Brief Updates

1.  My sister in law hosted a baby shower for me this past Saturday, and it was great.  We had all of the sisters in law there who live here and close friends who all know what it has taken to get to this point.  There was a lot of reflecting on how long it's been and how excited everyone is to meet this baby.  And, of course, there were lots of much-needed gifts!  Most importantly, we received the car seat and BOB stroller.  Big ticket items that I was glad were given to us and we didn't have to purchase.  

2.  After the shower, I headed down to our local natural parenting shop where they sell cloth diapers and diapering accessories.  There was a meet the local doulas event going on, and I knew they were giving away several door prizes, including a gift certificate to the shop.  I wanted to win that gift certificate, and lo and behold, I did!  Yeah!  It was only for $35, but hey, that pays for a couple of diapers.  :)  

3.  In installed the car seat just a little while ago, and I've got the base so tight that the end that is close to the front passenger seat is raising up.  Anyone know if that's ok?  I emailed the local police station to see if I can swing by for an inspection, so hopefully I can just have someone take a look at it and put my mind at ease.

4.  I finished the knitted baby "cocoon" and matching hat that I have been working on.  Phew!  Finally!  That was a long project!  Now I'm on to knitting a pair of felted booties.  

5.  Emotions are getting the better part of me.  Last week at childbirth classes, we watched video of women in labor and babies being born, and I just about broke down and bawled when the babies were born.  It brought me to thinking about how happy I'm going to feel when we finally meet our baby that we have been waiting for and trying for for so long.  I just know I'm going to be a sobbing mess when we meet him/her.  

6.  I'm kind of feeling overwhelmed by all of the baby "stuff."  I am the most anti-clutter person ever, and having all this extra "stuff" is starting to kind of stress me.  And we didn't go overboard with stuff.  I really tried to think of what was really needed.  I suppose I can start goodwilling stuff as the baby outgrows it, or put it in the attic for the next baby.  

7.  This is not baby related, but I'm excited about the new Rev.ol.ution show.  The first episode was not as great as I had hoped, but I love the idea of this show.  I wish that the first few episodes would go more into what happened in the first days and weeks after the event, rather than starting with 15 years out after everyone's settled into their routines.  Maybe we will see more in flashbacks.  Anybody else excited about this show?  I think it will be like the new Lo.st for me.  Can't wait for tonight's episode! 

Can't Sleep

I can't sleep because we can't agree on a boy name and the baby will be here in 8 weeks!  I have been lying awake for an hour and finally decided to just get up.  I was running names through my head and praying to go to sleep and be delivered a message that of what our baby's name should be if it's a boy.  Instead, I have continued to just lay there agonizing over it.  I really hope this baby is a girl or we are really going to have problems.  I have offered 5 or 6 very good suggestions.  Good, solid, strong boy's names, and my husband just rejects each of them with no reason.  He suggests ridiculous sounding names, and I give reasons why I don't like them.  For instance, Hunter.  Um, babe, I don't think you should name a child after something you do.  I wouldn't name a girl Baker or Knitter.  Plus, Hunter is not a saint's name.  And, I have a half brother whose name is Hunter.  Roman.  Really?  Sounds like a frat boy name.  

Y'all, what are we going to do if we have a boy?  The middle name is set: Gerard.  No questions about that.  But, the first name thing is a battle.  Maybe I will just have to hi-jack the birth certificate when he's off getting a shower while I'm recovering in the hospital and I will just unilaterally name the baby!  

Progesterone still not cooperating, but baby doing well

Progesterone continues to be an issue in this pregnancy.  Despite 200 mg injections twice a week and 300 mg suppositories twice a day, I'm still in zone 1.  But, my last OB appointment on Tuesday went great.  My belly is measuring perfect and the baby's heart rate is great.  Plus, this baby is moving a lot.  So much so that last night, the baby was moving so much during my sleep that the movements made it into my dreams.  So, I guess all is well.  

I think I am also making progress with my OB on the issue of immediate skin to skin in the OR.  He is arranging for me to meet with the anesthesiologist to discuss it.  (Plus, I've also been secretly communicating with my family practitioner who is an OB and does c-sections.  He said it's not policy to do what I want to do, but he would talk to the head of pediatrics and anesthesiology and see what we can do.)  

Oh, and joy of joys, we have baby stuff!  My mom threw us a couple's shower this past weekend in Louisiana, and we came home with a car load of baby clothes and a few toys and things like baby lotion and powder, etc.  (also some disposable diapers, which I'm going to donate to the food pantry.  I know they hand out diapers to people who need them).  So, when we got back to town, I had the funnest time washing and folding and putting away baby clothes.  I just love going in the nursery and opening the drawers and looking at how tiny everything is!  

Next weekend, there will be another shower here where we live with family and friends from around here.  It is completely surreal being the recipient of a baby shower and not the person throwing one or just attending one.  I felt overwhelmed at the last shower with the miracle of this little baby and what it has taken to get to where we are.  Simply amazing. 

 And, besides the progesterone issue, the pregnancy has been a breeze so far.  My husband feels like the pregnancy is lasting forever, but I feel like it is going fast.  I can't believe we'll be holding our baby in about two months.  And, I know those two months are going to fly by.  I want to cherish every moment of this pregnancy.