Baby-Mama Doctor

Jim, James, and I had an appointment today.  I love our doctor and his simple, small practice.  His staff is so welcoming and sweet and I appreciate the bonus of not having 8 obstetricians on rotation, none of whom I would probably know very well.  His practice is family medicine, obstetrics, and pediatrics all rolled into one happy little hole-in-the-wall building.

Anyway, our visit went very well.  Measurements, blood pressure, heart rate, all of those things were fine.  I had a routine test (I'll spare you the details), and Dr. Stafford quickly checked for "progress".

:: drum roll ::     One centimeter down, nine more to go!  

While this is extremely exciting, it's also well known that mamas can be dilated plenty further than that and still carry their babies around for another month.  It isn't a good indicator at all of when actual labor could start.  BUT it's still wonderful to know that things are moving in that direction!

Dr. Stafford said he was pleased with James' position and that things were looking "fantastic".  He gave Jim his cell phone number, we made our appointment for next week, and off we went!  

I have to admit, it feels a little surreal knowing that my body is initiating the steps toward actual labor and delivery... Lord Jesus, I need you.   :)

Here's a helpful, albeit hilarious, diagram for you:  

Critic's Corner

In the book/movie The Secret of Nimh, the rats become intelligent due to a science experiment gone awry.  However, the other animals (i.e., Mrs. Brisby, her children, Jeremy the Crow) are also intelligent and reasoning creatures.  How did that happen?

I guess I should worry about things other than the plot inconsistencies of kids' movies... but, it's summertime!  

Pregnant Belly for Posterity

Our dear sweet friend, Suzanne, gifted us with a pregnancy photo shoot this weekend.  Here are some of my favorites:

There are tons more fantastic shots but right now it's 2:30 in the morning and they aren't uploading very easily and I just might scream!

Go here for Suzanne's work.  :)

35 Weeks

I realized today that if God blesses us with a second child he or she will probably not have nearly the same "blog attention" as Baby James.  I'm sure that's just the nature of having babies, but it makes me a little sad.  [I know, can you believe I'm already talking about being pregnant again??  I actually really love it...]

Dr. Stafford told me that James is head down now which makes me absolutely giddy-happy.  There's always a chance that he can move or reposition, but for now, it seems that he's gearing up for the big dance.  Throughout the day I feel CRAZY feet movement right under my ribs.  I've read about the "pedaling" motion that babies do to position themselves downward... they just fail to mention how startling and VIOLENT it can be!  Babies can sometimes do some damage to mama's ribs, but thankfully it hasn't been that bad.  Yet.  

All in all, it's been a pretty uneventful few weeks.  Just enormous bursts of nesting here and there, some new, mild uncomfortable-ness, and an all around sense of puttering and preparing.  His room is just about ready and he has an abundance of love and kisses waiting for him!  

Why Is This Even An Argument? Why??

It's Okay If You Think I'm Crazy...

Easily, one of the most important things that I've learned being pregnant for the first time is that this is an INTENSELY personal experience.  While childbirth is certainly the great equalizer among women, the journey is still extremely unique to every mother.  

I'm naturally a peacekeeper.  Hear me - not a peaceMAKER (that's a much harder job).  I am bent to do whatever it takes to maintain a peaceful environment around me.  This, I know, can be detrimental to my insides and deceitful to those I love.  So when people ask me what kind of birth I want to have, my stomach usually does a somersault because I know the reaction that sometimes comes when I tell them that I want to go "au naturale".

I've blogged about this before, but thought I'd revisit it as the D-Day approaches, because my heart is changing.... Not away from going naturally, but moving closer to it, actually.      

For clarification's sake, these are NOT reasons that I want to have a natural birth:

• I'm a He-woman and want to prove it to everyone
  
• The Bible says epidurals and pain meds are wrong
  
• My husband is making me
  
• I don't want to damage my baby's psyche
  
• I think doctors and OBs are the devil and just want my money

These are closer to my reasons:

• I want to remember giving birth, even if it's painful.
  
• I want to be able to feel what I'm doing and be an active participant (walk around, etc.).
  
• I want to be able to heal more quickly after delivery so I can get to know James right away.
  
•  I don't want to treat birth like a medical emergency, because it's not.  I'm glad we'll be in a hospital, because emergencies can quickly arise, but it's not how I don't want to approach the event.
•  Unfortunately, it is proven that when medical interventions begin, it's more likely that they will continue unnecessarily. 
  

I guess it's my peacekeeper-ness that feels like I have to justify our decision.  I'm listening when you say, "Ooooh, just wait till you feel that pain, you'll be hollerin' for the drugs!"  I hear you telling me, "You won't have failed if you get an epidural."  And I agree.  But it helps me to write out these non-reasons and reasons for myself, too.

Jim and I have done our best to be prepared.  Practicing all of our exercises, labor positions, and relaxation techniques, and most of all, praying our guts out that nothing crazy/scary happens to James or me in the process.  We also know that all of these preparations can fly quickly out of the window and I am perfectly willing to be in the knowledgeable care of physicians whose hands are led by my Healer.  

I'm also anxious to join the ranks of motherhood.  No matter what the birth looked like, you're still a mother at the end of it all.

At least I don't want a psycho Scientology birth, like Katie Holmes...    

I've Acquired Some New Skills...

Being pregnant requires a new set of skills.  Here are some that I've learned:

• Falling asleep with only 80% nostril capacity.  (By the way, BreatheRight strips have really helped, but I can't stand the glue on them)
• Sleeping through a human kicking you in the gut from the inside.  This may not last much longer as his bones and muscles are getting stronger.
• Completing the entire task of a midnight potty break with my eyes closed.  At least 4 times a night.
• Heaving my belly out of bed, out of the car, out of any seat, etc.
• Resting my breakfast on my belly as I eat.
• NOT losing it as I try to find something to wear.
• Concentrating on work through enormous kicks and squirms.  That was a tough one.  I would COMPLETELY lose my train of thought when he started his gymnastics.
• Walking and exercising everyday even though I feel like an elephant.
• Perfecting neutral and/or polite responses to well-meaning pregnancy advice that I probably will not take.
• Being teachable and TAKING pregnancy advice from mothers who care about me and have been there.
• Loving my little bumpkin boy... that one wasn't hard at all

My Face Is Puffy - AND THAT'S OKAY!!

I was glancing through our PhotoShop pics and saw the one on top. Yes, I was making a silly fish face, which of course made my face look thinner, but the important thing was that I had the same shirt on. The top picture was about 2 months ago.

I really don't mind that my face is puffy or that I can't see my feet. Today.

Some moments, especially when I trying to get dressed, I'm overwhelmed with amazement that I can't fit into ANYTHING... and then my grunts and whimpers turn gradually into full-blown tears. Jim then quickly comes and loves the tears away.

Just another wonderful part of growin' a baby!

(*** P.S. I didn't write this to fish for compliments ... just an observation of my crazy pregnant-ness.  I don't think it matters how big or small a mother is before she's pregnant - it's always strange watching your body change)

You know the saying...

I found myself in this "traditional role" moment earlier today and had Jim snap a few.  We laughed. 

"Barefoot, pregnant, and in the kitchen..." is the saying.  Just in case you hadn't heard it.  :)

Reminders of Why He's Perfect For Me

About 2 weeks ago, Jim upgraded his cell phone.  The model that he chose came with a $50 rebate which arrived in the mail on Wednesday.

Rebates are tricky.  While it really is the money that you spent, it still feels like Christmas morning when they send you a "free" Visa card for $50.  Since we deemed this money "extra", a Thompson date night was in order.  This usually looks like a matinee movie and dinner at a moderately priced restaurant.  But wait!  Date nights come with movie popcorn and drinks too, lest you think we're stingy....... which would be accurate :)   

The Soloist was an absolutely beautiful film.  Yes, film.  Not movie.  When you call it a "film" it sounds more artsy and intelligent.  Example:  None of the Fast and Furious movies are known as films.  Ever.  Go here for a link to my brother-in-law's review.

When we got home, it was still early (matinee, remember?) but we felt audio-visualled out and we didn't really want to plop down in front of the boob-tube.  This was the part of the night that made me treasure and adore my husband even more.  

We laid on the living room floor (well, kind of - I was on my pregnant lady ball doing exercises) for the longest time just giggling and being silly.  We kept trying to think of things to do, like Boggle or Scrabble or some card game until we both realized that we were perfectly content to just be there and enjoy each other's company.  It really was the sweetest time.  At about 9:15 we said, "Welp, let's bo to ged!".  If you know us at all, you realize that this is a normal way of saying "go to bed"...  Poor James is going to have a hard time learning the English language, I'm afraid.

Anyway, it was one of the best nights I've had in a long time with my sweet man.  Every day is wonderful with him, but this was a lovely night.  God is certainly the Giver of all good things.