|
|
Monday, March 29th, 2004
| |
11:50 am
|
Sophie is nearly 15 months old and pure joy. More information about her growth and development can be found here.
The next chapter won't be found at this location. Please move along, nothing new to see.
|
|
(comment on this)
|
| Monday, January 13th, 2003
| |
9:28 am - Murphy's Law #137
|
Babies prefer to be born during snow storms...especially if the hospital is a long drive from home!
Long delay since the previous update---you see, things have been a bit busy at our house! I went into labor last Sunday evening (ironically, ONE HOUR after the livejournal post for that day) and Sophie Alicia was born Monday, January 6th at 6:56 AM. She weighed 6 lbs 12.6 oz and was 19.5 inches long. Lots of dark blond hair!
She's a week old today, and we love her more than words can express.
current mood:  ecstatic
|
|
(1 comment | comment on this)
|
| Sunday, January 5th, 2003
| |
5:29 pm
|
|
For the past 9 months I've been getting weekly emails from babycenter.com regarding prenatal development for each week of gestation. I just received the email for Week 40---"Your Newborn". *snort*
|
|
(2 comments | comment on this)
|
| Friday, January 3rd, 2003
| |
12:36 pm
|
Howdy, news fans! I'm now 75% effaced (but no additional dialation) and the baby is continuing to descend. Well, that explains why I was in so much pain on New Year's Day. The midwife said I might make it to my due date (January 9th).
And here's some more news: OOPS, they forgot to tell me that if my water breaks, I need to be at the hospital with an IV started in 2 hours. Considering that I was on a business trip to Philly last week and was 3+ hours from my hospital, that could have been a major problem. *shudder*
current mood:  nervous
|
|
(2 comments | comment on this)
|
| Thursday, January 2nd, 2003
| |
12:10 pm
|
Well, we won't be getting the family tax credit for 2002 and we didn't have the first baby of the New Year. Lady Spawn also does not seem motivated to try for the really cool 1-2-03 birthdate that Daddy suggested. Eh. She's not due until next week, and not considered overdue for 2 weeks after that, so we're just hanging in there and waiting.
On the upside, this gives us plenty of time to continue preparing. Over the holiday, we hung wall trim and decorations in the nursery. Bags are packed, car seat [base] is installed...
...and last night I came up with a really cute idea for birth announcements/visitation favors!
current mood:  artistic
|
|
(comment on this)
|
| Tuesday, December 31st, 2002
| |
2:11 pm
|
Since we're starting to get calls/emails inquiring about the status of The New Arrival, I figured I should post an update:
She hasn't arrived yet.
Could happen today, could happen as late as January 23rd or 24th. (I haven't even discussed induced labor with the midwives yet, so who knows.) Personally, I predict that she'll be born during the next full moon, which is sometime around January 16th-18th.
While we're on the topic, if you want to be notified of the birth and aren't already on the "phone tree" or "email tree", please let me know how you prefer to be contacted and (if by phone) what time is best.
|
|
(comment on this)
|
| Thursday, December 26th, 2002
| |
12:28 pm
|
|
The baby's weight was estimated at maybe 6.75 pounds. Also estimated that we have at least another week to go!
|
|
(comment on this)
|
| Tuesday, December 24th, 2002
| |
3:24 pm
|
Just a short update for the folks who are on "baby watch" and get nervous when they don't hear from me...
Doin' fine, next OB appointment is on Thursday. I hope to post more pictures of the nursery soon, now that the changing table and nightstand are here. My goal for the end of the week is to hang the pictures and such.
* * * * *
More helpful hints for people who don't know what to say to pregnant women---specifically, this pregnant woman:
- If I'm meeting you for the first time, the next line out of your mouth following introductions should not be, "You look like you're going to pop!"
- Even if I've known you for years, I don't want to hear any comments related to "popping."
- You might think it's funny to joke about me going into labor on the highway, but I don't. Particularly when I've just driven 4.5 hours. Especially if this is our first meeting. Most definitely if this is a business meeting and you're about to explain how your company just royally screwed up my company's project. I don't tend to have a sense of humor when in this situation, so save your breath.
- DO NOT under any circumstances ask me how much weight I've gained. It's absolutely none of your business.
- If you must fill the lull in the conversation, stick to neutral questions such as, "How are you feeling?" I would rather answer that a dozen times a day than field one insensitive or boorish remark.
- When in doubt, say nothing at all. I wish I could give a clearer signal in times when I'd rather be left alone, something like the way cats flatten their ears back when they're feeling unapproachable. Then again, some people just ignore that and try to pet the cat anyway...and end up scratched or bitten.
(Of course we're excited about the impending arrival of the wee one, and of course we're happy. I'm just really worn out, and looking forward to being safely ensconced at home with my baby.)
current mood: peevish
|
|
(comment on this)
|
| Friday, December 20th, 2002
| |
12:13 pm - Recent news
|
I've fallen behind a bit on posting general updates, so here they are, in no particular order:
We completed our childbirth education classes last Friday. Sean was the most prepared Daddy-to-be! He was also the funniest---started a discussion with some of the guys about bringing their own tools to the birth to cut the cord. Tim Allen would be proud. (Ya know, that might be an untapped product niche. A lot of dads-to-be would probably really dig the idea of having their own special cord cutting tool. Picture the product pitch: "New! Craftsman stainless steel cord cutter with adjustable grip! Blade never needs sharpening from your first baby to your 101st! Comes in a titanium carry case.")
We toured the labor and delivery unit and maternity ward of the hospital last night. I think I was the most panicked mom-to-be. I'm educated about the process, but something about being in the place and seeing the medical equipment really chewed up my nerves. On the bright side, the labor and delivery rooms have many of the amenities of home, minus the pet hair.
Also yesterday, we had our first round of Braxton Hicks contractions. Not fun. They followed an evening of frenzied nesting behavior, which is supposed to be a sign of imminent labor. So much for that myth!
Lady Spawn's hospital bag is packed and ready to go. Mine is getting there. If it seems a bit early for that, it's not. We're full term now, although we could have as many as 5 weeks still to go.
current mood:  blah
|
|
(comment on this)
|
| Tuesday, December 17th, 2002
| |
1:15 pm
|
Here's a milestone: I just made my first late-term pregnancy panic call to the midwives. Not surprisingly, it turned out to be nothing to worry about. Apparently I'm experiencing a very common stabbing pain that happens when the baby begins to descend.
Buckle up, everyone! We probably still have several weeks to go (I'm at 37 weeks this week), but things are moving along fast now!
current mood: sheepish
|
|
(comment on this)
|
| Monday, December 16th, 2002
| |
12:24 pm
|
No news is good news, I guess. Just got back from the latest OB appointment, and things are going well. This visit was with a midwife whom I had seen only one other time previously, which was at the 16 week visit following a nightmarish trip home from Montreal and a scary episode of bleeding and cramping. [That event was a landmark in the pregnancy---nothing like a bit of drama to clarify one's priorities and feelings. Fortunately, the rest of the pregnancy has been medically uneventful.] This particular midwife seemed somewhat brusque and dismissive at the 16 week appointment, but was very patient and straightforward at this visit, so I feel more comfortable with the possibility that she might be the midwife who assists the delivery. Major relief!
One interesting thing from the OB visit: another patient actually chased me down in the hallway and complimented me on my "stylishness". That made my day!
|
|
(3 comments | comment on this)
|
| Friday, December 13th, 2002
| |
12:32 pm
|
The problem with stress (or rather, my reaction to stress) is that I don't eat. And I don't sleep. So I've been running on empty for 2 days, and finally hit the breaking point this morning during a hideous 2.5 hour commute.
Feeling better now. Kind of. The need for sleep and food just caught up with me.
current mood:  gloomy
|
|
(comment on this)
|
| Thursday, December 12th, 2002
| |
12:20 pm
|
Need an unusual baby name? The folks at babynames.com have oh-so-helpfully compiled a list of Tolkien names. (From "Lord of the Rings", "The Hobbit" and such.)
Suuuuuure...
Anyway, the update on our baby name situation is that it's still unsettled. According to babynames.com's list of most popular baby names, the one we selected for Lady Spawn's middle name is one of the top 200 for 2002, but just barely. Of the top two choices for the first name, one is not very popular and the other isn't on the list at all.
We may have a winner!
|
|
(3 comments | comment on this)
|
| Monday, December 9th, 2002
| |
12:32 pm - Notes to self:
|
- No matter how tempting, DO NOT go into a Victoria's Secret when you are 4 days away from being 9 months pregnant---it will only depress you.
- The owner of the pair of tiny hands that used your right hipbone as a bongo drum throughout "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" was letting you know that you have had your last theater experience for the next several months. Forget about seeing "Lord of the Rings" next week.
|
|
(9 comments | comment on this)
|
| Sunday, December 8th, 2002
| |
11:53 am - This and that
|
|
| Friday, December 6th, 2002
| |
11:37 pm
|
We attended the first session of our childbirth class this evening. Looked at diagrams, practiced breathing, watched a video...
Apparently the average labor lasts 12-14 hours. This does absolutely nothing to sell me on the whole childbirth concept.
current mood: nervous
|
|
(comment on this)
|
| Tuesday, December 3rd, 2002
| |
12:43 pm - because what would life be without extremes and opposites?
|
...and on the flip side, there are a whole lot of folks out there who have been consistently supportive and genuinely happy for us, even through times when it must have been painful. THAT is classy. Immense love and gratitude to you all!
current mood:  hopeful
|
|
(comment on this)
|
| Monday, November 25th, 2002
| |
12:11 pm
|
Sometimes it's hard to tell how my brother feels about being an uncle. Could be indifferent, could just be an average 25-year-old single male...
From his visit this weekend:
Mom: Matt brought you a gift.
Me: Oh, thanks! [sifts through gift bag] Great, we needed both of these things for the nursery!
Matt: Cool. What'd I get you?
Mom: Matthew! You're not supposed to say that!
Matt: Well, how am I supposed to know?! Mom just said, "Here, sign your name on this gift tag."
Me: ...Okay, well, thanks, this was clearly a very well thought-out gift.
|
|
(4 comments | comment on this)
|
| Friday, November 22nd, 2002
| |
12:52 pm
|
I have that "overwhelmed" feeling again.
This week has been all about organizing the nursery and finding storage space for the lovely little rompers, towels, bibs, booties and other necessities that have been flowing in for Baby Girl Benedict. After hours of folding, hanging and shelving things, I realized that I had no idea how many of each item we have, or how many we'll need. For example, 7 crib sheets is probably plenty, but 7 newborn-sized onesies doesn't seem like nearly enough. Mom (or "Grandmom", if you prefer...she seems to) is coming this weekend to help with inventory and "filling in the gaps".
And that's the least of what has been on my mind. There are things like bathing a baby, which will be a completely new experience for both Sean and me. Also, selecting a pediatrician, and settling on daycare. I don't even know how to operate a carseat yet!
Rounding out the list of "things to do before January", we still haven't decided on a name for the wee one. "Lady Spawn" or "Baby Girl" may be her name right up until delivery or possibly even for a short time afterwards.
T minus 7 weeks and counting...
|
|
(1 comment | comment on this)
|
| Tuesday, November 19th, 2002
| |
8:08 am
|
With a few friends this past weekend.
We are so fortunate to have so many friends and family members who are looking forward to Baby Girl's arrival!
current mood: happy
|
|
(comment on this)
|
|
|
|
|
![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
hostbody's journal
busy