Oh I'm going to miss my little Bubba!
I leave on a business trip on Sunday and return home Wednesday. I am excited to, you know, sleep and be by myself. But I will certainly miss this little face. He really is a mama's boy. LOVE him. and nora too. and alec.
Friday, May 04, 2007
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Resigned
Alec is stronger than I am.
I can't let the little bugger cry anymore, it is just too stressful for me. After the Monday cry-a-thon, I realized that Ben had rubbed his little feet raw. He rubs his feet together like a cricket when he is crying and thrashing around. He had used his long toenails to scratch his ankles and feet. Not a good look on an infant. Also, we have fleas. Faye thinks he has flea bites on his foot, but I don't. I have flea bites though. We got the cats on the Advantage stuff so that the entire house won't become infested.
I feel a little sad that I am not strong enough this week to battle it out with a four month old and win, but sleep deprivation will do that to a person. Speaking of which, I am going to go to bed now.
I can't let the little bugger cry anymore, it is just too stressful for me. After the Monday cry-a-thon, I realized that Ben had rubbed his little feet raw. He rubs his feet together like a cricket when he is crying and thrashing around. He had used his long toenails to scratch his ankles and feet. Not a good look on an infant. Also, we have fleas. Faye thinks he has flea bites on his foot, but I don't. I have flea bites though. We got the cats on the Advantage stuff so that the entire house won't become infested.
I feel a little sad that I am not strong enough this week to battle it out with a four month old and win, but sleep deprivation will do that to a person. Speaking of which, I am going to go to bed now.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Cry it out Little Man
Connected to my last post about sleeping here is what is happening in the household this week. Sleep training! Cadet Benjamin is the second in the household to be enlisted in the Cry it Out camp. The philosophy is so simple, yet so hard to implement. Basically, your baby needs to sleep and eat when you say so, based on their natural desires, of course. What you don't do is rock a baby completely to sleep, or drive them around to get them to sleep, or do anything except let them cry them selves to sleep. Once they figure out that they are going to have to cry it out, they learn pretty fast that crying yourself to sleep just isn't worth it. This training usually takes about 3-5 days, but can take up to two weeks. I'm hoping for 5 days. Yesterday, Benjamin cried for the entire afternoon. Starting at 12:00 and lasting (with two breaks) until I made a break for it at 4:00 when Alec came home. I remember doing this with Nora, vaguely. But I don't think she lasted for more than an hour in the crying department. Home boy is racking up an astonishing hour plus.
the ideal schedule
6:3o wake and eat, play until 8:oo or 8:3o
8:30 nap for 1 to 1 1/2 hours
9:30 or 10:00 wake and eat, play until 11:00 or 11:30
repeat until bed time @ 7:00 pm
Day 1
So far today:
6:45 woken up, barely ate, played until 8:30
8:30 napped until 9:45
9:45 barely ate, played and ran errands until 11:00
11:15 napped...until 11:45 uh oh deviation from schedule, what to do. 12:00 started to cry, 12:15 still crying. Must wait until 12:30 to feed him, he's so wound up now he'll never get back to sleep...so I guess crying for another 15 minutes, this sucks.
the ideal schedule
6:3o wake and eat, play until 8:oo or 8:3o
8:30 nap for 1 to 1 1/2 hours
9:30 or 10:00 wake and eat, play until 11:00 or 11:30
repeat until bed time @ 7:00 pm
Day 1
So far today:
6:45 woken up, barely ate, played until 8:30
8:30 napped until 9:45
9:45 barely ate, played and ran errands until 11:00
11:15 napped...until 11:45 uh oh deviation from schedule, what to do. 12:00 started to cry, 12:15 still crying. Must wait until 12:30 to feed him, he's so wound up now he'll never get back to sleep...so I guess crying for another 15 minutes, this sucks.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Sleep
Today was a hard day. I won't go into it because it may make my friends without children, think twice about joining me in the world of parenting and I can't have that.
But, I wanted to post today because I was talking to a friend who said she can tell I have two kids due to my lack of posts. That is absolutely true. Any extra time I have is now solely devoted to sleeping. I was never like this before. I never hit the snooze button on my alarm clock, I mean what is the point of putting off the inevitable? I have to get up either now or in 13 minutes and what will that extra thirteen minutes of sleep really get me. I only wanted to sleep when I knew I could enjoy it. For example at night or late evening. I typically am in bed these days by 9:00. This is a double edged sword because Nora's bed time is 8:00 and if I want any time sans children this is it. But I desire sleep more. More than even tv. More than TV? how did I get here!!! Anyway, this morning I fed Benjamin at 5:36am finished at about 6:00 and returned to bed. Did I mention that Nora came in my room at about 5:00am to inform me that she was ready to go upstairs and have her vitamin and two spoonfuls of peanut butter. Outraged I told her NO, it's dark, I am still sleeping and you need to go back to your room and either get back in bed or play QUIETLY until I say so. When I returned to bed at 6ish she was still playing in her room (though she had come upstairs twice during the feeding) I knew that Alec would leave for work at a little before 7:00 so I was hoping for just an extra few minutes. They aren't quality minutes just minutes of defiance: I choose when I get up out of bed, not a three-year old and certainly not a 3-month old. Those minutes lasted far less than a snooze button.
But, I wanted to post today because I was talking to a friend who said she can tell I have two kids due to my lack of posts. That is absolutely true. Any extra time I have is now solely devoted to sleeping. I was never like this before. I never hit the snooze button on my alarm clock, I mean what is the point of putting off the inevitable? I have to get up either now or in 13 minutes and what will that extra thirteen minutes of sleep really get me. I only wanted to sleep when I knew I could enjoy it. For example at night or late evening. I typically am in bed these days by 9:00. This is a double edged sword because Nora's bed time is 8:00 and if I want any time sans children this is it. But I desire sleep more. More than even tv. More than TV? how did I get here!!! Anyway, this morning I fed Benjamin at 5:36am finished at about 6:00 and returned to bed. Did I mention that Nora came in my room at about 5:00am to inform me that she was ready to go upstairs and have her vitamin and two spoonfuls of peanut butter. Outraged I told her NO, it's dark, I am still sleeping and you need to go back to your room and either get back in bed or play QUIETLY until I say so. When I returned to bed at 6ish she was still playing in her room (though she had come upstairs twice during the feeding) I knew that Alec would leave for work at a little before 7:00 so I was hoping for just an extra few minutes. They aren't quality minutes just minutes of defiance: I choose when I get up out of bed, not a three-year old and certainly not a 3-month old. Those minutes lasted far less than a snooze button.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Moving
My best friend Jessica is moving to Seattle in a few months. We've known for some time that she would be doing this. In fact, I counseled her to move. All of the reasons for her to move are very good ones, the thing is--I'm really going to miss her. Thinking back, I have often advised my friends to move, especially when they are stuck in a rut. I think it is because I really like moving. Finding a new place to live is exciting. I even like packing and unpacking. Call me crazy, but I really should have married somone who's work involved moving. But, I am sure that if I had to move every few years I would soon grow tired of making new friends and setting up house. Especially now with kids, it makes sense to stay put. Essentially, we are not moving in the near future.
As tempting as Portland is with its appeal of homeownership and complete independence. We haven't been appreciating what we have here. Beautiful weather almost year-round, free babysitting just 200 yards away, a beautiful brand new house, and friends. Nora has friends here as to I and Alec. Our work situations couldn't be more ideal. I am working from home, part-time and Alec is about to start an incredible work situation. So, eventhough I am getting the three-year itch to move again, I'm putting down roots.
I'll have to live vicariously through Jessica: hiring a U-Haul, packing, selling stuff, planning it all--except at the end of it all I will just be left behind, missing my buddy.
As tempting as Portland is with its appeal of homeownership and complete independence. We haven't been appreciating what we have here. Beautiful weather almost year-round, free babysitting just 200 yards away, a beautiful brand new house, and friends. Nora has friends here as to I and Alec. Our work situations couldn't be more ideal. I am working from home, part-time and Alec is about to start an incredible work situation. So, eventhough I am getting the three-year itch to move again, I'm putting down roots.
I'll have to live vicariously through Jessica: hiring a U-Haul, packing, selling stuff, planning it all--except at the end of it all I will just be left behind, missing my buddy.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Landmark week in the world of parenting...
Three nights running, Benjamin has slept through the night. What that actually translates into is 12:00-6:00 or Heaven for parents! Life is just so much better when the babies, they sleep.
I have been watching too much Netflix. I am on season 3 of the Sopranos. I don't have a disc tonight and I feel like some part of my family is missing. Plus I have started swearing a lot more...
Work is going well. I am finally able to work for longer and longer chunks of time.
Benjamin is a good baby and Nora is an even better big sister. He is growing apace, 13lbs and 8 oz. at his last check-up, for those that care, that means 90th percetile. Speaking of percentiles how do they calculate that, because Ben had a bit of a head start on most babies, is that figured in?
I wish our lives were more exciting. The highlight of my week was ordering a new stroller online. Yeah, the year of savings? not so much. We test drove a Toyota Highlander yesterday...
I have been watching too much Netflix. I am on season 3 of the Sopranos. I don't have a disc tonight and I feel like some part of my family is missing. Plus I have started swearing a lot more...
Work is going well. I am finally able to work for longer and longer chunks of time.
Benjamin is a good baby and Nora is an even better big sister. He is growing apace, 13lbs and 8 oz. at his last check-up, for those that care, that means 90th percetile. Speaking of percentiles how do they calculate that, because Ben had a bit of a head start on most babies, is that figured in?
I wish our lives were more exciting. The highlight of my week was ordering a new stroller online. Yeah, the year of savings? not so much. We test drove a Toyota Highlander yesterday...
Monday, February 12, 2007
schizo much
Just wanted to point out that I recognize the up and down nature of my moods as evidenced by recent posts. I could blame it on the hormones, but that is like saying that you only said something because you were drunk.
Motherhood, take two
Mothering the second time around is really great. Of course there is more work involved because the older one does not cease to exist just because there is a new baby in the family. But it feels like we are a Family, not just a couple with a kid. And because we've already mourned our "life beofre" we don't have the same issues with knowing that dinner out begins at 5:00 or 5:30. And that our netfix nights can only begin after 8:00. But mostly it is amazing to have an older child with such personality and to look at this little baby and realize that he will have a personality too. What is he going to be like? A simple question, but one I don't mind taking years to answer.
He is a good boy. And having a boy is really different than I thought it would be. I knew I wanted a little girl, because I come from a family of girls, my closest friends have always been girls; I know girls. Boys on the other hand, I just don't get. They are loud and they don't talk much and their clothes are not nearly as exciting. But, there is something else about them...something I can't really put into words. I guess I'm talking about the Mamma's Boy phenomonon. When I look at him I know that he loves me just a little bit the most. Kind of like how Nora loves Alec differently than she loves me.
Right now both of them are asleep and the feeling is amazing. Sort of like the freedom I felt when I got my driver's license and was out in the car by myself. Stealing time from whatever I was supposed to be doing to do something I wanted to do. And kind of like the triumphant feeling you get when you complete a complicated brain teaser, like "I hoped I was competent enough to accomplish this, but I wasn't sure until it was all done." Like any great feeling, it is fleeting and they are both due to wake up at any minute (but Alec should be home any minute too!) Victory!!!!
He is a good boy. And having a boy is really different than I thought it would be. I knew I wanted a little girl, because I come from a family of girls, my closest friends have always been girls; I know girls. Boys on the other hand, I just don't get. They are loud and they don't talk much and their clothes are not nearly as exciting. But, there is something else about them...something I can't really put into words. I guess I'm talking about the Mamma's Boy phenomonon. When I look at him I know that he loves me just a little bit the most. Kind of like how Nora loves Alec differently than she loves me.
Right now both of them are asleep and the feeling is amazing. Sort of like the freedom I felt when I got my driver's license and was out in the car by myself. Stealing time from whatever I was supposed to be doing to do something I wanted to do. And kind of like the triumphant feeling you get when you complete a complicated brain teaser, like "I hoped I was competent enough to accomplish this, but I wasn't sure until it was all done." Like any great feeling, it is fleeting and they are both due to wake up at any minute (but Alec should be home any minute too!) Victory!!!!
Friday, February 02, 2007
Babies, Toddler, and two cats
Hello. We have a lot of beings in our house. Who would have thought that adding one new baby would have had such a exponential effect on our family. Suddenly, the neediness of the cats and nora and myself are amplified. What was left of y me time has been drastically reduced and I find myself getting mad at the smallest things. For example, Nora has this new baby Einstein CD (actually I think it may have been a gift to Benjamin) and it is awful. The music vaguely resembles classical music but with synthesizers. Yuck!!!!!! I bought Nora a CD with far better classical music on it that is played on actual instruments but this morning she insisted on the crappy version. I got so pissed because I am so sick and tired of doing what she wants. TV: winnie the fucking pooh or bambi. Music: she'll be coming round the mountain or baby fucking Einstein. If we're inside, she wants to go outside, if we're outside she wants to go inside. And I won't even go into the food issues. Basically, I'm running on very little sleep and I feel like a milk dispenser and I want to go to Target and get lunch with a friend and maybe see a movie. Simple little things really.
Sorry, just need to whine a bit!
Sorry, just need to whine a bit!
Thursday, January 18, 2007
I'm in Love
I'm not sure if it is because it is the second one or not, but it seems much, much easier this time around. I suppose it is because I'm already used to caring for someone 24-7 (and by the way that someone is very demanding and talks back--a lot). So taking care of a cudly little bundle of warm, wonderful smelling baby is quite lovely. He is a really good baby, as babies go. He is nursing well and sleeping as much as his tummy will allow him to (approx. 3 hours at a time). He is already trying to hold his head up and turn onto his side. Can you imagine what it must be like to feel either completely full or totally starving?!
My mom was here for the last week and she was a great help. She drove up to Big Sur with her husband today to visit my sister. They will be back Monday. I have to say that it is a bit of a struggle to get Nora ready for school while also attending to Benjamin. But, we'll get it together eventually!
I am hoping to post a short birth story here soon, don't worry I won't be too graphic!
My mom was here for the last week and she was a great help. She drove up to Big Sur with her husband today to visit my sister. They will be back Monday. I have to say that it is a bit of a struggle to get Nora ready for school while also attending to Benjamin. But, we'll get it together eventually!
I am hoping to post a short birth story here soon, don't worry I won't be too graphic!
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Benjamin Oliver
Yes indeed!
Meet Benjamin Oliver Schumacher, born January 5, 2007 at 9:11 am. He is a healthy 9 pounds and 10 ounces!
We was born at home with the help of my Midwife Anna Bunting and her assistant Rhonda after about 12 hours of labor. Once we've all slept a little bit more I will post again.
Yeah!
Meet Benjamin Oliver Schumacher, born January 5, 2007 at 9:11 am. He is a healthy 9 pounds and 10 ounces!
We was born at home with the help of my Midwife Anna Bunting and her assistant Rhonda after about 12 hours of labor. Once we've all slept a little bit more I will post again.
Yeah!
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
41 Weeks
Guess what? Still no baby!
I just had a nice visit from my midwife and we talked about the improbablity that I would need to be induced. Nevertheless, I am still no closer to having this baby than I was last week. This week I'll have to go in for testing on Friday and then probably see my OB as well. She's going to want to induce me, but I don't really want to. I mean, don't get me wrong I want to have this baby I really, really do. But, I want my body to be ready to have it and not forced into it. As long as the little bugger is hanging in there I would like to wait until my body gives the green light. Labors started with induction are notoriously difficult. Nora was induced with this gel stuff, prostagladin, and I felt the effects, called "hyper uterine contractions", very accutely. So, I guess it is just a wait (and wait) and see game.
I just had a nice visit from my midwife and we talked about the improbablity that I would need to be induced. Nevertheless, I am still no closer to having this baby than I was last week. This week I'll have to go in for testing on Friday and then probably see my OB as well. She's going to want to induce me, but I don't really want to. I mean, don't get me wrong I want to have this baby I really, really do. But, I want my body to be ready to have it and not forced into it. As long as the little bugger is hanging in there I would like to wait until my body gives the green light. Labors started with induction are notoriously difficult. Nora was induced with this gel stuff, prostagladin, and I felt the effects, called "hyper uterine contractions", very accutely. So, I guess it is just a wait (and wait) and see game.
Friday, December 29, 2006
My Buddy is a new Mom
So, Alison and Shawn are new parents and boy are they cute! Alison had her first daughter, Elizabeth Austen, aka Ellie on November 30, 2006. As you can see from this picture, she is already a pro. She is coming up on one month of motherhood, the end of what I like to call the Hazy period. It is possible she is now getting more than two hours of sleep at a time and maybe even venturing outside the house regularly. I am starting to get kinda nostalgic. Nora and I watched some videos of her when she was this age (and younger) in an effort to demonstrate that babies don't do much of anything except eat, sleep, poop, and cry. Considering that is all they do they are surprisingly time-consuming.
As for me, still no baby. Sound familiar? Ah well. I went to an accupuncturist on Wednesday and Thursday in an attempt to get labor started. Yes, I am a little desperate. But the price tag will keep me from returning $100 the first day and $65 the second. Ouch, you know I would have rather had a trip to Target for that amount. I did have some relatively strong contractions last night but they only lasted an hour. If we have the baby after the first our new insurance will reimburse us for part of the cost of the homebirth. If we have the baby before the first then we get out little tax deduction. So I guess either way is beneficial. Only two more days to spend, I think I will order a new big rug for our living room and maybe some side tables...
As for me, still no baby. Sound familiar? Ah well. I went to an accupuncturist on Wednesday and Thursday in an attempt to get labor started. Yes, I am a little desperate. But the price tag will keep me from returning $100 the first day and $65 the second. Ouch, you know I would have rather had a trip to Target for that amount. I did have some relatively strong contractions last night but they only lasted an hour. If we have the baby after the first our new insurance will reimburse us for part of the cost of the homebirth. If we have the baby before the first then we get out little tax deduction. So I guess either way is beneficial. Only two more days to spend, I think I will order a new big rug for our living room and maybe some side tables...
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Due Date
Today is my official due date, which means absolutely nothing. Only 3% of women (or something like that) deliver on their EDD (estimated due date).
We had a very relaxing Christmas. Nora woke up at 6:00 thanks to Alec's alarm going off. I refused to get up before daylight, so Alec dutifully played with Nora in her room for 50 minutes and we headed up the stairs at 6:50 to open gifts in a bleary-eyed, haze.
Nora loved her gauche stroller ($12 at Ross) and her Kitchen, but most of all she loved Bambi, which we watched immediately. Vic and Faye hosted us and Alec' s sister's family all day. We broke at around 1:00 for naps and then reconvened for dinner. It was a very mellow Christmas and the weather was beautiful. About 75 degrees.
Alec and I took lots of pictures with our new camera, a Canon EOS Rebel XT!!! We bought it last weekend. Quite a big purchase for us. We even upgraded to a nicer lens with an image stabalizer. I'm not sure who we think we are. In an effort to rationalize recent purchases (new imac anyone), I decided that 2006 is a year of spending and 2007 will be a year of SAVING. So, I only have a few days left to get a year's worth of stuff!
We had a very relaxing Christmas. Nora woke up at 6:00 thanks to Alec's alarm going off. I refused to get up before daylight, so Alec dutifully played with Nora in her room for 50 minutes and we headed up the stairs at 6:50 to open gifts in a bleary-eyed, haze.
Nora loved her gauche stroller ($12 at Ross) and her Kitchen, but most of all she loved Bambi, which we watched immediately. Vic and Faye hosted us and Alec' s sister's family all day. We broke at around 1:00 for naps and then reconvened for dinner. It was a very mellow Christmas and the weather was beautiful. About 75 degrees.
Alec and I took lots of pictures with our new camera, a Canon EOS Rebel XT!!! We bought it last weekend. Quite a big purchase for us. We even upgraded to a nicer lens with an image stabalizer. I'm not sure who we think we are. In an effort to rationalize recent purchases (new imac anyone), I decided that 2006 is a year of spending and 2007 will be a year of SAVING. So, I only have a few days left to get a year's worth of stuff!
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
The Waiting Game
One of the last great mysteries in the world is that no one knows what makes a woman go into labor. And, seeing as how I never went into labor on my own last time, my body is also somewhat foreign to the idea. In other words, you can be ready physically (and especially mentaly) to go into labor and for some unknown reason, you don't. Towards the beginning of my pregnancy I kept telling myself that the due date was immaterial and that truely I shouldn't expect to see this baby on the outside until New Year's (or after) I sort of tricked myself into believing that maybe it would be last week or this week. I mean don't I deserve to have a smaller baby, earlier? I think so. Additionally, I am quite large and I am not sure that I can physically get much bigger. But, again and again kids teach you the lesson you least want to learn, mine being patience. So, here comes lesson #572.
Vic and Faye are using this time to finish little projects around our house. Two weekends ago it was tiling the backsplash in the kitchen. It looks great and it motivated Alec to finish hanging the last cupboard and also finish the floor detail around the raised refridge. But it took an entire weekend and then some. Our house is small and there is really nowhere to go other than the great room or a bedroom. Last weekend, it was the bathroom doors that lead from each bathroom to the closet. They are glass and consequently don't provide quite the level of privacy our guests require. The plan was to frost the glass. Faye tried a spray on frosting that didn't work so know we are trying to figure out a way around the $150 price tag of having it prefessionally done. In the meantime, Faye has started painting the door trim for said doors, it will look great, but wasn't on my list of "things that absolutely need to get done before the baby is born" so I am feeling a little like my birth space is being invaded. If I go into labor any day now (which I have already established is unlikely) and there is clutter everywhere I know it will be a problem. So, I am hoping all these little projects get wrapped up b the weekend and then there will be no more until at least 2007.
We are really looking forward to Christmas with Nora this year. She has been so excited about everything so far. She asked Santa for Bambi, the movie. She loves it. We got it from Netflix several months ago and when we mailed it back she cried. We kept telling her to ask Santa for it and she hasn't forgotten. I'm glad she likes Bambi versus say Dora the Explorer. I watched one video of Dora and I swear lost several brian cells.
True to form, Alec and I treated ourselves to a very nice gift a la Santa. But we did wrap it up and put it under the tree just to be fun about it all!
Vic and Faye are using this time to finish little projects around our house. Two weekends ago it was tiling the backsplash in the kitchen. It looks great and it motivated Alec to finish hanging the last cupboard and also finish the floor detail around the raised refridge. But it took an entire weekend and then some. Our house is small and there is really nowhere to go other than the great room or a bedroom. Last weekend, it was the bathroom doors that lead from each bathroom to the closet. They are glass and consequently don't provide quite the level of privacy our guests require. The plan was to frost the glass. Faye tried a spray on frosting that didn't work so know we are trying to figure out a way around the $150 price tag of having it prefessionally done. In the meantime, Faye has started painting the door trim for said doors, it will look great, but wasn't on my list of "things that absolutely need to get done before the baby is born" so I am feeling a little like my birth space is being invaded. If I go into labor any day now (which I have already established is unlikely) and there is clutter everywhere I know it will be a problem. So, I am hoping all these little projects get wrapped up b the weekend and then there will be no more until at least 2007.
We are really looking forward to Christmas with Nora this year. She has been so excited about everything so far. She asked Santa for Bambi, the movie. She loves it. We got it from Netflix several months ago and when we mailed it back she cried. We kept telling her to ask Santa for it and she hasn't forgotten. I'm glad she likes Bambi versus say Dora the Explorer. I watched one video of Dora and I swear lost several brian cells.
True to form, Alec and I treated ourselves to a very nice gift a la Santa. But we did wrap it up and put it under the tree just to be fun about it all!
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Soon, no really...
I'm finally off work! My last day was Tuesday, I was hoping to use these next two weeks to relax and get ready for baby, but...Nora's daycare is closed starting next week, for two weeks! So I have basically yesterday and today to fly solo. Yesterday I went to several stores, like a madwoman, gathering the last items necessary for Christmas packages. Last night I made cookies, today I am packaging everything up so that I can mail it out. Phew!
On Monday night I woke up at 3:00 AM with Braxton Hicks contractions. They went away after a few hours but it means my body is getting ready to have this baby. I am excited but also nervous. I know that I have been through this before, but it is still hard work, hence the name Labor. Also, two kids? What the hell were we thinking?! We barely get enough sleep as it is. Nora regularly wakes up at 5:00 or earlier. But the thought of a little bundle that will become a bonafide person within just a couple years, that is just amazing! Oh yeah and they smell absolutely divine!
I also finished my web design class on Monday. Here is the result: http://soma.sbcc.edu/Users/Students/JGoffin/index.htm
On Monday night I woke up at 3:00 AM with Braxton Hicks contractions. They went away after a few hours but it means my body is getting ready to have this baby. I am excited but also nervous. I know that I have been through this before, but it is still hard work, hence the name Labor. Also, two kids? What the hell were we thinking?! We barely get enough sleep as it is. Nora regularly wakes up at 5:00 or earlier. But the thought of a little bundle that will become a bonafide person within just a couple years, that is just amazing! Oh yeah and they smell absolutely divine!
I also finished my web design class on Monday. Here is the result: http://soma.sbcc.edu/Users/Students/JGoffin/index.htm
Monday, November 27, 2006
Belly Shot
So, last pregnancy I didn't want pictures taken, at all, ever. But this time around, well I guess I just don't care anymore. In this picture I am covering up my wicked stretch marks with my hands. In the other one, not so much. I did not get bad strech marks last time. I think I ended up having about two or three once it was all over. This time, holy crap, they are massive. I don't find them completely disgusting or anything like that, just kinda weird.
Anyway, I just met with another midwife that may be helping assist my primary midwife, Anna. But she is off the week after Christmas and I am due on the 26th. So, if this baby decides to make an appearance in December, then she will be here, if not it will be Anna and a Doula named Rhonda. I still haven't met her, but I imagine she is great.
It was interesting recounting my birth story for this midwife, I described it as frantic, she said explosive. Both are acurate. I am hoping for a much more relaxed birth this time around, at least one which does not include a frenetic drive around Cambride, in fact avoiding the car at all costs is what I am hoping for.
Oh, shit. Nora just woke up. She should not be awake, at all!!!
Anyway, I just met with another midwife that may be helping assist my primary midwife, Anna. But she is off the week after Christmas and I am due on the 26th. So, if this baby decides to make an appearance in December, then she will be here, if not it will be Anna and a Doula named Rhonda. I still haven't met her, but I imagine she is great.
It was interesting recounting my birth story for this midwife, I described it as frantic, she said explosive. Both are acurate. I am hoping for a much more relaxed birth this time around, at least one which does not include a frenetic drive around Cambride, in fact avoiding the car at all costs is what I am hoping for.
Oh, shit. Nora just woke up. She should not be awake, at all!!!
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Shoes
Yesterday.
Me: Nora, please put on your shoes.
Nora:
Me: Nora, please put on your shoes.
Nora:
Me: Nora, we have to go, please put your shoes on.
Nora: I is (actually she's not).
Me: Nora, did you hear what I said?
Nora: No.
Me: I said, Put on you Shoes.
Nora: Oh, okay mommy.
Me: NORA! Put on your f'ing shoes!
Nora: You mean my fucking shoes?
Me: No (ahhh, yeah actually), your shoes.
Me: Nora, please put on your shoes.
Nora:
Me: Nora, please put on your shoes.
Nora:
Me: Nora, we have to go, please put your shoes on.
Nora: I is (actually she's not).
Me: Nora, did you hear what I said?
Nora: No.
Me: I said, Put on you Shoes.
Nora: Oh, okay mommy.
Me: NORA! Put on your f'ing shoes!
Nora: You mean my fucking shoes?
Me: No (ahhh, yeah actually), your shoes.
Friday, November 10, 2006
Baby and Belly
I received an emailed newsletter from babycenter this week stating that the baby I am carrying is currently weighing in at around 4 pounds. The baby is pretty well baked by now, basically just the frosting is left. The bones are getting harder and the little bugger is packing on the pounds (actually so am I). Considering Miss Nora was a healthy 8 pounds and 10 ounces, I am hoping for a wee smaller one this time around. Unfortunately, those warnings on cigarette boxes stating, "May cause low birth weight" are become less cautionary and more enticing by the day. I still have about 7 weeks to go, and that is only if the baby is born on the due date and I am definately NOT putting my money on that scenario.
So, now that I am 33 weeks, I have entered the point of pregnancy where I am constantly tired. I fall asleep some nights at 7:30, right after Nora does. Some of you may remember this time in my pregnancy with Nora, it was when I NEVER saw the end of the Apprentice. Luckily, I now have TiVo, which besides utterly changing my life also makes sure that falling asleep before primetime doesn't inhibit my ability to watch Lost or Prison Break.
In other news, I am taking a web design class at the City College. I really like it and as a bonus I am bartering with my midwife. I design and build a website for her, she brings our baby into the world safetly and natuarally. I am beginning to get ready for not just the baby's arrival but also for the fact that the event will happen here, in my house. Living in this culture, it is hard to adjust your thinking to the fact that you aren't going anywhere to have the baby, you won't be coming home from anywhere. What I am most looking forward to is not having to be in a car while in the throws of labor. Last time was not easy, I swear Nora was almost born just outside of Harvard Square and a car is really no place to have a baby.
Last weekend a good family friend hosted a baby shower for me. It was really nice and I will post photos to flickr when I get a chance. Most of the people were friends of Faye's but a couple people from work came along with my two friends Jessica and Nancy. The food was amazing. A goat cheese tarte, curried chicken salad, fabulous green salad, little tea sandwiches with cucumber and cream cheese, and an interesting "harvest salad" with pears, prunes, apricots and other dried fruits in a syrup, very good. For dessert we had a bread pudding made with croissants served with whipping cream and strawberries. YUM! There was also a two-month old baby there. He slept through most of it. But at the end Nora and Alec came and Nora got to hold him. She was so good with him it amazed us all. Let's just hope for the same with our little bundle.
So, now that I am 33 weeks, I have entered the point of pregnancy where I am constantly tired. I fall asleep some nights at 7:30, right after Nora does. Some of you may remember this time in my pregnancy with Nora, it was when I NEVER saw the end of the Apprentice. Luckily, I now have TiVo, which besides utterly changing my life also makes sure that falling asleep before primetime doesn't inhibit my ability to watch Lost or Prison Break.
In other news, I am taking a web design class at the City College. I really like it and as a bonus I am bartering with my midwife. I design and build a website for her, she brings our baby into the world safetly and natuarally. I am beginning to get ready for not just the baby's arrival but also for the fact that the event will happen here, in my house. Living in this culture, it is hard to adjust your thinking to the fact that you aren't going anywhere to have the baby, you won't be coming home from anywhere. What I am most looking forward to is not having to be in a car while in the throws of labor. Last time was not easy, I swear Nora was almost born just outside of Harvard Square and a car is really no place to have a baby.
Last weekend a good family friend hosted a baby shower for me. It was really nice and I will post photos to flickr when I get a chance. Most of the people were friends of Faye's but a couple people from work came along with my two friends Jessica and Nancy. The food was amazing. A goat cheese tarte, curried chicken salad, fabulous green salad, little tea sandwiches with cucumber and cream cheese, and an interesting "harvest salad" with pears, prunes, apricots and other dried fruits in a syrup, very good. For dessert we had a bread pudding made with croissants served with whipping cream and strawberries. YUM! There was also a two-month old baby there. He slept through most of it. But at the end Nora and Alec came and Nora got to hold him. She was so good with him it amazed us all. Let's just hope for the same with our little bundle.
Monday, October 23, 2006
The travelling family
So, we're back home. The trip was really wonderful. I got sick approximately two days after returning home. I am still sick, not going into work today, trying to keep Nora somewhat occupied. I will post for real when I feel better. But...I did upload all my pictures so that will have to do for now.
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