We've had his room mostly ready for awhile-clothes and blankets washed and put away, crib and dresser assembled, etc, but this weekend we finished decorating, at least for now. So, in case that's what Daniel was holding out for, he no longer has that excuse!
Here's his crib and the La-Z Boy we'll be rocking him in:
Here's a close-up of the crib area. The two prints on the large wall are from the Lion King, one showing Simba with his dad Mufasa (Kevin really liked that one!) and the other from the end of the movie when Simba and Nala present their little lion cub to the crowd.
The poster on the right wall has the "Now I lay me down to sleep" poem on it and hung in Kevin's room when he was a little boy. I had the same poem on my wall when I was little on a needlepoint picture my mom made for me. That one is more suited to a little girl's room so someday if Daniel gets a little sister we'll hang mine in her room. In the meantime Daniel gets to enjoy my old sock monkey toy "Monkey Moo" and the thermal receiving blanket that was my favorite, so he gets hand-me-downs from both Kevin and me.
Here's the dresser with changing pad. We hung a monkey mobile over the head of the changer and put the animal print stickers on the wall hoping that maybe all of that will distract him when it's changing/dressing time so he doesn't squirm around or fuss much. Apparently the changing pad is pretty comfortable, I caught our cat Tim sleeping on it one night last week and he looked quite content. I'm sure he was excited to see what he thought was a cat-sized bed with a window view!
Today we went to church, bought groceries for the week and a few things from Babies R' Us, and we're finishing up the laundry. We're planning to join our friends Richard and Lisa for a movie at Studio Movie Grill this evening assuming Daniel doesn't have other plans for us. It's always fun hanging out with them, but I'm really hoping we'll have to cancel on them this time!
Meanwhile, we remain on a "Threat Level Orange" state of high alert. The diaper bag is packed with everything Daniel should need and I have a duffel bag packed for Kevin and me with changes of clothes, video camera, etc. The carseat, birth tub and accessories are already in the car, I've got several copies of our birth plan printed out along with a list of who to contact when and what last-minute things to pack for the hospital. And if labor starts slowly enough that we have a few hours to spend at home, I've got cupcake mix at the ready so I can whip up some birthday cupcakes to celebrate with (complete with a "0" candle since that's how old he'll be!), along with the bottle of champagne chilling in the fridge. Of course if events develop quickly enough that I don't have time or desire to make those before we go to the hospital they'll taste just as good at home a day or so later.
We've both cleared our desks of work pretty well this past week so that there's nothing critical left undone should we not be in this next week (and in my case, for the next 3 months). At this rate we'll both be at work tomorrow, but hopefully Daniel will have other plans for us. Daniel if you're listening, this past Friday was the end of a pay period for me, so Monday would be a really convenient time for me to start my maternity leave...hint, hint!
So, room's ready, car and bags packed, work in good shape, and there's even the promise of cupcakes...what else are you waiting for kiddo? ;)
Granted, there is still one hour remaining in the day but it appears that Daniel has decided to be fashionably late. I don't regularly read them but I took a look at our horoscopes on Yahoo for today and got decidely mixed predictions. Looks like Kevin's prediction (Gemini) is more on target than mine (Scorpio).
Here's my prediction:
You wake up feeling that something amazing is going to happen today -- and you're totally right. At the least probable moment, someone fun and interesting happens along under suspiciously odd circumstances. Some would say the meeting is mere coincidence, but you, always wise to the ways of the world, see that there's no such thing. That means you pay close attention to the connection you two form instantly.
Sounds a lot like a baby is coming doesn't it? But look at Kevin's:
Last-minute changes aren't so bad, no matter what others say. They invigorate us and enliven events, and remind us that there's no such thing as certainty. You appreciate that -- more than most, actually. Right now, though, you're set up for such big changes that it's hard to remind yourself that it really does work for you. Keep cool and don't give in to manipulation, and you should do fine.
So I have to say nothing amazing happened to me today but we were reminded that there is no such thing as certainty. Maybe tomorrow will be the big day though...
So here we are, July 17, the day I've been eagerly awaiting since early November. From this point forward until Daniel makes his debut, every day has the potential to be one of the most exciting or most frustrating of my life.
Every day he doesn't come will feel much longer than 24 hours. Our normally busy schedule is completely empty for a change now, because we can't really make any plans. Dinner tomorrow night with friends? Maybe, if no baby yet. HOA meeting next week? Very unlikely, but if baby hasn't come I can. Work on Monday? We'll see. If I do go to work Monday, I think I'll make up a shirt to wear that says "Yes, I'm still here. No, I haven't had the baby yet!"
The cramps have persisted throughout the week along with backache, which are apparently signs of early labor, but I still have not felt any distinct contractions. We could move into active labor in a matter of hours or I could still be feeling like this in a few days or even a week (please no!).
I've read that as the big day approaches it's common for women to either have that nesting instinct surge of energy or go the opposite direction and be really tired. Apparently, with the house already clean and Daniel's room pretty much done, I'm going for the sleepy route. I've taken evening naps the past few nights and last night despite an hour and a half nap and falling asleep for part of a movie we were watching I still slept 9 hours. I mostly slept well though I woke up at one point with really intense back pain, but once I turned over to the other side it got better.
So, assuming no baby, I foresee a lazy weekend of resting and not too much else...on the other hand, if Daniel has a calendar in there and knows what day it is, I suspect I won't be resting much at all this weekend!
Here we are 2 days from the due date, still no baby but a few promising developments (more on that in a minute). As was my plan, I'm continuing to work either till contractions start or until I don't feel up to it. The way I see it, I'd rather save up my leave time to use once Daniel arrives, plus staying busy makes the waiting time go by more quickly than it would if I were sitting at home watching the clock. It's funny though how many people are surprised that I'm still there, I must get asked about it half a dozen times a day. Not that anyone seems to think it's a bad idea to be working through, but I guess people are surprised to see that I'm still feeling so well so far along.
And all things considered, I am probably feeling as well as one could hope to feel so close to time. I am rather uncomfortable and sore and still waking up several times a night but it could be much worse. For the past few days I've had cramps, which is apparently an early labor sign. A friend from our Bradley class had her son a few weeks ago and says she experienced cramps shortly before her labor started too. So while it may be uncomfortable, it seems the pain is serving a purpose to move things along, which makes it easier to handle.
I had my last checkup this morning and everything is looking good. More importantly, I'm apparently now 1cm dilated. Given that I haven't yet felt anything that I could tell was a contraction it's rather nice to hear that I'm 10% of the way to the finish line without realizing I had even started running.
Hopefully that was my last prenatal checkup but if Daniel hasn't popped out by next Friday I'll go back for another checkup and a sonogram to make sure he's still doing well. We won't induce unless we get to 42 weeks, in which case he will get served with an eviction notice. I'm very much hoping he'll see his way out much sooner than that though. Given that this whole pregnancy has gone pretty smoothly it would seem a fitting conclusion for him to arrive on his due date, precisely on time. But I guess since I was 6 days late and Kevin 4, we have to spot him at least 6 days before we complain too much.
Will this be my last pre-baby post? We'll find out!
Just a quick update before I call it a night. Still no indications that Daniel's arrival is imminent but he seems to have dropped lower which I would assume is a promising development. We're meeting with our likely pediatrician tomorrow to make sure she's definitely our choice, and I've got my next checkup on Thursday. So we'll see what the week brings...
Off to bed now. I've been sleeping in the guest room for the last few nights because it turns out to be more comfortable for me at this stage of the game than our bed. It's a good thing Kevin's such a sound sleeper, if he wasn't then one of us would have had to move to the guest room months ago so my frequent bathroom visits didn't wake him up!
Hanging up my laundry today it occurred to me I might only have another week or so of wearing maternity clothes. My maternity wardrobe has served me quite well but it'll be nice to get back to real clothes soon!
I'll try to be pretty good about updating every few days or so now that any day could be the day.
I had my checkup this morning and all was well. Cecily is out of town this week so I met with one of the doctors on staff instead. Different person, same script. My and baby's weight gain both look great, heartbeat sounds good, protein and blood pressure levels etc all good. In the internal exam department, the door is still fully shut, so to speak, but 50% effaced and little guy's head is at -2 station, meaning he has definitely started to drop but still has to move down some more. As the doctor said, you could still quite literally go into labor today, but you probably won't do it while you're sitting on this table. I got off the table to see if it would help but alas, still didn't go into labor today.
So this dropping thing has turned out to be a decidedly mixed bag. The good news is that I can breathe much easier now that my lungs aren't so compressed and the acid reflux is better, though not gone. The bad news is that it doesn't seem to be providing the relief my poor right ribcage needs AND now with the pressure in the lower area I am sore there and the pressure on the bladder is intensified. The latter point is particularly troublesome at night as it seems pretty difficult to find a side-lying position that is comfortable for my back and hips but doesn't put pressure on my bladder (To try this at home, get in bed with a full bladder and find a position that isn't uncomfortable without lying on your back. Get back to me if you find one!). Maybe it's difficult because such a position doesn't exist. Lately I seem to get one good night of sleep for every one or two restless ones. Last night was a restless one. Took me awhile to fall asleep, then woke up seemingly hourly and had a hard time getting back to sleep each time because after getting up to use the bathroom I'd have to go again after getting back into bed. It's a vicious cycle! Thinking that the tall height of our bed might be part of the problem I switched to the guest room last night around 330AM. It seemed to help a little. Let's see what tonight brings.
These days, odds are at any given moment one or more of the following statements is true:
- Ellen is tired
- Ellen is uncomfortable
- Ellen has to go to the bathroom
- Ellen is hot
The last one is the most unusual for me because in my normal non-pregnant state I'm the one in the room who's cold when everyone else is comfortable. Now everyone else is cold, I'm still hot. The other day Nicole came over to watch a movie and I was in shorts and tee shirt, she was in jeans. I was hot and she was cold enough to need to borrow a pair of socks! Note to self: next time go for a winter baby so I can just step outside for relief!
I had my weekly checkup today and while it was otherwise just a routine visit I did learn that I tested negative for Group B strep. No GBS=no need for an IV at any point in labor=happy me. I was hoping to go IV-free even before my hospital experience a few months ago but a day and night of having to wheel an IV cart behind me every time I wanted to get up got old very fast and strengthened my desire to skip the needle. So it was a relief today to learn that I will get my wish, at least so long as no complications arise.
I asked Cecily, our midwife, how big she thought Daniel is right now and she estimated probably 6 1/2 pounds, with another 1-2 pounds to gain before he's born. So, anyone doing our baby pool, take that for what you will in making your guess. As for me, I'm about 33 pounds over my pre-baby weight and it would seem that the weight gain is still pretty much all belly. Shoes still fit and rings still fit, although I have found them to get a bit snug in the heat recently.
We've made some good strides in the preparations department this week:
- Kevin assembled the crib so now the crib and dresser (with attached changing pad) are ready. All that's left to do in the room is put up decorations, so if need be I can do that after he's born. Photos to come!
- The car seat base has been installed in my car. The Irving Police Department will send an officer out to your home or office and install it for you free of charge, how nice is that? The one who did my car came out to my office Tuesday morning and installed it in all of about 10 minutes. A few neat little coincidences: his birthday is July 17, Daniel's due date, and he has a son starting college at A&M in the fall (class of 2014, when did I get old, have I been out of school for 9 years already?). I accidentally got him in a bit of trouble by failing to give our security guards a heads-up that he was coming, they were a bit concerned by him carrying a firearm onto federal property. In the end of course he was fine but it gave them a bit of excitement in their day. An officer is coming out to Kevin's office to put a base in his car soon so we'll be set in both.
- I've got the diaper bag and our hospital bags packed other than our last-minute things.
- I drafted wills, advance directives to physicians, and medical and durable powers of attorney for us. I had been meaning to get around to that for awhile but it seemed more important now with a little one to consider. Hopefully of course we won't need any of those documents for years and years but better safe than sorry, right?
- I researched some pediatrician options in the area and we've decided on one we feel pretty good about. She also comes highly recommended by 2 couples we're friends with who have young kids and seems to share our philosophy on some matters important to us. I've got a consultation set up with her so we can meet and get a feel for her in person but I think we'll be good to go after that.
- I froze my gym membership for a few months so I'm not paying for the months I can't use it. Looking forward to getting back in a few months though.
- Contacted someone at the hospital to work out logistics regarding parking, wi-fi access, and confirmed that I'll be able to play my iPod in the labor room...the better to enjoy the Labor, Transition, and Push! playlists I've so thoughtfully put together with music appropriate to each stage of the process.
- Started training another attorney at work who'll serve as my back-up while I'm out, and put together a list of "out of office" housekeeping details I'll need our IT department to do on my inbox so 1) messages that need to be seen get to my backup, and 2) stuff I won't need to worry about gets deleted so that 3) my inbox doesn't fill up and explode/stop taking messages.
- Hired a birth photographer. What's that, you ask? She'll be there to capture some of the moments from the labor and our first hours with baby, not in a National Geographic/instructional video type of way but like a wedding photographer capturing the emotions and details that will be a blur to us in the moment but special to be able to look back at later. You can see some of her work on her site here. I would never have thought to do this but when I saw the pictures from Richard and Lisa's birth of William I wanted to have similar mementos from ours.
- Packed a backpack in my car with a towel and change of pants just in case my water breaks at work or when I'm somewhere else away from home. I know, odds are it won't break till labor is well underway, but at least I'll be prepared if it happens.
So, all in all, I think we're pretty well prepared. I'd have made a good Boy Scout, right? ;)
I know having things planned to the last detail doesn't ensure that things will go that way but at least we'll have done everything we can to have the experience we want. And I guess it's a little ironic to try to plan all the details so carefully, all to leave it to chance when he'll come and how long labor will take. But the way I look at it, all the planning means we'll have created the best, most comfortable circumstances possible, enabling me to relax and achieve the natural birth we want. There are probably women who could just show up and have a natural birth with no preparation and do fine, just like there are people who can just wake up and decide to run a marathon with no training. But I know I'm not the latter and am preparing as if I'm not the former either. Now that everything's ready, I can just sit back, relax, and wait for the fun to start instead of being anxious.
So, I guess in a few ____ (hours? days? weeks?) we'll find out if that preparation will pay off. If nothing else I don't seem to be having any anxious "we're not prepared" dreams anymore so at least my subconscious seems satisfied!
Now that we're ready, the million-dollar question is, is Daniel ready?
