Last night M read Nora "Fox in Sox" and watching him attempt to sell her what she just wasn't buying was one of the cutest things I've witnessed in a long time. She did like the "blue goo" but sadly, not the "beetle battle". She just needs to adjust to the ways of Seuss.

Tags: boyfriend awesomeness, cuteness, daughter

Things I am thankful for right this minute: the truly lovely people I am lucky enough to have as my family (all of them - whether related via blood, marriage or just by chance), my baby girl kicking around in my belly, waking up happy next to someone I love every single day, an old lady kitty who keeps hanging on, loudmouthed orange cats who think they are people, our house, having a partner in crime who is both funny and sexy, a sunny day in Seattle, being able to drink bourbon again soon and eat cured meat, my gorgeous big-hearted friends near and far, a new day in the White House, Meyer lemons, and being self aware enough to know I am a very fortunate person whose life is really really good.

m: go get the beaver
me: we already have the polar bear and the little lion snuggly thing. and i don't want to get out of bed.
m: fine, i'll go get the beaver AND the Sleep Sheep
me: ok, then get me the bunny too.

M gets back into our bed with the beaver and turns on the Sleep Sheep. Designed to help babies sleep with white noise, we try it. After 2 minutes of whale moaning and uncontrollable laughing we turn it off. But does the polar bear, beaver, bunny or tiny lion leave? No. So now along with two adults, multiple pillows and blankets, we also have a menagerie of Betty's stuffed animals. We take new parenting seriously! Sleeping with your newborns blankets, clothes and toys is supposed to calm them cause they smell like you - good for your baby. Good for us? We'll see...I'm guessing sleeping hugging a polar bear or better yet, a freaky looking beaver with buck teeth isn't going to be considered sexy. Yet.

No one is available to do car seat checks. Whatever. Why go take a class and get the one-sheet that says "Hey new parents you are going to totally mess up putting in your car seat which is a MASSIVE SAFTEY ISSUE so go get a free check by the hospital or fire department of your choice". Problem is they only do checks April to October. Lame. M is dialing for dollars and we aren't getting anywhere but did discover that we can "report an unbuckled child" which made me laugh. I'm going to be an excellent mother!

Ah Betty, you've got a mind of your own don't you? And here we all thought you moved into birthing position, but no. You are just going to be that girl aren't you? The one who does things her own way. Like if everyone else gets born head down, you just need to be different and keep your head way up by my stomach. Your grandmother thinks you are going to be just like me cause you know, I was breech too. I believe her exact word was "payback". Although I will say I'm not super excited (in fact I'm pretty massively disappointed) that we are scheduling a c-section, I'm going to keep at you with acupuncture and some other techniques - and just maybe you'll turn. But if you are like me - well, I've been known to be stubborn. As long as you are healthy, I'm ok with however you decide to make your arrival. I believe your father said he wouldn't mind you making your debut by plane, which I don't think is going to happen. Perhaps the stork really will bring you! ( Read more... )

Scenario #1 - Grocery Store: Checkout dude in Trader Joe's give me three "lighter" bags vs. two heavy bags and without me asking calls over other nice dude who helps me with the stuff to my car. They chat briefly with me while ringing up the groceries and pleasantly tell me how much pre-natal massage helped the checker's girlfriend, how I need to take it easy these last few weeks and read lots of good books and oh, how pleased they are that I bought low fat organic string cheese as "it is a good source of protein which you need right now and you can keep them stashed in your handbag."

Scenario #2 - Home Depot: buying a toilet for our downstairs bathroom remodel, I obviously cannot carry this item. Older HD male employee helps me in the plumbing aisle, gets a hand truck/platform thing and calls to another guy to help him get the beautiful Kohler "Santa Rosa" onto the flatbed. ( Read more... )

Hey Betty - It is election day and we are currently at 35 weeks of pregnancy. You weigh about 5 and a quarter lbs now and have pushed my stomach and intestines up to my rib cage. Doesn't feel so good and sitting upright kinda sucks, but we've only got 5 weeks to go. I think I can handle it. Your kidneys are fully developed, lungs have only another week to go, and from here on out you should be gaining some weight. In other news, your car seat, co-sleeper and various other items are being purchased and bonus! your uncle E is coming to visit on Thursday. Hopefully I will have your room painted before you arrive.

We voted today, you & I. I'm proud that you got to be a part (although wee) in a historic election. We are currently making some chocolate salted caramels to take to a party tonight which I have dubbed "Barackaramels" as they deviate from our usual recipe by the addition of chocolate. Much like our *fingers crossed* new president.

And by the way - nice work on picking a dad. You outdid yourself here my girl. Besides hopefully giving you a kick-ass sense of direction, fine musical abilities and superior math skills, I hope you also inherit his tenderness, ability to embrace situations head-on, compassion and open-heartedness. I'm better with him around and I bet you will be too.

Much love xoxox

Your Mom

So it seems that our daughter has decided to concede to her mother's will and actually turn from breech to normal birthing position! I think she's just doing me a favor - which I appreciate as I wasn't really looking forward to a scheduled C-section. Dr McD gave us the thumb's up on healthy heartbeat, weight gain (mine and hers), belly size and hiccuping!

As babies aren't in air breathing but in fluid not breathing, hiccuping is a really good sign of lung development and general overall healthiness. With the fetal heart monitor on, we could hear her making hiccups - it was pretty cool. In two weeks we've got an ultrasound (I think) so we'll know for sure but the doc was pretty darn sure her head was down. I attribute this to my awesome acupuncturist who was the person who figured out I was pregnant, AND has now she turned the baby 'round via moxibustion. She rules.

Dr McD also helped put the fears of toxic cat litter to rest along with giving me some advice to take the childbirth and breastfeeding classes with a grain of salt. Her manta is "family health" which is a far cry from beat down I took from the hospital registration staffer yesterday who totally disregarded our pediatrician's recommendation for breast vs. bottle and signed us up for a breastfeeding class FOR FREE cause she felt I was "going down the wrong path".

Everybody's got something to say 'bout childbirth and breastfeeding and infant care. A lot of the time, I'd be happy if they kept their mouths shut.

Six weeks to go (more or less). Betty is about 4.75 lbs (for those who need fruit analogies "The size of a large cantaloupe") and about 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder and probably cuter. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well, she's still got another 2 weeks to go before her lungs will be fully developed.

The last few weeks have been mentally and emotionally difficult. Since the preterm labor scare/kicked off the plane home from Maui incident; I've had the flu, an insane bout of sciatica that approximated back labor, and recurring round ligament pain. Basically I'm a bit beat down. Overall, the pain and sickness stuff I could deal with - its the unknown of whether or not the baby is in distress or being hurt that is exhausting. On top of that I've had to make some hard decisions about working vs. non-working and for the first time in my adult life will not be pulling in a paycheck for a while. ( Read more... )

Current Mood: drained

Note to self, I just balanced a fine meshed strainer on the top of my belly while straining cream for butterscotch pudding. Pregnancy bonus! Belly is like an extra hand in the kitchen. Thank you Betty!