Ooh, Shiny!

When I went to the hospital to have a baby, it would seem I had several surprises in store for me. Not only were we surprised that Luke was a boy, but the hubby had something shiny in his pocket to celebrate my impending mommy-hood. He even gave it to me as soon as we got to the hospital instead of waiting until after Luke was born. He figured it would be too hectic for me to enjoy it in the hours (and days) following the birth and he wanted something to boost my spirits during the hard parts. He's so thoughtful!


Steven bought me a beautiful band set with diamonds and rubies - Luke's birthstone - and I was beyond thrilled to slip it on my finger! Since the band is so simple and elegant, I decided to wear it everyday with my wedding and engagement rings.

We still need to get it re-sized - it's hard to get out with a newborn in the house - and when we do he's going to get it engraved for me. Yet another surprise in store. I'll keep you posted!

Shame On You, Target, Shame On You

Yesterday I went to Target to buy some fat pants yoga pants to wear for bumming around the house. After trying on a few styles I found some that were not entirely unflattering. The good news? They're super comfortable. The bad news? They're size XXL. In my defense, I could fit into the XL, but they showed too much panty line. I admit I'm bigger than I would like to be, but I'm not the biggest woman in the world - not by a long shot.

So my question is this - How are plus-sized ladies supposed to exercise if places like Target don't sell work-out wear in their size?

P.S. I've had this post swirling in my head for 4 days, but it is amazing how hard it is to get 30 minutes with my laptop with a newborn in the house.

Motherhood Is A Pain In The Neck

No seriously, my neck hurts. Luke is so stinking cute that all I want to do is hold him and stare down at him.

Seriously? Could you not just stare at him all day?

Luke snuggling with Steven's dad

And then when his Daddy holds him, swoon. Can't take my eyes off of them.

Birth Announcement

Here's the birth announcement I sent out to friends and family. I was too impatient to wait for an official photo shoot so we just used a picture we took ourselves.

I designed it several weeks ago, using the same elephant design I created for the calendar, then just had to put in his info once we got home.

Obligatory Baby Photo

GeoTagged, [N35.74018, E78.78078]

So I haven't quite figured out how to upload more than one photo, but here's a picture of Luke cuddling with Papa B.

More pics to come when I get home to a laptop.

Let The Up-Dates Begin!

4:00 am - I am awake and I'm pretty sure my water just broke. I had my OB paged and we're waiting to hear back from her. No contractions.

6:00 - My OB called me back and I gave her the rundown. She asked me to come into the hospital within the hour. We showered, ate a light breakfast and took a 15 minute walk then loaded up the car.

8:53 am - I am at hospital. At my first exam the nurse verified that my water had broken and that I am 4cm dilated, 80% effaced and at -1 station. They placed my IV port, drew some blood and checked the baby's heartbeat. Everything looks good so far. I only feel mild, crampy sensations but the monitor shows contractions about 3 minutes apart, so that's a good sign. It's just me and Steven for now, but our moms will probably come to the hospital around noon.

11:00 am - still feeling good. Contractions are picking up - especially when I walk - but it's nothing I can't breathe through. I'll probably get another pelvic exam at 12:00.

2:30 pm - still feeling good. Contractions are getting a little stronger. I am progressing slow right now. If I don't pick up the pace, I will get a small dose of pitocin @ 4:00. I am trying to walk around a lot to move things along.

5:00 pm - had a check-up and they are saying I'm almost 5cm. The contractions are stronger while I lie on my back which is opposite of what I thought they would be. The family is waiting in the waiting room. I am on the monitor now, after this they will decide if I need pitocin.

6:00 pm - contractions getting strong and consistent. No pitocin for now!!! Yay!

10:00 pm - I have to be put on pitocin, I have not made enough progress since 6:00. Contractions becoming very painful and long. I am powering thru them thou.

----------------------

Ok, so everything is over and clearly we got too crazy and hectic to do updates after 10:00 pm.

I will retell a more thorough birth story later but at 1:45 am Saturday morning Luke Evan was born! He is 8 lbs 9 oz, 19.5 inches long with blue eyes and dark blonde hair. I will post pictures once I'm awake enough to take some.

The Internet Is Mocking Me

As a member of the bump I have been getting weekly e-mails telling me what the baby is up to as it grows in my belly. Nothing earth shattering, just the typical symptoms I could be having, what's developing in/on the baby and the typical length and weight of a baby that age. Harmless, no?

Well, this morning this charmer landed in my inbox:

Um, no it's not. And how do I know this? Because it's still kicking me. FROM THE INSIDE.

Stupid internet.

[Imagine Jeopardy Music Here]

Much to the disappointment of everyone I know, I still haven't delivered a baby.

I'm only 4 days past my due date - and based on family history, I figured I would deliver about a week late - so that, in itself, is not a problem. However. Since my stinking midwife said I "could go any day now" at 38 weeks, I feel like I'm over 2 weeks overdue.

Last Thursday (40 weeks, 0 days) I went back to the pre-natal masseuse to have her work my pressure points and hopefully get things moving along. She was confident I would have the baby by the end of the weekend. Last time I checked Monday is not part of the weekend, so clearly that's not happening.

Last Friday (40 weeks, 1 day) I went for my weekly OB check-up. I was measuring 2 cm and 80% effaced, which is slightly better than I was at 39 weeks, but not worth celebrating. The baby is still head down and bearing down on my cervix. Yeah, I already knew that. Just ask my sciatic nerve.

At the end of Friday's exam, the midwife and I came up with the plan. I will go for another check-up this Thursday (41 weeks, 0 days) and if I'm still pregnant 3 things will happen:
1- She will perform a non-stress test to make sure the baby is still feeling OK.
2- She will sweep the membrane - a quick, drug free method of inducing labor - to hopefully get things moving.
3- She will schedule me for a hospital, Pitocin induction (which I am really hoping to avoid) that will probably take place next Tuesday (41 weeks, 5 days).

In the meantime, I am going back to the masseuse tomorrow evening to try the pressure points again.

I'll update whenever I have some news.

A Seat For A Kitten

Yesterday I stopped by my in-laws house for lunch and while I was there I got to meet their new kitten, Pixel.

She's quite friendly and snuggly. I sat down to pet her and she immediately jumped into my lap and climbed onto my belly where she tucked her head under my chin and turned on the charm.



When I wasn't petting her, she used my face to pet herself. Could she be any cuter?



Incidentally, Pop-Tart and Yo-Yo have tried to do this but they're too big and they just fall off.

At least someone is enjoying my still-present baby bump.

P.S.

Today is my due date! Whether or not I'll have this baby today is a mystery, but I'm super excited to meet our little one!

Nursery Art: Part 6 - Memories

Here we are, with the last of the art posts. But this post is about more than just art - I am featuring items that have some history to them beyond their short time in our new nursery. Many of these things are handmade and they all tug at my heartstrings in one way or another.

First up is an art pairing I have hung over my nursing chair. The painting on the left is something I made for the hubby as a birthday gift last year. I thought the sentiment was perfect for the moment you meet, and immediately love, a newborn. The hubby agreed so he didn't mind me borrowing his painting.


The frame on the right is a cross-stitched picture of Dumbo that my aunt made for my nursery many years ago. My mom dug it out of her attic and I love that I can give it a second life in the Peanut's room.

Next up are a few things on or near the bookshelf.

I'm sure our baby will receive many books in his or her childhood, but I couldn't resist getting things started with some old books of my own. And you see that fluffy white bear sitting on top? That was a shower gift from my mother-in-law and, although that bear is brand new, it is exactly like the bear the hubby had as a baby. In fact, he loved it so much he wore out his first one and had to have a replacement bear. I love that we are already passing down traditions from both sides of our family!

Next up is a cross-stitch sampler that my Mom had framed for me. A friend made it for her, originally as a pillow, and it held a place of honor in my own nursery for many years. The pillow was getting old and tired, but putting the best part behind glass is a great way to protect it for many more years to come.

Lastly, I have to show you this little rocking horse. I don't remember where it was stashed or when I found it, but I rediscovered this music box and tucked into a closet for when I have a nursery "someday."


Well, that someday is here and so I un-boxed it and gave it a place of honor in Peanut's room. As you may have guessed, this was also in my nursery as a baby and I have many fond memories of winding it up and listening to its little tune. The music part doesn't work as well as it used to, but the colors match the room perfectly. It's too old and delicate for little hands, but someday when Peanut is older I will show him or her how it works.

As I was putting my vintage treasure on the shelf, it occurred to me that this nursery is like a wedding.

We have something old,

something new,

something borrowed

and something blue (well, lots of blue somethings, actually).

To me it makes perfect sense. The wedding tradition represents the fact that the big day isn't just about the bride - it's about her family, her history and all the little things coming together. Why should a nursery be any different?

For the most part the nursery is finished. Now all it needs is a baby, which will be here before I know it!

Breaking The Radio Silence

Technically I haven't been all that absent from the blog since posts keep appearing, but that's just because I wrote a CRAPLOAD of decorating posts and scheduled them to appear as we go. I haven't actually written anything in what feels like forever. So, a few things...

1- I haven't taken a bump photo in a while. Do you know why? Because it's effing hot and I don't want my picture taken. I look pretty much the same as I did at Week 36, except more tired and more pissed at the world.

2- Yes, I've been cranky lately.

3- My cervix isn't a rock star, after all. Not even close. After I went and bragged about my lady junk, it went and did a whopping load of NOTHING. I went for my weekly check-up at 39 weeks and they told me I was 2 cm dilated and 75% effaced, which is pretty much where I was at 38 weeks. Midwife Debbie also said baby's head was bearing down, causing pain and havoc putting good pressure on my cervix and that it "shouldn't be too much longer." Yeah, that's what Jessie said the week before.

4- For the most part my feet have been pretty un-swollen lately, and over the holiday weekend I even saw my ankle bones again - they have been MIA for weeks! However, one night last week they got pretty swollen and Steven suggested I try to wear his compression socks. My feet were so puffy he couldn't even get the socks on me which caused me to cry for no good reason. I just sat there on my bed and sobbed like a toddler because I couldn't wear a stupid pair of socks. (See #2)

5- Even though my cervix has decided to start being a lazy cow, my uterus has been busy. I have been having contractions since Monday. No, not two days ago. Since last Monday. You read that right. I have been having pre-labor/latent contractions/whatever you want to call it for about 10 days now. Most of them have been mild little contractions, but a handful have been CONTRACTIONS that had me thinking active labor was just around the corner. No such luck. At the most active, I had 2 hours of contractions lasting 30 seconds and 2 minutes apart. But then I changed positions to try to get some sleep and they. just. stopped.

6- With tomorrow as my official (estimated) due date, I am going to go see the pre-natal masseuse again. She is going to work her magic on the mystical labor pressure points and see if we can't get the ball rolling.

7- After letting the poll sit for a while, I see most of my readers would prefer to get updates here on the blog. Steven's sister was supposed to be my designated blogger, but she is out of town for 2 weeks getting trained for her first big-girl job (yay for her!) but I'll be damned if this baby's going to hang around and wait for her to get back. So this means I have 2 options: do the updates myself (from my iPhone) or teach my mom how to blog and have her do it from the hospital. Either way I'll figure something out and I'll keep you guys in the loop.

That is all.

Nursery Art: Part 5

I know the blogosphere has been in a frenzy over Sharon Montrose for some time now, but don't think I'm late to the game.




The second I saw her Baby Animals series I fell in love with the soft colors and amazing expressions she catches on their faces. I got these prints for Christmas but they have finally made their way onto the nursery wall. I attempted to take closer pictures of my prints, but just visit her shop and let her work speak for itself.

I'm One Trashy Mama

As I mentioned in my diapering post, the disposable diaper liners can be composted or flushed. To make things easier on me, that means I need a compost bin in the nursery in addition to a regular trash can.

To get the job done I picked up two matching, lidded trashcans from Target and set them up in the corner between the book-shelf and the changing table. The stainless steel body and removable (read: washable) plastic liner bin will both go a long way to keeping these trashcans spic and span despite their un-enviable duty. Pun intended. To make my life even easier, the size and shape of the trashcan are designed to perfectly fit a plastic grocery bag. How clever! However, identical trashcans are bound to get mixed up during a midnight diaper change, right?



Not anymore! Using crafting supplies I already had lying around, I whipped up these labels in about an hour. All I needed was white chipboard letters, green acrylic paint and some rubber cement. I could have saved a step and left them white, or painted them to match one of the many shades of aqua in the room, but I thought the room could use a shot of spring green - according to my mood board, that was supposed to be one of my accent colors after all.

So, there you have it. I will pretty much label anything that will sit still.

Nursery Art: Part 4

What's cuter than a bottle, a teddy bear and a rattle? A bottle, a teddy bear and a rattle decorated with stripes!

After reading this tutorial over on Design*Sponge I was inspired to try this project myself. I made a few adjustments - Prismacolor markers instead of paint, cardstock instead of contact paper - but the idea is the same. I hung this grouping over the closet to add some visual interest in an often overlooked place.

This is another project that cost me next to nothing. I already had the markers, cardstock and paper. Then I mounted them on cardboard, which I dug out of the recycling bin and painted white, using paint I already owned.

Tell me readers, do you have any art or decor that you made from scraps and trash?

As If You Don't Have Enough To Read

Readers, I need your input.

I'm considering doing some sort of live feed for the birth. Nothing too gross or in depth - I'll save that for the birth story, ha - just some updates on when I start with contractions, when we go to the hospital, how far I'm dilated, etc.

So, if I do this would you read it? Be honest. If you want to read it, what's the best platform? Facebook, twitter, here on the blog? I'm leaning toward twitter, just because I can do that from my phone. Facebook is also available on my phone, but I don't want to annoy the majority of my Facebook friends. The blog updates are doable, but I would need an accomplice - luckily my SIL has volunteered for the job.

Even if nobody else wants to read it, I kind of want to keep a record just for my own use. But, if you are going to read it I want to make it easy on you guys. To get your opinion, I whipped up some polls for you. So guys, just let me know what you're thinking and I'll try to work something out.

P.S. If you're viewing this in a reader, you'll have to pop over to the blog to participate in the poll!

poll by twiigs.com

poll by twiigs.com