The List

I keep thinking of things that I for sure want to do when I finally go into labor. I'm afraid with all the excitement, I'll forget something so I made a list:



I know some of these are obvious (take a shower) and some may be a bit silly (vacuum), but I'll be much more relaxed knowing everything has been taken care of.

I hate leaving home for any length of time and coming back to a dirty house so to have these few chores done before we leave will make for a nice homecoming. Plus, I don't want Tucker's first impression of his new house to be a bad one!

OK - So now I think I'm ready!

We're Ready!

I think we're as ready as we're gonna be. The carseat and suitcases are in the car. We have everything we think we'll need to survive at least the first day we bring Tucker home!

He'll start off in our bedroom. We have a bassinet for him to sleep in and a glider for late night feedings. I'll dust off the ol' treadmill at some point and attempt to get back into shape.


After a few months, we'll move Tucker upstairs to his bedroom. There are still a few things I'd like to add, but for the most part, his room is ready to go!



And we can't forget the toys!



Now if I can just stop freaking out about the fact that I'm getting ready to be a mom, I think I'll be ok!

Momma's Boy!

I'm pretty sure Tucker is going to be a momma's boy because he's not budging whatsoever! He's just clinging to me and not going anywhere! We had our weekly appointment today and there's been no progress at all. My doctor said she's never known anyone who was pregnant forever. I think there's a first time for everything!

I know - to be upset about a perfectly healthy pregnancy and going full term is a little bit crazy. But I'm tired and crampy and the novelty of being pregnant has worn off. I had to get a couple more pairs of comfy sweatpants at Target today because I attempted jeans yesterday and was in pain by lunch. And since I'm going to be pregnant forever, I need to expand my wardrobe a bit.

On another note, Alec began planting our garden last weekend. According to my grandpa and the Farmers Almanac, we were safe to plant anything underground (like root vegetables). Alec planted radishes and onions. The radishes have already started to sprout! We'll have to cover them up tomorrow (along with our azaleas and hydrangeas) because we're in Oklahoma so of course it's going to snow this weekend.

Berman got stuck under the couch last night. His squeaky ball had rolled under the couch and he attempted to retrieve it. We heard him growling and looked down. He was laying on his side and his head and little bit of his chest were out but the rest of his body was under the couch. We had to lift the couch up so he could get out. I was going to take a picture, but thought that may be cruel. He's ok now and is trying not to let the ball go back under the couch!

I'm petrified of mice. I honestly have a phobia or something. Well I found out that last night, one Miss Mango had killed a mouse outside then brought it into the house for all the world to see! I wasn't anywhere near the mouse and Alec played it smart and didn't say anything until today. I'm pretty sure I'll check everyone's mouths before they come in the house again!

Hopefully Tucker will make his appearance soon! I think we'll have him this weekend - it's supposed to snow and my sister is in Dallas for the weekend so it only makes perfect sense that labor day is just around the corner!

Nothing! Nada! Zilch!

We had our weekly appointment today and absolutely nothing has happened since our last appointment. I haven't dilated. Tucker hasn't dropped. Nothing. Oh - I did gain 2 pounds - so that's something!

Honestly! I thought we were going to have him early! All our friends and family think we'll have him early, but I think he's in for the long haul! He's already being stubborn like his momma!

We had a quick ultrasound because the doctor couldn't find his head. No worries - he has a head! She just couldn't figure out his position. She said he's running out of room though. He's occupying every bit of space I have!

The doctor asked if I've had any contractions and I said I didn't think so...but I guess I probably haven't if I don't know. Everyone says when I have one, I'll know! I still have Braxton Hicks contractions at night. I wake up with sore muscles from tensing up so much during the BH contractions. Mornings are the worst - so tired and sore and just gross feeling.

Alec put our suitcases in the car so we're ready when Mr. Man decides he wants to grace us with his presence. I now know why some animals eat their young!

Sweat Pants & Witch Powers

I committed a total fashion faux pas today! I wore sweat pants to work!! Now these aren't your cute velour sweat pants with matching jacket. No - these are capri length regular ol' sweat pants with which I wore one of Alec's really big t-shirts. Lovely...so pretty! I'm done with maternity jeans! I can't even get them on - Alec has to help me put on jeans! The thought of wearing maternity jeans makes me want to cry (but what doesn't these days?). So I have a few stretchy pants that I think I can alternate for the next 3 or 4 weeks - completely avoiding maternity jeans!

My sister and I have what we call witch powers - may just be really strong intuition, but it can be a bit creepy at times. Like when I think about her, my phone will ring and she's on the other end! Or I'll be reading a book and a word I just read is said at the same time on TV - just weirdo stuff like that. Well Alec's driver side window broke this weekend - not the glass, just the mechanical stuff. He fixed it about 1/2 way this evening and was going to wait till tomorrow evening to finish. My mom called earlier saying she had thought of me all day and was worried about me. After I hung up the phone, Alec headed out to the garage. He said he knows my family's witchiness and he wasn't going to chance not having his car fixed and I go into labor tonight! I'm good with going into labor now - I just wanted to get past the Ides of March!

On another note, Alec made a compost bin this weekend. He picked up a few free pallets and added some plastic fencing. Total cost - $14! I tried to clean the house so I didn't get as many pictures I would've liked. It seemed to be quite the undertaking though!


We'll use this to make up a nice compost mixture to use on our garden which we're hoping to begin planting in the next few weeks.

Looking forward to warm evenings with Tucker and pink lemonade on the porch!

News from the Belly

Whoa! Who knew the last month would be such a doozie?!?! I'm tired, uncomfortable, sore...you name it! I wake up some mornings feeling like I ran a marathon the day before (not sure what that really feels like, but it doesn't feel good!). Somehow my brain is still running a million miles a minute but I'm physically and mentally exhausted. I know that doesn't make sense, but I'm 9 months pregnant and that's just the way it is!

Last Saturday my friends Brea and Melissa threw me a friends shower. It was a nice little affair which was so what I needed. If it had been bigger or lasted longer, I would've been a super grumpy party pooper! I got to hear a variety of birth stories from my friends which really makes me think this whole birth thing isn't as black and white as I would like it to be!

Sunday was absolutely gorgeous so Alec did a lot of yard work and just stuff outside. I laid on the couch until I couldn't stand it, had a total breakdown then went outside and watched Alec do yard work. I love doing spring yard work and I was so upset that I couldn't really do anything - so frustrating! I just sat and watched Alec (and gave him a little direction on cleaning the leaves out of the flower beds!).

We had our last class - Breastfeeding Basics - on Wednesday night. I was so thankful there were quite a few dads there so Alec wouldn't feel so out of place. We watched a long video and practiced different holding positions with dolls. I think if I never see another boob again, I will be just fine!

On Thursday, we had our first weekly appointment. I had a little bit of glucose and protein in my "sample" so my doctor wondered if I had a lot of carbs that morning (just a bowl of cereal) or the night before. Uhm...10 o'clock biscuit run to KFC? I couldn't help it! I just got the idea of biscuits in my head on the way home from our class and I HAD to have some! They were the best biscuits ever!

Anyway, Tucker was laying all weird - head lower left, feet upper right. Our doctor couldn't get a good measurement so we went in for an ultrasound. Everything looked good! Tucker even has hair! He weighs 6 lbs and 5 oz and looks kinda cramped up in there! He had one hand covering his left eye and one hand was holding a foot.

Oh - and I got Tucker his first Cubbies uniform! He should be able to wear it during the hopeful days of the early season all the way until they get beat in the playoffs!

Focus!

So one of the things on my list of stuff to take to the hospital is a picture or something I can focus on during my contractions. I've looked all over the house and through all my photo albums and I keep coming back to this one:



This is a picture of Brandt Pointe Lighthouse - where we got married. I know the picture is all blurry and out of focus and doesn't really say much, but it brings back so many memories!

We were on the last leg of our cross-country journey that began at 7am on Sunday morning. It was about 9 in the evening. (Don't look at the date/time on the pictures. I still haven't figured out how to fix that!) The ferry was just pulling into the harbor and I saw this beacon of light through the cold mist that had settled in. I ran up the stairs to the top of the ferry and asked a random person "Is that Brandt Pointe?" He said yes and I started snapping away. It was so dark I couldn't really see what I was taking pictures of. I just aimed my camera in the general direction. When I was finished, I proudly said "I'm getting married there on Tuesday." The guy shook my hand and said "Congratulations!" in his thick New England accent.

I just remember being so happy and so full of warm fuzzies that I really didn't feel cold! I remember the taste of the Cape Cod beer (we drank during the ride on the ferry) still on my tongue. I remember being so tired but so excited at the same time. I remember the smell of the ocean and the tingle of the cold mist.

I look at every other picture I have and none of them can bring back so many memories and emotions. I think this will definitely be the picture I take with me. Now if I can just remember to focus...