how i know i’m “ready”

1. I nested. I’m done. The house is dirty again. And I don’t care.
2. The boys are watching more and more TV by the day (I feel like such a bad mom).
3. I’m feel like I am doing very well to keep the laundry done and the toilets clorox-wiped.
4. With every contraction, I think “Maybe this is it?”
5. With every contraction, I think “Nope. That wasn’t it.”
6. It is not possible for me to pick up a toy, shave a leg, put on a shoe, or take a load of clothes out of the dryer without wincing- loudly.
7. I recently bought stock in Rolaids SoftChews.
8. I am frequently questioning whether or not to remove my wedding rings, fearing I might not be able to take them off, given one more day.
9. I’m starving.
10. Yet nauseous.
11. I have  crossed the line from “I’d rather be peeing at night than up with a newborn” to “A newborn can’t possibly be up this much at night!”
12. I get mad at the midwife when she says: “Good morning! You’re still pregnant…” and laughs. Is that funny to anyone else? Be careful before you reply.
13. My husband can’t sleep in the same bed with me. Isn’t that sad? I move too much and pee too much.
14. I want to inflict pain on myself (i.e. brisk walking) as to bring on labor. After my walk, I’m hurting and not in labor.
15. Lastly, I want so so so so so bad to wear my old jeans. Sometimes I pull them out of the closet and just stare at them. P-A-T-H-E-T-I-C.

here you go, kacie

Peach French Toast.

I still topped with a little maple syrup, even though it says you don’t need to. This was absolutely heavenly!

37 week appointment

Back to the midwife today. Nothing really new.

• Contractions are picking up. They are starting to feel a little different, but nothing major.
• 2 pound weight gain- in a week. Must have been Christmas.
• She didn’t check me and, unless I am having regular contractions, won’t again until around 40 weeks. She said first that it wouldn’t make a difference. I could be 0 cm or 3 cm and if I weren’t going into labor, I weren’t going into labor. Secondly she said that she doesn’t like to “mess with mother nature” unless she has to, which I understand.
• She did say, however, that if I were 4 cm she would send me to the hospital to have the baby because of the group B strep. I never questioned her, yet wondered: “What if I am 4 cm and you don’t it because you didn’t check me?” LOL. But no big deal.
• Baby is posterior now. YIKES! In the time it took to get from Benton to Mayfield, I felt baby boy flip. When I got to the doctor I was feeling all his kicks toward the front and she confirmed my suspicions with a quick belly check.
• Measuring 37 cm (perfect!)
• I am having morning sickness again. Everything is making me sick. GAG! But I am having a hot dog (his requested meal) for Noah’s birthday party tomorrow. I haven’t had a hot dog in well over a year…and I can’t wait!
• If anything changes, we’ll try to keep you updated!

Christmas

Enjoy!

Playing puzzles with Grandma:

David and his brother, Jon (big-time sound engineer/music producer):

Our yummy Christmas morning peach french toast:

Daddy reading the Christmas story, while Noah and Sammy balanced Nativity figurines on their heads:

Noah sipping on his hot cocoa (with marshmallows, mind you):

Mommy and Daddy, ever-so-in-love (and needing showers):

Time for presents:

All bathed and ready to head to Great-grandma’s house:

The family at Great-grandma’s:

Gift exchange at Great-grandma’s:

cutie pie

Daddy thought this was funny:

37 weeks

I chopped off my face. I look odd…and swollen. And my biceps seriously need a gym.

Merry Christmas

Labor of Love

It was not a silent night
There was blood on the ground
You could hear a woman cry
In the alleyways that night
On the streets of David’s town

And the stable was not clean
And the cobblestones were cold
And little Mary full of grace
With the tears upon her face
Had no mother’s hand to hold

It was a labor of pain
It was a cold sky above
But for the girl on the ground in the dark
With every beat of her beautiful heart
It was a labor of love

Noble Joseph at her side
Callused hands and weary eyes
There were no midwives to be found
In the streets of David’s town
In the middle of the night

So he held her and he prayed
Shafts of moonlight on his face
But the baby in her womb
He was the maker of the moon
He was the Author of the faith
That could make the mountains move

It was a labor of pain
It was a cold sky above
But for the girl on the ground in the dark
With every beat of her beautiful heart
It was a labor of love
For little Mary full of grace
With the tears upon her face
It was a labor of love

FeedBurner?

I opened up a feedburner account, but I am not sure how to get it onto my site. Does anyone know?

update: 36 weeks

Nothing much new today. A few thoughts:

• Weight and BP were fine. I gained one pound.
• Baby was measuring fine and is still in a head down position.
• Group B Strep was positive…again. I was really hoping to be IV-free. She assured me it was just one bag of fluids with penicillin every 4 hours and that they can remove the IV line (I guess that’s the right terminology) each time so I don’t have to be walking around with it. I’m still not very happy about it.
• No exam today. She said it wasn’t necessary unless I was feeling anything new. I have had tons of contractions, but the family was with me and I didn’t feel like dealing with the time it would take. And I also know that where I stand with dilation has nothing to do with when I go into labor.
• That’s all as far as I go. Sammy was funny today. He was sitting on the exam table and tore the paper they cover it with. He got all panicked and said: “Oh no! Now Kaedmon can’t be born!” He really thought the baby was coming today and on that table. David was also messing with him and shook his head and said: “What is that? Is that your brain?” Sammy laughed and said: “No Daddy. That’s a Sammy!” Too cute!

36 weeks

FINALLY!