There is No Baby Yet

Number one most commonly asked question to Marcus...  "Has Jewel had the baby yet??"  And to me, "You're still pregnant??"  We're both a little tired of the questions.  Marcus especially.  He wishes he had a t-shirt that says, "No, there is no baby yet." 

So we've missed the original window to follow the Kipapa birthing tradition, to deliver the males two weeks early.  It was supposed to be the 18th, give or take a few days to leave room for error in the due date.  But nothing.  Upon further discussion with my mother, however, her second boy wasn't two weeks early.  She was only estimating, he was actually 10 days early.  So that means there really was no boys-are-two-weeks-early law.  Instead the proposed law is boys are early.  Girls are on time. 

Isaiah, are you going to follow the rules?

My big event is over, so I'm not stressed about Marcus working it & not being there for the birth.  I told Isaiah he wasn't allowed to come this weekend because of that.  He can't come tomorrow either because I've got a lot of homework.  And I'd really like for him to wait until my big sis comes back from vacation Wednesday. 

But I'll be okay either way.  I'm ready now, but I wouldn't mind a few extra days to mentally & emotionally prepare.  I'm not horribly uncomfortable yet. 

Sleep is different.  I'm still getting it, but occasionally I will have to sleep on the couch sitting up because the heartburn is so bad.  Other than those moments & the annoying bathroom breaks & having to roll over to alleviate my aching hips, I'm lucky to be getting the rest I'm getting.  Naps are my favorite & cuddling with Marcus. 

Went to see Babies tonight with my mom & little sister.  It was just precious. 

Here we are after the show. 

And here is me trying to read & follow my midwife's orders...  Sit on the ball. 

Getting Closer... And Baby Pictures!

Last time I wrote, I said I was feeling better.  That feeling didn't last long.  Instead the cold got worse.  It spread to my ears & my eyes.  I lost my voice for a whole week.  But today, for real, I feel better.  I can taste & smell things again.  I smelled the popcorn when we walked into a movie theater last night (Robin Hood... ehhh).  And I tasted the chicken dipped into my favorite ranch dressing today.  And I can talk! 

My midwife Sarah came to my apartment for my latest prenatal visit.  I have dropped a little.  And after feeling his head & his butt and his back, she says everything is perfect as far as size goes.  Which means all that work I have been doing not eating ice cream has paid off!  My baby isn't too big! 

We set up everything on my dresser for the birth, and we talked about who was going to catch the baby & who would cut the cord.  Marcus doesn't think he will want to do either, but I think he'll change his mind.  The other day he tried to tell me that because his father couldn't handle the natural birth of him & his brother, he shouldn't have to either.  Then I threatened him. 

And now...  I've been meaning to post these forever...  Baby pictures of me & Marcus.  I will admit that he was much cuter than me as a baby.  My looks came in a little later.  After looking at these, can you tell what Isaiah will look like? 

 

Getting This Body Ready

Getting this body ready for labor is even more involved then anything else. Which makes sense, since my body is the one that's going to do all the work. 

For awhile, I was considering my job sufficient exercise.  I stopped working, then I got sick.  Today feeling better, my mom, sister & I started walking.  We need to keep it up, and I need to be squatting, doing pelvic exercises, and I desperately need to start remembering my kegels!  I had to put signs up in my bathrooms reminding me to do them.  All of these are supposed to help my body get ready for labor.

I'm also trying to get Marcus to do as much exercising with me as possible, if you know what I mean.  I need those prostaglandins!

Also in order to get ready, we are attempting perineal massage.  This lovely massage is supposed get my perineum used to being stretched & lessen the chance of tearing.  It also helps me to learn to relax through discomfort in that area.  It's difficult for us because Marcus doesn't really love it, and I've found it not very effective when I do it alone.  And there are many nights when he comes home from work at 2am exhausted, & I'm already asleep.

Nightly I'm taking evening primrose oil, which contains many prostaglandins, known for their assistance in softening the cervix, preparing me for labor.  I am drinking red raspberry leaf tea, which is supposed to tone my uterus or help it be more efficient in practice & future contractions.  There is this other thing I'm taking with meals, but I don't remember what it's supposed to do.

All of these little labor helpers started at 35 weeks.  Before then & now I am also taking my prenatal vitamins, omega 3, trace minerals, & chlorophyll to help keep my red blood cell count normal.  And I'm taking GTF to help regulate my blood sugar.  Because... At about 28 weeks, my midwife did a blood glucose test to see how my body was handling sugar.  The results weren't ideal.  Certain foods cause spikes in my blood sugar, which lead to unnecessary Isaiah growth.  If these spikes get out of control, I am put at risk for gestational diabetes.  Since then, I've been monitoring my blood sugar with a little finger pricker & taking the GTF.  It's been interesting to see what foods I can & cannot eat.  Like no Chinese food.  What the F?

Anyway, it's under control now, I've been doing pretty decent with my diet.  At my baby shower, we had special carb-less snacks, except for the baby shower cupcakes, of which I only had a bite.  The lack of treats has been a little sad, but I'm glad to know that I may have contributed to lessening the chance of having a really big baby.

How big are you going to be Isaiah? 

Getting This House Ready

We are 37 weeks today.  Full term.  3 weeks until due date.  1 week until the date many people including myself think I will deliver. 

Other than the fact that I can't talk because my voice got lost and my nose is annoyingly stuffy, I'm feeling pretty good. 

I'm not anxious or ready because I'm not completely prepared just yet. 

All the things on my midwife's list of things I need for labor have been purchased & are washed & ready.  I have the labor outfit but not the after labor one or Isaiah's first outfit.  Although I've been blessed with lots of adorable baby clothes, I sortof want his first outfit to be new.  Is that unreasonable? 

I want some candles for the afterbirth herbal bath.  I still need to work up a labor playlist.  And my mom & I are still preparing the menu for the during labor refreshments.  And then finally, I still need to decide what my first meal after the birth will be.  Right now I'm thinking McDonald's sounds awesome.  Quarter Pounder, no onions, extra cheese & french fries.

And I need to write thank you cards for baby gifts.

There are just a few things left to do around the house.  I want some mirrors hung, and there is a little more cleaning & organizing.

The house is almost ready, but here's the deal, there will be no baby room.  No nursery.  And I say it so seriously because this is one of those questions I get all the time, "Do you have the nursery ready yet?"  And they are shocked when I say no.

Here is why Isaiah will not have a room for awhile.  Well for one, I don't think he really cares.  Two, we only have one extra room, and there is a queen bed there, in which my mom is sleeping for a few months.  No room for baby stuff.  And finally, Isaiah will be hanging out with us in our bedroom for awhile, so he doesn't need his own space. 

My mother-in-law & Marcus strongly demanded that he stay in our bedroom for a year.  I strongly demanded back (to Marcus not his mother) that that was a type of decision that parents decide together. 

Sick, Useless & Loved

I was making lots of headway on getting things done when I felt something in my throat, that horrible thing that tells me I'm about to get sick.  How disappointing!  I felt great throughout my whole pregnancy until now. 

Thankfully, it's not that bad.  Just a sore throat & a little cold that's making every possible sleeping & sitting position miserable.  But it could be worse.  It could be the flu or my nemesis strep throat. 

Thankfully, even though I would like to be productive, I have a chance to rest.  Marcus "fired" me from work yesterday.  I joined on this week's events to ensure they could do them without me, and they did.  So I'm now free to stay home & start doing what a bunch of moms told me to do...  rest. 

And thankfully, my mommy is here to take care of me.  This morning she made me vinegar & honey, an old family sore throat remedy.  And she asked if she was helping me too much.  I told her I didn't think that was possible.  It's really nice to have her here.  And my little sis too. 

And now, a completely unrelated picture...  Is my son going to be anywhere near this cute?