Year's End

Charlie took the day off of skiing today and spent
some time in town with me.

2008 is winding down. And we had to mark the last day of the year with a self portrait!

Busting out of my coat!

Looking back at this day last year, I feel very much the same, even though life right now feels so very different as we anticipate the arrival of Um Babay in 51 short days.

Actually, I feel exactly the same.

Diapers can be scratched off the list

We are cloth diapering on Bordeaux Street.

In the long run it'll be cheaper and will hopefully allow for earlier potty training. But the main reason for our decision is we try to be pretty green around here, and we just can't fathom putting 2000+ diapers in the landfill each year knowing there is an alternative.

Cloth diapering is entering the mainstream with more choices and easier access. Although I haven't been able to find them in any physical stores in New Orleans, you can find them at Target and Walmart online. I'm not sure what policy childcare centers have on cloth diapers, but we're hoping to work something out so that we won't have to consider that for at least a year.

I have been doing some extensive reading and research on cloth diapering. The big debate was whether to use prefolds and covers or use pocket diapers exclusively. The prefolds and covers system is basically the good old fashioned way of cloth diapering with a few improvements. The pocket diapers look like a diaper, and can be "stuffed" to increase absorbency as needed. The pocket diapers are more expensive but are more convenient.

I ordered pocket diapers, enough to get us started, but I think I'll end up needing a few more once I figure this all out and for the sake of not having to wash a load each day.

We looked into a diaper put out by a Louisiana company (FuzziBunz), but ultimately went with bumGenius (which can even be found at online at Target!) because one size can work with kids from 8-35 pounds. Using FuzziBunz would have meant buying more diapers as FCS outgrew each size. This way, we can use what we've bought today until he's potty trained.

We will most likely start with some disposables to get us into a routine before adding cloth diapering and poopy diaper washing to the mix. And FCS will need to put on a few pounds to make the bumGenius diapers effective. Most reviews I've read said they work best once baby has reached 12, not 8, pounds.

I am sure we'll have some updates on our successes and challenges with cloth diapering. Feel free to ask any questions. Also, any suggestions are appreciated!

Next up: nursing bra and bottle nipple research. Oy vey.

Ski Buddies

Charlie and Aidan with his game face on

Charlie's been skiing with his nephews each day this week. He comes home each day with something to remember when skiing with kids. Yesterday it was "never pass them up or you may have to hike up hill to help them recover their skis after a wipe out."

Charlie and Rhys

Wish I was able to join them. Maybe, just maybe, in the spring.

Getting our act in gear

I've been busy spending money today. I've literally spent all day reading descriptions, reviews, safety specifications, comparing, noting differences and ordering.

Some decisions were made, and what feels like a big dent has been made in getting things ready for the boy's arrival.

What did I order???....

• A co-sleeper. It's a bassinet and a pack and play type thingy.
  
• A convertible car seat
  
• An infant car seat and stroller combo on clearance because it is the 2007 model. The infant seat will work with our jogging stroller until FCS is big enough to be buckled right in and the stroller is a great alternative to the jogger.
  
• Bedding, Yes, it's in the "girls" section but it looks pretty gender neutral to me. I've had my eye on it for a while and wouldn't you know this weekend the status switched to back ordered until April! I ordered it anyway and hope it's here before FCS, but if not, no biggie.
  
• Book case
  
• Lamp
• The rocker and ottoman (in oat everydaysuede) we picked so long ago.

Haven't totaled the damage, but it's a ton of money spent.

Diapers and bottles are the only other items I feel (and something tells me this feeling may change!) are a must have before his arrival, even though I have a laundry list of items on my "to get" list. I'm sure there are some opinions out there on what we'll really need...go ahead, bring 'em on.

32 Weeks

Well, I think it says something that I originally titled this post "34 weeks" and then had to quickly edit it. Oh, I wish we were marking the 34th week today.


I am feeling enormous, and it ain't just the belly. Everything is feeling tight and I am just generally uncomfortable. I am ready to have my body back. And I am beginning to wonder about the body I'll be getting back. Looking at spring ski jackets earlier in the week, I held up my previous size and couldn't imagine myself fitting into it. Couldn't bring myself to buy anything.

We have been splitting time between Denver and Vail the past week and I haven't had a lick of exercise, which certainly doesn't help. My breathing is a bit labored and the contractions are frequent and painful.


As for my tenant, he's doing just fine. He's back into the swing of things with his all night dance parties. I'm also wondering if he's switched positions as I am feeling less pressure on my ribs. I can definitely feel him on the left side, but I'm not sure which bulge is which body part. I hope Dr. M can provide a little guidance in that when I see him in a few weeks.

I am thinking about him quite a bit and wondering what he'll look like. A few dreams have had him as a cyclops which doesn't scare me as much as Charlie's teasing that he'll come out the size of Paul Bunyan, with whiskers and wanting to suck on a gallon milk jug with a nipple. (Charlie LOVES the Paul Bunyan stories.)


At the next doctor's appointment there will be 6 weeks remaining until "d-day" so I have been keeping a list of questions for him...delivery options especially if he's breech, work schedule, pediatrician recommendations. I have also made a list of "must have" items to order because the boy could decide to make his appearance sooner than later.

We are in the home stretch. Um Ba-bay's arrival is in sight.

Merry Christmas

It's been a long hard day of lying around and doing nothing...and we've enjoyed it. We're in Denver and will be heading back to Vail on Saturday. Perhaps more posts to come then.

Happy Holidays!

Lovin'

It tastes better when he makes it

• Nightly hot chocolate with four jumbo marshmallows
• "Call me if you go into labor" and a kiss on the forehead as I am half asleep and he leaves for a day of skiing
• Unlimited rest
  
• Giggling in the dark until midnight
• Online shopping
• Back rubs, even if they're short
• 70 degrees inside, 9 degrees outside
• Flannel pjs and flannel sheets

Happy Holidays

That's our card this year. They should be in mailboxes by now, so it's safe for me to post the image here.

I loved, loved, loved making this card with Charlie. He was a willing participant, so don't go thinking I forced him to participate. There was a bit of a bribe with dinner out beforehand, but he did go willingly! He wouldn't hit the neighborhood bar that has a vintage booth, but was willing to head to the mall (I had to do some calling around to even find these photo booths). Poor guy didn't realize the booth at the mall is without a curtain for privacy.

I carried in my bag of "props" and we actually did four takes. The signs were too big, our hats too tall, and our timing off, but I think everyone gets the message. We laughed and laughed and drew quite the crowd of spectators. And Charlie then got a bit of stage fright. He kept insisting people were waiting for a turn...nope just wondering "what in the world is going on in there?"

I had intended to make a card with just one picture strip, but we didn't ever get a good one that really did the trick....so outtakes it is!

Happy holidays, y'all.

Prenatal Monitoring

Of course he told me to come in, although he felt confident everything was ok, but he didn't want me to have any reason to lie awake at night, other than my usual bathroom trips and tossing fits to get comfortable.

Nurses in the monitoring unit were wonderful. Patient, kind, helpful. They hooked me up to the monitors and told me to relax.

Um Ba-bay passed his screening right away, kicking and his heart rate increasing with his movement as it should. Whew.

The monitoring of me, however, was extended as I had a contraction not long after I was hooked up, and I was showing some uterine "irritability". Those words pushed my heart rate way up. Things did settle down and I was told to monitor any cramping and to head in if I was having contractions or cramping more than 4 times within an hour.

To be clear, I am *not* in labor. This happens in some women, and isn't necessarily a sign of preterm labor. I am to listen to my body, stay hydrated, and remain emotionally and physically stress free.

Oh boy.

"Roll over!" he shouts

Um Ba-bay was up to his antics last night, having a strong reaction to each of my attempted sleeping positions. It made me feel better, but I would say his overall activity patterns are different. He's moving less and his movements are different.

I haven't had a full blown case of hysteria in the doctor's office in a while, and honestly I really have no qualms about doing it. Dr. M doesn't make me feel like that patient and he handles me quite well. Who knows what is said after I leave the office.

But, for some reason I feel this need to be able to roll with things a little better and act like the pregnant masses of the world...accept that babies change, positions change, and the boy is just fine. Some sleep and flutters have done wonders for clearing my head and calming me down.

Calling the doctor is on my unspoken, unwritten list of things to do today, just to touch base with him. Hoping I'm able to keep my emotions in check and FCS gets back to rockin' out when I turn up the radio.

Seeking aching ribs

A double shot of espresso in my turtle mochasippi with whipped cream has given me a few little flutters in the belly. Not exactly the result I hoped for, but I'll take it for now.

Hoping tonight brings my boy back to his routine, and allowing this mama to trust her body.

If not, I'll be heading in to Dr. M's office.

Baby growing worries

I've been awake since 3 am and hopped on the treadmill at 4 am because I couldn't stand to be lying in bed awake any longer, filled with worry. Um Ba-bay didn't move much last night. I've gotten used to him moving around and jabbing and poking and even seemingly responding to my pokes from the outside. Often when I am get up for a bathroom trip, I have a hard time falling back to sleep because he is squirming so much. Last night that wasn't the case.

And while he is rarely active in the morning, I am feeling just my throbbing pulse in my belly this morning. I had some caffeine and sugar, and still nothing. I keep telling myself that the walk on the treadmill put him to sleep and by the afternoon he'll be on his regular activity schedule.

I don't want to call Dr. M but I also don't no how much longer this self talk will work. The tears have already been off and on since last night.

Heading to the coffee shop drive through and then to work...hoping for distraction and rib jabs soon.

Weekend Roundup

Friday night date night on the couch

• A Christmas themed date night was planned for Friday night, but I was too cold to get out at City Park and look at the lights. We did however feast at Martinique Bistro, one of our new favorite neighborhood restaurants.
• I've adopted a new sleep schedule: 7pm to 7 am. Still doesn't seem like enough time in bed.
• Charlie got the all clear from the doctor. Although the ultrasound indicated some inflammation of the pancreas, this was not confirmed by the CT scan. So, he's just keeping his fingers crossed that the symptoms were short lived and won't return.
• I love Burt's Mama Bee Belly Butter. Does wonders for the itching.
• A huge swath of ginger was cut back in the yard and hauled away to the dump. No more snow, please.
• Charlie seemed a bit surprised (a little panicked perhaps) yesterday when I told him we had 68 days until Um Ba-bay's arrival date.
• I bought a rug for the boy's room. (No comments on it being "too feminine" from the peanut gallery.) Evidently the rug went on clearance, unbeknownst to me, but after calling several stores, I finally found one and it's being shipped.
  

30 weeks

I feel bigger than the last belly photo, but not sure how much I've grown. Everything is feeling tight these days, and I think I am retaining some fluid.


Do I look tired? I feel beat, pretty much all the time these days. I don't want to get out of bed in the morning and in the evenings I would like to just lie on the couch and be in bed by 7pm.

Um Ba-bay is due to make an appearance in 10 weeks, but I think he'll be a week or more late. A thought that doesn't exactly excite me, but if that's what he needs, then that's what he gets. But it pretty much guarantees I will be trying to incorporate the belly in a Mardi Gras costume. Charlie has promised if that is the case, he'll decorate the wheelbarrow and push me out to the parades. I know, now you are all hoping for his late arrival to get to see that sight!

I am getting in a walk each day, although it is hard to motivate myself when I am tired and it's cold out. But the walk does make me feel better, especially as I watch the numbers on the scale increase each day. Surely he's packing on the pounds in there and the cake and cookies for breakfast aren't going straight to my thighs.

Wondering each day if he'll turn. He's been sitting in this position for a while. I pretty much think he is still in the frank breech position (bottom down) because I am getting the movement and kicks up high as well as the pressure, presumably from the head, on the ribs in very much the same location. I've been having to stand frequently during the day and bend and twist and coach him away from the ribs so I am able to focus on something other than the discomfort!

I've been doing lots of counting and tallying in the past 3 years of trying to grow our family. It is still unbelievable to think that now we are counting down the last 10 weeks of pregnancy. Only 10 more weeks.

Yes, Snow in New Orleans

We had about an inch of snow in the city today, but some parts of the state saw as much as 8 inches. Thankfully we didn't lose power, which is fortunate considering several areas of the state were without power for 8+ hours.


My poor garden. I had lots of sprouting seeds that will most likely not recover. And the tropicals, particularly the ginger, collapsed under the weight of the collecting snow. We have some major clean up to do this weekend.

It was pretty while it lasted...all of about 3 hours.


And thankfully we are looking at getting back into the mid 70s early next week.


I've met my snow viewing quota for the year!

Snow!

Hornets Fans!

Go Hornets! We have been having fun at the games, which seem to be two to three times a week. Tonight we headed down to a season ticket holder autograph event with James Posey.

James Posey meeting with fans.

There is a "beer garden" each Wednesday that I am unable to indulge in, but have already scoped out the first game I'll be able to wiggle my way in there with a flat (yes, FLAT) belly. But for now, I stick to cotton candy and soda. And all that sugar makes Um Ba-Bay happy.

I got his autograph!

26 home games remain, and we're counting on some playoff games in the arena too!

Um Ba-bay Update

At 29 weeks 5 days:

Blood pressure: 1o0/66
Weight gain: +19 (+16 at home)
FCS heart rate: High 130s
Fundal height: 31

He's still breech and high in the uterus. Still not worried about that though, he tells me. I imagine things will be getting pretty tight in the boy's room real soon and he'll settle into a position, preferably away from my ribs he seems to cling to.

Cervix is closed and long enough not to worry.

He gave me a note to travel, and allowed me to forgo another cervix check before traveling, confident I'd remain his star patient. And no, he wasn't even being sarcastic!

Next appointment: January 7th.

Showered

Yesterday there was a baby shower in my honor. Or Um Ba-Bay's honor I suppose.

A group of coworkers slipped it in to our monthly meeting without my even having a clue or being able to do anything to stop them. Evidently they didn't get that memo that Erin doesn't take well to attention and has a hard time accepting help and gifts. Or more liekly they just disregarded that memo.

There were ribbons proclaiming "It's a boy", booties, miniature hangers, onesies, books, a chocolate cake and cake recipes printed on lavender paper, blocks, favors of itty bitty bottles filled with baby blue candies, and family journals and ornaments. And there were lots of "awwww" and "ohhhhh" and "ahhhhhs"...so sweet, all of it.

The piles of gifts and and bows and cards are now sitting in his room. I looked at them for a while this morning and felt the urge to ready his room with clothes in drawers and on hangers, books on shelves, and toys in bins. I also wondered how many times I'll change his outfit to make sure he gets to wear each of the sweet little coats and shirts and socks. What fun!

Just because...

...it covered my belly yesterday...


Does not mean it will cover it today.

Still growing over here.

Deck the Halls...

This is it, our little Christmas "something or other" to decorate the house. No tree this year. No lights on the house. No wreath on the door. Just a little something or other to make the house smell a bit festive and to look at during dinner.

With only two weekends before heading out of town again, one of which I had initially planned on being out of town for (Happy Birthday, Jen! Sorry I missed you.) before Charlie got sick, we decided it wasn't really feasible to get the house decked.

I have had tree envy as I drive home in the evenings and see people's trees glowing in the windows. To make up for it, we've planned a few Christmas themed dates around town before we leave, so that should be lots of fun, and a lot less work.

My patient

Charlie is still feeling pretty blah after his bout of chronic stomach and back pain late last week. Although he's avoided any severe pain the last few days, he remains uncomfortable.

He finally went in to see the doctor and has had a CT scan and labs, and is going in tomorrow for an ultrasound. The doctor has ruled out anything with the kidneys but suspects pancreatitis and/or issues with the gall bladder. He's scheduled for a follow up to go over test results next week. Hoping the pain doesn't worsen before then and I hope anything serious showing up on the tests means he'll be called in sooner.

This is shaping up to be a low key weekend of catching up on our TiVo line up and Netflix movies, while a pot of chicken soup simmers on the stove.

2 more days in the city

We spent Friday and Saturday wandering around the city, trying to take it easy and not further upset Charlie's tender tummy and back. I'm also only good for a few hours up and around before wearing out, so we enjoyed a leisurely couple of days.


We walked across the Brooklyn Bridge. Rather, I huffed it across the bridge. Anything with an incline takes it out of me these days.

Charlie sneaks a picture before Wicked begins

We took in a musical at the Gershwin Theatre. Wicked was spectacular! The costumes and acting were amazing, but the best part was the story. I highly recommend it whether you see it in NY or on tour.


Madison Square Garden got a good crowd for the Knicks game. I think the section we sat in was all tourists, most of which were European. Good for the Knicks that they are able to draw a crowd even if the locals aren't supporting them. And we both agreed that the Hornets organization puts on a better show.


And we walked and walked and walked around the city. The tree at Rockefellar Center was up, but not yet lit. UmBabay didn't get to go ice skating this year, and I am not sure when will be the next time he'll have the oppotunity to skate in NYC, but surely he'll be safer trying it with Charlie.

Great week. It's always nice to be away.