Naturally Optimistic

Born 5:32am on Tuesday, April 27th, 2010 7lbs 11.5oz 21 inches long He came before the pitocin which made Mama very happy & he's 100% all natural. It was tough, but I admit I'm proud of myself for doing it! Labor story to come, but first I must eat a cinnamon roll....

or at least it is to us! We're scheduled to go in TONIGHT & have the induction TOMORROW...not go in tomorrow night & be induced on Wednesday....so EEEEEK! I guess I'm having a baby tomorrow! Wish us luck!

This *should* be the last one of these shots!!

Happy Earth Day! Steve has already begun planting. Of course! Why not? He's actually begun re-arranging & then planting. He bought a couple of new shrubs for our front garden & moved some of the day lilies forward which I planted last year. I think it will be nice. The only battle I have to fight is keeping SOME space for my unnaturally colored bright annuals (ie: petunias. I love petunias). The other day he said to me "The tree delivery is happening on Thursday." And I stopped, looked at him incredulously and said "what?" (you may or may not know that the first year we co-habitated we ended up having 75 seedlings & numerous grapevines that just happened to be ordered....for our yard...in town....um, we're still trying to find some homes for some of them....). But he was referring to the tree delivery at WORK not at home. Whew! I was scared for a minute! Planting season is right around the corner for him at his job. Thank goodness we're not g...

in case anyone (other than Kate! Hi Kate!) is wondering.... Just finished hemming my "hospital" PJs (yes, I bought new pjs for the hospital) so I am officially ready. OFFICIALLY. Hear that Baby B?! Steve & I have a theory that Baby B doesn't want to make an appearance because he/she is afraid of all of his/her sister's screaming tantrums & fits of late. Either that or this one is just a MELLOW baby who is content to sleep & rest & not cry all the time...right? RIGHT??? A mother can dream......

Solely for my Mom's benefit. I think I look like an elephant!

About a month ago we placed an April calendar in front of Dahlia & asked her what day the new baby was coming. She thought about it for quite a while & then very decidedly pointed to April 14th. Today. Hmmmm. Somehow I don't think she was right! But then again, her arrival took about 6 hours, so you never know. There is still time left in the day! She also is QUITE sure that this baby is a "Baby Girl." But she has yet to offer up any name suggestions. Mostly she thinks we should just call this baby "baby." How original. :)

Not much! Had yet another ultrasound & doctor's appt today. Nothing much happening. Baby was VERY cooperative during the ultrasound - there were hands waving, mouths "chewing", eyes blinking - it was really pretty cool. But other than that...... Scheduled for induction on April 27/28 (go in on the evening of the 27th and get the party started...). I really hope it doesn't come to that because I'd like things to happen naturally...but I trust my doctor so I'm going to do what she thinks is the best. Who knows, nothing was happening 4 days before Dahlia was born either!!

Today - 36w, 5 days.... Dahlia was born at 36w, 4 days...so this is the most pregnant I've ever been! I mostly can tell this by my lack of sleep & lack of clothes that fit! haha. At least I have pretty toes. :)

Brighton Beach last Sunday....

...and I don't care what ANYONE says, I'm as big as a house! Sheesh! And that arm! GAH!!! (ps - Mindy - this is your dress! I love it. Sooooo comfy!) BTW, this is me on Dec 5, 2007 - 35w, 2d with Miss Dahlia.

Well, there's about 30 days left of this pregnancy (according to my official May 1 due date)...I'm at the point where it occupies most of my thinking time these days. I'm so excited to meet this new little person & to see what he/she looks like, if it is a he or a she! To figure out his/her name; to (most likely) complete our family. On the other hand I'm a little melancholy about it not being just the three of us any more. I think that sounds kind of bad, but it's true. We've sort of hit our stride with our routine & we're about to throw it all into confusion. I know we will sort it out. Transition is hard. I'm excited to get my body back! To not have to be *quite so* careful about what I eat...to be able to go for a hike, or heck, a walk! To be able to breathe normally, turn over in bed normally, to wear normal clothes & be able to bend down & pick things up. To see my feet! On the other hand I will sort of miss being pregnant. Knowing ...

Well, I figured it was coming...I start insulin today. Just before dinner. Not really a big deal, my after dinner numbers were creeping up no matter what I did. In a way it's a bit of a relief because then I can go out for pizza (for example) & actually consume a normal sized portion, adjust my insulin accordingly and not feel like I'm "missing out." Ah well - not much longer now!

Ultrasound #6 today! Baby passed its BPP with flying colors. This one is a wiggle-worm, that's for sure. Measuring as he/she should, head down, constantly making me have to go to the bathroom & kicking me in the ribs. Much MUCH better technician this week than last week....I have another appt/ultrasound next week. Thank GOD I have insurance! This one appears to have Steve's nose...Dahlia definitely had mine! Hmm....maybe it's a boy?

Pretty much I wear the same thing every day these days...almost. I have TONS of maternity clothes, thanks to some very generous friends, but the shirts (some at least) have stopped covering the belly so I continue to resort to my favorite pair of (maternity) jeans, long sleeved shirt & cardigan. I'm okay with this. Hopefully no one else has noticed....yet.

According to Sarah's pregnancy counter (why have my own, when I can check my pregnancy twin's on a daily basis??) there are less than 50 days til my (our) due date! Eeeeek. For some reason (past experience?) I'm certain this baby will come early (will I eat my words? We'll see...) and my estimate for a really silly reason, is April 11... You see Dahlia was born on my Grandpa B's 86th (I think...right Mom?) birthday. December 14th. My Grandma's birthday is April 11. Wouldn't it be fitting if Baby B #2 was born on her birthday? That would also coincide with being "early" (37 weeks) although not *quite* as early as Dahlia (36 weeks). So I'm trying to get everything done as I feel like time is slipping away. We have to finish the sound design for RILEY, re-shoot a major scene, get the color correction happening & of course all the last minute at home preparations. Wow. It's going to happen soon, isn't it?!?! EEEEEEK!

I've been wondering about a Doula lately - at first I thought, yes! I want to have a doula there to help us with Baby B's delivery & aftermath...and then I sort of decided that it wasn't affordable, & we did it once, we can do it again, etc... But now I'm thinking about it again. I still don't know if we can afford it - I know that the Birthing Ways group here in Duluth operates on a sliding scale, so that's reassuring. Part of me is wondering is it too late in the process? Will I get to know a Doula in time to feel comfortable with having her in the delivery room? Then again - what if Steve is off in the boondocks again & I am laboring alone? Wouldn't it be nice to have someone there helping me? I would really like to deliver this baby drug-free again but I'm nervous that I won't be able to do it, I know that Doulas are incredibly helpful at getting you through the tough parts. So I flip flop. Any of you ladies or gents out there want to...

I changed up my 'regular' breakfast (2 pieces of low-carb bread SLATHERED in peanut butter, natural, of course & a banana) for the 2 pieces of toast + half an apple. It was a mistake. I am still starving and there's 2 hours to go until my snack. dangit. (and I have to go grocery shopping before then & now! ACK! I'm going to torture myself!!)

...because I am. Ugh. Hormones.