I love the following poem. Growing up, my mom had a wall hanging with the last three lines on it. It perfectly sums up how one can be home all day long, yet seemingly get "nothing" done.
Mother, O Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing, make up the bed,
Sew on a button and butter the bread.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.
Oh, I’ve grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,Lullaby, rockabye, lullaby loo.
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peek-a-boo
The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew
And out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo
But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo
Look! Aren’t his eyes the most wonderful hue?
Lullaby, rockaby lullaby loo.
The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow
But children grow up as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.
- Ruth Hulbert Hamilton
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
1st pediatrician appt
Well, Benjamin is growing!
Birth
(I can almost palm a basketball)
(Dad read me "Brown Bear". )
(Dad got to give me a bath on Saturday morning. I scream no matter who gives me a bath.)
Birth
- weight: 7 lbs
- height: 20 in
- head circumference:13 1/2 inches
- Weight: 6 lbs 10 oz (at 3 days old)
- Weight: 7 lbs 5 oz (that's right folks: 11 oz in 5 days...must be the cowherd genes... although it was my sister that was named after the good cow, not me) 25th-50th percentile
- Height: 20 1/4 inches (50th-75th percentile)
- Head Circumference: 14 1/4 inches (50th percentile)
(I can almost palm a basketball)
(Dad read me "Brown Bear". )
(Dad got to give me a bath on Saturday morning. I scream no matter who gives me a bath.)Thursday, June 25, 2009
4 days old (warning... lots of pictures)
It seems like Benjamin has been with us for a lot longer than 4 days...which could be due to the fact that my "days" are lasting longer than they used to.
(Headed home from the hospital)
Tuesday was our first day home. We left the hospital around noon and made the long 3 mile trek home. Benjamin didn't like being put in the carseat, but after getting settled, he was fine with it, and dozed off on the way home. The first day home went by quickly getting the baby gear organized and adjusting to our new schedule with Benjamin.
I used the Moby wrap that my mom made to "wear" Benjamin while we ate lunch. Later that evening, my parents came over for dinner and we had a great salad, grilled chicken, and a yummy blueberry shake for dessert. We found out later that evening that Benjamin is not such a fan of the cauliflower...it made him very gassy. Hubby went to bed around 10:30, since he was working the next day. Benjamin slept a bit, then starting crying...and crying..and crying. I fed him, changed his diaper, swaddled him, unswaddled him, had him suckle my finger, tried the pacifier...still crying. After about 1.5 hrs of this, I gave up and let Hubby take over. Thankfully, he was able to calm Benjamin down after lots of burping, but was only able to keep him calm by having Benjamin on his chest suckling on his pinkie finger. So, I got some rest, and Hubby slept in the chair with Benjamin on his chest from 2-5am. At 5, I woke up, got Benjamin breastfed, and sent tired Hubby to bed for a few hours of sleep before work.
Wednesday (the highlights only from now on)
Now, let's pray for another night like last night.
(Headed home from the hospital)Tuesday was our first day home. We left the hospital around noon and made the long 3 mile trek home. Benjamin didn't like being put in the carseat, but after getting settled, he was fine with it, and dozed off on the way home. The first day home went by quickly getting the baby gear organized and adjusting to our new schedule with Benjamin.
I used the Moby wrap that my mom made to "wear" Benjamin while we ate lunch. Later that evening, my parents came over for dinner and we had a great salad, grilled chicken, and a yummy blueberry shake for dessert. We found out later that evening that Benjamin is not such a fan of the cauliflower...it made him very gassy. Hubby went to bed around 10:30, since he was working the next day. Benjamin slept a bit, then starting crying...and crying..and crying. I fed him, changed his diaper, swaddled him, unswaddled him, had him suckle my finger, tried the pacifier...still crying. After about 1.5 hrs of this, I gave up and let Hubby take over. Thankfully, he was able to calm Benjamin down after lots of burping, but was only able to keep him calm by having Benjamin on his chest suckling on his pinkie finger. So, I got some rest, and Hubby slept in the chair with Benjamin on his chest from 2-5am. At 5, I woke up, got Benjamin breastfed, and sent tired Hubby to bed for a few hours of sleep before work.Wednesday (the highlights only from now on)
- Benjamin got his first bath at home
- We discovered that he really likes the swing (thanks Danie for loaning it to us)
- He found out how fun it is to throw his arms up above his head, especially his right hand
- He peed on himself for the 1st time while GmaCow was changing his diaper for the first time...which was a new experience for Gma, because Benjamin has been wearing cloth diapers since he arrived at home...and she isn't used to changing a baby boy's diaper.
- He got to watch the NCAA Baseball final with Dad. Dad taught Benjamin to mourn when the Big 12 loses.
- He slept really well throughout the night, only waking to be changed and fed, then would be swaddled and put back to bed in the bassinet in our bedroom. Hubby didn't need to get up at all, so he should be well rested today for work. Benjamin did have one wakeful period throughout the night. At least once per day and once per night, he will get very quite and alert with his eyes wide open just staring around. So I laid him on the quilt my sister made him and read him some Dr. Seuss stories.
Now, let's pray for another night like last night.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Our newest addition!
7 lbs, 20 inches born at 9:47am on Sunday, June 21st.
The happy parents the day after the birth...honestly, I felt too dirty to get my picture taken yesterday (before taking a shower)
The happy parents the day after the birth...honestly, I felt too dirty to get my picture taken yesterday (before taking a shower)
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Update from L&D
Hello family and friends!
Looks like Gma Suzi is going to win the baby pool for due date.
I had lots of plans for today. Hubby was supposed to work this am, so I was going to cook him Wheatberry pancakes (wheatberries are from my farm share, of course) before work. Then I was going to make a yummy recipe from Martha Stewart Foods (chipotle chicken and rice). I also had bunch of beef to make hamburgers tonight. Well, so much for those plans!
At around 6:05 am, I felt a weird pop and about 2 minutes later...I felt like I was peeing my pants. So I ran as fast as I could to the bathroom...and oh my...my water broke.
Now, I had read about this happening, but since it only happens in about 8-10% of women..I figured that it wouldn't happen to me. As I told my sister, I wasn't cleaning, because I was sure that I would have plenty of time once my contractions started to clean the house, then head to the hospital. Well, once again, my plans were denied. Once the water breaks, off to the hospital it is! So I have been checked (fingertip dilated, darn it), and then I have basically been walking around the hospital and parking lot all morning and afternoon.
Fact: the body continues to make amniotic fluid.
Well, here is it 10 hours later. My contractions basically stopped, so I have been started on pitocin (which I wasn't very excited about). I'm just waiting for my body to realize that it is time to get this baby out!
Friday, June 19, 2009
39 weeks
Baby and I are still doing great. Baby's heartbeat and movement was good during the non-stress test, and my appointment was uneventful. I've been walking most nights of the week in hopes of moving this baby along, but it doesn't seem to be working.
The most eventful part of the week was getting my weekly delivery of farm-share veggies/fruits. I got three cups of gooseberries.
I had heard of gooseberries before, but have never seen/tasted them before. They are very tart! So I made my first gooseberry pie. It was pretty tasty, not my all-time favorite, but still good.
Baby and Momma update:
Sleep: Still pretty good. I take a little longer than normal going to sleep, but once I get there, I sleep well. I wake about 12:50, 3:50, 6:50 every night, which is weird to me that it is so scheduled, but oh well, I go back to sleep really easily.
Movement: Still an active baby. Lots of kicks in my right ribs and punches in my lower abdomen.
Food cravings: None
Labor Signs: I have some braxton hicks (fake) contractions on and off, but not particularly more than last week. I had a lot of them Monday night, and I was unable to sleep (and hopeful that baby would come), but alas, they went away.
What I miss: I don't remember anymore, I've been preggo for so long...oh wait, having more than 4 shirts that fit.
What I am looking forward to: sleeping on my back (in the few moments that I will get to sleep)
Weird development of the week: my thumbs have always been double jointed (aka, hitchhikers thumb). Just a few days ago...my right thumb no longer will no longer bend back. Explanation anyone???
The most eventful part of the week was getting my weekly delivery of farm-share veggies/fruits. I got three cups of gooseberries.
I had heard of gooseberries before, but have never seen/tasted them before. They are very tart! So I made my first gooseberry pie. It was pretty tasty, not my all-time favorite, but still good.
Baby and Momma update:
Sleep: Still pretty good. I take a little longer than normal going to sleep, but once I get there, I sleep well. I wake about 12:50, 3:50, 6:50 every night, which is weird to me that it is so scheduled, but oh well, I go back to sleep really easily.
Movement: Still an active baby. Lots of kicks in my right ribs and punches in my lower abdomen.
Food cravings: None
Labor Signs: I have some braxton hicks (fake) contractions on and off, but not particularly more than last week. I had a lot of them Monday night, and I was unable to sleep (and hopeful that baby would come), but alas, they went away.
What I miss: I don't remember anymore, I've been preggo for so long...oh wait, having more than 4 shirts that fit.
What I am looking forward to: sleeping on my back (in the few moments that I will get to sleep)
Weird development of the week: my thumbs have always been double jointed (aka, hitchhikers thumb). Just a few days ago...my right thumb no longer will no longer bend back. Explanation anyone???
How baby's growing:
Baby is waiting to greet the world! He(or she ) continues to build a layer of fat to help control his body temperature after birth, but it's likely he already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds. (Boys tend to be slightly heavier than girls.) The outer layers of his skin are sloughing off as new skin forms underneath. That's right folks...I now have a mini watermelon!
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Oh how naive I was!
This morning I looked back at some of my old posts. I'm laughing at myself because I thought that my belly had really "popped" at 19 weeks. Hmm. Maybe it looks like I had a few too many donuts! I didn't know what "popping" was!
Lets do a comparison!
5-6 weeks pregnant
(in mexico)
Lets do a comparison!
5-6 weeks pregnant
(in mexico) 19 weeks
38 weeks (sorry for the poor quality, my photographer was out playing golf!)
Thursday, June 11, 2009
38 weeks
Still here! Only two weeks until my due date.
Everything was great at my non-stress test and appointment. I actually lost 2 lbs, which "they" say is normal in the last few weeks...It certainly isn't because my waistline is shrinking!
We are relatively ready to go to the hospital. Other than last minute items (toiletries), our bags are packed, the carseat base is installed, and baby has a bed, clothes, and diapers to come home to.
Here is a picture of Baby Cady's crib. Gma Cow got baby some wall art. It is super cute!
We finished the curtains!
If baby happens to be a girl, here is a picture of the dress she will wear home. If baby is a boy, he doesn't have anything near as cute to wear, oh well.
Baby and Momma update:
Stretch marks? nope
Sleep: Amazingly, still pretty good. I wake up at least three times each night to go to the bathroom, but I go back to bed pretty easily. Thankfully, we have a king-sized bed because between my huge belly, and the large pillow that I sleep with, there isn't much room left for hubby!
Movement: Very active, only the kicks shake my entire belly they are so strong. I can often tell how baby is positioned by feeling my sides. Baby often has a knee protruding out of my side.
Food cravings: Hmm, I still love the avocados. (they are on the "flat belly diet", which is clearly why I'm eating them : )
Labor Signs: I am having lots of contractions, most of which I can't feel (I just know I'm having them b/c of my Non-stress test..and I can tell my belly is rock hard. I do feel a few contractions throughout the day...no so much in my upper belly, just low and crampy, but not too uncomfortable. I expect them to get worse!
Belly Button in or out? In. Hubby thinks it is coming out, but I don't think it will happen. My belly button does, however, feel like it is going to rip open. It is very tender.
What I miss: sleeping all night long...but I won't be able to do that for a long, long time. Oh, and having clothes that fit. I'm down to only a few items that cover "monster belly".
What I am looking forward to: not being pregnant
Current fears:
Everything was great at my non-stress test and appointment. I actually lost 2 lbs, which "they" say is normal in the last few weeks...It certainly isn't because my waistline is shrinking!
We are relatively ready to go to the hospital. Other than last minute items (toiletries), our bags are packed, the carseat base is installed, and baby has a bed, clothes, and diapers to come home to.
Here is a picture of Baby Cady's crib. Gma Cow got baby some wall art. It is super cute!
We finished the curtains!
If baby happens to be a girl, here is a picture of the dress she will wear home. If baby is a boy, he doesn't have anything near as cute to wear, oh well.
Baby and Momma update:
Stretch marks? nope
Sleep: Amazingly, still pretty good. I wake up at least three times each night to go to the bathroom, but I go back to bed pretty easily. Thankfully, we have a king-sized bed because between my huge belly, and the large pillow that I sleep with, there isn't much room left for hubby!
Movement: Very active, only the kicks shake my entire belly they are so strong. I can often tell how baby is positioned by feeling my sides. Baby often has a knee protruding out of my side.
Food cravings: Hmm, I still love the avocados. (they are on the "flat belly diet", which is clearly why I'm eating them : )
Labor Signs: I am having lots of contractions, most of which I can't feel (I just know I'm having them b/c of my Non-stress test..and I can tell my belly is rock hard. I do feel a few contractions throughout the day...no so much in my upper belly, just low and crampy, but not too uncomfortable. I expect them to get worse!
Belly Button in or out? In. Hubby thinks it is coming out, but I don't think it will happen. My belly button does, however, feel like it is going to rip open. It is very tender.
What I miss: sleeping all night long...but I won't be able to do that for a long, long time. Oh, and having clothes that fit. I'm down to only a few items that cover "monster belly".
What I am looking forward to: not being pregnant
Current fears:
- Water will break while I'm standing at work.
- Baby will never try to come out.
How baby's growing:
Baby has really plumped up. Baby weighs about 6.8 pounds and is over 19 1/2 inches long. She (or he) has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold her hand for the first time! Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb.Tuesday, June 9, 2009
What not to say...
I work with the public. Some people haven't noticed that I am pregnant until now because I work behind a counter, which seems to hide me below my shoulders. When I walk out from behind the counter, they are very surprised at my large belly.
I have realized that people really like to make comments to pregnant ladies.
Many of the comments are very nice, such as "You look great", "You must be all baby", "You certainly look small for how far along you are", "You just look radiant", etc.
Unfortunately, there is a large segment of the population who never learned what is and is not appropriate to say to a pregnant lady. And unfortunately (probably, fortunately), due to my desire to remain "professional" at work, I am not allowed to spout witty comments back.
Here are some of the comments that I especially did not enjoy (no, none of these came from my faithful blog readers):
I have realized that people really like to make comments to pregnant ladies.
Many of the comments are very nice, such as "You look great", "You must be all baby", "You certainly look small for how far along you are", "You just look radiant", etc.
Unfortunately, there is a large segment of the population who never learned what is and is not appropriate to say to a pregnant lady. And unfortunately (probably, fortunately), due to my desire to remain "professional" at work, I am not allowed to spout witty comments back.
Here are some of the comments that I especially did not enjoy (no, none of these came from my faithful blog readers):
- "Are you sure you aren't having twins?" (this has been asked multiple times...but always by men)
- "Looks like you could have that baby any day (said to me about 2 months ago...they should see me now!)"
- "Wow, you're getting huge." (I admit, prior to this pregnancy, I did say this to a pregnant friend, why she did not correct me, I'm not sure)
- "Are you sure you're going to be able to birth that baby naturally?" (really, I'm so huge you think the baby will get stuck, I'm not exactly a petite woman)
- "I had a niece that lost four babies, one was full term. It was really active, then all of a sudden it quit moving, and it died" (I'm not sure what the purpose of telling me this story was, or what an appropriate response should have been, I think I just gave the woman a blank stare)
Friday, June 5, 2009
37 weeks!
Well folks. I'm officially full term. I'm getting more uncomfortable as the weeks roll on. Thankfully it has been very mild weather outside, because anything over 75 is just plain HOT!
Baby and Momma update:
Sleep: I have started to have insomnia and a restless leg. Going to sleep is just plain annoying. Thankfully, I eventually get to sleep and my new work hours (12-6pm) allow me to sleep in. So I've still been getting the required 8 hrs (or a little more).
Movement: As you can see from my previous post, baby is very active. I enjoy sitting in my chair and watching my belly move around. Baby's favorite kicking spot is still my right rib.
Food cravings: Avocados. I love avocados. Avocados are on sale at W-mart. I eat at least one a day. I would probably not indulge if they weren't on sale, but they are such a scrumptious food. Yesterday, I had one sliced up on my salad, the day before, I just sliced it up, sprinkled it with salt and pepper, and put a little lime juice on top...and ate it with a fork. YUM!
Labor Signs: Yes and no. I guess I have contractions, but I don't really feel them. Now that I know that I'm having them, every time I get a little "crampy" I feel my belly. It is definitely rock hard, so I guess those are my contractions.
Belly Button in or out? still in : )
What I miss:
How Baby Is Growing
Baby is now full term. This means that if baby arrives now, his lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though the due date is still three weeks away.
Baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel. Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.
Baby and Momma update:
Sleep: I have started to have insomnia and a restless leg. Going to sleep is just plain annoying. Thankfully, I eventually get to sleep and my new work hours (12-6pm) allow me to sleep in. So I've still been getting the required 8 hrs (or a little more).
Movement: As you can see from my previous post, baby is very active. I enjoy sitting in my chair and watching my belly move around. Baby's favorite kicking spot is still my right rib.
Food cravings: Avocados. I love avocados. Avocados are on sale at W-mart. I eat at least one a day. I would probably not indulge if they weren't on sale, but they are such a scrumptious food. Yesterday, I had one sliced up on my salad, the day before, I just sliced it up, sprinkled it with salt and pepper, and put a little lime juice on top...and ate it with a fork. YUM!
Labor Signs: Yes and no. I guess I have contractions, but I don't really feel them. Now that I know that I'm having them, every time I get a little "crampy" I feel my belly. It is definitely rock hard, so I guess those are my contractions.
Belly Button in or out? still in : )
What I miss:
- Rolling over in bed without feeling like I am getting crushed
- Not having to worry about keeping my belly covered up because it is so huge that I have almost no shirts that cover it anymore (thanks momma cady for providing me with the last few shirts that fit!)
- Putting on my shoes with ease
- Feeling as though I'm not squishing the baby every time I sit down.
How Baby Is Growing
Baby is now full term. This means that if baby arrives now, his lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though the due date is still three weeks away.
Baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel. Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
We are getting closer!
I would have to say that until today, actually having a baby has seemed very distant. Today, however, the reality that sometime in the next 3-4 weeks, Baby Cady will be here hit me!
Why, you ask?
Well, I went to my non-stress test as I have every Wednesday since April 22nd. I answered all the normal questions.... "Yes, baby has been moving a lot.", "No, I haven't been feeling any contractions, only a little crampiness.", nothing out of the ordinary. My BP was doing wonderful as usual (120/70). I got hooked up to the monitors (one which monitors baby's heartbeat, one which monitors contractions). Baby was moving quite a bit (especially after I treated baby to some orange juice, his/her favorite drink, just like mom and Grandpa C). The OB nurse came in to check Baby Cady's heart beat and she informed me that it looked like I was having a contraction. Well, that was weird because I didn't feel a thing. The nurse left and came back in a few minutes. She looked at the readings and informed me that I was having contractions about every 2 minutes!
FREAK OUT (inside)
Not only could I not even feel these contractions, I was not ready for baby! I haven't packed anything in a bag for the hospital (not a huge deal since I'm in such a small town, but slightly being prepared would be nice). So I got my first "exam" to check to see if I was dialated. Not the most pleasant feeling in the world, but not too painful.
So...nothing. Not dialated at all, which is ok with me because I'm not technically "full-term" until Friday. But, exciting nonetheless. I figured that this baby was never coming out because I haven't been feeling any of the normal Braxton-Hicks contractions that lot of women get as their body "prepares" for labor.
Baby seems to be doing just fine and growing as expected. Based on the recent movements of baby, I think I may have a Kung-Fu Panda instead of an infant: )
Why, you ask?
Well, I went to my non-stress test as I have every Wednesday since April 22nd. I answered all the normal questions.... "Yes, baby has been moving a lot.", "No, I haven't been feeling any contractions, only a little crampiness.", nothing out of the ordinary. My BP was doing wonderful as usual (120/70). I got hooked up to the monitors (one which monitors baby's heartbeat, one which monitors contractions). Baby was moving quite a bit (especially after I treated baby to some orange juice, his/her favorite drink, just like mom and Grandpa C). The OB nurse came in to check Baby Cady's heart beat and she informed me that it looked like I was having a contraction. Well, that was weird because I didn't feel a thing. The nurse left and came back in a few minutes. She looked at the readings and informed me that I was having contractions about every 2 minutes!
FREAK OUT (inside)
Not only could I not even feel these contractions, I was not ready for baby! I haven't packed anything in a bag for the hospital (not a huge deal since I'm in such a small town, but slightly being prepared would be nice). So I got my first "exam" to check to see if I was dialated. Not the most pleasant feeling in the world, but not too painful.
So...nothing. Not dialated at all, which is ok with me because I'm not technically "full-term" until Friday. But, exciting nonetheless. I figured that this baby was never coming out because I haven't been feeling any of the normal Braxton-Hicks contractions that lot of women get as their body "prepares" for labor.
Baby seems to be doing just fine and growing as expected. Based on the recent movements of baby, I think I may have a Kung-Fu Panda instead of an infant: )
Monday, June 1, 2009
Great weekend
I hope everyone had a great weekend. We had beautiful weather here in C-ville. Friday, we went out to dinner to celebrate our anniversary. Hubby had Sea Bass, and I had a yummy pasta/shrimp meal. We finished off our dinner with wonderful dessert. I had chocolate souffle (it's to die for!) and Hubby had peanut butter chocolate cheesecake.
Hubby and I spend Saturday morning/afternoon at my Great-Uncle James pond/lake. It was so peaceful. Hubby got two fish, and while I "caught" a few fish, I wasn't able to get them in the boat (line snapped, etc). Moving around in the boat is not as easy as it used to be!
We grilled the fish Sat. evening and relaxed. Sunday was little more hectic. My mom and I baked 5 loaves of bread using some soft red winter wheatberry that I got from my organic farmshare. It is very scrumptous but time-consuming. Hubby and I also picked strawberries, and we checked out our house lot with our contractor to see which trees we will save and which need to be cut down.
Below is a picture of me before we went to the lake. I hadn't showered yet, so I didn't want to scare you all with my bedhead. Wow, that belly is getting big!
Hubby and I spend Saturday morning/afternoon at my Great-Uncle James pond/lake. It was so peaceful. Hubby got two fish, and while I "caught" a few fish, I wasn't able to get them in the boat (line snapped, etc). Moving around in the boat is not as easy as it used to be!
We grilled the fish Sat. evening and relaxed. Sunday was little more hectic. My mom and I baked 5 loaves of bread using some soft red winter wheatberry that I got from my organic farmshare. It is very scrumptous but time-consuming. Hubby and I also picked strawberries, and we checked out our house lot with our contractor to see which trees we will save and which need to be cut down.
Below is a picture of me before we went to the lake. I hadn't showered yet, so I didn't want to scare you all with my bedhead. Wow, that belly is getting big!
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