JAMIE'S NOTE: Yes, there does appear to be some technical glitch with watching the Quicktime movie. I can see it at home fine, but few appear to see it otherwise. I have the inhouse IT department working on it. Will let you know when corrected!
It's here!
Aaron has digitized the video recording of the ultrasound from October. I have posted the highlights for your viewing pleasure to the right under "Sprout's First Movie". (Quicktime required and it may take a few moments to load.)
It is really hard to ooh and ahh looking at a little skeleton, even if it is my baby! However, after a "few" viewings and after accepting the fact that this wiggling thing is in me, I've really gotten to love watching this. I love seeing Sprout's little hands by his face, the legs crossed at the ankles, and the little jaw working.
You can also see Sprout's heart beating away, his ribs, his spine and even the hemispheres of his brain. At one point, there is a "jiggling" -- that was the ultrasound tech trying to move the sleepy Sprout and get a better view of him. The song is sung by Kermit the Muppet. We've been listening to it a lot and I like to think of Sprout as a little creature "wiggling in the water...only job is swimming peacefully".
Commemorative collector's edition DVD available!
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Bad Mommy Confessions (24 weeks, 2 days)
This mommy thing is going to be a lot of learning. For me, I think a lot of the learning will be in learning to let go of certain ideals. Right now, I am struggling with all of the things that I mean to do to be a good mommy and it's rough going. Allow me the opportunity to confess all of the things that I already feel guilty about:
1. Not taking my fish oil supplement everyday. It is supremely yucky stuff, especially when you take it straight from the spoon. The kind I have is ultrapurified, lemon flavored, probably keeps me regular and is supposed to make me and Sprout healthier and smarter. Still, cod liver oil! I conveniently left it at home while traveling last week because it needs to be refrigerated. It hasn't been opened in a week. I hear you can't taste it when you put it in yogurt or smoothies, but I am hesitant to flavor my fruit smoothies with essence of cod. Seriously, I think I might be heroic if I managed to do this everyday.
2. Not exercising enough. Okay, I have never exercised enough, but now would be a good time for me to be serious about it. Before Sprout, I was going to the gym a few times a week. Now, it is more like a few times a month. I am well intentioned and mean to do yoga at home or walk the dog, but it just doesn't happen very much. I also don't always do the exercises recommended by the childbirth class.
I know what the positive outcomes are if I do these exercises, yet I still struggle.
3. Being vigilant about my diet. This one is hard to admit and I'm a little defensive. I do get a lot of protein as a quasi-vegetarian. However, I don't know that I am vigilant about making it to 80 grams a day (twice what I needed before pregnant) and I don't know that I am always smart about controlling for fat or calories. Just because I am now entitled to some extra ice cream doesn't mean I should eat it everyday. Maybe. I do love that new Haagen Daaz ice cream with waffle cone bits in it, though.
These are my worst offenders though I could probably find more if so motivated. (Oh, like not drinking enough water everyday. Oh, and not writing to this site as much as I could. Oh, and not getting enough sleep during the week.) Don't worry about writing in with tips, though. My problem isn't a lack of knowledge, just of discipline and mindfulness. I know I am a little compulsive about these things and I know that everything will be okay, regardless of whether I get that spoonful of cod liver oil down. I'm thinking I might try to work out some behavior chart where a good week will earn me a treat like a massage or pedicure. I'll let you know how it goes!
1. Not taking my fish oil supplement everyday. It is supremely yucky stuff, especially when you take it straight from the spoon. The kind I have is ultrapurified, lemon flavored, probably keeps me regular and is supposed to make me and Sprout healthier and smarter. Still, cod liver oil! I conveniently left it at home while traveling last week because it needs to be refrigerated. It hasn't been opened in a week. I hear you can't taste it when you put it in yogurt or smoothies, but I am hesitant to flavor my fruit smoothies with essence of cod. Seriously, I think I might be heroic if I managed to do this everyday.
2. Not exercising enough. Okay, I have never exercised enough, but now would be a good time for me to be serious about it. Before Sprout, I was going to the gym a few times a week. Now, it is more like a few times a month. I am well intentioned and mean to do yoga at home or walk the dog, but it just doesn't happen very much. I also don't always do the exercises recommended by the childbirth class.
I know what the positive outcomes are if I do these exercises, yet I still struggle.
3. Being vigilant about my diet. This one is hard to admit and I'm a little defensive. I do get a lot of protein as a quasi-vegetarian. However, I don't know that I am vigilant about making it to 80 grams a day (twice what I needed before pregnant) and I don't know that I am always smart about controlling for fat or calories. Just because I am now entitled to some extra ice cream doesn't mean I should eat it everyday. Maybe. I do love that new Haagen Daaz ice cream with waffle cone bits in it, though.
These are my worst offenders though I could probably find more if so motivated. (Oh, like not drinking enough water everyday. Oh, and not writing to this site as much as I could. Oh, and not getting enough sleep during the week.) Don't worry about writing in with tips, though. My problem isn't a lack of knowledge, just of discipline and mindfulness. I know I am a little compulsive about these things and I know that everything will be okay, regardless of whether I get that spoonful of cod liver oil down. I'm thinking I might try to work out some behavior chart where a good week will earn me a treat like a massage or pedicure. I'll let you know how it goes!
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Don't tell anyone (23 weeks, 2 days)
Hello, all! Aaron and I have had a busy day. I'm actually writing from my dad's house in Charlotte. We drove up here from Atlanta today. While it is not that long of a drive, I am increasingly aware that I don't like long cartrips, pregnancy or no. A four hour trip to Charlotte is about my max. It's nice to have a brief respite from the rest of the trip out to Aaron's family (as well as nice to see my dad, stepmom and stepsister).
But, the day started off on an interesting and strange note. We were driving to the midwife appointment today and right around the corner from the office, I saw a car pulled off funny to the side of the road. I asked Aaron to turn around because I thought someone across the wheel. Yes, in fact, a young man was passed out unconscious across the steering wheel of his car and his car had apparently rolled off the road. Well, fortunately this wasn't a David Lynch scene a la Wild at Heart, but it did get the adrenaline pumping. Lucky for Aaron and I someone else had stopped, my hero, Bobby the ER Director for Piedmont Hospital. Unlike us, he at least is not totally unfamiliar with situations like this and with Aaron's help was able to pull the young man out of the car and get him on the ground where he starting seizing. Jesus. I called 911 and sounded like a total idiot for at least 5 minutes trying to describe what was happening. The guy had marks on him, his clothes were falling off, he was breathing but not waking. Within a short time, the seizing driver came to, totally disoriented and having a hard time putting it together. Then he turned to Aaron and me and begged us not to call anyone: he didn't want to be in trouble, he was fine, don't call anyone, don't tell anyone, please don't tell anyone.
He hardly seemed to understand our point, however, that he had been out for a couple of minutes, had a seizure and needed to be checked out by someone other than Bobby. He did thank us and tried to regain composure. He still said not to call anyone, but I had already been off the phone with 911 and you could hear the sirens coming up the road. I don't think that he managed to escape his troubles as the police showed up shortly after the firetruck and paramedics. Bobby (this story's hero) said that he thought that it was likely drugs that had done this to the young man. I hope that tomorrow will be the start of something new for the driver.
Random notes about the experience:
1. This man rolled off the road in the middle of morning traffic and had been there for a few minutes before we saw him. Nobody could stop? If I roll off the road, please somebody stop.
2. That Blind Melon song that was so popular a few years ago -- you know the one where in the video the little girl is dressed up as bee -- was blasting from the guy's car.
3. The bumper sticker on the man's car read "Poor planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part".
So, we were late to the appointment, but the midwife was understanding. Not unlike all the other appointments, things were normal normal normal. My uterus measured where it should (23 cm), Sprout's heart was going strong, and we are fine. The midwife said that she approves of the childbirth class that we are taking and said that patients who take that class always know the right time to come to the hospital and make informed choices. She said that I don't have to worry about going to the class that the practice recommends if I am a Bradley mom. Good news, that. Also, good to meet the 3rd midwife in the practice. I have now seen all of them and feel comfortable and trust them. I might start trusting again after the first practice I went to during this pregnancy had me so frustrated and angry.
I did have my own moment of not wanting to tell, though. I apparently have had a growth spurt since my check-up last month. A BIG GROWTH SPURT. Don't tell anyone, but I gained a lot of weight. It could be my loading up on dairy (ie milkshakes) recently, it could be not walking and working out like I was in the spring, or it could just be that I am 23 weeks pregnant and had a growth spurt. The nurse gave me the raised eyebrow, but the midwife said it's fine so long as I don't come in next month having gained the same amount of weight. I will not share what I weighed in the beginning or what I weigh now, but I definitely had one of those moments where I thought, "Oh, so this is why pregnancy drives women crazy." The midwife asked me to consider before I freaked out that 2 people are on the scale when I weigh in. Nice rationalization. I might use that, if need.
More dispatches from the road later!
But, the day started off on an interesting and strange note. We were driving to the midwife appointment today and right around the corner from the office, I saw a car pulled off funny to the side of the road. I asked Aaron to turn around because I thought someone across the wheel. Yes, in fact, a young man was passed out unconscious across the steering wheel of his car and his car had apparently rolled off the road. Well, fortunately this wasn't a David Lynch scene a la Wild at Heart, but it did get the adrenaline pumping. Lucky for Aaron and I someone else had stopped, my hero, Bobby the ER Director for Piedmont Hospital. Unlike us, he at least is not totally unfamiliar with situations like this and with Aaron's help was able to pull the young man out of the car and get him on the ground where he starting seizing. Jesus. I called 911 and sounded like a total idiot for at least 5 minutes trying to describe what was happening. The guy had marks on him, his clothes were falling off, he was breathing but not waking. Within a short time, the seizing driver came to, totally disoriented and having a hard time putting it together. Then he turned to Aaron and me and begged us not to call anyone: he didn't want to be in trouble, he was fine, don't call anyone, don't tell anyone, please don't tell anyone.
He hardly seemed to understand our point, however, that he had been out for a couple of minutes, had a seizure and needed to be checked out by someone other than Bobby. He did thank us and tried to regain composure. He still said not to call anyone, but I had already been off the phone with 911 and you could hear the sirens coming up the road. I don't think that he managed to escape his troubles as the police showed up shortly after the firetruck and paramedics. Bobby (this story's hero) said that he thought that it was likely drugs that had done this to the young man. I hope that tomorrow will be the start of something new for the driver.
Random notes about the experience:
1. This man rolled off the road in the middle of morning traffic and had been there for a few minutes before we saw him. Nobody could stop? If I roll off the road, please somebody stop.
2. That Blind Melon song that was so popular a few years ago -- you know the one where in the video the little girl is dressed up as bee -- was blasting from the guy's car.
3. The bumper sticker on the man's car read "Poor planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part".
So, we were late to the appointment, but the midwife was understanding. Not unlike all the other appointments, things were normal normal normal. My uterus measured where it should (23 cm), Sprout's heart was going strong, and we are fine. The midwife said that she approves of the childbirth class that we are taking and said that patients who take that class always know the right time to come to the hospital and make informed choices. She said that I don't have to worry about going to the class that the practice recommends if I am a Bradley mom. Good news, that. Also, good to meet the 3rd midwife in the practice. I have now seen all of them and feel comfortable and trust them. I might start trusting again after the first practice I went to during this pregnancy had me so frustrated and angry.
I did have my own moment of not wanting to tell, though. I apparently have had a growth spurt since my check-up last month. A BIG GROWTH SPURT. Don't tell anyone, but I gained a lot of weight. It could be my loading up on dairy (ie milkshakes) recently, it could be not walking and working out like I was in the spring, or it could just be that I am 23 weeks pregnant and had a growth spurt. The nurse gave me the raised eyebrow, but the midwife said it's fine so long as I don't come in next month having gained the same amount of weight. I will not share what I weighed in the beginning or what I weigh now, but I definitely had one of those moments where I thought, "Oh, so this is why pregnancy drives women crazy." The midwife asked me to consider before I freaked out that 2 people are on the scale when I weigh in. Nice rationalization. I might use that, if need.
More dispatches from the road later!
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Asians as Aliens (22 weeks, 4 days)
Aaron reminded me after reading my post from yesterday about something else that might have contributed to my dream about having a baby that was half alien. Well, I have been spending some time not only thinking about my identity, but about Sprout's future identity and if being 1/4 Asian American is part of how someone might be identified/self-identify. Does being 1/4 Asian American qualify you as being Asian American? Does it depend on your cultural surroundings? What boxes do you check? Now, I know some people who identify as being Native American and are 1/16. I think many people would say if a person was 1/4 African American, that person is black. But Asian/Asian Americans don't get looked at like other minorities do -- they are a model minority, after all. So is being 1/4 Asian, 3/4 white just white?
If you are trying to watch the train of thought, the cars get a little jumbled around here....)This all probably relates to the dream as the baby was different by some identifiable quality (like race/ethnicity). And, when I was at Duke, I took a whole class on "Asians as Aliens in America". Hence, the alien baby might have been related to being an Asian baby. Funny how the subconscious turns one thing into another....
If you are trying to watch the train of thought, the cars get a little jumbled around here....)This all probably relates to the dream as the baby was different by some identifiable quality (like race/ethnicity). And, when I was at Duke, I took a whole class on "Asians as Aliens in America". Hence, the alien baby might have been related to being an Asian baby. Funny how the subconscious turns one thing into another....
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Also, Faithful Reader....
Thanks to my faithful readers who come back here so frequently and write me emails despite my irregular posting and terrible correspondence habits. I'm trying to tackle response emails a few at a time, so bear with me. It is so good to be in touch with everyone, though!
Just a few things to catch up on though....the Alien Dream wasn't the only milestone of late. First, Aaron got to feel Sprout tumble around for the first time. Funny enough, I missed it! I'd been trying to get Aaron to catch the little gymnast for a week and then on Sunday night after I had alreayd fallen asleep, Aaron caught some movement.
Second, last week we went to our first childbirth class. It took me a moment to warm up to it, but I feel really positive about it now. It is part of the Bradley Birth Method, a natural childbirth approach, and they believe in getting their parents super educated so their classes span over a 12 week period. That's a little intense, as is having so much homework (exercises, relaxation exercises, reading, worksheet) and following a particular diet. Still, doesn't that seem like that would be the approach best suited to me?! What I also appreciate about it is that there are 4 other couples in class to go through it with. I had been disappointed to find out that the midwife practice I DIDN'T pick now offers group prenatal care. (Group prenatal care is a relatively uncommon practice of having women who have similar due dates come in as a for brief check-ups as a small group and then spend the rest of their appointment as a support/education group. Studies show high satisifaction and good health outcomes for women who are part of such a prenatal cohort.) I think this experience might substitute some for what I think I would have liked for the group care experience. The shocking things I learned in class included my not really having fears about pregnancy or birth (ONLY of taking an infant home!) and about my protein intake.
Some of you know that from relatively early on, I have been trying to be conscientious about making sure I get all the protein me and Sprout need, especially since I don't eat most meat (except some seafood). I had been pushing to get 60 grams in a day and had been logging all of my food to help. ARGH. The diet recommended in class says that to prevent toxemia and 101 other nasty things, I should be eating EIGHTY grams of protein. 8-0! Sprout is going to be made of lots of glasses of milk, peanut butter sandwiches and Quorn nuggets. I just don't know if I can eat that much food. On Monday, I got a vanilla milkshake to help out on the protein. I certainly hope Sprout will appreciate my sacrifices!
Just a few things to catch up on though....the Alien Dream wasn't the only milestone of late. First, Aaron got to feel Sprout tumble around for the first time. Funny enough, I missed it! I'd been trying to get Aaron to catch the little gymnast for a week and then on Sunday night after I had alreayd fallen asleep, Aaron caught some movement.
Second, last week we went to our first childbirth class. It took me a moment to warm up to it, but I feel really positive about it now. It is part of the Bradley Birth Method, a natural childbirth approach, and they believe in getting their parents super educated so their classes span over a 12 week period. That's a little intense, as is having so much homework (exercises, relaxation exercises, reading, worksheet) and following a particular diet. Still, doesn't that seem like that would be the approach best suited to me?! What I also appreciate about it is that there are 4 other couples in class to go through it with. I had been disappointed to find out that the midwife practice I DIDN'T pick now offers group prenatal care. (Group prenatal care is a relatively uncommon practice of having women who have similar due dates come in as a for brief check-ups as a small group and then spend the rest of their appointment as a support/education group. Studies show high satisifaction and good health outcomes for women who are part of such a prenatal cohort.) I think this experience might substitute some for what I think I would have liked for the group care experience. The shocking things I learned in class included my not really having fears about pregnancy or birth (ONLY of taking an infant home!) and about my protein intake.
Some of you know that from relatively early on, I have been trying to be conscientious about making sure I get all the protein me and Sprout need, especially since I don't eat most meat (except some seafood). I had been pushing to get 60 grams in a day and had been logging all of my food to help. ARGH. The diet recommended in class says that to prevent toxemia and 101 other nasty things, I should be eating EIGHTY grams of protein. 8-0! Sprout is going to be made of lots of glasses of milk, peanut butter sandwiches and Quorn nuggets. I just don't know if I can eat that much food. On Monday, I got a vanilla milkshake to help out on the protein. I certainly hope Sprout will appreciate my sacrifices!
New Milestone...of a Sort (22 weeks, 3 days)
Well, I reached a new milestone last night....I had my first overly vivid dream about a baby. I'd been told to expect it, but my dreams have not been any different from any other time and have not involved any babies. Last night I dreamt about a baby, but it wasn't Sprout. (I knew it wasn't Sprout, because the baby was a girl.) It was darn vivid, though, and a little scary.
First, the baby already teeth as an infant. Maybe not such a scary thing in and of itself, but I am planning on breastfeeding, so still qualifies as a little scary. And, then there was the fact that the baby was part alien. Yeah, an alien. There wasn't any understandable reason for the baby to be part alien -- it just was. The baby wasn't a monster, but a little different looking and the future for the baby was uncertain. Compounding the situation, Mouse the Cat (our black and white kitty shown below) was also an alien. Mouse could talk and also had a dramatic problem with matted fur. Actually, Mouse talking and being an alien was almost more scary than than the baby, as it called to mind Stephen King's Pet Semetary more than Dr. Doolittle. In addition to waking up a little freaked out, I was really trying to remember what Mouse's voice sounded like....
Where did the dream come from? Well, I guess I should stop making asides about Sprout and the chestbusting alien from Alien. Yeah, should definitely stop that....And, some of it probably comes from my thinking about different identity issues, though those seem more funny than scary to me. Though I am just over halfway through pregnancy and have many wonderful years of parenting ahead, it seems those around me are already preparing me to lose myself. I find that no one ever just says "Hello, Jamie" anymore. I am: the "Sprout Mama", "Little Mama", "Mommy", etc. While endearing in many ways, I hadn't expected I would already start to be identified and defined by this new part of my life! Further, I find that whenever I act a certain way that I probably did a year ago (impatient, irritable, forgetful or anything of the like), people attribute it to Sprout! No, I say, it's all me! If I were smart, though, I'd probably go ahead and let the babe-to-be take the flak for the less than positive stuff -- he won't know! I haven't been scared, though, because all the attention to Sprout also has gained a lot of new attention to me. For example, everyone always asks how I am feeling and how am doing. Darned if I don't like being in the spotlight a little!
So, bring on the next milestone. Glad to get this one out of the way and will try not to dream of aliens anymore.
First, the baby already teeth as an infant. Maybe not such a scary thing in and of itself, but I am planning on breastfeeding, so still qualifies as a little scary. And, then there was the fact that the baby was part alien. Yeah, an alien. There wasn't any understandable reason for the baby to be part alien -- it just was. The baby wasn't a monster, but a little different looking and the future for the baby was uncertain. Compounding the situation, Mouse the Cat (our black and white kitty shown below) was also an alien. Mouse could talk and also had a dramatic problem with matted fur. Actually, Mouse talking and being an alien was almost more scary than than the baby, as it called to mind Stephen King's Pet Semetary more than Dr. Doolittle. In addition to waking up a little freaked out, I was really trying to remember what Mouse's voice sounded like....
Where did the dream come from? Well, I guess I should stop making asides about Sprout and the chestbusting alien from Alien. Yeah, should definitely stop that....And, some of it probably comes from my thinking about different identity issues, though those seem more funny than scary to me. Though I am just over halfway through pregnancy and have many wonderful years of parenting ahead, it seems those around me are already preparing me to lose myself. I find that no one ever just says "Hello, Jamie" anymore. I am: the "Sprout Mama", "Little Mama", "Mommy", etc. While endearing in many ways, I hadn't expected I would already start to be identified and defined by this new part of my life! Further, I find that whenever I act a certain way that I probably did a year ago (impatient, irritable, forgetful or anything of the like), people attribute it to Sprout! No, I say, it's all me! If I were smart, though, I'd probably go ahead and let the babe-to-be take the flak for the less than positive stuff -- he won't know! I haven't been scared, though, because all the attention to Sprout also has gained a lot of new attention to me. For example, everyone always asks how I am feeling and how am doing. Darned if I don't like being in the spotlight a little!
So, bring on the next milestone. Glad to get this one out of the way and will try not to dream of aliens anymore.
Friday, November 11, 2005
We're Back (21 weeks, 5 days)
We're back from DC and so glad to be home. Being away interrupted my renewed relationship with eBay, which I now use for the sake of buying Sprout stuff. I did win this one item last week and it is my first official clothing purchase. The animals on the feet made me do it. If you can't see the detail, it's a hippo, monkey and crocodile playing music. 
I promise I won't post too many pictures of baby clothes, but this was a first, so I think it is okay.
I promise I won't post too many pictures of baby clothes, but this was a first, so I think it is okay.
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Mr. Sprout Goes to Washington
No posts for the next couple of days for sure. The Sprout and I are headed out to Washington DC tomorrow for a conference. My coworkers and I are doing a presentation on the project that I have been working on for the past few years. It should be a good presentation and nice conference, but I hate to be away from home. Posting will resume shortly after our return.
Also, just wanted to put a picture of me and my sister Dawn. Who would have thunk we would ever be old enough to have children of our own? Dawn gets a special Sprout Shout-out for the boxes of hand-me-downs that have been arriving daily it seems. Good thing I like her taste her how she dresses my nephew Zachary! Yesterday's box included a knit blue baby hat with puppy ears and the onesie that we bought at a Prince concert just before Zachary was born. Sprout (or at least I) will enjoy all the outfits immensely.
Also, just wanted to put a picture of me and my sister Dawn. Who would have thunk we would ever be old enough to have children of our own? Dawn gets a special Sprout Shout-out for the boxes of hand-me-downs that have been arriving daily it seems. Good thing I like her taste her how she dresses my nephew Zachary! Yesterday's box included a knit blue baby hat with puppy ears and the onesie that we bought at a Prince concert just before Zachary was born. Sprout (or at least I) will enjoy all the outfits immensely.
Sunday, November 06, 2005
Requested Update
A number of you have asked about how I am looking these days. For your benefit, an update.
Belly button: On its way out
Belly: Definitely round
Clothes: Still in my own, though I have given up anything vaguely tailored. God bless all those loose fitting clothes I have. Must face that I will need something maternity other than just bathing suits soon.
The photo is of my belly from earlier today. Of course, from a little bit of a distance it doesn't look THAT huge. Really. I actually think that my belly is a little larger looking on my right side. And, that might be supported by the last ultrasound when we found out that the placenta (I get a whole new organ out of this!) is attached on the right. I also get most of my thumpings from Sprout on the right.
I'm also including a shot from our vacation to St. John in September. I'm not looking at my supermodel best, but that might be understandable as we were almost to the end of a daylong hike down a mountain to the southside of the island and around a rocky outcropping. (It was exhausting, but really great as we got to see so much on the hike: ancient rock carvings, a sea turtle nest, a rainforest, an old sugar mill and lots of wildlife.) Even 6-7 weeks ago and looking at me straight on, you can see the pregnancy "bump."
I can't imagine how big I might get before this is all done.
Pregancy Overload (21 weeks)
It was bound to happen sometime: I have let myself get overwhelmed by the pregnancy and baby planning. I spent a good part of the weekend thinking about strollers, car seats, childbirth classes, crib bedding, registries, protein gram counting, supplement taking, cute clothes, et cetera. It was exhausting and I ABSOLUTELY promise not to try to not do it anymore. I know having a baby isn't nearly as complicated as all I invested in it these past few days and I would prefer to let the overwhelming part come after March 19....
Still, in some ways it was productive. As of now, I am signed up for a breastfeeding class with the hospital's lactation specialist, a short series childbirth class that the midwife practice recommends and a longer childbirth class series for the Bradley childbirth method. In my research on childbirth classes, I read a number of labor stories and got teary eyed in most.
I also rediscovered the wonders of eBay and have made my very first clothing purchase for Sprout. No surprise, it is a footed romper that has feet that look like animals. I'm sure there will be more eBay purchases to follow...
Now, if I can just keep my OCD tendencies suppressed for the next few months, I feel I will really have accomplished something (you know, in addition to growing a whole new life.)
Special Sprout Shout-Outs: I just want to share that it is nice to share in this experience with other women who are also having their first baby. Probably 50% of the reason I want to get into a childbirth class now is to meet more. Other mommies to be include Aaron's cousin (who in early March is going to beat us to the punch of having the 1st great grandbaby in the family), an acquaintance from work due in January, and Carly (one of my oldest and best friends from college who is due the day after me).
Still, in some ways it was productive. As of now, I am signed up for a breastfeeding class with the hospital's lactation specialist, a short series childbirth class that the midwife practice recommends and a longer childbirth class series for the Bradley childbirth method. In my research on childbirth classes, I read a number of labor stories and got teary eyed in most.
I also rediscovered the wonders of eBay and have made my very first clothing purchase for Sprout. No surprise, it is a footed romper that has feet that look like animals. I'm sure there will be more eBay purchases to follow...
Now, if I can just keep my OCD tendencies suppressed for the next few months, I feel I will really have accomplished something (you know, in addition to growing a whole new life.)
Special Sprout Shout-Outs: I just want to share that it is nice to share in this experience with other women who are also having their first baby. Probably 50% of the reason I want to get into a childbirth class now is to meet more. Other mommies to be include Aaron's cousin (who in early March is going to beat us to the punch of having the 1st great grandbaby in the family), an acquaintance from work due in January, and Carly (one of my oldest and best friends from college who is due the day after me).
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
Pity the Poor Sprout (20 weeks, 3 days)
I'm generally of the opinion that babies don't need to be dressed up all the time. I doubt that I will be a fussy parent who plays dress-up with the baby as if the child is a doll. In general, I think it might be okay to just put the kid in the bare essentials and then let said child roll around in the dirt outside. So, not too worried about baby clothes. However, I do confess to certain weaknesses.
One, I love baby hats. Love love love baby hats. I especially love the quirky ones that make the baby look like they have puppy/kitty/bear ears. Of course, I hear that babies hate hats and maybe they especially hate quirky hats. I can understand this, but it doesn't stop me at all. Over time, this love has grown into the second weakness. I mean, why just stop with a child's head?
Two, I love baby costumes. And not just as Halloween costumes. I think it would be perfectly acceptable to go to the grocery store with a baby dressed as a ladybug at absolutely anytime of the year (just as long as the baby was comfortable). I was thinking I might buy a rabbit romper being sold for Halloween so that Sprout can wear it in the spring. Oh, pity the Sprout, as my sister Dawn is helping me indulge in this weakness.
Exhibit #1. The bee romper. It has teeny mesh wings on the back.
Exhibit #2. The dinosaur costume. Well, this one might only be appropriate closer to Halloween for the cooler fall weather when it may or may not fit, but Sprout will have try it on at least a couple of times.
Pity the Poor Sprout....
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