Malcolm McCoy Dibble

HE'S FINALLY HERE!


Malcolm McCoy Dibble
Monday, August 29, 2011
10:26 p.m.
7 pounds 12 ounces
19 1/2 inches long

. . . and he's absolutely perfect! We love our little Malcolm!

42 Weeks Pregnant

Sunday, August 28, 2011

SICKNESS: none

CRAVINGS: none

FEELINGS: I knew I'd be overdue, but I didn't think I'd go this far. The thing is though, is that I'm still perfectly fine with it. I'm NOT uncomfortable and I don't think I've complained about it. I trust my baby and I trust my body. He won't stay in there forever.

I'm holding steady at 35 pounds gained. Of course, that's only first thing in the morning and without clothes on. You can't make me weigh myself any other time.

I had an ultrasound on Thursday for a biophysical profile (bpp). The Boy is PERFECTION! Perfection I tell you! He's healthy, he's in the perfect position (head WAY down, face back), taking his practice breaths, perfect heartbeat, still kicking around like a mad man, has plenty of fluid around him, placenta doesn't show any signs of aging, cord has great flow, and he has a few fat rolls that I'm totally excited about. This "too big" business is a load of poo to me. His head isn't gaining weight, his belly and thighs are . . . I am not afraid of a big baby. Have you seen my child-bearing hips?

I didn't want to do the ultrasound because I already know that he's perfectly fine, but I'm grateful that I did just for everyone elses sake, including Elliot. Hopefully the results of the ultrasound relieved some concern you all may have.

I saw my midwife on Friday and I'm just so grateful for her. She told me that she would be pushing for me to induce if I would just act miserable like other pregnant women (she's 6 months pregnant). However, there's absolutely nothing wrong with him, absolutely nothing wrong with me and we both feel good about letting him stay in there until he's ready. We are in daily contact, which I love. Who else gets that kind of care?

I have tried a few things to get labor going because I really don't want to be induced (which my midwife can do). I had a massage on Monday. Felt good, but nothing. I tried mineral oil which is supposed to cleanse your intestines and start labor. Nothing. My midwife stripped my membranes on Friday. Nothing. I tried a whole bottle of magnesium citrate, also supposed to cleanse and start labor. Nothing. Also, a few other things.:) He's just not ready friends. While my midwife was rooting around in there though, she did tell me that I'm at a solid 4 cm dilated and that she had a hard time going all the way around to strip my membranes because he's so far down. She also said that the next step of trying to get things going (breaking my water) would be difficult because he is so far down. I'm pretty sure he's coming out soon. Also, I have a reflexology appointment tomorrow morning and she's coming to my house because she says she has a history of getting great results when working on pregnant women and knows I'd like to be home.

I took lots of walks on Saturday and was contracting most of the day (about every 10 minutes while standing) and I also took 3 naps. I contract a whole lot more when I'm standing, so I'm fairly certain that I've made even more progress and that I'm half way or more without even feeling any discomfort at all.

I recognize that lots and lots of people have concerns and I can appreciate your feelings of anxiety. Please trust me and my ability to feel the Spirit. Everything is fine, I know for sure that it is.

I'm giving birth this week and need to be in my peaceful zone, so if I don't answer the phone or your text or even give another update, please don't be offended. I wouldn't even talk to my own Mother yesterday (Elliot did). Thank you for the encouragement! I really do appreciate it.

As a side note: Yes, my caregiver is a midwife. No, I do not hate doctors. Are you kidding me? Have I not been giving super-detailed updates regarding this pregnancy . . . why would you think I wouldn't announce it as quickly as possible? Who is being ridiculous now? Circumcision, none of your business, but I do have the number of a good Jewish Moyle. :)

THINGS TO DO:
- Meet my baby boy.

41 Weeks Pregnant

Sunday, August 21, 2011

SICKNESS: none

CRAVINGS: M&M's - peanut and plain

FEELINGS: I really shouldn't have told anyone my "due date." It was interesting enough to go to church on my due date, but then to still be pregnant a whole week later was just too much for some people to handle. I can guarantee, however, that I won't be at church next Sunday. This boy is coming out. I'm so happy that there are soooo many people that are excited for us! I know we have lots of prayers for our family and we are very, very grateful for such good people who love us! Thank you!

If you'll remember at a recent midwife appointment, my midwife said The Boy was "locked and loaded." Well, he's a defiant little guy already and decided to disengage and turn around by the next appointment. Apparently he has plenty of room in there and is just swimming around like there's nothing else to do. I've been rolling on my birthing ball instead of sitting on normal chairs and trying everything I can to get him to turn back around and go down. From the kicks I can feel, I am pretty sure that he is in the right position currently. Time to come out little guy.

I'm sweating. I can't stop sweating. It's supposed to be 116 degrees this week, but my house will be 70 degrees.

So I haven't mentioned it on this blog yet, but I am planning a home birth with a midwife. My mother-in-law's Relief Society (though I don't know why) has been announcing in their ward that I'm giving birth in my tub, which is untrue. I will be in a birthing pool. Just look home water birth up online, I guarantee you'll cry and love it. It's amazing and we're excited, prepared, and totally looking forward to this experience together and with our little guy.

I am 8 days over, so my midwife has scheduled an ultrasound (stress-test) for tomorrow. My body tends to respond well to threats of action (all I had to do to get pregnant was schedule a plethora of invasive fertility tests and I was pregnant a week later), so I'm planning on going into labor tonight.

Also, I was just about to do a castor oil-like experiment until my friend called back and said she could give me a massage. I'm sort of hoping that'll throw me into labor. Otherwise I'll do the other experiment . . . or just eat 6 Fiber One bars or drink a whole chocolate shake . . . it'll have the same cleansing effect on me.

Since EVERYONE was wrong (including me) about when he'd be born, take another guess! I think he'll be born on Wednesday morning (24th) in the 4 o'clock hour and weigh 8 pounds 5 ounces!

Next update will be a picture of my sweet son's face! Are you excited? I cannot wait! Come out baby boy!

JUST TO COMPARE . . . 10 weeks and 41 weeks in the same outfit (minus the Eskimo boots, plus 35 pounds). :)

40 Weeks Pregnant

Saturday, August 13, 2011

SICKNESS: none

CRAVINGS: Protein shakes and boiled eggs . . . and always chocolate.

FEELINGS: Oh boy, I am so excited to hold this little guy in my arms finally! My cousin informed me that I've been pregnant FOREVER and I didn't really think about it until he said it, but it really seems like I have!

I get in little periods of time when I'm totally ready to have him, and then I'll start another project and decide that he should probably give me another day or two to clean that up. The house was clean this morning and now it's a wreck because I decided to clean the carpets and had to move the furniture around. Also, bathroom project. It's awesome.

I love these little bursts of energy and wish that all of my energy that I've been putting into getting these things done would result in a good nights sleep. Oh well. I can sleep later.

Last week I measured at 39 weeks. My midwife felt shoulder and neck way down just above my pelvis and said that he was "locked and loaded." I told her that my sister thought he'd be coming the next day (last Wednesday) and I told her that I thought I had AT LEAST another week. She disagreed. I think I'm still right. I also asked her to guess how much he weighed . . . she said 8 pounds. Today my belly looks like he could be 8 pounds. I love it!

I walked around Target today with my sister and I had several contractions (pressure waves) that I probably would have timed if I thought they'd continue regularly, but they stopped. I still think he'll come on Thursday.

I think Elliot just got nervous. He's read about his job as my Birth Partner (different than Stella's birth) and is trying to practice all of the positive birth affirmations with me. Now that my "due date" has come and gone, I think he's getting a little impatient with waiting. He's a planner.

I got LOTS of comments and questions at church on Sunday and I'm surprised, actually, how many people knew my due date was on Sunday. Men even. So either I look enormous or High Priests make announcements on my progress each Sunday.

Also, seriously people . . . I don't know his name. I annoy myself. At least 3 people out of the 8 that asked me on Sunday think that I'm just keeping it a secret, but I really, really don't know his name yet. Grrr.

We are just so, so, so, so excited to finally meet him! Come out Baby Brother!

THINGS TO DO:
- Push him out, push him out, way out!
- Love, love, love him!
- Buy hand sanitizer.

Guess Date

I know it drives other people crazy, but it has helped so much during this pregnancy to be relaxed about when this little guy is coming by NOT focusing on a "due date." When people ask when I'm "due," I usually say mid- to end-August. People just aren't satisfied with that answer . . . they want a date!

My doctor said his due date was August 10th, but according to my calculations (which I've gotten really good at doing for the past 7 years) his due date is August 14th.

Since I know that only 5% of babies come on their actual due date (if the mommy and doctor let them come naturally, which I'm going to let him do), my guess date is AUGUST 18th. I think he'll weigh 7 pounds 3 ounces, and I think he'll be born in the middle of the night just because I know Elliot doesn't want him to be born then. :)

ELLIOT thinks he'll come on August 16th, weigh 7 pounds 4 ounces, and be born late afternoon.

STELLA thinks he'll be come on August 14th, weigh 7 pounds, and be born at lunch time.

What's your guess date, guess weight, and guess time for our little guy's arrival?

HISTORY:
Elliot was a C-section baby, 7 pounds 12 ounces, born in the morning
Whitney was "10 days late," 8 pounds 9 3/4 ounces, born in the early evening
Stella was induced on her due date, 7 pounds 7 ounces, born at dinner time

38 Weeks Pregnant

Sunday, July 31, 2010

SICKNESS: none

CRAVINGS: holding him in my arms

FEELINGS: Elliot put the bassinet together on Saturday and now that it's in our room, I think it's all sinking in for both of us . . . we're having a baby in a few weeks!

All of his clothes and blankets are washed and put away, but we're still trying to organize Stella's room to make room for his other stuff. I've had several bursts of energy and have cleaned lots of stuff, but you'd never know it by coming over to my house. How come it has to get way messier to get cleaner? Where is Mary Poppins when I need her?

At my midwife appointment last week, The Boy was in a silly Yoga position. I'd been saying for weeks that I feel like he's small because I can feel his head down low and feet kicking in my ribs. I didn't think he was in the fetal position. My friend assured me that I was probably just feeling knees. Well, those are some serious knees because they sure felt like feet. So my midwife confirmed that he was head down, butt to the right, legs stretched out to the left.

This week he is still head down (pretty low, but not engaged), legs stretched out, and he keeps moving his butt from left to right. My belly is whacked out of shape right now. It's awesome!

If you'll remember from a few weeks ago, he was posterior (face up) which is not the position you want a baby in to be born (better than breech, but still a harder labor than face back). I followed several instructions on how to change the position of the baby - leaning over the birthing ball, sleeping more on stomach, swimming face down, hands and knees position swaying back . . . it worked. He still moves quite a bit, but he's facing mostly back right now because I can feel him using my kidneys as a punching bag.

I pee a lot. I don't sleep very much. I'm not swollen, but I've swelled a little in my legs. I'm still totally comfortable though. I can squat and get back up with only grunting a little bit and I only waddle at the end of the day or if I've been sitting down too long.

I love that belly. I did have the recollection that it's not as cute after the baby actually comes out and I'll have to work really hard on that one, but BOY oh BOY do I love that belly right now! I'll rub it for you.

THINGS TO DO:
- Get Elliot to read about how he's involved in this birth
- Make a game plan for Stella
- Finish cleaning all of the stuff I just wrote on my To Do list today . . . it's a big one
- Relax
- And/or give birth

The Name Game . . . not my favorite game ever

Going through all of my boxes of crap that I kept from when I was younger, I often found pages and pages of 8+ names of children - first and middle . . . and sometimes last - that I wanted in the future. If any of these names made it past my high school years and into college, then they were quickly vetoed upon marriage.

A few years after Elliot and I were married and trying desperately to have children, Elliot brought up the name STELLA. Are you kidding me? I had just thought of that same name that same day and didn't say anything about it. There we had it. Our first daughter's name would be STELLA. Of course, when we finally got pregnant, I tried to have other options. We didn't even think of a boy name, we just had STELLA & OLIVIA. During the ultrasound when we found out she was a girl, Elliot decided that she was STELLA. It took me a few more weeks, but she was definitely Stella.

And now that she is 7-years-old, I cannot imagine her with a different name. She's perfect.

We've had quite a bit of time over the last 7 years to contemplate and come up with different names for the children we hoped to have. Tastes have changed, some names have gotten old, some have gotten popular and therefore vetoed, and some shouldn't have been on the list in the first place. We had a few boy names on the back-burner, but both of us never thought we'd have any boys. Elliot was sure we were just going to make girls.

We have girl names. Lots of them. We could have at least 5 more daughters and be perfectly satisfied with their names. Boys . . . not so much. All of the names we had before were quickly vetoed (by me) when we found out we were pregnant because I KNEW I was having a boy. Elliot was still sure we were having a girl. Even after we found out he was a boy, he went through several weeks of denial (he denies his denial, but it happened folks).

The only name we had for a boy was MALCOLM. So when we had the ultrasound, I was sure our little guy was going to be Malcolm and I was happy about that. However, Elliot totally threw a wrench in my party and said he wasn't feeling it. I was like, whatever . . . you still think we're having a girl, but he started suggesting other names. MAXWELL . . . vetoed because I think it's over-used . . . I like it, but over-used.

We went back to our old names that we had previously vetoed (and we vetoed again): ELIJAH (we can't agree on how you pronounce it), McCOY, JACK, DUNCAN, DEWEY, . . . none of them fit. So we went back to the drawing board and just threw out some names. Here's what we came up with:

MALCOLM, DEWEY, DUNCAN, SPENCER, JACK, EZEKIEL, McCOY, HENRY, VINTON, PHINEAS, ORSON, WILLIAM, MAXWELL, CHARLES, EZRA, OWEN, ORRIN, ELIJAH, OLIVER, and MOSES. All 3 of us went through and said yes, no, or middle name and made a new list. I quickly decided that Stella didn't know what she really thought and she gets to have her own kids someday, so her votes were canceled.

We narrowed it down to our top 6 names: MALCOLM, PHINEAS, ZEKE, DEWEY, JACK, and MOSES and we put middle names with them (Elliot, Duncan, Spencer, Vinton, Dewey, Henry, McCoy, Elijah, Kent, Adams . . . mostly family names). Then Elliot and I separately voted on the names we thought went together the best and made a new list from that.

We went through it again and again and again, saying them out loud, putting them with Stella's name, yelling it with our angry eyes, coming up with possible nicknames, . . . we had to take a break. But not before I vetoed Dewey because of the way Elliot kept saying it like a moron. Break time. This was all in April and we didn't discuss it again until June.

People hardly even ask me how I'm feeling anymore, they mostly just ask what we're going to name him. I don't know how people don't decide until they see their baby or how they keep it a secret . . . we're not trying to do any of that! We really want to name him, we just can't agree! And another thing I slowly learned is that when people ask, "What names are you thinking of?" what they really mean is, "Let me give my unsolicited opinion on each of your names."

Elliot vetoed ZEKE because he didn't like EZEKIEL. I vetoed JACK for some reason, someone said that PHINEAS would get made fun of (load of crap, have you heard any of the other names people name their kids? If you're the one making fun of him, you're a jerk), so Elliot vetoed that name even though I kept throwing it back on the list. Elliot vetoed MOSES because he said he'd probably call him Mos (Dwight's cousin from The Office). DEWEY was already gone, so we were left with MALCOLM again. And I was totally happy with that name. Elliot, not so much.

Somehow we also tossed around BENNETT and HARMON for a while, but I can't remember how they got off the list, if they're off the list.

Then one day Elliot came up with McALLISTER and was super excited because he could call him MAC. I vetoed it right away, but he kept telling people about it, Stella told people about it, and I told people about it and I haven't met anybody who didn't think it was totally cute . . . except me. So Elliot and Stella have been pushing MAC on me for the last month and for some reason I just can't do it. It's not his name. Even with Elliot's many attempts at manipulating me into thinking that I needed to repent of something so that the Spirit could confirm to me that his name was MAC, it's just not his name.

Knowing our history and the fact that we could very well be on a 7-year plan for having children, this might be our last child (I'm not having babies when I'm 40). I don't think this is our last child, but Elliot does . . . or did, until I convinced him that McALLISTER is not this child's name, but that if he feels so strongly about the name, maybe it's the next one.

One night as we were saying our family prayers, Elliot asked for inspiration to find a name for our son and immediately the name FINN came to my mind. I wrote it on the white board right after the prayer. I didn't know what we were going to do because I was now sure his name was FINN, but Elliot had already vetoed PHINEAS and refuses to name a child a nickname. So I thought of FINLEY.

So last week for about 2 hours, his name was FINLEY. Now he's back to being called BABY BROTHER or THE BOY. I know we saw some junk there on the ultrasound, but seriously, it would be so much easier if he ended up being a girl.

Against all of my protests, I guess we'll have to see this little guy to know who he is. And we can't wait!

Carseat . . . CHECK!

Elliot and I finally decided which carseat we wanted. This was just slightly easier than it's been trying to choose a name for our little guy.

Stella has tested it out for us with her little babies.

Just For Comparison Sake . . .

36 Weeks Pregnant

July 16, 2011

SICKNESS: none

CRAVINGS: Fudgecicles . . . lots of them.

FEELINGS: As evidenced by the several weeping episodes of my baby shower, I think I'm realizing that I'm having a baby and not just going through the motions. When I kissed Elliot last night, I actually said, "Hey Elliot, we're having a baby" like he didn't already know. Seriously though, I don't think he knows either.

It is so much easier to wear clothes in the cool Washington weather than the surface of the sun in Arizona. However, I think my belly has changed form a little and clothes that I wasn't able to wear a month or two ago thinking they were too small, I can somehow now wear. I prefer dresses. It has it's own ventilation system.

Can you believe that he STILL doesn't have a name? We're both being difficult and quite honestly, though I didn't believe it before, I really think it's going to be a game time decision. I am going to do a separate post on the names we've discussed so I can hear your unsolicited advice on whether he will or will not be made fun of at school. Don't worry, I'm used to it and expect it.

I'm rather impressed by my lack of swelling. My midwife informs me that my increase in protein intake is directly related. I like my midwife.

I have lots of pressure waves (my new word for contractions) that don't hurt, but it makes it difficult to sit down. I didn't ever have any with Stella, so it's a fun feeling and I'm actually excited to feel the real ones! Yes, I'm sort of a moron, but I'm excited to go into labor!

As of yesterday, I'm measuring exactly at 36 weeks, which is funny because last week I was measuring at 36 1/2 weeks. The little guy has been head down for quite some time and prefers the right side of my belly. He's in my pelvis, but not engaged which is good because he is face up. I'll be crawling around the house for the next few weeks to try to get him to turn around before he engages. I'm at 25 pounds gained this pregnancy.

I'm in a serious nesting phase. I suddenly have desires to clean my office, which, if you've read my blog in the past, stifles me upon entering. I am making lists, cleaning stuff, wanting to paint, not sleeping a whole lot, and trying to relax at the same time.

I'm having a baby.

THINGS TO DO:
- Call pediatrician.
- Finish Birth Preferences.
- Clean house.
- Figure out where we're going to put his stuff.
- Wash baby clothes.
- Get carseat/stroller
- Keep exercising.
- Relax.

32 Weeks Pregnant

June 19, 2011 (that was last week)

SICKNESS: none

CRAVINGS: Wendy's Frosty and french fries (same with Stella's pregnancy only I haven't been dipping them)

FEELINGS: I feel like we both had a growth spurt. Interesting, I know, since we're already huge, but I can tell a difference. Suddenly his kicks and punches are reaching into my ribs and in my pelvis at the same time, so I know he's either bigger or there really is more than one baby in there . . . or I have some serious gas. All very good possibilities.

I interviewed 2 midwives and 1 naturopathic doctor and was able to make my decision from those interviews. I hired the midwife that fit my personality and had my first appointment with her 2 weeks ago. Baby Boy is perfect and even had his first inadvertent stress test while we were listening to his heart beat when Stella stood next to my belly and yelled at him. All of my levels are perfect and the midwife even commented without having to touch my legs/ankles that I obviously DO NOT have edema. I have increased my intake of protein to avoid that very thing. Too bad the day after 32 weeks I started swelling a little bit, but there is no comparison to how swollen I was for months with Stella. We're talking tree trunks. All is well and we're right on track for a mid- to end-August birth!

I can say that by 32 weeks I was still completely comfortable and had no complaints at all. 32 weeks and 1 day suddenly got a little uncomfortable. I can still sleep comfortably most of the time unless my legs are restless (which they always are the second I get pregnant), I can still walk around most of the day without waddling and I can still reach things on the floor, however, I really, really, really don't want to wear clothes anymore. So if you happen to show up at my house unexpectedly and it takes me a while to answer the door or if Stella's yelling through the window that I am putting my clothes back on, please forgive me. Also, please forgive me if I actually answer the door when I've forgotten that I've already disrobed. It's your fault for not calling first. :)

People are funny. I recognize that yes, indeed, my belly and some other parts of me have increased significantly in size over the last several months. Have you never seen a pregnant person before? Besides 1 or 2 other questions about just how many babies there might be in there, the most recent comment was an overly dramatic gasp upon my entering the room and the insulting question that followed, "Do you need a wheelchair? YOU'RE HUGE!" It's a good thing I have a friend who is completely complimentary every time she sees me no matter what she really might be thinking.

We had a fairly mild Spring, almost cold. I think I tried to trick myself into thinking that summer would be mild too. Not so. It kind of hit suddenly and let's just say there's a lot of under-boob sweat going on here (I can think of at least 4 people who are really going to enjoy that comment). So Stella and I were in the car last week and I was getting really upset that my A/C didn't seem to be working even though it was on full blast! I could feel little bursts of cool air, but mostly I just couldn't cool down! I was getting a little upset and said, "Ugh, I can't believe the air conditioner isn't working, I'm totally sweating!" . . . to which Stella responded, "Oh, it's because I have my heater on." Poor little thing was freezing in the back seat.

I thought we were close to choosing his name. Yeah, not so much.

THINGS TO DO:
- Wow. We're having a baby. What am I supposed to do? I've seriously forgotten.
- Find a carseat, stroller, and jogging stroller that I like. Any ideas? It's been a while.
- Register for above mentioned items and try to remember what other items babies need.
- Call pediatrician to let her know we're having another baby and ask some questions.
- Continue Hypnobabies scripts, relaxation techniques, and exercises.
- Make final draft of Birth Plan.
- Figure out a way to take back the statement, "You get to hold him whenever you want" that I said to Stella several months ago. I can totally see her in his crib all day.
- Pick his name already, for crying out loud in the middle of the night!

26 Weeks Pregnant

May 8, 2011 (picture was actually on the 1st, but it's about the same)

SICKNESS: I finally threw up. I can't remember why though. I almost made it the whole time without being sick. I don't think it was pregnancy related, but I sure felt better afterwards. I'm mostly just incredibly tired and can take a nap ANY time of the day. Not sick though.

CRAVINGS: Fruit. Bananas mostly, but apples are on the list now. I wouldn't say I have an aversion to any foods because they don't make me sick, but nothing else sounds good to eat anymore . . . even my regulars (chips, bread, Fiber One bars).

FEELINGS: I can't believe I didn't do a 24 week update. My last one was
20 Weeks and HOLY MOLY have I grown! I must apologize to the lady at church last week who I reprimanded for asking me if I was having twins . . . it really does look like I am (I'm not).

I'm not nervous, but I'm realizing that we're getting toward the end of the pregnancy and I don't feel prepared. I know, we've had 7 years to get ready for this one, but still, it's so weird how much there is to be done! This little guy is a MOVER! I don't remember Stella kicking so much as just rolling around, but this guy kicks. Stella, Elliot and I love to feel him and now that we can see him kicking through my belly, we're entertained for quite some time.

I'm not sure I'd call them contractions because they don't hurt, but my belly sure does get tight on occasion. I never had contractions with Stella until I was induced, so I don't really know what the first ones feel like. I'll be done with the 2nd trimester at the end of the week!

Still no name. It's hard to believe, but it's becoming even more difficult to pick one that we agree on. We might have to start from scratch again.

Also, sometimes I just need to cry. Does everyone's husband panic when you cry? And really, does there have to be a reason why it's happening?

I'm not uncomfortable AT ALL, in fact, I could be pregnant FOREVER because I love it so much! I'm excited to get in the pool though and see what kind of tricks he does then! I LOVE my huge belly!

SOME THINGS I NEED TO WORK ON:
*Interview midwives & doulas
*Continue Hypnobabies scripts and present reading and practices to Elliot
*Go to Birth Circle
*Write Birth Plan
*Clean the dining room because we have to feed the missionaries on Sunday

Guess Who Felt Her Brother Kick?

The flash wasn't on, but this response was too good not to share! Elliot felt the BOY move a couple of weeks ago and I tried to get Stella to feel him kick, but she couldn't hold still long enough to focus on feeling him.

This is Stella focusing really hard on trying to feel him again.

And it worked. She is absolutely overjoyed!

20 Weeks Pregnant

March 26, 2011
SICKNESS: none
CRAVINGS: Peanuts and Bananas
FEELINGS: We're SO excited to be having a little BOY! However, I'm being driven crazy because we don't know his name yet! With Stella we were tossing around Olivia or Stella and right during the ultrasound when they said she was a girl, Elliot decided her name was Stella. I still wasn't sure (you know, because everyone thinks they have to see their baby first), but Elliot just started calling her Stella and praying for Stella . . . so she became Stella. With this little guy I THOUGHT we had a name picked out, but then my sweet lovin' husband was virtually silent on the subject . . . until last night. He mentioned a name after the ultrasound that I vetoed (we'll talk about the other names that were vetoed later), but now that we've gone over our family history books, the prophets of the church and the presidents of the United States, we still haven't decided. I guess you'll know when we put his name on the ticker or when he emerges from my womb. I think he's still a little shocked that it's not a girl. At my last appointment, I had gained 9 pounds since the last appointment. That makes 12 pounds total. Good thing I'm over the Hershey's Kisses and Fried Chicken cravings phase. In other news, I'm almost 99% sure that I'm going to change providers and go with a midwife and have a natural birth. There you have it. You are invited to keep your "she's crazy" talk and negative comments/stories/experiences about childbirth to yourselves lest you be put on our list of people we cannot talk to for the next 4 months. I have begun to enter my "Bubble of Peace" as I learn to allow my body to do as it was designed to do . . . give birth and do so peacefully. I need Elliot on board with this one too, so think of him as in my bubble as well.

P.S. I love my own belly and the little guy inside there.

IT'S A . . .

BOY

Is he just the cutest little BOY you've seen today? I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE HIM!

16 Weeks Pregnant

February 25, 2011
SICKNESS: I had a nasty flu and cold that kind of wiped me out for weeks. I get sort of sickish around 4:30 in the afternoon if I don't get a nap during the day. Other than that, I'm just tired and totally healthy. I've even gone to the gym twice. Yoga nearly killed me and Elliot had a great time torturing me by pushing on the sore muscles in my arms.
CRAVINGS: I'm done with Hershey's Kisses. I've moved on to fried chicken . . . I know, I'm totally repulsive. I've noticed that I've been preferring milk during my meals and I also drink more protein. I ate Sonic almost every day when I was pregnant with Stella and now it sounds disgusting. However, if it's just fries, I'll take them. I'm greasy.
FEELINGS: I got to hear Baby's heartbeat at my last appointment 2 weeks ago and we get to have an ultrasound on March 10th to see the little one! We're so excited! I started buying diapers and Elliot thinks I'm crazy. He'll thank me later when I won't have to send him to the store every other day to get them. Plus, I think it's just at least something that I can purchase to feel like I'm getting prepared since we don't know if it's a boy or girl yet. I'm getting kind of antsy . . . especially because my sister calls me every day to ask if I know yet. I felt the BABY MOVE a week ago and I am positive that it wasn't gas (ok Lindz, I know the difference). I love to feel Baby move! I am happy to wear maternity clothes and can't wait for my belly to get enormous . . . I'm well on my way!

The Wee Babe

Here's our wee babe at 8 weeks on January 3rd. I love this little miracle. Isn't it amazing that just 2 weeks before this, it was just a little fuzz and now it's recognizable as a baby? What? You can't see it? Yah, neither could Elliot.

Let me explain. That black sac is my uterus. The baby is the white peanut inside the sac. The little one is head down. The head is very, very large. It's little bum is pointing off to the right corner and it's little legs are across the top. Can you see it now? It is so incredibly adorable!

My specialist didn't do this ultrasound, some other lady there did it. I've decided that after having 2 incidents without my own doctor that I will always insist on seeing my own doctor every time. This one wasn't as bad as the practitioner I saw once when I was pregnant with Stella who made me cry for gaining weight and then told me to wear nylons in the dead of summer, but she was still weird.

I hardly ever have questions, but I remembered to ask about exercise this time. She looked at me and said, "You exercise?" I didn't think I looked that bad even if I haven't exercised since November. Annoyed, I said yes. She asked what kind of exercise I do. Please picture her reaction as if I was slapping her repeatedly across the face as I said, "running, lifting, step, yoga, pilates, . . ." She quickly said, "NO! None of that! These babies are too hard worked for to risk that exercise."

"May I walk?" or shall I borrow my friend's wheelchair for the duration of this pregnancy? I thought exercise was good during pregnancy. Well, turns out it is and her ridiculous restriction was lifted at my next appointment.

I got to HEAR the baby's heartbeat at my appointment 2 weeks later and I'm so excited to hear it again this Thursday at my appointment!

Check back on March 10th for the BIG REVEAL! Boy or girl? So far I think it's a boy, Stella goes back and forth, but we both don't care one way or the other and Elliot is really hoping for another girl (it's more convenient and I won't bother him about doing the addition to the house if it's a girl).

Is it weird to feel like I'm making this all up? I feel like I've waited so long that actually talking about it and having it be a reality is so crazy to me! Plus the stress of picking out a pregnancy ticker countdown . . . it's all too much! :)

12 Weeks Pregnant

January 30, 2011
SICKNESS: Stinky gymnastics feet and a sweaty husband just back from a bike ride spitting into the garbage can . . . near barfing on all accounts.
CRAVINGS: Could someone hook up a Hershey's Kiss IV?
FEELINGS: So it turns out I'm a little grumpy. Who knew? I think I'm a perfectly delightful person. I'm just sooooo tired! I forget that it's been 7 years since Stella's pregnancy! I'm getting anxious to see the little heartbeat again (I might just have to borrow the heartrate machine from my friend after her baby is born). I was released from the specialist and now I just see my regular OB. I've been cleared to "run" again, though I'm not quite sure the specialist knew that I'm not really a runner but more of a fast walker. Well, I think I walk faster than I run sometimes. In any case, I'm cleared for full exercise. Clothes are getting tight, but it might just be because of all the Hershey's Kisses and lack of exercise. Apparently my 10 week belly is much bigger than my 12 week belly.

10 Weeks Pregnant

January 16, 2011
SICKNESS: none
CRAVINGS: Hershey's Kisses
FEELINGS: So excited to see my belly grow. It just popped out on this very day!

8 Weeks Pregnant

December 26, 2010
SICKNESS: none
CRAVINGS: none
FEELINGS: Just super happy . . . holy moly, we're happy!