Sunday, April 29, 2007
wonderful suprises
Some really thoughtful people decided to give BDR a fun surprise party Thursday. (And I thought I was going to hear a Powerpoint presentation about a mission trip to Brazil.)
Alas, as it was a surprise, I was without camera to capture some of the more classic moments. I hope some pictures will be coming my way, but until then:
The bounty of baby presents.
Kevin was excited to see these among the cache.
It was at this party that Kevin decided to challenge and then destroy a 5th grader at a cake eating contest. Both boys ate a huge piece of cake with these huge icing booties on top. (It may be safe to say that neither won, really, based on Kevin's insomnia later that night.)
The booties are enough to give you type-2 diabetes.
Alas, as it was a surprise, I was without camera to capture some of the more classic moments. I hope some pictures will be coming my way, but until then:
The bounty of baby presents.
Kevin was excited to see these among the cache.It was at this party that Kevin decided to challenge and then destroy a 5th grader at a cake eating contest. Both boys ate a huge piece of cake with these huge icing booties on top. (It may be safe to say that neither won, really, based on Kevin's insomnia later that night.)
The booties are enough to give you type-2 diabetes.BDR = show-off
My list of wanting to have this baby now is growing daily. Of course, Kevin and I are excited about meeting Clementine Rose or Max Power, but recently it occurred to me that I'd like to have the baby out for less...parental...reasons.
(1) A return to the ability to walk around as a private citizen. Apparently, being pregnant is akin to wearing a huge neon sign that says "please talk to me about my life!"
Have you ever seen the movie Soapdish? There's a scene where Whoopi Goldberg, trying to lift the spirits of an otherwise depressed Sally Field, takes her to the mall so that Sally Field can be mobbed by fans of her soap opera. That's kind of how I feel now: going out is just an attempt to bring glowing and warm attention to myself.
Especially when I'm just trying to bag my own groceries.
(2) Knowing what sex the baby will be. If only so I don't ever have to hear the question, "is it a boy or a girl?" again.
Although, I suspect it will still be in my future, as yesterday Kevin leaned over to me and said, "you know, we'll never know the sex of our babies. Ever."
So, when someone asks, I shrug my shoulders and say, "it's a surprise!" in my most cheerful voice, and, depending on the crowd, throw in, "well, I hope it's a baby."
(3) Stepping out of this bizarro spotlight that's been placed on me by virtue of the fact that I am a reproducing human.
So, obviously I have a little problem with being the center of attention, especially since it's not like I'm actually doing anything particularly cool.
I try to remind myself that people are just happy for us, but I'm getting a little tired of having attention drawn to me just by walking into a room.
(4) A return to the ability to call my parents without feeling guilty.
Because every time I call now, I think I get their hopes up.
(5) A return to the ability to plan more than three or four days in advance.
Like today, when we went grocery shopping, and we had no idea what kind of food to buy. Because what if we have a baby tonight and we can't cook these vegetables?
Argh. Only a few more days. (I think.)
(1) A return to the ability to walk around as a private citizen. Apparently, being pregnant is akin to wearing a huge neon sign that says "please talk to me about my life!"
Have you ever seen the movie Soapdish? There's a scene where Whoopi Goldberg, trying to lift the spirits of an otherwise depressed Sally Field, takes her to the mall so that Sally Field can be mobbed by fans of her soap opera. That's kind of how I feel now: going out is just an attempt to bring glowing and warm attention to myself.
Especially when I'm just trying to bag my own groceries.
(2) Knowing what sex the baby will be. If only so I don't ever have to hear the question, "is it a boy or a girl?" again.
Although, I suspect it will still be in my future, as yesterday Kevin leaned over to me and said, "you know, we'll never know the sex of our babies. Ever."
So, when someone asks, I shrug my shoulders and say, "it's a surprise!" in my most cheerful voice, and, depending on the crowd, throw in, "well, I hope it's a baby."
(3) Stepping out of this bizarro spotlight that's been placed on me by virtue of the fact that I am a reproducing human.
So, obviously I have a little problem with being the center of attention, especially since it's not like I'm actually doing anything particularly cool.
I try to remind myself that people are just happy for us, but I'm getting a little tired of having attention drawn to me just by walking into a room.
(4) A return to the ability to call my parents without feeling guilty.
Because every time I call now, I think I get their hopes up.
(5) A return to the ability to plan more than three or four days in advance.
Like today, when we went grocery shopping, and we had no idea what kind of food to buy. Because what if we have a baby tonight and we can't cook these vegetables?
Argh. Only a few more days. (I think.)
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Monday Night Football
I'd always kind of liked my birth story: my mother was in labor on Labor Day, and I was born just after midnight on that Tuesday.
I like it even better after talking with my father Sunday.
Apparently, as my father was settling down to watch Monday Night Football (Week 1, Baltimore Colts versus Dallas Cowboys), my mother said, "the baby is going to come tonight." My father, ever the gentleman, asked if they needed to go to the hospital right away. My mother said, no, they had time.
At halftime, my mother said, "OK, let's go to the hospital."
Then, my favorite part of the story: my mother was escorted back to the birth and delivery room while my father remained in the waiting room, watching the second half of MNF. And, according to my father: "A few minutes after the game was over, they came out and told me I had a new daughter."
I love the fact that my father's football watching was completely unimpeded by my birth. I also love the fact that my father was nowhere near the birth itself. When I asked him about it, he reminded me that "it was a different time," but conceded it was something that both he and my mother were on agreement about.
For some reason, this doesn't surprise me.
The only sad note to this story is that it seems the MNF game itself was kind of lame. Dallas beat the Baltimore Colts 38 to 0.
I like it even better after talking with my father Sunday.
Apparently, as my father was settling down to watch Monday Night Football (Week 1, Baltimore Colts versus Dallas Cowboys), my mother said, "the baby is going to come tonight." My father, ever the gentleman, asked if they needed to go to the hospital right away. My mother said, no, they had time.
At halftime, my mother said, "OK, let's go to the hospital."
Then, my favorite part of the story: my mother was escorted back to the birth and delivery room while my father remained in the waiting room, watching the second half of MNF. And, according to my father: "A few minutes after the game was over, they came out and told me I had a new daughter."
I love the fact that my father's football watching was completely unimpeded by my birth. I also love the fact that my father was nowhere near the birth itself. When I asked him about it, he reminded me that "it was a different time," but conceded it was something that both he and my mother were on agreement about.
For some reason, this doesn't surprise me.
The only sad note to this story is that it seems the MNF game itself was kind of lame. Dallas beat the Baltimore Colts 38 to 0.
BDR, the recalcitrant fetus
Today, Dr. Sukhdeo (the other doctor from our clinic who may deliver BDR) confirmed what we'd suspected:
1. BDR is still high as a kite. By this I mean, she's not engaged at all. Her head is located somewhere just under my belly button. So much for my hopes of early delivery.
2. BDR has, in fact, been sticking her bottom out at us for the past few weeks. We'd suspected a bulgy lump on my right side was her bottom, but today we had confirmation.
3. I am not to tell the patients in the waiting room just how easy my pregnancy has been.
Contrary to our suspicions, however, I still have not cracked 170.
Kevin noted while we were waiting to make our (fingers-crossed) final appointment that the doctors seem very unconcerned about my pregnancy. And, truthfully, we are too. We don't really have questions when we visit the doctors, and our concerns tend to be of the more trivial kind.
Like: what happens if my water breaks when I'm out in public? (This was a greater concern for me when I still was working: what would happen if my water broke while I was trying to wrangle a bunch of 6 year olds?) I mean, seriously. What would I do? Should I start packing an extra set of clothes?
Or: does the hospital provide ice chips?
Or: Is that really BDR's bottom sticking out at us?
1. BDR is still high as a kite. By this I mean, she's not engaged at all. Her head is located somewhere just under my belly button. So much for my hopes of early delivery.
2. BDR has, in fact, been sticking her bottom out at us for the past few weeks. We'd suspected a bulgy lump on my right side was her bottom, but today we had confirmation.
3. I am not to tell the patients in the waiting room just how easy my pregnancy has been.
Contrary to our suspicions, however, I still have not cracked 170.
Kevin noted while we were waiting to make our (fingers-crossed) final appointment that the doctors seem very unconcerned about my pregnancy. And, truthfully, we are too. We don't really have questions when we visit the doctors, and our concerns tend to be of the more trivial kind.
Like: what happens if my water breaks when I'm out in public? (This was a greater concern for me when I still was working: what would happen if my water broke while I was trying to wrangle a bunch of 6 year olds?) I mean, seriously. What would I do? Should I start packing an extra set of clothes?
Or: does the hospital provide ice chips?
Or: Is that really BDR's bottom sticking out at us?
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Friday, April 20, 2007
breastfeeding class
First: have you ever been in a room full of pregnant women? It's kind of creepy, like some bizarre science experiment gone haywire.
Second: Our instructor tasked us with asking our husbands how "average" our nipples are. Because, in her experience, husbands are a much better judge of breasts than women are.
Third, and I quote: "...Your baby needs unlimited access to your breasts." It just got PG-13 up in here.
Fourth: Kevin was momentarily horrified when he though he'd have to eliminate peanut butter and nuts from his diet (as his lunch invariably contains a peanut butter sandwich, almonds, and dried cranberries). I think in that moment, he might have seriously considered formula-feeding BDR.
Fifth: Our instructor used a "My Buddy" doll for a visual aid, referring to it as her 10-pound baby. Funny for some mothers in the room, but my cervix just staged a protest. While BDR will not be 10 pounds (fingers crossed), she certainly will be a tub.
Otherwise, the class was informative. Now that we have feeding down, and KJ has permanent diaper duty, we just need BDR to get her act together and arrive already. (Can you tell someone's impatient? Just a little?)
Second: Our instructor tasked us with asking our husbands how "average" our nipples are. Because, in her experience, husbands are a much better judge of breasts than women are.
Third, and I quote: "...Your baby needs unlimited access to your breasts." It just got PG-13 up in here.
Fourth: Kevin was momentarily horrified when he though he'd have to eliminate peanut butter and nuts from his diet (as his lunch invariably contains a peanut butter sandwich, almonds, and dried cranberries). I think in that moment, he might have seriously considered formula-feeding BDR.
Fifth: Our instructor used a "My Buddy" doll for a visual aid, referring to it as her 10-pound baby. Funny for some mothers in the room, but my cervix just staged a protest. While BDR will not be 10 pounds (fingers crossed), she certainly will be a tub.
Otherwise, the class was informative. Now that we have feeding down, and KJ has permanent diaper duty, we just need BDR to get her act together and arrive already. (Can you tell someone's impatient? Just a little?)
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Friday, April 13, 2007
BDR = thriving. Duh. She's a tank.
Today's appointment with our OB was full of great news, including some surprisingly positive comments from our already very positive doctor.
BDR is, in her words, "thriving." Also, apparently I'm "a poster child for healthy pregnancy." Also, KJ and I "are going to be great parents." Specifically, we'll "be the cool parents where all the kids hang out. I can see (Amy) baking cookies for everyone."
Dr. Shin said she based her comments on the fact that we've been "relaxed and not anxious" throughout the pregnancy, but I suspect her cookie comment might be based on the unconscionable amount of weight I've gained. (Point of fact: I have not cracked 170. But it's not far away.)
Size-wise, BDR's in the 81st percentile. So...she's big, but not so much to be a cause for concern. Dr. Shin assured me she's delivered big babies with women with my build without problem.
The whole size issue really only concerns me since the only thing I'm at all freaked out about is the possibility of having a c-section. I'd really rather not have my abdominal muscles yanked apart and a 10 pound infant pulled through them.
Speaking of big babies: a friend of ours just told us about her 9 pound, 13 ounce baby. He broke her tailbone on the way out. We did NOT cover this in our birth class.
Anyway, because things have gone so well, we're allowed to space our our weekly visits a bit more, which is nice. I mean, I love going to the doctor, but it's getting old even for me.
BDR is, in her words, "thriving." Also, apparently I'm "a poster child for healthy pregnancy." Also, KJ and I "are going to be great parents." Specifically, we'll "be the cool parents where all the kids hang out. I can see (Amy) baking cookies for everyone."
Dr. Shin said she based her comments on the fact that we've been "relaxed and not anxious" throughout the pregnancy, but I suspect her cookie comment might be based on the unconscionable amount of weight I've gained. (Point of fact: I have not cracked 170. But it's not far away.)
Size-wise, BDR's in the 81st percentile. So...she's big, but not so much to be a cause for concern. Dr. Shin assured me she's delivered big babies with women with my build without problem.
The whole size issue really only concerns me since the only thing I'm at all freaked out about is the possibility of having a c-section. I'd really rather not have my abdominal muscles yanked apart and a 10 pound infant pulled through them.
Speaking of big babies: a friend of ours just told us about her 9 pound, 13 ounce baby. He broke her tailbone on the way out. We did NOT cover this in our birth class.
Anyway, because things have gone so well, we're allowed to space our our weekly visits a bit more, which is nice. I mean, I love going to the doctor, but it's getting old even for me.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
for good, and for evil
Now that I've cracked into the home stretch, I've started using my powers. What powers? The overheated, panting, back-rubbing, stomach-clutching powers of a pregnant woman in the home stretch. To date, I've achieved the following:
- free auto inspection at an otherwise closed service station;
- cuts in line...many, many cuts in line;
- the right to sit down anywhere, at any time, for any length of time
- and, most recently, the ability to partake in a sale in which I should have had a brown bag but didn't, but didn't need to because, "we're not going to make you walk over to Trader Joe's in that state."
It's also amazing how not-at-all guilty I feel when I go to the supermarket and load up my cart with five boxes of popstickles. (Yes, popstickles. If Ralph Wiggum says it, so must I.) Currently, I'm addicted to Dreyers Fruit Bars. Oh, man, they're good. I plan on eating at least two dozen during labor.
Hmm. Perhaps this is why BDR's a Gigantor.
- free auto inspection at an otherwise closed service station;
- cuts in line...many, many cuts in line;
- the right to sit down anywhere, at any time, for any length of time
- and, most recently, the ability to partake in a sale in which I should have had a brown bag but didn't, but didn't need to because, "we're not going to make you walk over to Trader Joe's in that state."
It's also amazing how not-at-all guilty I feel when I go to the supermarket and load up my cart with five boxes of popstickles. (Yes, popstickles. If Ralph Wiggum says it, so must I.) Currently, I'm addicted to Dreyers Fruit Bars. Oh, man, they're good. I plan on eating at least two dozen during labor.
Hmm. Perhaps this is why BDR's a Gigantor.
Monday, April 9, 2007
BDR = Gigantor
BDR in profile. Does she still have the Davis Chin? Or has she grown a Ross Ridge? We'll just have to wait to see.This morning, KJ and I had what we (fingers-crossed) hope will be the last ultrasound for BDR. You may recall that we learned during her 20-week scan that she has a "bum kidney." Apparently, one of her renal drainage tubes measured out of range, and Dr. Shin wanted to make sure that she'd grown into them.
The good news is that BDR's fine. Her drainage tubes are "likely within range" for a fetus at her gestational age.
But what is her gestational age? All surveys say she's a solid week older than we anticipate, which suggests she'll be coming out the weekend of May 5 - 6.
Which is great - the earlier she emerges, the better at this point - but May 5 is the First Eucharist service for the Faith Formation kids, and is the only date in the upcoming three months - nay, year - that provides any inconvenience at all. Clearly, BDR is her mother's child.
The ultrasound itself was fine - BDR's so big now that it's kind of hard to make out anything. She certainly doesn't fit in one frame the way she did at 20 weeks. Our ultrasound tech was the same as our last scan, who was really friendly and helpful but told us way more information that he probably ought to. (The room is covered with signs informing patients that the ultrasound technicians CANNOT tell you anything diagnostic, so don't even ask mister.) Really, the only drag was that I couldn't lie on my back any longer (stupid vena cava) and had to roll over, away from the screen, so I missed out on the show. In retrospect, this was probably a stroke of luck, as I could easily see myself caving and looking for signs of BDR's female or maleness.
And, I apparently have great amniotic fluid.
In more exciting news (that we've suspected all along), it seems that BDR's already cracking the scales at over 7 pounds. With four weeks to go, this means we may be on track to have a 9 pound baby. And, if her most recent femur measurements are correct, a short, 9 pound baby.
Yeah, BDR's a butterball. It must be all of those jellybean waffles I've been eating.
Thursday, April 5, 2007
baby burninator
Forget the cute Carolina mobile - I've sent Kevin to ordering this:
A baby Trodgor (The Burninator) onesie, courtesy of our friends at Homestarrunner. On an American Apparel tee, to boot!
(I really don't sit around looking at baby stuff to buy. I just sit around looking for other stuff to buy, and the baby stuff just kind of appears. Like weird voo-doo magic.)
A baby Trodgor (The Burninator) onesie, courtesy of our friends at Homestarrunner. On an American Apparel tee, to boot!
(I really don't sit around looking at baby stuff to buy. I just sit around looking for other stuff to buy, and the baby stuff just kind of appears. Like weird voo-doo magic.)
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
sweet dreams
Who wouldn't want this? Forget BDR, I think I might order one for over my bed. (As Kevin pointed out, it would be a lot like counting sheep.)
Actually, I'm in the process of constructing a sea-life mobile, but wouldn't it be pretty cool to have the baby's first words be "I'm a Tar Heel dead?"
Also, let's all say a big "thanks" to Kevin's April Fools post, which apparently fooled no one. Hermione Juliette remains safely ensconced in the womb, for at least a few more weeks.
Plus, really, she'll crack at least 10 pounds at birth.
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Welcome to the world
Introducing: Hermione Juliette Davis-Ross
born: 12:01am, Sunday, April 1, 2007
weight: 9 pounds 3 ounces
height: 21 3/4 inches
fingers: 10
toes: 10
Somewhat unsurprisingly, given that she probably inherited her mother's complete lack of patience, our baby arrived this morning a little earlier than expected.
According to the nurse, it seemed like Amy was having a relatively easy labor. But this didn't stop her from weaving a thick tapestry of profanity to cover the delivery room. I've never heard so many utterances of the f word, the d word, the e word, or the y word.
But Amy made it through, and now Mommy and baby are doing well. Daddy, not so much. I definitely needed a few (stiff) drinks after the whole experience. Good thing the bars were still open at 1am.
It's probably just our imagination, but it sure sounded like HJ mumbled "Mmmm... colostrum" in the middle of chowing down on her first meal.
I'll post a video of the last hour or so of labor, including HJ's entry into the world, as soon as I figure out how to beep out the swears. Until then, here's a picture.
By the way, Happy April Fool's Day!
born: 12:01am, Sunday, April 1, 2007
weight: 9 pounds 3 ounces
height: 21 3/4 inches
fingers: 10
toes: 10
Somewhat unsurprisingly, given that she probably inherited her mother's complete lack of patience, our baby arrived this morning a little earlier than expected.
According to the nurse, it seemed like Amy was having a relatively easy labor. But this didn't stop her from weaving a thick tapestry of profanity to cover the delivery room. I've never heard so many utterances of the f word, the d word, the e word, or the y word.
But Amy made it through, and now Mommy and baby are doing well. Daddy, not so much. I definitely needed a few (stiff) drinks after the whole experience. Good thing the bars were still open at 1am.
It's probably just our imagination, but it sure sounded like HJ mumbled "Mmmm... colostrum" in the middle of chowing down on her first meal.
I'll post a video of the last hour or so of labor, including HJ's entry into the world, as soon as I figure out how to beep out the swears. Until then, here's a picture.
By the way, Happy April Fool's Day!
