Update & 38 weeks

I've been meaning to do a real update for awhile, but it's been hard to find the time to sit down and actually write one out. I probably should be working on TPA 1, but I'm so burnt out right now. Thursday when my Dad has Pen I'll be able to focus and get it finished - I'm about 3/4 of the way done.

If I remember correctly, TPA 2 is a lesson plan and I have a bunch of those already written so hopefully I can take something I have and modify it to fit the requirements of that particular TPA. Lesson plans aren't too terribly hard to write, even with the 1/3 + model they ask for (which means I have to specifically consider the needs of the top 1/3, middle 1/3, and bottom 1/3 of students).

I'm hoping that both TPAs will be done by the end of next week... which is a week before my due date. The moment I get them turned in this baby can come. But not before. NOT before.

Luckily I haven't been having too many contractions lately. The more I exercise (i.e. walk or lift Penny) the more I get, so I've been limiting those activities. This, of course, makes me feel like a huge lazy pregnant house. This last stage of pregnancy is neither comfortable nor sexy.

I did get the maternity proofs back and I like them, Bree is a great photographer... although the pictures of Penelope are the best :) She's so photogenic.

Although since I haven't posted a pregnancy picture in awhile I owe you one. Here's one from today, I'm 37 weeks 5 days. And then there's a picture of me @ 38 weeks with Penelope for comparison.





So lately people have making comments like "you've gotten so big!" and "are you sure there's only one?" and "wow, you've really exploded there!"

Let me just state that none of these things are ever, ever, ever ok to say to a pregnant woman. Ever. The ONLY thing that is appropriate to say to a woman whose 38 weeks pregnant is "you look great". ONLY THING.

Anyway, our next prenatal is tomorrow and I have a feeling it will be pretty boring. My blood pressure will be low, the baby's heartbeat will be in the 140 range, and he/she will still be head-down and in my pelvis. I don't get checked unless I ask and since it's only 38 weeks and I'm not having regular contractions I don't see the need to ask to be checked. Maybe at 39 weeks if I'm having more contractions.

I still don't think I'll make it to 40 weeks, but I could be wrong. It's just a feeling, not based on anything concrete. We'll see! We were going to put together a betting pool for date/time/gender, but I don't know if it'll happen. I have my TPAs to finish and Bryan started school last night, so we're both just trying to keep our heads above water.

There's probably a lot more I could update about, but I'm drawing a blank. Time to put away the computer and finish crocheting a hat for "&".

These pictures require a bit of explanation...

This morning Penelope had oatmeal for breakfast. This is always a messy endeavor, and generally results in a shirtless baby after breakfast is completed. I could use a bib, but it really doesn't help with the mess. So after she was done I wiped her down, pulled off her shirt, and let her run around the house half naked.

She's been on a scarf & necklace kick lately, so the first thing she does is grab her fuzzy scarves and put them on.

So now my toddler looks like Steven Tyler (only oodles cuter).

See?





I think it's hilarious.

A real update later, much to talk about.

Working on The List

I still have a lot of school and credentialing work to do, but I have a paper topic so that's a start. If I want to get a B in this class I only need to get a C on the paper... although a C on the paper might actually get me an A- in the class depending on how my last assignments are graded. But that's just the final assignment for the class I still have a lot of TPA work to do. It's just going to have to wait until the class is over, one thing at a time.

I did get some research done today, which is good. I also did laundry, cleaned the master bedroom (Bryan re-arranged it so it's labor/tub ready), and cooked extra dinner and froze the rest (I now have 4 meals frozen). So I feel as though I accomplished a lot today. In addition to rearranging the bedroom, Bryan finished texturing Penny's new room (all it needs now is to be painted), and between yesterday and today he did a LOT of yardwork. So both of our Lists got at least a few things checked off so far this weekend.

Tomorrow we're going to a fundraiser potluck for Mother's Support Network, and then I hope to be able to work a bit more on my paper.

And now for the interesting stuff that people actually care about, a Penelope update.

She can now reach the deadbolt on the back door... without standing on her tip toes. It's 41" off the ground. She can't quite lock or unlock in yet, but that will come soon; that will be fun when it happens. Not.

I don't think she could do too much damage in the backyard (to herself or what's out there), but if she figures out how to get into the garage we're in trouble. I don't think it's possible to toddler-proof the garage and I don't want to even try.

Penelope has also decided that it's fun to get in trouble. She purposefully stands up on the couch or our bed even though she knows she's not supposed to. Then she grins at me when I tell her to sit on her bottom. When I get close enough to take her off the furniture she sits right down with a very pleased look on her face. Brat.

I've started counting to three before I impose a consequence, and the smarty pants will hold up her fingers while I count as if we're playing a game. It's actually pretty hilarious and I have a hard time not laughing at her; and boy is it hard to giggle and be stern at the same time.

She's also started taking her frustrations out on things. So if I tell her "no" she'll try and hit me or pull on the dog if Harley-Quinn happens to be nearby (and she's always nearby, that d@mn dog is never out of reach). She gets told "no", "we don't hit", and "be gentle" when she does those things - I don't know what else I can do. I know this is normal behavior, but it's still a little frustrating. Welcome to parenthood, right?

She's also consistently taking naps and going to bed at night on her own without crying. Which is SO nice. I'm sure we'll still have days and nights where sleep is a struggle, but for the most part she puts herself to sleep without a fuss and then sleeps for 2+ hours (nap) or 11+ hours (bed). No crying. Although she was never really a bedtime crier - but perhaps that's because we always put her to bed asleep (until recently). I always figured she'd let us know when she was ready to sleep on her own... and she did! Thankfully it corresponded with when WE were ready to have her sleep on her own. I think we lucked out on that one.

Now on to "&"

I'm 36 weeks pregnant and have been given the "ok" for a homebirth. My midwives don't expect me to go into labor this week, but they estimate the baby's weight at 5 1/2 lbs which means that if I should go into labor now I can safely have the baby at home.

This is wonderful news, even though I desperately hope the baby decides to wait at least until all of my classwork and credential work is done... so while I don't enjoy pregnancy and while I'm so very ready to no longer be pregnant, I'm hoping to actually go the full 40 weeks. A month ago I would have never said that. A month ago I would have hoped to go into labor the moment I was given the green light... but a month ago I didn't realize how much I have to get done before April 15th.

Baby is in the right position for labor - head down, in my pelvis, etc. But that doesn't mean labor is imminent. While I'm having contractions (mostly BH) every day, they're not regular and don't increase in intensity. I know I'm not going into labor anytime soon.

My next visit in Tuesday, it's actually a home visit so Marlene and Kaleem come to our house. That way they can (re)familiarize themselves with the layout, where supplies are, etc. Which is why I'm glad our bedroom is now "properly" arranged, our birth kit is done, and Penny's room is close to being finished.

Next week I may also get to see my maternity photos! Bree (who took P's 1 year pictures) took them on the 13th and she said they'd be ready in about 2 weeks. Penny and I had a lot of fun working with her and I'm looking forward to seeing the pictures. She took some of P and I together, just the belly, and then a bunch of just Penny. She's also going to come over 7-10 days after the baby is born and take newborn photos. Her photography is beautiful - check out her website: http://www.breehesterphotography.com/

Ok, time for bed. Here's one of my new favorite pictures of Penelope (with her Uncle Nic at the Steinheart Aquarium in San Francisco):

A general update

It's been awhile since I posted (yes? I can't remember and am too lazy to check).

Anyway, things have been hectic. Bryan's schedule will soon include school (in addition to softball, soccer, and room remodeling... and work), and I have a lot of classwork, exams, cooking, and nesting to do before April. The most urgent things on my list are classwork and exams, two weeks left of this course (equals four assignments) and two TPAs to complete (which are basically just really LONG assignments). They need to be finished before I deliver since getting them accomplished with a newborn will make life so much harder.

But it's not going to be easy to get everything done before baby gets here. Not by a long shot.

So I've been feeling very overwhelmed lately... as in weepy. Saturday afternoon I lost it after Pen and I came home from the grocery store. Bryan wasn't able to get out of his obligation to play a tournament to come home, but my parents were able to make it over to entertain the baby so I could piece myself back together. It wasn't pretty. Although I did realize that I need to ask for help, so I'm trying to get better about that. It's not easy - I'm one of those people who enjoys a little bit of stress. But this stress is really just too much. Here's a list of things that I need to do before April 15th:

*Finish coursework for TED 666 (the class I'm currently enrolled in, which ends 3/27)
*Finish TPA 1
*Finish TPA 2
*Get birthing kit together
*Start/finish the owl project for Penny's room (a sewing project)
*Cook at least a week's worth of food and freeze it (preferably 2 weeks, but that's a stretch)
*Stock up on groceries
*Clean the bathrooms
*Put Penny's new room together (once Bryan is done)
*Clean closet and rearrange master bedroom (so the birthing tub will fit)
*Clean the rest of the house (lower on my priority list since cleaning gives me some pretty lovely contractions)
*Set up automatic bill pay so our bills get paid on time no matter when I go into labor

There's probably more, but this is all I can remember off the top of my head.

Bryan's list is equally extensive - he's got a lot on his plate as well.

Suffice it to say, overwhelmed is a bit of an understatement.

I do have some awesome family and friends who have offered to help out. My Dad takes Penny once a week so I can get school work done and my Aunt has offered to babysit as well so I can work on classwork and TPAs. I have some mommy friends who are going to come over sometime in the next few weeks and help me make/freeze food, they've also offered to bring food over after I deliver (hooray!). My brother spent a day helping Bryan remodel P's room, which was a big help. My parents are going to watch her Thursday night so we can make it to our childbirth class and our next prenatal... and they're going to take her next Friday night which will allow us to get stuff done as well. Although it would be nice to have one last date night before "&" arrives so we may do that instead of work on our list(s).

I'm sure it will all work out... although sometimes it's hard to fathom exactly *how* it will all work out.

I'll just have to count my blessings and take on day at a time (and a host of other cliches as well).

But enough of that, on to the good stuff.

Penelope's sleep has been stellar the last week. I'm so excited about it and I really hope it continues post-new baby. This afternoon I put her in her crib for naptime (awake but tired) and she fell asleep on her own. Score! She does this for bedtime (and has for a little while) but this was the first time it's worked for naps. I hope this continues, because it makes my afternoons so much easier. Especially since I'm getting to that point of pregnancy where I'm just uncomfortable, period.

I'll be 36 weeks on Thursday and while I'm ready to no longer be pregnant, I am in no way ready for this baby to be born (see above list). So I'm going to try to not complain about how much I dislike this phase of pregnancy because no matter which was you slice it, babies are easier to care for when they're inside then when they're out.

I am getting excited to meet this baby and find out his/her gender and finally choose a name. So there's something to look forward to - and it will hopefully make these next four weeks slightly more bearable.

Ok, on to a different topic. Baby signs. Penny now signs please, more, eat, all done, thank you, and socks. I'm working on teaching her mommy, daddy, potty, banana, apple, shoes, water, and up. She says nanas (food), mama, dada, da (for dog), key (kitty), verde (Spanish for green), and has other random words that she doesn't use consistently (like rabbit). It's still not as many words as she had before, but her vocabulary continues to expand so I'm not too worried. She sees her pediatrician in 3 more months.

She understands A TON. I can give her simple and complex tasks and she does them. She knows the names of a large number of people - most of whom she doesn't see everyday. She recognizes pictures of cousins she's only met once (she loves her cousin Gadge's pictures) and can point out her grandparents, Aunt Franny, Cousin Bobby, her friend Orson, O's mom Kim, Sarah, Sophia, and more from the pictures we have. She also knows who Lisa & Lisa are (one runs a toy store and one teaches music) and will greet them with a wave and a smile when she sees them (once a week).

She puts away her toys, will pick out specific books when asked, knows which stuffed animals are which, and knows a bunch of body parts (eyes, mouth, nose, ears, belly, fingers, toes, feet, legs, bottom, and hair). She really enjoys coloring, playing pretend with her doctor kit and her kitchen, and really loves feeding the dog (which Harley-Quinn also loves, but which Mommy & Daddy do not).

I'm probably forgetting a dozen things that she does, or has just started doing, but it's hard to keep track! Life goes by so quickly when you're running after a toddler all day!

Alright, I should get some stuff on my list done (or at least started) while she's still sleeping. Pics later!

35 weeks - appointment

Our 35 week appointment was today. Rather uneventful, but here's the stats.

Baby's HB: 144
My BP: 110/68
Measuring: 36 weeks
Cervix: closed

I'd been having a lot of contractions and cramping, which is normal, but both Bryan and I were happy to hear that my cervix is closed. No baby this week! Baby needs to wait until at least March 27th (that's when my class is over). Although it's still possible that I'll go a full 40 weeks, which is fine. While delivering at 38 weeks would be nice, I'll be ok if I go a full 40.

My midwives do want me to take a few supplements to help relax things, so I'll pick those up this weekend.

The next few days: San Francisco zoo (or aquarium), maternity photos, and sewing projects

Things for next time: diapers are finished! Pics will be taken and uploaded soon.

Baby? What baby?

It's official (and it has been for awhile, but I'm just finally admitting it). We no longer have a baby. We have a "big girl"... a toddler... an almost 3 foot tall person with her own, very distinct personality.

A troublemaker. A diva. A child who in no way takes after her mother (haha).

As evidence I give you these:











See? Not a baby anymore.

But speaking of baby, my delivery date is fast approaching. I've been having a lot of contractions and cramping, a lot more than with Penelope. It makes me feel as though I won't make it to 40 weeks (although I certainly hope I at least make it to 37) but who knows. I could still go up to or past my EDD... I have an appointment Thursday evening and I may ask them to check me just to see what's going on in there. The cramping and contractions would seem to indicate that my cervix is ripening and getting ready, but it's not certain. Luckily I haven't lost my mucous plug or have any other signs of impending labor. I'm not ready to give birth yet! There's still so much left to do and I'm in the middle of a Graduate level class... it would be incredibly inconvenient to have the baby before this class ends. I'm trying to get my stuff done a little early, but that's easier said than done.

I'm finally getting around to doing our taxes - hopefully they'll be done today so at least that chore is off of our list. Now we just have a thousand other things to do.

So I should get to that.

I have new video of Penelope, I'll try and get around to uploading it sometime this week.

34 Weeks

So yesterday marked the start of my 9th month of pregnancy (which lasts *forever*). I'm 34 weeks 1 day and am so. ready. to be finished.

I think I've dropped a little since the last pregnancy photos I posted, so here's a new one with a pic of me @ 35 weeks with Penelope:





As you can see, I now have to wear 2 shirts to cover the belly. But I do think the baby has dropped a little. We have an appointment in a week so we'll see what the midwives say.

Some pictures

Today we went to the park, here are some pictures :)

Shake it baby

Tuesdays are Music days... MSN has music on Fridays as well, but that class tends to be really busy and overwhelming for Penny. Tuesdays generally brings a smaller crowd, and Penny really loves Lisa Phenix (the instructor). Joey teaches Fridays and summers, Penny had the biggest crush on him for awhile but since we don't see him very often she's gotten a bit shy around him, she's very wary around men she doesn't know well.

Anyway, Lisa's class is a lot of fun. Pen plays with egg shakers, bells, drums, wooden frogs, scarves, and more. For the past month Lisa's been bringing bellydance skirts for the kids to use as percussion instruments and today Penny was ALL ABOUT the skirt. She really wanted to wear it, and we obliged... and then she didn't want to take it off and got very upset when my hands got anywhere near the tie.

It was pretty cute, she'd dance and stomp and shake to the music - she really loved that skirt.

Luckily I brought my camera, so here's Penny the amateur bellydancer:




And here she is the other day with Linden and Sophia - the three kids were hanging out on Sophia's bed after she woke up from her nap:


And Penny and Daddy playing dress up. Bryan asked me not to post this picture, but it's too damn cute - sorry B! :)




Tonight I'm off to see Bon Jovi :) Hooray for concerts when you're pregnant! I saw New Kids when I was 8 months pregnant with Penelope, so I'm continuing the tradition with "&".