weeks ago - I'm slow!) I had my 36 week ultrasound. Acorn measured at 7 lb. 5 oz. at that time. Which means that if she goes full term she could be 9.5 lbs. Which would be TOO BIG for my natural, drug-free delivery!
So the doctor wants me to go into labor this week, which hasn't happened yet. I keep on feeling as though she has dropped, and then the next thing you know she floats back up and starts kicking in my ribs. I am having a few other pre-labor symptoms as well. So last night Hubby-poo and I went for a nice, long walk (about 3 miles, all told, to and from the ice cream parlor). We're trying some of the other doctor-prescribed methods as well. We'll see how it goes.
But I have been working like a DOG lately. I swear, work is trying to kill me before this kid comes along. And with the bathroom still in shambles, the house is a wreck. But the nursery has come together nicely. It's a lilac purple and has some mint- and sage-green accents (recliner, chair, bits in the curtains, etc.). It's a cozy room, and I think she will really like it. The stuff that is not just a solid color has a butterfly pattern, it's really pretty.
We have most of the stuff we need. I still need to pick up a breast pump and a few other things. And we still need a stroller. And the insert for the baby carrier so we could use that. Okay, we still need a bunch of stuff. But we have just about all of the essentials. Everything else can come after she's born.
We've also done some really important things. We started the process of creating wills. We have also started looking into life insurance. FUN! Let's just think about our death! But we need to make sure our girl is taken care of.
At my 36 week appointment (nearly 2 weeks ago - I'm slow!) I had my 36 week ultrasound. Acorn measured at 7 lb. 5 oz. at that time. Which means that if she goes full term she could be 9.5 lbs. Which would be TOO BIG for my natural, drug-free delivery!
So the doctor wants me to go into labor this week, which hasn't happened yet. I keep on feeling as though she has dropped, and then the next thing you know she floats back up and starts kicking in my ribs. I am having a few other pre-labor symptoms as well. So last night Hubby-poo and I went for a nice, long walk (about 3 miles, all told, to and from the ice cream parlor). We're trying some of the other doctor-prescribed methods as well. We'll see how it goes.
But I have been working like a DOG lately. I swear, work is trying to kill me before this kid comes along. And with the bathroom still in shambles, the house is a wreck. But the nursery has come together nicely. It's a lilac purple and has some mint- and sage-green accents (recliner, chair, bits in the curtains, etc.). It's a cozy room, and I think she will really like it. The stuff that is not just a solid color has a butterfly pattern, it's really pretty.
We have most of the stuff we need. I still need to pick up a breast pump and a few other things. And we still need a stroller. And the insert for the baby carrier so we could use that. Okay, we still need a bunch of stuff. But we have just about all of the essentials. Everything else can come after she's born.
We've also done some really important things. We started the process of creating wills. We have also started looking into life insurance. FUN! Let's just think about our death! But we need to make sure our girl is taken care of.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
36w5d - Daycare Decisions!
Hubby-poo and I have narrowed it down to 2 places. One is a regular day care that is across the street from work, and one Montessori school which is about 15 minutes away from work but only 10 minutes from home (it does add a few miles per day of commuting, and about 5-10 each way).
Price-wise, they are nearly identical. The Montessori is actually cheaper when you only consider tuition. But it does have a higher application fee (quite significantly, actually) and a few other fees which I am not sure are annual or one-time. And the extra mileage adds up. But the grand total between the two is really noise.
The standard day care closes at 5:30. If you are late, it’s like an extra dollar per minute. Yes, it’s across the street, but we are on one major office campus and it is on another, and there is a whole security process, so I don’t know what that means in terms of when we would need to leave. The Montessori closes at 6, and if we are running late we are to call. No added fees or anything crazy like that.
Montessori has a 3:1 baby:teacher ratio. Standard has 4:1.
It seems like the Montessori school would be a better move from an educational standpoint in the sense that our daughter would start learning things. She would get to wander into the toddler room as soon as she was able to wander into it. There are music classes. She would learn Spanish. She would get to start a garden. If she stays through kindergarten, she will learn fairly advanced math (multiplication and division). But it will all be taught in the Montessori style, which is very much specified to the individual needs of the child. I don’t want to have a kid who can’t adapt to the real world because, let’s face it, the real world does not cater to individual needs. I don’t want to set her up for failure in the end, or create a person who makes excuses and blames teachers the rest of her life. One thing that Montessori does teach is independence, so they will do cooking / baking on their own, learn how to wash their hands as well as dishes and windows, clean up after themselves, etc.
The standard day care also had things they taught, just not to the same extent. They also did gardening. They also have the nicest outdoor play area that we have seen so far. There is a covered part and an open part, so they can play outside even when it’s raining out (Montessori had one, too, but it was more of a covered patio). It seemed like there was a whole lot more playing, which is appropriate for children. But it still seemed like there was plenty of reading, learning, etc.
So we’re torn. Rightfully. We are planning to apply to both schools and get on their waiting lists. They may wind up making the decision for us. If we get accepted to both, we will re-tour both (with her in tow) and see which makes more sense at that time.
And later this week – pediatrician interviews. Yes, we are WAY behind the 8-ball on this one. But to be fair, there are so many pediatricians in the area that we will find one we like who is taking patients. And we can always change if we don’t like whoever we select.
Price-wise, they are nearly identical. The Montessori is actually cheaper when you only consider tuition. But it does have a higher application fee (quite significantly, actually) and a few other fees which I am not sure are annual or one-time. And the extra mileage adds up. But the grand total between the two is really noise.
The standard day care closes at 5:30. If you are late, it’s like an extra dollar per minute. Yes, it’s across the street, but we are on one major office campus and it is on another, and there is a whole security process, so I don’t know what that means in terms of when we would need to leave. The Montessori closes at 6, and if we are running late we are to call. No added fees or anything crazy like that.
Montessori has a 3:1 baby:teacher ratio. Standard has 4:1.
It seems like the Montessori school would be a better move from an educational standpoint in the sense that our daughter would start learning things. She would get to wander into the toddler room as soon as she was able to wander into it. There are music classes. She would learn Spanish. She would get to start a garden. If she stays through kindergarten, she will learn fairly advanced math (multiplication and division). But it will all be taught in the Montessori style, which is very much specified to the individual needs of the child. I don’t want to have a kid who can’t adapt to the real world because, let’s face it, the real world does not cater to individual needs. I don’t want to set her up for failure in the end, or create a person who makes excuses and blames teachers the rest of her life. One thing that Montessori does teach is independence, so they will do cooking / baking on their own, learn how to wash their hands as well as dishes and windows, clean up after themselves, etc.
The standard day care also had things they taught, just not to the same extent. They also did gardening. They also have the nicest outdoor play area that we have seen so far. There is a covered part and an open part, so they can play outside even when it’s raining out (Montessori had one, too, but it was more of a covered patio). It seemed like there was a whole lot more playing, which is appropriate for children. But it still seemed like there was plenty of reading, learning, etc.
So we’re torn. Rightfully. We are planning to apply to both schools and get on their waiting lists. They may wind up making the decision for us. If we get accepted to both, we will re-tour both (with her in tow) and see which makes more sense at that time.
And later this week – pediatrician interviews. Yes, we are WAY behind the 8-ball on this one. But to be fair, there are so many pediatricians in the area that we will find one we like who is taking patients. And we can always change if we don’t like whoever we select.
Monday, June 14, 2010
36w4d - My Texas Baby Shower
Okay, it’s not even funny how badly I owe you a post. Some things that I have not yet talked about:
• The baby shower that my work friends threw for me (which was awesome, by the way)
• The progress on the nursery
• My recent health update
• Baby’s first wedding
• Day care decisions
• Other odds and ends that are always relevant
So my baby shower. That was several weeks ago now (before Memorial Day weekend!). But it’s okay. I still have one more thank you note to distribute from the event, so my post is timely relative to that :-P. Anyway, three of my close girlfriends got together to throw me an amazing party to celebrate my upcoming arrival. It turned out to be a bad weekend for many of my friends (I think the guest list had nearly 30 and only about 10 of us made it), but that wound up being GREAT. No offense to anybody who missed it, but I really do prefer a smaller, more intimate gathering (I just hate to exclude anybody). I actually got to talk to everybody, and we all got to interact with one another.
But back to the shower – we had so much fun! We played a few games. The big, on-going game of the day was that you were not allowed to say ‘baby’. You should have heard all of the alternative terms we came up with! The one that comes to mind is “poop machine”, but I know that there were others. If you said ‘baby’, you surrendered your beads to whoever caught you. We wound up in essentially a three-way tie at the end of the day, but one of the girls had already won a prize that day, and it was my party, so we gave the prize to the third person.
Another game we played was Baby Pictionary, which we were all really good at. Of course, the topic was all baby-related things. So you just had to start guessing baby stuff. We had to have two tie-breaker rounds, and finally the other team won. The highlight of that game was when Barbara pulled “Breast Pump” and had to draw that blindfolded. Smart lady that she is, she didn’t try to draw a breast pump. She instead drew a boob, and then drew an engineering diagram for pump (it was the right crowd for that), and then drew arrows indicating direction of flow. I about died from laughing so hard at that! My team wound up losing in the last all-play tie-breaker. While I could swear we got the answer first, I wasn’t about to make a stink over Pictionary.
The last game we played was “Pin the sperm on the egg”. Seriously. I laughed SO hard when Deepali came out with a bunch of cut-out sperm that we had to write our names on. And the egg had a heart in the center, so the objective was to get closest to the heart. I won that game – but the team thought that was unfair since I had the most recent practice at it :-P. Again, we had some great laughs!
In addition to the games, Laura made some awesome food (including her endive spears which are always a hit) and Catherine made really yummy cupcakes with candy acorns on them (made from Hershey’s kisses and mini-Nilla wafers). We opened gifts and had girl talk.
Hopefully I will get to the rest of the topics this week. No promises, though.
• The baby shower that my work friends threw for me (which was awesome, by the way)
• The progress on the nursery
• My recent health update
• Baby’s first wedding
• Day care decisions
• Other odds and ends that are always relevant
So my baby shower. That was several weeks ago now (before Memorial Day weekend!). But it’s okay. I still have one more thank you note to distribute from the event, so my post is timely relative to that :-P. Anyway, three of my close girlfriends got together to throw me an amazing party to celebrate my upcoming arrival. It turned out to be a bad weekend for many of my friends (I think the guest list had nearly 30 and only about 10 of us made it), but that wound up being GREAT. No offense to anybody who missed it, but I really do prefer a smaller, more intimate gathering (I just hate to exclude anybody). I actually got to talk to everybody, and we all got to interact with one another.
But back to the shower – we had so much fun! We played a few games. The big, on-going game of the day was that you were not allowed to say ‘baby’. You should have heard all of the alternative terms we came up with! The one that comes to mind is “poop machine”, but I know that there were others. If you said ‘baby’, you surrendered your beads to whoever caught you. We wound up in essentially a three-way tie at the end of the day, but one of the girls had already won a prize that day, and it was my party, so we gave the prize to the third person.
Another game we played was Baby Pictionary, which we were all really good at. Of course, the topic was all baby-related things. So you just had to start guessing baby stuff. We had to have two tie-breaker rounds, and finally the other team won. The highlight of that game was when Barbara pulled “Breast Pump” and had to draw that blindfolded. Smart lady that she is, she didn’t try to draw a breast pump. She instead drew a boob, and then drew an engineering diagram for pump (it was the right crowd for that), and then drew arrows indicating direction of flow. I about died from laughing so hard at that! My team wound up losing in the last all-play tie-breaker. While I could swear we got the answer first, I wasn’t about to make a stink over Pictionary.
The last game we played was “Pin the sperm on the egg”. Seriously. I laughed SO hard when Deepali came out with a bunch of cut-out sperm that we had to write our names on. And the egg had a heart in the center, so the objective was to get closest to the heart. I won that game – but the team thought that was unfair since I had the most recent practice at it :-P. Again, we had some great laughs!
In addition to the games, Laura made some awesome food (including her endive spears which are always a hit) and Catherine made really yummy cupcakes with candy acorns on them (made from Hershey’s kisses and mini-Nilla wafers). We opened gifts and had girl talk.
Hopefully I will get to the rest of the topics this week. No promises, though.
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