The Latest Goings On

A thousand apologies for disappearing for so long. We had some pregnancy complications - nothing serious, but requiring lots of extra doctors' appointments and therefore a lot of time. So between a pre-term labor scare that's now passed and a diagnosis of late gestational diabetes (slight but still needing to be managed), combined with getting things ready for the baby's arrival, Thanksgiving, a lovely baby shower, and who knows what all else - well, it's been a while.

In the meantime, Daniel and I have finished our Bradley Method course, which is a birthing method that teaches relaxation techniques (in which the husband is very involved) in order to manage pain and increase the likelihood of a natural birth. We learned so much, and I went from being quite apprehensive about the birth to actually looking forward to the experience. (I'm still nervous, of course, but I think not to be would be very unusual, no matter what.) Daniel is downright excited about the whole thing.

We also have the baby's room pretty much set up and ready to receive our little girl - including getting the cats trained not to go in the crib!! Spray bottles work wonders, especially for Sasha who seems to loathe the prospect of any water droplets hitting her fur more than most cats. I couldn't resist taking these pictures of their smug little faces in the crib before I trained them. And before I get castigations from all around and severe admonitions about my kitties "sucking the breath" out of my baby, let me reiterate that they DO NOT go in the crib anymore. Now we have to work on the bassinet, which they must learn is not theirs either...

Tonight Daniel and I are attending a water birth class at North Fulton Hospital. Our midwife is in the midst of changing practices and therefore hospitals, and much to our delight, North Fulton happens to be the only hospital in Atlanta, as far as we know, that offers water birth as an option. The prospect of this desired but previously out-of-reach option is definitely a further comfort to this first-timer, and to her husband. We'll let you know how it goes!

A Rant

Well, I was picking up a maternity bathing suit (I really need to exercise before the birth...) at a certain ubiquitous maternity store a few weeks ago, and, even though I keep telling myself I'm going to check the flow before it starts, I didn't - again - and the sales clerk began the harangue: "Would you like a free blah, blah, blah? Would you like this and that? Are you interested in such and such? How about starting to save for your baby's college tuition?"

As usual, with as much patience as I could muster (don't they see on their computer file that I've already declined everything multiple times?), and I hope even a slight smile, "No, no thank you. No. No."

"You don't want to start saving for your baby's college tuition?"

"Oh, no thank you."

"With every purchase you make, you could be saving for your baby's college tuition."

"No thank you."

"Every dollar you spend could be earning money for you baby's college tuition."

"I'm not going to open another credit card. Thank you."

Finally, she let me proceed with paying. I handed her my Delta SkyMiles card, she took it and swiped it.

"Instead of earning miles you could be earning money for your child's college education."

I was speechless. It never fails to amaze me how much companies prey on new parents' emotions - particularly guilt, whether the attack is blatant or latent - in trying to sell them something. I have never, ever been so bombarded. I only have to hope that most people see through it all...and that I do.

A Peek at our Little ... Girl!!

Well, I was shocked. Up until the last minute, for some reason I was convinced we were going to have a boy. As the ultrasound technician was making her measurements of things we couldn't quite make out, I asked her, "Can you tell what it is?" Still clicking away, she responded, "Yep, but I haven't decided to tell you yet." To which I smugly replied, "That's okay. I already think I know what it is."

Daniel, my sister, and her best friend, all three hushed in anticipation, were in the darkened room with me. It was absolutely amazing to see our child in there looking like a person. At the six-week ultrasound, we saw the heartbeat and yoke sack. (Without my knowledge, Daniel emailed those pictures to some friends. I was mortified.) And I had heard the baby's heartbeat at previous appointments. But seeing our baby with a diminutive profile, tiny little hands that she held together for a moment, and even an opening and closing mouth - breathtaking! I know that many couples cry at this moment. My response, however, was to giggle in delight.

Finally the ultrasound technician paused at a particular cross-section view on the screen. Picking up where our exchange had left off, she said, "No... It's a girl."

We're thrilled!

Total Craziness

Dear Readers,

I apologize for my absence, but my husband and I just purchased our first home and the whole process of getting the new house ready and moving out of our apartment is absolutely consuming! I hope to write a thorough update of all the baby and house goings-on within the next few days...including what we found out sex-wise at our thoroughly exciting 20-week ultrasound!

More soon...

Halfway There

My sister is visiting us from California, and last night my husband, Daniel, was telling her about a little conversation he had with our two cats. They were each in a bed on the desk where Daniel was working, and apparently he took a moment to tell them he could remember when they were so little that they fit together in one bed and that they were getting so big, etc. (Seriously, how cute is that?)

Overhearing them, I realized that soon I will be thinking (if not saying) that I remember when my baby was still in my belly. The ever-strengthening movements of the baby inside me, especially when they are felt more and more strongly from the outside, are making the still incredible reality that we are soon to be parents undeniable. There really is a little person living in there – and that little person makes us Mommy and Daddy!

I will be halfway through my pregnancy this week, and the ultrasound we have scheduled for tomorrow makes this fact quite real to me: it’s a definite milestone, and we’ll get a peek at the mysteries and miracles of our baby’s growth (and sex!) that have been shrouded within his or her mamma this whole time. I can hardly wait, and I look forward to sharing this and future news with you tomorrow and in the months to come.