changes after pregnancy
Tuesday, February 17, 2009I was told that after pregnancy my body would be different. My feet might stay a size larger (they didn't). My hips would be wider (so far doesn't seem that way). And that I might not get my pre-pregnancy body back (I'm slowly but surely getting there). One thing that I was never told would change were my taste buds. Since having Jasper my cravings and tastes are definitely different! Labels: about me, bakin' a bun
I don't really crave Chinese food anymore. Before I got pregnant I could eat Beef Broccoli once a week. I think I've had it twice in the past 6 months. I used to pick onions out of everything but I am slowly starting to enjoy them. I'm pretty sure this started when I realized how much I liked red onions with cucumbers. I also enjoy a good juicy burger now where as before pregnancy I could go days without any meat especially red meat. It's weird to suddenly like something you never liked before!
On Sunday evening Josh and I made a couple thick juicy burgers. (Normally I would make my burger very thin and put only ketchup on it.) This time I stacked mine with onion, lettuce, pickles and some mayo. Josh took one look at it and said, "Who are you and what have you done with my wife?". Just keeping the mystery alive, folks.
the story of captain jasper and his dramatic voyage
Wednesday, October 29, 2008Labels: baby love, bakin' a bun
I'm sitting in my front room on Sunday night drinking a small glass of sparkling wine. Sparkling wine that Josh and I bought about nine months ago in anticipation for this weekend. We knew we would want to celebrate when our little one arrived...little did we know how difficult the arrival would be. Let's back up to early Thursday morning.
Around 1am Thursday morning I laid in bed crying. The baby in my belly had just been moving for three hours ending the romp with the hiccups. I couldn't sleep, I was exhausted and so tired of being overdue. Thursday marked eight days over my due date. Although physically I was still feeling okay, emotionally I was feeling rundown and frustrated. What was wrong with me that this baby wasn't coming?
Thursday, 8:30 am - Josh and I show up at my doctor's office for our scheduled visit. I asked my OB to strip the membranes again and "not go easy on me". She was nervous that I was past 41 weeks and didn't want me to get to 42 weeks. She would schedule an induction for me for Sunday night. I also was hooked up to the fetal monitor to get checked and then for a sonogram. By the time we were done at the doctor's office almost two hours had passed. I was even more emotional and cried when I thought about being induced. Not many women can be induced with Pitocin and do a natural birth. So I started praying then that the baby would come before Saturday so I wouldn't need to go to the non-stress test they had scheduled for me.
Thursday, 1:00pm - I had been having contractions since the morning but I kept thinking maybe they weren't contractions. I was also cramping from the membrane stripping. We started keeping track of the pains and they were actually coming at regular intervals. Josh got out his moleskine and fountain pen and began jotting down the times.
Thursday, 3:00pm - The contractions were close enough that I needed to switch to the website, Contraction Master. I kept wondering if maybe I was imagining all of it.
Thursday, 5:00pm - "Josh, I think we should go to the hospital." I was in moderate pain with every contraction, but I was still in a pretty cheerful disposition and rather excited that this was going to happen naturally after all. Josh loaded up the car with the hospital bag, camera bag, laptop, and my purse. I loaded up myself and I called my parents to let them know that we were headed in and would call them after we were checked.
Thursday, 6:00pm - We parked at the hospital ER and headed inside. I walked to the front desk and when I was asked "How can I help you?" I said, "I think I'm in labor". I had to sign a few documents and then I got to sit down. We chatted a bit with the nurse at the desk about whether or not we knew the sex of the baby, if it was our first, and when we were due. She seemed quite surprised that I was nearly 9 days overdue. I had several contractions while we waited for a nurse from Labor & Delivery to come down with a wheelchair and take us up through a labyrinth of hallways up to OB.
Once at OB, I got into the lovely hospital gown feeling complete disbelief that we were there. I was checked by a nurse and still at 2 centimeters dilated. My parents showed up in what seemed like mere minutes after us, pretending that they were in town for a Starbucks. My contractions were getting stronger at this point coming about 2 minutes or so apart. They hooked me up to the fetal monitor, we would be monitored and then walk the hallway. Josh's folks showed up shortly after mine, and headed to the waiting room with my folks. We walked some more stopping at our room for me to rest every so often.
Thursday, 9:17pm - We were admitted to the hospital, so at this point we knew it was go time. This baby was coming one way or another.
Thursday, 9:45pm - The nurse checked me again and I was still only at a 2. I was 100% thinned out, but no dilation progress. She suggested I get in the labor tub and I agreed. I needed some pain relief and I was up for trying something.
Thursday, 10:10pm - Josh and I head into the room with the labor tub. My new nurse came in, and she happened to be a girl from my hometown. I was nervous about having someone I knew as my nurse but the pain that was growing with each contraction was enough to soon make me forget this anxiety. I spent about an hour in the tub, trying to relax and focus. Josh leaned against, and at some times into the tub and would hold my hand during a contraction. During a contraction I would lean over the side of tub, contorting all the while squeezing his hand.
Thursday, 10:30pm - My new nurse checked me in the tub and I was dilated to 6. I was really quite amazed at how much something so simple as a glorified bathtub could help my progress so rapidly. The nurse started to drain the tub because the water level was quite high and it would take a while to get down to a level at which I could get out.
Thursday, 11:00pm - At this point, the contractions were coming hard and fast and it was all I could do to keep breathing through them. Josh and my nurse kept me focused, but I was getting to a point where I wanted to push through the contractions. I was checked again and I was at eight centimeters. My nurse told us that she was going to call the doctor because we were nearing the point where I could start pushing.
My contractions were getting pretty strong and I started feeling some serious pressure to push. My folks and Josh's stuck their heads in and gave me the thumbs up. I remember thinking that I hoped none of my lady bits were showing. Josh tells me that he ensured I was covered. During the contractions I would squeeze Josh's hand and lean against the railing of my bed. I mostly concentrated on breathing through them and felt like it was manageable. I had to fight the urge to push with all I had.
Sometime before I started pushing I thought about how much easier it would be to get an epidural. I didn't really want one but I couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to have one.
Nurses were coming in and out with carts and the baby warmer. It was surreal to see all of that equipment come in and I couldn't help but feel excited that the baby was going to be there soon.
Friday, 12:00am - My doctor showed up and checked me. I was given the okay to start pushing. They explained how I should push and I completely blanked out. It sounded like the most confusing thing in the world.
At the next contraction they put my hands under my knees and I was told to pull them back to begin pushing. I was also told to hold my breath during the pushing. I could not wrap my mind around that since up until this point I needed to breathe deep and even through everything.
I pushed at the next contraction. For the first 45 minutes or so of pushing, I felt like I was doing something. I would grab my legs, bear down and push so hard. Soon after that though, things started to get a lot more difficult. The contractions were becoming so painful that breathing through them was almost impossible. Josh would tell me to breathe even and focus when I wasn't pushing. I kept pushing with every contraction, even though at every break I thought about how much I wanted to be done.
Another half hour passed and I was beginning to get exhausted. The baby wasn't moving from its current position, so every contraction brought more pain and no relief. My doctor suggested I take a break from pushing and just breathe through the contractions. I would lean against the railing and grip it with my left hand. Josh was squatted down next to the bed reminding me to breathe.
Let me stop there to talk about how amazing Josh was. He was constantly encouraging me. While I was pushing he was there holding my leg telling me how great I was doing. He would help me remember to breath or hold my breath depending on what was going on. I kept telling him that I was sorry because I felt like I wasn't doing very well. He would always have encouraging word for me and tell me how much he loved me.
Back to the contractions... When I was resting I would lay on my side and halfway push through them. Every 10 minutes of resting would be followed by more pushing. I kept asking my nurse if we were getting anywhere. I remember now that she never said things were really progressing (because now I know that they actually weren't) but she would always say how great I was doing.
The baby's head was down far enough that they could see it so they brought a mirror in for me. All that dark hair was hard to miss. So why wasn't this baby out?
Friday, 2:00am - I first told Josh that I was ready to quit. I didn't think I could go any further. The pain was too much; I didn't feel like I was getting anywhere... Josh gave me a pep talk and I felt like I could go on.
The next hour things get a little blurry for me. I have never been in so much pain in my life. I never could even fathom pain like I was having. I was so exhausted and couldn't understand why the baby wasn't in my arms. At one point I was practically crying.
Also during this hour was the one time I got a little mad at Josh. He was reminding me to breath through my contraction. I had been gripping the handrail and kept trying to catch my breath. I was ticked that he kept telling me to breathe when I felt like I clearly was. I said in a voice reminiscent of Regan from The Exorcist, "I am breathing".
I spent a lot of this hour breathing through the contractions. Every so often I would push again.
Friday, 2:40am - My nurse, Melissa said "I know you didn't want to do this but we could do an epidural. It might help you relax enough to get the baby moving again". No epidural. That was my response.
Friday, 2:45am - Josh asked to have my doctor come in. She checked my progress and had me push some more.
Friday, 3:00am - I realized at this point I knew I couldn't do anything more. I basically cried, "I can't push anymore". My doctor could tell that I meant it so she started talking about our options. 1. I could have an epidural and try to keep pushing or 2. We could do a c-section. My doctor was very concerned though that the epidural wasn't actually going to help enough and we'd still need to do the c-section. The lack of progress and where the baby was at in the birth canal, she wasn't sure I was going to get the baby pushed out.
I asked Josh what he thought we should do. As I practically cried through the next contraction, Josh talked to my doctor. He asked her what she recommended we do to get the baby out the quickest and safest. She recommended a c-section. Josh leaned down to me and said, "We're going to have a c-section". I said that I was so tired and just wanted to be done. I trusted Josh to make the final decision.
Josh told our doctor we were going to have the c-section. She walked out the door and I heard her come back in to say that my dad was coming down the hall to check on us. Josh asked her to let them know. I almost lost it that point. I didn't want my parents to be disappointed in me. I didn't want Josh to be disappointed in me. I remember thinking that maybe the nurses even didn't think I had done enough. The pain though took me back to the moment and I asked my nurse how soon it would go away.
Friday, 3:30am - The anesthesiologist came and in and talked through everything. The next steps were all a blur. Josh getting his scrubs on, contractions, drinking something before surgery, getting prepared... I had a terribly painful contraction right as they were going to wheel me out of the room. I told Melissa that she couldn't take me out in the hallway if I was yelling in pain. She told me that the second it was over we were moving. The urgency radiated through the room.
We got back into the operating room with Josh waiting outside as I was prepped. I was given the spinal during a contraction so I can't tell you what it felt like. I had my head pressed against my nurse and was busy squeezing her hands. The anesthesiologist said, "That should be the last one of those you'll feel". I could have cried I was so relieved. Josh told me later that the worst part for him was when they wheeled me back in the room and he had to wait at the desk. He could hear me having a contraction and it made him crazy not to be in there with me. When they finally told him he could come in he couldn't believe the change in me. I was smiling and I said, "It doesn't hurt anymore".
Friday, 3:50am - They opened me up and started the c-section. I told Josh not to look if he didn't want to but I could see him peeking over the drape.
Friday, 4:01am - My doctor pulled the baby out of my belly. Turns out the baby was face up explaining the whole three hours before. My doctor said, "Were you expecting . . . a boy??" She laughed. I glanced up to see them hold him above the drape for me to see. He was quickly passed off to the nurse and Josh followed them to the warmer. Suddenly there was a cry and I looked back to see my son's foot in the air. Josh and I locked eyes and I said, "We have a son". We looked at each other in disbelief that suddenly he was here.
Friday, 4:10am - The nurse handed Jasper to Josh and I couldn't help the tears from forming. Josh said hello to him and wide-eyed Jasper looked up at his daddy for the first time. Josh brought him over to me and well...the words just aren't there to describe what I felt. The whole night just fell away. All of the pain and worry of the night were gone. All I could see was my son and how gorgeous he was. The nurse took a couple pictures for us and soon Jasper was being taken into the nursery.
The next few minutes were spent getting stitched up and stapled. I told the anesthesiologist he was my new best friend. My arms and hands were shaking so badly. All of the nurses were coming in to say congratulations and how cute he was.
Friday, 4:45am - I was wheeled into the recovery room and my parent's and Josh's were allowed to come in. When I saw my parents I think I said something like, "I had to have a c-section" and started crying. I was so worried that they would be disappointed. My mom told me they were so proud of me and that I did really great.
The nurse wheeled Jasper in and Josh took him out of the bassinet. He handed our son to me. My arms were finally holding him instead of my belly. Josh and I stared at our son and then each other. The magnitude of the moment was overwhelming. Holding Jasper's little hand with mine for the first time, I knew my life had completely changed. I couldn't imagine me without him now. I knew at that moment that I also loved my husband even more which I didn't think was possible.
As I finally finish typing this out it is Wednesday morning. Jasper is laying next to me on my bed. His little legs are kicking in the air and he's making cute baby noises. My heart is so full right now that I feel like it could explode. Being a mom has always been such a strong desire for me. Now suddenly I am a mom...and I really couldn't be happier.
update
Thursday, October 23, 2008Josh and I went in to my doctor's office this morning. My blood pressure was perfect. I am dilated to two centimeters and the doctor stripped the membranes again. I told her not to go easy on me. I was hooked up to the fetal monitor for 30 minutes to check the baby's heart rate. The nurse came in halfway through and said everything looked good but they wanted to see another increase in the heart rate showing when the baby moved. It was like the kid heard her and started moving all over the place. After that we were sent to the sonogram tech to check the amniotic fluid which looked good. They are estimating an 8 1/2 pound baby although sonograms this late in the game are very inaccurate. Labels: bakin' a bun
All in all both baby and I checked out perfectly. However, if the baby hasn't made their appearance by Sunday I will be getting induced at 12:01am Monday morning. I'm praying so hard the baby comes on it's own. I've been having contractions all morning so we're hopeful. We'll keep you posted!
41 weeks
Wednesday, October 22, 2008I don't have much to say today. I'm really praying that today is the big day. I've had a couple pretty strong contractions so I'm encouraged by that. I'm going to try and get busy cleaning my house. That's supposed to help things along. Labels: bakin' a bun
One week over... I just never would have thought I would go this much overdue. Maybe if everyone could send up a little prayer or happy thoughts that the little one comes today... I hope!
appt and a compliment
Tuesday, October 21, 2008Josh and I headed in to our doctor's appointment yesterday. We stopped at Starbucks for a little pick-me-up. I saw my favorite barista again (just saw her on Friday). She couldn't believe I was still pregnant when she saw me Friday so when I stepped back to say hi, she replied "Holy crap!". I had told her the next time I'd see her I would have a baby. So I'm pretty much banned from going to that Starbucks until this kid comes. Labels: bakin' a bun
The doctor's appointment was fine. I actually only saw the nurse. She checked me and stripped the membranes again. She also said, "Okay, we have your induction scheduled for Tuesday night". I blinked and processed. Finally I said, "Wait, like tomorrow??" She said, "Yeah, uh...is that okay?" I told her that I wanted to wait until at least the end of the week. I want to at least make it until 41 weeks (which is Wednesday). I guess when they call the hospital just gives first available time. Anyway the induction is postponed. I scheduled another appointment for Thursday morning to see my doctor. I told Josh we won't be going to that appointment though because I'll have had the baby or be in labor by then.
I was kind of upset after the appointment. Just feeling a little down with having somewhat of a deadline. We went to the mall to stop in at Old Navy quickly. As we walked through Bergner's a random lady stopped mid-walk, looked at me and said, "You look cute!" I kind of was taken aback but said, "Thank you!". She smiled real big and walked on. Thanks random lady for making my day a little better.
waiting on someone
Monday, October 20, 2008It's hard to describe how I'm feeling five days past my due date. I'm still really not uncomfortable so in that sense I don't mind being pregnant. But the continuing to wait to meet my baby...well, that's another thing. I alternate feeling incredibly bored to impatient to upset. I have tried every natural inducer that I could. I even did the Castor oil thing both on Saturday and Sunday. And although I know it's not "my fault", I can't help but feel like my body is doing something wrong. What is wrong with me that the baby doesn't know it's time to leave? Labels: bakin' a bun
On Friday I had my weekly doctor's appointment. My doctor was pleased with my progress to one and a half centimeters. She stripped the membranes which wasn't as painful as I anticipated. Afterward they hooked me up to a fetal monitor to check the baby's heart rate. I had no idea that I would be on that for a half hour. The room was little and warm. I was laying on my back in the beginning because I thought it was something quick. After almost passing out, I rolled to my left side while Josh held the monitor on my belly. The baby's heart rate spiked to 190 while I was feeling nauseous and everything went blurry. I said to Josh, "I'm ready to be done". I think I meant the monitoring but it may have also been the pregnancy in general. Josh said, "I never thought I'd hear you say that". And then I cried.
I don't know when for sure but I believe my doctor will induce me if I don't go into labor by the end of the week. I do not want to be induced. Although the waiting is torture, I feel like the baby is still in there for a reason. Induction is just not for me. I am praying that I go into labor before it is necessary to be induced or that I can hold off my doctor long enough.
Overall I'm just not good with the waiting part. I never have been. I mean, we're ready. The car seat has been in the car for a good month, the hospital bag has been packed for two weeks and the baby's room is ready. Besides that I am emotionally ready to meet my child. This little person has been growing inside of my for 40 weeks and 5 days. I'm ready to be it's mom.
Every night for the past week I have laid awake thinking about what I still need to put in the hospital bag, who we'll need to call after the baby is born... I have imagined what it will be like to actually give birth or see Josh hold our baby for the first time. The thought of waiting even just another minute to hold my little one is so overwhelming that I have to try and think of something else. I'm praying that the time will be soon.
recap of my first day of maternity leave
Friday, October 17, 2008- snuggle with the dog in bed Labels: bakin' a bun
- eat some breakfast
- intend to go on really long walk
- make it about thirty minutes
- wander aimlessly around my house
- drive car through car wash
- completely clean out the inside of car
- finally shower
- make lunch for hubby
- take a nap
- email back all the people checking on me
- head out on second walk of the day
- pit stop at my parent's for some ice cream
- my mom drives me home
- I start reading the new John Green book, Paper Towns
- break for supper
- back to reading
- more emailing
- break for The Office
- more reading
- finish book
- lay in bed wide awake and think every twinge is impending labor
done until next year
Thursday, October 16, 2008Yesterday at work I realized I was done. I had trained everyone, caught up on work, worked ahead...done. So I decided to start my maternity leave. I was always sure I would work up until I went into labor. Physically I still can but instead it just kind of worked out this way. Today is my first day of maternity leave and I have no baby. I am planning a nice long walk with the dog. We are getting that baby out! Labels: bakin' a bun
40 weeks
Wednesday, October 15, 2008Labels: bakin' a bun
Today is October 15th. October 15th, people. Baby Due Date! And I'm still here with no real signs of impending labor. I knew all along that I would go to my due date or after. I'm still really hoping it's this week though so that my brother and sister-in-law can come home on Saturday. Oh yeah, and SO I CAN MEET MY SON OR DAUGHTER!
Josh got me a gift for carrying his child. It's a pink tourmaline ring from Tiffany & Co. I can't wear it though because my fingers are kind of fat right now. About a week ago I had to take off my wedding ring. I can wear it but it's difficult to get off and it makes me a little crazy. I am actually wearing a ring fashioned out of a pipe that my husband made for me. I'm not even kidding.
My next doctor's appointment is Friday and we're really hoping we don't have to go to that appointment. One, I don't want to get weighed again because I'm really okay with my weight right now. Two, I totally don't want to even talk about getting induced. Just something I don't want to do...
I am trying to get things completely wrapped up at work. I think maternity leave is going to start this week whether that baby comes or not!
maternity pictures
Tuesday, October 14, 2008Labels: bakin' a bun
On Sunday Josh and I drove to a nearby lake and did some maternity pictures ourselves. Now that I finally look very pregnant I wanted to make sure we had some with the belly. I gave up control and let Josh be the boss. I pointed him to Flickr before our little session for some inspiration. After looking for a few minutes he said, "Well it looks like you need to get naked because that's all that women do for maternity pictures". It was very few and far between that there were clothed maternity pictures. I just don't get the appeal!
Needless to say, I kept my clothes on. Josh did really great and we got a lot of good pictures. There are so many of me laughing because Josh does/says things to get me going. I wish we would have been able to get some of the two of us together but at least we did these. Now if only this little one would decide to come out and play so we can meet him or her!
39 weeks 1 day
Thursday, October 09, 2008Labels: bakin' a bun
Some recent comments/observations:
I ran into a girl I went to high school with last weekend. I haven't seen her in years. She asked when I was due and I told her October 15th. She did a double take and said, "Wait, you're due THIS month?" I told her that indeed I was. She said, "Wow, I think you were meant to be pregnant".
My brother said that he thought it would be cool if I went into labor at his show on Saturday. "Not in front of everyone or anything but like off in a separate room..."
"Uh, yes...I'm calling to schedule pictures for my newborn granddaughter in a week or so."
"Dad! It might be a grandson!"
(My dad is sure that it's a girl.)
My sister-in-law commented how I was just SO CALM about my impending due date. "By now I was so ready to have that kid out!".
I kind of feel like a ticking time-bomb at work. Everyone is eyeing me to see if I'm having contractions or about to go into labor.
Josh read some more in Husband-Coached Childbirth and said, "You know, I'm really feeling good about this whole labor thing. You just have to be able to relax". Oh good, I'm glad we figured that out!
Six days until my due date...
the baby's room
Monday, October 06, 2008Labels: bakin' a bun
I finished up the baby's room this weekend after we got our custom wall decal. Josh and I put that up and I decided I should take a few pictures to share.
I was really happy with how the room came out. I think the baby is going to like it! There are a few more pictures on Flickr.
deep sigh of relief
Friday, October 03, 2008Labels: bakin' a bun, knight light
I was determined to finish up all Knight Light work this week since last weekend was my last shooting weekend. I've spent most of my evenings this week working away at the computer and even decided yesterday to take off work at noon to process pictures. I didn't move from the computer yesterday except to eat and take a quick nap. And just like that I finished up. I still can't believe it!
The big project was the last wedding album. Once I finished that up yesterday, I got it uploaded for the couple to view and already started to feel better. And because that couple is so awesome I already heard back from them approving the album.
I have made all of the calls I needed to make, my inbox is empty, my call/waiting list is updated... Knight Light is officially on maternity leave.
Josh and I were joking that I won't even know how to handle the weekend with absolutely nothing hanging over my head or any sessions. He suggested I sit on the couch all weekend, play Lego Batman and eat. I just might do that. Now if only my hospital bag was packed!
just waiting
Thursday, October 02, 2008Labels: bakin' a bun, deep thoughts
Patience is the companion of wisdom. -Saint Augustine
Patience is the greatest of all virtues. -Cato the Elder
A handful of patience is worth more than a bushel of brains. -Dutch Proverb
He that can have patience can have what he will. -Benjamin Franklin
completely unrelated
Tuesday, September 30, 2008- When we go into labor, Josh or I will tweet so be sure to keep an eye on our Twitter accounts. Labels: bakin' a bun, knight light, nerd alert, randomness
- We bought Lego Batman for the Wii and I can't believe how fun it is. Josh and I can play as a team which works best for us. When you beat up a bad guy the little Lego pieces fall apart.
- I'm wearing my "We're Hungry" shirt today. Figured I better wear it while I can!
- Not sure if it's nesting or just the fact that my house is so dirty, but I would love to be at home cleaning.
- I heard some good news last week and anytime I forget I get really excited again when I remember.
- If we have a little girl, we're not going to name her Piper. A couple that live a block over named their baby Piper (she was born last month) and I'm hearing a lot of people using that name. We just don't want to end up with a "trendy" name.
- It's not even 8am and I would love some ice cream.
- I'm really proud of where Knight Light is this year. No advertising or promoting really... This just might turn into something great!
- I have finally settled on a new cell phone since mine is over two years old. My PDA has been acting flaky for awhile and I know I really need to replace it. I wasn't sold on the cell phone/PDA combination until I heard about the HTC Touch Pro. I can't wait until it gets released!
- Two Senior sessions left to process and one wedding album to wrap up. I really want to be done before the weekend.
as he reads
Friday, September 26, 2008Josh has been instructed by me to read Husband-Coached Childbirth. After putting it off for awhile, I convinced him that he was running out of time to be fully prepared. He agreed and started reading the other night. He stops occasionally to comment. Labels: bakin' a bun
J: How much water did you drink today?
K: Probably close to 2 liters.
J: I want you to make sure you get at least two liters tomorrow.
K: Um, okay.
J: Huh...
K: What?
J: You haven't been exercising.
K: ::grumble:: Well, neither have you.
J: Are you going to breastfeed right after the baby is born?
K: Yep.
J: Rock and roll.
He put the book down last night after reading for awhile and looked at me in utter disbelief. "We're going to have a baby!".
some thoughts on reaching the homestretch
Wednesday, September 24, 2008Labels: bakin' a bun
Today marks 37 weeks, which means only 3 weeks until my due date. I believe this is also the earliest date for a full-term baby. Uh, whoa! Josh and I have been talking about the actual labor and delivery a lot lately. He's nervous but mostly because he knows I'll be in pain. That will be difficult for him to watch and know he can't fix me. I don't really feel all that nervous about the labor part. I think a lot of it is in your head. Plus with Josh there with me...I know once we get focused, we'll work like the awesome team we are.
I do think I'm going to miss being pregnant a bit. It's a good feeling to have strangers regularly tell you that you look great after finding out your due date. I still giggle or smile when the kid starts flopping around in my belly. These days it's such a drastic turn or movement that my whole belly will shake. And I will never get tired of my husband rubbing my belly and almost getting choked up.
I am beyond excited, anxious, emotional, happy to meet my little one. It's hard to wrap your mind around it though. I keep reminding myself that in probably less than a month I will be holding my baby.
the elastic was the kicker
Tuesday, September 23, 2008Labels: bakin' a bun, be green
Before I was even pregnant, I had been doing a lot of research on cloth diapers. We were still living in the apartment at the time and not sure if we'd have a house before Baby. Not having a washer and dryer at my disposal was really the only thing holding me back. So soon after we bought the house Josh and I both agreed that cloth diapers was the way to go for us. I was even a little surprised at how sure Josh was that we should go for it.
Some of the reasons:
1. It's WAY better for the environment. I have a hard time thinking about throwing away tons of non-biodegradable waste every day.
2. We're cheap...or rather frugal. We invested close to $500 in cloth diapers that will last until our kid is potty trained. On average people have figured you end up saving at least two grand with using cloth diapers.
3. I'm forgetful. I'm pretty sure that I would be one of those moms that was always forgetting to buy diapers. We would be running to Meijer at midnight to pick some up. Once we forgot to buy toilet paper every time we were at a store and I had to steal a couple rolls from my parent's. Hmm...actually I think that has happened more than once.
4. Cloth diapers are actually better for the baby. Disposable diapers contain all kinds of toxic chemicals I can't pronounce. I can pronounce cotton!
5. Supposedly there is less diaper rash, kids potty train sooner and the smell isn't as bad. Those I'll have to let you know on.
6. They're really cute. It's true that this was a reason for going the cloth diaper route.
Some reasons that we (and others) hesitate:
1. That's a whole lot of laundry. We will be doing one load of laundry every other day. Once I started thinking about it though I realized it's not all that bad. I hate doing laundry that is a hodge podge of clothes, socks and everything. Folding sucks. Diapers though will be all of the same. Josh and I washed all twenty-four diapers the other night. We sat while watching crappy TV and had the inserts stuffed and the diapers folded in half in probably less than 10 minutes. Okay, so not the biggest time commitment I had originally thought.
2. You might have to touch poo. When using cloth diapers, you don't have the convenience of just wrapping up a diaper and tossing it in the trash. Once the baby is a little older you will have to shake the poo out of the diaper into the toilet. Not so bad...I mean, parents deal with baby poo every day. It reminds me of that part in the movie Baby Mama. The mom sees her little boy covered in something brown. She says, "Is that chocolate or poop?". No answer so she licks his hand. "It's chocolate". And the response, "what if that had been poop?".
3. They are inconvenient and awkward. Josh and I picked the BumGenius 3.0 diapers because they grow with your kid and they are super convenient. You literally just shove an insert into the pocket and go. They definitely aren't what most people picture when they think cloth diapers. I remember telling my mom early on about the cloth diaper decision and she didn't really say much. About halfway through my pregnancy we were talking about the baby and she said, "The only thing I think you might want to reconsider is the cloth diapers". When I asked why I could tell she was still thinking of the old fashioned prefolds with pins and rubber pants over. I started explaining the BumGenius kind that we had picked. Her face slowly lit up more and more. The kicker: I explained how there was even elastic around the legs. "Elastic???!?", she exclaimed. That's what sold her.
It's been fun for me to show people our cloth diapers and see the look of surprise. We've already converted one couple who is pregnant and another who just got married and isn't going to have kids for awhile. I'm excited about doing the whole cloth diaper thing and I'm glad we decided to go for it.
getting closer
Thursday, September 18, 2008Labels: bakin' a bun, knight light
Five more sessions to go... Hopefully none of the others include me in two inches of mud. Hiking around a creek in flip flops is hard enough but add being 9 months pregnant!
35 weeks 6 days
Tuesday, September 16, 2008Labels: bakin' a bun
Yesterday marked 30 days until our due date. Josh said, "Uh, do you realize how many days we have left?" And then he repeated thirty like five times. I think he's trying to believe it. People are starting to say to me "Oh I bet you're ready for it to be over". Actually, no. I don't really feel all that uncomfortable and I'm not really that big so...I would say I'm still enjoying being pregnant. Yes, I have heartburn almost every day now and have to pee five times during the night. I occasionally can't get comfortable sitting to watch a movie or the baby moves around so much I start to feel like there is an alien in there. Otherwise, I would probably forget that I'm pregnant.
I am starting to get anxious to meet the little one but I'm actually hoping to go to my due date or past. My brother is playing a show on October 11th and I'm determined to be there. My mom told me to bring the hospital bag with us that night. I have a feeling that once I get it packed it will come with us when we go places.
So our countdown is on!
first shower
Monday, September 08, 2008Labels: bakin' a bun
I had my first of two baby showers yesterday. I felt incredibly spoiled! We got so many nice gifts including the baby swing and diaper bag we registered for. Our kiddo also got many books which I am very excited about. They are building quite the library already. It was very strange opening all of the gifts with little tiny clothes and trying to wrap my brain around it. Afterward I spent half an hour cutting the tags off of everything and kept thinking that in around five weeks I'm going to have a little tiny person to take care of. I'm getting so anxious to meet this baby!
milestones
Friday, September 05, 2008Josh and I started our three-week child birth class last night. Didn't I just register us for it? I remember thinking about once we got to this point things would start moving quickly. Labels: bakin' a bun
We also are shooting our last wedding of the year tomorrow. I have been slightly paranoid about this wedding because of my looming due date. I am really looking forward to it though. The wedding is early in the day (so I'll be home before I crash), the weather looks ideal, pictures get to be in a cool area in town, and the couple is a lot of fun. I think the only thing I'm concerned about is the lighting in the church and the fact that it's a Catholic wedding.
When Monday rolled around I realized that we can now say our due date is next month. Next month!? Whoa!
Also in preparation for the baby, we purchased a car seat which should ship on Monday. It will be so weird to have a car seat strapped into the back of my car!
Things are coming along nicely. My first baby shower is on Sunday and I cannot wait! This whole pregnancy thing is crazy. One minute you feel like your due date is forever away, the next minute it's in a few short weeks!
and we have a crib
Wednesday, September 03, 2008Labels: bakin' a bun
Back in June my parents offered to buy Baby Knight a crib as their gift to him or her. Josh and I spent a few nights looking online for a crib we liked. We wanted a white crib with straight lines, nothing scalloped or ornate. And I didn't want it to be hundreds of dollars!
We found a cute one on Target.com so my parents went ahead and ordered it. I believe the initial order said it would ship in about 4-5 weeks. We waited (not so patiently). My dad called a few times and things "looked" to be in order. Finally after waiting over six weeks my dad called again and politely demanded to know what was going on. The customer service rep still couldn't see anything wrong with our order. Two days later there was an email from Target.com saying our order was delayed indefinitely. Would we like to continue waiting? Uh, no!
That weekend my parents scoured the stores looking for a similar white crib. There were none to be found. Back to the Internet we went and came across another crib that we liked. This time we waited only 2 weeks before finding out the order was canceled. Strike two. This happened to be the weekend that Josh and I were going to Ikea so I thought I would check out the white crib I knew they had. Wouldn't you know it? Not in stock.
Next up, Babies 'R Us had a really cute crib online. Probably my favorite yet... I didn't want to get my hopes up but I thought "third time's a charm". Babies 'R Us promised shipment within 5-7 business days so that would be shipment by August 26th. On the 25th my parents got an email saying the item was no longer available so the order was cancelled. I called the closest store and asked if they could order that specific crib. The very nice saleslady said that they couldn't. To her it looked like a crib they weren't going to carry any longer and they were getting rid of their stock.
By then I was just determined. I really liked that crib. It had a little trundle drawer for underneath, plus converted into the cutest toddler bed and eventually a full size headboard. I started doing some online searching. I actually found the same crib in a few places but it had dark brown accents. This would be okay but it wasn't "perfect".
Suddenly I came upon ONE place that sold that exact same crib in all white. The site said in stock so I called my mom to tell her I would just order it. Maybe my dad was the bad luck. Ha! The wonderful thing about this place was that it said most orders ship within two business days and it was free shipping! Ordered.
That was last Monday afternoon. I could barely stand it all day Wednesday thinking about whether the crib would ship or if I'd get another email saying it had been canceled. Finally in the early afternoon I couldn't stand it anymore. I logged into my email to get the order number. I wanted to see about checking my order status online. I realized then that I had a shipping confirmation from them. Holy Moly, the crib shipped!?
I spent the next few days relentlessly stalking my UPS tracking number and found out about Track This on Twitter which does the stalking for me. Finally yesterday it arrived. The crib has been put together and we are getting the room situated. I couldn't help but stand in the doorway this morning and chuckle at the sight of that darn crib. At least now my kid doesn't have to sleep on the floor!
yeah, so?
Friday, August 29, 2008- My mid-morning snack today is a caramel apple. Labels: bakin' a bun
- If one more person asks me when I'm going to start to waddle, I might slug them. People, I'm not going to waddle!
- My co-worker is already paranoid that I'll go into labor at work and is anticipating calling the ambulance. Would it be wrong to fake contractions just to get him going?
- I really, really want to buy some cute new fall jeans from the Gap. I can't decide it they would taunt me after the baby was born or just be the ultimate inspiration.
- I think I have let go of the whole weight thing. My total weight gain isn't going to be some ridiculous amount although it is more than I anticipated. You know what? I am carrying a baby inside of me. That's worth it.
lullaby
Tuesday, August 26, 2008Josh and I had the last half of our breastfeeding class last night. The instructor was saying how there have been so many babies born in the hospital recently. She was saying that as she walked in she had heard the lullaby play over the loudspeaker. (The hospital plays a short lullaby every time a baby is born.) Halfway through class the lullaby played and then again at the end of class! I couldn't help but tear up a little bit thinking about how soon that was going to be playing for Josh and I. Only seven more weeks... Labels: bakin' a bun
one step closer
Tuesday, August 19, 2008Last night Josh and I took our first baby-related class through the hospital. We go again next Monday night to finish up Breastfeeding Basics. After this class we're taking Child Birthing and then my due date is just right around the corner! When we arrived I had to find the bathroom first thing. As we wandered around the lobby, another pregnant lady turned the corner. She took one look at me, smiled and said, "The bathrooms are that way". Josh couldn't help but laugh. Labels: bakin' a bun
The class itself was really informational. The first handout they passed out about the benefits of breast milk over formula was enough to convince me (not that I needed convincing). We also watched a video that made the process seem a bit easier than everything I had read. It's so much better to watch examples than just read about them.
During the first 45 minutes of class, Baby was kicking and moving like CRAZY. I was twitching and jumping the whole time. Josh said afterward that he thinks the baby is clairvoyant like my mom and could sense all the other babies in the room. Like, "Woohoo! Let's go play guys!". Or he thought the kid is going to take after me and be really excited about eating.
Internet, meet my kid...
Wednesday, August 13, 2008On Friday, Josh and I went to my doctor's office for our 30 week ultrasound. Baby weighed in at 3 pounds 13 ounces. Sounds huge to me but the tech said I was pretty much right on target. I think we were measuring about five days ahead. When the technician first put the wand on my belly she went right to the head and we could see it's mouth moving. I couldn't help but gasp because it was so clear and easy to see. We got to see the little feet moving (which I feel ALL the time). Also it looks like our little one is pretty limber because we watched it move it's foot towards it's mouth. The technician says it looks like Baby has hair and is very cute. I, of course, believe her. Labels: bakin' a bun
We have decided on names and told quite a few people. So Internet, I'd like you to meet either Jasper Joshua Knight or Piper Elaine Knight.
common conversation
Friday, August 08, 2008This drives me absolutely crazy. Labels: bakin' a bun
Lady: "You know, giving birth wasn't actually that bad. The drugs really helped."
Me: "Well actually, I want to have a natural birth."
Lady: "Oh sure, that's what you say now. You'll change your mind."
AHHH! Why can I not just know that's what I want to do??? If my little tiny momma pushed an 8 pound 5 ounce baby (my brother) out without screaming or drugs... I know I can do it too. (Of course, I hope Baby is a little smaller than that.)
thirty weeks misc
Wednesday, August 06, 2008Labels: bakin' a bun
- I love cucumbers! A little mayo, some red onion mixed in...so yummy. I can't get enough.
- I no longer crave hot dogs. Also, slightly rare meat (that Josh likes) makes me nauseous.
- My upper belly has been hurting. I can only imagine that the little one is stretching it's legs out.
- I keep getting even more excited when I remember I'll get to do newborn pictures after Baby is born!
- According to one of the pregnancy websites, Kid weighs almost three pounds and is 15 inches long. Where is it hiding!?
- Our crib has STILL not arrived from Target. My parents ordered it on June 26th. We got the mattress for it weeks ago so at least Baby won't have to sleep on the floor.
- Working at slowing down a bit...mainly out of necessity. One lady said that I definitely should be because I've got to take care of that little one. Another commented that "sitting on your duff during pregnancy only makes it go slower". Not sure how being less busy equals sitting on your duff. I watched a little TV last night for the first time in weeks.
- Four and a half more weeks until the last wedding of the year. It'll be smooth sailing after that!
- Wondering how you go about "interviewing" a pediatrician...
- I had a dream last night that we had a boy.
- I'm pretty sure Baby kicked Bebo the other day. Bebo was snuggled up against my belly when Baby started kicking. Bebo whipped his head around at me like what in the world are you doing? I told him that he should probably get used to it.
- More and more it is all becoming more real. Josh and I say at least once a week, "We're having a baby!" in that shocked-I-can't-believe-it-way. Thinking about being a mom to a little one is so emotionally overwhelming (and I don't think it's just the pregnancy hormones)...I simply cannot wait.
random pregnant thoughts
Wednesday, July 30, 2008Labels: bakin' a bun
Yesterday Josh and I had our yearly checkups at the eye doctor. The nurse took me back and was going through my health history. She said, "Are you taking any medication now?". I said that I wasn't. She looked at me like I was obviously forgetting something and said, "What about your birth control?". Now I know I'm not huge but I do think I'm finally looking pregnant. I patted my belly and said, "Uh no. I'm 7 months pregnant". "Oh!"
My doctor's office called me to let me know that I do not have gestational diabetes. Honestly I didn't really think I did (not that you can tell). I was sure though that I would fail the one hour test and have to go back in for the three hour test. I just didn't know how I would go three hours without eating. Luckily I passed!
Josh often pats my belly but yesterday he started scratching it. I told him that it feels really good! (Kind of like getting your back scratched.) He practically shouted, "Really!? Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Later in the evening he tried bribing me to do something for him by saying he would scratch my belly.
It was mentioned by my husband that since getting pregnant I'm a little harder to read than usual. He said that he just didn't know what I was thinking most times. I told him it was actually really simple. I usually am thinking about one of three things: 1)what should I be working on 2)when can I sleep again, or 3) when can I eat again.
third trimester, where did you come from?
Wednesday, July 23, 2008Today is my 28th week of pregnancy, which also marks entering the third trimester. Labels: bakin' a bun
Things I like about pregnancy:
1. my hair - My hair doesn't fall out like usual and it's growing so fast.
2. my belly - Although some days I just feel like I look chubby, I am finally getting to a place that I think people can tell I'm pregnant!
3. getting kicked - I'm pretty sure I pushed a little foot out of my ribs yesterday. Sometimes it hurts but I absolutely love it. Josh and I watched my belly move like a wave last night. He laughs out loud when the kid kicks me hard.
4. how excited my parents are
5. people touching my belly - Ok, really it's just my mom so far but it doesn't bother me at all. I mean, I want to touch pregnant bellies so why shouldn't other people. There's a baby growing in there!
6. the smiles from other pregnant women - Over the weekend Josh and I were in Old Navy and I was lamenting about the lack of clothing in their maternity section. Another couple was scouring the clearance section. The other momma-to-be looked over at me, smiled and it was almost like we were sharing a secret.
7. being asked how I'm feeling - I've heard pregnant women complain that they get asked how they're feeling all the time or when they're due or what they're having. To me I think it's pretty amazing that people I don't even know are interested enough/care enough to ask. I love talking about being pregnant so it works out!
8. the way my husband looks at me
Things I don't really care for about pregnancy:
1. swollen feet - Enough said.
2. the gas
3. shortness of breath - This is a new one but have noticed it recently.
4. having only one pair of jeans that I like myself in
5. the bloody nose I get most mornings
Honestly I could have kept going on the things I like list. The things I don't like are so minor and insignificant to it all. Maybe I've had an easy pregnancy but I really can't complain about much. I love being pregnant and all that it means. Sure there are times that things are difficult (like hoofing it out in the heat for a photo session)... But it's SO WORTH IT.
I'm trying to enjoy every minute because there are only 12 weeks left until I can hold my little miracle.
losing things...or maybe just my mind
Wednesday, July 16, 2008My compression socks have really been a huge help when dealing with swollen feet. If I notice that my feet are getting a little swollen I will wear them for a day or so and the swelling will go down. It seems I have to do this about once a week but that's much better than having fat feet that hurt all the time. Sometime between Saturday and today I lost my wonderful compression socks. Last night Josh and I looked EVERYWHERE. They were nowhere to be found. It just figures because my feet are huge today and hurting already. Mostly I'm frustrated because I just don't lose things. Labels: bakin' a bun
When I first got pregnant I was warned by numerous older women of a symptom one lady called "Pregnancy Brain Drain". I thought it was a little ridiculous that pregnant women were blaming pregnancy for being forgetful. And now here I am one week from the third trimester and I can't hardly remember what I ate for breakfast this morning, let alone where I put my compression socks that I really need!
I have absolutely no explanation for it except that it's a symptom of pregnancy. Josh says he's sure my compression socks will turn up...probably in about four months. Perfect, just when I don't need them anymore. Hopefully I'll have found my mind by then too!
so real
Tuesday, July 08, 2008Labels: bakin' a bun
Yesterday I registered Josh and I for a childbirth class through our hospital. For three evenings in September "mothers & their support persons learn about the labor & birth process, methods of relaxation, breathing & pushing techniques, and available pain medication and preparing for the unexpected cesarean birth". Thinking about the actual labor made this whole thing very real and I'll admit, slightly scary.
Today marks double digits for our countdown. Pam and Chris gave us a little counter that counts down the days until your due date. Today is 99 days. Mostly though I'm not feeling scared to deliver, I just feel overwhelmed right now because I have so much to do before Baby comes. I'm trying to take one day at a time and get one more thing marked off my list.
kick your momma
Monday, June 30, 2008On Saturday night I laid down to go to bed and as usual the baby started kicking. Josh put both hands on my belly and leaned in close to talk to the baby. He was asking how the baby was doing, if it was growing a lot... I was feeling the kid move but Josh couldn't yet. Then he says, "How's the weather in there? Good?" WHAM! Huge kick right to Josh's hand. His eyes got enormous and he looked at me. I couldn't help but tear up and Josh got goosebumps. It's moments like that where I really just try to soak it up and realize I am in the moment. Labels: bakin' a bun
Of course moments like 4:30 this morning when I laid awake for an hour because the kid was moving so much...well, those are some moments I might not think about again. Honestly though I love every minute of all of this. And I love that Josh talks to my belly these days. Whenever he does he usually ends with, "Kick your momma!".
24 weeks
Wednesday, June 25, 2008Today I am twenty-four weeks along. That means I have only 16 weeks left. [Insert slight panicky feeling.] We've been so busy that time is just flying by. I keep thinking that October is SO far away but yeah, not so much. Labels: bakin' a bun
Some big things we need to get done:
1. Figure out the crib situation. The crib that my parents used with me and my brother is in my garage. It needs some work. Josh says he can do it and is pretty determined. And yet, it sits in the garage... Last night Josh said that maybe we should just buy a new crib. If he can't decide, then we're really in trouble.
2. Finish the rest of the baby's room. We still need a chair, little side table to go next to the chair, curtains, the rest of the decorations I want to get.
3. Register. Yikes. I am so not prepared for this. Josh and I are researchers. Pretty much every purchase we make gets at least a little research on Consumer Reports or some other googling. I have no idea what car seat I want to put my little one in or what other baby gear we need.
4. Finish reading the pile of baby books. This goes along with the fact that Josh and I are researchers. The thought of bringing a baby home before reading about all of the different sleep methods boggles my mind.
Sidenote:
Last night Josh drove me over to Dairy Queen so I could get the cotton candy blizzard I've been craving. I could only eat about half of it so we stopped by my folks when we got back in town. I knew my mom would help me eat it. As we pulled up to my parent's house I realized there was a little league game going on. (My parents backyard is next to a little league diamond.) I said, "Josh! There's a little league game! That means we could get some of their popcorn!! You know how it's so good to eat something salty and crunchy after ice cream??". I didn't get a reply from Josh, he just laughed and laughed. Finally I realized, "Uh, I sounded really pregnant there, didn't I?"
loophole
Friday, June 20, 2008The first time shopping for maternity clothes is an experience for anyone and mine was no exception. My mom had convinced me that I needed my first pair of maternity jeans as most of my jeans were becoming tight in the waist. We headed into Motherhood Maternity where we were greeted by an over-zealous saleslady. She explained the different styles of jeans to me and helped find a couple sizes. After trying on a few pair I settled on one pair that I liked so we headed to the checkout. While waiting to checkout, the saleslady came up to us and asked where the rest of the jeans were. Confused, my mom and I said that we left them in the fitting room (like we were told to do). She bustled around hyperly and said that she thought there was more (even eyeing my mom's bag!). Sidenote: I don't know that I have ever met a single person who could accuse my sweet little momma of stealing. We described the jeans and when she gave them to us, she seemed somewhat satisfied. Labels: bakin' a bun
Once checking out, I found out that Motherhood (besides accusing their shoppers of stealing) also has the worst return policy of any other store. Every sale item is considered final purchase and everything else you have 10 days to return it. I mostly shop sales so that was out for me. Considering in the beginning you have little idea how you'll look in 1 month time, I can't imagine having only 10 days to return something!
I was so frustrated by my shopping experience there that I wrote a letter to tell them. Surprisingly I received a voicemail from a regional manager just days later. Unfortunately this was in the middle of our move and I misplaced the phone number. The voicemail said that she would call again in a couple days if she didn't hear back. I never got another call.
Now I just don't shop there. I have principles, you know. The one problem is that cute maternity clothes are still kind of hard to find when shopping at the mall. Luckily I did find a slight loophole in my "No shopping at Motherhood" principle... Gordman's sells Motherhood maternity clothes. I have been able to find a few shirts I liked that are the Motherhood brand. But now I can purchase them through a store with a decent return policy and a place that doesn't accuse me of stealing.
I just look at the whole situation from the place that I'm desperate. I need clothes that fit! It's a lot harder and more frustrating than I thought it would be to find maternity clothes...
Edited (1:18pm): As I laid down for my quick lunchtime snooze, the phone rang. I hear a voice say, "Hello, this is Jenn. I am calling with a prerecorded message from Motherhood Maternity to tell you about our Secret Fit Belly jeans". What kind of timing is that!?
i want one
Friday, June 13, 2008Labels: bakin' a bun
Josh and I met little CJ last night. He's just adorable. It's a good thing that I'm pregnant already because my baby fever advisory system would be through the roof.
The whole baby thing kind of boggles my mind. I mean, how amazing that this little tiny person grew in Pam's belly for nine months and now is out in the world. It's hard not to be amazed by that little miracle.
it's always something
Thursday, June 12, 2008This morning after I got ready for work I looked in the mirror. I was actually having a good hair day. Wearing one of my new maternity shirts with a bracelet to coordinate, I was feeling pretty good. Labels: bakin' a bun
And then I put on my old lady compression socks to keep the swollen feet down....
some new things
Monday, June 09, 2008Labels: bakin' a bun
- Josh now rubs my belly. First time in my life I'm okay with that.
- Baby occasionally kicks me so hard I gasp.
- I have had the maddest craving for a huge piece of greasy pizza. So bad...
- We have settled on a boy's name. Still a little undecided on a girl's name...names coming soon!
- The sonogram on Friday was awesome. Baby weighs 1 pound 1 ounce already! We got to see it move a bunch, open its hand from a fist, possibly suck its thumb. The technician and doctor have both agreed that this kid is active. For sure!
music in the womb
Friday, June 06, 2008A couple of weeks ago my pregnancy journal stated that the baby can now hear what is going on outside of the womb. I decided that I should definitely play some music for the kiddo. (Yes, I realize this is completely cliche and somewhat dorky. But research has shown that there are some benefits to doing this.) On Wednesday I started a playlist in iTunes that I could transfer over to my iPod. What started out as a few classical songs turned into the musical education of my unborn child. Labels: bakin' a bun, music
I was picking through the classical music in our library when I came upon "Video Killed the Radio Star". I thought, "That would be really cool if my kid knew that song". So I added it to the playlist which then of course snowballed. There had to be some Ben Folds, Elton John, oldies, uh hello...Frank Sinatra, Jack Johnson... (I avoided anything that was a lot of bass or too harsh sounding.) I now have 4.6 hours of songs to play. Who knows what I'd have if I tackled our cd collection!
If research is correct the baby will be comforted by some of these songs after it is born. Let's face it, who wouldn't want their kid to be comforted by Stevie Wonder and REO Speedwagon?
taking the test
Monday, June 02, 2008Labels: bakin' a bun
Josh and I have been ready for kids pretty much since the day we got married. It's just always been something we wanted. We knew we had to wait until Josh was done with school and working a stable job. Last year we felt like we were slowly getting to a place where we could seriously consider kids. Although at times we thought we'd just go for it, we (responsibly) waited until we were a little more financially set. We decided that January was going to be our month to start. I even started tracking my basal temperature in November so we would be prepared. (Once we set our minds to something, we get determined!)
The pretty crazy thing is that I knew from day one that we got pregnant. Five days after (still too early to test), I remember saying to Josh "I think I'm pregnant". He replied, "I think so too". The pregnancy tests I had were calling for me but I kept waiting. I tried to convince Josh to let me test on the 9th day after but he was determined that we wait until 10 days. (Which also happened to be his birthday.) Those were the longest ten days of my life! (For those who haven't tried to conceive, many women call this time period 2WW as in "two week wait"...and it sucks.)
The morning of his birthday I woke up around 6:30 and quickly took my temperature hoping for a still elevated temp. My temperature was still high (a sign of pregnancy) so I ran to the bathroom. Of course I had to pee so bad but I was determined to do that test. Those darn wrappers are impossible to get open! Finally I ripped it open with my teeth and took the test. I laid it on the sink and right away the control line came up. I thought, "Oh crap, it's going to be negative." But then, wait...a faint pink line was already appearing??? My heart started to pound and my hands were shaking. I said out loud, "Calm down, Kimberly. Wait the recommended time." I decided to head out to the kitchen for a drink of water.
When I finally couldn't wait any longer, I went back to the bathroom. I picked up the test. Sure enough, two pink lines. Holy crap, I'm pregnant. So I paced around the apartment for five minutes trying to decide if I should wake Josh up, how I would tell him, what I would say... Finally I hopped into bed and nudged him a little.
"Josh... Josh... Happy birthday!"
Josh smiled sleepily.
"Guess what? You're going to be a daddy!"
His eyes got huge and he pulled me into a hug.
I'm pretty sure that's the best birthday present I could ever give him. I won't even try topping it next year.
pregnancy casualty #1 - cankles
Thursday, May 29, 2008On Monday I noticed that my feet were kind of bothering me. As I pulled a foot up to take a look I was shocked at how fat it was. Ack, both feet were really swollen. It's pretty early in the pregnancy to already have swollen feet so I think it was a combination of many things that caused it. The cute little heels I wore on Sunday, the sudden hot weather we experienced over the weekend, all of those darn salty potato chips I ate, all of the water I should have but didn't drink and being on my feet all day Monday... Labels: bakin' a bun
Josh gave me a little foot massage the other night and I couldn't help but cry when I looked at my throbbing fat feet and cankles. Luckily they seem to be improving! I've been keeping my once-cute feet propped up whenever I can and they look loads better today. I'm not taking any chances though, no more chips or foods high in sodium for me.
One more pregnancy symptom I can check off the list that I have experienced... No need to experience that again!
ultrasound
Tuesday, May 27, 2008Labels: bakin' a bun
Last doctor's appointment my kid was being ornery, seems that my ultrasound appointment wasn't going to be any different! The technician said Baby was laying with its face to my back so she wasn't sure how good of pictures we would get. Although she jiggled my belly, had me lay on my side...that kid would not roll over! The tech was able to measure everything and our little one has no markers for Down Syndrome and the heart measured good. The heart rate was back up in the 160's and we did get to see it move its hand up to the face.
The really cool thing is that because my kid was being difficult when we go back on June 6th the technician is going to do another sonogram to try to get some better pictures! Also, my official due date is October 15th. The little squirt was measuring exactly where I thought it should be.
pregnancy in numbers
Thursday, May 22, 20086 - hot dogs eaten in the past two months Labels: bakin' a bun
1 - hot dog eaten in 2007 (just for reference)
4 - times during the day I wish for ice cream
3 - times during the day I stop myself from eating ice cream
19 - weeks to go
5 - non-maternity shirts that still fit
2 - non-maternity shirts that still fit and look okay
2 - pants that I can now wear
7 - number of times a week I get asked how I'm feeling by random people
1 - day until our ultrasound
3 - books on their way from Amazon about babies
countless - trips to the bathroom during the day
knitted gift
Thursday, May 15, 2008Labels: bakin' a bun, the one with friends
When my friend Emmy Lou found out we were having a baby, she immediately asked if she could knit a sweater for it. Uh, yes...of course you can! So she wasted no time. I got the most wonderful package from her this week that included more goodies than just the sweater!
The sweater is just beautiful and so soft! I cannot wait to dress my baby in it. Oh and the matching leg warmers and booties. She also included a pair of socks and little stocking hat. They are just perfect and I really can't wait to put them to use.
Such a thoughtful and wonderful handmade gift! Thanks so much, Emmy Lou.
listening is believing?
Wednesday, May 14, 2008Labels: bakin' a bun
For those who didn't catch this on Flickr, I took a little video during our doctor's appointment Friday. You can hear Baby Knight's little heart beating away. At the appointment I first saw a student doctor who was shadowing my doctor. She came in and found the heartbeat right away. Seems that our little one is super active though because he/she would move away before she could get the heart rate to register. It took over a minute to get the heartbeat for only SIX seconds. We were all laughing when that little sound would fade away from the doppler. My doctor came in and got the rate right away. At the end of this video you can hear her say "140's. Perfect baby." Either we have a very active baby or just one that is already taking after its father and being very ornery!
things i worry about
Tuesday, May 06, 2008Throughout the past couple weeks, I have occasionally started to worry about certain things regarding my little one. Although I hate to worry, sometimes I can't help it. Here are a few things that I worry about: Labels: bakin' a bun
- How do we go about choosing a pediatrician?
- How will we find a day care provider? Watch out I may start crying if I think about this one for too long. Just doesn't seem like much out there in my community...
- Will I be able to wake up in the middle of the night for the baby and be able to function? (I am a notoriously heavy sleeper. Thank my mom who would vacuum when I slept as a baby. Note to self: clean while baby sleeps.)
- Will everyone think we're crazy treehuggers when we use cloth diapers and make our own baby food? Do I even care?
- How will we ever choose a name for our little one?
- Will I be a good mommy?
go with the flow
Monday, May 05, 2008On Saturday after taking a quick nap, I immediately woke up telling Josh all of the things I needed to get done. He wasn't thrilled with that so instead of telling me, he told the baby. Labels: all you need is love, bakin' a bun
"Baby, sometimes your mom gets a little rammy. She'll get all crazy listing the things she needs to do. My advice to you is to just go with the flow. When she's running around, just go with the flow. That's really the only thing you can do. I've learned to do that so I know you will too. Just go with the flow. Okay, I think that's all. I love you, Baby. Develop well."
choosing a name
Friday, April 11, 2008Labels: bakin' a bun
There is so much pressure when it comes to naming your child. Do you go for common or unique? Josh and I had decided early on that we both liked names that were classic but not super common. I don't want my kid to have a name that three other kids have in their class. That means that those Most Popular Names lists from recent years are more like Off Limits lists. Kind of a bummer too because I do like some of the names on them but we were really set against something too common.
Now that leaves unique... There are some crazy weird names in those baby name books. Did you know that Nikon is listed as a baby name? We decided that Nikon may be a bit much.
Another hard thing about picking a name is that everybody knows somebody by that name. "Oh I knew a girl in high school named Soandso. She was not a nice person". Hmm.... Well I don't want you to associate my baby with some obscure person you knew at one time.
In the end, Josh and I decided that we would not give out the name until we had settled on a boys and girls name. Once we are dead-set on two names, then we'll tell everyone. Until then, it's back to my lists.
exhaustion
Monday, April 07, 2008Labels: bakin' a bun
I spent about three weeks here, sleeping. The beginning of March brought the exhaustion I had heard pregnancy caused. I kind of thought I might sidestep it...no such luck. I seriously have never been more tired in my entire life. Luckily I think that phase is pretty much over with. I was able to do quite a bit of organizing and packing this weekend. I still can't do as much as I used to. I worked hard all yesterday afternoon until I realized I really needed a break. I had to pee again, my back was really hurting and it was so time for a snack. At least I'm not crashed on the bed, letting Josh pack us up... Now that could be stressful!
crib bedding
Tuesday, April 01, 2008Labels: bakin' a bun
A good year before Josh and I even were going to be trying to get pregnant, I fell in love with crib bedding by Dwell. It's called Motif Robin and it's just perfect. One thing I didn't like about it was the $384 price tag. I mean, come on...almost four hundred for just the crib bedding? I knew that I would never, could never justify that.
A few months after I happened across the Dwell bedding, I found out that Walmart was selling a modern line of crib beddings. I popped on over there and would you believe that there was one so similar?? The price tag? $79. Yes, please!
The day of our last doctor's appointment I read on Apartment Therapy - The Nursery that my crib bedding was on clearance for $39. Too good to pass up. So I told myself if everything went okay at the doctor's that I would order it. It came the other day and I am so happy with it. It's so exciting to have something purchased already. Now I think I'll be able to wait until we're moved into the house to buy anything else.
on the subject of food
Friday, March 28, 2008I pretty much go to sleep thinking about what I will eat for breakfast. Labels: bakin' a bun
Halfway through my morning I start to get excited for my lunch.
Immediately after lunch, I start thinking about what I will eat for supper.
that's quite the lunch
Wednesday, March 26, 2008I've never been a big eater. I don't really snack much and I eat average size portions at meals. Within the past month, all of that has changed. I love food! Everyone asks if I've been having any cravings. I mostly just crave meals. I don't want to snack or munch on little things. I want a well balanced meal! I used to make a bowl of soup for lunch and occasionally eat crackers with it. Now I make myself a large salad, some type of protein like chicken tenders, and then still eat "dessert". Labels: bakin' a bun
So far I'm doing okay on gaining weight so I'm just going to keep right on eating!
snippets
Wednesday, March 19, 2008When asked about his weekend by some coworkers, Josh said, "I got to hear my baby's heartbeat and got preapproved for a home loan". One of the coworkers responded, "Well aren't you just the American dream!" Labels: bakin' a bun
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Kimberly: Josh, aren't you so excited about Famous Dave's tonight?
Josh: I guess so.
K: You guess so???
J: Sorry, I just don't get as excited about food as you do these days.
K: Well you should, it's way more fun.
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After learning that we were pregnant, our friend Brett said, "Ooo, maybe I could be its nanny? I will at least teach it something! Like who's going to teach it how to play video games or to paint?"
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My dad sent me this article: 10 Worst Baby Names of 2007. Crap, Josh and I now have to start from scratch after learning our two top choices (Princess and Superman) are on the list.
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K: I don't think I'm really pregnant. I don't feel pregnant.
J: Oh really?
K: Okay, well except for the immense appetite, the complete and utter exhaustion, the sore boobs, the gas...
J: And the fact that you have TWO heartbeats right now???
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My mom is very concerned about what her grandchild will call her. Josh and I suggested that she go by "Grandmother" and my dad should just be called "Sir". All with a slight British accent... "Can we go to Grandmother and Sir's house?"
things going on with me that you may not know
Monday, March 17, 20081. I have cracker crumbs in all of my purses. Labels: bakin' a bun
2. I haven't cleaned my bathroom in three weeks.
3. My protective husband has become even more protective.
4. I can drink a gallon of chocolate milk in three days.
5. I've never looked forward to the month of October more in my life.
6. I have no concentration.
7. I have become a lunchtime napper.
8. I often say the phrase, "Well, What to Expect says..."
9. I got to hear a baby's heartbeat on a fetal Doppler.
10. If you haven't already guessed, I'm pregnant!
