Thankful

So while I wait for the rest of my family to get here and the food to finish, I think it's appropriate to take a couple minutes and jot down a FEW of the many things I have to be grateful for:
1. My husband. It's wonderful to know that I'm loved everyday. That he wants to be with me. He does so much for me especially now that I'm so close to B Day. But honestly, he'd do it anyway. Plus, he's dang hot.
2. My son. Everyday I keep a journal of the best things that happened to me that day. And everyday, at least 4 of the 5 have my baby boy in them. He's such sunshine. He's made me so much better. I can't believe this is my life!
3. New baby. The Lord has really blessed me to be able to take care of one of His very special children. While it's scary to think about how my normal everyday will change drastically, there's no better way to do it.
4. Church. Because of the gospel of my church, I know I've made the decisions I have that have made my life so Blessed. Not only do I get such a blessed life now, but knowing I have my family forever is amazing. it makes me want to work harder and be better just so I can be worthy of them.
5. Our home. D's job has certainly come with it's challenges. It's been one of our most trying years financially. But during our most trying year, the Lord has blessed us with a gorgeous new home. We really can't complain! I get to be here everyday with the people I love most!
6. Extended Family. I don't have any complaints about my in-laws. While family always comes with drama, I still get to enjoy my family. My parents and in-laws and everyone I'm related to are so generous. We have been so well taken care of an so loved. Thank you!

Because this pregnancy rules my life...

Thanks to everyone for your comments. I really felt a lot better. Blogger is so nice for venting and getting support. And you all really make me laugh so hard.

Yesterday was our 38 week appointment, although I won't officially be 38 weeks until Sunday (scheduling conflicts I suppose). We are about 3cm dilated!, 75% effaced and C's head is still at a -1. So I'm up one cm and 15% more effaced. Awesome! I'm really hoping that C keeps this up. I'd really love to go in a little bit early as long as he's healthy, but what woman doesn't say that? For me, it will probably happen somewhere on Thanksgiving between turkey and pie. And all I have to say is that I'm still eating my pie. But I won't complain!

D and I have put ours and P's bags in the car along with the carseat. So even if we aren't at home when I go into labor we have everything we need. We'll just call whichever set of parents doesn't have work the next day to take my precious little boy overnight and in we'll go! It's so nice to be prepared. We also have M&M's stapled to our birth plan to give to the nurses so I'm sure that will encourage a few to read it. Or else.

I've been scrapbooking a ton and am almost halfway through P's 2nd year. I really need a lot more paper, but I'm not in too big of a hurry. Now that new baby is all prepared for, I have to shift my focus on to Thanksgiving as we're having 18 people over. I'm so excited for a full house! And for the food! My grandma and mom will probably do most of the cooking and I'm only doing the easy stuff like Turkey and cranberry sauce. I'm trying to think of cheap ways to decorate the tables.

Well, blah blah blah, I'm rambling on again. I think I'm in huge need for a nap so I might go lay down and get some uninterrupted book time with this new book I'm reading, City of Glass. I love the Mortal Instrument series.

What the crap!?

Eugh- (insert disgusted grunting noise here). What is it about a pregnant woman that makes people forget the rules of social etiquette and make them feel free to make whatever comment about her body they want? It's unreal.

This last month of pregnancy is rough. Not because I get up like an old man or that I hear my hip pop at night trying to roll over- but because I look dang good for 37 weeks and every cashier at every register I come across feels the need to make a comment about my size. Tactlessly, nonetheless.

I hate the phrase, "You like you're ready to pop." HATE IT. I'm used to those moron comments by now. But last night, some fool in the baby section at Wal-Mart went way too far.

Fool- "Geez, are you alright."
Me- Excuse me?
Fool- When are you due?
Me- 2-3 weeks.
Fool- Wow, my daughter is due in a month and she isn't anywhere near as big as you are.
Me- Wow, people are just so polite everywhere.
Fool's Wife- See, you've offended her.
Fool- I didn't mean to offend her.
Me- (giving a nasty look)- It's not EVER ok to make a comment about someone's size.
Fool- Well, she's tiny everywhere else just like you are-----

This is the part where I just turned and walked off and didn't bother letting him finish.

So, naturally, what with hormones and my general precious feelings, I was upset. My good husband goes, "Well, he wasn't trying to be malicious.But if I were there I would have called him a dumbA-"

And I had to think about it. I'm sure these people aren't trying to be mean. BUT, I know that they know better because no one will make comments about me if my husband is there. That's because instinctively, they know better. If I have someone there to "protect me", so to speak, no one dares. They keep their mouths shut and their comments to themselves. Obviously, if you're afraid of suffering consequences for what you're about to say, maybe you shouldn't say it.

So you know what, maybe I'm tired of being nice all the time. SO to the old tactless fool in Wal-Mart: I'm more than 9 months pregnant. I'm still wearing size 2 regular people jeans. You can suck it.

Now, as a disclaimer, not everyone is awful even though I kind of want to stay hidden for the next month. A woman at church today told me she could tell I was having a boy because of how beautiful my skin is and that I just look so pretty. It was really sweet and I really needed it. And sometimes there's humor to it all. Last night my 2 year old niece was pointing at my belly and wanted to know if she could play with the ball. I only wish it were that easy. Love her!

Caution: Mommy content Ahead

Yesterday was our 37 week appointment although I'm not officially 37 weeks until Sunday. It was fantastic! (Other than waiting an hour+ b/c one of the doctors got caught up in surgery.)

So...

We are 2cm dilated (twice as much as we ever were with P), 60% effaced, very soft and the baby is stationed at a -1, so the doctor could feel his head.

Yay! I'm so excited! Roughly, that means that C could be here anytime from next week to next month. BUT, when he does decide to come, he'll just "pop right out" were the docs terms.

It made me think of that episode of the old Ellen Show where this girl told Ellen she had "birthing hips so a baby would just shoot out of her" and Ellen said, "Well, I better watch out so I don't poke someone's eye out."

We also gave the doc our birthplan:

Labor-

1. DO NOT give me any injections, shots, medicines, etc; without my express permission.
2. I DO NOT want Pitocin or any other medication to speed the labor along. A Heparin Lock is ok, but I don’t want an IV unless I become dehydrated. I would like Cole’s birth to be as natural and pharmaceutically unenhanced as possible.
3. Please help others respect my privacy. During vaginal exams and pushing, refrain from allowing others into the room until I am finished.
4. You have our permission to give our family any updates. Family is to be in the waiting room during pushing.

Afterbirth-Mommy
1. DO NOT give me any injections, shots, medicines, etc; without my express permission. (While this may seem redundant, there actually was a nurse last time who gave me a medication I would have refused and she did so without talking to me or asking permission or even letting me know what she was doing. We will respect your job. Please respect us.)
2. After Baby is born, we will want to get cleaned up as soon as possible so our family can visit and we can rest.
3. If we are resting, do not wake us up to ask about or perform any checks or procedures or to fill out paperwork. Please wait until we are awake.
4. Daddy wants to assist as much as possible in the birth, cutting the cord, bringing the baby out, etc.

AfterBirth- Baby

1. I want to hold baby as soon as possible.
2. Baby may have Hemophilia and will need to be tested before circumcision.
3. Baby's pediatricians are Dr. Beck and/or Dr. Savage.
4. We brought our own clothes for Baby to wear (identical to yours for convenience) because last time the hospital clothes gave our son a bad rash.
5. DO NOT give our son any injections, shots, medicines, etc; without consulting either one of us. This may be frustrating as things happen fast after the birth, but we want to know what is happening with him at all times. All of his exams are to be done in our presence.
6. Baby is to stay in our room and not the nursery.
7. I plan on breastfeeding/pumping for my son.


So the Doc loved it and said we were well prepared and that I wasn't rude at all, which was my biggest concern, although I plan on attaching candy to the birth plan we'll pass out to the nurses. I love Dr. Schutz. He apologized about having to do a Cervical Exam when I was expecting to see Dr. Perkins (who's female). So I go, "Well, I do prefer her small lady hands." Then he told me he only wears a 6.5 glove and has the smallest hands of everyone. He's really funny. He also compared having a baby the second time around to blowing up a balloon after it had already been blown up. Good comparison. Makes lots of sense.


Anyway, all of our bags are packed and ready to be put in the trunk when D gets home. The carseat is washed and ready and everything else is in place. If my water were to break right now I'd only be worried about the dishes in the sink- which I need to get to by the way. Of course, C will probably be late, and that's ok too, I'm just so happy that we're progressing!

9 months

Ah, 36 weeks pregnant. Really though, I'm doing great. NO swelling at all, which has been my greatest relief since I was like a memory foam mattress with P. I can still wear my wedding rings and I feel really good with way more energy than I had a couple months ago.
We went to our 36 week checkup and I am 1cm dilated. So there's something! I'm excited that my body seems to know that not only is is supposed to help my baby grow, but also get him OUT.
I've been a crazy shopping woman lately and have nearly everything bought. I couldn't find any nursing pillows at Wal-Mart? but I never actually used the thing for nursing anyway. I also need to buy a little baby tub, but I'm thinking that with one tub being old and the other being super deep, I'll just clean up little C in the sink.
I STILL need to make a decision on a futon. Why is it so hard? Apparently, D is planning on it going in his office when I'm done with breastfeeding so he's going for a totally different style than I was thinking. That man really needs to let me inside his head sometimes so I know what's going on.
I also need to pack our bags, but that's a no big. We are having a GIANT Thanksgiving this year, so D has some stuff to do around the house and he can start by removing the vole that fell into our basement and sadly passed away. I'm about to make him a list. Geez.
The whole world seems to have the flu or some sort of virus and thus far P and I are clear. Can't speak too soon of course.
Anyway, so there's our life in a nutshell. Baby-waiting, futon-shopping, husband-nagging life that it be!