Movies

I've seen three movies in the past month.......I'm trying to make up for all the ones I know I won't be seeing in the next year. 4 Christmases was good, typical comedy for Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn. On Christmas Day, we set out to see Marley and Me, but it was sold out everywhere. We ended up seeing Seven Pounds with Will Smith and Rosario Dawson. I really just cannot say enough about this movie. I think everyone should go out and see it tomorrow! It was intriguing and capitivating; I don't say that about many movies. You really have to pay attention though- there are alot of things you'll miss otherwise. One thing that was really interesting about it, is that you never really know what exactly the movie is about. There are so many unanswered questions the whole way through. GREAT movie- Go see it!

Today I went and saw Marley and Me with my girlfriends Jill and Melissa. We bawled our eyes out! It was so good, and an honest look at a family's life with their dog. I came home and gave both of my dogs a big ol hug. I love my doggies. I know they will take the back seat once Shim arrives, but I sure do love them. They are both awesome. I've included a fabulous photo of them from last Halloween. (The time of year explains sweet Linus's mohawk)

Motivated

I woke up this morning all excited for a nice long walk with the dogs....and it's raining! BOO! I wanted to go walking and try to get his labor going....... maybe the YMCA is in order later? I bet it would actually feel good to go swimming. I do love the hottub after all, and the Y has a nice heated pool. Eric actually goes swimming a couple of times a week, but in the cold lap pool. Brr, I'm not going in there. We are about as ready as we can get for this little guy. I'm not miserable being pregnant as much as I'm just over this phase. It's been over 37 weeks now, and I'm simply ready to meet the Shimmeister. I'm ready to meet him and see what he looks like, and finally give him a name. Poor nameless child. I'm also eating pineapple for breakfast. Supposedly softens the cervix or something. I'll try about anything. It's ON starting Jan 1- I'll pull out the big guns then. Anyone else got any good tips to induce labor naturally? I may completely against medical induction (except for a legit medical reason), but I'm all about natural induction techniques.

Merry Christmas!!!

Happy Holidays from Eric and myself! Hopefully you will get to have a holiday as relaxing as ours. We are just chilling out at home, enjoying each others company before a new addition. I work this evening, and he's going to dinner with all of our friends that are still in town. I'm going to meet them when I get off to drive them all home:-) Tomorrow we're going to see Marley and Me with our friends, and maybe my brother and SIL. They are coming to town at some point in the next couple days, just not sure when yet. It'll be fun to see them and show them Shim's nursery!

I had my almost 37 week appt today (36 and five days). I was expecting to see Tina, but actually got to see the newest and fifth midwife. Her name is Gannon, and I really liked her. I was happy to meet her now, rather than taking the chance of meeting the first time when I'm delivering. She seemed sweet and smart, and already knew from my chart what my birthing wishes were. We talked about my birth plan a little, and she seemed very supportive. I think I have them all on board now! It was a little stressful making sure I had gone over my birth plan with all five of them. Just please don't let me deliver on a weekend with an OB who has no clue what my plan is.....or worse yet, isn't supportive. I'm thinking positive thoughts.....a weekday delivery!!! I love my midwives, and apparently all the other pts do to, b/c they are BOOKED. The practice now has 8 OB's and 5 midwives. My weight gain is up to 18 pounds, and my BP was fabulous. My urine this week looked much better since I didn't eat a ginormous bowl of oatmeal with sugar for breakfast. What a difference that makes!

Again, have a wonderful Christmas!

You know you're 9 months pregnant when you are too tired to go get a mani/pedi. I came home for a nap instead! I did pick out Shim's birth announcements today, and I just love them! For those who know me well, you know how obsessed with invitations and stationary I am. I am at my happiest in a really good store that has a big selection of all those wonderful things. They let me bring the envelopes home so I can get a head start on the addressing. Thank goodness! I also picked out a really cute invite for my SIL Bridget's baby shower. Yay for another shower, this time with lots of pink!

I'm spending a nice chill weekend at home, and I'm not cleaning! I want to, but I'm controlling those urges with naps. Eric promised he'd mop and vacuum, so we'll see. I'm having to force myself to relax, but it's honestly what I need at this stage in the game. Otherwise, I'm going to end up with a Christmas baby instead of a January baby. Have a good weekend!

36 Weeks

Today is finally the 36 week mark! It's crazy to think that Shim could come anytime, although I really don't think he'll be here until after 41 weeks. I'm sure I'll be overdue.....

He was for sure head down at my appointment Wednesday, and I'm happy as a lark. My BP looked good, and my weight gain is up to 17 pounds. It's funny that it's only 17, b/c my belly sticks out a mile. Jan (my midwife wednesday) said she doesn't think he's a very big baby. He shouldn't be, because Eric and I were both 6 pounders. Plus, we're simply not very big adults either. I'm hoping between 6 lbs and 7 1/2. That's a nice weight!

Clean....

My yard is clean and my house is clean. Shim is welcome to come anytime now. Come on out little man!

Grilled cheese

We have no food in our house, and our shopping day isn't until Friday. So, I managed to piece together some bread and cheese. I just ate FOUR grilled cheese sandwiches. I simply wasn't full after 2 sandwiches. So I cooked two more. And as crazy as this sounds, I'm still hungry. Maybe I'll go eat some pickles now.

About there

I made Eric a nice little list of stuff today, all stuff he needs to finish for Shim. I told him he has until the end of the week, b/c time is passing very quickly. I had the jeep detailed today, so we are ready for car seat installation. That's one of the things on his list. I ordered a PUL bag for the diaper pail, and some stuff called punkin booty bits (people who cloth diaper will understand this). I got two travel foaming bottles, plus the sampler with five different scents. I can't wait until it comes in! The booty bits is essentially something you mix with water, and it makes a solution to put into a spray bottle. You then spray the solution on a wipe for diaper changes. Yes, that means I'm not using disposable wipes either. When you CD, it's easier to use cloth wipes, otherwise you have to have second trash can just for wipes. Plus, I'm all neurotic about chemicals and the such.

So many people ask me why I've chosen to use cloth diapers. There are a variety of reasons, and it's different for everyone who chooses to CD. My personal reasons consist of three things. Number one, I am much more comfortable with putting cloth next to Shim's bottoms than disposables. There are a lot of chemicals in disposable that I'm just not very comfortable with. For example, in the 1980's the government outlawed a particular chemical in tampons b/c of a high cancer risk. This same chemical is legal and present in current day disposables. I don't want that on Shim. I see alot of abcesses on poor baby butts at work; it's really just crazy. Cloth diapers are SO soft, and you can even buy them in organic fabrics. I figure it has to be more comfortable for my little man.

My second reason for using CD is the tremendous money saving that happens over time. It costs more up front, but in the long run we'll save thousands of dollars. Especially when you CD more than one child. My third reason is the environment. It can take up to 500 years for just one sposie to break down in the landfill.

So, those are my reasons. Most people I know don't think I'll last at CD, and maybe I won't. But as of now, I'm committed....and I've got a really supportive husband. I feel bad for women online who talk about their husbands, mothers, and MIL refusing to put a CD on their baby. I searched for weeks to find a daycare that will take CD, b/c I simply wouldn't have it any other way. My mom is supportive- she's even sewing some diapers for the little man! My MIL is on board as well, and it really helps that my SIL Linds is going to CD as well.

I'm not using a diaper service to wash the diapers. It in my eyes defeats the purpose, since they use harsh and potentially dangerous chemicals and cleaners. I'll be washing here at home, every other day. It'll create alot of work for me, but is worth it in my eyes. We all make sacrifices for our children, and this is simply one I've decided is right for me and my family.

Once the nursery is 100% done, I'll take pics, including the CD stash. We have pics on Tuesday night, and once those are developed and framed, we are done!!! I cannot believe we're almost ready and that he'll be here soon. I feel further along than 34 weeks and 2 days, probably b/c I feel humongous. Oh the joys of the third trimester.

L&D trip

So last night around 9pm, I was laying on the couch and kept having a feeling like I was leaking. After my last appt and lecture from my midwife, I decided to do what they always say, and call them to let them do their job. (I'm always trying to diagnose and treat myself). So of course, the midwife on call says exactly what I don't want to hear; for me to come in and get checked. I was thinking that geez, this is why I don't call.....b/c now it' s 9:30 at night, and I have to be at work by 6:30am.

So, I got my tired self off the couch and drove the five minutes to the maternity center at the hospital, b/c Eric was at his softball game. I didn't feel like waiting for him b/c I just wanted to get home as quickly as possible. Well, they had to do the whole stupid admission workup and paperwork nonsense, so I felt bad for being another overreactive pregnant woman on such a busy night. In any case, they put me in a triage room and hooked me up to monitors, which was another bad idea. I've had Braxton Hicks contractions since I was 21 weeks, so I honestly just have gotten to the point that I ignore how frequent or tight they are. Turns out, mine were 3-5 minutes apart, which she said was way too frequent. That in turn got me an IV, liter of fluid, and shot of terbutaline. The terb stopped the BH after about 10 minutes, but then I was jittery as could be, and Shim was all jacked up and doing flip flops. I'm not a fan of terbutaline!

Shim's FHT looked great the entire time, b/c he's such a little trooper! My MW said my cervix is so high and posterior that she could barely feel it, and it certainly wasn't changing at all. They told me I have the "nurse curse" of working too hard and never drinking enough fluid. Well tell me something I didn't know

So, now I have the whole day off b/c I had called in last night to say I wouldn't be coming in. I was going to play it by ear, but when they said fluids and terb, I went ahead and called in sick. It was a good thing I did b/c I wasn't actually discharged until 1am. I guess I'll just chill on the couch all day.....I'm already bored. I will definitely be packing mine and Shim's hospital bags, I realized last night how completely unprepared we are for the real thing. At least the dry run helped!

There is a foot in my rib. A couple of them actually, and it's becoming quite uncomfortable. I cannot believe there are still just over six weeks to go, b/c I'm quite over this whole pregnancy thing. I'm ready to move on to the newborn thing. His nursery is almost completely done, and it's really cute if I do say so myself. Once it's 100% finished, I'll post some pics.

This weekend I'm going to have my jeep cleaned really well, and install the carseat, window shade, and baby mirror. I guess I should say Eric is going to install......I will just supervise. And maybe, just maybe, I'll put up a Christmas decoration. I won't push it though, I don't want to get too tired. I'm in the middle of working a 6 day stretch, so that's why there are a lack of blog entries to read. This is my last big stretch of working, and after this I'm only gonna do 4 days a week. Time to rest and mentally prepare for this little guy whose foot is in my right lung.