Thursday, July 31, 2008

Baby Update

I just wanted to post a quick update on the baby news. Today is my official due date, and not shockingly, there is no sign that he is going to show up any time soon. I had a doctor's appointment on Tuesday and I'm dilated 1cm and 50% effaced. I've been that since about 36 weeks. A little disappointing that I haven't progressed much, but I'm trying to stay positive. At least I have 1 less centimeter to dilate. I also have a non-stress test scheduled for Monday and another doctor's appointment on Tuesday. The doc told me that if I don't go into labor by then, she will schedule me for induction on Thursday. Normally, I would be very against being induced. I had to have Pitocin with Sam, although I wasn't induced, and it was a horrible experience. However, the last several months have been very difficult for me, so I welcome the opportunity to have this baby as soon as possible. And if it's by induction, so be it. Plus, it's nice to know that I have an actual end date in sight. Sam was 11 days late and I am more than happy not to have to repeat that. Here are a couple of pictures of me in my final stages of pregnancy. I'm not sure how I look, but I feel like a bloated whale.

Friday, July 25, 2008

The Light at The End of The Tunnel

I have officially one week until my due date. It's wonderful to know that there is an end in sight. Bless my doctor too, because she told me she'd only let me go a week overdue if I don't go into labor on my own. Sam was almost two weeks late. There are days when I wish the baby were here already though...sometimes I wish he would have come 2 weeks ago. By the end of a pregnancy you feel like you've been pregnant forever, and you don't remember what it was like to not be that way. I'm pretty sure most pregnant women feel this way. At least I'm not an elephant. (I'm only as big as one.) They're pregnant for 2 years. That's what I've heard anyway. I'm tired of this big belly getting in the way of everything. Plus, I don't know what my feet look like anymore. I'll have to ask Chris to give me a description.

However, right now, (and probably only in this moment) I'm glad for the time I have left until my due date. I want to enjoy my little family of three as long as I can before we become a family of four. Plus, anybody who knows me knows that I am a compulsive list maker. I have a 2-page list of everything that needs to be cleaned in the house before baby C arrives. I've got the "nesting" urge, but I don't quite seem to have the energy to get any of it done. I think it is very important that the walls get wiped down and the hall closet gets organized before I go into labor. (Just a testament of how neurotic a pregnant woman can be...but then again, maybe it's just me.)

My biggest concern though is just having two kids. Sure, it'll be fine when Chris is home because then we can each man a kid. But when I'm alone, it's two against one. I worry about things like going to the grocery store or the post office. It already takes 5 minutes just to get Sam in and out of the car to make a 30-second drop off to the dry-cleaners. Is it going to take 10 minutes now? I need the advice and wisdom of all mothers of two (or more) on how to manage these seemingly simple tasks. Any mother who can do this is Super Woman in my book. But I ask you, am I worrying for no reason? Is it going to be much easier than I'm anticipating or will it be as scary as I think? I usually run to my two best friends, Ben and Jerry...once, twice, sometimes three times a day for comfort. But it seems the comfort they give me doesn't last long and I usually end up feeling worse after consulting them.

In the end though, I'm excited to meet this little guy and can't wait to add him to the family. I'm sure the challenges and worries will be nothing compared to the joy baby C will bring to our lives.
I have to get going now...Ben and Jerry are calling.

Friday, July 11, 2008

Knocking Down Barriers

To our 3 or 4 regular readers, we apologize for the blogging hiatus. The hard drive in our relatively young computer died a horrible death and the computer has been in the shop. Roughly $250 dollars later, we are back in business but not without a few casualties (pictures and files).


During the past few computer-less weeks, a few things have changed.


Sam is now able to climb onto chairs, which means that tables and some shelves are no longer safe zones for objects that we do not want to fall into Sam's hands. It used to be that the only things that he could climb up onto were the Lay-Z-Boy chair and the couch, which was great because the couch backed up to the front window where he could watch the neighbor's dog, random birds, and cars as they go by. This new ability has significantly complicated our lives. The kitchen table, the computer desk, kitchen counters, and dressers are just a few of the once secure spaces that are now accessable to our high energy 21-month old. Where do we now put drinks? Food? Important papers? Keys? Cell phones? It also leaves us asking the question: "what's next?" We are probably only weeks away from him gaining the ability to open doors and climb out of his crib. What's to stop him then from leaving the house and speeding down the street.


On the topic of speeding, nowadays if Sam is going somewhere, he is most likely running to his destination. He reminds me of the young Forrest Gump. He loves to run. Most of the time when he is running he will completely relax his jaw and make an "ah" noise, which generates a motor-like sound. It's quite endearing.


Also, he is now just slightly taller than the kitchen table and the master bed foot board, both of which have nasty corners. So, if he is not climbing up onto the table or bed his is likely running by them. When he gets overly excited or tired, his head will occasionally come in contact with the corners as he runs by. So we have dealt with a few more bruises and bumps lately. As a result, we have softened the corners using some old socks and duct tape.

Even though we have a few new challenges, we sure do love our little guy and are very excited to meet his younger brother.

by the way, the below lawn mowing accident resulted in $280 worth of repairs...the most expensive chore I've ever done.