Photo Shoot

We had a fabulous photo shoot yesterday in order to put together birth announcements. This means that I finally got some photos of "open eyed" Addy. This was by no means a professional job. It involved me, an infant and my digital camera but I'm pleased with our results.


My mom comes into town today! add and I are taking a car ride to pick her up! We had a practice run this morning as we dropped The Husband off at work.

What is the record number of diapers used during a single diaper change? Speaking of diapers, I went 100% Fuzzi Bunz yesterday and I am so far pleased. Granted, at 9lbs., there's not a whole lot of output but so far no leaks!

Holy Porn Star Knockers, Batman

My milk came in yesterday. Adelaide seems to be pleased about this. We are still behind on our wet diaper count however but hopefully we will catch up today.

Last night went so much better than the night before even if I was up every two hours feeding.

The Husband has returned to work and my mom arrives tomorrow.

I'm still trying to capture a good photo with Addy's eyes open but she seems to be most alert when attached to my boob.

Thanks everyone for the encouragement.

Even though it's a reflex or gas - I like to think of some of her facial expressions as smile previews and that makes me very happy.

My Little Buttercup

My milk isn't in yet and we are all unhappy about this. It's not expected to come in until as late as Monday so we've been getting by on colostrum. I swear I heard Addy's first words yesterday when she wasn't getting enough colustrum and they were clearly, "I hate you." We freaked out last night at a pink discharge in her diaper and called the nursery at the hospital. Apparently it's normal but they recommended a formula supplement. So, we're counting wet diapers and as long as we have the minimum I'll be abstaining from additional formula. It's so easy .... it calls out to insecure mothers, "Look at me! Just try me this one time! You want your baby to be happy, don't you?".

In the meantime, we are learning.

Time off for Good Behavior

I got to leave the hospital a whole day early when the doctor came into my room today and thought that I was a visitor not the patient whom he performed a c-section on. He said I didn't look sick enough to stay and that was fine with me since we had been in that hospital since Monday afternoon.

We had two failed attempts at induction. My doctor had never seen anything like my cervix of steel. So, we made the call and like everyone said, the relief that poured out once the baby cried was incredible.

I'll be sure to document specifics later but right now I need to figure out the best way to wake a sleeping baby and further turn my nipples into raw hamburger.

First Encounters

Squish

L’il Adelaide

L’il Adelaide/Addy/Mahalia Jackson/Chinaman Baby/Escalade arrived at 11:41 a.m. yesterday. She’s a big’un at 21 inches and 9.3 lbs. I bet her mom aint regrettin that c-section now. More photos are forthcoming and the blogmaster will be back home sometime this weekend. Feel free to stop on by for a visit but make sure to call one of us first because the hospital will tell you we’re not there. We’re CIA operatives or something so Karl Rove might tell ya how to find us. Anyway thanks to everyone for the well wishes.


G aka The Husband/The Badge (too many damned nicknames in this family)

Hippy Foot

Thanks for all of the pep talks. As each day passes, I'm beginning to doubt my bodies ability to naturally dilate. It's silly but it's true. I've reached the point where I just want this pregnancy over with and if nothing else, it will be on Wednesday. This, I am thankful for. I feel like something switched off in my brain once all of my preparations were completed. The one last thing for me to do is to make rice krispie treats for the nursing staff. Maybe if I do THAT today it'll jumpstart something. If it doesn't, hey, I love rice krispie treats.

We spent Saturday afternoon in an urgent care facility - I'm fine, The Husband is fine, but my brother-in-law who is visiting (ya know - to see the baby - they all have great timing) contracted a case of what I diagnosed as "Hippy Foot". It's when you go to a lot of outdoor music festivals, like bonnaroo and somehow scratch your foot doing hippy things. You follow a medical regimen including rubbing alcohol and duct tape and ignore the growing sore emerging on your foot. At one point, said infection becomes debilitating and you can no longer walk. This is the point that my brother-in-law reached the other day. Honestly though, I didn't mind, whether I was home on the couch or in a doctor's office my only plans were to wait for the baby.

I have another non-stress test today and we'll probably go see The Dukes of Hazzard even if it's horrible at least we'll see footage of the General Lee zooming around our city.

Today is my "baby" brother's birthday - Happy Birthday Old Man!

This is Ponderous Man, Really Ponderous

Why is it that the use of toilet paper has become an olympic event but I can still shave my legs?

Better

Thank you LittleRazz for putting things into perspective for me. I'm at a point now where a few pep talks are great to hear.

I just got off the phone with our Bradley instructor. I felt like the classes were worth the money but even if I hadn't, my phone call with her was well worth the tuition. We talked about how low my Bishop Score is now and how I should discuss this with my doctor and try to buy myself a few extra days if need be. We talked about getting myself mentally prepared for the baby as well as Evening Primrose Oil. She also said that crying is very good - that I'm letting off steam like a pressure cooker. I plan to heed this advice for the next few days.

"Nothin' Could be Grander Than to be in Louisiana"

I was overcome with worry and sadness this morning. I've been so patient, I know that you can't hurry a baby and it's silly to try and do so. I have abstained from pina coladas and raw tuna - the only cravings that I haven't been able to give in to. Yes, I had Brie twice in one weekend but damn it was good.

I've read all of the literature. I dragged The Husband to our Bradley classes, our per-natal care classes and our post-natal care classes. Those have been over for weeks. I have no desire to even look at the baby stuff that I couldn't keep from touching only days ago. I'm frustrated and I'm sad because I am afraid of induction. I am afraid of that one intervention that could throw everything out of whack for this pregnancy that has been nothing but perfectly healthy to date.

I have a good husband who is reminds me that I still have several days before the induction - and it's true, I do. The key is for me to relax with a glass of wine (and some pineapple?). I'm also going to call our Bradley instructor today for advice.

This is my last day at the office which is bittersweet. As much as I have complained over the past few months and how unhappy I am with the upper management, I'm 100% behind the work that we do. Where else am I going to find that? What other organization would I be willing to take a 10K cut in salary for?

I might be teary but I'm hanging in here. I just thought that she'd be here by now.

Appointment #16: "Nonstress" Test My Ass!

That was the most stressful doctor's appointment to date. I knew to prepare myself to pick an induction date at or around a week from now. I was not prepared for that stupid nonstress test. I drank a soda and ate before going in there because she usually responds to food. No dice. The minute I got strapped up to that sucker she went to sleep. Then my doctor says, "this is no good. I need a dependable reading or we'll have to send you over to the hospital to be induced today." YIKES! So I poked that baby like she's never been poked before. If she is born tomorrow, she will have bruises and be taken away from me. I swear.

Anyway, everything is fine. We ended up with a good reading, there's lots of fluid, etc. Now the baby won't stop moving. I dropped The Husband off back at work and then threw myself a frozen yogurt pity party at Baskin-Robbins.

My doctor is not on-call this weekend, figures. She's been working for a month straight so I guess she deserves two days off with her family. I haven't met the other OBGYN in the practice but I've heard good things.

Rhetorical Question: Do our tenant's believe that we don't know that her brother has moved in with them which is in direct violation of their lease? Not to mention CROWDED! We're ignoring it ... for now.

Place Yer Bets

I'm going to take what alfredsmom has started and run with it (those times sound ok to me by the way).

Any and all are welcome to guess when the baby will come. Since I am most likely within a week of delivering, it really narrows down the options!

I can't think of a good prize but I'll work on it!

Belly Talk

The Husband has taken to talking to The Belly. He hasn't done it up until now. He was telling it this morning that "today is the day." I think he's sick of my complaining.

I have a doctor's appointment this afternoon which will include a Biophysical Profile and a nonstress test. I expect to pass with flying colors but I also have a feeling that we will be picking an induction date just in case.

I'm hypersensitive to every bodily sensation: "Is that a back ache?" "Why, that feels like menstrual cramps!"

The In-Laws left this morning. We ate at the scrumptious Pascal's Manale last night. I had the BBQ Shrimp of course.

I'll update later if there is any fascinating news!

My Husband, the Good Witch

41 Weeks Today

(T)he average length of pregnancy depends on ethnic background of the mother (Caucasian women are more likely to have a longer pregnancy than other women) and if it is a first pregnancy (which tend to last longer than subsequent pregnancies). For example, a Caucasian woman's first pregnancy lasts an average 274 days from conception (288 days from the last menstrual period). Wikipedia

288 days is 41.1 weeks. Oh how I wish I hadn't given people an actual date. I'll know better next time.

I gave my boss a heads up this morning and informed her that I intend for Friday to be my last day. No sooner did I leave her office that I had to explain to a co-worker, for a second time, that her daily expressions of dismay as to my appearance in the office are insensitive and hurtful. I thought for sure she got it the first time around but apparently not.

I went downstairs to follow up on some work and ran into a second round of "oh, you're still here?" from a woman who I had the following conversation with two days ago:

"Oh, you're still here? When's your due date?"
"Wednesday past."
"Oh, that's just like my first child. She was two weeks late and everyone kept bothering me. It was horrible."

I sat there, expressionless... waiting for the irony of her statement to kick in. It never did.

I have permission to sit behind a closed office door for the remainder of the week.

:: ::: ::
In other news: Did you know that Target will not take clothes back that are covered in cat hair? Even with a receipt and the original tags? We have a date with some masking tape.

:: ::: ::

Last night as The Husband and I went to bed with our two cats and five pillows (four of which belong to me), he sang a short rendition of a Wizard of Oz favorite to our stubborn child:

"Come out, come out, wherever you are!"

And lastly... I had my first infant dreams last night. In the first dream, I had a girl and she was more plastic baby doll than baby but I still didn't leave her in the car unattended. That dream focused on buying diapers. In the second dream, I had a boy and that dream was about diapering and cleaning up baby poop. Apparently my subconscious has no romantic illusions about parenthood.

Voo Doo BBQ

Yesterday I went home during my lunch hour and tried unsuccessfully to rearrange the bedroom. I succeeded in moving the bed the but the dresser got stuck in the hallway. I also succeeded in serverely annoying The Husband; something that I get better at day by day.

We had dinner with The In-Laws last night. They live in South Carolina but have flown in from the first part of their vacation in Edmonton, Canada. Dinner was nice. When my mother-in-law asked where the hospital was located and made plans for us to call them so they could be there for the birth, I stated that we would call them after the baby was born and arrange a visit. My mother-in-law understood completely as she apparently cursed out a nun during the birth of The Husband. I'm not planning on cursing anyone out (especially a person of the cloth) but several weeks of stressing about this conversation were dissolved right then and there. The In-Laws are not pushy people but I had no idea of what their expectations were in coming here during my due date window.

I slept better last night than over the weekend. I still woke up frequently to empty my bladder and the contents of my stomach (I wish this would stop) but I was able to get back to sleep.

I'm continuing out my day today with a promise to The Husband that I will not rearrange anymore furniture. We'll probably do pizza with The In-Laws tonight and dinner again tomorrow unless Miss "I'm In No Hurry to Back My Ass Out of Anywhere" decides to show up. Who can blame her really? From her perspective and in knowing me for nine months, the whole world must look incredibly cranky!

Fairy Tales

Oh, another thing that I was obsessing over this morning was the location of a book of Fairy Tales that I grew up with. I don't know where it is. I thought for sure that I had it with me and if it's not in my house, it's most likely not to be found since my parents have moved. This breaks my heart. I loved the illustrations so much and I don't even know the publisher. I have other fairy tale books but this was a collection of popular and not-so-popular stories. Booo.

I also wanted to put out a disclaimer. The Husband and I are very spoiled with the amount of support and love that we receive from our friends and family. I am very grateful for everything. The sentiments that I am expressing as to the plethora of phone calls are not new to any mother near or past her due date. I am a big baby. The Husband has promised to be my sentry. He has taken on the role of Public Relations Manager.

I implore everyone to be patient. If I am not up to visitors for one or two weeks, try to imagine yourself wanting to face the world with cracked, bleeding nipples, a screaming grunting tumor and no sleep. On the other hand, things could go swimmingly and I hope they do. If people insist on visiting, I guess that I could implement a "no shirt" rule where we all hang out topless. That could be interesting.

Good Morning Starshine!

"Aw shucks, you're still here." Co-worker

Thanks, it's good to see you today too.

So I spent the hours between 1 AM and 4 AM this morning obsessing over how I need to wash our sheets and possibly rearrange the furniture in the bedroom to make it easier to walk through. Despite this and my insistence that four smoke alarms get installed by yours truly and a six foot ladder yesterday as well as the re-hanging of crooked curtain rods, I insisted to The Husband that my urges are not biological and are merely practical and of sound logic. The Husband laughed at me.

He had another good laugh yesterday as I collapsed in a mini-meltdown. As I sat there crying and exclaiming, "I just want people to stop calling!" He no sooner said, "only two people have called today," when the phone rang. He laughed maniacally. I wept silently. I have been enacting my revenge on said callers by bumping them to the bottom of the "To Call List" every time they inquire as to the vacancy of my uterus.

The in-laws arrive today and as this has been a major stress factor in my life for the past two months, a factor that I have allowed myself to obsess over WAY too much, I am looking forward to being done with it and whatever comes my way.

What's in a Name?

I have to keep reminding The Husband that we are not sharing our list of names with people. Apparently it's just ME that's not sharing the list of names. Last night I overheard him on the phone with a friend discussing one of our (well, MY) top picks. She said that it rhymed with a popular SUV model and was picking on it unmercifully by the way The Husband was laughing. This is coming from a woman who has both a "k" and a "z" in her name.

So, I feel like we're back to square one. The Husband came up with a name yesterday that I'm ok with but I'd always planned to use that name for our future hound dog.

Too many choices.

The Kinks

"It's your life
And you can do what you want (within the limits set by good parenting)
Do what you like (excluding crack and some hallucinogenics)
But please don't keep-a me waiting
Please don't keep-a me waiting

'cause I'm so tired
Tired of waiting
Tired of waiting for you" The Kinks

Keep on Truckin'

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was fun and worth seeing. I'm a big fan of the original so it's impossible not to compare. There were some things that came across better in the new version but I think that the ending in the original is more climatic. FYI it's impossible to get comfortable and sit still in a movie theater at 9 months pregnant. Thankfully we had the entire row to ourselves but I don't think that we will be seeing The Dukes of Hazzard on the big screen. I am wondering after last night if Tim Burton is a Dead Head - there seemed to be a lot of allusions.

OH HEY GUESS WHAT? No baby yet. I will feel obligated to post over the weekend for anyone who's waiting but if she doesn't come Saturday or Sunday, she's not coming until late on the 11th or the 12th because I know that my body is not going to perform with the in-laws here.

I will be back at work on Monday despite how close I came to begging for inducement yesterday just so I wouldn't have to face my office. I am in a fabulous mood today which is a big relief to everyone.

Appointment #15 - Medical Terminology

The exact terminology used by my doctor to describe the dilation and effacement of my cervix is "nothing". Yes folks, 40 weeks, one day and all I get is, "nothing".

Boy am I glad I waited this long to get an internal though or else I'd feel like a big loser. Now, I'm not freaking out because I know that "nothing" can go to "something" in a matter of minutes. Labor could begin within an hour or two more weeks.

As I was telling my doctor, I'm not in a huge hurry. I'm not terribly UNcomfortable it's just that I wish everyone else would forget temporarily that I'm pregnant.

There was some question during the exam as to whether the baby had turned breech so I got a bonus ultrasound which was cool since I hadn't had one after the initial 18 weeker. The baby is indeed headfirst and there is plenty of fluid. The placenta is where it should be. We saw the heart beating away and the ribs. The Doctor pointed out that the rib cage was moving which showed that she was practicing her breathing. There was no re-confirmation on the sex so "she" could still be a "he". The Doctor said that if she were doing a biophysical we would score an 8/8 - whatever that means.

Ok, The Husband and I are off to the movies!

Humph.

Things that have made me cry today:

A Letter to a Daughter

A Post About a Son

And I thought that I had finally gained control over those hormones.

Yes, We Have No Bananas

A box of goodies arrived yesterday for The Baby. My mother was thrown a "Grandmother's Shower" and pulled in a lot of loot. I have never heard of such a crazy thing but since she will be putting up with me, The Husband and The Baby for two weeks, she deserves a party.

We didn't make it out to the movies last night since the evening show started at 9:45 PM and that's too close to my bedtime. We'll hit the 7:20 tonight. I'll keep my legs crossed. I scheduled an oil change for Saturday morning to give me something to do. If we don't make it, it's not life threatening but I figured that I might as well plan for it JUST TO GIVE ME SOMETHING TO DO.

I was taken out to lunch yesterday by a few co-workers and got some cute baby stuff. I ate too much and paid for it later with what I have recently been referring to as involuntary bulimia. I just keep forgetting how squished my stomach is.

I have a doctor appointment later today and will post this evening or tomorrow with the results.

(Un)Due Date

40 Weeks Today!

The handmade sign on my door reads:

Yes, I am still here.

Drink Coke. Play again.

Yesterday was pretty brutal with a lot of crazies coming into my office.

Last night The Husband decided to answer the house phone with "No baby yet." Fortunately we don't get too many calls. People seem to be under the impression that we will forget to tell them when our perfect little baby enters the world. As if.

I keep telling everyone that she'll come when the in-laws leave. It's some version of Murphey's Law. Let's not forget that and she's 1/2 me and 1/2 my husband. I don't like being pressured to perform and The Husband does not like being rushed into anything. We're both terribly stubborn. It's a wonder we get along.

She'll be here on the 12th.

Besides the continuous and painless Braxton Hicks, have been getting minor contractions - only two or three and that'll be it for hours. They consist of mild back pain and cramping but last for seconds. It's enough to tell me that my body is working but that I'm not anywhere near THE BIG MOMENT.

We'll see what the doctor has to say tomorrow. If offered, I'm going to put off stripping membranes until 41 weeks. After that marker, there will be a lot of pressure from my doctor to deliver. Until then, I'm in no hurry. I feel great, I'm sleeping ok and I still have to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

As a side note: I'm terribly proud of The Husband. He has won two armed robbery trials in a row after a terrible losing streak. Now if only I could get him to pick up his socks.

Toenails Painted? Check.

My co-worker who most recently gave birth is from Montana. I've never seen her in makeup or a skirt. As I don't wear makeup to work either, it surprised me when she asked yesterday if I had painted my toenails yet. I couldn't stop giggling because sure enough, I painted them on Saturday as the Braxton Hicks increased. She painted hers too only days before giving birth. There's something about the image of painted toenails in stirrups that makes it a little more acceptable.

It's a rainy day here but you don't want to hear about that, you want to know when the baby is coming. Unfortunately, I don't think it's going to be today.

My "nesting" has moved out of the house and to the car where I am getting a dent removed that we've had since last fall (it wasn't our fault - I swear). I also would like to get it cleaned. Fortunately the interior is in pretty good shape but could use a once over.

I've become a very light sleeper but that's to be expected. I'm looking forward to my doctor's appointment on Thursday so I can find out if The Baby is engaged (Who comes up with these terms? "Engaged" reminds of of fighter pilots and you know that "Football Hold" was not coined by a woman).

Best Laid Plans

The in-laws have chosen to arrive on August 8th to see the new grandchild. They will be leaving on the 11th. Because of this, I keep telling everyone to expect the baby on the 12th.

She'll come when she's ready.

On the other hand, I was Braxton Hicking (??) a lot over the weekend. Every time I stood up my stomach would tighten. People keep asking if I've dropped. I dunno - I haven't done this before. However, it feels like The Baby is deeper in my pelvis. This morning I went to poke where her back or butt has been hovering and she appears to have sunk a few inches lower. Of course, it could all be in my head.

All I know is that I feel pretty good and she's moving around plenty. I also know that both me and my brother took our sweet time to enter the world.

The Husband and I went to Slidell over the weekend to meet with our wedding photographer and picked out photos for our wedding album - two years later. As you enter his studio, there are framed prints showing off his work and one of the biggest is one of me and The Husband locking lips on a paddlewheeler with the city skyline behind us at night. We're famous. Damn, they've got our cake on their website too.