Monday, September 28, 2009
Week 38: 10 days to go...
Eyebrow Wax - CHECK
Pedicure (complete with Pink polish) - CHECK
Bags Packed and in the car - CHECK
House Deep Cleaned - CHECK
Curtains hung & Nursery completely finished - CHECK
More than enough Baby stuff stockpiled - CHECK
Full tank of gas in the car - CHECK
All of the things I do have control over are READY for Punkin's arrival.
All of the things I have no control over are nowhere close to ready....
Dilation: 0 / Effacement: nada (as of last Wed)
Doctor says Punkin is still fairly high...so for all of you that have said she's dropped......NOPE.
She has been moving around like she is trying to push her way out.....uh, through my belly button. I think she is just like her Mommy and has a bad sense of direction.
I am anxious to see how my checkup goes on Wednesday. I am really hoping for some sign of progress. My doctor still thinks she will come on my due date: Oct 8. My Mom and a few friends think she'll come this Sunday....since there is a full moon. I am totally fine with either of those options.
Where I do draw the line is after the due date....there will be an eviction notice next Friday if little Miss Punkin has not graced us with her presence by then.
~~~
Thursday, September 10, 2009
WEEK 36: 28 days to go!!!
So is it just me, or are there way more pregnant chicks than normal right now?? I've been paying attention to all of them and some of them look really miserable...it's too bad they are not enjoying this amazing experience more. Not me....I’ve been very fortunate that this pregnancy has been pretty easy on me. Other than the morning sickness in the beginning, I have felt better than I ever imagined I would. Even still, I am doing pretty good...I just move a little (a lot) slower than I used to, and the weight of my belly gets to me sometimes. A friend of mine just lent me her maternity belt. I haven’t tried it yet, but I plan to next time I think I’ll be doing a lot of walking or standing….maybe that will help.
I had my big 36 week appointment yesterday. We got to see our little girl on the sonogram, and she is really looking like a baby now! She totally has my lips! It was easy to see how little room she has now....she is pretty squished in my belly. My doctor said the baby and all the measurements look great (he even complimented my weight gain). Punkin weighs 6lbs 3oz now. She is exactly average (perfect ;) and the check he did on me was good. No change yet, and he expects I won’t until 38 weeks. His guess, as of now, is that I will deliver an 8lb baby on my due date. So we’ll see how good he is…..
Tonight Bobby & I will be attending a breastfeeding class. Bobby asked if he has to go, but I told him he didn't have a choice. Coincidentally we had dinner with our neighbor on Monday night. (He & his wife share our due date.) He told us that he opted not to go to the breastfeeding class with his pregnant wife. She was the only one there without a partner, so he has been feeling like a jerk ever since. I was glad he told us that…it just sealed the fact that Bobby will be attending with me.
Next week we will be attending our last class: Newborn Care Class. It is a hands-on class to prepare new parents to bring a baby home. Of all the classes, this is the one we expect will benefit us most.
There will be 12 different learning/practice stations:
* Picking up, holding, and carrying baby
* Dressing
* Swaddling
* Diapering (using both cloth and disposable diapers)
* Feeding and burping
* Different techniques for taking baby's temperature
* Bathing and washing hair
Other subjects:
* Newborn characteristics
* Emotional bonding and attachment
* Health and nutrition
* Sleep and awake patterns
* Calming a crying baby
* Colic
* Illnesses, immunizations, and doctor visits
* Infant safety at home and when traveling
***But most importantly, I am super excited about this weekend…..
A long weekend at a luxurious resort and spa with all my best girlfriends!
Look Out Lost Pines!!!
~~~
Thursday, September 3, 2009
35 WEEKS. 35 DAYS TO GO.....
Gone are the days when we felt like the birth of our baby was so far away.
Gone are the days of doing "baby stuff" just for fun.
Gone are the days of talking about what all we need to do before the baby gets here.
We are at 35 weeks, with only 35 days to go.... and who knows, she could come much sooner than her October 8 due date...35 days away.
Bobby and I have had a goal, and we are thisclose to meeting that goal. The goal is to have all possible baby stuff done 3 weeks before the due date. We have about 2 weeks to accomplish that goal, but I think we might actually reach that goal this weekend.
I could not be more excited about that possibility. That would leave us with 4 weeks rather than 3, to relax, veg on the sofa with feet up, nap, and enjoy the last quiet and uneventful days before Punkin's arrival turns our world upside down.
My Dad is coming into town for the Labor Day holiday weekend. He is going to help Bobby finish up some big projects on his Baby To Do List. My Mom, Sister, and I will be shopping for the final necessary items we still need before Punkin comes home. I am sure we'll do some organizing in the baby's room, as well as the kitchen....I have to find a place and make room for all those bottles and feeding supplies!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
35 Weeks -- and I'm really starting to feel it.
This is what they call the "uncomfortable stage" ...with good reason. I can't seem to get comfortable, anywhere. From the clothes I'm wearing to where I'm sitting, or laying.
- The clothing options are really getting numbered. I'm repeating clothing and wearing dresses more than I ever have in my life. I don't care. I refuse to buy more maternity clothes at this late stage. Besides, maternity (read: fat) clothes are NOT fun to shop for...never have been for me.
- My chair at work is not comfortable. I've actually tried out about 6 chairs at work and none of them are great. (Lots of chairs to pick from after the big layoff a few weeks ago.)
- I can't get comfortable on the sofa at home. The lazboy seems to be the best option at this point, but then I can't sit next to Bobby. (awww ;-)
When I do get my butt up and head for the bathroom (many times a day and night), I KNOW I'm "waddling" and I don't even care anymore.
Ok, I'll stop complaining now. I do realize that I only have a few remaining weeks of being pregnant, and this IS the EASY part.
Honestly, I feel like my pregnancy has been a pretty easy and mostly uneventful one, and I feel very fortunate for that. I'm still not at the point where I am ready to be done being pregnant, and for Punkin to be here....but I'm getting closer. Maybe after the final projects get done this weekend, and I have the 36 week appointment with the doctor next week.....maybe then I'll be ready.
~~~
Friday, August 28, 2009
VOTE NOW!
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Week 34: Childbirth Preparation Class
Some of the highlights discussed:
- Signs of pre-term Labor (most of this is definitely "TMI"....so I won't go into detail about here....)
- Baby Movement Changes
- 32-33 weeks: movements change from kicks and rolls to nudges and stretches
- What to do if water breaks
- Call Doctor, be prepared to report what time, what color, if you tested + or - for Group B Strep (at 36 week appointment)
- After water breaks take time to shower, put on dry clothes, get towels and trash bags on car seat.
- Will normally deliver within 18 hours of water breaking
- Not everyone's water breaks on it's own
- Pain Medication Options
- Demerol and other similar narcotics
- gets into bloodstream through IV
- makes Mom relax, takes the edge off the pain, sleepy
- can make Baby sleepy (NO THANKS!)
- Once Mom is 8cm dilated or more, No Drugs
- Epidural
- Anesthesia Numbing Medication
- Want active pattern of contractions, around 3cm dialated
- Doesn't hurt that bad. Just a "stick and burn" and pressure. Takes only a few minutes.
- Anesthesiologist performs procedure. Leaves a flexible tube in epidural space for slow medication release.
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epidural_anesthesia
- Possible Side Effects: Infection at site (rare), Bleeding (rare)
- Anesthesiologist can dose down or dose up the medication. Also, Mom holds the power to release more meds with the push of a button.
- With the medication Mom may not feel the contractions so the doctor and nurses tell her when to push.
- Mom can still move around until baby gets real low.
- These meds do not go into bloodstream, and do not get to baby directly.
- Length of Stay?
- Vaginal Delivery = 2 day stay
- C-section = 3-4 day stay
- Postpartum
- Once pregnant, the placenta increases Estrogen in the body.
- Mom births placenta, but ovaries stay asleep = lack of Estrogen 7-9 months
- Sex Drive = ZERO for awhile, then Sex Drive will just be "different" for awhile
- Estrogen also acts like Serotonin.
- Serotonin deficiency can lead to Postpartum Depression
***Interesting addition to our "To-Do" list that had not been mentioned during this pregnancy before....
Tdap Vaccine (Tetanus Diphtheria Adult Pertussis) A/K/A Whooping Cough Vaccine
If a baby catches the Whooping couch in the first 8 weeks of life, the baby can die.
Apparently a few years ago several babies in Texas died from the Whooping Cough. Shortly after there was a huge marketing campaign promoting family members of newborns to get this vaccine. (I am sure you all remember.)
So it is now highly recommended that anyone who will be around a newborn, for extended periods of time, during the baby's first 2 months should have this vaccine ahead of time.
Since I have not had it yet, I can ask the nurse to give me the Tdap Vaccine after I deliver the baby. Bobby has made an appointment with his doctor to get the shot, as well as my Mom, Sister, Brother-in-Law, and Mother-in-Law.
It is not suggested that friends just visiting the baby get the vaccine. However, it is highly recommended that those visitors wash hands and use hand sanitizers when around the baby.
(I hate being that person who pushes the hand sanitizers on people, but I guess I will for Punkin's first 2 months.)
Funny side note...
Bobby's Mom does not live in Texas...she lives in Illinois. When she called her doctor's office to make an appointment for this vaccine, the nurse asked her "Why?" She told the nurse it was because she would be staying with her new granddaughter for a week. The nurse told her she didn't need that vaccine, but put her on hold to confirm with the doctor. The doctor also said that vaccine was unnecessary. But my MIL scheduled the appointment anyway...since Bobby asked her to.
So apparently, this is really just a Texas thing. And it's not a cheap Texas thing...the Tdap Vaccine cost about $65.
~~~
Friday, August 21, 2009
Girls! Girls! Girls!

YEA! I am so excited! Today one of my best friends K found out she is having a GIRL!!! Our little girls will just be 3 months apart....so they will HAVE to be best friends!
I was secretly REALLY HOPING she was going to tell me "It's A Girl!" but I didn't want to get my hopes up...so I kept saying "Boy". I am so glad that was WRONG!
Even the Happy Couple had it in their head that they were having a Boy....because that is what everyone kept telling them. So when they got the news this morning, she was immediately overjoyed with visions of pink dancing in her head, and his whole world was flipped upside down in an instant.
I know this has to be true because that is exactly what happened to Bobby & I a few months ago.
Since then it has totally sunk in for both of us and I can't even imagine preparing for a boy now. Girls are so much fun to shop for!!! Even Bobby is totally on board with having a little girl. He is already thinking of Daddy-Daughter days and fun things they can do together.
In fact, one of our favorite little girls stayed with us on Wednesday night for a few hours while her parents were busy. She and Bobby had a blast watching the Scooby Doo movie. She was standing on the couch and tumbling around with the pillows. Bobby got such a kick out of watching her laugh and giggle at Scooby Doo. I know he was seeing his future watching silly movies with his own little girl.
So Sweet!
It just so happens that K and I already had plans for a baby shopping excursion on Sunday. Well, now I know it's going to be an all-out PINK day!!! I am so excited!
Another good piece of news I found out today.... baby clothes and diapers are TAX-FREE this weekend!
http://www.window.state.tx.us/
Sweet!
Happy Friday!!!
~~~
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Week 33: Floating Baby says 50 Days To Go!!!
Wow! Between the overwhelming amount of new baby stuff I am trying to find a place for, and doing my first loads of baby laundry, it is all feeling very real lately.We only have 7 weeks (at the most) before Punkin's arrival into our world, and the reality of it all has most definitely hit both Bobby and I in full force.
Maybe it was seeing the massive amount of baby stuff I brought home from the shower, or a combination of several events lately...but Bobby has really started getting serious about his Honey-Do-Before-Baby-Arrives List. He put the pack and play together and made a place for it in our room. He put the car seat in the car against my plea not to (so I wouldn't have to drive around with an empty car seat for the next 7 weeks). He said he'll feel better if its in and all I have to drive around with is the base...the car seat can stay at the house....for now. Next on Bobby's agenda is to get the hospital bags packed. I am normally the way-too-far-in-advance packer...but that is for VACATIONS! This time I was hoping to put off the packing for awhile longer (not really sure why). But Bobby has decided we are packing our bags as well as the baby bag soon...very soon.
My in-laws just made their travel arrangements for their visit about a month after Punkin's arrival. They don't get to visit very often so both Bobby & I are really excited about them coming to stay with us for a while.
My Dad just decided to come for a visit Labor Day weekend so he can help Bobby on some house projects we want to get done before Punkin arrives. I'm sure all that type of stuff will get put on the bottom of the priority list if we don't take care of it now.
I have been training people at work on the different aspects of my job. Basically letting go of all my projects, so they can start taking them over while I am here to help if they need it.
Bobby and I will be attending a Childbirth Preparation class this Saturday, and I just scheduled us for a Newborn Care Class mid-September.
And.............I'm ordering my Diaper Bag TODAY!!!!!
So the combination of all the baby related stuff going on in our lives right now is absolutely making us realize what a short window of time we have left.....
~~~
Monday, August 17, 2009
Week 32: Baby Shower - Dr. Seuss Style!
Yes, it’s official. I really do have the best friends in the world! I am not sure how I got so lucky, or if I even deserve them, but somehow I have them and I will NEVER let them out of my life!
In all my life I have never had a group of girlfriends. I have always had one or two friends here and there in every stage of my life, but they have come and gone with the years. I never really thought it was possible to have a group of girls that actually get along with each other all the time. Of course I have heard of such groups, but I doubted they could sustain the years and changes in each other’s lives.
Our group is still relatively new, but I do believe we actually have one of those groups. We bonded so quickly and easily, and have already overcome adversity as a group, which only made us stronger. We all fully intend to still be the best of friends in 10-20----50 years. I think if we all outlive our spouses, we would be totally cool living out the last years of our lives “Golden Girls” style. :-)
Going through these last 7 months of my life being pregnant, has made me realize just how important these girls have become to me. They are all so different, but each has the same goals when it comes to our group…. Take care of each other, and make time to be together. They have definitely taken care of me, more than they know. I believe the reason my pregnancy has been so easy and even enjoyable is due to the support and love I have received from my husband, my Mom & Sister, and my girlfriends.
I had the most awesome Baby Shower this weekend! It could not have possibly been more perfect! They went with the Dr. Seuss “theme” to go along with Punkin’s nursery theme (which was the big secret they were keeping from me). Everything was decorated so bright, colorful, and fun! My girlfriends made it perfect right down to the smallest details, and it went off without a hitch. Everyone seemed to have a great time, even the ones who walked in not knowing anyone there. There was a ridiculous amount of food (always is with this group)….all the food was bright and colorful, and there was even green eggs & ham!!! The cake had the “Oh Baby the Places You’ll Go” theme, and it tasted as good as it looked. I got to take home some truly gorgeous flowers decorated up Dr. Seuss style. Probably the biggest perk was having a neighbor friend of G’s take all the pictures so I didn’t have to pose for 10 different cameras. :-) We played several fun games, ate delicious food, laughed and chatted, and I opened a ridiculous amount of baby gifts for Punkin. She is one really lucky girl to be loved so much….and she hasn’t even made her appearance into the world yet!
I went through all the gifts yesterday and tried to organize everything in the nursery. After doing that, I feel like we are now prepared to bring a baby home. I am only saying that we could bring her home anytime, and we would be able to take care of her and meet all her needs….. I am not saying I am ready for her to be here yet. I have actually enjoyed my pregnancy and I know our lives are going to change so much when she arrives. I know it will all change for the better, and will be incredible….but I am not yet ready to give up what “free” time I have left. I fully plan to enjoy these next few weeks and soak up the time I have with my husband, family, and friends before the big change.
BIG THANKS to everyone who made Saturday so special for me! I am so Lucky to have each and every one of you in my life!!!
~~~
Monday, August 10, 2009
Week 31: Doctor appointment & Mosaic Fun
The nurse said that everything is measuring exactly perfect and the baby is doing great. At this point Punkin is exactly the right size (including her head).....which makes Mommy very happy. The nurse checked to make sure we have chosen a pediatrician and talked with me about the few side effects I'm having. Of course everything is normal, and she said everything is progressing exactly as it should. Always great to hear!
In other news, I finally finished mosaicing the bird bath this weekend!!! The top part was already finished; but yesterday, with some help, I finished the base. We almost started grouting it, but remembered the glue has to dry for awhile before you can grout it. So the next step is to grout where we have tiled.....and let it dry completely. Last step is to seal it since it will be outside with water in it. THEN it will be DONE. Regardless, the time-consuming, hard part is DONE!
I sure hope the birdies love it as much as I do!!!
~~~
Friday, August 7, 2009
WEEK 31: Babies and Dogs
- Red Nose Pit Mix - 100 lbs
- Australian Cattle Dog - 40 lbs
- Chihuahua Mix - 6 lbs
- Chihuahua - 7lbs
So a couple of weeks ago Bobby & I attended a seminar called:
We were pleasantly surprised that the seminar was very informative, and not just a sales pitch to get you to come pay lots of money for a dog trainer. Everyone asked a lot of questions and Jyl covered a good amount of quality information about getting your furr-kids ready for a new pack member. After class we stayed and asked Jyl more specific questions about our situation and she was more than happy to answer all our questions and offer some great advice. We probably stayed 30+ minutes after the seminar ended talking to Jyl. We really appreciated that she was not rushing and pushing us out the door, or telling us that we just need to schedule an appointment.
...So we scheduled an appointment with the main trainer: Lee Mannix. Apparently a very well known dog trainer....especially with aggressive behaviors. (Which is one of the main items we are dealing with.)
Our appointment last night was a 30 minute evaluation with Lee and all of our 4 dogs. He asked us lots of questions and picked up on our dogs quirks without us even telling him. He told us we are doing some things right, and some things wrong. But he did let us know that we were not the worst case senerio and our problems can be corrected. At first he wants to focus mainly on our Australian Cattle Dog - the agressive one of the bunch. He did express his concern for her around the baby/toddler, so she is number one priority.
We as pet parents have a lot of work ahead of us in these next two months to get our pack ready. Just another thing we have to take care of before Punkin' arrives. But of course it's for the best!
~~~
Monday, August 3, 2009
Week 30: Road Trip & Belly Rubs
So yes, we made the long, boring drive to Lubbock on Friday. And that drive is even longer when you double, no make that triple, the number of pit stops along the way....due to being pregnant (tiny bladder). What should have been about a 6 hour trip took about 7.5 hours. Ugggg! Fortunately the trip back to Austin on Sunday was better. For some reason the pit stops were less frequent so the trip didn’t feel nearly as torturous.
While in Lubbock we visited with my Dad, his wife, Amma (Dad's mom), an aunt, and my Papa (Mom's dad). Everyone was so happy to see me and Bobby, and especially happy they got to see me while pregnant. But since my family is not a touchy-feely family, they didn’t ask to touch my belly at all. One time Punkin' was moving around like crazy, so I did kinda force my Dad and his wife to feel of my belly while she was doing her gymnastics.
So No, the Belly Rubs didn’t come from within my family….. but rather a stranger working at Taco Villa. Taco Villa is the place everyone can’t wait to go back to when they’ve moved away from west TX. It is one of those places that you take for granted when you live there, but as soon as you move away you realize just how much you miss it. Anyway, when I went to the counter to place my order, two female workers came to the counter and one of them asked if she could touch my belly. (OK, at least she asked!) So my response to her was, “Ok, but I get to touch your belly first.” She was kinda surprised but agreed anyway, so I rubbed her belly before I let her touch mine. After she rubbed on my belly for a second she said, “It’s a Girl!” I smiled and confirmed that yes, it is a girl. She smiled a huge smile and laughed with her co-workers who didn’t think she’d be able to call it.
So yes, it happened….my first belly touch by a stranger. At least she was nice and fun about it.
After all the belly touching I turned to Bobby, he hugged me and told me I handled it perfectly. He knows exactly how I feel about strangers wanting to touch pregnant bellies. I really just don’t get it. No one would ever ask to touch someone’s non-prego belly. That is your own personal space….so why is it not considered your personal space anymore once there is a baby in the belly?
***Note to my friends….I am NOT talking about you! I am talking about people I don’t know! So don't get your feelings hurt. I know you are all touchy-feely people and I’d probably get my feelings hurt if you didn’t touch my belly!!! :-)
In other news, my Dad gave us a baby gift this weekend....the car seat. Bobby and I took it out of the box, learned how to snap it in and out of the base, and checked out the fit in our new Pilot. It's a big car seat, so it's a tight fit even in the Pilot. We determined it would have to go behind the passenger seat because there is not enough room for the driver if it is behind the driver's seat. Fun Stuff. :-)
~~~
Friday, July 31, 2009
BIG MILESTONE: 30 WEEKS!!!!

Other things on my To-Do list include:
- dinners and happy hours with friends & couple friends we need to catch up with now....because it may be awhile before it happens again...
- baby showers!!!
- bi-weekly and then weekly doctor appointments
- dentist appointment
- hair appointment
- classes for me & hubby to prepare to bring a baby home
- dog training...as a group, to prepare our 4 dogs for Punkin's arrival
- get Dr. Seuss pages framed and up in the nursery
- get all my picture albums caught up...because I know there are going to be tons of new pictures soon!
- take all my photos now in individual frames and organize them into the multi-picture frames
- Church
- as many Yoga classes as I can fit in
- pack bag for Hospital stay
- my Birthday!
- lots of Girl Time with my Chicks: HHs, Movies, Slumber Parties, Plays, Shopping....SPA WEEKEND!
- of course I still have to work 40 hours/week
.....that is just in the next 2 months. And I'm sure I'm leaving some things out.
This isn't even touching on Bobby's own To-Do list....which is probably longer than mine!
I am happy to say that we are marking one To-Do off this list this weekend....road trip to see my Grandma in Lubbock. She is my FAVORITE grandparent, and always has been. I was her 1st grandchild and I always new I had a special place in her heart. I even suspected...and still do...that I was/am her favorite, but she will never admit it.
She hasn't been doing very well for a couple of months now and I have been trying to fit this trip in for awhile. So we are finally taking it this weekend....and I am really looking forward to seeing my Amma and other family & friends I haven't seen in way too long.
~~
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
29 Weeks - Uber Mama Mode
Proof #1:
This weekend Bobby & I made the tough decision to go ahead and get the "Mama Car". Yep, we did it.
We traded in the fun, sporty Audi and the loyal Explorer for a bigger and better family car.
It is a few years old with some miles on it, but it is loaded (read DVD player) and it has already been broken in by another family with kiddos.We spent all day Saturday at CarMax getting the deal done. During our debate, Bobby made a great point: This will be our car for the messy baby & toddler stages. After that we can get a nice, new car to tote the kids around to soccer practice and music lessons.
He is right....if my toddler would have slung crap onto the roof, or punctured the leather seats in the Audi, I would have absolutely f-r-e-a-k-e-d. But in this car I can chill and spend my time focusing on the important things, rather than the car.
We are both happy that we won't have to deal with the car seat in that tiny backseat. And Bobby is especially glad that he doesn't have to see me struggle to get out of the car anymore....now I can just slide right out. Great Perk!
We are taking a road trip to see some of my family this weekend. Bobby has already informed me that he is going to let me drive while he watches movies in the backseat. I told him that is fine....I'll just take Fancy and Penny and let them ride up front to keep me company. :-)
Proof #2:
I attended my 2nd PreNatal Yoga class on Sunday morning, and it was amazing. My phenomenal husband encouraged me to sign up for the classes and go, so I did.The class is obviously tailored to pregnant chicks so there are no crazy positions to try and contort the unwieldy pregnant body into. Instead the focus is on the core and other parts of the body that ache and hurt during pregnancy, as well as helping to prepare the mind & body for labor & delivery. Actually, I have found tons of awesome reasons to do Yoga during pregnancy.
I felt so much better and more relaxed after both the classes I attended.
I am anxious to go again!
~~~


