Introducing....

Our baby girl!

Born at home 8/20/08
8 lbs. 7 oz., 21 in. long, and might I add 14 1/2 inch head circumference.

We are so thankful to the Lord for giving us this gift. She is healthy, beautiful, and nursing like a champ.

36 hours of labor total, with hard contractions from the beginning that came consistently 5 minutes apart. It was the hardest work I've ever done but well worth it in the end.

The Ride Appears to be Stuck

As we've had to tell the barrage of well-meaning callers for the past two weeks, nope, there's no baby yet. According to the doctor first babies are generally late and there isn't cause for concern yet. That being said, let's get this show on the road.

I really and truly have enjoyed being pregnant. You'll find no one else in this wide world who is more surprised about that than me. Even looking like I'm about to burst at the seams, I can't say that I have too many discomforts to speak of. I am trying to savor this last bit of time that baby is alive inside me as I may not have this opportunity again. If another baby (or babies) is in God's plan for us I am fully aware that I may not have pregnancies that are as rosy as this one has been.

As cognizant as I am of all of these things I cannot seem to curb impatience and anxiety. It's like I have the mother of all band-aids stuck to the hairiest part of my arm and I just want to pull it off already. Sitting there picking at it only makes the prospect worse. And since I'm a champion worrier anyway of course I've already considered what might happen if baby decides to hang around until 42+ weeks. None of the options are pleasant.

So I've been strapped into this ride for a while now, and it doesn't look as if it's going to get fixed anytime soon. The feeling that I might be in this state forever is no fun at all. Too bad I left my supply of patience back on the platform along with any other articles prone to falling out of pockets.

Harrowing Incline

Ever been on one of these things?



Right now I feel like I'm slowly creeping up that harrowing incline and my personage is in the middle of the train. I know the big drop is coming soon but I can't see it. I will be hurtling completely out of control, at the mercy of God and gravity. There's no turning back now, but the prospect is much more daunting up close than at the beginning of the line.

All that's left to do is wait for this.



Good times!

True Love

Is when your husband forbids you to scrub out the bathtub and says he will do it when he gets home from work in the morning. Awww.

Pity Party

I seem to be having one. I really hate it when Manny has to work nights. He bears his cross of working hard so very well, especially since he's the only one bringing home the bacon anymore. It isn't the hard work aspect that bothers me, but rather these flaming awful hours. Of which there are fewer than in years past, yet it seems that we see each other less because of the wacky sleep schedule and the fact that he has to leave pretty early to get where he has to go. This has been going on since May and there has been no indication as to when things might go back to normal. I understand that any way you slice it, this is daily bread. I feel tremendously guilty whining about it. But when your baby kicks at the sound of daddy's voice, and then daddy has to leave a few minutes later only to miss so much more of baby's antics, it can really get you down. That, and I'm 9 months pregnant with no one to rub my back, and at this time of night I feel tremendously lonely. But I guess I'll look at the bright side - when baby comes I'll probably be up all night and then I'll be sleepy during the day too!

Urping in Luxury

What is it with the price of burp cloths? Even the cheap ones seem a little dear just to be regurgitated upon. Any advice from the veterans out there for what is best to use? I'm assuming these are some pretty heavily used items, and that the more will indeed make for the merrier. Has anybody sewn their own? I'm no seamstress, but Manny has some rudimentary sewing skills, so if I could score some cheap flannel from the fabric store perhaps that would be a better option?

J.J. Cole super cool mod baby stuff, I am laughing at you. Ha.

Ungainfully Employed

Friday was my last official day of gainful employment. Despite certain frustrations I had been experiencing in the last year and half at my job, last week was extremely difficult. The aforementioned frustrations aside, it was a really good place to work. I was blessed with kind and generous bosses, and wonderful co-workers. As I rushed around tying up loose ends, it felt a little like I was leaving my last will and testament. May I just say the hormones didn't help either.

I know that Manny and I have made the right decision in that I will be staying home and being devoted exclusively to the care of said home and, eventually, baby. There is much to be done in the next few weeks before everything changes yet again. I feel many, many lists coming on.

So I guess I can say that I am still employed, just not in the way most people would assume when they hear the phrase.