Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Target Juice.


One part of becoming a Mom of two that I had attempted to prepare myself for was the reality that my Cubbie time would become limited. I knew it was coming. I find myself missing my little man, even when we've all been home all day. Naomi requires so much time, especially at this stage, that it's hard for me to not feel a little guilty while she is getting attention and, consequently, Cub is not.

But, he is adjusting so well. SO well. There are definitely times where he fusses when one of us gives Naomi attention when he wants it, but the rest of the time, he is his normal easy-going self. When it's time for me to feed Naomi, he goes into his room and plays by himself, or finds some toys in the living room to entertain him, without me first asking him. I am so thankful that we have a son who is so content--I hope we can continue to help him be that way. We worked hard at giving him alone time and not filling his life with an overkill of attention when he was our only child--we wanted him to be confident apart from us--and that might be a part of why he is adjusting as well as he is--a little bit of nature and nurture, you know? I'm inspired to do the same with Naomi.

Tonight, my husband stayed with Naomi so Cub and I could have a Target date. He loves going to "Gar-get!", especially when there is the promise of Horizon Vanilla Milk (sold by the in-store Starbucks there), that he lovingly refers to as "Gar-get Juice!" Even when it was just the two of us, our more recent outings included me being very pregnant and uncomfortable, so it was refreshing to feel good and have the energy to make this date a fun one. When we got there, I scooped him up and carried him inside, not because he isn't capable of walking in there himself, but rather because I could carry him, easily, and happily, and he loved it. Our first stop was Starbucks where he received his Target Juice, and then we bought some cookies. It was great and my heart was overwhelmed with love for my little man.

I almost got a little weepy.

Being a Mom of two kiddos under the age of two definitely has its challenges. But I'm so thankful for the big brother that Cub is to Naomi. I couldn't ask for a better pair.

Have a lovely day.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Monday Wisdom.

Even if it takes until 4:30 in the afternoon to actually drink the first cup of coffee out of the pot you made at 6:45 this morning ... it's so worth it.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Bringing Home Baby.

(I wrote this on Sunday. Then didn't finish it. Then Monday happened. And now it's Monday night and I'm finishing it. Yay, me!)


This is made possible because, as you can possible tell from the above picture, I am not at home. Not that you know what my home looks like. But, I can assure you my house does not have a stone fireplace nor wood on the ceiling. No, right now I am sitting in the family room at my parents' house, while Little N snoozes soundly on the couch, my husband watches USA play Ghana, and Cubbie sleeps soundly in bed. I'm surrounded by floor to ceiling windows that give me a view of the back deck and back yard, four acres of grass and thick trees, and if I were to walk to the dining room, similar floor to ceiling windows would reveal eleven more acres of field and forest.

It's safe to say my parents live in the country.

And, on quiet afternoons like this, I wonder why, perhaps, I do not. Someday.

Anyway. All that to say, I'm in a very peaceful place with endless childcare, which allows for a nice blog post. I need to take advantage of it while I can, yes?

So. Bringing home baby. I've told my birth story, so here is what occurred after that.

The day after Naomi was born, I woke up early in our hospital room and jumped in the shower. It felt sooooo good to be clean. I peeked into the hallway and shuffled down the hall to the nursery, where I could hear our little lady howling at the top of her lungs, as she typically does when she is undressed against her will. I do not blame her. I ran into my doctor and told him I was feeling okay! and May we please go home? He said to hang tight and after a few surgeries and deliveries he made it back to our room, pushed on my stomach, wrote me a prescription for Percocet (cramps, you see), and cleared us for eviction. We packed up and I had to sign some papers saying I knew how to care for a newborn and promising I wouldn't lay her on her stomach ever. (I kind of lied, DON'T TELL.)

Then we packed up and headed home.

Now. Let me back up a little here and explain something. I've mentioned before my postpartum anxiety with Cub. Going home was nerve-wracking with him, to say the least. I remember standing in the hospital nursery, shaking, wondering who in their right mind thought I was fit enough to bring home a newborn. I was extremely sore and tired. I've always been jealous of my friends who have warm fuzzy weepy hormones after their babies are born, rather than the shaky terrified hormones like I did. Well, this time, I couldn't wait to get home. I was soaring.

We walked in the front door and it was as though the heavens opened up and poured down all of the wonderful goodness of beauty and loveliness it could muster. I swooped through the front door, greeted my handsome little Cub, and carried Naomi into her room for the first time. "This is YOUR room!!" I declared happily, showing her the owls on her crib sheets and her silver shoes hanging on the wall. The sun shone through her windows and at that moment, her bright little room was the most beautiful place on earth. I couldn't wait for her to wake up, even if it was several times a night, because Oh my goodness, she's HERE! I had enough energy to power a small village. I was thrilled with every coo, every fuss, every diaper change. My heart was soaring and I may have broken into song a few times.

Forget warm fuzzy weepy hormones. These hormones were like an LSD trip.

And I couldn't have asked for anything better.

Of course, as the days went by, the high wore off, but not in a bad way. I started to feel tired at night, like a normal person, and my happiness reached a satisfied level of good. I felt more like myself, which was nice. I was amazed at how quickly I was able to jump back into the life of caring for a newborn, with seemingly endless feedings and crying that I don't always understand. Right now, Little N eats about every 2-2 1/2 hours, and I'm very much looking forward to when we can stretch that out to 3. :) Her cry is shrill enough to shatter glass (and brain cells) but, oddly enough, it doesn't make me nervous or anxious. Stressed at times, yes, but nothing I can't manage. This time around, I find that I am taking everything in more deeply than I did when Cub was born. Obviously, this has nothing to do with the babies and everything to do with me--now that I know how quickly the stages pass, I'm doing my best to cherish every moment, with both kids. I can't believe Little N is already two weeks old.

And a little cry just came over the monitor--time to run. Sorry to end this post like that, but I have a feeling that will happen a lot for a little while!

Have a lovely day!

Friday, June 25, 2010

Feel Good Friday.


1) Naomi's first coffee date with Baby E (first of many).


2) Lots of bubbles in the backyard with my little man.


3) Naomi's birth announcements came in.


4) Accidental smiles on the back patio.



5) Mighty Summer List Number Seven: Drive to Arkansas, by myself, with both children.
I won't be by myself. But, it's still kind of counts, right?? :)

Have a lovely weekend, friends!

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

My Happy Place.


When I was in labor with Cub, I had my labor plan all ready to go. I knew how to breathe and, most importantly, I knew exactly what my "happy place" was going to be. You know--the place you go in your head to block out the excruciating pain of preparing your body to produce a human being.

THAT happy place.

With Cub, my happy place was a beach in Cozumel with some dear friends, a memory from a cruise we took before any of us started families. The hot sand, the vivid blue ocean, and the absolute carefree beauty of that moment was exactly where my brain needed to go under duress. This time around, I assumed my happy place would stay the same. I like beaches.

However, I was wrong.

When they started the pitocin, my contractions began to come more regularly with more intensity. The room was ready to go--the lights were dimmed, my husband was by my side, and we had NeedToBreathe playing a loop of their Outsiders album on our laptop. As the contractions built, I found myself breathing and, of course, going to my happy place. But, this time around, the footprints in the sand just weren't cutting it for me.

Then the song, "Stones Under Rushing Water" came through the laptop speakers. You can listen to the song here. Seriously, listen to it, or at least some of it, or else this post won't exactly make sense.

As I felt another contraction build, I gripped my husband's hand, closed my eyes ... and suddenly my mind was filled with memories of my little Cub. Remembering him as a baby, remembering the first time he sat up, ate food, crawled, took a step ... as the lyrics played in the back of my mind, the past 20 months of my life sat comfortably at the forefront, and I felt tears well up in my eyes.

And I started to sob.

I found myself overwhelmed at the thought that as we were preparing to bring our daughter into this world, our son was flooding my thoughts, and my husband was by my side. I wasn't scared or stressed--it was the kind of overwhelming that washes over you sweetly and covers you wholly, bringing a simultaneous feeling of excitement and peace. I knew I was exactly where I wanted to be.

As the lyrics imply, life is too short to not enjoy every moment. I never want to stop. Today as I sat outside with Cub, blowing bubbles on the back patio while Naomi slept soundly on her play gym, my mind wandered back to that moment, and to that song. And as Cub chased the bubbles across the lawn and the hot sun poured on my shoulders, I heard Naomi coo from her spot in the shade. I realized my life is a simple one.

And I have found my happy place.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Yes, She's In There.


After attempting to cram all of our stuff into the cart like this ...


... I have invested in one of these.


Little N is still just a bit too small for the Bjorn. Plus, I've always wanted to try a sling. When I first tried it on, I didn't love it, but Naomi did. She snuggled right in. After wearing it around the house for a while, I think I love it, too!

Monday, June 21, 2010

Dos Kiddos.




I can't exactly say how life with two is going, since we have had the constant (and greatly appreciated) help of both of our parents, graciously stepping in these past few days. So far, Cub's response to Naomi has been good, if not a little better than expected. He has jealous moments, of course, and we make it a point to both spend alone time with him when we can, switching between each child to try and keep things balanced (for example, if I take bath time, my husband takes bed time). While we were still in the hospital, we asked Cub if he wanted to give Naomi a hug. He took one look at her and shyly stepped back. And that was okay with us. We've always agreed that Cub never has to touch anyone or be touched by anyone he doesn't want to, including family (he usually loves hugs or kisses, but you get my point). A high-five or knuckles ("knucks!") is sufficient. So, when he decided he didn't want to touch Naomi, that was fine by us. She was completely new to him, after all--a stranger, basically!

So, over the past few days, it's been so sweet to watch him come around. It started with him shyly waving at his sister and saying, "Hi, Nomi!" in his sweet little voice. Then he decided that, while he himself wasn't going to give his sister a kiss, his toys were, so Naomi received little kisses from Cub's various toy dolphins, turtles, and trucks. And then today I asked Cub if he wanted to give Naomi a little kiss.

And melt my heart, he did. He toddled right over to her, bent down, and pecked her cheek.

I'm so glad we didn't force him to try to "love" his sister. It's wonderful to watch him become more familiar with her. I think we've realized that, besides the obvious challenges that come with adding another baby to the family, this will only be a big deal if we make it one. We love this sweet time.

Tomorrow is my first official day with both kids alone. I've made a to-do list, to keep my head from spinning, and one of the items on the list is Number Four on my Mighty Summer List: Go to Target with both children.

We need milk and toilet paper.

I might also buy a sling. I have a Baby Bjorn and I've borrowed a sling from my friend, but Target had some that looked comfy. What do y'all prefer--baby carrier or sling? Just curious. I know I love the Bjorn, but I've never used a sling.

Anyway. So, as you read this, think of me scrambling around with both kids. Hopefully I will at least put on some mascara. :)

Either way, this is a blessed time.


So bring on the craziness. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Have a lovely day!

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Post, Interrupted.


(By you know who.)

I had a long post in my head. Then the little lady got gassy.

And now I can barely see straight. Time for bed.

Have a lovely day. :)

Friday, June 18, 2010

Mighty Summer List Number One.


Birth a baby.

My husband and I stopped at one of our favorite local joints to enjoy some gyros before heading to the hospital on Monday night. After a delicious dinner, we checked in and got everything settled. They gave me Cervadil and we hunkered down for the night. It was restless, from all of the monitors and such, and finally at 4:00am I resigned to the fact that sleep wasn't going to come, so I picked up my book (Through Painted Deserts--you can see it on the left there) and read for an hour or so. At 5:00am they came in and told me I could shower (YAY!) and that the pitocin was on its way (not so yay!). My husband and I had an hour to relax, walk around, and get ready for the day. It was great.

They checked me at 6:00am and I was still a 3. The pitocin began and the contractions started shortly thereafter. They were manageable at first, as expected, but by later that morning (I have no idea what time it was--I was clinging to the ceiling) I requested (BEGGED FOR) my epidural. I think I was a 4. I was arching my back and screeching. It was not very pretty. My poor husband's hand was being squeezed to a pulp. The epidural came just before noon (um, I think) and within two minutes I couldn't feel the contractions at all. I mean, AT ALL. With Cub, I could still feel them a little, but this time around I felt NOTHING.

It was kind of the most amazing thing ever, to be in excruciating pain one minute and then completely comfortable and, well, numb, the next. I loved it.

Around 1:00 they checked me again and I was a six. They decided they would break my water shortly. Sweet! They checked me around 1:30 and I was a 7. As the doctor broke my water, I had a contraction that dilated me to an 8. The doctor stepped outside the door to grab something and the nurse felt the need to check me again. I was complete. She yelled for my doctor who came back in and started getting ready for me to push. The nurse asked me to do some practice pushes, which was hilarious, because y'all, I couldn't feel A THING. I did my best to push and then she suddenly said, "Stop! Stop!" and I had to do that kind of breathing you hear about in movies. The "He-he-he-he!" breathing. Apparently, that helps to stop a baby in motion. :) Two contractions later, out comes Naomi, beautiful and screaming, at 1:43. And pooping. She was ready!

My husband and I looked at each other in dismay. I was in no pain. My three hour pushing marathon with Cub was a thing of the past. Just like that, Naomi was here. We cried and laughed and the family came in and it was amazing.

Seriously, it was the easiest craziest thing. I'm still in awe of it.

I'm sorry that's such a short version :), but that's all I've got time for right now! Our little lady is continuing to chug right along. She loves to keep me up at night and I love to snuggle, so we're doing good so far!! My milk came in today (I'm sure you all wanted to know that ... :)) so hopefully her crazy feeding will begin to develop a pattern.

Until then, I will update as I can!

Have a lovely day, friends!

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Quick Update!


Okay seriously. YUMMY!

I have a few minutes to myself so I'm going to post some quick updates between naps and nursing and bites of Kashi cereal and soy milk. Meal of champions! :)

Birth: I'll tell the story later. It was quick, it was awesome.

Breastfeeding: This little lady EATS AND EATS AND EATS! I love her huge appetite. She latched on right away and has been nursing ever since (really, seriously, she eats all the time). The nurses were crazy impressed with her weight when we were discharged, so that's great!

Sleeping: We're putting her down in her crib for small increments and trying not to hold her ALL the time. For now, she isn't staying in our room, but that might change. I nurse better when I have to get up and walk across the house to get her, so the arrangement is working well for now! When she isn't in her crib, we're holding her. :)

Screaming: This lady has LUNGS! She knows what she wants when she wants it. She has definitely calmed down since we've come home from the hospital, though.

Me: I had postpartum anxiety with Cub. So far, this isn't the case with Naomi, and I praise God for it. I'm relaxed, I'm happy. We had a crazy sleepless night last night (well, I didn't sleep), and it didn't stress me out at all. Don't get me wrong, I was tired, but the panic that I experienced with Cub simply isn't there this time. I'm patient, I'm not in a hurry to make things work, and I'm enjoying every little small thing that I can. When Naomi cries, a rush of tension doesn't come--instead I can respond and take care of it (albeit a bit awkwardly, in the middle of the night!). I'm actually enjoying this stage, which is amazing. I have no idea if Naomi will be an "easy" baby or "difficult" baby, and I truly and honestly don't care. I'm loving it! Also, physically I'm doing really well. Without giving too much info :), the delivery was awesome and I have barely any side effects from it. The most painful thing right now are the contractions I experience when Naomi nurses. And I just keep telling myself that they will help the preggo belly go down!

Cub: We've only been home for a day, so I can't really say how Cub is adjusting because it hasn't been very long! He's loving his Memere being here with us. I'm doing my best to spend time with him when I can. Naomi requires a lot of time and I'm so glad my Mom is here, but I won't really be able to know how Cub's doing until everything gets back to its new kind of normal, you know?? For now, he's great. I missed him while we were in the hospital and it's so good to be home.

In summary: Last night I stuck Naomi in the crib and put Cub to bed. When I came into the living room, I sat down next to my husband and squeezed his hand. We just sat there and held hands, staring at the two doors to the two rooms that hold our two children, our sweet son and our precious baby girl. It's overwhelming and wonderful, all at the same time.

I hope this made sense and I hope I spelled things right!! There's the latest update. More to come when I get the time!

Have a lovely day!

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Ta-Da!


She's here!!

Naomi Kate

7 lbs 9 oz

20.5 inches long
About to start Pitocin. Signing off for a while.

Have a lovely Saturday, friends!!


Monday, June 14, 2010

Drumroll.

I am warning you now that this post will be long. And sappy.

We dubbed this weekend "The Last Weekend Before Naomi!" and created a game plan of events to celebrate our last weekend as a family of three, and to also begin preparing for our lives as a family of four. I know that Cub doesn't really get what's going on. He knows Mama is a bit larger now than she was nine months ago and he knows his old room now holds "Nomi's bed!" and "Nomi's swing!" He points at my stomach and says, "Nomi!" but I know that he doesn't understand that there is, in fact, a baby growing inside.

A fact that still seems surreal to myself.

But, despite the fact that he might not understand everything, we wanted to focus on activities we knew Cub would like, while tying in the Big Brother theme (of the "he will have a little sister" persuasion, not of the "1984" persuasion). I have to tell you that as I type this, my fingers are shaking just a little. It's Sunday afternoon and I just finished cleaning Cub's room and putting fresh sheets on his bed. In almost 24 hours, my husband and I will be heading to the hospital to begin the prep for Naomi's arrival the next morning. The feeling is exhilarating and terrifying at the same time, like standing at the edge of a huge rock, waiting to jump into the beautiful blue of a lake below you. You've jumped before and you know how it's done, but that doesn't make each jump any less thrilling.

We've jumped before.

But that doesn't stop a shudder of excitement from coming every time I think about what lies ahead. I can't help but wonder about the personality of our little miracle. Will she be like her brother? In what ways? Cub was both a grumpy and content newborn--evenings were awful but nights were great. Evenings meant fussiness we didn't understand and no sleep before 10:00pm, but once he was down, he was down for a while. Will Naomi hate evenings, too? Or will she thrive in the evening but wake up frequently at night? Will she look like Cub? Like my husband? Like me?

And so this weekend was a weekend of anticipation. And a lot of fun.


Firstly, Cub and I made sugar cookies! We used blue sprinkles for the big brother and pink sprinkles for the little sister. They were quite delicious. Cub ate maybe half of one. I ate maybe half of the batch.


The next morning I took Cub to Chick-fil-A ("Chick-a-lay!") to pick up breakfast (hence the sandals with the pj's). We brought it home and he got to eat breakfast in bed with my husband and I while we watched Mythbusters. My husband's choice. Cub enjoyed blueberries and hash browns. Breakfast of champions.


After breakfast was cleaned up, we headed to the zoo. It was incredibly hot and muggy, so we only stayed for a little over an hour, but in that hour Cub got see lots of FISH as well as an elephant or two, so he was happy. I was sweating so much I was sure my water broke at least fourteen times.


When we came home, my husband hopped out of the car and Cub and I drove to Old Navy to pick out Naomi's take-home outfit. He liked the one with the "Flowers!", so this outfit won. I love it. It's just a tad large, but hopefully it will work. I wanted Cub to choose and it was so cute to see him shrink away from all of the GIRL CLOTHES, as if he already knows that he WILL NOT WEAR THAT.


After a nap and lunch (grilled cheese and oranges while watching Finding Nemo--I mean, it doesn't get any better than that!), we headed outside to paint a welcome sign for Naomi. My poster-making skills are sub-par, but it works. And yes, it is supposed to say, "Nomi", as this is how Cub refers to Naomi. He loved the finger paints and had a blast.



We hung the poster on Naomi's door this morning.


I then set about making his "Big Brother" t-shirt to wear when he comes to the hospital, since the one we ordered online, oh, nine months ago, no longer fits. So, I headed to Hobby Lobby and picked up supplies to make my own. Nothing fancy, but it works!



We want Naomi to "give" a gift to Cub when he comes to the hospital after she is born, so I found an unopened package of Chuck Trucks in Cub's closet and stuck them in a (very girly, oops) bag. We'll take this to the hospital with us. I'm sure he will appreciate his little sister's fine taste in toys. Chuck Trucks are his absolute favorite.

We know a weekend like this won't happen again, ever, as we wait for Naomi's arrival. I'm glad we made the most of it.

I started this post this afternoon, did some cleaning, ran some errands, and now it is evening. I've had a few contractions and I'm sore and very, very tired. I'm sure I had a clever and witty ending to this entry, but right now words are eluding me and bed is calling my name. Hopefully the next time I'm on here I will either be in labor or I will be holding my little girl in my arms.

Have a lovely day, friends!

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Charge It.

We've had a full weekend with lots of fun with our little Cub, and I'm quite stoked to write about it later today when I have a break and I'm not sitting here with a towel on my head getting ready for church.

But, I wanted to write something while it's on my mind. :)

One of our weekend activities included watching Cub's birthing video. Okay, now, I know that sounds TERRIBLY SCARY and, while I can guarantee you that it is not an ACTUAL birthing video (if you know what I mean), there is still plenty to see that maybe nobody else should ever see (save for a few friends who were encouraged to watch it right after Cub was born, before we had viewed it ourselves .... they're recovering).

Anyway. I hadn't watched the video since October 2008, after Cub was born. Throughout the entire video (me walking into the emergency room, me in labor, me pushing, right after Cubbie is born, etc.) I'm practically begging my husband to turn the camera off. My face was huge. I was in miserable pain. I was beyond exhausted. My roots needed a touch-up.

But oh my word, as we settled on the couch to view it once again on Friday night, I was absolutely fascinated. There were so many things I had forgotten, like when Josh comes on the video and says, "Katie is now complete and can start pushing! We're expecting the baby any time now ... it's 4:10pm!"

(Cub finally made his appearance at 8:08pm.)

Watching myself in labor wasn't exactly my favorite part, but watching Cub come into the world, was. Now, as I mentioned earlier, it isn't THAT graphic. But you could see Cub take his first breath, watch his Daddy cut his umbilical cord, and see me pleading, "It's okay! It's okay! It's okay!", probably to calm myself as much as I was trying to calm the newly crying baby. We witnessed Cub looking into the eyes of his grandparents for the first time, as family came pouring in after hours and hours of waiting. Lots of crying. Lots of kissing.

I had previously sworn off the idea of ever allowing our video camera anywhere near the hospital ever again, but I've changed my mind. After the video wrapped up, my husband turned off the TV and looked at me with tears in his eyes. I wiped my own and told him to charge the camera.

Take Two. In a few days.

(And thankfully my roots look somewhat decent this time around.)

:)

Have a lovely Sunday!

Friday, June 11, 2010

Induction.

So, this should really be my Feel Good Friday post, but we'll go with this one instead.

I went to the doctor today (Thursday) for my appointment and once in the exam room, I joked with him that I'd slip him twenty bucks if he'd induce me. He and his nurse got a kick out of it.

Then we proceeded with the appointment (read: checking. FUN!).

And his eyes got huge and he declared, "How have you NOT had this baby yet??"

GREAT QUESTION.

He said he was genuinely surprised that she hadn't come yet, given my progress. He checked my chart, sat down, and we started to talk about induction. I was, of course, joking at the start of our appointment, but we began to talk like it was actually a viable option. We went over the timeline and discussed the variables that play into the end of this pregnancy. Firstly, I tested positive for Group B Strep. Basically, this is a naturally occurring bacteria that is typically safe and fine, except in some pregnancies, when it multiplies to dangerous amounts. The bacteria can be passed to the baby when the baby is born, so, prior to the delivery, the mom is put on an IV of antibiotics to fight the infection to prevent its spread. If the mom is not put on antibiotics before delivery, then typically the baby has to be put on antibiotics and stays in the hospital a little longer, just to be safe. I would rather be put on antibiotics than Naomi, if at all possible.

Secondly, Naomi has always measured a week ahead. They estimate that she's at least 7 pounds now, growing and healthy. She's head down and I'm progressing, which tells me that she's on her way out. Ironically, the day they chose for induction (June 15) is the day she has been measuring for all along, even though my due date is not until the 21st.

Now. Let me first say that I would be very happy if Naomi comes before my planned induction. Being induced is not necessarily "ideal" to me, but at this point, I feel like it's a good choice. Is it the only choice? No. But that doesn't make it a bad one. I could wait. Given my progression, we're guessing that Naomi will come pretty quickly, which might make getting an IV on time difficult. Or, she might not--it's all a guess!

I feel at peace with our decision. My husband and I both do. And I really love my doctor--he's fantastic. He is not on call this weekend, but told me that if I do go into labor, the nurses know to contact him and he will come up to the hospital and deliver Naomi. Our hospital is small and doesn't function like a factory, like some larger hospitals. I know my doctor isn't in a hurry to deliver me and get it over with. This was truly a decision that was left up to me and I didn't feel pressured or coerced at all--he was totally fine with waiting, if that's what I wanted.

SO! This is where we are! If Naomi does, in fact, wait until Tuesday, it will be interesting to compare the experience of induction to the experience of going into labor on my own, which I did with Caleb. Obviously, going into labor on my own is what I want the most, but what ultimately matters is that at the end of this is that there is a healthy baby girl. Our little Naomi Kate.

We get to meet our baby girl in four days. Or sooner.

Y'all. I'm so excited.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Random! Thursday!

That's right, friends, another exciting Random Thursday! Woot!

1) My fingernails are nice and long. Which means they are getting in the way of everything, especially diaper changes, which is bad, since my diaper change load will be doubling (well, tripling, given the frequency of newborn diapers) soon.

2) I am very much loving my Aveda Pure Abundance shampoo.

3) The left side of my head has a double-crown. Which makes it hard for me to make it poofy when I do ponytails. Not that I'm huge into massive poofiness, but a little poof is good. I've found that a stiff set of large velcro rollers can do the trick.

4) I look scary in velcro rollers.

5) I accidentally dumped half of our fettuccine noodles in the sink tonight while attempting to drain them. This has now happened twice. My draining skills are sub-par.

6) I have a bizarre addiction to Toddlers & Tiaras. It's a bit like watching a train wreck, where you try to pull away but just can't. I have officially sworn off anything that says "princess" on it for Naomi.

7) Yesterday morning at 5:30am, my husband and I heard our door knob turn. In walks a little Cub, proudly carrying Dadda's leftover chocolate shake from Chick-fil-A (that he left on the end table from the night before ... obviously within reach of little hands--AHEM). He was holding the shake very carefully with both hands, with a huge grin on his face. He saw me and declared, "HI Mama!" Then he proudly lifted the cup and declared, "Juice!" I stifled a giggle and explained that was Dadda's "juice", not Cub's, and I sent him back to bed empty-handed. My husband and I laughed and laughed over that one.

8) He went back to bed and slept until 8:00.

9) Then he refused to eat his grilled cheese at lunch and decided instead he wanted to bark like a dog.

10) Having a toddler? It rocks.

11) My eyes are drooping and my hips are sore. Yippee, ninth month!

12) I go to the doctor today and am preparing myself for a "no change" diagnosis. I am hoping that he will say, "Oh wow! You are progressing so well let's just admit you and have this baby!"

13) That won't happen.

There you have it. Random Thursday.

Have a lovely day, friends!

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Wordless Wednesday: Dishware a la Toddler.


Bright summery plates from Target. Love them!

Sunday, June 6, 2010

For Better And For Worse.

I feel that perhaps I am exhausting the whole pregnancy topic. I know, I know, you're so sick of hearing about my weird eating habits, my dilation, my inability to walk gracefully in heels ... I get it.

But as I knock over lamps and small children with my burgeoning belly, it's just kind of hard to think about anything else, you know? BABY. ALL THE TIME.

Saturday was a fantastic day. But it didn't start out that way. I had nutsy inconsistent contractions early in the morning that kept me up. I finally conceded to a hot shower just before 6:00am and then crashed back to bed for twenty minutes or so, and then I just sat there, waiting for someone to wake up. I woke up grumpy. I mean, really grumpy. Naturally, my poor husband became the target of my gripes and frustration, even though none of it had anything to do with him. I dramatically yanked on my walking clothes and grabbed a water bottle and declared I was going to go for a walk WITH CALEB and that I hope he enjoyed STAYING IN BED AND SLEEPING IN ... and then I paused by the bedroom door .... lingering ... still pausing ... and my sweet husband, who very rarely gives in to childish behavior, dumped himself out of bed and said he would go with us and for pete's sake, CALM DOWN, WOMAN.

He even pushed the jogger.

The walk gave us a chance to talk and gave me the chance to crawl down from the ceiling. I apologized and told him how frustrated I am--how I wish Naomi was here already and how my increasing discomfort is making me just a tad cranky, neither of which are his fault. Because Cub came early, I had anticipated that Naomi would, too, even though (as I've mentioned before) the two pregnancies are totally opposite. So, as we walked, I apologized profusely to my husband. And, thankfully, I am the crazy tides in the relationship while my husband is the calm ocean, and he said it was okay. And he forgave me.

I offered to mow the lawn while he edged, and we thusly made our peace.

And then the rest of the day was fantastic, a day spent as a family, with lots of playing and laughter and all of those good things.

Somewhere in the day, I found myself reflecting on the joy of it all.

And in a very humbling moment, I realized I have absolutely, ABSOLUTELY, no right to be cranky. Our son was making us laugh with every funny face and every funny word. My husband was understanding and sweet. Our little girl was kicking like crazy, unknowingly joining in our family fun as her Dadda would feel her little foot push out and try to grab it. Apparently, I was the one with the issue, the resident crab, who felt the need to create problems where no problems needed to exist. What, exactly, was the problem? A healthy pregnancy? An amazing family? Oh. Right. GET A GRIP, KATIE. I was allowing selfish impatience to cloud the beautiful view in front of me.

So, I took a step back. And I took a deep breath. I tickled my son and played trucks with him in his room and helped him throw rocks in his pool (which is, by the way, way more fun to him right now than actually getting in the pool). Most importantly, I relaxed and put on the charm for my husband and made him laugh, which he loves. I might be the size of the truck and I might waddle, but my relationship with my husband is still the most important thing in our family. Sure, he tries to understand my frustration. But, really, I don't know what's worse--being pregnant and moody, or living with someone who is pregnant and moody. Personally, I'd choose the former over the latter.

I have made menial attempts to push through these last few weeks with gusto, but this past weekend it was revealed to me that while my attempts are fine, my heart isn't. I'm allowing the staleness of The Wait to put a damper on my attitude, which makes everyone, including myself, quite miserable. This weekend I was reminded of the importance of a fresh attitude and a fresh perspective. Today is not another day where I sit and wait for Naomi, today is a new day that was not promised to me, a day full of potential joy, where I may or may not meet my little girl. If I do, great! If not, then that's great, too--I get to enjoy those baby kicks for one more day. In the mean time, I'm going to cook meals my husband loves, spend copious amounts of time with my little guy, playing trucks and cars and watching way too much Finding Nemo, and when I feel the anticipation for Naomi begin to kick in, I will walk by her nursery door and peek inside, knowing that it is not a matter of if she will be here, but when. And I will smile, knowing that she will be here, soon.

Right on time.

And I may or may not munch on some pineapple and eggplant parmesan, too. :)

Have a lovely day, friends!

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Not Sure Where The "Apple" Comes From.

Or the "pine" for that matter.

Well, friends, I'm not typically a weekend poster, but since I have entertained you thus far with my natural labor inducing attempts, I figured I'd give you one more update. Behold:


Le pineapple.

I've had a couple of friends suggest this one to me, so today I took the plunge. I was a tad hesitant because I'm not a huge pineapple fan. But, I keep a stash of fresh pineapple in the fridge for the Cub, who loves pineapple almost as much as cheddar bunnies. So, I filled a bowl with the snazzy fruit and helped myself. And you know what? It wasn't that bad. So, we'll see if this myth can be proven true, or if it is just that ... a myth!

(And, I feel like I should add a huge disclaimer here. I realize that, while I am past 37 weeks and therefore technically "full term", I am not yet at my due date--and that attempting to induce labor before the aforementioned time could be risky. However, the "methods" I am using are totally harmless and will not work unless little Naomi is ready. Also, as I've progressed steadily every time I've visited my doctor, that tells me that my body is in forward motion already and this little girl is going to come when she's going to come, no matter how much pineapple or eggplant parmesan I consume or how many walks I take!)

So, friends, we'll see if this one does the trick! Time to refill my bowl ...

Have a lovely day!

Friday, June 4, 2010

Feel Good Friday!


1. Dilated to a 3.
2. 80% effaced.
3. Going to be the Mom of a little girl.
4. Soon.
5. Very soon.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

The Product Of A House Divided.


I come from a family of raving Boston fans.

My husband has a man-crush on Kobe Bryant.

Which parent will reign supreme in effectively brainwashing our toddler to go our way?

The holder of the cheddar bunnies, that's who.

(MAMA!!)

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Not Sure Where The "Egg" Comes From.


I recently discovered that the idea of eggplant parmesan inducing labor came from a small restaurant in Georgia called Scalini's (you can read more about it here). Apparently, 300 women have eaten the eggplant parmesan served there and have gone into labor within 48 hours.

So. Guess what I had for dinner tonight, folks?

I didn't fly to Georgia, but I did stop at my favorite local Italian restaurant, Napoli's. I've never had eggplant before, so I was a bit skeptical, but I have to say, the dish was absolutely amazing. I didn't take a picture of it, so the above stock picture will have to suffice. Now. I highly doubt I will go into labor in the next 48 hours, although I did have some big contractions earlier today, before I ate the delicious dish. Rumor has it that the labor-inducing power comes more from the Oregano and Basil, rather than the eggplant. But, who knows. Either way, Naomi and I both experienced a yummy new favorite today!

How about you? What "labor-inducing" ideas have you heard?

(And, ladies, let's keep it clean! Ha ha. :))

Have a lovely day!

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

One Of These Is Not Like The Other ...

I am now 37 weeks pregnant with Naomi. I thought I was 37 weeks last week, but I was wrong. Apparently, Naomi was measuring 37 weeks, but I was only 36 weeks pregnant. Now I am 37 weeks pregnant and Naomi is measuring at 38 weeks.

I'm not exactly sure what those last few sentences meant, but I DO know that it means OH MY WORD, BABY ON THE WAY!!

We're just a tad thrilled around here.

I'm trying to go on with life as usual. Like, for instance, this afternoon my father-in-law invited me to a gala he was attending for a local foundation. Sweet! So, I put on my tallest heels and headed out. I almost fell out of the car. And I tripped a few times. And I had to peel my feet out of the shoes because they were so swollen. But shoot, I did it! Tall heels at 37 weeks!

Graceful waddle and all!

As if that means anything. Anyway. You get the point--I'm doing my best to not sit around and WAIT. Wait wait wait. I'm trying to stay busy.

In a few days, I will be at the point in my pregnancy when I went into labor with Cub. For a while I figured this little lady would follow suit, but I'm beginning to have my doubts. This pregnancy has proven to be completely different than my pregnancy with Cub. I've mentioned this before, but the differences keep coming. Observe:

Cub Naomi

Low progesterone, had to take hormones Progesterone is fine

UTIs throughout the entire second trimester No UTIs

Posterior presentation Normal

Swollen feet and hands Minimal swelling

Couldn't wear heels past 10 weeks (balance issues) Loving heels

No signs of early lactation Early lactation

Negative Group B Strep Positive Group B

No dehydration Dehydration

Carried low Carried high

(Pardon the crooked formatting.) See? It's just a tad different this time around. Which is still very crazy to me. The only similarities in the pregnancies were the occurrences of morning sickness in the first trimester and early dilation. Everything else has been very, very different! So, all this to say, I wouldn't be surprised if our baby girl decided to stay put for a few more weeks, just to stand out from her brother!! Unfortunately, I'm beginning to get to the "done" stage. I really feel done. I've loved being pregnant and, obviously, Naomi's health is of utmost importance. But, I'll be honest ... I'm done. I'm ready to hold my son on my lap comfortably (and my daughter!). I'm ready to wrestle on the floor with him and lay on my stomach when we read books together. I miss those things. Very badly.

I'm also ready to not fall out of cars and trip frequently.

But, we'll see! For now, we're both hanging in there.

Did anyone else out there who has more than one child experience totally different pregnancies??